TRANSCRIPT
- Protests in Australia over Donald Trump's Gaza plan...
- Authorities prepare for another round of heavy rain in north Queensland.
- The Indigenous All Stars coach optimistic about more First Nations players joining the AFL
Australian activists have taken to the streets to contest Donald Trump's proposal for a US takeover of Gaza.
Protesters have demonstrated in Sydney against the plan which they say amounts to ethnic cleansing for the Palestinians who would be relocated elsewhere.
Australian leaders - including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - have repeatedly emphasised their support for a two-state solution, which would be killed by the president's plan.
These protesters say the prime minister's response has not been strong enough - which these protesters agree with.
"Like what more does it take for Anthony Albanese to come and out and actually look reality at what's happening in Gazas, and say he's against it?"
"We're going to keep protesting. The government is trying to say it's all over now and we should go home now. But it's not over in Palestine."
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US President Donald Trump has refused to back down from his proposal to take over Gaza and have its residents move elsewhere.
The suggestion has sparked international outrage, including from key Arab allies and Palestinians who say they will not leave their homeland.
White House officials have attempted to walk back many of the US President's statements, saying Mr Trump meant to infer the repatriation would only be temporary rather than permanent, given the scale of rebuilding that must take place.
But the President says he still thinks his original proposal is a great idea, even if it is yet to take shape.
"No deliberations (have been had on the Gaza proposal). It has been very well received. The United States would view it as a real estate transaction where we will be an investor in that part of the world. No rush to do anything. We wouldn't need anybody there. It would be supplied and given to us by Israel. They will watch in terms of security. We're not talking about boots on the ground - or anything. But the fact that we're there, that we have an investment there would go along way to creating peace."
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North Queensland residents are bracing for another bout of heavy rainfall and severe weather this weekend.
The Bureau of Meteorology says a strengthening monsoon trough lingering across northern Australia will drive the intensification of rainfall, in tandem with a tropical low off the coast.
It comes after a week of wet weather that has already cut power to communities, forced hundreds to evacuate and required the Australian Defence Force to erect a temporary bridge near Ingham for critical supplies.
The Coordinator-General for National Emergency Management, Brendan Moon, says authorities are sending extra police, boats and water rescue crews to areas of concern, like Mackay and the Whitsundays.
"We've seen significant impacting of homes, impacts to small business, impact to communities at large, evacuations, impacts to the power network and the road transport system that is the lifeblood of north Queensland, and that is our focus at this particular point in time."
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The Netflix adaptation of Trent Dalton's bestselling novel 'Boy Swallows Universe' has dominated this year's AACTA awards show organised by the Australian Academy of Cinema, Television and the Arts on the Gold Coast.
The work won 12 of its record-breaking 22 nominations.
Robbie Williams biopic 'Better Man' won nine awards, including best film and best lead actor.
Production outfit Working Dog, which is behind classics such as The Castle, Frontline, and Utopia, was recognised with the Longford Lyell Award for advancing excellence in screen culture.
Santo Cilauro says it is an absolute honour to be recognised.
"We don't take this for granted. We know that storytelling is an absolute privilegel, but stories don't mean anything at all unless you have someone to tell them. So our biggest thanks goes to the audience. Because they have been with us for so many years and supported us for all this time. And we really do appreciate you, so thank you very much."
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To sport and in the AFL,
All Stars coach Xavier Clarke says he is confident the league will experience an uptick in the number of Indigenous players, reversing a worrying trend partly blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of Indigenous players overall in the AFL is now the lowest since 2006, falling from 86 in 2020 to just 63 in the 2025 season.
Last year's national draft saw only one Indigenous player selected, Hawthorn player Cody Anderson.
Mr Clarke says the drop has been disappointing to see, but that he remains optimistic about the future.
