U-S troops killed as the Iran conflict intensifies; The Coalition questions the government's Islamophobia response; A Sydney family is guaranteed World Cup joy.
The United States military says two of its personnel have been killed in Jordan and another is missing after an Iranian attack after a seventh straight night of US strikes.
Washington says it is launching fresh airstrikes in response, as the conflict between the two countries intensifies.
Iran's Health Ministry says 50 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in U-S strikes over the past three weeks.
Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, has warned against further U-S escalation or any attempt to seize Iranian territory.
“Should they try to seize any part of our territory, we might enter that same phase of offence, abandoning our defensive posture, abandoning our deterrence, and reciprocal measures.”
The US and Iran have intensified attacks since an interim ceasefire deal signed a month ago fell apart last week, raising the possibility of a return to all-out war.
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Deadly long-range attacks by Ukraine and Russia have killed at least 11 people across both countries.
Russian authorities say nine people were killed and more than 60 wounded after Ukrainian drones struck warehouses, logistics facilities and an oil depot near Moscow and in the Tambov region.
Russian missile strikes on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa later killed at least two people and injured several others, damaging homes, cars and an amusement park.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the continuing war in his nightly video message.
"Russia has long had the opportunity to turn to diplomacy and end its aggression. It is the Russian leadership’s refusal and its desire to continue fighting that are the reasons this war goes on. We have approached Russia dozens of times with proposals to stop the war. The response has always been rejection. Putin has no desire to end the war."
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Lao authorities say they cannot determine the cause of the deaths of six foreign tourists in 2024 because autopsies were not carried out.
A distillery owner and 10 hostel employees have now been charged over the deaths, which were linked to suspected methanol poisoning in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.
The victims included Australian teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, as well as tourists from Denmark, Britain and the United States.
The charges come amid criticism from the victims’ families and the Australian government over the transparency of the investigation and whether anyone will be held properly accountable.
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The Opposition's home affairs spokesperson Jonno Duniam, says the Coalition will closely scrutinise the government's response to a landmark report on Islamophobia in Australia.
The Labor government yesterday announced its formal response to a report by the special envoy to combat Islamophobia.
Thirty-five of the 54 recommendations submitted by envoy Aftab Malik 10 months ago will be adopted.
Mr Malik says it's just the start of a journey.
"To tackle Islamophobia and its roots, it must address the challenging questions. These include stronger and more consistent legal protections for Muslim Australians, further national examination of Islamophobia, and action that addresses social institutional and structural causes."
The biggest recommendations that appear to be missing from the government's report are those related to counterterrorism and racial discrimination laws.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said any changes to these laws were dependent on "appropriate advice from national security agencies".
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A Sydney family is guaranteed a World Cup celebration tomorrow, with Spain and Argentina facing off in the final.
Spanish-born Sandra Hurtado and her Argentinian husband Fernando Travasso have spent the past 18 years building a life together in Australia.
Their three Australian-born children have grown up embracing both cultures, with football at the heart of family life.
Tomorrow's final means the household's two footballing nations will go head-to-head, but Ms Hurtado says there's no rivalry under their roof.
"For us its not that we feel that we are fighting against each other. For me especially it feels like the cup is already home because who ever wins it doesn't really matter for us I mean for me Spain is obviously my country, my immediate family is there but my immediate family are all Australian but they are half Argentinian and half Spanish so whoever wins is a win for us, I'm not going to fight - I'm going to celebrate."
