Australia news LIVE: Deadly plane crash in India; Crown pushes for pokies; Wind farm recruits criminals
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7.11am
Crown secretly lobbies politicians for pokies
By Amber Schultz
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Crown Resorts executives are pushing to change casino licensing legislation to install 500 cashless pokies in Sydney, while removing 500 cash poker machines from venues elsewhere in NSW.
A Herald exclusive can reveal Crown Resorts executives had an encouraging meeting with Gaming Minister David Harris, and are also holding discussions with opposition and crossbench MPs.
A recent damning audit of NSW's gambling regulations found it would take 55 years for NSW to reduce its poker machine numbers to the national average at the current rate, and that the government had no targets to reduce gambling harm.
6.50am
Over 260 dead in Air India crash
By Amber Schultz
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An Air India flight bound for London's Gatwick Airport has crashed in Ahmedabad in the country's west.
The death toll has risen to over 260 people, the New York Times reports.
A British man was the diaster's sole survivor. He was pulled alive from the wreckage and is being treated in hospital.
The plane plummeted into a residential area just seconds after leaving the runway, crashing into hostel for doctors near the airport.
It's one of the world's deadliest aviation disasters in years and India's worst in almost two decades.
6.44am
This morning's headlines at a glance
By Amber Schultz
Good morning readers, and happy Friday. I'm Amber Schultz, and I'll be helming the blog today,
This morning's headlines are:
A disastrous plane crash in India has left at least 241 people dead, with a British man the sole survivor of the catastrophe. The Air India plane went down in moments after take-off in Ahmedabad.
Crown Resorts will push to amend casino licensing laws to allow it to install 500 cashless pokies in Sydney.
Criminals are being recruited for Australia's largest wind farm, with the Australian Workers' Union backing labour hire firms with criminal links.
Iran is planning to open a new enrichment site, the Washington Post reports.
Interpol has cancelled a red notice against Gregor Haas, the father of NSW State of Origin front-rower Payne Haas, after he was arrested on allegations of smuggling drugs into Indonesia.
Australia has joined 96 other nations to push for a binding global treaty to end plastic pollution, eyeing regulation of importers of plastic, ABC reports.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese begins an international tour today, travelling to Fiji, the US and Canada to meet with leaders and attend the G7 summit.
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