TRANSCRIPT
- A meeting is finally set between the PM and US President.
- Four dead as Israeli tanks advance in Gaza.
- And in sport, a new national football competition is launched in Sydney.
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A face to face meeting has finally been set between Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump.
The White House has confirmed the meeting will be held in Washington on October 20th, which would be the Prime Minister's third trip to North America in five months.
The United States President had signalled the possibility of a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.
But ultimately there was no meeting on Mr Trump's schedule, despite making time for one-on-one talks with other world leaders.
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The United States President has condemned the recognition of a Palestinian state at his long-awaited speech before the UN General Assembly.
Donald Trump has called such steps a reward for what he has described as "horrible atrocities" by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
France, Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal are among the countries to have recognised a Palestinian state in the past two days.
But President Trump says world powers should have focused instead on securing the release of hostages held in Gaza, nearly two years after Hamas seized them in the deadly attack on Israel that escalated the Middle East conflict.
“Instead of giving to Hamas and giving so much, because they've taken so much, they have taken so many - this could have been solved so long ago - but instead of giving in to Hamas's ransom demands, those who want peace should be united with one message: release the hostages now. Just release the hostages now.”
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Israel's military is pushing deeper towards the most populated areas of Gaza City, as nations at the United Nations General Assembly declare they will recognise Palestinian statehood.
Israeli forces have detonated explosive-laden vehicles in the suburbs of Sabra and Tel Al-Hawa, with medics reporting at least four people have been killed in an Israeli air strike on a residential building.
Israel has advised civilians to leave for southern Gaza as its tanks advance.
Meanwhile Palestinians like Adeeb Abu Khalid say recognition of a Palestinian state does not change the difficult reality they are experiencing.
"We want to live normally. What's happening now is abnormal. People are suffering and screaming and have nowhere to sit. We are now living in a real famine. People have been humiliated and have no place to live."
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Hong Kong and southern China are cancelling flights and closing schools and businesses as they batten down for one of the strongest typhoons in years, Typhoon Ragasa.
Supermarket shelves in Hong Kong have been left almost empty as residents stocked up on necessities, while windows in homes and businesses across the city have also been taped up to minimise the impact of any shattered glass.
The Hong Kong Observatory says it expects the storm to maintain super typhoon intensity as it edges closer to the coast of Guangdong, and as it impacts Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan, after sweeping through the northern Philippines on Monday.
Restaurant owner Wong Chipo says he has prepared the best he can.
"All the elders today have moved out of here. I couldn’t. I am a business owner, I am younger and I am here to protect my shop, it’s my property. I’ll try all I can to minimize the loss. I’m betting on luck.”
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New figures suggest Australia is generating renewable energy in record amounts and is halfway to its 2030 target.
The Australian Energy Market Operator’s annual report shows Western Australia and South Australia have set records for renewable power production – while coal based power has produced less than half the nation’s energy for the first time during the past year.
The report also shows four million households had installed rooftop solar.
The announcement comes less than a week after the federal government released a national target to reduce emissions by between 62 and 70 per cent in 2035 that will rely on a greater supply of renewable energy.
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To sport,
A second tier national football competition has been launched in Sydney, to be known as the Australian Championship.
There are eight foundation clubs competing in the inaugural tournament, but 16 all up will compete in the contest which is running after the end of the National Premier League season.
South Melbourne versus Sydney Olympic will be the first game in the new competition - and that game will be broadcast on SBS in October.
Sydney Olympic defender Ziggy Gordon has told SBS News he feels honoured to be taking part in that first game.
"We're really excited and obviously we're really looking forward to how each game goes. And we've got eyes on the prize, which is to win the game come eighth of December."
