TRANSCRIPT
- A rocket attack on a soccer pitch kills ten teenagers in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights
- Australia calls for an end to destabilising actions in the South China Sea
- The International Olympic Committee apologises for mixing up North and South Korea during the opening ceremony
Ten teenagers have been killed and several children injured in a rocket attack on a soccer pitch in Madjal Shams, in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
The Israel Defence Force is blaming Hezbollah for the attack, but the militant group denies it was responsible.
The strike happened hours after an Israeli airstrike on southern Lebanon killed four members of Hezbollah.
It comes after weeks of escalating cross-border fire on the Israel-Lebanon border.
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Delegates at the New South Wales Labor conference have passed a motion demanding the federal government recognise Palestinian statehood.
The motion, moved by New South Wales Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib, was met with rapturous applause and a standing ovation by delegates inside Sydney Town Hall.
The amendment called on the Australian government "to recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state and as a priority".
Mr Dib says recognising Palestine "goes to the very core of the Labor values of justice, human dignity and solidarity".
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will unveil a new cabinet for the first time in two years.
It follows the announcement Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney and Skills Minister Brendan O'Connor are retiring from politics.
Labor's Left faction has recommended replacements to the Prime Minister, who will assign the new portfolios before the new ministers are sworn in on Monday.
Assistant Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy is expected to take over Ms Burney's role, while Andrew Giles is likely to be removed from the immigration portfolio following criticism of his handling of a High Court case.
Mr Albanese paid tribute to Minister Burney at the New South Wales Labor conference.
"A trailblazer, an inspiration, a powerful advocate for First Nations people, a person of wonderful warmth and great strength, who has met every challenge in her life, with courage and with grace, and a dear friend, who all of us wish every happiness in the future, Linda Burney."
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for an end to destabilising actions in the South China Sea as leaders from Southeast Asia met in Laos.
Maritime conflict was among topics discussed at the 57th meeting of foreign ministers from the regional bloc of ASEAN.
Members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all have conflicts with China over its claim of sovereignty over virtually all of the South China Sea - one of the world’s most crucial waterways for shipping.
Many worry that direct confrontations there could lead to broader conflict.
Ms Wong called for all parties to respect international law.
"We are very concerned about any actions which are destabilising, which are dangerous, and which are contrary to international law. We would urge all parties to ensure there is not action that is contrary to international law that is dangerous, that is disruptive, and destabilising. And we would urge parties to ensure that they deal with this in a way that deescalates the situation."
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Australians are being urged to register as organ and tissue donors to potentially save the lives of many others.
A national awareness campaign - DonateLife Week - is aiming to boost the number of registered organ donors from 36 per cent.
Currently, there are around 1,800 Australians waiting for an organ transplant, and a further 14,000 on dialysis for kidney failure.
Mohammad Rezaee says it was difficult surviving the death of his wife to a cardiac arrest.
She was 34.
But he says he is immensely proud that the act of organ donation has given a future to seven organ recipients.
"Even they explained to me, the body is going to a few people, I didn't know the exact number. But after I think after some time passed, I realised she saved seven peoples' lives, which was very important for me. And I was crying that day. I remember we were sitting... After two months, we were sitting in the house, we received mail coming from one of those people who received a kidney and couldn't play with the kids because of the problem she had. And once we donated the kidney to her, her life totally changed."
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The International Olympic Committee has apologised, after South Korean athletes were incorrectly introduced as North Korean during the opening ceremony.
As the boat carrying South Korean athletes passed on the River Seine, the announcer introduced them as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" - the official name of North Korea - in French and English.
The announcer used the same introduction when the North Korean delegation passed.
In a statement, the I-O-C said: "We deeply apologise for the mistake that occurred when introducing the South Korean team during the broadcast of the opening ceremony."
South Korea's vice minister for sports and culture, Jang Mi-ran, says she has requested a meeting with I-O-C President Thomas Bach over the incident, and she will be seeking assurances that the error won't happen again.
