TRANSCRIPT
- Hamas frees hostages in exchange for prisoners on the first of four days of ceasefire
- South African former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius granted parole
- Melbourne Victory clinch a a 1-1 draw with Macarthur
13 Israeli hostages have been freed from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip and have been returned to Israel where they were undergoing medical checks.
This happens at the end of the first day of a planned four-day truce that saw Israel freeing 39 Hamas prisoners.
According the office of the Israeli Prime Minister, four children and relatives were included, as well as five elderly women.
Israeli officials say the released hostages will be flown or driven to five different hospitals across the country for medical treatment as needed.
This member of the Israeli Defence Force says the deal is a sign of an improving situation.
"With all the successes we experienced along the way, today is the beginning of the light at the end of the tunnel. We have a great privilege to be here at this significant moment."
Fighting continued in the lead up to the pause, which is the first since the conflict began nearly seven weeks ago.
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South African former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius who imprisoned in 2014 for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been granted parole.
Mr Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp multiple times through a bathroom door on Valentine's Day in 2013, later claiming he mistook her for a burglar.
He was initially jailed for five years in 2014 for culpable homicide by a high court, but the Supreme Court of Appeal in late 2015 found him guilty of murder after an appeal by prosecutors.
He was sent back to jail for six years in 2016, less than half the 15-year minimum term sought by prosecutors.
Mr Pistorius' release is set for the 5th of January 2024.
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The Federal and Northern Territory governments are holding talks over a major staffing shortage for Indigenous legal services in Alice Springs, which they fear could lead to clients being wrongfully imprisoned.
More than three quarters of the lawyers working at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) in Alice Springs have resigned, with just five lawyers currently able to deal with a growing case load.
The Northern Territory government has announced plans to send an extra 50 police officers to Alice Springs over the traditionally high crime summer period in the town, promising a zero tolerance approach to offending.
NAAJA Acting Principal Lawyer Jared Sharp says this will likely mean both higher rates of imprisonment, and longer sentences.
"What we know is that for Aboriginal people in Central Australia who might speak English as a fourth language, or other reasons why, you know, their understanding of the legal process is extremely limited. They're going to be in situations where they're very vulnerable to being sentenced to incarceration, when they might not otherwise would have been or for longer than they would otherwise have been."
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Melbourne Victory Coach Tony Popovic has praised his team for scoring a 95th-minute equaliser and clinching a 1-1 draw with Macarthur ((Friday 24 November)).
Melbourne Victory had better opportunities throughout Friday night's A-League Men clash in Campbelltown, but were wasteful after conceding 12 minutes in.
Defender Adama Traore received a second yellow card in the 62nd minute for accidentally kicking Bulls captain Ulises Davila in the head, further diminishing Victory's hopes of a comeback.
But striker Bruno Fornaroli fired the ball into Macarthur's Yianna Nicolaou and on to the goal for an equaliser in the final minute of stoppage time.
