TRANSCRIPT
- Port Hedland's iron ore facility in WA spared the worst of Cyclone Zelia's impact
- The US gives an ultimatum to its European allies in Warsaw
- Australia wins the rights to the 2027 Deaf Football World Cup
Authorities say they expect a cyclone that has hit Western Australia's Pilbara region to weaken in the coming days, now it has made landfall.
One of the world's busiest iron ore loading facilities at Port Hedland appears to have been spared the worst of Tropical Cyclone Zelia's destruction after it crossed the coast as a category four system.
But the Bureau of Meteorology says heavy rainfall and floods are still forecast for Western Australia in the coming days.
The state's Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm says the full extent of that flooding is expected to be significant.
"In terms of inundation, possibilities through some of those either remote Aboriginal communities or Marble Bar, these sort of places. We will deal with those things as they happen. We've got whole raft of resources ready to go if they'd be required, in some cases, more specific to the potential at that time for really catastrophic damage to Port Hedland."
**
Detectives have reportedly searched the home of the male nurse who allegedly made antisemitic comments in a widely shared video.
The Sydney Morning Herald says officers from Strike Force Pearl have executed a search warrant on his Bankstown home.
Meanwhile the Israeli influencer who published the original edited video says he has now shared the full version online.
New South Wales Police are yet to confirm if the footage has been directly provided to them.
**
The United States has signalled a potentially dramatic change in their approach to foreign policy in Europe in an address to their NATO allies.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has told a Warsaw briefing he wanted to express what he described as "stark strategic realities" that would prevent the US from being primarily focused on the security of Europe.
He has told the group of almost 50 countries they needed to spend more on defence, and that US troops may not be on the continent on a long term basis.
"What happens 5 or 10 or 15 years from now is part of a larger discussion that reflects the threat level, America's posture, our needs around the globe, but most significantly, the capability of European countries to step up. That's why our message is so stark to our European allies. Now is the time to invest, because you can't make an assumption that America's presence will last forever."
**
A Russian drone attack has hit the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the drone struck the shelter of the destroyed power unit at the plant, causing a fire that has since been extinguished.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed the strike but says there is no indication of a breach in the inner containment shell, which was built in 2016 to limit the release of radioactivity left in the reactor to the atmosphere.
Mr Zelenskyy says an initial assessment found significant damage, though radiation levels have not increased and are being constantly monitored.
**
The top diplomat for North Macedonia has urged Australia - and the world - to support US President Donald Trump.
Timčo Mucunski has described Mr Trump's approach to diplomacy as "unconventional" during a trip that is the first North Macedonian politician's visit Australia in 15 years.
Mr Mucunski has told SBS World News that the US president might have different methods, but that he is still a peacemaker.
"Some might see the methods that they (Trump administration) use is unconventional, but what has conventional diplomacy brought us? It has brought us more war, and more conflicts, but we've seen especially in the last few days, very effective engagement by president Trump and his administration, and we've seen a very positive reception of that engagement by President Zelenskyy."
**
A Northern Territory coroner has found a shortage of mental health beds in a major hospital has contributed to the death of a Tiwi Islands mother.
Coroner Elisabeth Armitage says 47 year old Pukumani Alimankinni died in August 2021 after her mental illness overshadowed her physical illnesses, and nurses failed to conduct the required observations.
Her death came a day and a half after she was admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital's secure mental health ward.
The coroner has recommended beds in the mental health unit be doubled to match the same level as in other Australian states and territories.
**
Australia has won the rights to host the 2027 Deaf Football World Cup.
The event will be centred in Sydney's West with Parramatta acting as the hub for more than fifteen hundred players and coaching staff from 24 countries.
Six nations had originally expressed an interest in staging the event, but it came down to a choice between Germany and Australia.
Raymond Younan from Deaf Football Australia says it hopes to showcase Australia's growing reputation for staging inclusive sports events.
"The games will be held over a two week period and will be bringing in approximately $70 million of income to Parramatta city."
