TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin... A legal victory for Julian Assange, as his extradition case continues; The International Criminal Court seeks arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders; and in the N-R-L, the Parramatta Eels sack coach Brad Arthur.
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court [[ICC]] is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, over alleged war crimes.
I-C-C prosecutor, Karim Khan, has applied for arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders, and also for Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and defence minister, Yoav Gallant.
He says he has reasonable grounds to believe they bear responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Mr Khan alleges international crimes committed by Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant date from "at least" the 8th of October.
The crimes include starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, wilfully causing great suffering, serious injury to body or health, or cruel treatment, wilful killing or murder and intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population; as well as crimes against humanity of extermination and/or murder, persecution and allegation of crimes committing other inhumane acts."
The allegations made against the Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri date from October 7 and include extermination and murder, taking hostages, torture, rape and other sexual violence.
A panel of ICC judges will now consider the application for the arrest warrants.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the federal government is working with French police in New Caledonia to determine when the Australian citizens who remain in the country will be able to leave.
New Caledonia remains in a state of emergency following deadly riots that were sparked following the introduction of a bill into the French parliament.
The new legislation could lower the requirement to attain New Caledonian citizenship from 14.5 years of residency to ten.
The international airport has been shut down, and over 300 Australians who remain stuck in the country claim they are running low on basic supplies.
The Prime Minister told the ABC all efforts are being made to provide the necessary assistance.
"Well we know that the situation there is deeply concerning. We're doing everything possible to help Australians on the ground. We are working with the French authorities. They're advising at the moment that the situation on the ground is preventing flights. We continue to pursue approvals because the Australian Defence Force is ready to fly when it's permitted to do so."
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Opposition leader Peter Dutton remains cryptic on when his party's energy policy will be released, saying only that it will be revealed "in due course".
The Opposition has repeatedly shown its preference for a nuclear alternative, saying it could help bring down energy prices for Australian consumers.
Their proposals involve repurposing unused coal or soon-to-close coal plants into nuclear reactors, an option which has repeatedly been shot down by the federal government.
Mr Dutton says his government will reveal their official policies on nuclear energy sometime in the future.
"Well, has the government announced all of their policies for the next election? Of course they haven't. So I hardly take advice from the Prime Minister or Jim Chalmers on when our policy should be released."
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has criticised the Opposition for stalling on the revelation of their energy policy.
"Peter Dutton's got this uncosted nuclear fantasy, he won't tell us how much it costs, he won't tell us where the nuclear reactors are going to go. And compare that with the work that we are doing in a considered and methodical way to invest in the jobs and industries which will power the future."
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In rugby league,
Parramatta are on the hunt for a new coach for the first time in a decade after sacking long-term mentor Brad Arthur.
Just a day before he was set to celebrate his 50th birthday, Arthur was axed, bringing an end to his 10-year reign as the club's head coach.
Arthur will be replaced by assistant coach Trent Barrett until the end of the 2024 NRL season.
Beyond then, the Eels will be desperate to find a candidate who can take them to an elusive premiership, after Arthur went within one win of ending a title drought now into its 38th season.
