Israel appears before court as South Africa accuses it of genocidal intent; Calls to boycott Woolies after the announcement it would no longer sell 'Australia Day' merchandise; And in Tennis, Alex De Minaur faces an uphill battle ahead of match against world number 3 Milos Raonic.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Israel appears before court as South Africa accuses it of genocidal intent;
- Calls to boycott Woolies after the announcement it would no longer sell 'Australia Day' merchandise;
- And in Tennis, Alex De Minaur faces an uphill battle ahead of match against world number 3 Milos Raonic.
Hearings have commenced in South Africa's case against Israel, who it accuses of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The initial hearings, which began on Thursday evening will deal exclusively with South Africa's requests for an emergency order that Israel suspends military action in Gaza.
The World Court will then hear merits of the genocide case, which is a process which may take years to conclude.
Court President, Joan E. Donoghue gave opening statements.
"South Africa contends that the acts and omissions by Israel, of which it complains, are genocidal in character because, I quote: 'they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national racial and ethnical group, that being the part of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip.' End of quote. South Africa asserts that the relevant acts are attributable to Israel, which has failed to prevent genocide and is committing genocide, and which has also violated and continues to violate other fundamental obligations under the Genocide Convention."
Israel categorically denies all accusations of genocide.
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Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has criticised Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for his stance on the Australian Day merchandise issue.
Mr Dutton previously called for Australians to boycott supermarket chain Woolworths after they announced that they would not be releasing merchandise for the celebration of Australia Day this year.
The supermarket giants cited a decline in demand in recent years as well as the issue needing a broader discussion in the community as their reason for this decision.
Mr Watt says the Opposition Leader is more concerned with scoring political points than he is solving the real issues affecting Australians.
"I think it really shows the kind of priorities of Peter Dutton. Rather than thinking about the things that are priorities for Australians, like taking pressure off cost-of-living, while not adding to inflation, he's out there fighting yet another culture war, talking about what kind of products supermarkets sell. I don't think that that's the priority that most Australians have right now. They're thinking about how they can pay their supermarket bills, rather than what kind of thongs they can buy in a supermarket."
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The federal government is being accused of failing to take concrete action to address human rights concerns in China.
In its World Report 2024, Human Rights Watch says the federal government has don't enough to raise concerns with the Chinese government.
It acknowledges diplomacy can result in positive outcomes like the release last year of journalist Cheng Lei who was imprisoned for three years in China.
But Australia director at Human Right Watch Daniela Gavshon says there's scope for the federal government to do more to lobby Australia's biggest trading partner both privately and publicly.
"Quiet diplomacy can be used as an excuse for a lack of action and I think it lets governments of the hook and I think the role of us and the role of rights respecting governments is not to let other governments of the hook. To make it really, really clear that we will not accept human rights violations."
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says its approach has been to press China bilaterally and publicly and says the government has consistently raised concerns directly with China at the highest levels, and will continue to do so.
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An independent report into South Australia's ramping crisis has found no evidence of ambulance patients being inappropriately prioritised over sicker waiting room patients.
The report was commissioned after emergency specialist doctor and president of the South Australian Salaried Medical Officers Association, David Pope made allegations that health bureaucrats were intimidating staff in an attempt to reduce ramping times.
The ambulance union then made counter-claims alleging that waiting room patients were being prioritised after a 54-year-old man died after waiting over ten hours for an ambulance.
The report found no evidence supporting either of the claims but made a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening policies and communication.
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In tennis,
Alex De Minaur faces an uphill challenge in the first round of the Australian Open as he is set to go up against former world number three Milos Raonic.
Should he advance, the top-seeded Australian will have a clearer path towards the fourth round, where there could be a likely match up with world number five Andrey Rublev.
In the women's draw, Ajla Tomljanovic will have to get past the obstacle of Croatia's Petra Martic to set up a potential meeting with number 11 seed Jelena Ostapenko in the second round.
Defending finalist Elena Rybakina will take on former world number one Karolina Pliskova, as Naomi Osaka clashes with Caroline Garcia.
