Queensland police are investigating Mohamed Salari, a regime-linked handler of the Iranian women's football team, following allegations he threatened to kill community activists on the Gold Coast. One Iranian player reversed her decision to seek asylum in Australia, with advocates claiming she was coerced to return under threats to her family. Iran has withdrawn from the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, following US and Israeli airstrikes that killed the country's supreme leader.

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Iran has launched what it describes as its most intense military operation since the conflict began, while US forces have destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying ships and naval vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. The critical oil passage remains closed, driving global oil prices significantly higher, prompting the International Energy Agency to announce the largest strategic reserve release in history at 400 million barrels. Reports indicate Russia may be assisting Iran with drone tactics to target US and Gulf positions, despite recent diplomatic conversations between Putin and Trump.

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A 20-year-old man has been charged following a February kidnapping in Mount Pritchard, where a 53-year-old was bundled into a car by four masked men outside a tobacco store and held captive in Dural for several days. Police are still searching for two other offenders, while the kidnapping victim was separately arrested at the same tobacco store during a raid that uncovered tens of thousands of illegal cigarettes and firearms. A 16-year-old was also arrested at the Dural property where the victim was held.

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Melbourne has been officially crowned the world's best city. It is the first time an Australian city has taken top spot as we outrank the likes of Shanghai, London, New York and Sydney.

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Thirty-five thousand seniors attended the New South Wales Seniors Festival Expo at the ICC in Darling Harbour, the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The expo featured 90 exhibitors showcasing products and services for older Australians, including stair lifts, hearing aids, anti-scam protection, wheelchair access solutions, and group coach tours. Attendees also enjoyed a concert hosted by a Channel 7 newsreader and explored various lifestyle options, from social clubs to unique memorial services.

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Almost a thousand Melbourne teenagers have braved freezing conditions for a heartwarming cause. They took part in the biggest ever ice bucket challenge.

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Sydney councils are being held accountable for their performance on housing development approvals, with Strathfield, Willoughby, Waverley, Hunters Hill and North Sydney approving only a third of required new developments. Under the state government's Housing Accord initiative targeting 377,000 new homes by 2029, underperforming councils will lose millions in grant funding while Canada Bay, Hawkesbury and Burwood have exceeded their targets.

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Vivid 2026 returns to Sydney with 43 light displays stretching six kilometres from Circular Quay to Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour. The festival brings back the popular drone show with 22 performances over 11 nights, alongside attractions including a 23-metre tall Molecule of Light at Barangaroo, a 45-metre LED corridor called Obstacle, and projections at the Opera House and Customs House. For the first time, Vivid will feature daytime displays including interactive artworks, with the festival launching on Friday, 22nd of May.

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Seven Iranian female soccer players sought refuge in Australia after participating in a silent protest, but one player, Mohadeseh Zolfi, has returned to Iran due to concerns for her family's safety. Her departure inadvertently exposed the location of the six remaining players, prompting their immediate relocation to a new safe house. The Iranian Football Federation has accused Australia of holding the players hostage, while the Australian government maintains the women are free to choose and has offered humanitarian visas to those who wish to stay.

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Dora the 10-month-old stolen Cavoodle has been found safe and well, after she was snatched from Chapel Street. Security footage of the dognapping helped police track down the accused culprits before returning the puppy to her family.

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