Hundreds of thousands of people across Australia are demonstrating nationwide in support of Palestinians, calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza.
It comes days after the United Nations confirmed famine in parts of the Gaza Strip for the first time, as Israel prepares for a military takeover of the entire city.
Recent figures from the Israeli Defence Forces indicate five out of six Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza have been civilians.
Former Australian of the Year and high-profile activist Grace Tame addressed a crowd in Sydney's Hyde Park.
"Every single day for almost two-years - 28 - that's a classroom full of children, innocent children have been killed by Israel. But the turning point for our care and humanity should not be children. All of the people in Palestine who have been murdered are human beings just like us."
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A spokesperson for Palestine Action Group says they are demanding action from the government and that they don't want empty words and gestures such as statehood recognition for Palestinians in Gaza.
A nationwide day of protest in support of Palestinians is underway, in 21 cities and towns across Australia.
Action Group Organiser Josh Lees tells SBS News they need real action to limit Israel's ability to carry on what he calls 'a genocide'.
"Currently Australia is still exporting weapons component directly to Israel such as components for the F35 bomber which is being used everyday to massacre children in Gaza. At the same time Australia is purchasing hundreds and millions of dollars of military equipment from Israel which is also helping to fund their war machine which is carrying out a genocide so we need sanctions and we need an end to the two-way arm trade."
The Israeli government maintains it's not committing a genocide in Gaza.
The co-Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin, says while people might be drawn to these rallies for peaceful reasons, the organisers are happy with war.
"Naturally, when you have people like that operating in our country, Jewish Australians, but many more than just our community will feel unsafe. And people have felt for a long time now, like they're being locked out of their own cities, like extremists are taking over and more moderate people are unable to access basic amenities and feel safe adjacent to these rallies. So there's clearly a problem here, and I think we need to be clear-eyed about what's going on, that this isn't a peace movement."
He says what's happening in Israel right now is a peace rally, where 400,000 people are calling for an end to the war and a release of hostages.
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Ukrainians around the world are marking the annual celebration of the country’s independence from the Soviet Union 34 years ago.
In Australia, the Ukrainian community has unfurled the world’s largest Ukrainian flag at Barangaroo in Sydney.
Elmira Shapovalova says it's nice to see people out to celebrate the day.
"People who I know from different walks of lives are coming together today and in the future days to come to get support that Ukraine desperately needs right now. We are volunteers and people who are tirelessly trying to bring peace to Ukraine."
She hopes the Australian government is able to provide more support in Ukraine's war with Russia, which began in February 2022.
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And in sport,
Almost 40 sun-powered cars have set off from Darwin as part of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge - where spaceship-like vehicles and international teams compete in the Australian outback.
The course is over 3,000 kilometres and runs from the Top End to Adelaide.
The event every two years aims to promote the development of energy-efficient transport as part of the global challenge to decarbonise mobility.
Kevin van der Putte is a member of the Innoptus Solar Team from Belgium, which topped the competition's 'challenger' class in both 2023 and 2021.
He's told SBS Dutch his aerodynamic car only weighs around 70 kilograms.
"Dutch translated to English GB: "So our solar car is a really aerodynamic car, it's super light, it only weighs around 70 kilograms, purely made out of carbon. And it also doesn't require fuel, so it only uses the energy of the sun."
