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Three dead in boating tragedy off the far north coast of New South Wales | Morning News Bulletin 5 May 2026

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Three dead in a boating tragedy off the far north coast of New South Wales... the United States shoots down multiple Iranian missiles... and Brisbane Lions player Koby Evans accepts responsibility for using a homophobic slur.


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TRANSCRIPT

Three people have died in a boating accident off the far north coast of New South Wales.

Police say the trio died after a yacht rolled while crossing the Ballina Bar in heavy conditions overnight.

A second boat - identified as a rescue boat sent to assist them - is also believed to have also gotten into difficulties.

A search involving Tweed Heads police and marine rescue continues for any other possible survivors, while four other people who made it to shore are being treated for minor injuries.

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A man will face court in Alice Springs today accused of the murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby. [[May 5]]

47-year-old Jefferson Lewis has been charged with the five-year-old girl's murder.

He is also facing two other charges that cannot be published for legal reasons.

If you or someone you know is impacted by this story, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

For culturally appropriate Indigenous support 24 hours a day, call 13YARN on 13 92 76

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The Reserve Bank will today announce its next move on interest rates.

There are concerns of a further rate rise - with cost-of-living pressures, high inflation and mortgage stress pointing in that direction.

Kate Browne from life and health insurance comparisons platform, Compare Club says borrowers are already under pressure, and even small rate rises will add up quickly.

"Our mortgage brokers say that borrowers are already stretched, financing is up and another 0.25% rate rise could add more than $1,400 a year to a million dollar mortgage."

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US forces have hit six Iranian small boats they say were threatening commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, Iranian state television says the country's navy had fired cruise missiles, rockets and combat drones near US destroyers moving through the strait in what it called a warning shot.

US Admiral Brad Cooper has told Fox News, some cruise missiles targeted US Navy ships but most of them - as well as multiple drones - targeted commercial vessels.

He says two US guided-missile destroyers passed through the strait into the Gulf as part of what the Trump Administration is calling 'Project Freedom'.

"We defended both ourselves and consistent with our commitment, we defended all commercial ships. We had drone launches at commercial ships all of which were defended against consistent with our commitment. And the small boats were going against commercial ships. And all were sank by Apaches and Seahawk helicopters."

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Two people are dead after a man drove a car into a crowd in the eastern German city of Leipzig.

Three other people have been seriously injured.

The incident occurred in a street that leads into the city's main shopping area.

The premier of the state of Saxony, in which Leipzig is located, says the suspect is a 33-year-old German citizen with possible mental health issues.

He has been arrested without resistance.

Claudia Laube, the senior state prosecutor, says the man has been charged.

(German, then translated) "It is regrettable that we have lost two lives. Unfortunately, there are others who are still fighting for their lives in hospitals. There are a large number of injured people, and for this reason, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated proceedings for attempted murder in two cases— and murder in two completed cases, in addition to other offences."

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Medical evacuations are being planned for passengers on board a ship where three have already died in a suspected hantavirus outbreak.

The MV Hondius is docked off Cape Verde, after being forced to halt its polar voyage from Argentina to Antarctica.

The World Health Organisation's representative for Cape Verde, Ann Lindstrand, says testing is also in progress to determine if the strain of hantavirus known for more human-to-human transmission is the one that was on the ship.

She says local authorities are handling the arrangements.

"It's been very tricky for Cape Verdean authorities. What they have to deal with is a public health event. And of course, they have been thinking about the protection of the population here in Cape Verde. And then, of course they've been very careful to also give the needed medical assistance to the patients on board."

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And in AFL,

Brisbane Lions player Koby Evans has taken full responsibility for directing a homophobic slur towards an opponent in a lower-grade match over the weekend.

18-year-old Evans is facing a suspension after the incident in a VFL match against Coburg.

The incident happened less than a fortnight after the league sacked its appeals board chairman Will Houghton.

Houghton was sacked in the aftermath of St Kilda player Lance Collard's homophobia case.

In his appeals judgment on that case, Houghton said homophobic language was commonplace in the sport.


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