Israel has bombed a densely-populated residential area of Lebanon's capital Beirut, Actor Maggie Smith dies aged 89 in London, Melbourne Storm secures a spot in the 2024 NRL Grand Final.
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
- Israel has bombed a densely-populated residential area of Lebanon's capital Beirut.
- Actor Maggie Smith dies aged 89 in London.
- And in sport, Melbourne Storm secures a spot in the 2024 NRL Grand Final.
----
Israel has bombed a densely-populated residential area of Lebanon's capital Beirut in what it claims was an attack on Hezbollah's headquarters embedded underneath.
At least two people have reportedly been killed and 76 wounded however rescue workers are still attempting to access the site and the death toll is expected to rise.
Al Jazeera reports the attack levelled six residential buildings.
Following the attack, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has now demanded an immediate ceasefire to avoid an imminent all-out regional war.
"War in Lebanon could lead to further escalation involving outside powers. I fully support the proposal for a temporary ceasefire allowing for the delivery of humanitarian relief and paving the way for the resumption of serious negotiations for a durable peace across the blue line. We need this ceasefire now. We cannot afford endless negotiations as we have on Gaza. We must avoid a regional war at all costs."
There have been reports the attack may have targeted longtime Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah but there has been no confirmation from Israel or Hezbollah.
----
In a speech to the United Nations - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue Israel's attacks on Iranian-backed fighters in Lebanon as hope fade for a ceasefire that could head off an all-out regional war.
Several delegations walked out as Mr Netanyahu approached the lectern while supporters in the gallery cheered.
Mr Netanyahu says Israel is being unfairly targetted by international bodies like the UN for its war in Gaza and now Lebanon.
"The singling out of the one and only Jewish state continues to be a moral stain on the United Nations. It has made this once respected institution contemptible in the eyes of decent people everywhere. The ICC, prosecutors rush to judgment. His refusal to treat Israel with its independent courts the way other democracies are treated is hard to explain by anything other than pure antisemitism."
Mr Netanyahu insists Israel's campaign would continue.
More than 700 people have been killed in the strikes on Lebanon and Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed almost 42,000 people, according to Gazan health authorities, since a deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7
Next week will mark one year since Hamas - attacked Israel, killing 1200 people and taking more than 200 hostages.
----
Hurricane Helene has killed at least eleven people in the US .
The storm weakened to a category 1 storm hours after making landfall in the U-S state of Florida where it left more than 1.1 million homes and businesses without power.
Storm warnings across northern Florida, Georgia and the Carolina's put more than 55 million Americans under some form of weather alert or warning.
The National Weather Service says the storm will hit the region hard with flooding not seen in over a century.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told residents that despite it's weakening status, the storm is still extremely dangerous.
“You need to be right now just hunkering down. Now's not the time to be going out. Not only are we seeing it hit landfall here in northern Florida, you're still seeing a surge in water rising in parts of Florida, far south from the Big Bend area. So you look at southwest Florida, you look at the Tampa Bay area, you're seeing really significant amounts of surge."
----
Actor Maggie Smith has died at the age of 89.
Family members said in a statement that Smith died early on Friday in a London hospital.
Smith played many roles including Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films.
Smith was frequently rated the pre-eminent British actress of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench.
Britain's King Charles called her a national treasure who was admired around the world.
He also paid tribute to her "warmth and wit that shone through both on and off the stage", posting a photograph of him sharing a joke with the actor.
----
In rugby league,
Melbourne Storm have defeated the Sydney Roosters in a decisive 48-18 win in the NRL Preliminary final in Melbourne.
In a dominant performance, Melbourne's Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes blew the Roosters off AAMI Park to book the Storm's first appearance in the N-R-L Grand Final since 2020.
After they led 22-6 at the break, minor premiers Melbourne were forced to withstand a brief Roosters comeback early in the second half before winning well.
Melbourne will now face either the Cronulla Sharks or the Penrith Panthers in the final next Sunday.
