TRANSCRIPT
- Israel's Prime Minister says his country will intensify its fight against Hamas
- More wild weather expected for the east coast of Australia
- Sailors prepare for the 78th Sydney to Hobart yacht race
**
Israel's Prime Minister says his country will intensify its fight against Hamas; more wild weather expected for the east coast of Australia; and sailors prepare for the 78th Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
**
Pope Francis has blasted the weapons industry and its “instruments of death” that are fueling wars around the globe as he made a Christmas Day appeal for peace in the world and in particular between Israel and the Palestinians.
Speaking from St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis said he grieved the Hamas attack against southern Israel on the 7th of October and called for the release of hostages.
And he begged for an end to Israel’s campaign in Gaza and called for humanitarian aid to reach the strip.
Francis devoted his Christmas Day blessing to a call for peace in the world.
**
Authorities have warned people to stay on alert for more wild conditions with wet weather predicted to impact much of the country's east coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology says a low pressure system is producing a second band of cloud with embedded thunderstorms through central New South Wales and over much of Victoria and southeastern South Australia.
The Bureau also says a trough over western Queensland will deepen and move slowly east across the central and the southern part of the state over the next few days.
Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales State Emergency Service Debbie Platz says hundreds of volunteers spent Christmas mopping up after the first round of storms - and people should not get complacent.
"I think in a lot of the areas around New South Wales it's actually quite a sunny day and people may think that the weather is going to stay that way. But the BOM are telling us that we are expecting very severe thunderstorms, lightning strikes, large hailstorms, severe wind. So we would urge people to take heed of these warnings. Remain indoors wherever possible. Don't park your cars or stay under trees. And remember to stay safe and to stay out of flooded waters."
**
Ukrainian officials say Russian attacks on the Kherson region have killed five civilians, while Russian-installed officials in the eastern town of Horlivka said one person was killed as a result of Kyiv's shelling.
Russian forces abandoned the city of Kherson and the western bank of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine more than a year ago, but have since subjected many areas there to constant shelling from their positions on the eastern bank.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has addressed his compatriots with a Christmas message of encouragement in the face of Russia's ongoing invasion.
"Step by step, day by day, darkness is losing and darkness will finally lose, the evil will lose. Today, it is our common goal, our common dream. And our common prayer will be for this today - for our freedom, for our victory, for our Ukraine, for the day when we will be able to gather all together at home in a peaceful year, during a peaceful Christmas and will tell each other: "The Christ was born."
**
Russia has moved jailed opposition politician Alexei Navalny to a prison in the Arctic region of northern Russia.
His spokesman has confirmed the transfer after his supporters had lost contact with him for more than two weeks.
The jail is in the Yamal-Nenets region about 1,900 kilometres north-east of Moscow.
**
And in sport, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race will be run for the 78th time from this morning, with four 100 foot supermaxis and 10 international entrants among the fleet of 103 boats.
French man Jerome will among those contesting the race.
Wearing a Kangaroo suit, Jerome has told Fox Sports he's excited for his first opportunity to partake in the legendary race.
"We're coming from everywhere so we have people coming from the US, France, New Caledonia. And fun fact, I'm based in Sydney. So I'm the only local here with my other friend here Arno. It's a dream come true you know; we've all had that race on our bucket list. So being able to do it on a boat with a French crew is like the cherry on the cake. Being French we will bring lots of super good food. And we'll have a chef on the boat to cook for us, so whatever happens we will have good meals and a smile on our face when we get there."
