Reports indicate US retaliatory airstrikes have fatally struck multiple targets in Iraq and Syria with civilian deaths also stated. According to the Iraqi Prime Minister, the offensive has killed 16 people including civilians. The US retaliated after three of their soldiers were killed and many more wounded by a drone in Jordan. 125 missiles were deployed over one half-hour period. 85 targets were hit in seven different locations stretching across both Iraq and Syria.

Property values increased by 0.4 per cent across Australia in January, meaning a continuation of higher housing and renting costs. This monthly increase in home values is the 12th in a row. Rents were up 0.8 per cent – the highest monthly rise in the national rental index since last April. Economists believe further price hikes are unlikely to continue. REA Group Senior Economist Paul Ryan predicts the market may “run out of steam” due to affordability concerns.

Mould has been spreading in a major Brisbane hospital where patients are battling infections. A picture sent to The Courier Mail shows the mould growing on roof panels in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. The Australian Medical Association warns mould can exacerbate secondary infections. A Queensland health spokesperson says the mould is believed to have been caused by ongoing rain and humidity. Queensland Premier Steven Miles confirmed the mouldy panels will be replaced.

The Queensland Government has announced a plan to encourage housing development to help ease the demand for more homes. The $350 million Incentivising Infill Fund has been launched to accelerate the delivery of homes state-wide. The fund will be used to subsidise infrastructure charges for market-ready development in underutilised areas. It is hoped the move will create more affordable and social housing. Queensland Premier Steven Miles says the fund will “unlock” developments through the ground leasing of properties.

Five people have died in four days from workplace-related incidents. The deaths have prompted a safety reminder to be sent out to employers and businesses. A 28-year-old tradie was among the recent fatalities after he was electrocuted and fell from a roof in Sydney's south. SafeWork is reminding people of the need for proper training and up to date safety equipment. SafeWork stressed for care particularly in high-risk areas involving heights, electricity and heavy machinery.

Students across Queensland are going old school after the introduction of a statewide mobile phone ban in classrooms. A new study has found students are spending more time enjoying sports like volleyball and basketball. They are also taking up card and board games and spending less time engaged in cyber bullying. Queensland was the last state in Australia to implement the mobile phone ban in schools. The ban began as Queensland children made their way back to school for 2024.

A scuba diver has drowned at a popular Victorian swimming spot. The man was found unconscious in the water near Rye Pier just after 10am this morning. He was pulled onto the pier where other divers attempted CPR. The man, unfortunately, could not be revived. He is yet to be formally identified.

A vegan edition of the popular Connoisseur ice cream has been recalled over fears of a potential contamination. Manufacturers have ordered the plant-based Hazelnut Chocolate tubs to be pulled from shelves after a mix of coconut oil, thickeners, vegetable gums and emulsifiers were detected. Any consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance were told not to consume the product in case of an “adverse reaction”. Customers who purchased the ice cream are eligible to return the product for a full refund. The ice cream is sold nationally in Woolworths, Coles, IGA, and convenience stores.

Wildfires have engulfed more than 480 hectares in the central coast of Chile. Fire brigades, police, air tankers and helicopters are in the area trying to contain the flames in the Valparaiso region. 10 people are feared dead from forest fires so far. Hundreds of residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes. Heatwaves have been gripping Chile in recent days leaving six regions of the South American country on extreme heat alerts.

It's been revealed a fight broke out during the rescue of Sydney shark attack victim Lauren O'Neill earlier this week, a scuba diver has drowned at a popular Victorian swimming spot, new research shows nearly half of all Aussies feel increasingly stressed by their grocery bills, Connoisseur have recalled a popular vegan ice cream from shelves over contamination fears, Tourism Australia has ranked the country's best beaches, Donald Trump's 2020 election subversion trial has been postponed, and Taylor Swift is set to bring $1.2 billion to the Victorian economy.  See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

A widespread air and sea search is underway after a boating accident off the New South Wales coast. Crews received an emergency call near Port Stephens around 9:30 this morning. One person is unaccounted for, who is believed to still be in the water. Witnesses say debris from a destroyed boat was washed up on rocks Two men and a woman have been rescued and are being treated by paramedics.

Greta Thunberg has been found not guilty of breaking the law at a climate protest in October last year. Ms Thunberg and four other co-defendants were arrested at the rally at the InterContinental Hotel in London. They were charged with a public order offence for blocking entry to the hotel. The judge dismissed the case. He cited a lack of evidence and unclear conditions imposed by police.

ASPI Senior Analyst Dr Malcolm Davis says it is “too early” to tell if the United States and Iran can avoid a “regional escalation” after the US launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed targets in Iraq and Syria. The US airstrikes were in response to the drone attack in Jordan, which killed three American soldiers. US President Joe Biden had previously warned of a ‘tiered response’ over time, so it is this airstrike is unlikely to be the last. The US Central Command says the military struck more than 85 targets, using more than 125 precision munitions. “The US has to carefully calibrate its continuing strikes against the IRGC and the militias in a way that degrades their capability to carry out further attacks against US forces,” Mr Davis told Sky News Australia. “But [they need to ensure it] doesn’t go over some sort of national red line with Tehran that would lead to an immediate Iranian retaliation – either directly or indirectly – through mining the Strait of Hormuz for example, I think it’s too early to say we can avoid that region escalation. “[Iran] could respond in the Red Sea with further attacks by the Houthis, or it could doing something in the Strait of Hormuz, but the Biden administration is very clearly desperate to avoid escalation of this war. “In one sense, that’s entirely understandable – no one wants a regional war – but at the same time, it does see the initiative to a degree to Tehran to see how far they can push the Biden administration and what the Biden administration’s red line is.”

ASPI Senior Analyst Dr Malcolm Davis believes the United States is “very keen to avoid escalation” after they retaliated to three American soldiers being killed in a drone attack as they “didn’t want to inflict heavy casualties” on Iran’s military. The US has launched retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed targets in Iraq and Syria in response to the drone attack in Jordan, which killed three American soldiers. US President Joe Biden had previously warned of a ‘tiered response’ over time, so this airstrike is unlikely to be the last. The US Central Command says the military struck more than 85 targets, using more than 125 precision munitions. “The Americans are very keen to avoid escalation here, so what they didn’t want to do was inflict heavy casualties on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp in particular – that would then force Iran to retaliate,” Dr Davis told Sky News Australia. “I still think the Iranians, through their proxies, will retaliate at some point – this is certainly not over, and the Biden administration is making clear that this is the first in a series of strikes. “We will remain focused on what happens in the coming hours, days and weeks ahead, but clearly, this is the response that everyone has been waiting for.”

ASPI Senior Analyst Dr Malcolm Davis says if the United States did not respond to a drone strike that killed three American soldiers, it would have been a “horrendous sign of weakness” that would have had “global consequences”. The US has launched retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed targets in Iraq and Syria in response to the drone attack in Jordan, which killed three American soldiers. US President Joe Biden had previously warned of a ‘tiered response’ over time, so this airstrike is unlikely to be the last. The US Central Command says the military struck more than 85 targets, using more than 125 precision munitions. “The US had to respond to the attacks that killed three soldiers; for the US not to respond would have been a horrendous signal of weakness, not just to the Iranians, but also to Moscow and to Beijing,” Dr Davis told Sky News Australia. “It would have had global consequences if the US had not responded effectively. “It is early days yet in terms of this campaign. “How the Biden administration evolves this in terms of its operations in coming days and weeks and how it essentially continues to attack the IRGC and militias will be very interesting to see.”

ASPI Senior Analyst Dr Malcolm Davis says if the Iraqi government is “talking about its sovereignty”, it shouldn’t have allowed Iran to use its territory to “stage attacks” on the United States. The US has launched retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed targets in Iraq and Syria in response to the drone attack in Jordan, which killed three American soldiers. An Iraqi military spokesperson, in response to the attacks, has said, ‘These airstrikes constitute a violation of Iraqi sovereignty, undermine the efforts of the Iraqi government, and pose a threat that could lead Iraq and the region into dire consequences.’ “If the Iraqi government is talking about its sovereignty, maybe it shouldn’t have allowed its territory to be used by Iran to stage attacks on US forces,” Dr Davis told Sky News Australia. “The Iranians have basically infiltrated every aspect of Iraqi society and Iraqi government to the point whereby I think the question of Iraqi sovereignty needs to be looked at hard.”

The US has launched retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed targets in Iraq and Syria. It is in response to the drone attack in Jordan, which killed three American soldiers. US President Joe Biden had previously warned of a ‘tiered response’ over time. It is unlikely this airstrike is to be the last. The US Central Command says the military struck more than 85 targets, using more than 125 precision munitions.

Bondi Partners Senior Advisor Peter McGauran says the United States “will retaliate” after the drone strike in Jordan, but they won’t “respond in blind rage and kill innocent citizens”. The United States has approved plans for a series of strikes in Syria and Iraq in response to the drone attack on a US military base in Jordan. Strikes will target Iranian personnel and facilities in the countries. “Counterintuitively, it has de-escalated for the moment,” Mr McGauran told Sky News Australia. “Iran knows it’s pushed America to a breaking point with the loss of three troops. “They seem to have stood down their surrogates, but the Americans will retaliate – no question. “Americans have a moral rectitude; others in the Middle East don’t have so. “They will be trying to locate who exactly gave the order … They don’t respond in blind rage and kill innocent citizens; they are going to find out who’s responsible.”

Bondi Partners Senior Advisor Peter McGauran says the Dunkley byelection is “more critical” to the Albanese government because they have “everything to lose” if it doesn’t go their way. The Dunkley byelection is a real-world test looming in a month for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The prime minister will spend the day campaigning with candidate Jodie Belyea in Dunkley. “It’s more critical to the government than it is the Opposition,” Mr McGauran told Sky News Australia. “Everything is in favour of the government: they held the seat by a margin of 6.3 per cent in a very pro-Labor state. “It’s an opportunity for Peter Dutton to make an impact, to improve the Coalition vote, but the government has to hold this seat. “It’s near impossible for the Liberals to win this seat, so if they even got close to an upset win, it would give momentum to the Opposition. “The government has everything to lose, and the Opposition has everything to gain.”

Bondi Partners Senior Advisor Peter McGauran says interest rates will “almost certainly” be cut “towards the end of the year” if inflation continues to fall throughout 2024. The likelihood of another rate hike by the Reserve Bank has all but been ruled out after inflation dropped to 4.1 per cent in the year to the December quarter. “The December quarter inflation rate was 4.1 per cent; the Reserve Bank was expecting 4.3,” Mr McGauran told Sky News Australia. “Now the clamouring is for them to begin to reduce interest rates. “Will there be interest rate cuts towards the end of the year? Almost certainly if we continue in this way.”