The United States launches another wave of attacks against Iran; New Zealand prepares for more H5 bird flu cases after confirming its first detection in a wild seabird; England and Argentina kick off for a spot in the final.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The United States launches another wave of attacks against Iran
- New Zealand prepares for more H5 bird flu cases after confirming its first detection in a wild seabird
- England and Argentina kick off for a spot in the final
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The United States has launched another wave of attacks against Iran as the pair resume strikes on targets across the region.
Iran says it has targeted US bases in Bahrain, while Jordan's armed forces say they have also downed three Iranian missiles.
After reimposing a naval blockade on Iran, US President Donald Trump is threatening to widen strikes next week to hit power plants and bridges unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
Iran's top negotiator says until the United States abides by the memorandum of understanding signed last month, Iran will not be motivated to follow it either.
With the Strait of Hormuz closed once again, Mr Trump says attacks will continue until Iran is ready to negotiate.
“Well, I guess you could define it any way you want, but certainly we're beating them up really badly. They have to be beat up. We're hitting them very, very hard. We're hitting every single thing that they have along the shore, along the waterfront.”
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The European Union has signed an agreement to move forward on joint weapons production with Ukraine, saying Kyiv's fight against Russia’s 4-year-old invasion is a key part of the continent’s defence.
The agreement will assist Ukraine in expanding its domestic production, especially sophisticated air defences that can stop Russia’s ballistic missiles.
The move reflects European worries about Russia’s broader intentions on the continent.
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Health officials say they are concerned the Ebola virus is spreading undetected in Democratic Republic of Congo communities, as the tally of cases nears 2000 infections.
The World Health Organisation says the Ebola outbreak is less than 50 cases away from reaching that milestone, and is becoming increasingly difficult to contain.
The World Health Organisation says many new infections are emerging from previously unknown chains of transmission, with 80 percent of new cases now occurring outside known contact lists.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the WHO has upgraded its assessment of the outbreak.
"The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading rapidly. Previously, WHO assessed the risk as high at the national and regional levels and low at global levels. We are now revising our risk assessment to very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at global level."
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New Zealand authorities are preparing for more cases of the H5 bird flu virus after confirming its first detection in a wild seabird on Wednesday.
The virus was found in a brown skua on a beach near Wellington.
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says officials have begun implementing measures to protect vulnerable wildlife, including vaccinating breeding populations of endangered native birds.
He says New Zealand has had time to prepare by learning from other countries already dealing with the virus.
“Yes, it’s inevitable that we will get more birds show up, coming from Antarctica ... you know it was always inevitable that it was going to get here eventually, like I said we’re the last country in the world to effectively get this, it’s spread all across the globe, everyone else has learnt how to live with it, we’re going to go through that process as well, we’ve learnt from things they’ve done so I think we’re probably going to be the most prepared in the world to be able to live with it.”
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The Chair of the Northern Land Council has told a parliamentary inquiry systemic racism has become a part of everyday life for First Nations people.
Matthew Ryan has made the comment at a national senate inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which is holding two days of hearings in Darwin before moving on to Alice Springs on Friday.
The NLC Chair has told the inquiry Indigenous people experience racism in shopping centres, workplaces, accessing services, on the street, and in government institutions and policies.
He says community-led policies and initiatives are essential to address racism in the justice, health and child-protection systems and elsewhere.
"Community development implementation, community-led solutions that addresses systemic issues, housing, protect- child protection, and the justice system to name a few. It is crucial these important systems are fair, are free of racism and, or bias. Solution led by Aboriginal people who face the racism within these systems will deliver the best results in addressing barriers."
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The second World Cup semi-final is underway in Atlanta, Georgia, between England and Argentina.
The two nations have an acrimonious history both on and off the field.
Football journalist and historian, Trevor Thompson told SBS England against Argentina is widely regarded as one of the most bitter international footballing rivalries.
"The rivalry is so strong. I mean, people say it's the only transcontinental, intercontinental derby match. You know, it's, it's never going to go away. Whenever they play, everybody will talk about the dramas of 1966, the hand of God, the Beckham send-off. You know, all of that stuff's part of the folklore"
