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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Imogen Dewey

Afternoon Update: three Australians on sub that sank Iranian ship; north braces for floods; and how Flightradar24 became the world’s go-to in a crisis

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese
Anthony Albanese has confirmed the presence of Australian defence force personnel on a US submarine that attacked and sank an Iranian warship. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Good afternoon. Anthony Albanese on Friday confirmed that three Australians were on a US submarine that sank an Iranian warship. The prime minister maintained that Australian forces were in compliance with international law, and said: “No Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran.”

The Greens senator David Shoebridge was scathing of what he called an “extraordinary” claim, saying the sailors’ involvement made Australia “obviously, clearly, unambiguously, part of an illegal war”.

As conflict continues to spiral across the Middle East, Israel has started bombing the southern suburbs of Beirut – you can follow the latest updates here.

Top news

In pictures

Stanthorpe’s Kerrie Stratford, 65, is the undisputed champion of apple peeling. She has won 21 titles at the Queensland town’s biannual festival – and in her latest feat, peeled a strip nearly four metres long.

What they said …

***

“I think I could run even faster but I’m super stoked with that.” – Sam Ruthe.

The 16-year-old was the youngest person to break the four-minute mile in 2025 and this year the “remarkable” running talent extended his record streak.

Podcast

Yanis Varoufakis on Donald Trump, global conflicts and the AI revolution

The economist, author and politician speaks to political editor Tom McIlroy delivering his blunt assessment about the ability of the global economic system to address the biggest challenges of the 21st century.

Before bed read

Swedish flight tracking tool Flightradar24, spun out of a price comparison site, has become the portal that people around the world turn to when there is drama in the skies. This week, Callum Jones reports, it’s tracking the travel chaos sparked by the US-Israel war on Iran in real time.

Daily word game

Today’s starter word is: AKIN. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.

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