Authorities in the Nethernand have confirmed 27 australians are among almost 300 people killed in a Maylaysian Airlines plane crashed in eastern Ukraine.295 people were on board flight MH17 which appeared to have been hit by a missile while travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.The Boeing 777 broke apart at 30,000 feet with wreckages scattered over a wide area in the Ukrain- Russian border.The crash happened in an area of heavy military action involving pro-Russian separatists.Dutch authorities have confirmed 27 australians, 54 Ducth nationals and 23 Malaysians are among the passengers.Australian department of Foreign Affairs is working to confirm the identities of Australians on board.

 

Israel military has begun an ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza.Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the action just hours after the end of the temporary truce.The ceasefire has barely abided when air-raid and rocket attacks between the two sides resumed.Three Palestinian chidren are the latest victims killed by an Israeli air raid on a house in Gaza.

 

And just hours after getting its Carbon tax repeal bill through the Senate,the government has hit a hurdle with the mining tax. The Senate has voted to abolish the tax but also to keep the billions of dollars worth of spending associated with it.The amendmant will go to the House of Representative today,but the government insists it won't accept the changes.