TRANSCRIPT
- Humanitarian groups criticise Benjamin Netanyahu's recent rejection of a ceasefire in Gaza.
- The International Monetary Fund warn of potential need for higher interest rates during a visit to Australia.
- Alex de Minaur has made the fourth round of the Australian Open for the third consecutive year.
Humanitarian groups have criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent rejection of a ceasefire in Gaza.
In a televised news conference, Mr Netanyahu vowed to continue on with the offensive in Gaza until "complete victory."
Almost 25,000 Palestinians have been killed according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Over 85 per cent of the Gaza strip's population has been displaced.
WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator, Sean Casey says the only thing that could really make a difference is a ceasefire.
"I saw patients in hospitals every day with severe burns, with open fractures, waiting hours or days for care, and they would often ask me for food or water. It demonstrates the level of desperation that we see. So, in addition to their injuries and illnesses, they're just crying out for the basics of life. What could change those dynamics? Access is an enormous one -- the ability to move people and supplies safely and quickly. Overall, the most critical need is really a ceasefire."
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Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong is set to arrive back in Australia following a week-long visit to the Middle East.
Ms Wong is returning after several days of talks with counterparts in Jordan, Israel, Palestine and the United Arab Emirates.
In her final round of talks, Ms Wong met with UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
She says the meeting included discussion of ways to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, and a path to ceasefire.
Members of the International Monetary Fund have visited Australia and have warned of the potential need for higher interest rates, because of persistent inflation.
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The Reserve Bank expects consumer prices to gradually slow to the top of its 2 to 3 per cent target band by the end of 2025, but the IMF says it'll take a little longer into 2026.
It says the economy remains resilient, but that slow productivity is a problem.
And while the government should moderate infrastructure spending to ease inflation - it also sees benefits in comprehensive tax reform - with a greater reliance on GST - and less on income tax.
ANZ Head of FX Research, Mahjabeen Zaman, says it's the IMF's interest rate warning that has the market's attention - because it goes against consensus.
"All of which points to a softening in activity, and this really supports the case for the RBA to keep cash rate on hold at its February meeting at 4.35 per cent. Now yesterday we had labour market data which really points to a decrease in full time employment which then furhter points to a slowing job market."
The IMF added meanwhile - that migration isn't significantly adding to inflation and will help the economy by easing the skills shortage.
It will however - continue to put pressure on the housing market - especially rents.
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A mass polio immunisation drive is being carried out in Indonesia after 11 cases were detected in East Java.
The disease has been eradicated in Australia since 2000, and Indonesia was declared polio-free by the WHO in 2014.
Polio is transmitted through contaminated water or food, or contact with an infected person and it can be fatal.
Chair of the National Polio Certification Commission David Durrheim [[Der- HYM]] says the likelihood of the disease spreading in Australia is minimal.
"Should we get an importation of polio into Australia-Australia has a very good outbreak response plan that has been endorsed by all states and territories to respond to a case. Australia has good surveillance, has excellent segmentation and has very high routine vaccination coverage for polio. So the possibility of spread in Australia is remote at this stage."
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Alex De Minaur has made the fourth round of the Australian Open for the third consecutive year.
It comes after he defeated Italian qualifier Flavio Coboli in a tense performance, scoring 6-3 6-3 6-1.
Novak Djokovic also fought into the third round with a three-set win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Australian player Storm Hunter will face Barbora Krejcikova in a Rod Laver showdown.
