TRANSCRIPT
- Israeli military kills 356 people in Lebanon as cross border attacks intensify
- The Reserve Bank set to keep interest rates on hold for another month despite the cost of living crisis
- In the AFL, Carlton captain Patrick Cripps wins the AFL's Brownlow Medal
Lebanon says at least 365 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on the south, marking Lebanon's highest daily death toll in over a year of Israeli aggression at its borders.
The Lebanese Health Ministry says women, children and emergency workers are among those killed by Israel.
Officials say around 80,000 attempted calls were made to civilians in Lebanon on Monday threatening the looming attacks and ordering evacuations.
In a televised statement, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari issued a similar warning.
"We ask residents of Lebanese villages to pay attention to the message and warning published by the IDF and heed them. This is an advance warning for your own safety and the safety of your family. We advise civilians from Lebanese villages located in and next to buildings in areas used by Hezbollah for military purpose, such as those used to store weapons, to immediately move out of harm's way for their own safety."
Meanwhile, Hezbollah has launched dozens of rockets at Israeli targets in retaliation for the Israeli strikes.
With escalations stretching beyond the border between Israel and Lebanon, concerns of all-out regional war continue mounting.
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The federal government says Peter Dutton's speech on the Coalition's nuclear power plan shows he does not have a well thought out energy policy.
Speaking at a Committee for Economic Development of Australia function, Peter Dutton has delivered sharp criticism of the current government's renewable-focused energy policy.
The speech however gave no further detail how much the Coalition plans to build nuclear plants will cost.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen says Mr Dutton has once again failed to provide Australians with answers.
"Peter Dutton had an opportunity today, indeed an obligation, in his big speech about nuclear energy, to provide the Australian people with costings, with facts, with modeling and with details about his nuclear scheme. He failed on every single metric. What we saw today was more of the same, more rhetoric. More misleading statements, more basic facts wrong, and a speech, which raises more questions than it answers yet again."
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The Minister Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, has called the Opposition Leader's plan to axe theFirst Nations Ambassador "disappointing".
The role has a focus on supporting First Nations trade by embedding Indigenous perspectives into foreign policy and improving ties with communities in the Indo-Pacific region.
But Peter Dutton says the role is wasteful.
That's after News Corp papers reported the Government spent more than 145-thousand dollars on the ambassador’s travel last financial year.
Ms McCarthy has defended the role.
"It's important that people representing Australia – whether it's through Ambassador's who reflect the needs of Australians and Australian businesses, or whether it's diplomats who travel – naturally there will be a cost to that travel. In the case of Ambassador Mohamed, his work is important to connect with countries, not just far away but also here in the Pacific, with Fiji, Vanuatu, Tuvalu."]]
Gooreng Gooreng man Justin Mohamed was appointed Australia’s inaugural First Nations Ambassador last year.
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The Reserve Bank is expected to keep interest rates on hold for another month despite the high cost of living.
Official interest rates stand at 4.35 percent with consumer inflation running at about 4-percent.
Last week the US central bank cut its benchmark rate for the first time in more than four years.
But the RBA Governor Michele Bullock has ruled out any interest rate cut this year.
Most economists don't expect a rate reduction until next year.
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To AFL now,
Carlton player Patrick Cripps has won the A-F-L's prestigious Brownlow Medal, collecting 45 votes throughout the 2024 season.
The Brownlow Medal awards the player deemed best and fairest throughout the A-F-L season is determined by votes cast by the four officiating umpires after every game.
Collingwood star Nick Daicos was tipped to win after polling in 14 matches and winning three best on grounds.
Swans player Isaac Heeney also had a promising start to the vote with five best on grounds this season, but was ineligible after a one game ban in July.
