TRANSCRIPT:
- Australia says escalating Mideast tensions will have economic and social consequences;
- Business as usual for Qantas as flight engineers go on strike;
- Australia's cycling team on top of the world championship medal table in Zurich.
The federal government has renewed its calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East.
Tensions have threatened to increase after the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in Lebanon by an Israeli strike.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has said Australia's primary concern is the human cost, but also the economic consequences of a broader war.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has told Sky News there is nothing to be gained from escalating tensions.
"The continued escalation the continued retribution that continued cycle of violence will not bring peace and it will not bring security, which is why Australia and others, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have called for a ceasefire in Lebanon and diplomacy to try and resolve this."
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US President Joe Biden has called for calm in the Middle East in his final address to the United Nations.
He has told the Assembly that Russia's war in Ukraine has failed, and that a diplomatic solution between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah is still possible.
The United States has repeatedly supported such a resolution to the conflict in Lebanon but has also authorised its military to reinforce in the region in a sign of the growing unease.
In separate remarks to the press, the President has said he plans to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about what can be done.
"Reporter: "Can all out war in the Middle East be avoided?"
Joe Biden: "It has to be. We really have to avoid it. We've already taken precautions relative to our embassies and personnel who want to leave. And, but we're not there yet, but we're working like hell with the French and many others."
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Voters in Austria look to have handed a first-ever general election victory to the Freedom Party, the first far right win in the post world war two landscape.
The projections, based on more than 90 per cent of ballots counted, give the party nearly one third of the vote, although the conservative People's Party is just two-points behind.
That means that the Freedom Party may not have the numbers to form a coalition government.
But the result illustrates rising support for hard-right parties in Europe fuelled by concern over immigration levels.
It's also fuelled demonstrators outside the Austrian Parliament in Vienna, with this protester Johanna Franz saying she fears the victory would lead to worse outcomes for everyone.
"That means social cuts for Austria. That means lower salaries. That means a catastrophe, especially for migrants. And for the women who are demonstrating in favour of abortion again. We started demonstrating 40 years ago and I can't do it anymore."
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Social media and messaging apps are to be blocked on police work phones in New South Wales under a crackdown sparked by a watchdog probe.
Around 17,000 officers have reportedly been ordered to remove all communication software from their work-issued phones.
The force also says it's introduced security software that meant these social media and messaging apps will not work or be downloadable to police-issued devices.
The restriction comes after an investigation by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission into claims of a police cover-up over an officer's car crash in Sydney's NorthConnex tunnel in 2023.
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Qantas says there have been no major disruptions to flights as strike action gets underway in an escalating industrial dispute.
The Qantas Engineers' Alliance had said that peak-hour flights at major airports in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth could be impacted as hundreds of engineers walk off the job in their bid for a pay rise.
But the airline says no flights have been delayed or disrupted because of the industrial action.
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Australia's bushfire season is officially underway as of today.
Authorities say they are prepared - and that property owners should be too.
They're being urged to lower fire risk by clearing debris and leaves from gutters, trimming overhanging trees, and preparing a hose that will reach around the property.
Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers says it is also important to have a bushfire plan to keep your family safe.
"We need to prepare ourselves for what's coming. The state is in a good position as far as resourcing. We've got a lot of resources, fire services. We've got a large air tanker, the Marie Bashir, back in the next week from California. Whether you're going to stay or go - if you're home is prepared than it gives firefighters a lot better chance to save your home. We want to make sure that obviously you and your family are the most safe as they can be. So have that discussion."
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Australia has ridden to the top of the medal table at the world championships in Zurich.
Ben O'Connor has capped his season with a silver medal in the men's road race, four days after joining Jay Vine, Michael Matthews, Grace Brown, Brodie Chapman and Ruby Roseman-Gannon to strike gold in the time trial mixed relay.
Grace Brown won the women's time trial last Sunday while Neve Bradbury took out the Under-23 silver in the women's road race on Saturday.
