TRANSCRIPT
- Hezbollah confirms one of its senior commanders was killed in the Israeli air strike which killed its leader
- A new survey reveals it's getting more expensive to see a GP
- Captain Mitch Marsh out of the one-day international decider against England
The Israeli military says it has killed another high-ranking Hezbollah official in an airstrike.
The military says Nabil Kaouk, the deputy head of Hezbollah's Central Council, was killed in an airstrike on Saturday.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.
Several senior Hezbollah commanders have been killed in Israeli strikes in recent weeks, including the group's overall leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Protestors have mourned the death of the Hezbollah leader.
"We are very shocked, we are very sad today. Hassan Nasrallah was a very great leader. He was a big leader and we are very sad and we are standing here to say that what happened was a very big crime. Israeli occupation go inside Lebanon and kill people."
Hezbollah has also announced the death of senior military commander Ali Karaki, killed in the large Israeli airstrikes on Dahiyeh - the same strikes which killed Hassan Nasrallah.
**
Israel has launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen after the rebels fired missiles at Israel over the past two days, opening a new front in the regional conflict.
The Israeli military says that dozens of aircraft, including fighter jets, targeted power plants and a seaport in Ras Issa and Hodeidah.
According to residents, the strikes caused power outages across much of Hodeidah.
Following the strikes, fire and plumes of smoke were seen over the city.
In a statement, the Israeli military said the Houthis have been operating with Iranian support and in collaboration with Iraqi militias over the past year to target Israel, destabilise the region, and disrupt global shipping.
**
GPs are calling on the federal government to make essential healthcare more affordable after finding out-of-pocket costs are increasing.
A new survey by the Royal Australian College of GPs has found it costs an average $1.95 more for a 20-minute consult in 2024 than the previous year.
But the Health of the Nation survey also suggests one-in-four GPs are bulk billing more consults since the government tripled incentive payments for doing so.
**
The federal government has released its final budget outcome for the last financial year, revealing the first back-to-back surpluses in almost two decades.
It's cited lower spending, with revenue also lower than forecast at the budget.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says these surpluses help pay down Liberal debt, help fight inflation and haven’t come at the expense of cost-of-living relief for people under pressure.
**
New South Wales State Emergency Services are urging flood affected residents in the state's north to remain vigilant as multiple rivers are expected to reach their minor flood peaks in the coming days.
The SES says it has responded to 638 calls for assistance and five flood rescues in recent days and warns possible storms are expected through today.
Heavy rains along the state's North Coast and Northern Rivers have caused significant river level rises and flash flooding.
State SES Incident Controller Scott McLennan says as traffic increases with school holidays, people driving in the area should stay up to date with warnings and road closures.
"There have been five flood rescues, those flood rescues indicate there is still work to be done about driving through floodwaters. Please take the time now and review your travel plans. This is storm season season, it’s really imperative that everyone remains safe and the volunteers for the New South Wales SES and our partner agencies also remains safe. Take a decision now, and work out what you will do."
**
Thousands have taken to the streets in cities across the world on a global day of action for access to safe and legal abortion.
In Paris, hundreds came out just six months after France became the first country to constitutionally guarantee a woman's right to abortion.
While protesters across Latin America marched with green handkerchiefs - the symbol for the decriminalisation movement in the region.
Demonstrators in Colombia's capital celebrated and defended the country's 2022 ruling, which decriminalised abortion up to 24 weeks.
The issue has become a contentious one in the US in the lead up to November elections with the overturning of Roe v Wade restricting access to safe abortions in more than 20 states.
"So right now we're going out to knock doors in central Palm Beach County to talk to voters about Amendment four, which is on our ballot here in Florida on November 5th. And basically, if we pass Amendment four with 60 per cent, it's going to do two things. Number one, it's going to codify reproductive rights within Florida state's constitution. And number two is it's going to repeal Florida's current extreme six week abortion ban that has basically no exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking."
**
And in sport, Captain Mitch Marsh is out of the one-day international decider against England at Bristol, yet another victim at the end of Australia's injury- and illness-plagued tour of the UK.
Reported as being a bit sore following the last match at Lord's, his absence means Steve Smith takes the captain's armband for the fifth match, with the series locked at 2-2 after England's fightback from two down.
Smith won the toss and inserted England, hoping to take advantage of the early overcast conditions.
