The World Today
Israel promises response to Iran attack
ABC listen, podcasts, radio, news, music and more. Hello and welcome to the world today. It is Wednesday the 2nd of October. I'm Sally Sarah coming to you from Nanowal Country in Canberra and acknowledging other custodians. Today, face off JD Vance and Tim Walls go head to head in the US Vice-Presidential debate. We bring you the latest from the debate stage in New York and racing for change. Females now make up the majority of apprentice jockeys in New South Wales as more women are drawn to the industry. I was 32 when I got my licence and I had to fight for years. But I didn't care, I wanted to ride and to think how it's really taken off and I couldn't see why girls couldn't ride. In a significant escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, Iran has launched an estimated 180 ballistic missiles at Israel overnight, sending thousands into bomb shelters across the country. Iran says its action was legal and proportionate and was in retaliation over Israel's killing of senior Hamas, Hezbollah and revolutionary guard leaders. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is promising a response. Tonight, Iran again attacked Israel with hundreds of missiles. This attack failed. Iran made a big mistake tonight and it will pay for it. The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies. Most of the Iranian missiles were intercepted and the attack caused few casualties. But condemnation from the international community has been swift, including from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. We're very concerned about Iran's actions, which is why we condemn them. It is a good thing that it would appear that the defence of Israel, supported by the United States, has ensured that there is no loss of civilian life. The atmosphere remains tense in Israel in a separate attack minutes before the barrage of missiles started. At least six people were killed and nine were injured by two gunmen in a suspected terror attack in Tel Aviv. Dinner Craft is a journalist living with her family in Tel Aviv. She's former opinion editor for the Israeli newspaper Ha Ha Retz and is now Israel correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor. We got a warning a couple of hours before the attack that an attack might be imminent. And then at around like 7.30 local time in Israel, 7.30 pm, my phone started blaring with an alarm that I had never heard of. And even though it existed on my phone before and it said, "Get to a shelter now." I raced down to a shelter with my dog and two children, two teenage children. We were there in under a minute downstairs in the building bomb shelter, which normally houses bicycles. That's its day job is that was bicycles. We're about 30 of our neighbours and babies and children and older people, and we all crammed in together and frantically started looking for news on our phone with updates. Was there a surprise in Israel that Iran launched this attack? There was a view from some analysts that Iran didn't want to engage in a larger-scale conflict. Yeah, I mean, I think everyone knew this was a possibility, but this sort of soared over our head for almost a year now. First, there might be some major attack from Hezbollah in the north and there was this sort of concern always in the back of everyone's mind, like, "Will Iran get involved? Will Iran get involved?" But the assessment was, as you mentioned, sort of that Iranians tend to be cautious and they like to have others do their dirty work for them, which is exactly why they created what's called the Ring of Fire or the Axis of Resistance, which are these other proxy paramilitaries around the region, including Hezbollah as sort of the crown jewel of this Axis of Resistance. Strategically, what does this mean for Israel's relationship with the United States? Because it's been strained. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu has been ignoring many of the calls from the United States for restraint. Now, it is heavily reliant on the US, not only for this early warning, but for cooperation to stop damage from this Iranian attack. Yeah, I mean, you're right to say that there's been a lot of strain between the White House and the Benjamin Netanyahu's government, especially in recent weeks. But there's always been this, you know, as the Americans like to say, ironclad friendship and support of Israel. And in what we saw tonight, which was the Americans with the aid of Virginians, I should note, shooting down a lot of these missiles in some cases before they even got to Israeli airspace. What's the mood amongst Israeli civilians? I know you've been covering a lot of the demonstrations in Tel Aviv demanding the return of hostages from Gaza and also protests against Benjamin Netanyahu, how would you describe the mood of the Israeli civilians at the moment? The moment, the moment right now, I think everybody's, you know, first and foremost, you know, catching their breath after this incredible attack on from Iran. I mean, the entire country was under attack. We've never had a situation like that ever before. It's completely unprecedented. So tonight people, I think, are there in the bomb shelters for about an hour if they had shelters and have now emerged and come out. But before that, the mood in the country, I think, has been very despondent. We are just days away from the anniversary of October 7th that was Hamas attack on Israel. And that has been an open wound for Israelis. It's like an ongoing trauma. And it has divided the country. And there's this tremendous feeling of betrayal in Israel. You should remember that Israel is a very small country, is a very close-knit country. And everybody knows somebody who is, you know, either killed in the October 7th killings or was taken hostage. Israelis sort of live by this ethos of leave no man behind. You know, everyone is the step up for the other person. And so this feeling that you could have fellow citizens, you know, deep in the tunnels inside Gaza is deeply concerning to the country. And it has cast this complete depression over the land. - That's journalist Dena Kraft talking to us from Tel Aviv. Well, many analysts thought the Iranian military would not directly strike Israel because of domestic economic and political instability within Iran. So what are the chances of further Iranian attacks? Jason Rezaian is global opinions editor with The Washington Post. He was previously the post Tehran bureau chief and spent almost two years in prison in Iran after being falsely convicted of espionage. - I don't think Iran wants to escalate this any further than it's already gone. If you look at the trajectory of the last almost a year, you realize that the response has been quite restrained. And a big part of that is that their conventional capabilities do not stack up when compared to Israel or any of its very close friends. So I think this notion that Iran is trying to get itself into a larger fight is not actually the case, but not to respond in any kind of way, probably isn't an option. - What's the situation like domestically inside Iran at the moment? - Iran for the past several years has been in a state of uncertainty, imbalance. The people of Iran have suffered tremendously from the transgressions of the country's leadership and also economic sanctions. So the economic situation of the country has deteriorated so much so that almost no one is satisfied with the country in the state that it's in. - The firing of these missiles towards Israel from Iran could it politically be a rallying point for Iranians that they're focused on the enemy outside rather than the domestic issues within? - There was a time when that argument could be made, but I think that the ordinary Iranians look at the leadership of the country and say, you got us into this mess. They understand very well that the system is ill-equipped to get it out of this. So I don't see a moment of extreme nationalism and rallying around the flag. How is Iran viewed by the Biden administration? - You know, I have a lot of interaction with folks in the Biden administration, specifically by Iran and have throughout the entirety of this administration. If you look back over the trajectory of the last 15 plus years, the real desire to try and change the equation has started a new chapter of US-Iran relations, less confrontational, more engagement and hopefully more secure. I think following October 7th, a lot of that's been flux, but what I'm hearing from people in the administration is this acknowledgement that's sort of a new. The Iranians are not giants, they're not 10 feet tall, they're not invincible. - The so-called access of resistance, is it really able to provide much resistance at all? - Absolutely not. I think it's a very useful cash phrase in some circles, but the reality is their capabilities have always been more asymmetrical in nature than the conventional ones that is real in the United States, 'cause that's, and I don't think that they can, rhetorically, back their way out of this situation. Iran's Supreme Leader has been talking about his strategic restraint in recent hidden days. I don't think there's another option. I don't think he has the option to escalate or to go full-scale in an attack on Israel or anybody else. Not to say that it's not a threat, not to say that it is a positive force in the world. I just don't think you can put it on par with the global powers that stand on the other side. - That's Jason Rezain, their global opinions editor with the Washington Post. He was previously the Post Bureau Chief in Tehran, of course, spent almost two years in prison in Iran. (upbeat music) On ABC Radio, right across Australia, streaming online, and of course also on the ABC. Listen up, this is the world today. To the US, where the country is tuning in to the first vice presidential debate between Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The face-off, broadcast on CBS News, comes as polls continue to show an extremely tight race. In their opening remarks, both candidates were asked to respond to the unfolding conflict in the Middle East. What's fundamental here is that steady leadership is gonna matter. It's clear and the world saw it on that debate stage a few weeks ago, a nearly 80-year-old Donald Trump talking about crowd sizes is not what we need in this moment. - Donald Trump actually delivered stability in the world, and he did it by establishing effective deterrence. People were afraid of stepping out of line. Iran, which launched this attack, has received over $100 billion in unfrozen assets, thanks to the Kamala Harris administration. - That's J.D. Vance speaking there, and before him, a Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee, Governor Tim Walz. Well, Jared Monshine is from the US Study Center, and we spoke a short time ago. - Jared, how significant is this vice presidential debate, do you think? - I don't think it will likely move the needle all that much. I think it still could provide some insights on maybe beyond 2024, looking at 2028, and what happens in the next election? Let's not forget that Harris had a vice presidential debate of her own in 2020, and we gained some important insights on her there. So we very well may be seeing a similar dynamic in this debate, especially given that Donald Trump can't be present again, if he wins this year. - What are the polls and analysts telling us about where the race currently sits for both sides? - I think for the most part, pollsters are saying that this is the closest race in living memory. Right now, you have some polls with Harris ahead by one or two points in the key swing states, but then let's not forget that in 2020, Trump overcame a lot of the areas where he was down in the polls, and in some states came five or six points ahead of where the polls expected him to come. So right now, just based on 2020, if we ran the race again, based on the errors of the polls in 2020, Trump would win. However, Democrats have consistently overshot every poll since Roe v. Wade. The abortion matter was overturned a few years ago. And so we have two competing dynamics. Democrats overshooting in every election the last few years, and Donald Trump overshooting every election that he's been on the ballot for himself. And so that's why everyone is basically in agreement. That's too close to call at this point. - Joe, just briefly, what do we know about Donald Trump's pick J.D. Vance, and also about Kamala Harris' pick for VP Tim Walsh? - We know that J.D. Vance was a pick by Donald Trump that really emphasized the MAGA movement itself. It was not a pick that really expanded the electoral map for Donald Trump too much. It was just sort of playing to the base in many ways. J.D. Vance is in many ways a conservative fire brand on especially in cultural issues. And he is someone who is active in the media and really talks about family values. And he's not only been a big proponent of family values, but also big source of criticism for that because of his more traditional views of family. Whereas Tim Walsh is the current governor of Minnesota and the former congressman in Minnesota and has a progressive record there. But both of these candidates are Midwestern dads who really are the type to be proud of their being dads and of their backgrounds just with very different approaches to displaying that pride. - Jared, thank you very much. - My pleasure. - That's Jared Montrein there from the U.S. Studies Center. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he struggled to stay alive during five years in a UK jail and has found a transition from maximum security to freedom, a struggle. The 53 year old Australian made the comments while giving evidence to Europe's leading human rights organization which is investigating his detention and conviction. Europe correspondent Mizzoui Ford was in Strasbourg in France for the hearing. - Julian Assange had never spoken publicly about his detention and conviction until he took his seat at the Council of Europe. - Isolation has taken its toll which I am trying to unwind and expressing myself in this setting is a challenge. - The WikiLeaks founder told a packed hearing his incarceration stripped away his sense of self. - I'm yet not fully equipped to speak about what I have endured. The relentless struggle to stay alive, physically and mentally. - Mr. Assange spent 14 years in the UK fighting extradition to America on espionage charges for publishing thousands of classified military files and act the U.S. said put lives in danger. He was holed up in London's Ecuadorian embassy seeking asylum for seven years before his arrest by UK police. Then spent five years in London's high security Belmarsh prison. He was released in June after a plea deal with the U.S. - I eventually chose freedom over unrealizable justice after being detained for years and facing a 175-year sentence with no effective remedy. I want to be totally clear. I am not free today because the system worked. I am free today after years of incarceration because I pled guilty to journalism. - There were emotional moments during his evidence too. - Becoming a father again. Two children who have grown up without me. Becoming a husband again. He even dealing with a mother-in-law. - After the hearing I spoke with Mr. Assange's wife Stella. - What happens next? - He's going to continue his recovery. I think everyone can tell that he's very tired, that this was very a huge effort. And hopefully for the Council of Europe, introduce safeguards so that what happened to Julian should never happen again to another journalist. - How are you enjoying the time as a family? - Well, it's all we've been wishing for for so many years. It's wonderful. - The Council continues debating Mr. Assange's case today and will reach a resolution. It won't be binding, but Chair Lord Richard Keen hopes it will put pressure on the U.K. and the U.S. The power of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe is moral authority. That can be a very effective weapon, a very powerful tool. What we have to do is ensure that we have an accurate, hard-hitting report that will go on to a minister's desk, not into his waistband. - Some past resolutions from this body have triggered international investigations. Mr. Assange hopes that will happen in his case too. That's Europe correspondent, Mizzoui Ford. (upbeat music) Well, then four years after the pandemic closed Australia's domestic and international borders, tourism hasn't quite bounced back to pre-pandemic levels. A parliamentary inquiry into challenges that sector faces has found opportunity for growth in regional and First Nations tourism. Elizabeth Kramsi reports. - In Outback Queensland, tourism operators are already hosting international visitors. But after some lean years during the pandemic, they're keen for more. - Our German and Swiss and Italian markets are looking to get beyond the cities and they want to see the real Australia. - Denise Brown is the CEO of the Outback Queensland Tourism Association. She says any help to deliver more tourists is welcome, but there are major hurdles with roads, navigation apps and flight access to overcome. - You know, we've still got consumers that think that roads are flooded, roads are cut. We have Google Maps that aren't totally representative of the landscape here. So that the connetment from those big companies is not entirely where it should be, despite us lobbying on a regular basis. - Denise Brown explains, international visitors have higher expectations and regional Australia can meet them with the right help. And for her patch, that means spending more to keep world-class attractions like museums up-to-date. - You know, eremagan, actualist museum, stopments all the fame, corners found as a museum. They've all had an enormous amount of injection of capital pre-COVID. However, that needs now to be regenerative. - A recent parliamentary inquiry looked at the challenges and opportunities faced by the tourism sector following the COVID pandemic. In its report, the inquiry made 28 recommendations, including the development of a regional dispersal strategy to drive more international and domestic visitors to the regions. It also calls for the federal government to establish a First Nations tourism body to represent the interests of First Nations businesses and communities in the sector. And it also wants better representation on the Tourism Australia board. - The absence of First Nations voices on our peak bodies is a real impediment to the smooth development of that very significant offering that we think the international market absolutely is demanding. - Labor Senator Deborah O'Neill chaired the Trade Subcommittee. She says there are First Nations communities leading the way in this area that others are going to need assistance. - Waitok, they are helping other First Nations groups around the country right across every state and territory to think about what sort of products they're able to put into the market in a sustainable way that helps them tell the parts of their culture that they really want to tell. - Michael Bissell is the CEO of the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council. He says what First Nations operators really need is accessible funding. - We'd love to see a little bit of safe funding to help these Indigenous businesses get up off the ground. - That's Michael Bissell, their CEO of the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, ending that report from Elizabeth Cramsey. They say that horse racing is the sport of kings, but now the industry is attracting an increasing number of women. Racing New South Wales says the majority of its apprentice jockeys this year are women and other racing bodies around the country are noticing a similar trend. Bridget Murphy reports from Tamworth. - On a sunny spring day in Maury in northern New South Wales, race goalers gathered for the annual Maury Cup. This year, for the first time in history at that track, all eight races were won by female jockeys. 22-year-old Molly Fitzgerald was one of them. - It was pretty special. We had a little bit of an ongoing joke all day, just, you know, as the races kept going through, we kept going, oh, the girls are ridden. All the races, so far, and just kept kind of hinting at it because we could ride the car. - Racing New South Wales says this season 50 of the state's 73 apprentice jockeys are women, and there's a similar influx happening in other states, including Queensland. Molly Fitzgerald is based at the Tyree race course on the New South Wales mid-north coast, but travels around the state for race days. - I've been in racing for probably five years. I've ridden truck work for five years, and I've just passed my one-year mark as an apprentice. It's definitely a lovely industry to be a part of. - She says she formed a love of the sport early on. - Had a pretty nice connection to racing group dad. He was a jockey for quite a lot of years. I grew up, you know, knowing dad was a jockey, but was also fortunate enough to go through Pony Club as a kid where we've had horses. I was always riding on the weekends or after school, and then I guess that just kind of paved the way into racing, and once I got my foot in the door, I just loved it. - On the national stage, Melbourne Cup winning jockey, Michelle Payne is considered a trailblazer for female jockeys. While Victorian jockey, Jamie Carr, is currently one of Australia's top riders. Molly Fitzgerald says she thinks a lot about the women who've come before her. - You know, when I was younger and I'd come to the races with dad, there wasn't as many female jockeys, but I was always so impressed by them. Just, you know, how tough and like strong women are in racing, but I definitely can say she. - Pam O'Neill is one of the sport's pioneers. She fought to become the first woman licensed to ride on Australian race tracks. At 79, she's gratified to see the numbers of women getting involved in the sport today. - I couldn't understand when I was fighting for the rule to be changed. Like, I was 32 when I got my license, and I had to fight for years, and of course, they wouldn't let me be an apprentice, so I was just throwing in fully, fully, holy, bowly, you know, but I didn't care, I wanted to ride, and to think how it's really taken off, and I couldn't see why girls couldn't ride. It was just that male chauvinist, I think. - Molly Fitzgerald says she feels the significance of the moment. - Definitely, it's pretty amazing. Like, it'll be something in years to come that would be able to look back and reflect on. So, you know, it might inspire more girls to get into racing as well. So, yeah, it was really, really special to be a part of. - That's apprentice Jockey Molly Fitzgerald, ending that report from Bridget Murphy in Tamworth, and that is all from the World Today Team. Thanks to your company, I'm Sally Sara. - Hi, I'm Sam Hawley, host of the ABC News Daily Podcast. They're marketed as safe, low maintenance, and fun, but an ABC investigation into retirement villages has found they can lead to a resident's life savings being lost. Today, reporter Adele Ferguson, on how families are being gouged, and why you shouldn't fall for the glossy brushes. Look for the ABC News Daily Podcast on the ABC News News Daily Podcast. (upbeat music) (guitar music)