TRANSCRIPT
- US President Donald Trump takes federal control of Washington DC and sends 800 troops in.
- Palestinians report worst Israeli bombardment of Gaza in weeks.
- And in tennis, the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival kicks off its sixth year.
----
United States President Donald Trump says he's deploying 800 National Guard troops to Washington DC and temporarily taking over the city's police department in an extraordinary assertion of presidential power in the nation's capital.
The president claims his actions are necessary to, as he put it, "rescue" Washington from a purported wave of lawlessness, despite statistics showing that violent crime hit a 30-year low in 2024.
President Trump's move, which bypasses the city's elected leaders, comes months after he sent thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June.
He says this model of police and military being empowered to do whatever could be extended to other cities soon.
"They love to spit in the face of the police and they're not allowed to do anything. But now they are allowed to do whatever the hell they want. You spit, and we hit. And they can hit real hard. We're starting very strongly with DC and we're going to clean it up real quick. We're going to have tremendous success in what we're doing. But then I'm going to look at New York in a little while. Let's do this. Other cities are hopefully watching this. If they don't learn their lesson we're going to do the same thing in Chicago."
----
Palestinians in Gaza are reporting the heaviest Israeli bombardment in weeks, with IDF tanks and planes pounding multiple areas of northern Gaza City.
The intensified Israeli assault came just hours after the Israeli government detailed plans for a new military onslaught in Gaza City.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he expects to complete a new expanded offensive quickly, adding that he has instructed the military to speed up their assault.
Miroslav Jenca is the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas.
He says there can be no two state solution while Israel occupies Gaza.
"There is no military solution to the armed conflict in Gaza or the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There will be no sustainable solution without an end to Israel's unlawful occupation and the achievement of a viable two-state solution. Gaza is, and must remain, an integral part of a Palestinian State."
----
The Greens have renewed calls for the government to end the export of weapons parts to Israel after the Prime Minster announced Australia would recognise a Palestinian state.
Australia joins France, the UK and Canada in recognising Palestinian statehood at a United Nations General Assembly meeting in September - a move Anthony Albanese says is important to achieve a two-state solution.
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi says the move is inadequate and called on the government to end the export of military grade steel and F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel.
"Unless the Prime Minister pairs this announcement of recognising Palestine with ending the two way arms trade and sanctioning Israel, it is nothing but an illusion and a distraction from what is happening on the ground, where Israel is killing everyone and destroying everything in Gaza."
----
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas says it's unclear how long the destructive algal bloom will persist along the state's coastline.
The federal environment minister, Murray Watt, has apologised for the government's slow response to the algal bloom, which has killed tens of thousands of marine animals since March.
He also touted the government's recently announced $28 million package to support local communities, jointly funded with the state government.
Mr Malinauskas tells Sky News that he's hopeful the event passes soon.
"There's a significant cohort of scientists who are still of the view of the algal bloom will pass us by in the cooler months, you know, which we've probably got around about six or seven weeks of left. But there is also a very real possibility that this is still around in Spring and Summer, and that will present a different suite of challenges and that's what we're preparing for as a governed. We're preparing for the worst and hoping for the best."
----
To sport now...
The National Indigenous Tennis Carnival is in its sixth year, bringing more than 160 young players to Larrakia Country in Darwin.
The program aims to uncover the next young stars of Indigenous tennis, with competition combined with a range of cultural activities off the court.
For New South Wales representative Isaac Elson, this was his fourth and final year at the event, culminating in him being awarded the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Medal of Excellence.
He spoke to NITV about the award.
"I've worked very hard and I really appreciate Evonne and everyone who just helped me along this way, this path and kind of guide me to the positive side of everything."
