Saudi Arabia closes a major oil pipeline over drone strikes fired from Iraqi territory; teenager charged with murder in apparent mistaken identity shooting; Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton through to the US open final.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Saudi Arabia closes a major oil pipeline over drone strikes fired from Iraqi territory
- Teenager charged with murder in an apparent mistaken identity shooting
- Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton claim their spots in the US open final
Drone strikes launched from Iraq have forced Saudi Arabia to shut down a major oil pipeline which it had been using to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iraqi government has confirmed the attack came from its territory, condemning the assault and ordering an investigation.
It's another threat to global oil supply, after Iran's allies, the Houthis, seized control of the entire Red Sea coast over recent days.
Saudi oil exports had increasingly relied on the pipeline, which links facilities near the Persian Gulf with the Red Sea.
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Dozens of bodies belonging to passengers killed in a ferry fire off the Philippines coast have arrived at a port in Palawan province.
Authorities have confirmed 35 deaths, but the country's coast guard is warning that toll is likely to rise as search efforts continue:
Fifty four people remain unaccounted for, and another 43 are being treated in hospital.
Lira Daco is facing an anxious wait for news of her missing child.
She says she want answers about what caused the blaze.
“We want to appeal. We want to find out why there was a blast on the ship, where it started, and why there was a fire like that.”
The Philippines Coast Guard has promised a comprehensive investigation.
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A teenager has been charged with murder over a mistaken identity shooting earlier this month.
Forty-year-old Joshua McDonald was killed in Merrylands in Sydney's west last week, in the front yard of a home that had alleged links to organised crime.
Police say he was not the intended target.
Commander of the New South Wales Police Homicide Squad Joe Doueihi says the 18-year-old is accused of using a drone to conduct surveillance at the home where Mr McDonald was killed.
"He was charged by homicide investigators for the offense of murder and participate in criminal group. Even though the male was not the shooter in this offence, we will allege that he formed part of a joint criminal enterprise through his involvement in supporting the offenders by conducting surveillance at that premises."
Officers are still investigating who carried out the shooting, and have seized a drone, several phones and encrypted items for forensic examination.
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The federal government says lifting a ban on plug-in solar, which can be used on balconies and in rented spaces, would bring Australia into line with global leaders.
Energy ministers across the country have agreed to explore pathways to lift a ban on the systems, which can be plugged into regular power points, and installed without an electrician.
Under current regulations, it's legal to sell the systems within Australia, but not to plug in and use them.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen says it will take time to reform these regulations.
"Now, we've got a lot of work to do, on safety and on standards. We'll be working with Standards Australia and with all the state safety regulators. States will need to review their strata laws. But this is happening around the world. Germany is a world leader here. Spain's been doing it. United Kingdom just announced they were doing it. New Zealand is on the path to doing it, and now Australia's on the path to doing it."
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And now to sport now.
In tennis, Alexander Zverev has secured his place in the US Open final, beating Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6, 7-6, and moving one step closer to a second Grand Slam title.
The French Open champion will face American eighth seed Ben Shelton, after his decisive win against compatriot Frances Tiafoe.
Zverev says he started the tournament doubtful about his chances to break through to the final.
"Here I am sitting and preparing for Sunday's final. So, things like that can happen in sports, in tennis, in general. Things can change very quickly for the positive or negative, and for me, luckily, it was for the positive. And now I'm going to do everything I can to prepare for Sunday."
Earlier, top seeds Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend completed a team career Grand Slam, beating American wildcard duo Ashlyn Krueger and Robin Montgomery in the women's doubles final.
