TRANSCRIPT
- A 17-year-old arrested over a deadly stabbing attack at a children's dance class in the UK
- Australians warned not to travel to Lebanon after an attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; and in sports
- the Hockeyroos defeat Great Britain to stay unbeaten in Pool B at Paris Olympics
Two children have been killed in what British police have called a "ferocious" stabbing attack at a dance class in the seaside town of Southport, in northwest England.
Nine children and two adults were wounded in the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed event for primary school-aged children.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy says the attack is not being treated as terrorism-related.
"We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked. As a mum and a nanna, I can't begin to imagine the pain and suffering that the families of the victims are going through at this time."
A 17-year-old male from the nearby village of Banks has been arrested.
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The Australian government is advising Australians against travelling to Lebanon and asking those in the country to "leave immediately" because of fears of an Israeli attack.
The warning comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site of a deadly missile attack in the Golan Heights.
Local residents protested his visit, saying more should have been done to prevent the attack, which left 12 people dead on Saturday.
Israel has blamed Hezbollah for the attack, but the Lebanese group has denied any responsibility.
During the visit, Mr Netanyahu vowed a to deliver a strong response to the deadly weekend strike.
"We are embracing the families who are going through indescribable suffering. These children are our children. They're the children of us all. The state of Israel cannot and will not let it pass. Our response will come. And it will be severe."
The incident has increased concerns that months of cross-border hostilities between Israel and the heavily armed Hezbollah could spiral into a broader, more destructive war.
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Australia, India, Japan and the United States have agreed to collaborate on enforcing international rules and norms at a meeting of the Quad nations in Tokyo.
The meetings focused on maritime security and cyber defence.
Australia has set aside $18 million over four years for a new cable centre to help bolster undersea networks across the Indo-Pacific and ensure reliable communication and internet services for smaller nations.
China has also made moves in the sector as part of its efforts to gain influence in the Pacific, prompting concerns about data harvesting and security.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the Quad nations want a world in which disputes are managed by rules.
"We live in a time where our world and our region is being reshaped. Conflict is risking lives and is costing lives. Extreme weather threatens food and water security and long standing rules are being bent and twisted or broken. Countries face coercive trade measures unsustainable lending political interference and disinformation. All of these encroach on the ability of every country, to exercise its own agency."
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The French government says multiple telecommunications lines have been hit by vandalism affecting fibre lines and phone lines as cities around France are hosting events for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The scale of the impact is unclear, as is whether it has affected any Olympic activities.
A police official says at least six of France's administrative departments were affected, including the region around the city of Marseille, which is hosting Olympic football and sailing competitions.
The vandalism came after arson attacks hit train networks around France on Friday, hours before the Olympics opening ceremony.
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The Hockeyroos have thrashed Team Great Britain 4-nil at the at the Olympics to go to the top of Pool B after two wins from two matches.
Equestrian Chris Burton has won a silver medal for Australia in the individual jumping event.
It's his second Olympic medal after winning a bronze in Rio.
And Harry Garside's hopes of winning Australia's first Olympic boxing gold medal are over with a heartbreaking shock loss in his first outing in Paris.
A lightweight bronze medallist at the Tokyo Games, the 27-year-old Victorian fell to Hungarian Richard Kovacs by unanimous decision in their round of 16 clash.
