Nine-year-old Australian girl killed in Pakistan after police open fire on family rental car; Fears of accelerated Ebola spread after deaths in eastern Congo displacement camp; And in sport, the big day arrives for the Socceroos as they take on Türkiye at the World Cup.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Nine-year-old Australian girl killed in Pakistan after police open fire on family rental car
- Fears of accelerated Ebola spread after deaths in eastern Congo displacement camp
- The big day arrives for the Socceroos as they take on Türkiye at the World Cup
A nine-year-old Western Australian girl has been killed after Pakistani police allegedly opened fire on her family's rental car, mistaking it for a vehicle linked to armed robbers.
Hania Ahmed, from Perth's suburb of Kewdale, was travelling with her parents and brother in the city of Chakwal when the shooting happened late on Wednesday night.
Local media report the family had just been robbed at gunpoint by two assialants on a motorcycle.
As the family drove away, officers allegedly mistook the family for the robbers, opening fire, killing Hania and injuring her father and 11-year-old brother.
Pakistani Association of WA secretary Asim Chaudhry tells Channel 7 the tragedy has devastated the local community.
"Our hearts are sad. We are definitely mourning. We are trying our best where we can raise our hand and help to support them. It's like it's our own girl, and we are with them wholeheartedly, and the whole community is standing with them."
DFAT says it is providing consular assistance to the family, while Pakistani authorities investigate.
The officer involved in the shooting has been stood down.
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Six months after the Bondi shooting, a permanent memorial will be established to honour the 15 people killed in the antisemitic attack at a Hanukkah celebration.
The New South Wales government has announced an $8.3 million support package for the Jewish community, including funding for the memorial, trauma support programs and community security measures.
Premier Chris Minns says the government remains committed to supporting those affected and helping the community recover.
The package also includes funding for new antisemitism exhibitions at the Sydney Jewish Museum.
A vigil is being held at Bondi today to mark six months since the attack.
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New South Wales Opposition Leader, Kelly Sloane, says the Minns government should abandon plans to ease driving restrictions for medicinal cannabis patients, warning the move could put road users at risk.
Earlier this month, Premier Chris Minns announced support for changes that would allow some drivers with prescribed medicinal cannabis to avoid automatic licence disqualification if they test positive for the active ingredient in the drug, but are not impaired.
Ms Sloane, who was joined by trauma surgeons and road safety experts, says there is no reliable scientific test for cannabis impairment and argues the proposal sends the wrong message.
Dr John Crozier from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons says cannabis is already a significant factor in fatal crashes.
"One person a day dies on our roads in New South Wales. Of the last 360 who died in the 12 months to date , 50 of those had significant levels of THC, the by-product of cannabis, as a co-variable in their death."
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The United Nations refugee agency says the first Ebola-related deaths have been recorded in a displacement camp in eastern Congo, raising fears the virus could spread rapidly through overcrowded settlements.
The two victims were living in the Kpangba camp, which houses around 30,000 displaced people.
Congo has recorded nearly 700 confirmed cases and 136 deaths since the outbreak began, while neighbouring Uganda has reported 19 infections.
The outbreak has spread across three conflict-affected provinces that are home to more than five million displaced people.
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The Democratic Republic of Congo has held an open training session in Houston ahead of its first FIFA World Cup appearance in more than 50 years.
The African side arrived in the United States this week after disruption to its preparations caused by the Ebola outbreak at home.
Coach Sebastien Desabre says his team is focused on making a strong start to the tournament.
Congolese football fan Dada Muzinga is in Houston for the match.
"I am really happy, man. I'm really happy. It's a long time... I never see the World Cup, I never see the Congolese (team) play the World Cup. It's like the first time for me. I'm 40 years old but look I have never seen the World Cup for my country. It's the first time so I am excited. I know it is going to be really good."
The Congolese open their campaign against Portugal on Wednesday, with local fans turning out to support a team appearing at its first World Cup since 1974.
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As the Socceroos prepare to face Türkiye in their World Cup opener this afternoon, two former refugees are poised to become key figures in Australia's campaign.
Twenty-year-old Nestory Irankunda and 22-year-old Mohamed Touré are among the country's brightest young talents and are hoping to make their mark on football's biggest stage.
Irankunda was born in a refugee camp in Tanzania to Burundian parents, while Touré arrived in Australia from Guinea.
Both came through Adelaide United and now play in England's Championship.
They join teammate Awer Mabil, who was born in a Kenyan refugee camp to South Sudanese parents, as members of the UNHCR's "Gamechanging Team", a symbolic line-up of players with refugee or displacement backgrounds.
Australia's Group D clash with Türkiye at Vancouver's BC Place kicks off at 2pm AEST.
This and all World Cup 2026 matches can be viewed live at SBS On Demand.
