Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has stated she believes the Australian women who alleged they were sexually assaulted and beaten by Israeli forces after being detained during a humanitarian flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Wong described the treatment as 'unacceptable' and the allegations as 'distressing' during Senate estimates on Thursday.
Nauru Issues Rare Statement
The Nauruan government has issued an unusual statement insisting it is a 'friendly' and 'welcoming' country. This follows a whistleblower's allegations of 'serious threats of physical violence' against a group of non-citizens removed there by the Albanese government.
Other Australian News
Hero Charged: Ahmed al-Ahmed, the Sydney man who disarmed one of the Bondi terror attackers, has been charged with assaulting his father.
Bill Delays: The Greens are urging Labor to halt plans to rush NDIS cuts through the Senate, calling for a longer inquiry process as the government seeks support for tax and housing changes.
Slavery Accusation: A woman accused of marrying Islamic State fighters allegedly lived with a teenage slave who was repeatedly assaulted and raped by the woman's father. Zeinab Ahmad, 31, appeared in Melbourne magistrates court on slavery offences.
World News
Ceasefire Rejected: Hezbollah has rejected a US-brokered ceasefire plan agreed by the Lebanese and Israeli governments, casting doubt on peace negotiations.
Musk Criticised: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused Elon Musk of 'interfering' in UK politics and creating division, following Musk's posts about the murder of Henry Nowak.
Greensill Ban: Disgraced Australian financier Lex Greensill has been banned from running a UK company for nine years after the collapse of his supply chain firm.
Germany Woe: Germany's failure to win a UN Security Council seat has sparked soul-searching about its international status.
Argentine Fury: Argentina is outraged after the bodies of two murdered teenage girls were found, highlighting the country's femicide crisis.
In-Depth
Snow Season Fears: While Australian alpine resorts welcomed snow flurries for the ski season opening, the coming El Niño is expected to bring warmer, drier conditions. The Bureau of Meteorology warns this is 'a bad combination' for snow.
Ikea Night: Caitlin Cassidy spent a night in a home kitted out with Ikea furniture, describing it as 'hallucinating inside a Scandinavian kindergarten'.
Sport
Football: Socceroos and Parma centre-back Alessandro Circati discusses his World Cup dream. Andoni Iraola has been appointed Liverpool's new head coach.
Cricket: Pakistan beat Australia by four wickets in the third ODI to win the series 2-1. Ollie Robinson took three wickets as New Zealand reached 61-6 at Lord's.
Tennis: Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska reached the French Open final, where she will face Mirra Andreeva.
Media Roundup
Pauline Hanson tells the Age that Australia has caught up with her. The shadow attorney general faces Coalition divisions over a staffer's article praising Ben Roberts-Smith. South Australia's debt is set to hit $53bn by 2030. Hobart council offers artists timber from felled sequoias.
What's Happening Today
Courts: Directions at NSW Supreme Court as a production company sues Rebel Wilson.
Melbourne: Funeral of former governor general Peter Hollingworth.
Economy: Australia's economic outlook event with Anthony Albanese and the RBA deputy governor.
