The Secretary General of the United Nations says his comments on the Israel-Hamas war have been misunderstood; At least 22 people have been killed in a mass shooting in the United States; PSG have dominated Italian giants A-C Milan in a 3-0 win.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The Secretary General of the United Nations says his comments on the Israel-Hamas war have been misunderstood
- At least 22 people have been killed in a mass shooting in the United States
- PSG have dominated Italian giants A-C Milan in a 3-0 win
The United Nations Secretary General says he is shocked by the interpretation of his comments on the Israel-Hamas war, after Israel's representative to the UN called for his resignation.
In a speech to the Security Council on Tuesday, Mr Guterres said the deadly Hamas attack in Southern Israel on 7 October "did not happen in a vacuum".
He also referenced 56 years of "suffocating" occupation experienced by Palestinians, but said nothing could justify the attacks by Hamas militants, which saw at least 1,400 people in Israel killed and over 200 taken hostage.
In response, Israel's UN ambassador has called for Mr Guterres to resign, while visiting Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said he would not meet with the Secretary General as planned.
Mr Guterres says he is shocked his comments were interpreted to suggest he justified the Hamas militant attack on Israel.
"This is false. It was the opposite. In the beginning of my intervention yesterday, I clearly stated, and I quote: ‘I have condemned unequivocally the horrifying and unprecedented 7 October acts of terror by Hamas in Israel. Nothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians or the launching of rockets against civilian targets.’ End quote."
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At least 22 people have been killed and up to 60 wounded in mass shootings at multiple locations in the United States city of Lewiston in Maine.
Local police have used social media to identify 40-year old Robert Card as a person of interest, saying he should be considered "armed and dangerous".
Residents have been ordered to shelter in place, as emergency services continue to respond to the shooting sites, which include a bowling alley and a bar.
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Police have identified the woman found dead at a prestigious school in Sydney's CBD this morning as water polo coach Lilie James.
Emergency services responding to a welfare check found Ms James, aged in her early 20s, with serious head injuries at St Andrew's Cathedral School shortly after midnight.
Police are searching for another staff member in his 20s who they believe can help with enquiries.
In a statement, the school says it will close for two days but HSC exams will go ahead for year 12 students.
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Stormy weather has provided no relief for firefighters battling a deadly blaze in Southern Queensland, as lightning strikes cause more problems.
But Western Downs Mayor Paul McVeigh says there is hope the township of Tara may now be safe from a fire that has claimed two lives and destroyed 16 homes.
A resident of the Tara region, Jason Teunis, has told Channel 10 News the fire arriving sounded like a freight train.
"When I heard it coming I just, I knew that not much was going to stop it. And I was hoping the house would still be standing when I come back, but unfortunately it's not. We're one of the lucky ones, we've got insurance. So, I know a lot of people around here don't. And yeah - at the end of the day, we've just got to start again."
About 350 people were forced to flee their homes as the ferocious fires burned more than 11,000 hectares, with reports of flames up to 15 metres high.
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Displaced people now living in Australia say the government needs to do more to support refugees as global conflicts drive their numbers to new records.
The United Nations Refugee Agency says the number of refugees worldwide, not including those displaced by the current conflict in the Middle East, is now at 114 million.
Conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and the Russian war on Ukraine drove the most people from their homes this year.
Community Organiser Saajeda Samaa, who sought asylum in Australia after fleeing Afghanistan in 2010, says the numbers are a "wake-up call".
"From my experience from my home, I think it's only going to increase. So you know. And given that number, I think now that countries like Australia stand for human rights, and they are a party to so many international treaties, it is their responsibility to address this and do something about it actually, starting from their own home starting from with their own government."
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In football,
PSG have made a dominant display against Italian giants AC Milan, beating them 3-0 in Paris.
A goal in the first half by World Cup top scorer Kylian Mbappe and another two in the second by Randal Kolo Muani and Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in were enough to settle the encounter.
