TRANSCRIPT
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in New Zealand for bilateral talks
- Relatives of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and their supporters gather in Israel
- The Bulldogs defeat the Warriors at Accor Stadium in Sydney
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Queenstown for a two-day meeting with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon, marking his second time crossing the Tasman as leader after last visiting in 2023.
The leaders have committed to strengthen trade and security ties in what they say is an increasingly fractious and uncertain world.
The pair discussed defence, Gaza, trade, and the current strategic environment during the bilateral talks.
Mr Luxon says Australia is like family.
"For New Zealand, Australia is our only formal ally and family, like no other country. Second, we discussed our deepening alliance, underpinned by the work of Richard Marles and Judith Collins, who have done well to strengthen closer defence relations. With increasing integration between our forces, we are deploying more together, training more together; and with my government's significant lift and defence spending, I am determined both that we are interoperable with Australia, and that we procure together to ensure our purchases are as cost effective as possible."
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Relatives of hostages held in Gaza and their supporters have gathered in Tel Aviv, calling for a ceasefire and a comprehensive hostage release deal.
The rally comes a day after Israel announced plans to take over Gaza City, a move approved by its security cabinet that has drawn Palestinian rejection and international condemnation.
The decision has also fuelled concern in Israel over the fate of the remaining hostages.
Lishay Miran-Lavi's husband, Omri, is among those still being held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza.
"Now, the government has decided to expand the war and push deeper into Gaza. But my husband is still there. Every invasion, every bullet, every airstrike could cost him his life. This isn't just a military decision. It could be a death sentence for the people we love most."
Israel has bombarded Gaza since Hamas' October 7 attack in 2023, in which more than 1,200 people, including an estimated 30 children, were killed and over 200 hostages taken, according to the Israeli government.
More than 60,430 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7 2023, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
The October 7 attack was a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
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The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting in the coming hours to respond to Israel's plan to fully takeover Gaza City.
Several countries requested the session, including the UK, Denmark, France, Greece, and Slovenia.
The meeting comes in response to Israel's security cabinet approving a plan for Israel's military to occupy Gaza City.
United Nations spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay says the plan will only endanger more people.
"Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure a humanitarian catastrophe of horrific proportions. The secretary general warns that this further escalation will result in additional forced displacement, killings and massive destruction, compounding the unimaginable suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza."
In a statement on Saturday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong joined Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to "strongly reject" Israel's decision to launch a large-scale military operation in Gaza.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says peace talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are useless without Ukraine.
United States President Donald Trump says he will meet his Russian counterpart in Alaska next week to negotiate an end to the war.
In announcing the talks, Donald Trump suggested that a possible deal might require Ukraine to surrender significant territory to Russia.
Mr Zelenskyy says any decisions without Ukraine would be decisions against peace.
"Ukraine is ready for real decisions that can bring peace. Any decisions that are against us, any decisions that are without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not achieve anything. These are stillborn decisions. They are unworkable decisions. And we all need real and genuine peace."
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A wildfire that killed at least one person in Greece has been contained, but evacuations continue as strong winds are expected to continue.
One elderly man has died and homes and farmland was destroyed as fires fanned by gale-force winds broke out across Greece.
Much of the region surrounding Athens has had almost no rain in recent months.
In the town of Keratea, some 40 kilometres from Athens, local resident Eleftheria says everybody is pitching in to help combat the fires.
"They (the firefighters) managed to make the impossible possible, but suddenly there was a massive gust, it flared up (the fire), turned it around, and brought it toward us over here. And this is the result. I grew up here. This is my home. I moved from Athens just recently to spend the rest of my life here in the countryside. But that's okay. We will pull through."
**
The Bulldogs have kept their chance for a first minor premiership alive after defeating the Warriors at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night 34-14.
In wet conditions, Lachlan Galvin and Matt Burton dominated the game with Burton particularly strong on a superb night with the boot.
The Bulldogs now sit in third place on 36 points with four rounds remaining, two shy of the Raiders and equal with the Storm, while the Warriors are now fifth, six points back.
Meanwhile the Sydney Roosters have thrashed the Dolphins 64-12 and sent a warning to the rest of the NRL after four players were sin-binned after a confrontation erupted between the teams at Suncorp Stadium.
