TRANSCRIPT
- The Albanese government says it wants to restore funding to the UNRWA as soon as possible.
- The government amends the 'Right to Disconnect' reforms to remove criminal penalties.
- And in tennis, Rafael Nadal pulls out of Qatar Open over persisting injury concerns.
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The Albanese government says it wants to restore aid to the United Nations Palestinian relief agency as soon as possible.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has told a senate committee UNWRA is the "lynchpin" for aid in Gaza, but that allegations against it are serious and cannot be ignored.
Senator Wong has also restated the government's concerns about a planned Israeli ground offensive on the southern city of Rafah, calling on Israel to "listen to the world", after widespread international condemnation.
She says with more 1.7 million Palestinians sheltering in UNRWA facilities, it is vital UNRWA's lifesaving work is resumed soon.
"The need for this critical work to continue is why Australia welcomed UNRWA's swift response to recent allegations, including terminating staff and launching an investigation and a broader independent review. Australia is now working with a number of other major contributors, to make clear to UNRWA that it needs to demonstrate strong, transparent and accountable leadership for the international community to move forward together."
Several countries, including the US, UK and Australia suspended funding to UNRWA after Israel alleged 12 members of its 13,000 staff in Gaza participated in Hamas' October the 7th attacks.
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No criminal penalties will apply to employers who breach incoming laws allowing employees the "right to disconnect" from work.
The federal government has introduced amendments to remove penalties, which had slipped past the Senate, for bosses who force staff to answer phone calls or emails out of hours.
Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke says where disputes about the right disconnect arise, employers and employees will be able to apply to the Fair Work Commission.
He has told parliament it shouldn't be controversial for people to be paid for working extra hours.
"My understanding is no member of parliament support criminal penalties applying, but for reasons I will never understand, Coalition members refused to grant leave for this issue to be corrected last Thursday. Despite that, I hope that now it is in a separate bill, the coalition, and indeed all members, will support this legislation."
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is getting married, announcing his engagement to partner Jodie Haydon in a social media post this morning.
Anthony Albanese is the first Australian Prime Minister to get engaged during his time in office.
The proposal happened after the two spent Valentine's Day having dinner at the restaurant Italian and Sons in the Canberra suburb of Braddon.
The engagement ring used for the proposal was designed by the prime minister himself.
The pair met in 2020 at an event in Melbourne, bonding over their shared loved of the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL team.
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At least one person is dead and several others injured after a shooting sent crowds running in Kansas City in the United States.
The gunfire took place outside a landmark railway station in Kansas, where the N-F-L Chiefs were celebrating their victory at the Super Bowl.
Police say two armed people have been taken into custody and confirmed at least ten people were struck by the gunshots.
One Chiefs fan spoke to reporters about the incident.
"All of a sudden, people started crushing forward. Everybody started running. There was screaming. We didn't know what was happening but this day and age, when people run, you run. And so I put my hands around her and we tried to push through so people wouldn't run on top of us. There was a woman crying, saying something about someone had been shot. Of course, it's hard to know, is it a singular incident or is there an active shooter?”
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To tennis now...
Rafael Nadal says he is not healthy enough to play after pulling out of his planned return to tennis at the Qatar Open.
Posting on social media, the 37-year-old wrote that he will keep focusing to be ready for the exhibition with Carlos Alcarez in Las Vegas.
Nadal pulled out of this years Australian Open after ongoing concerns about a hip injury sustained at the 2023 Australian Open.
The Spaniard has indicated this year might be the last of his career, and he's pointed to the French Open - where he won 14 of his 22 grand slam titles - as his focus.
