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TRANSCRIPT:
- West Australia's Premier says there is no ongoing threat to safety after a terror plot arrest
- Calls for civilians to be protected in hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan
- In women's cricket, Australia beat India by five wickets
West Australian Premier Roger Cook says the actions of police have prevented an alleged act of terror in the state.
Twenty-year-old Jayson Joseph Michaels, from the town of Bindoon north of Perth, has appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on a string of charges, accused of planning an alleged "mass casualty" terrorist attack targeting public buildings and Muslim places of worship.
Australian Federal Police superintendent Peter Hatch has said Michaels was allegedly motivated by white supremacist ideology.
Mr Cook says police have advised there is no ongoing threat to the community.
"It's deeply concerning. And I am sure everyone in Australia will be struck by the fact that Western Australia is not immune - not immune - to the rise of violence and division that you see brought by the internet into our community. And Western Australia's terror threat level remains at probable - like it is across the rest of Australia. But I am very confident of WA Police keeping us safe."
**
West Australian Police Commissioner Col Blanch says authorities were led to the property of the 20-year-old man after monitoring an encrypted online chat group.
He says it was part of an investigation into alleged antisemitic, Islamophobic and racially-motivated online hate speech.
The Commissioner says police will allege the man was radicalised online.
"I think it should worry 3 million West Australians that someone can be online and be radicalised so easily. And (for police) not to have a record or indication from anyone that we're aware of. That they can start to go down this rabbit hole of racism, white supremacy. Putting firearms aside, that is a tool to harm or injure people should you be unwell; or you should go down this pathway. That is what this conversation needs to be around."
**
Advocates are calling for more government investment to help members of LGBTIQ+ communities navigating substance abuse and addiction.
A 2023 household survey from the The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found lesbian, gay and bisexual people are 1.2 times more likely to consume alcohol at risky levels than heterosexual people, and nearly two and a half times as likely to use an illicit drug.
GP Chris Davis says more needs to be done to provide primary care support.
"If there is a pot of funding for me to do a heart check or a diabetes check, then that's what I'll concentrate my time on doing because that's what's going to bring money in. If there's no money for me to do what's often seen as complex and time consuming care for alcohol or drugs, then I'm going to refer that to a different service and that's where the system is broken."
**
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross has called for a de-escalation of hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, insisting that civilians must be protected and healthcare access guaranteed.
Pakistan launched airstrikes in Afghanistan - including its capital city, Kabul - after Afghanistan's Taliban government said it had launched a major ground operation against Pakistani military positions near the border, claiming to have captured and killed Pakistani soldiers.
Mirjana Spoljaric Egger has said in a statement that the organisation is preparing an operational response to address the humanitarian needs on the ground, but that cannot compensate for a de-escalation in the fighting.
Meanwhile, in the Pakistani city of Lahore, resident and aircraft engineer, Ali Sarfraz, says he wants the violence to end.
"Pakistan and Afghanistan, especially all Muslim countries, should show solidarity. Instead of fighting with each other, because at the end, it's the common people who suffer - people like you and me, both here and in Afghanistan."
**
Donald Trump says he is dissatisfied with the way Iran is handling negotiations over its nuclear program.
The US president says he does not want to use military force against Iran, but is reserving that option.
"Well, we haven't made a final decision. We're not exactly happy with the way they negotiated. Again. They cannot have nuclear weapons. We're not thrilled with the way they're negotiating. So we'll see how it all works."
The remarks are the first made by Mr Trump following negotiations in Geneva that broke up on Thursday without a deal.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is travelling to Israel for talks on Iran on Monday.
**
In women's cricket, a second ODI century from Georgia Voll has helped Australia to achieve a five-wicket win over India in the second one-dayer in Hobart.
Fellow 22-year-old Phoebe Litchfield smashed 80 off 62 to also contribute to the result.
Australia now lead the multi-format series with six points to four, ahead of the third and final ODI to be played in Hobart on Sunday.
