Questions over missed warnings before the deadly Nepal-Tibet glacier collapse; Police interviews loom for five suspended Sydney Swans players; And in sport, NRL teams locked in for the season-ending round.
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TRANSCRIPT:
- Questions over missed warnings before the deadly Nepal-Tibet glacier collapse
- Police interviews loom for five suspended Sydney Swans players
- NRL teams locked in for the season-ending round
Scientists say there were warning signs days before the glacier collapse that triggered the catastrophic floods along the Nepal-Tibet border.
Satellite images showed changes to the glacier before it gave way, including signs that water was accelerating and the surrounding rock was becoming unstable.
At least one-thousand people have been killed and more than 3,900 remain missing, including hundreds of workers at major construction projects.
Experts are now questioning whether stronger early-warning systems could have saved lives.
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Aid organisations are warning that even as rescue efforts are continuing, there is still danger from further landslides and flooding,
Matt Baden is Operations Manager for the Nepal crisis response for the Red Cross.
“Search and rescue is still ongoing, and the monsoon hasn't stopped. Blocked waterways remain at risk to further flooding, and threat of landslides is real and immediate.”
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The United States has launched fresh air strikes on Iran, in what President Donald Trump says is retaliation for an Iranian attempt to lay sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and an attack on a US military base in Jordan.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump described the strikes near the Strait as "large and powerful" and warned Iran would be hit at what he called a "much harder and higher level" if it retaliates.
Iranian media have reported explosions on Qeshm Island and in the port cities of Bandar Abbas and Chabahar.
Tehran says Washington is trying to impose its demands rather than negotiate, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei warning Iran will respond to further attacks.
"The Americans have mistaken the concept of negotiation with dictation. And that won't work when it comes to Iran. If they continue with that manner they won't get any better results than what they have got so far. We emphasise that we must watch enemy movements with full vigilance and force, and as recently shown, our armed forces will not leave any act of aggression unanswered."
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned airlines, insurance firms and passengers that Russian airspace will be "completely unsafe" and filled with Ukrainian drones.
It follows a sixth straight day of intense Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russian drones and ballistic missiles had targeted residential areas and railway infrastructure in the latest attacks, killing at least twelve people.
President Zelenskyy has since said Russia's skies will become increasingly dangerous for those who use it.
"Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, and everyone who still uses Russia’s key airports. Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe. Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such – not a single civilian aircraft. There will simply be drones in Russia’s skies on a scale that has to be taken into account."
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Sydney's Ferry passengers are being urged to plan ahead today as industrial action is expected to impact Sydney Ferries services for five hours from nine o'clock this morning.
Members of the Maritime Union of Australia are walking off the job in support of enterprise bargaining negotiations.
Meanwhile Brisbane ferry workers will stop work for 24-hours on Saturday, when around half a million people will be attempting to travel into the C-B-D for the annual Riverfire fireworks event.
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A warning, this story contains references to sexual assault.
Victorian detectives are reportedly preparing to travel to Sydney to interview five suspended Swans players over an alleged sexual assault at a Melbourne hotel.
Police are expected to seek interviews with Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon.
The investigation relates to allegations made by women who were at the Pullman Hotel following Sydney’s match against Essendon last month.
No charges have been laid, and the players deny any wrongdoing.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
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NRL clubs have named their teams for the final round of the regular season, with several finals contenders resting key players.
Cronulla is among them, leaving out a number of stars as the Sharks turn their attention to next week’s finals.
Halfback Braydon Trindall will also miss the round as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury.
Sharks co-captain Cameron McInnes says there’s no need to rush him back.
"Trickys played with us all year we know what he'll bring, he's a competitor so if we don't have him back this week it's OK like I just think that it's probably the best thing is to - that he's as healthy as possible for that week of the finals."
