TRANSCRIPT
- Israel's Prime Minister says the war with Hamas will continue even if hostages are safely returned
- Premier Chris Minns praises police for dealing with a pro-Palestinian protest at Port Botany
- Pat Cummins says the World Cup victory will create a lasting legacy
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will continue its war against Hamas, even if a temporary ceasefire is reached.
In comments ahead of an expected Cabinet vote for a ceasefire proposal, Mr Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead in the war.
He has also thanked U-S President Joe Biden for his part in the deal.
"There is idle talk outside, as if after the truce to return our abductees, we will stop the war. So I would like to make it clear: we are at war - and we will continue the war. We will continue the war until we achieve all our objectives; eliminate Hamas, return all our abductees and missing persons and ensure that there will be no element in Gaza that threatens Israel."
The Israeli War Cabinet is expected to vote on a plan that would halt Israel’s offensive in Gaza for several days in exchange for the release of about 50 of the 240 hostages held by Hamas.
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New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has praised police for maintaining order during a number of pro-Palestinian protests throughout the state, while condemning the incidents that occurred at Port Botany.
Hundreds of Palestinian supporters from trade unions have clashed with police during a protest against an Israeli shipping line.
Police say 23 people were arrested at the unauthorised rally with charges filed against them for failure to comply to a move on direction and damage or disruption to a major facility.
Mr Minns has explained how the police came to make the arrests.
"There's a couple of things that the public do need to understand. Firstly, the protest went mobile. Secondly, they occupied a street without lodging a form one declaration. Thirdly, there was a lawful police order given to the protestors to move on. And it was only after ample time was given to the protestors to leave the roadway and allow commerce to transact in that port were arrests affected."
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Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong says the federal government is committed to boosting economic and strategic ties with India, as their top diplomats shared concerns over China, regional security and the Israel-Hamas war.
Senator Wong has met with her Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar after the two held talks in New Delhi.
The two have agreed the Indo-Pacific is a key priority for both countries.
Senator Wong says both nations have complicated trading partnerships with China which they must continue to monitor.
"Certainly we both have very substantive economic relationship with China. And China is a country with whom we will continue to engage. The way in which we describe it, as you know, we will cooperate where we can and the areas where we can. We will disagree where we must, and we will engage in our national interests."
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European Union leader Charles Michel has pledged to do everything possible to formally invite Ukraine to start E-U membership negotiations by December.
Mr Michel made those remarks from Kyiv, where he was joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Moldova's Maia Sandu to mark the 10th anniversary of an uprising.
E-U leaders are to decide in mid-December whether Ukraine should be formally invited to begin talks to join the 27-member union.
Mr Michel says the E-U aims to continue to grow and with Ukraine's participation, that target can be achieved.
“Enlargement is a strategic investment for the EU so it’s been for peace, prosperity and democratic values. I want to be clear I intend to do everything to convince my 27 colleagues that we need a positive decision in December.”
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In cricket,
Pat Cummins believes his team has created a career-defining legacy with its World Cup win, after a long six months on the road in India and England.
Cummins and other Australian players began landing back home on Wednesday morning, after days of celebrations in India.
Seven members of the squad have remained in India to feature in the looming Twenty20 series, while the other half have returned to prepare for the Test summer.
