Morning News Bulletin 9 July 2024

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In this bulletin, Israel's opposition offers Benjamin Netanyahu political help for a potential peace deal; The Northern Territory's Police Commissioner announces an immediate three-day curfew in Alice Springs; And in tennis, Australian Alex De Minaur into the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the first time.


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TRANSCRIPT

  • Israel's opposition offers Benjamin Netanyahu political help for a potential peace deal
  • The Northern Territory's Police Commissioner announces an immediate 3-day curfew in Alice Springs
  • Australian Alex De Minaur into the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the first time
**

Israel's opposition is offering Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu help to possibly end the war in Gaza.

Hamas is accusing Mr Netanyahu of putting obstacles in front of ceasefire negotiations that he has authorised.

But he has previously said any deal must allow Israel to keep fighting until its objectives are met.

And some partners in Mr Netanyahu's ruling coalition have said they will quit, and thus possibly bring down the government, if the war ends before Israel has eradicated Hamas.

However, opposition parties say they will give Mr Netanyahu support in parliament if this happens after a Mr Netanyahu negotiates a peace deal.

The head of the opposition coalition, Yair Lapid, says nothing is more important than a peace deal that releases the 120 remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza.

"There's a hostages deal on the table. It is not true that Netanyahu has to choose between the hostages deal and the continuation of his tenure as prime minister. I promised him a safety net and I will keep that promise. It is not true that he has to choose between the lives of the hostages and the government. Let him do the deal, if Smotrich and Ben Gvir retire from the government he will get a safety net. It's not an easy statement, it's not an easy decision, Netanyahu is a bad, failed prime minister and he is to blame for the October 7 disaster, but the most important thing is to bring the hostages home."

**

Northern Territory Police say a snap three-day curfew in Alice Springs is necessary to regain order after a series of violent assaults over the weekend.

Unlike the three-week curfew in April, this emergency declaration, which came into effect on Monday night, applies to adults as well as children, and will be enforced in the CBD between 10pm and 6am.

It begins as Naidoc week celebrations are expected to draw about 5,000 visitors to Alice Springs.

The announcement uses new laws passed by the Territory parliament in May that let the police commissioner impose an immediate three-day curfew.

NT Chief Minister Eva Lawler argues the curfew will provide police extra powers to get on top of the situation.

"After the first Alice Springs youth curfew, we've seen how effective curfews can be as a circuit-breaker. We believe a broader curfew for Alice Springs right now will have a similar effect - a similar positive effect - and will improve community safety. We will monitor the situation closely for the next 72 hours, and any extension will need to be signed off by the Minister of Police."

**

At least 36 people have been killed following a barrage of Russian missiles on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, including on a children's hospital.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces fired more than 40 missiles in a rare daytime attack which has damaged infrastructure and commercial and residential buildings.

Mr Zelenskyy says rescuers are searching for people under the rubble of a partially collapsed wing children’s hospital in Kyiv, adding that the number of casualties was not yet known.

In Kryviy Rih, the president's home city, the mayor says at least 10 people were killed and at least 31 injured, while at least three people died in Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine.

Kyiv city authorities say at least nine people were killed and at least 33 were wounded in strikes.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko says the search is still ongoing for people trapped in the rubble of a residential building.

"Emergency service workers are on the site. We hear voices, people are under the rubble. We're working as fast as possible to save these people, there's work to do."

**

Advocates are calling for a legal defence for unimpaired drivers prescribed medicinal cannabis who test positive at roadside drug tests in Victoria.

Although medicinal cannabis has been legal in Australia since February 2016, under Victorian law, drivers are not allowed to drive under the intoxicating element THC, easily detected in routine drug tests.

The Allan government plans to invest $4.9 million in an 18-month trial with Swinburne University to research prescribed medicinal cannabis users while driving on a designated track.

Rachel Payne is a member of the Victorian Legislative Council for the party for the Legalise Cannabis Victoria.

She says current laws are forcing those prescribed cannabis for chronic illnesses to use opiates instead, and has called for a legal defence before the trial begins.

"What we have found is that roadside drug testing tests for presence of three types of drugs - It tests for THC, It tests for amphetamines and it tests for MDMA. It does not test for other impairing medications such as opioids or cocaine or other drugs that we know people may be consuming. What we're finding is that medicinal cannabis patients are being discriminated against, even though they are taking their medication as prescribed by their doctor. "

**

In tennis, Australian Alex De MInaur is through to the quarter-finals of the men's singles at Wimbledon for the first time.

He's defeated Frenchman Arthur Fils in four sets - the final score 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

De Minaur jarred his hip on the final point of the match.

But he says he will be fit enough to play his quarter-final match.

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