Morning News Bulletin 5 January 2025
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TRANSCRIPT
- The UN human rights chief calls for an independent investigation into attacks on hospitals in Gaza
- Fifty cent fares for public transport pitched in Victoria
- A winner to be named for the Border-Gavaskar trophy, as Australia and India prepare to play in day three of the fifth and final Test
The United Nations human rights chief has demanded the release of the detained director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, saying Israel has failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its justification to raid the facility.
Israel’s UN ambassador in Geneva, Daniel Meron, says in a letter to Volker Turk, that it had credible intelligence that the facility was being used by militants.
Mr Turk says the claims have not been substantiated.
He called for independent, thorough, and transparent investigations into all attacks on healthcare infrastructure, medical personnel, and hospitals.
“Israel has not provided sufficient information to substantiate many of these claims, which are often vague and broad. In some cases, they appear to be contradicted by publicly available information. If these allegations were verified. These would raise serious concerns the Palestinian armed groups were using the presence of civilians intentionally to shield themselves from attack, which would also amount to war crime.
The Greens says Victoria should adopt a trial for cheap public transport fares.
The policy has been announced head of a by-election for the inner-city electorate of Prahran set for the 8th of February.
Greens candidate for Prahran, Angelica Di Camillo says the idea to cap public transport at 50 cents a day has been modelled on the Queensland trial – and there would be cost-savings for commuters of more than $50 a week.
“It costs over $10 a day for public transport. And if you’re travelling five days a week, in and out of the city, it will cost you over $200 a month in public transport alone. This is not only a cost of living measure, but it is also a climate measure. So we’re not only pushing people and incentivising people to get out of their cars and get onto public transport – but removing cars, removing congestion and removing pollution as well.”
In November, the newly elected Liberal government estimated Queenslanders had saved $110 million since the trial began in August as an initiative of the former Labor government.
A man charged with the rape and assault of a female airline crew member in Fiji is due to appear in court on Monday.
The alleged assault took place on New Year’s Eve when a group of Australian flight crew members were celebrating in Fiji before one was allegedly robbed and another allegedly sexually assaulted.
Fiji Police made statements earlier this week saying they were questioning a suspect.
Locals in Fiji say they are concerned the assault and recent incident involving alcohol poisonings in Fiji, could negatively impact the tourism industry there, which accounts for around 40 per cent of the country’s GDP.
Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James has broken the NBA record for the most 30-point games, after securing the 563rd 30-point game of his career during a Los Angeles’ 119-102 win over Atlanta.
The 40-year-old Basketball champion, now in the 22nd year of his career, broke the record set in 2003 by his childhood idol Michael Jordan.
Speaking to reporters after the match, LeBron says it’s always an honour to be mentioned alongside the greats.
“The only way you can get to where you want to get to is if you work and you know there’s gonna be a conversation about what I should do, how I should do it, how many years I’ve played. Why I got this and why I got that. But no one can ever say I cheated the game and I didn’t work for everything I got. I put the work in, and everything else, nothing else matters after that.”
In cricket, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set for a fitting end, after a thrilling and chaotic final session on day two of the fifth Test left India 6-141 with a lead of 145 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
In a high-speed end to play, Scott Boland took 4-42 for Australia as Rishabh Pant whacked 61 from 33 balls to keep India in the contest.
India needs to win in Sydney to level the series at 2-all and retain the trophy with the team going all out in their attack on Saturday evening.
Outside the SCG, SBS spoke to supporters who’d travelled far to watch the match.
“I’ve travelled from India to the first match was in Adelaide – and then I went to MCG as well. Now, I am excited for Sydney Test as well. Because it is my first time I am travelling for the first time. It is my first foreign tour.”
