The Hamas-led Palestinian government has agreed to form a government of national unity in a bid to break the crippling sanctions against the Palestinians, which has seen the standard of living plummet to starvation point. The move, announced by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, has been designed to allay concerns about the Hama-led government. For seven months the territories have been starved of funds and much needed aid, due to a western boycott, following the election of the Hamas government earlier this year. To discuss how will the government be formed and whether it improve prospects for peace with Israel, Dr Andrew Vincent, Middle East Expert with Macquarie University, spoke earlier to Erica Vowles.

For some, the area of Sydney’s Redfern Waterloo remains an enigma. Although the suburbs’ affairs have dominated the news agenda, especially after the death of Aboriginal kid TJ Hickey, and the riots in 2004, many Sydney siders have never actually walked along the suburbs’ streets. The local artist group, Squatspace, runs a “tour of beauty” bus journey, that invites the public to get closer to the streets of Redfern and its people. Speakers on the tour, talk about their concerns regarding the local community, and their fight against the Redfern Waterloo Authority, a government body designed to shape the suburbs’ future. The Wire’s Hagar Cohen, went along to the tour of beauty.

What are Australian values? Could you define them in one pithy sentence and if you could, would all your mates agree with you? Well, Kim Beazley thinks we can… and suggests we all should make careful examination of Australian values a priority… even those that only come to visit our country. Mr Beazley says that those who apply for visas to visit Australia should sign a document saying that they agree to respect Australian values whilst in our country. He’s dubbed it as a way to combat terrorism… but critics such as the Democrats have labeled the move as “unrealistic, divisive, offensive… and a pathetic attempt at populism”. The Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria has also opposed the move, saying it will do nothing to stamp out terrorism. The council’s chairman, Phong Nguyen spoke earlier today on the issue with The Wire.

The People's Democratic Republic of China isn't the most relaxed government with its local media... but, as of last weekend, controls have also been imposed on foreign media within the country. On Sunday the state media agency Xinhua (sin-hwa) issued new regulations, saying that all foreign news agencies have to distribute their information through Xinhua.. or other organisations approved by Xinhua. The new rules cover information such as news or photos, and any information disrupting "China's economic and social order, or undermining China's social stability " will be banned. Associated Press is one of the foreign media organisations affected. AP's Hong Kong-based Director for Asia and the Pacific, Clay Haswell, was notified of the clampdown by email. The Wire asked him whether Sunday's decision covers all types of information collected by AP. We also heard spoke to Feng Chong Yi, an Associate Professor of Chinese Studies at the Niversity of Technology, Sydney.

The fifty-year reign of much loved Tongan Monarch King, Taufa’ahau Tapou the 4th, came to an end last night when he died, at the age of 88, in Auckland’s sister of Mercy hospital. The King had been physically unwell over the last few years and the government within the Constitutional were preparing for this event for quite a while. But the monarch’s death comes at a time when the island nation is reassessing its form of democracy and its relationship with the rest of the world. The Wire spoke with Honourary Consulate General of tonga in Australia, William Stanley Waterhouse, a close friend of Tupo's as well as Savi-Nata Maola Minister of the Tongan Parish Uniting church in Australia, who says all people will pay their respects to the king. Gaufav Sodhi, a policy analyst from the Center of Independent study also spoke on the transition of power to the new King.