Key Points
- Donald Trump orders the US military to 'shoot and kill' Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz
- Fears remote Indigenous communities could be left without any power
- Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to make his long-awaited debut with the Gold Coast Suns
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TRANSCRIPT
US President Donald Trump has ordered the US military to "shoot and kill" Iranian small boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a social media post Thursday morning, he says the military is intensifying its mine clearing efforts in the critical waterway.
Meanwhile, the US military says it seized another tanker associated with smuggling Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean, deepening confusion over efforts to end the war.
The seizure of the Majestic X comes after a day after Iran attacked three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, capturing two of them.
The standoff between the US and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
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Pope Leo XIV has urged the United States and Iran to return to talks to end the war and condemned the killing of protesters in Iran.
US President Donald Trump attacked the pontiff on social media, calling him "terrible" earlier this month, after the pope emerged as an outspoken critic of the Iran war and the president's hardline anti-immigration policies.
In a post two days later, Mr Trump asked if "will someone please tell Pope Leo" about the deaths of Iranian protestors.
Pope Leo says he laments the deaths of so many civilians in the war and the collapse of planned US-Iran peace talks.
"I condemn all actions that are unjust. I condemn the taking of people's lives. I condemn capital punishment. I believe that human life is to be respected, and that all people, from conception to natural birth, their lives should be respected and protected. So, when a regime, when a country takes decisions which takes away the lives of other people unjustly, then obviously that is something that should be condemned."
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Lebanon and Israel are set to begin a second session of direct talks at the White House to discuss the possibility of extending a truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.
It marks the second meeting between Lebanese Ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad and her Israeli counterpart, Yechiel Leiter, days after the first direct talks between the two countries in three decades.
While there has been a reduction in violence since a ceasefire agreement was reached at the first talks, attacks have continued in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops have seized what they describe as a buffer zone.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has said Lebanon's ambassador to the US would seek a ceasefire extension and a halt to demolitions by Israel in villages in the south.
The renewed talks come a day after Israeli strikes killed at least five people, including a journalist - an attack which UN Secretary General spokesperson Stephane Dujaric has condemned.
"The secretary-general recalls that civilians, including journalists, must be respected and protected at all times. He calls for a prompt and impartial investigation to this killing, targeting civilians and obstructing aid or violations of international humanitarian law. He reiterates that journalists must be able to perform their essential duties without fears of interference, harassment or worse."
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Indigenous leaders and advocates are worried remote communities will be left without power as the global fuel crisis continues.
For hundreds of remote communities across Australia, diesel is not only essential for transport but also for basic electricity.
First Nations peak bodies have joined a national working group to address the impacts on people living in the nation's most remote areas.
Mischa Cartwright from the Central Land Council told NITV News the government needs to help cover the increasing costs.
"We've got remote communities that rely 100 per cent on diesel for all facets of their life so that includes for power, for food, for water supplies and also for transport but also accessing health services, so they really rely on that disel out there and it is costly."
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Australian writer and poet David Malouf has died at the age of 92.
He's best known for his 1975 debut novel Johnno which was a portrait of mid-century Brisbane.
He as first published as a poet in 1962.
Malouf was declared a National Living Treasure in 1997.
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In AFL, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will make a long-awaited debut with the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday in a match against Hawthorn in Launceston.
The former Western Bulldogs player was sidelined for the entire season last year due to mental health issues.
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick says the 24-year-old has definitely earned his place in the squad.
"He's done a power of work for us. We made him earn it but we've been so impressed by what he's brought so we're excited about what he's going to offer. We're not expecting a world beating performance. What we do know is we think this kid is going to be a big part of our future moving forward so we're excited to see him play."
