Thursday's news

04 Apr 2013

The US prepares as North Korea approves nuclear strikes. Meanwhile, the federal election is heating up as Labor and the Coalition ramp up their campaigns.

North Korea approves nuclear strikes

North Korea has warned that it has approved nuclear strikes on targets in the United States, with the military warning that war could break out today or tomorrow. Washington has scrambled to reinforce its Pacific missile defence. Read more.

Fight for the crossbenchers

With five months to go, Labor and the Coalition are trying everything to wrestle majority control to avoid a hung parliament again as the Independents and the Greens prepare for a fierce campaign. Get the latest update on ABC News.

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games emblem revealed

The official emblem for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, to be held on the Gold Coast, was revealed this morning at a function at Broadwater Parklands. See the emblem and read the story on Courier Mail.

Pictures reveal state of wall prior to collapse

Photographs allegedly show that a wall was nearing structural failure months before it killed three people when it collapsed in Melbourne. Photos reveal that the wall had multiple cracks and was in poor condition. Read more.

Injuries up as population ages

An ageing Australian population has seen the number of reported falls resulting in injury increase by more than 5000 a year. Women account for the majority of accidents with about 70 per cent of falls occurring in the home or aged care facility. News.com.au has more.

Carnival ship breaks free from moorings

The cruise liner Carnival Triumph has broken free from its mooring in Alabama sending a crewman into the water with it. He is now missing. High winds are the likely cause of the ship becoming dislodged. The infamous ship has a troubled past, previously becoming stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. Read more.

Taliban kill 44 in court attack

Taliban militants have attacked on an Afghan court, killing 44 people in an attempt to free insurgents. A nearby hospital has claimed that one prisoner on trial was among those being treated for injuries. The multiple gun and bomb assault raises questions about the Afghans’ ability to keep the country secure. For more details, see Nine News.  

Unexploded bomb found in Berlin

An unexploded bomb from World War II has been found near Berlin’s main train station. Up to 50 regional and long-distances trains were redirected throughout the day. ABC News has the details.