Iran's President dies in helicopter crash

Thank you so much to everyone who sent in questions yesterday for the Minister for Women and Finance, Katy Gallagher.

It was a wide-ranging chat, and I’m really looking forward to you hearing it. I’ll let you know when it’s out!

“The financial environment in which universities operate remains challenging, and there are ongoing uncertainties ahead… We deeply regret any underpayments that have occurred and are committed to ensuring all staff are paid according to our enterprise agreement."
Vice Chancellor of The University of Sydney Mark Scott apologises for underpaying casual staff.

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The number of Australian Defence Force personnel standing by to be sent to New Caledonia as unrest in the territory continues. You can read more about what is happening in New Caledonia here.

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First Nations people gained voting rights. At this time, it was not compulsory for First Nations to enrol to vote.

The Victorian Government has announced plans for new legislation to protect retail workers from assault and abuse.

The proposal, which would extend to fast food and public transport workers, will be introduced to Parliament by the end of next year.

It could include anti-stalking and harassment protections for workers.

If passed, Victoria will follow New South Wales and South Australia, where laws to protect retail workers are already in place.

The SDA, one of the major unions representing retail and fast food workers, “welcomed” the proposal. Victorian Secretary Michael Donovan said workers have faced a “worsening scourge” of abuse since the pandemic, including being threatened at knifepoint.

Victoria’s proposed legislation will be developed by a worker protection consultation group.

The group will consider new penalties for retail worker assault or strengthening pre-existing assault penalties, including for the stalking, harassment and intimidation of customer-facing workers.

Victorian Shadow Attorney-General Michael O’Brien questioned why the draft law couldn’t be developed sooner.

The Opposition said it would wait to review the legislation before deciding if it would support the change.

Donovan said the SDA was looking forward to a “speedy introduction” of the legislation.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have died in a helicopter crash.

The helicopter crashed in mountainous terrain in northern Iran amid heavy fog, triggering a large-scale search.

Iran’s Vice President is expected to temporarily take over the Presidency.

Here’s what we know.

Iran is ruled by its “Supreme Leader”, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 85-year-old Khamenei has been in power since 1989. The Ayatollah has oversight of most aspects of Iranian life and decision-making.

However, the President is the top elected official in Iran. They are responsible for day-to-day government operations and appointing ministers.

President Raisi was recently made a member of the council to decide who will succeed the Ayatollah on his death, and was considered a strong candidate.

Ebrahim Raisi was elected President of Iran in 2021.

Before his presidency, Raisi was head of Iran’s court system, making him the highest legal authority in the country’s judiciary.

Human rights groups have linked him to wide-scale killings of the regime’s opponents.

Following the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, Raisi was on a sentencing panel that ordered the executions of as many as 5,000 political prisoners, according to Amnesty International.

President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were travelling from neighbouring Azerbaijan, after the opening ceremony of a new dam on both countries’ borders.

State media reports differ on where the helicopter went down.

It triggered an immediate search and rescue effort, with multiple countries – including Russia and Türkiye – offering resources and personnel to help locate the missing helicopter.

During search efforts, Turkish drones showed heat maps believed to be the wreckage of the missing helicopter.

Rescue teams then alerted Iranian state media to the discovery.

Iranian authorities have since confirmed the helicopter crashed as it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog. Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian were killed in the incident.

Vice President Muhammad Mukhbar is expected to take over from Raisi as interim President.

Iran’s Constitution requires a Presidential election to be held within 50 days.

Earlier, Khamenei said that “the administration of the country will not be disrupted”.

Footage shared on social media shows Iranian people taking to the streets to celebrate news of the crash.

Meanwhile, others have followed the Ayatollah’s commands to “pray” for the President by gathering at mosques.

This week is officially Australian Made Week!

From the Great Barrier Reef, to Kylie Minogue – it should come as no surprise that Australia has produced some pretty iconic things. But it doesn't stop there. This Australian Made Week, you can get behind Aussie makers and growers by shopping locally made products.

Whether it’s fashion, skincare, furniture, or toys – you can find whether an item is genuinely and authentically Australian made by looking for the green triangle and gold kangaroo logo.

Make an impact when you shop by helping us celebrate Australian Made Week.

Ed Dwight made history in 1961 after being selected for training by then-U.S. President JFK, but he never had the opportunity to go to space.

In 2024, he finally made it with a private mission of six people.

The athletes’ village at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics will have everything competitors need: a gym, a dining hall, and now, a nursery.

For the first time at any Games, athletes and Olympic staff will have a space to leave their kids in between events.

The nursery will be open from 9am to 9pm everyday during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian have died in a helicopter crash. The helicopter crashed in mountainous terrain in northern Iran amid heavy fog, triggering a large-scale search.

Iran’s Vice President is now expected to temporarily take over the Presidency. In today's podcast, we'll explain what we know about the crash and what it means for the country.