TRANSCRIPT
- International criticism of Israel's plan to further escalate military actions in Gaza
- A possible meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine.
- And in sport, the Raiders continue their rapid-fire return to the top of the NRL ladder.
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The international community has broadly condemned Israel's plans to intensify its military operations in Gaza.
Top United Nations officials say the plan to seize Gaza runs counter to international law, and the German government has announced it will suspend the sale of arms for use in the assault on Gaza until further notice.
Britain and other key European allies have also joined Australia in opposing the complete Gaza takeover, calling on Israel to reconsider.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says the decision is wrong.
"This action is not going to contribute to an improvement in the humanitarian situation on the ground. It is going to put the lives of the hostages at greater risk rather than lessening it. We reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire."
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Greens senator David Shoebridge says the Australian government needs to go beyond 'hollow rhetoric' in its response to the Israeli government's plan to occupy all of Gaza.
Labor has condemned the move in a statement saying forced permanent displacement was a violation of international law, whilst calling for a ceasefire, the return of hostages, and the unimpeded flow of aid.
The Greens have been calling for sanctions on the Israel and for the government cease two way arms trade.
Mr Shoebridge says there are further actions that could be taken.
"What we get again from the Albanese government is a series of words increasing the empty hollow rhetoric condemning the actions of doing nothing. Nothing practical nothing material to try and stop this escalation of violence in a situation which is already a genocide."
Israel strongly denies the allegation it is committing genocide in Gaza.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he believes a ceasefire is possible, as the US and Russian leaders prepare to hold a possible face-to-face meeting.
US President Donald Trump had signalled he would intensify sanction targeting Russia if President Vladimir Putin didn't agree to a ceasefire by Friday.
Now both presidents say they are prepared to meet to advance negotiations towards ending the war, although Mr Zelenskyy may not be included.
The Ukrainian leader says he is talking with partners to try and find a common position for a solid peace in Ukraine.
"We are in constant communication with the American side, and our partners are talking to the United States of America. Everyone is united by the awareness that there is a possibility of achieving at least a ceasefire, and everything depends on putting the right pressure on Russia. It is there that a decision must be made that the war they started must be ended by them."
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The New South Wales government has strongly defended its decision to pay two million dollars in compensation to Kathleen Folbigg, who spent 20 years in jail after her wrongful conviction for killing her four children.
The payment has been widely criticised as inadequate, with supporters citing her lost opportunities and the economic circumstances now faced by the now 58-year-old.
But Premier Chris Minns says Ms Folbigg is free to sue the state government if they feel the grace payment is inadequate.
He says he won't budge without a court order.
"There's no NDA (non disclosure agreement) involved. There's no future action that cannot be pursued by Ms Folbigg or her lawyers. But you have to appreciate it's not my money. This is public money. We'd have to take it from another initiative. And this was the most amount that we could justify, given it would come from other resources."
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In rugby league,
The prospect of a Canberra-versus-Penrith grand final is gathering speed following the Raiders' rapid-fire return to the top of the NRL ladder.
A try-scoring hat-trick from 20-year-old five-eighth Ethan Strange helped Ricky Stuart's relentless Raiders repel an ambush from Manly and add to the Sea Eagles' woes with a 28-12 win in chilly Canberra last night.
Rebounding from a shock first defeat last week against St George Illawarra, the Raiders' pivotal win knocks Melbourne off a perch the Storm only enjoyed for 24 hours after Thursday night's 22-2 triumph over Brisbane.
With the Panthers entering the top four for the first time all season after extending their own mid-season winning run to nine games with a 48-12 win in Newcastle, fans dream of a repeat of the classic 1990 and 1991 title deciders.
