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TRANSCRIPT
United States President Donald Trump has condemned Iran's new supreme leader as an unacceptable choice, insisting that he should have a hand in approving the next Ayatollah.
Iran's Assembly of Experts announced Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would ascent to the pinnacle of Iran's theocracy.
It comes as the expanding war pushes oil prices above 100 U-S dollars a barrel, and Australia considers a request to provide military assistance to Gulf states.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard has issued a statement expressing support for Mojtaba Khamenei, along with Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
Under the dark cloud of toxic smoke caused by a strike on a nearby oil facility, this resident in Tehran also backed the new leader.
FARSI THEN ENGLISH VO: "It was a profound happiness. We truly didn't know whether to mourn the loss of our leader, or rejoice at the selection of the new leader. Mr Mojtaba is very much like his father. Of all the possible candidates, he was the most deserving and the one most similar (to the late leader)."
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Hezbollah has issued a statement saying Israel infiltrated Lebanon via Syria for the second time since hostilities resumed last week, as fierce fighting takes place in the east of the country.
The militant group said it had detected around 15 helicopters coming from the Syrian side of the border on Monday, amid reports one Israeli aircraft was downed.
A similar attack on Friday killed 41 people, Lebanon's health ministry said, adding to a death toll that's now approaching 400.
The Israeli army didn't immediately comment on the latest attack, but has confirmed the first was aimed at recovering an airman who's been missing since 1986.
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Liberal M-P Julian Leeser has called on the government to allow Iran's women's football team to remain in Australia if they apply for asylum and meet security checks.
Fears for the women have grown after they refused to sing Iran's national anthem at the Gold Coast during their first appearance for the Asian Women's Cup.
They were labelled as 'traitors' on Iranian state TV and many in Australia's diaspora community have expressed concern for their safety if they return.
Mr Leeser says it's this concern that caused him to speak out.
"I represent the fourth largest Persian community in Australia. I'm reflecting very much the views of Persian Australians in my own electorate in this regard. People have told me that they've come here to this country to escape the terror of that regime. This is a regime we know that has murdered people who don't wear their hijab properly. We know that it's been particularly brutal in its human rights abuses, especially of women."
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Concern continues to mount around how conflict in the Middle East will impact Australia's fuel security - with around 30 days of petrol, diesel and jet fuel currently held in reserve.
That's short of the 90 days recommended by the International Energy Agency, but the government has said the reserve isn't being accessed yet as it urges consumers not to panic.
On Monday, the National Maritime Union joined those calling for the government to increase sovereign reserve capabilities onshore and expand domestic refining capabilities.
Resources Minister Catherine King says while the government is watching developments closely, Australia is in a good position.
"Because of the work of this government, and particularly minister Bowen, we've got two refineries that are open, we've got fuel supplies here in Australia, not sitting over in Texas as they were under the previous government. We are much more resilient than we were in previous years when it comes to fuel security."
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New documents show New South Wales Premier Chris Minns was warned legislation restricting protest and redefining hate speech might alienate communities and dilute compliance.
Mr Minns received the advice in a briefing note from NSW Cabinet Office national security executive director Alexandra Caples a little more than a week after the Bondi attack.
Accusations of police brutality followed, when officers clashed with pro-Palestine protestors and manhandled a group of Muslims praying during the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Mr Minns says he still believes his government got the balance right.
"We made the right decision. Now, governments have to make calls. Of course, we would accept advice from stakeholder groups, government lawyers, senior officials, but we have to make the decisions, and ultimately, I don't think there's been enough that's been put into some of the advice governments have gotten over the years about how people can feel unsafe in their own community, particularly days after the worst terrorism event that the country's ever had. And I have to take that into consideration."
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Large parts of Queensland are on high alert with flood watch warnings issued for scores of catchments as a broad trough draws in deep tropical moisture across the state.
It comes as the Northern Territory grapples with the wash up of flooding in Katherine, where schools remain closed, along with many shops and some roads.
As conditions worsen in Queensland, the government has issued an emergency alert for the central highlands, with resident urged to move to higher ground.
Premier David Crisafulli is urging people to stay out of harm's way- and not just for their own sake.
"People should know that the impact it puts on their own family and personal strain in their community, but also think about it through the eyes of those emergency services personnel, they've got loved ones too, and anything you can do to stay out of harm's way helps everyone. And I'm really grateful for the effort of the men and women of things like those swift water rescue teams, the police, the SES, the fireys - right across the board - and I want to thank them for their service"
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In football, Matildas defender Ellie Carpernter says travel will be no excuse if they don't get the job done in the knockout stage of the Asian Cup.
As a result of only finishing second in their group after a three-all draw with South Korea last night in Sydney, the Australian side now has to cross the country and play their quarter-final in Perth on Friday night [[13 mar]].
If they win that game, their semi-final will also be in Perth.
If they had topped the group, their quarter-final, semi-final, and final would all have been in Sydney.
But Carpenter says dealing with the effects of travel is part and parcel of the job.
"Yeah, look, we are all professional footballers. We know how to recover, to travel. We do it all the time in Europe. Some of us play three games per week, travelling overseas to different countries. And, yeah, it's part of the tournament. We knew this could be a possibility. And I don't like to make excuses. We are now travelling across to Perth. So, yeah, we know what we need to do. We know we need to get that job done on Friday night."
Australia will play either China or North Korea in their quarter-final.
Carpenter says the side does not have preference as to which side they play.
