TRANSCRIPT
- Israel's military intercepts Gaza-bound aid ship
- Australians urged to have a conversation about organ donation
- Dutch rider Marianne Vos wins the opening stage of the Tour de France Femmes
Israeli soldiers have boarded a ship which the pro-Palestinian activist group Freedom Flotilla had been sailing towards Gaza, carrying on board aid, including baby formula, diapers, food, and medicine.
The scene was live-streamed by the group on social media.
It showed the activists holding up their hands as soldiers board the vessel, before the video feed is cut.
In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry says all passengers on board are safe - and the vessel is being taken to the shores of Israel.
Earlier in the broadcast, human rights lawyer Huwaida Arraf was shown communicating via radio with Israeli soldiers, telling them the ship presents no threat to them.
"You are deliberately starving civilians and children before the eyes of the world. Our vessel does not constitute any threat to you. We carry only humanitarian aid - and therefore, you have no authority to intercept or otherwise attack our vessel. We demand again that you stand down."
Israeli officials continue to deny Palestinians are being affected by hunger or say it is not Israel’s fault - instead casting blame on Hamas, the UN and aid groups for problems with the delivery of aid.
Israel’s military says it has now started to airdrop aid into the Gaza Strip, with the first airdrop including seven packages containing flour, sugar and canned food.
Humanitarian groups have criticised airdrops as expensive, inefficient and dangerous for those on the ground.
They have urged Israel to allow aid trucks into Gaza.
**
UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, has dismissed concerns over the Trump administration's review into AUKUS, saying a review has also been carried out as a routine procedure by the UK and Australian governments.
On Saturday, in Geelong, Mr Lammy signed a 50-year bilateral treaty between the UK and Australia to underpin AUKUS - and deliver on a new class of nuclear-powered submarine.
Defence minister Richard Marles says the so-called Geelong Treaty supports progress on AUKUS - and it underlines the benefits of the three-way AUKUS agreement also involving the US.
"It's clearly building Australia's capability. But in the contributions that we are making to the US defence industrial base– the financial contributions, in the 120 odd Australians who are right now in Pearl Harbour. All of this is also contributing to US capability. And the future SSN-AUKUS class of submarine will contribute to UK capability. It is a three-way agreement which is in the strategic interest of all three countries and which bolsters the capability of all three countries."
**
A new community group has launched with the goal of better representing the diversity of African-Australians.
The Afrika Diaspora Co-operative has held its first formal meeting in Sydney over the weekend, bringing together its members.
Chairperson Mwangi wa Mutuanene says, with 55 countries in Africa, it is a huge task to ensure adequate representation in Australia.
He tells SBS, the aim is to have a larger forum to co-ordinate and progress issues of importance to the community.
"This is an opportunity for us to actually see beyond only coming together when there is a problem. It is to recognise that we are here as migrants - that we are settled here. We call Australia home. And thank you to the Indigenous Australia for giving us a home. So it us for now to come and organises to be able to recognise that we are here to invest in the full capacity. We have resources - we have human resource capacity. We have close to half a million Africans as of last census."
**
The Organ and Tissue Authority is encouraging Australians to have a conversation about registering as organ and tissue donors.
It says there are more than 1,800 people on the organ wait-list, and one organ donor can save the lives of up to 7 people - and help many more through eye and tissue donation.
Only one in three Australians have registered to be an organ donor, despite four in five Australians saying they support donation.
Shepparton-based tech professional Vinod Kumar received a heart transplant in 2016, after collapsing while playing cricket.
He tells SBS Gujarati he is forever grateful, and he urges others to consider organ donation.
"I woke up two or three days later and I had a new heart beating inside me. That moment filled my eyes with tears - the tears of joy and sorrow. I got my life back. But someone else had lost theirs. You never know who are you are going to save. And that person may have a family and live to see - and go back and see his kids."
DonateLife Week begins today and runs until the 3rd of August.
**
In cycling, Dutch rider Marianne Vos claimed a 258th career victory, winning the first stage of the Tour de France Femmes.
The win is number three of the season for Vos, adding to two triumphs at the Vuelta España Femenina.
She says wearing the yellow jersey is special.
"It is the first day. You can't really describe what it means and it is a bonus to take the yellow jersey. I couldn't even think about that upfront. So I am really thankful for the team."
