TRANSCRIPT
- Hezbollah says it supports a ceasefire in Lebanon
- The winners of the 2024 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science announced
- And in Tennis, Australia's final two knocked out of the Shanghai Masters
The deputy leader of Hezbollah says the group supports a ceasefire in Lebanon as Israel intensifies its ground invasion of southern Lebanon.
Naim Qassem says Hezbollah will not be the first to yield in it's fight against Israel and says Hezbollah's capabilities are still in tact, adding that Israel is failing to advance further after clashes on the ground.
In a televised speech, he said that if diplomacy can achieve a ceasefire, all the other details can be discussed.
Meanwhile Iran has issued a warning that any attacks on the Islamic Republic will be met with retaliation.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says Iran is doing what it can to stop the brutal attacks in Lebanon.
"Iran's policy is to support the resistance. This is a fundamental policy that has existed in the past and exists now and we'll in no way violate this policy. If any negotiations happen it's for stopping the crimes and condemning the Zionist regime, and to counter the attempts by this regime to expand the war in the region."
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Protesters gathered outside Federal Parliament demanding Australia sanction Israel for its actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Around 150 demonstrators flying Palestinian and Lebanese flags gathered to express solidarity with those killed by Israeli attacks.
Addressing the crowd, speakers including local indigenous leaders, senators, activists and academics made demands for an end to what they called genocide.
Speaking inside Parliament, independent Senator Lidia Thorpe repeated calls for sanctions on Israel and called the government out for it's treatment of protesters.
"The acts of violence and dispossession being committed by Israel, so called Australia, sees itself reflected back. No consent was given to take the Palestinians land or our land, yet we are told to take the exploitation, murder, rape and pillaging of our people, country and culture, quietly by protest, we are not allowed to protest against genocide."
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The 2024 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science have been announced.
In its 25th year, the prestigous award recognises the achievements of Australian scientists, teachers and research-based innovators.
One of the major recipients is Sydney science teacher Alice Leung whose creative strategies in the classroom have been engaging students from diverse backgrounds.
"We use a lot of hands-on activities. So we do things like make ice cream sandwiches in chemistry to learn about the conservation of mass and how to balance chemical equations. We use chocolate chip cookies to learn about the sustainability of mining. We use Minecraft to encourage girls to learn about coding and engineering and computer science. So a lot of hands-on fun activities are that students want to learn and excited about science."
Each recipient will receive prize money between $50,000 and $250,000. They will also have the opportunity to share their work.
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Wild weather is set to hit large parts of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales this week.
The Bureau of Meteorology says damaging winds and thunderstorms are expected from the mid-north coast of New South Wales to parts of south-east Queensland including Brisbane, Toowoomba and Gympie.
The warning comes as Australia enters its peak time for tropical cyclones, severe thunderstorms, flooding, heatwaves and bush fires.
Bureau Meteorologist Angus Hines says the severity of the thunderstorms is expected to pass by Thursday.
"In particular that heavy rain could hit the coast north of Brisbane, especially around that Sunshine Coast area, some of the most significant storm impacts expected trees down, which could cause damage and power outages, dangerous driving conditions, whether that's because of high winds or potentially heavy rain causing flash flooding and poor visibility and we could just see damage to properties, cars or any outdoor furniture, fences, and the like, across your property."
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To tennis now, Australia's hopes at the Shanghai Masters have come to an end with the final two men competing knocked out in the round of 16.
Alexei Popyrin fell to Grigor Dimitrov, while Aleksander Vukic lost to Tomas Machac in a disappointing finish for Australia's two remaining players in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to the next round, defeating Alexandre Muller.
Tsitsipas will now face Daniil Medvedev in their first meeting in over a year.
