Women and children linked to the IS group return to Australia; Four killed in a collision between a school bus and train in Belgium; And in sport, Mitch Moses ruled out of the State of Origin opener in Sydney.
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TRANSCRIPT:
- Women and children linked to the IS group return to Australia
- Four killed in a collision between a school bus and train in Belgium
- Mitch Moses ruled out of the State of Origin opener in Sydney
Two flights carrying women and children linked to the IS group have landed in Melbourne and Sydney.
Two women and their children touched down in Melbourne, while a group of four women and their children arrived at Sydney airport, where they were taken out a back entrance avoiding waiting media.
Their return comes weeks after four women also returned from Syria, with three later arrested and charged by Australian Federal Police.
No arrests have been made in this cohort, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says anyone who has broken the law will face consequences.
"Point two: The government has provided no assistance for these people. Point three: Any breaches of the law, will mean that these people will face the full force of the law to the extent available, upon the advice of the security agencies."
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned there will be no agreement with Iran unless the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened.
Mr Rubio says negotiators are still working through the details of a possible deal, but that there will either be a good agreement or no agreement at all.
Speaking to reporters while travelling to India, Mr Rubio has said the key shipping route must remain open without restrictions as negotiations continue with Tehran.
“There's no country in the world in favour of a tolling system except the regime in Iran, we'll that's not acceptable that can not happen, the straits need to be open, unimpeded, without tolls. And obviously that needs to happen immediately as soon as anything is agreed to.”
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered what he calls a 'deepening' of Israel’s military operation in Lebanon.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, he has said Israeli forces are seizing controlled areas and fortifying a security zone to protect communities in northern Israel.
Lebanese security officials say Israel has pounded the country with more than 120 air strikes in one of the heaviest days of bombing in weeks.
UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns the escalation.
“Now more than ever, he said, it is imperative to avoid any escalation of a conflict that has already exacted a devastating toll on civilians ... As Israel has announced an escalation of its operations in Lebanon, we witness constant violations of the ceasefire in Gaza, and the result of negotiations between the United States and Iran to enter the conflict in the Gulf remains unpredictable."
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Four people are dead after a train hit a school minivan at a level-crossing in northern Belgium.
Two children aged 12 and 15, the driver, and a female chaperone are among the casualties.
It is unclear how the van got through the barriers and into the path of the train, whose 100-odd passengers did not suffer any major injuries.
Lisa de Wilde, from the local prosecutor's office, says that will form part of their inquiries.
"The investigation into the circumstances and cause is currently ongoing. The train driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs. An autopsy will be carried out on the body of the bus driver to establish a clearer picture of the circumstances of the accident. Concerning the school bus driver, he never obtained any convictions in the past. We are doing everything we can to establish the exact circumstances as quickly as possible."
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The coalition says it will oppose Labor's controversial budget tax changes when it comes before Parliament on Thursday.
Opposition industry spokesman Andrew Hastie says the coalition supports the working Australian tax offset, which will provide wage and salary earners a $250 a year tax refund.
But he has accused Labor of "classic wedge politics" for bundling a popular tax offset in the same bill as tax hikes on investors, which the coalition argues is an attack on aspiration.
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A WARNING THAT THIS STORY CONTAINS THE NAME OF AN INDIGENOUS PERSON WHO HAS DIED
Two Northern Territory police officers involved in the death of Aboriginal man Kumanjayi White will not face charges.
The 24-year-old, who had a mental disability and was in care, died in an Alice Springs supermarket one year ago today, after being restrained by two plain-clothes officers.
Police Commissioner Martin Dole has confirmed prosecutors found there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction, a decision he says will cause distress for the family and broader community.
"A man lost his life, that fact remains at the centre of this matter and it must never be lost in legal or procedural discussions. O behalf of the Northern Territory police force, I again extend our sincere condolences to the family of Kumanjayi White."
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To sport, New South Wales has been forced into a late line-up change ahead of tonight’s opening State of Origin match at Sydney Olympic Park.
Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange will make his debut for the Blues against Queensland, replacing Eels play-maker Mitch Moses, who has been ruled out with a calf injury.
Queensland is chasing its fourth series win in five years.
