Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te wins the presidential election; Houthi militants threaten a strong response after the United States carries out another strike in Yemen, and in football, Australia beats India in the Asian Cup Group B opener in Qatar.
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TRANSCRIPT:
- Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-te wins the presidential election.
- Houthi militants threaten a strong response after the United States carries out another strike in Yemen.
- Australia beats India in the Asian Cup Group B opener in Qatar.
Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party's presidential candidate Lai Ching-te has won the island’s presidential election.
The result comes despite pressure from China to vote against Mr Lai because of his championing of Taiwan's separation from China and rejection of its territorial claims over Taiwan.
The Democratic Progressive party has secured its third successive term, but has lost its majority in parliament, which will make it harder for Mr Lai to pass legislation.
But Mr Lai has celebrated the win, saying he is determined to safeguard Taiwan from what he has called China's "threats and intimidation".
“The Taiwanese people have taken action to successfully resist the intervention of external forces. This is because we believe in electing our own president... We have not engaged in any provocations. Taiwan simply wants to maintain its democratic and free way of life.”
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Houthi rebels have threatened a strong response after the United States carried out another strike in Yemen overnight on Saturday, further raising tensions as the US vows to protect shipping from attacks by the Iran-aligned group.
The strikes have added to concerns about the escalation of the conflict that has spread through the region since the breakout of war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza.
The latest strike, which the US said targeted a radar site, came a day after dozens of American and British strikes on Houthi facilities in Yemen which were supported by Australia.
One Houthi spokesman said the strikes have had no significant impact on the group's ability to prevent Israel-affiliated vessels from passing through the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
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Israel has continued its bombardment of Gaza despite United Nations court hearings this week where it is denying accusations of genocidal acts against the Palestinian people, following charges brought by South Africa.
Israel has killed close to 24,000 Palestinians in Gaza and wounded more than 60,000 according to health authorities in the Hamas-controlled region.
Israel claims it has no choice but to end Hamas rule in Gaza after militants from the group killed 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7 and took 240 hostages back to the territory.
Basem Arafa, a relative of those killed in the latest airstrikes on the Southern city of Rafah, spoke of his family while pointing to a photo he says depicts a two-year-old girl killed in the blast.
"I demand the International Court of Justice send delegations to witness with their eyes what Israel is doing and the crimes it is committing against the Palestinian people, including the children and women. This entire family, with its children and women, has been wiped off the civil registry. Do they pose a threat to the state of Israel and America? Do these children, including the little girl who is two and a half years old, holding bread in her hand, pose a threat to Israel? Does the location where they were struck on the Egyptian border pose a threat to the security of Israel?"
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More asbestos has been found near an inner Sydney park, with some pedestrian and bike paths closed to the public.
A child first brought home the potentially hazardous material from the Rozelle Parklands earlier this week, prompting authorities to start testing the site's recycled mulch.
More than 85 samples from the parklands and surrounding Rozelle Interchange Project sites have been analysed, with 13 positive results.
It includes six positive samples returned late on Friday from the garden beds along the junction of Anzac Bridge, Victoria Road and City West Link.
The adjacent pedestrian and bike paths were closed to the public yesterday as a result.
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A fire has broken out at a Royal Australian Air Force base as soaring temperatures and windy conditions cause havoc for firefighters north of Perth.
The blaze broke out yesterday afternoon near the entrance to R-A-A-F Base Gingin, a facility primarily used for pilot training, as large parts of the state faced heatwave warnings.
A watch and act alert has been issued for the base and areas to its north and east amid concern about changing conditions and homes in the area.
The blaze was one of four significant fires in the Wanneroo and Chittering areas, with homes and lives under threat from an uncontrolled blaze near Chittering.
Superintendent Clinton Kuchel of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services says extreme weather in the region has made the fires difficult to control.
"The fire conditions are really challenging. Not only are they challenging today, but most of the local crews, the volunteers were out last night. They're farmers, they're volunteers and career firefighters out last night, working in response to numerous lightning strikes that pushed down through the northern extents of the metropolitan area.”
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In football, Australia's Socceroos have beaten India's Blue Tigers 2-0 in the Asian Cup Group B opener in Qatar.
Second-half goals were scored by Australia's Jackson Irvine and substitute Jordan Bos.
Australia upped their game in the 50th minute when Indian keeper Gurpreet Singh failed to deal with a cross to Irvine in the box.
And the Socceroos secured their second goal in the 73rd minute, when Riley McGree dribbled into the box and cut a pass back for Bos to score.
