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Iranian envoys meet with mediators as Supreme Leader orders military to be prepared to respond to attacks
Gun owners across New South Wales can surrender their firearms from today as the state's buyback scheme gets underway.
Appointments can be booked at six police stations across the state with more set to open in stages over coming months.
So far, only NSW and the ACT have signed onto the national gun buyback, conceived in response to the Bondi shooting.
It's also opposed by the state opposition, but Police Minister Yasmin Catley says gun owners have responded well.
"Oh, it's booked out, actually. So it's every appointment is full. So there obviously is quite an interest for people to want to surrender their guns. So that's good news."
More than 100 police officers have been injured and 54 people arrested after violent riots erupted in the German city of Frankfurt.
Masked rioters smashed shop windows, looted stores and hurled petrol bombs at emergency workers.
The violence followed largely peaceful youth-led protests across Germany over rising living costs, cuts to public services and compulsory military service.
Frankfurt Mayor Mike Josef says those responsible will face the consequences.
"We must take a close look at who is responsible for this violence. Because the same rules apply to everyone, without exception. In Frankfurt, everyone is free to peacefully express their opinions and demonstrate. Those who engaged in destruction and violence were criminals. And they will be treated as such."
The latest Cotality data shows Sydney home prices are lower than they were five years ago but Australia's housing downturn has a way to go to return to affordable levels.
National median dwelling values fell another 1.2 per cent in October, extending the home price slump to 6.7 per cent since the March peak.
Rising interest rates and higher taxes have further weighed on housing demand.
Sydney has led the downturn, with prices falling 1.6 per cent in the month, more than 10 per cent cheaper than the February peak and has dropped below where it was five years ago.
Police armed with military style rifles have begun patrolling Sydney's tourist hot spots, places of worship and large events, drawing mixed reactions from residents and visitors.
The first 60 officers for the new Armed Response Command, established in the wake of the Bondi attack last December, began patrols on Sunday [[1 November]].
The state government says the command is designed to deter, prevent and respond to serious armed threats, with officers to conduct routine high-visibility patrols at priority locations.
Speaking with SBS, beach goers at Bondi have expressed mixed views over whether the police presence will enhance a sense of safety.
"Since the shooting, I think it makes me feel more safe."/"It's a bit intimidating when you see that level of armoury, but again, as I said, if it makes things safer, then I think it can't be a bad thing either."/"Unfortunately, the tragedy of last year's Bondi attack was, I feel like, a one-off event, and so I don't think that having increased police presence with heavy military is necessarily gonna make me feel safe. I generally feel quite safe in Sydney."
The ARC will be fully operational by the end of next year, with 250 trained officers and 28 civilian staff in total.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has welcomed the introduction of the Armed Response Command.
In a statement, Co-Chief Executive Alex Ryvchin said people should be grateful to the police and the state government for increasing their preparedness.
Human Rights organisation Amnesty International, meanwhile, has expressed concern over what it describes as the increasing militarisation of policing.
The organisation has called for robust safeguards to protect human rights, particularly the right to peaceful protest..
Organisers of Taipei's Pride event say around 170,000 people took part in the celebrations at the weekend, dancing and donning elaborate costumes in Taiwan's capital.
This year, the event took on a political tone, after recent police raids on a gay bar prompting some attendees to question the city's accepting reputation.
Taiwan was the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage in 2019, but Nikky Chang, who attended the parade, says discrimination persists.
" I think, for me, one of the more important things that still needs improving is our culture. People still often make jokes about homosexuality. If you go on Threads, you'll see a lot of comments posting mocking memes or saying very stereotypical things. So I think that, until people in Taiwan have an awareness of gender and understand that sexual orientation is not limited to heterosexuality, we need to keep raise awareness that homosexuality is normal."
Tonga has defeated Samoa 20-18 in the World Cup contest in front of a crowd of almost 30,000 people at CommBank Stadium.
Ahead 8-4 at half time, Tonga scored in the 46th minute.
Samoa struck back again at the 52 minute mark but missed the conversion.
Both teams now head towards the semi-finals on the back of a 80 minute contest.
Tonga will take on New Zealand in Newcastle on Friday night while Samoa will meet Australia in Sydney on Saturday.
