TRANSCRIPT
- United Nations member states repeat their call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza
- The latest COVID-19 vaccines approved for us in Australia
- The Socceroos get ready to face Palestine in the FIFA World Cup qualifier tonight
United Nations General Assembly member states have repeated their call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and an increase in aid.
Relief agencies say food, fuel, medicines, and water are rapidly running out, and around two thirds of Gaza's population have been made homeless by the conflict.
The Netherlands' representative to the UN Bahia Tahzib-Lie says the situation is only getting worse, and the amount of aid currently entering Gaza is not sufficient.
"The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic, alarming really. Essential services have nearly collapsed with unimaginable consequences for more than 2 million civilians. To this day, humanitarian access continues to be unsafe, severely limited and undependable. The aid that enters Gaza is but a fraction of what is required. An immediate and massive scale up of aid is needed."
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Members of Melbourne's Jewish communities have written an open letter urging the Victorian government to take a strong stance against a planned pro-Palestinian school strike.
Organisers of the rally are encouraging students to leave school early on Thursday to attend the protest in Melbourne's C-B-D.
But an open letter with more than 6,000 signatures has called on Premier Jacinta Allan and her deputy, Education Minister Ben Carroll, to condemn the participation of school students as "unacceptable".
Ms Allan says school is the best place for young people to learn about global events and how to have respectful conversations.
"We know that for many in our Jewish community here in Melbourne they are deeply, deeply distressed at what is occurring in the Middle East, directly affected by having family members and loved ones, and for young people who are in school situations, the best place they can get support is also in their school environment. So I want to be absolutely clear: Thursday is a school day, it is the government's expectation that students be at school."
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Health experts are encouraging Australians not to delay getting COVID-19 vaccinations, amid a surge in new infections.
The advice comes as the federal government has announced approval for new monovalent vaccines targeting Omicron variants.
The new vaccines will be available from next month and have a modest improved protection against current strains.
But Deakin University Chair of Epidemiology Professor Catherine Bennett says the existing vaccines are still effective for anyone who hasn't yet had their 2023 booster.
"As we're coming into the steep climb we're more likely to be exposed to the virus - everybody's talking about more people they know coming down with covid. It's better to look at being vaccinated now. There might be a slight benefit in the other vaccine, against the EG 5.1 variant that's dominating at the moment. But you might be infected before you actually get around to having that vaccine."
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New analysis by the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed the number of Australians delaying visits to the doctor due to increasing costs has doubled in the last year.
Seven per cent of Australians who needed to see a G-P between 2022 and 2023 delayed or did not make an appointment because of the price, up from 3.5 per cent the previous year.
One in five people delayed or skipped seeing a mental health practitioner.
The A-B-S says young people and those living in socio-economically disadvantaged areas are most likely to delay medical appointments.
In football,
The Socceroos are gearing up to face Palestine tonight in their qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held in Kuwait.
The game was originally scheduled to be played in the West Bank but was moved due to safety concerns, as violence from the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza spills into other areas.
Socceroos defender Aziz Behich says the Australian players have been moved to contribute to the humanitarian cause.
"It's something we work really close (on) with our P-F-A, our Professional Football Association. And obviously it's not nice what's happening in the world right now, and we thought we'd try and play our part as players, and obviously any help that we can give. And we thought the best way is, obviously, give part of our match fees and donation for those in need over there."
Palestinian football coach Makram Daboub says the crisis in Gaza is very present for his players.
"Nowadays whether we're going to training or to the hotel, players spend 24 hours on their phones to follow what's happening. When it comes to sensitive cases such as the loss of children, civilians and their families, it motivates them to react and achieve victory to make the Palestinian people happy."
