TRANSCRIPT:
- The International Court of Justice orders Israel to halt operations in Rafah;
- Hundreds feared dead from a landslide in a remote Papua New Guinea village;
- The Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory gear up for the A-League Grand Final.
The International Court of Justice has issued an emergency ruling ordering Israel to halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, citing its obligations under the Genocide Convention.
The United Nations top court also ordered Israel to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to facilitate humanitarian aid, and improve access for investigators.
The landmark ruling says Israel must report back in one month but, while the I-C-J's rulings are binding and final, it has no enforcement powers.
It is part of a broader case from South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.
Presiding judge Nawaf Salam says conditions in the enclave had deteriorated since the court last ordered Israel to improve them.
"The court considers that, in conformity with the obligations under the Genocide Convention, Israel must immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.”
The order was adopted by the panel of 15 judges in a 13-2 vote, opposed only by judges from Uganda and Israel itself.
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Hundreds are feared dead after a massive landslide destroyed dozens of homes in a remote village in northern Papua New Guinea.
Local media have reported a death toll of more than 100 people in Kaokalam in the province of Enga, about 600 kilometres north-west of Port Moresby.
But local residents say they are still digging through soil and rocks to find those missing, and while rescue teams have been deployed, no officIal death toll has been released.
Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement he was yet to be fully briefed, but authorities were responding to the disaster.
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Two people have died after a shooting incident in Perth’s western suburbs.
A third person has been rushed to Royal Perth Hospital under priority conditions.
Emergency services responded to reports of a firearm being discharged at a home in Floreat at around four-thirty on Friday afternoon ((24 May)).
A crime scene has been established and investigations are underway.
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A former U-S fighter pilot wanted by the United States over claims he trained Chinese military personnel could soon be extradited from Australia.
A Sydney magistrate found Daniel Duggan is eligible for surrender to the United States, meaning his only hope now is a reprieve from the Commonwealth Attorney General.
The U-S indictment against him alleges the 55-year-old trained Chinese pilots overseas between 2010 and 2012, alongside claims of conspiracy, arms trafficking and money laundering.
His wife Saffrine says he's always denied the allegations.
“Now we respectfully ask the Attorney General to take another look at this case and to bring my husband home.”
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus has so far refused to comment on the matter.
A petition to prevent the extradition has now received around 25,000 signatures.
In football,
The Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory are gearing up for Saturday's A-League Men championship decider.
The team from Gosford is hoping to retain the league, raising their tally this season to three trophies following their success in the A-F-C Cup and the A-League regular season.
Meanwhile, the navy blues are seeking to catch Sydney F-C as the team with the most championship titles in the country with five.
Speaking at a press conference before the final, Victory coach Tony Popovic [[POH-poh-vich]] says he knows they'll be up against tough opposition.
"We know we're away from home. We know we're at the current champion's home ground. They've had a fantastic season, two trophies, last year's champions. We know what's facing us, a difficult task, but we come here with a lot of confidence as well."
