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TRANSCRIPT:
- The US vows to deliver the most intense strikes yet against Iran
- Emotional scenes as Iranian women's football team players depart Australia for Iran
- Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga applies to switch allegiance to New Zealand
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that today will be the most intense day of strikes yet inside Iran.
Iran has launched new attacks on Israel and Gulf countries, with the UAE reporting two more deaths as nine drones hit the country in the last 24 hours.
Mr Hegseth pointed to President Donald Trump's threat on Monday to increase strikes on Iran by 20 times, if it stops the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
"And from the beginning, from this podium, we haven't stated how long it will take. Our will is endless. Ultimately, the president gets to determine the end state of those objectives, right? But what he's said continually, and I want the American people to understand, is this is not endless, it's not protracted, we're not allowing mission creep. The president has set a very specific mission to accomplish, and our job is to unrelentingly deliver that."
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine says the military is considering options for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for tanker traffic, but has not yet been asked to escort tankers through the narrow passage.
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There are grave fears for the safety of departing Iranian football players after at least five of their teammates were granted asylum in Australia.
The remaining Lionesses left Australia last night after flying from the Gold Coast to Sydney.
There are media reports that one or two other players also did not board the plane.
A heavy police presence was reported at the airport, as well dozens of community members holding signs urging the players to seek asylum and offering help.
At least five players remain in Australia after being granted humanitarian visas amid concern the players would face serious danger if they returned to Iran.
This Iranian Australian watched the players being escorted onto the bus on the tarmac at Sydney airport.
"We are expecting from Australian government, Australian police. This country is popular for humanity, for love, for compassion. They ask for help. They're going to get killed by Islamic regime. Why they let them go?"
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Earlier, Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam expressed his concern over footage of a member of Iran's women's football squad being led by the hand toward a bus to the airport by a teammate.
The footage was taken around 2pm on Tuesday by a supporter, as the players departed their hotel in Queensland and boarded a bus en route to the airport.
SBS Chief Political correspondent Anna Henderson asked Foreign Minister Penny Wong whether she was also concerned by the footage.
"We all know the Iranian regime has been an autocratic, authoritarian, brutal regime that has harmed its people and has, you've heard me talk about a regime that kills its own people to maintain its authority, has no legitimacy. So we are not surprised by any actions that the regime takes."
Ms Wong also stressed Australia had offered asylum to all team members.
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Residents in Bundaberg in Central Queensland are bracing for the impact of flooding.
More than 400 homes and businesses are under threat, with the river set to peak at 7.6 metres.
Bundaberg is the latest regional centre to be hit by the effects of high rainfall pummelling Queensland and the Northern Territory.
The mayor of Bundaberg Regional Council, Helen Blackburn, says while peak water levels are forecast to be lower than in past events, some residents are feeling scared.
"Given what's happened over the past 15 years with the floods that we've had, there are people whose mental health really declines when we have, you know, floods or even rain events within our region, and I understand that firsthand. I can't wait until we're on the other side of this emergent event and looking towards the recovery period, but at this point in time I just ask people to just stay calm, stay kind and stay out of the floodwater."
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Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga has formally applied to switch his allegiance to New Zealand at this year’s Rugby League World Cup.
It marks the first time a player has made use of the NRL’s new eligibility rule, which allows players to choose to play for New Zealand or England without compromising their Origin status.
Previously, no player could play Origin if they had chosen to represent New Zealand or England instead of Australia in Test football.
The International Rugby League board is set to meet today to discuss Ponga’s Test playing future.
