TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to SBS News In Easy English. I'm Catriona Stirrat.
Premier Chris Minns has condemned a rise in Islamophobia following the Bondi Beach attack, warning racism will not be tolerated in New South Wales.
Mr Minns says police are on high alert after reports of racist abuse and attacks targeting members of the Islamic community, including girls wearing headscarves on public transport.
He says hate speech laws apply to everyone and offenders will be confronted by the law.
"It is disgusting to think that anyone could blame a young person, a young member of our community, a young Islamic girl, for the actions of two people in Bondi a couple of weeks ago. That is appalling. It'd be like blaming Ahmed al- Ahmed for the actions of those terrible terrorists on the 14th of December, when we all know he's an absolute hero. So I just want to make it clear that racism will not be tolerated. It's not vigilantism, it's not retribution, it's hateful racism in our community."
The Premier says New South Wales Police will act swiftly against any acts of racial vilification regardless of whether it is antisemitism or Islamophobia or any other type of racism.
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Ahmed al-Ahmed, the man who disarmed one of the Bondi gunmen and likely saved countless lives, has reflected on his actions during the terror attack.
Mr al-Ahmed approached one of the shooters and wrestled a rifle from him, before being shot multiple times by the other shooter.
CBS News asked the Syrian-Australian Muslim man about him stepping in to save Jewish lives.
REPORTER: "You are a Muslim man who saved Jewish lives."
AL-AHMED: "I save human innocent people. I saved innocent people. I don't look for the religion and never think about the religion. When I did this, I did for the innocent human, a human being like us, that's what I know."
Mr Al-Ahmed has received death threats and has been insulted and attacked on social media for his heroic act by those who believe he should not have intervened.
He has shrugged off those insults, calling on all humanity to end terrorism, stop the hate, and come together as one.
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Residents in Australia’s far northwest are being urged to take shelter as Tropical Cyclone Hayley strengthens ahead of landfall.
The system is forecast to peak as a Category 4 cyclone, with wind gusts of up to 230 kilometres an hour, as it tracks towards Western Australia’s northern Dampier Peninsula.
Cyclone Hayley is expected to make landfall tonight.
Authorities say it is no longer safe to travel in areas including Beagle Bay, Cockatoo Island and Derby, warning of a serious threat to lives and homes.
People in caravans or older buildings are being advised to move to evacuation centres or safer accommodation.
Sarah Scully, from the Bureau of Meteorology, says winds are expected to turn the cyclone in an east-south-easterly direction as it approaches land.
"We have issued a tropical cyclone watch all the way from Broome to Kuri Bay. However, we have a tropical cyclone warning from just north of Broome up to Cape Levesque. Now, within the warning area, gales may develop within the next 24 hours. So there is the potential for wind gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour to develop."
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United States President Donald Trump has warned Iran against rebuilding its nuclear program, saying the U-S would respond with force if it does.
He says it would be best for Iran to make a deal with the US.
“Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we're going to have to knock them down. We'll knock them down, we'll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that's not happening. I heard Iran wants to make a deal. If they want to make a deal, that's much smarter. You know, they could've made a deal the last time, before we went through, you know, a big attack on them.”
Mr Trump made the comments while meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, as the two discussed the Gaza ceasefire and wider regional security concerns.
The ceasefire, which began in October, has been marred by continued violence, with hundreds of Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers killed since it took effect.
That was SBS News In Easy English. I'm Catriona Stirrat.
