TRANSCRIPT
- Australians prepare to enjoy the New Year’s Eve fireworks
- Aid groups in Gaza condemn Israel's suspension of their operations
- A new overall winner named in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
Crowds in Sydney have begun the countdown to New Year's Eve, as they refuse to let the Bondi terror attack stop them from celebrating.
Leaders are urging people to come out and celebrate in Sydney in what they say is an act of defiance and unity against the Bondi attackers.
Thousands responded to that call, with crowds lining the perimeter of the Opera House to secure their view for Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks show.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore says there is a great sense of solidarity throughout the city.
"This is our biggest night of the year and Sydney coming together to demonstrate to the world we stand together as one community. This New Year's Eve will be the biggest celebration yet, and it will be more than just fireworks, it's a reflection of who we are. A diverse, inclusive and creative city. We are expecting a large crowd of people will make their way to the 53 vantage points around the harbour for our New Year's Eve celebrations."
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New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says he won't push the Prime Minister to hold a federal royal commission into the Bondi terror attack.
Mr Minns has committed to a state-based royal commission; but calls from the opposition, Jewish groups, and victim families for a federal level inquiry are growing.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is standing by his decision to hold a review into law enforcement and security agencies, which he says will be quicker than a royal commission.
Mr Minns says his energy is focused on what can be done right now.
"I think politics can wait for another day. So we are just rolling out, day by day, the changes that we believe are necessary for New South Wales. As I said the highest responsibility that we have is to protect the people of this state. And we are going to do that from the acute level, where violence is imminent or it's already taken place. All the way to confronting violent radicalism in our community; and racism and antisemitism where we see it."
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Israel says it will halt the operations of several aid organisations operating in Gaza from January - for allegedly failing to comply with new registration guidelines.
Israel's government says organisations failed to submit lists of Palestinian employees, which they say is necessary to rule out links to terrorism.
Organisations like Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders say the rules are arbitrary and that their suspension will harm an already suffering population in dire need of aid.
Policy lead at Oxfam Bushra Khalidi says the suspension comes at a time of critical need in Gaza.
"Israel has been carrying out smear campaigns and delegitimising campaigns against humanitarians and civil society for years. This is not something new, but this is kind of, at a very, at a point where we need aid to access Gaza. People in Gaza are drowning in their tents. We've had a child died of hypothermia last week. So the need is so critical and so urgent that it's coming at a very difficult moment. But this is not, something new or something surprising."
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Denmark has become the first country in the world to end public letter deliveries due to digitisation.
The number of letters sent in Denmark has fallen by 90 per cent since 2000 and Swedish-Danish postal company PostNord delivered it's last letters on Tuesday, ending 401 years of service.
Denmark is one of the most digitised countries in the world - and PostNord says it will now focus entirely on parcel deliveries.
Danes will still be able to send letters through smaller logistics companies.
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In sports, overall honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race have changed hands, after a formal protest was lodged against initial frontrunner BNC.
The race committee has ruled against the New Caledonian-flagged vessel, over a sail breach - and B-N-C has been handed a penalty of 1 hour and 5 minutes.
That has meant Min River has been crowned the winner, becoming the first double-handed yacht and the first female-skippered yacht to take out the overall handicap.
Co-skipper Jiang Lin says it is a dream to achieve this.
"Can't believe it. It's nice to encourage more women to try. Miracles can happen. I never dreamed of winning it. But my ambition - as (co-skipper) Alexis (Loison) said earlier - if we could win the division, that would be nice. That was my goal."
