TRANSCRIPT
- Two killed in a shooting at the Israel Jordan border
- Fears for a pilot after a suspected plane crash on the New South Wales south coast
- Gout Gout and Torrie Lewis both out of the world titles in Tokyo
Two Israeli men have been killed in what Israel's military has described as a 'terror attack' at Allenby Crossing, the only gateway for Palestinians to cross from the occupied West Bank to Jordan.
Israeli military officials say the shooter arrived in a truck transporting humanitarian aid from Jordan before opening fire - and before being shot dead himself by security forces.
No group has admitted responsibility, and Israel has now closed the Allenby Crossing.
Meanwhile, Israeli military spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin says four military personnel have been killed during combat in southern Gaza.
"The fighters were injured as a result of an explosive device exploded during an offensive operation at Al-Janina neighbourhood in Rafah. The forces are working at Al-Janina neighbourhood to eliminate terrorism."
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British police have arrested three people suspected of spying on behalf of Russia.
Commander Dominic Murphy from London police's Counter Terrorism Command says the two men and one woman are expected to be charged under the National Security Act, which was brought in two years ago to give new powers to target threats from foreign states.
London has repeatedly accused Russia or its agents of being behind spy plots and sabotage missions in Britain and across Europe, with the British domestic spy chief saying Russian operatives were trying to cause "mayhem".
The Kremlin has denied the accusations, saying the British government repeatedly blamed Russia for anything "bad" that happens in the UK.
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A search operation is underway this morning to locate the pilot of an aircraft following a crash on the New South Wales south coast.
New South Wales Police say they have found an accident site in the Budawang National Park – about 25km north of Batemans Bay – after an aircraft Emergency Location Transmitter was activated.
But police say emergency services are still working to locate the crash site on foot, as it cannot be accessed by vehicle or aircraft because of difficult terrain and weather conditions.
They've been told a small recreational aircraft left Bankstown in Sydney’s southwest on Thursday with a single occupant and was in the process of returning to the airport.
**
There's been mixed reactions to the government's announcement of a 2035 emissions reduction target.
The federal Opposition under Sussan Ley say they will fight against the goal of 62-70 percent, which will be achieved largely through slashing emissions from heavy industry, speeding up the renewables roll-out, and a kerbside charger blitz.
Businesses have also proclaimed that even the lower end of the target range would be a challenge to achieve under current settings, while environmental groups have hoped for more ambitious goals.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie says extensive modelling supports lifting the target even higher.
"There are many independent experts that put forward that 75 (per cent) plus target is very doable. From (economic consultants) Deloitte, to EY, to a group of 500 businesses that came out in the last month. So certainly, the 70 per cent target is doable, and we need to get on with it. "
**
Expatriates in Australia say they are worried about new restrictions on the people of Afghanistan, after the Taliban announced a ban on internet access in the north of the country.
The Taliban says it has cut internet connections in five provinces to prevent what it calls immoral activities.
Officials say the outage affects all internet connections via fibre optic cable, but internet access on mobile phone data is still available.
Khalid Amiri is an Afghan journalist who was evacuated after the Taliban came to power in 2021, and has told SBS Pashto that the ban further isolates families.
"It particularly affects the Afghan diaspora in countries like Australia and across the West, where families remain separated since the Taliban takeover. Many fled, leaving loved ones behind and their only means of communication has been through applications like WhatsApp and Signal. And I think with this ban, even that lifeline has been cut off completely."
**
Australia could become a major test bed for autonomous vehicles.
Speakers at the National Future Transport Summit in Brisbane have made that speculation after the news that Tesla plans to launch its self-driving software in Australia following weeks of testing.
The two-day transport summit has also heard Uber considers Australia to be a prime location for self-driving vehicles as it has embraced ride-share.
But the NRMA’s Peter Khoury says strict regulations will need to be in place to govern their use.
"If something happens and you're not in control of the vehicle, that opens up all manner of concerns around liability, the law. You can be charged for causing a crash."
**
To sport and in NRL news, the NRL's Sydney Roosters have imposed a 10-game ban on superstar forward Victor Radley over his involvement in an alleged drug scandal.
The hefty ban comes alongside a $30,000 fine to be donated to St Vincent's Hospital, representing the heaviest penalty ever handed down by the Roosters to a player.
The penalty follows Smith’s appearance in Queensland's Southport Magistrates Court, days after alleged text messages between the South Sydney hooker and Radley were leaked to the press.
Meanwhile, in athletics, teenaged sensation Gout Gout's debut world championships campaign has ended in the 200m semi-finals in Tokyo.
He's come fourth in the semi, and therefore hasn't qualified for the final.
