TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Rebels in Syria name Mohammed al-Bashir as the new prime minister;
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testifies at his own corruption trial;
- And in sports, a new initiative aims to develop future Aboriginal cricketers in all ages of the game.
The mood in Syria's capital Damascus remained celebratory as opponents of Bashar al-Assad took to the streets to rejoice the end of his rule.
Assad has fled to Russia after a 13-year civil war and six decades of his family's autocratic rule.
The rebels - who launched their lightning offensive two weeks ago - have announced that Mohammed al-Bashir will be the new interim prime minister.
He previously governed a small pocket of rebel-held territory during Bashar al-Assad's rule.
He says he has already begun the work on the transfer of power.
"Today, a Cabinet session was held that included the working group of the Syrian Salvation government, which was operating in and around Idlib, in addition to the Syrian government of the deposed regime. The aim of the meeting was the transfer of institutions and files from the government of the ousted regime to the Syrian interim government in order to receive these files and conduct business. The Syrian government will be able to conduct business during a transitional period, God willing, that can end on the 1st of March, God willing. This is a mandate from the general command. We have been assigned to conduct business for the Syrian government."
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have carried out large-scale attacks across Syria, targeting three airports and other strategic military infrastructure.
The operation appears to be aimed at ensuring Syrian military equipment, including combat aircraft, missiles and chemical weapons, do not fall into rebel hands.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says actions are being taken to ensure Israel's security.
—
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become the country's first sitting prime minister of Israel to face a criminal trial.
Appearing in court, he dismissed the allegations against him in the corruption case.
He faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust in three separate cases.
The trial is expected to go on for a number of weeks, with Mr Netanyahu denying any wrongdoing and accusing the media of a witch hunt.
Israeli lawyer Moshe Miller says the trial should not be taking place at a time when the Israeli Prime Minister is focused on the war in Gaza.
"I think that what is happening here against (Benjamin) Netanyahu in terms of the way the proceedings are managed is wrong and they shouldn't have allowed this to happen in the current situation that Israel is in … to allow what is happening here. Bibi (Netanyahu) said yesterday in a press conference, he said one sentence that was the strongest. He said, 'If the people had believed you in the media, I wouldn't be standing here today as Prime Minister' and that covers it all in one sentence."
—
Labor has pledged to offer a child care subsidy if they are re-elected in May next year.
Australian families earning less than $530,000 a year would be guaranteed access to the government's subsidy for three days a week, as the federal government pushes Australia towards universal early childhood education.
The Three Day Guarantee policy would replace the activity test, which requires parents to work to access the subsidies.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the activity test burdens parents and locks children out of early education, adding that early education 'is an opportunity that every child deserves'.
The announcement, which the PM is set to formally announce in Brisbane today, follows a September Productivity Commission report, which found children from vulnerable or disadvantaged communities would benefit most from early childhood education but were also the least likely to attend.
—
Faith and community leaders have united in calls to condemn the fire at Melbourne's Addas Synagogue, which is now being treated as a likely terrorist incident.
Jewish and Islamic faith leaders are urging their communities to work together for peace.
Islamic leaders have stood together in solidarity with their Jewish counterparts, describing the incident as antithetical to their teachings.
Dr Sheikh Ibrahim El-Shafie is the Deputy Chairman of the Islamic High Council of Australia.
"Such an irrational behaviour would only cause more divisions and also tribulations and sedition in our community. And no-one will be benefiting from such acts. And rather that would cause more troubles and conflicts with other communities."
—
In sport,
The charitable arm of Cricket NSW has announced a partnership with Coaching Unlimited to offer the organisation's first First Nations Community Cricket Coaching Workshop.
The free coaching workshop offered by the Cricket NSW Foundation aims to give First Nations participants the chance to improve their coaching skills and players' knowledge.
Indigenous cricket star and Cricket NSW Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group co-chair, Andrew Gordon, says he is excited to be involved and sees it as a way to develop future Aboriginal cricketers in all ages of the game.
