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TRANSCRIPT
- Hezbollah blames Israel as exploding pagers kill nine people and injure nearly 3000 in Lebanon.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says big economic reform is still on the cards.
- Several A-League clubs announce new signings...
Hundreds of handheld pagers have exploded simultaneously across Lebanon and in parts of Syria, killing at least eight people, including members of the militant group Hezbollah.
Officials are blaming Israel in what appears to be a sophisticated, remote attack that wounded more than 2,700 people at a time of rising tensions across the Lebanon border.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions between Lebanon and Israel.
Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been clashing near-daily for nearly a year against the backdrop of war between Israel and Hezbollah ally Hamas in Gaza.
The Israeli military declined to comment.
Lebanon's Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed the attack.
“At around 3:30pm this afternoon, a large number of injuries started flowing into the hospitals. Those injured were primarily hurt after the explosion of communications tools, pagers, that they were carrying. The number of people that arrived to the emergency rooms were very large. It was clear that they were from different locations.”
The Greens are criticising Labor for threatening a double dissolution election in an attempt to push housing legislation through parliament.
Labor's Help to Buy bill was once again delayed in the Senate after the Greens and the Coalition, as well as other crossbenchers, voted against a motion to bring the bill to a vote.
A double dissolution occurs when the Senate and the House of Representatives fail to reach an agreement on a proposed law, with the governor-general dissolving both chambers and setting up an election.
Greens leader Adam Bandt has called on the Prime Minister to stop attempting to bulldoze his legislation through parliament and take measures for all those struggling to afford their rent.
"It would be a betrayal of the millions of renters and stressed mortgage holders who are struggling right now, for the Prime Minister to go to an early election, rather than negotiate an outcome to help people through the housing and rental crisis. That is just pure political posturing from the Prime Minister to threaten to go to an early election instead of negotiating."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says big economic reform is still on the cards if the government and businesses can put their differences aside.
Speaking at the Business Council of Australia Dinner, Mr Albanese has told business leaders that the government remains committed to the corporate sector following criticism from the major lobby group.
Speaking before the Prime Minister, Business Council chief executive Bran Black told the audience that many corporate leaders believe Australia is losing its way for economic prosperity.
He says many employers are more cautious about hiring since the government's workplaces changes came into place.
In contrasting comments, the Prime Minister gave an optimistic outlook on the economic prosperity of Australia.
"Economic reform is not confined to a vanished, golden age, it remains our challenge to meet, and our opportunity to seize now I am optimistic that government and business can do this together by recognising each other's strengths, respecting each other's views and valuing each other's contribution."
In football,
Several clubs from the A-League have announced a number of new signings on the final day of the transfer period.
Brisbane Roar have confirmed the arrival of 21 year old Indonesian striker Rafael Struick, who spent last season in the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel Atkinson has returned to Melbourne City two years after heading to Scotland to play for Premiership side Heart of Midlothian.
Elsewhere, the Newcastle Jets have completed the transfer of 26 year old Brazilian forward Wellissol Oliveira.
It wraps up a busy transfer period that included the likes of Brazilian forward Douglas Costa and Spanish midfielder Juan Mata.
