TRANSCRIPT
- Russia launches a major attack on Ukraine as the US considers its reaction
- Police charge seven people allegedly involved in the so-called blessings scam
- Queensland clinches the state of origin series
Ukrainian officials says Russia fired a record 728 drones and 13 missiles in the latest strikes on Ukraine, amid its mounting campaign of aerial and ground attacks.
The city of Lutsk, which lies in Ukraine's northwest, was hit hardest overnight, though 10 other regions were also struck.
There are no immediate reports of casualties.
This is the latest in a series of escalating attacks on western Ukraine, which contains key supply corridors used to receive vital foreign military aid.
It comes as US President Donald Trump rebukes Russian President Vladimir Putin and signals he may send weapons to Kyiv.
Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, says Russia hopes the US will remain engaged in dialogue.
"We also hope that despite all the decisions to resume weapons supplies, although in reality they have never been halted, Trump and his team will continue efforts to take the process of Ukrainian settlement to a political and diplomatic stage."
Also on Wednesday, Europe's top human rights court delivered rulings against Russia, accusing it of violating international law.
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Four crew members are dead and 15 are missing, after Yemen’s Houthi rebels sank a commercial ship in the Red Sea in their second attack this week.
According to Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, the Eternity C vessel, which is operated by a Greek company and sails under a Liberian flag, was struck several times.
"The naval forces of the Yemeni (Houthi) armed forces targeted the vessel Eternity C, which was heading to the port of Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat) in occupied Palestine. The operation was carried out using an unmanned boat and six cruise and ballistic missiles. The operation resulted in the complete sinking of the ship, and the event was documented with audio and video."
Mr Sarea says the ship was targeted for violating a ban on trade with Israeli ports and ignored repeated warnings from Houthi forces.
He says a special unit rescued several crew members, provided medical aid, and transferred them to a secure location.
The Iran-aligned group has vowed to continue striking any vessels connected to Israel in both the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
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Police have issued warrants for seven people, as part of an investigation into spiritual blessings scams targeting Asian communities.
They say the alleged offenders would typically target elderly Chinese women - promising to bless their wealth, after convincing them their families are at risk from spirits.
Since 2023, New South Wales Police says it's received over 80 reports across Sydney, with more than $3 million in cash and valuables stolen.
Assistant Police Commissioner Gavin Wood says the scam targetted vulnerable people.
"They are what I would describe as very, very vulnerable people. Majority of them are female, they elderly, and they absolutely underpin the word vulnerability, and that's what makes this scam, this crime - let's not call it a scam, this crime - so serious. They (perpetrators) are like piranhas. They are circling around vulnerable people. And they are robbing them of, at times, huge amounts of money, and their jewellery."
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Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Australia will not compromise any element of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, as the United States threatens huge tariffs on all pharmaceutical products.
It comes as US President Donald Trump announced a potential 200 per cent tariff on all pharmaceutical imports, threatening Australia's third-largest export to America after beef and gold.
He says these tariffs are not likely to come into effect for at least a year.
The US pharmaceutical industry has reportedly been lobbying President Trump to target Australia's PBS scheme, which offers heavily discounted medicines to Australians.
Mr Chalmers says the scheme is not under threat but he believes the threat of more tariffs is creating widespread economic uncertainty.
"We think that these tariffs inject an unnecessary element of uncertainty, unpredictability and volatility in the global economy. Whether it's the developments on copper and pharmaceuticals or the tariffs more broadly. We're not prepared to negotiate any element of the PBS in the engagement we have with the US."
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Tasmania's Aboriginal community is gathering at Wybalenna on Flinders Island to mark NAIDOC week with a time of healing and truth-telling.
As many as 300 Palawa people were exiled to Wybalenna's internment camp after the arrival of Europeans.
There are 107 confirmed burial sites in the cemetery at Wybalenna, and the locations of many more are not known.
The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania has managed the site since the late 1990s.
Rebecca Digney was its manager when works began a few years ago, to make it easier for the community to spend time at Wybalenna.
“We're really trying to invite people back to this site so we can reconnect with the history here, and particularly reconnect with the Stories of our ancestors. Wybalenna is a really sacred place for the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. It was the place where our people were exiled to as a result of the Black War, and many of the people who were brought here died here.”
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In the NRL, Queensland has added another chapter to the Maroons' State of Origin folklore, shocking New South Wales with a 24-12 victory at Accor Stadium to win back the shield.
In a state of chaos a month ago after losing game one, the Maroons were dominant on Wednesday night.
The win follows a previous triumph over NSW in Perth last month, making last night's decider anyone's game.
The Maroons were so dominant, they completed their first 30 sets and took a 20-0 lead against the Blues by half time.
