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TRANSCRIPT
- One Nation win seat of Farrer in much-anticipated by-election
- Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon kill at least seven people, including a child
- World #1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated in the Italian Open's biggest upset
One Nation candidate David Farley has won the federal by-election in the southern New South Wales seat of Farrer, becoming the first non-Coalition candidate to win the electorate since it was created in 1949.
Mr Farley defeated independent Michelle Milthorpe after Labor chose not to contest the seat, with the Liberals and Nationals both failing to make the final count.
The sprawling regional electorate had been held by the Coalition for decades, most recently by former Liberal leader Sussan Ley, who resigned earlier this year after losing the Liberal leadership to Angus Taylor.
Addressing supporters last night Mr Farley says the result marks a turning point for One Nation.
"What are we doing tonight? We're like a mason with a chisel and a hammer, and we're re carving the letters into the Australian democracy. One Nation has reached the end of its beginning. We're going through the ceiling."
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An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon has killed at least seven people, including a child.
Lebanon's health ministry says 15 others were wounded during the strike on the town of Saksakiyeh, including three children.
The Israeli military says it struck Hezbollah militants in the town, accusing them of planning attacks against Israeli soldiers.
Resident Hasan Shomar condemns the attacks as a rescue operation is underway in Saksakiyeh in southern Lebanon:
“The targeting (operation) was against children, children, civilians. They ran away from Nabatieh, from Nabatieh and they targeted them here. Here they were all children and women, women, women, all women and children. They all ran away from under the strikes, from the Nabatieh area. The people fled and looked for a safe house. Where do you want this to get to? Where do you want this to get to? I don’t understand, nobody understands.”
Israel and armed group Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire in southern Lebanon, despite a US-brokered ceasefire announced on the 16th of April.
A US State Department official says representatives of Israel and Lebanon would hold a third round of talks in Washington on Thursday and Friday.
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New South Wales gun clubs are being asked to play a bigger role in spotting warning signs, as the government moves to overhaul the state’s firearms system.
It follows a 40-million-dollar funding boost for the firearms registry, after criticism of the system exposed by last year’s Bondi terror attack.
The reforms include shorter licence terms, tougher checks, a cap on firearm ownership and a full audit of existing licences.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley says clubs are well placed to notice changes in members’ behaviour.
"They then can have oversight of the people who are coming and going from their club, and it may be the case that they see a change in their behaviour - irratic behaviour, hear a conversation that doesn't sound quite right and they can then pass that on."
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A former Labour minister has challenged the British Prime Minister's leadership following a crushing local election defeat.
Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party recorded the worst losses of a governing party in municipal polls since 1995, prompting a growing number of his own party members to call on him to quit.
To try and bolster his position in the party, he has named two influential Labour politicians as advisers, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former deputy leader Harrier Harman.
But former Labour minister Catherine West tells BBC Radio that she wanted the Cabinet to work out a plan to replace Mr Starmer by Monday, or she would challenge the position herself.
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African nations are taking centre stage at this year’s Venice Biennale in Italy, with Somalia among four countries making their debut at the international art exhibition.
Somalia’s pavilion explores the importance of poetry in preserving stories and cultural identity across generations.
Curator Mohamed Mire says poetry is central to Somali history and social structure.
Artist Ayan Farah says her work focuses on the relationship between humans and the natural world.
“A lot of the works I make are supposed to be how nature affects the human and how human interacts with nature. So I hope in the way I've installed them and the materials they're made of, it's going to draw you into that environment, even though you're not there.”
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To sport, and in tennis; Veteran Sorana Cirstea has caused the biggest upset of the Italian Open, defeating world #1 Aryna Sabalenka with a 2-6 6-3 7-5 victory in their third round clash in Rome.
The 36-year-old Romanian, who will retire later this year, beat a world No.1 for the first time in her career on Saturday.
But world #1 Sabalenka was left with an injury concern with the French Open looming.
