TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin,
- More homes destroyed as fires continue to burn across Western Australia....
- 76 members of a family in Gaza reportedly killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza City.
- Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham side have pushed into the Premier League top four after a hard-fought win against Everton.
As much of the world prepares to celebrate Christmas, Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem have traded their usual festivities for a a candlelit vigil in the biblical birthplace of Jesus, praying for peace in Gaza.
Instead of its usual decorated Christmas tree in Manger Square, the municipality of Bethlehem this year decided to unveil an artwork called, 'Nativity Under the Rubble'.
Bethlehem churches placed the nativity models amid rubble and barbed wire in solidarity with the people of Gaza who are living through blockade and air bombardments only 50 kilometres away.
The Palestinian Minister for Tourism Rula Maayah says it sends a message that while the whole world is celebrating Christmas, Bethlehem is not.
"Bethlehem this year is celebrating Christmas in a different way with a message to the whole world that Palestine is suffering, that Bethlehem is suffering, that Bethlehem is celebrating Christmas from the rubble, not like all other people in the world."
Palestinians in the West Bank are mourning the more than 20,000 killed in Gaza in Israel's relentless attacks on the region, and the over 263 people killed in the West Bank from Israeli military raids and settler violence*.
This comes after Hamas' brutal October 7 attack on Israel which killed close to 1,200 people.
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A blaze that destroyed two homes south of Perth has been brought under control but firefighters are urging people to remain vigilant for bushfire threats.
Seven emergency-level bushfires have engulfed homes and torn through bushland, rural properties and suburbs on Perth's fringes in the past three days.
Authorities confirmed two more homes had been lost while crews battled a fire at Keysbrook, south of Perth.
Crews in Western Australia have faced intense fire conditions driven by strong and gusty winds and low humidity.
The fire danger level is expected to rise to extreme in Brockman and Swan Inland North on Christmas Day.
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Laura Lynch, a founding member of the Dixie Chicks has died at age 65 following a car accident.
The remaining members of the band, now known simply as The Chicks, say they were shocked and saddened at Ms Lynch's death.
Ms Lynch died in a head-on collision when a car traveling in the opposite direction attempted to pass a vehicle on a two-way undivided portion of the highway, crashing into the musician's truck.
She was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the other vehicle was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening
injuries.
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Arsenal have given an impressive performance in an intense 1-1 draw at Liverpool and will top the Premier League table at Christmas.
Arsenal took an early lead when Gabriel outwitted Cody Gakpo to head in a floated pass from captain Martin Odegaard in the fourth minute.
Liverpool forward Mohammed Salah scored a brilliant equaliser in the 29th minute.
The draw puts Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, who have won five of their last seven matches, at 40 points from 18 games.
Liverpool are second on the leaderboard with 39 points, ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference.
Arteta praised his team, saying it was an intense match of football.
"It was an unbelievable game of football, one of the most intense and hectic games that I have witnessed in 20 years in this league. The quality and the intention of both teams he was superb to watch it and win as a team with our boys willing to play at that level have the courage to play at that level determination and belief to do what we've done here I think my boys deserve big, big credit."
In 10 of the last 14 seasons, the leaders on Christmas Day have gone on to win the title.
