TRANSCRIPT
- The UN’s aid chief once again calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
- A Queensland mayor demands harsher penalties for youth crimes.
- Carlton Morris has scored a controversial late goal to give Luton a 1-1 Premier League draw at Burnley.
The UN's aid chief has reiterated calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
UN undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, Martin Griffiths, has said he is "deeply alarmed" by recent statements by Israeli ministers about "plans to encourage the mass transfer" of Palestinian civilians from Gaza to third-party countries.
He has painted a dire picture of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip as Israel continues with its offensive.
Mr Griffiths made the remarks in an address to the UN Security Council.
"What we have seen since October 7th is a stain on our collective conscience. Everyone in this room, everyone listening to these words. Unless we act, it will become more than that. An indelible mark on our claims to humanity. People will continue to suffer and to die from the rockets, the bombs, the missiles, the bullets, the lack of safety, the trials, the inadequate services, and the increasing numbers from starvation, disease and exposure."
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US President Joe Biden has defended airstrikes on Yemen, calling the Houthi forces a “terrorist” group.
American and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen on Friday, with President Biden insisting Washington will respond if Houthis continue their actions.
Houthi rebels have been attacking Red Sea shipping for months, as the Iran-backed fighters cast their support behind Palestinians in Gaza's ongoing war.
The White House said earlier on Friday the United States does not want war with Yemen but will not hesitate to take further action.
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Middle East expert Dr Martin Kear says US and UK airstrikes on Yemen in retaliation against Houthi forces are likely being used to deflect from the war in Gaza.
Dr Kear has told Channel Nine that he believes the airstrikes are a way for the US and UK to move the conversation away from Gaza, as the countries fail to prevent Israel from ceasing their attacks on Gaza.
"The Houthis have said that their attacks are in support of the Palestinians so when Israel stops killing Palestinians in Gaza they will stop firing missiles. But the UK and United States have been unable to stop Israel from ceasing its attacks in Gaza, so this is a convenient way to change the conversation."
He added that Australia's military input was minimal in terms of their response to Houthi militant attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, saying it was still unclear what Australia might have contributed to the US and UK airstrikes on Yemen.
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A Queensland mayor is demanding harsher penalties for youth crimes, including a minimum 12-month jail term for some offences.
This comes as the state's youth justice minister pledges more money for rehabilitation programs in the area to tackle the crisis.
Townsville's mayor Jenny Hill told Channel Nine that she doesn't believe more time in jail will lead to higher chances of recidivism.
"The reality is if you do it properly they're not going to learn to be better criminals in jail if you have the programs in there and there actually doing them over a period of time. What you have at the moment is a lot of children in there on remand not doing what they need to do, and yes learning to be better criminals. What we need is to try and deal with these hard nuts, we need to keep them off the streets, we need to keep them off social media where they're encouraging others to offend. And we need to actually have the programs, they have the time to run the programs for them in youth detention."
The ABC reported in December that police had arrested at least 71 teenagers in that month alone.
Queensland's Youth Justice Act states that a child should be detained in custody only as a last resort and for the least amount of time that is possible.
Queensland's Opposition Leader has pledged to change youth justice legislation if he forms government at the October 2024 state election, while Premier Steven Miles says it's vital to follow police and the courts.
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Many eastern state investors are heading to Western Australia and outbidding local buyers to secure hundreds of low cost Perth homes.
The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia says skyrocketing rents have led to growing demand for properties in the city's southeast over the past two years.
President Joe White has told the Australian Associated Press that they are targeting the cheapest suburbs with the highest rents.
Mr White said the national housing crisis had likely caused the surge, with the shortage of dwellings driving prices and rents up, and in turn attracting investors.
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And in sport, Carlton Morris has scored a controversial late goal to give Luton a 1-1 English Premier League draw at Burnley.
Morris headed home a cross from Alfie Doughty in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, after Zeki Amdouni had put home side Burnley ahead in the first half.
Both sides struggled to win points in the first half of this season, but Friday's game was an entertaining encounter.
Although Luton started the brighter of the two sides, it was Burnley who took the lead after 36 minutes when Amdouni scored for the second game in a row.
Burnley remained second from bottom, four points behind 18th-place Luton and three points ahead of last-placed Sheffield United.
