TRANSCRIPT
- A man sets himself on fire outside the court where Donald Trump's criminal trial is taking place.
- Iran downplays effects caused by Israeli missile attack.
- Premier League left with a single representative in European tournament semifinals.
A man has set himself on fire outside a New York court where Donald Trump's criminal trial is taking place.
Witnesses say they saw the man throwing pamphlets in the air before he doused himself in lighter fluid and set himself on fire.
The New York Police Department responded, extinguishing the fire with the man then carried away to hopistal on a stretcher, where he is in a critical condition.
NYPD officials provided an update shortly after, identifying the man as Maxwell Azzarello born in 1987 and from Florida.
They say his motive is unknown but they are labelling him a conspiracy theorist for now.
"We do not believe he was targeting any particular person or any particular group, We just right now are labeling it as a sort of conspiracy theorist and we will go from there, but the investigation will continue."
Donald Trump is facing trial, accused of trying to cover up hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels before he won the election in 2016.
He has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of fraud and denies having an affair with Daniels.
—
A security guard stabbed while confronting the man responsible for the deadly rampage at a Sydney shopping centre has spoken from his hospital bed as weekend trade at the complex resumes.
Muhammad Taha was rushed to hospital after he was stabbed in the stomach by Joel Cauchi at the Bondi Junction Westfield.
The Pakistani national told Nine News what happened with him to him and his colleague, Faraz Tahir, one of six people killed in the attack.
"I tried to use my hands and somehow he managed to stab me in the stomach. All of a sudden he jumped over Faraz and stabbed him in the chest, at the same time he jumped over to me. AFter that, like two or three days they told me that Faraz was no more."
—
Israel has launched a missile attack on the Iranian central province of Isfahan, with media from Iran saying explosions were heard in the area.
It comes as retaliation following Iran's large-scale assault on Israel last weekend during which over 300 drones were sent into the Israeli air space.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB has attempted to downplay the attack, reporting that there has been no major damage to infrastructure or casualties.
Israel remains on high alert following their attack on Iran for any potential response but officials from Iran say they have are no immediate plans to strike back.
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has called for the return of stability in the region.
"We have to do everything possible that all sides restrain from the escalation in that region. We have seen the massive attack with drones and missiles - around about 300 - by Iran on Israel. It is absolutely necessary that the region stays stable and that all sides refrain from further action."
—
A new report by the University of New South Wales and the Australian Council of Social Service found the collective wealth of the top ten percent of households soared by 84 per cent in the last two decades.
For the lowest 60 per cent, that growth has been far slower, rising at a rate of just 55 per cent.
Income inequality gaps meanwhile have been closing amid historically low unemployment.
Still, certain groups, including single parent households and migrants born in non-English speaking countries, frequently place among the lowest percentile.
Cassandra Goldie is the CEO of the Australian Council of Social Service.
"This is not a normal situation. What we're facing here is an acceleration of a divide in the Australian community, that will be very damaging for us socially, economically and also for the health of our democracy."
—
In football,
Despite huge investments in recent years, the English Premier League has been left with almost no representatives in the semifinals of all European tournaments.
The eliminations of Manchester City and Arsenal from the Champions League were followed by West Ham and Liverpool, who were knocked out of the Europa League quarter-finals by Leverkusen and Atalanta respectively.
Aston Villa are the sole remaining English side in European competitions, as they survived a 2-1 loss to Lille to advance to the Conference League semifinals 4-3 on penalties.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who made two crucial saves during the shoot-out, says he is always prepared for the big moments.
"I always say that I own my career, I own my personal performances. I know my team needs me in those moments. They always do. Even yesterday we were watching Real Madrid-Man(chester) City. And the manager's been saying if we go to penalties, maybe we go to penalties. So, in my head, I always, in those moments, I own my box."
Villa will now go on to face Greek side Olympiacos in the semifinals, with the winner of the tie earning a ticket to the Conference League final in Athens.
