Australia cancels the visa of a controversial far right activist from the US; Iran fuels speculation of support for a ceasefire in its response to Israeli air strikes; And in sport, Alex de Minaur is eliminated from the Vienna Open.
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TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Australia cancels the visa of a controversial far right activist from the US;
- Iran fuels speculation of support for a ceasefire in its response to Israeli air strikes;
- And in sport, Alex de Minaur is eliminated from the Vienna Open.
Australia's Immigration Minister has cancelled the visa of Candace Owens, a conservative commentator from the United States.
Owens had been booked for speaking engagements in five cities across Australia in November.
The Age has reported Tony Burke as saying Australia's national interest is best served by Owens being somewhere else.
Conservatives and Jewish groups alike had both previously called for the cancellation, including Anti-Defamation League spokesman Dvir Abramovich, who spoke to Sky News in August:
"Allowing Candace Owens here will be a spit not just on the memory of the Holocaust victim, but the memory of the diggers who fought and died to defeat Hitler's regime."
—
Labor's Steven Miles has now conceded defeat in the Queensland state election.
He has reportedly called Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli to offer his congratulations, with projections showing the former opposition is on track to win a majority.
Labor Party National President Wayne Swan has praised Mr Miles for the election campaign he ran, saying he hopes the former Premier remains as opposition leader.
Cabinet Minister Murray Watt says the result should not be interpreted as a sign of trouble for the federal party, but rather a warning for the opposition.
"There are lessons in every election and we'll have a good think about those as we gear up for the federal election. I think there are also some good lessons for Peter Dutton and the LNP federally out of last night's results. What last night showed is that Queenslanders and I think Australians expect clear answers to questions rather than vague plans. Vague plans are no substitute for concrete policies."
—
Iran has downplayed a series of Israeli raids on its missile sites, saying they caused 'limited damage'.
Iran's military has released a statement that maintains Israeli warplanes used only very light warheads to target border radar systems and some sites struck are already being repaired.
The statement has also adopted a more softer tone than after previously, noting that Tehran recognises its responsibilities towards regional peace and security.
State media has reported the contents of the statement on national television.
"The statement, while emphasising Iran's legitimate right to respond in due time, stressed the necessity of establishing a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon to prevent the massacre of defenceless and oppressed people."
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A 20 year old man has died after being found with stab wounds on a street in Geelong in western Victoria earlier this morning. [[Sun 27 Oct]]
Victoria Police say they believe he was injured during an altercation nearby.
It is understood two other men involved in the alleged assault are being treated for non life threatening injuries after going to hospital.
The incident is being investigated.
—
Five people have been taken to hospital after an accident at a camping site in rural South Australia.
It's believed that a gas bottle exploded at a campground in Myponga, a small town south of Adelaide.
SA Ambulance says two of the five are in a serious condition.
—
The Catholic Church has stopped short of recommending women be allowed to become deacons, following a years-long review process into gender equity.
The synod committee has effectively recommended the status quo, and further discussion to be held on the ordination of female deacons.
Executive Director of the Women's Ordination Conference, Kate McElwee, says women in the church will frustrated and disappointed with the review.
She says women are barred from the church's highest ministerial positions, yet do the lion’s share of the work by running Catholic hospitals and schools and passing the faith onto future generations.
"The document offers some very generous platitudes about women's equality and yet fails to provide concrete steps for how those might be implemented... It's clear to me that ordained men get to determine the pace and the parameters of synodaility, and when the time is ripe for taking up this question. I think many women will feel left out, left aside in this document”.
—
To sport,
Alex de Minaur has been eliminated from the Vienna Open.
The Australian world number eight has been beaten in the semi-final by Karen Khachanov, with the comprehensive defeat dealing a grievous blow to the Australian's dogged pursuit of a place in the ATP Finals.
He needed to both win the semi and final matches in order to join the top eight players of the season who are currently heading for the year-ending men's championship in Turin next month.
