Latest / NewsCard® Australia Daily News / Australia Deploys Troops to UAE, Iranian Footballers Granted Asylum, Trump-Putin Talks
Transcript
- [warm] This is NewsCard Daily for Wednesday March 11, 2026 ... the biggest stories from Australia and around the world in just minutes. — — [serious] We begin in Canberra where Australia deploys troops and hardware to the Middle East. Defence Minister Richard Marles announces an E-7A Wedgetail jet, missiles, and 85 personnel head to the United Arab Emirates today ... to shield against Iranian attacks. Twenty thousand Australians live there ... now at risk as the UAE intercepts over 1500 rockets and drones. Marles stresses this defends Gulf civilians ... including our own. The Greens demand immediate withdrawal ... calling it an illegal conflict. — — [urgent] In related developments ... Foreign Minister Penny Wong urges Aussies in the Middle East to leave now. Over 2600 have returned on commercial flights ... but thousands stay by choice. DFAT orders dependants of officials out ... as security worsens. — — [serious] Now to a dramatic asylum story in Sydney. Five players from Iran's women's soccer team gain humanitarian visas here ... after refusing their national anthem at the Asian Cup. Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Sarbali Alishah, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, Mona Hamoudi, and Zahra Ghanbari now under Australian Federal Police protection. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opens the door to the full team ... saying help is here if they need it. Protesters even block their team bus ... highlighting the tension. — — [urgent] Floods batter Queensland today ... with emergency warnings from Bundaberg to the Fraser Coast and north Burnett. Flash flooding hits from Mackay to Chinchilla ... roads turn deadly. Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour warns drivers to stay off ... it's the top risk. In the Northern Territory ... 700 shelter in Katherine amid a tropical low. Homes and businesses go underwater ... rescue efforts ramp up. — — [curious] We move overseas to the White House. US President Donald Trump talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin ... lifting some oil sanctions amid Middle East chaos. Trump says Putin wants to help end the Iran war ... a key Russian ally. He ties it to global oil supply fears ... and pushes Putin to wrap up Ukraine too. Markets watch closely ... as food costs here may climb from the disruption. — — [serious] Finally ... Trump hints the Iran conflict could end soon. After the call ... he signals quick resolution talks. For Australians ... this means hope for safer evacuations and steady fuel prices. — — [warm] That's NewsCard Daily. For more top stories and quick summaries that keep you informed in minutes, download NewsCard ... available in the App Store.