TRANSCRIPT
- The Iraqi military warns of instability in the region after US airstrikes on its borders
- Queenslanders brace themselves for the final return of ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily
- Asian Cup favourites Japan have been knocked out by Iran
The Iraqi military has confirmed that US airstrikes have been launched in border areas of Iraq, warning that the attacks could provoke instability in the region.
A spokesperson for Iraq's prime minister wrote on social media platform X the US strikes are a "violation" of Iraq's sovereignty.
They added the strikes will bring "disastrous consequences" for the security and stability of Iraq and the surrounding region.
The US launched strikes on 85 Iran-linked targets in Syria and Iraq on Friday in response to last Sunday's drone attack on a U-S military base in Jordan that left three U-S soldiers dead.
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Health officials in Gaza say Israeli air strikes have killed 18 Palestinians in Rafah and Deir Al-Balah.
It comes amid fears Israel will expand its ground operation in the last two Gaza Strip cities where troops have not been deployed.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has previously said forces would press on to Rafah on Gaza's southern edge.
Tens of thousands of people have arrived in Rafah in recent days, since Israeli forces last week launched one of their biggest assaults of the war to capture Khan Younis, Gaza's main southern city.
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The European Union has expressed deep concern at reports the Israeli army intends to advance on the town of Rafah.
The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, warned that the conflict is likely to spread throughout the region unless a ceasefire is agreed in Israel's war with Hamas.
Mr Borrell has said that around one million Palestinians have been progressively displaced near the Egyptian border.
He says this latest escalation escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict could mean even greater damage to the entire Middle East.
"We are living a critical situation in the Middle East and the whole region, it is no longer just - and as far as the war in Gaza continues, it's very difficult to believe that the situation in the Red Sea will improve, because one thing is related with the other (there) is a domino effect ."
Gaza's health authorities say over 27,000 Palestinian people have been killed in Israeli offensives since October 7th, while Israel says over 132 hostages, including two children, remain in Gaza.
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Queenslanders are preparing for another day of wet weather before relief arrives as ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily makes its final run through the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned severe thunderstorms will bring heavy rain, flash flooding and damaging wind gusts in western and northwestern Queensland.
Kirrily's remnants are moving through the southwest along the Northern Territory border today, with eastern parts of the Barkly and Simpson districts facing heavy rainfall that could also lead to flash flooding.
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An Indigenous teenager in the Northern Territory is set to become one of the youngest Australians to get her pilot's license.
C-J Rankin is 17 years old and graduated from high school last year, at the same time as she was undergoing the Qantas Pilot Academy selection process.
This year, she will study at the airline's academy in Toowoomba where she will undergo 55 weeks of training to get her ready for a career in commercial aviation.
Brad Blight, from Darwin Flight Training, says that he has never trained someone so young.
"She's probably the youngest one I've dealt with in my short time instructing. Everything's pretty good. Her landings, her take-offs. Everything, all her procedures are pretty good. We'll just keep working towards touching up a few small things so she can move on to solo flight."
According to the Centre for Aviation, women represent only 5 per cent of commercial pilots worldwide.
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Iran have fought back from a goal down against Japan to win their Asian Cup quarter-final 2-1, knocking out the tournament favourites.
Japan took the lead through in the 28th minute after midfielder Hidemasa Morita went on a wonderful solo run and then watched as Iran's goalkeeper deflected his shot into his own net.
But three-time champions Iran, without their top scorer following a suspension for a red card in the last-16 win over Syria, equalised in the 55th minute, before sealing victory with a dramatic stoppage-time clincher from the penalty spot from Mohammad Mohebi.
Iran will now face hosts Qatar in their semi-final on Thursday.
