TRANSCRIPT
- The UN urges Israel to allow aid trucks into Gaza, as the hunger crisis worsens
- Penny Wong condemns Hong Kong arrest warrants for pro-democracy advocates in Australia
- The Lions win the series against the Wallabies
The United Nation’s aid chief has criticised plans to airdrop food into Gaza, warning the approach is dangerous, expensive and inefficient - and could even kill starving civilians.
Israel said on Friday that it plans to allow airdrops of food and supplies from foreign countries into Gaza in the coming days.
The head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, says airdrops are no substitute for lifting Israel’s blockade and allowing safe, large-scale aid deliveries.
He says his agency has the equivalent of 6,000 trucks in Jordan and Egypt waiting for entry into Gaza.
He urged Israel to allow the trucks through.
His warning comes as five-month-old Zainab Abu Halib dies from malnutrition due to a scarcity in baby formula.
Her mother, Esraa, says she is heartbroken.
"My five-month-old daughter died of malnutrition due to a lack of baby formula, the closure of the crossing and the ban on the entry of baby formula. With my daughter's death, many will follow. Their names are on a list that no one looks at. They are just names and numbers. We are just numbers. Our children, whom we carried for nine months and then gave birth to, have become just numbers."
Mr Lazzarini says the crisis is man-made and that only political will can stop it.
**
Taiwanese voters have rejected an attempt to remove 20 opposition MPs from parliament.
The early result of an unprecedented vote in Taiwan shows the opposition has retained its majority.
A small number of votes are still being counted.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP), which favours Taiwanese sovereignty, won the presidency last year but lacks a legislative majority.
The main opposition party, Kuomintang, have worked together with the smaller Taiwan People's Party and independents to block bills and pass controversial pieces of legislation.
This 65-year-old voter in Taipei says he is worried about the future.
“All the Taiwanese people will bear the consequences of the results. Such are the results. Democracy and freedom are so precious, their values are so precious. Freedom, human rights and rule of law. But if Chinese communists arrive here, we will lose all of these.”
**
US President Donald Trump says the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to meet immediately to quickly work out a ceasefire, after three days of fighting along their border.
Mr Trump says he told both leaders that he would not make trade deals with either country, if the border conflict continued.
At least 33 people have been killed and more than 130,000 people displaced in the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in 13 years.
The roots of the dispute dates back to more than 100 years ago, when the borders of the two nations were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia.
**
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has condemned Hong Kong's national security authorities for issuing arrest warrants for 19 individuals, including an Australian.
Australian academic Feng Chongyi is the target of a $38,000 (HK$200,000) bounty issued by Hong Kong authorities, who accuse him of involvement in the Hong Kong Parliament, a group they allege is engaged in subversion.
Australian resident Wong Sau-ho was also among the 19 individuals issued with warrants.
On social media platform X, Ms Wong says Australia "strongly objects" to Hong Kong authorities issuing arrest warrants for pro-democracy advocates in Australia.
Speaking to SBS News, Professor Feng, who's not from Hong Kong, says he only got involved with the group to show his support for democracy in Hong Kong.
"I feel quite sad that the autonomous, autonomy of Hong Kong, basic human rights in Hong Kong, and assembly diversity in Hong Kong all has been destroyed by the implementation of the Hong Kong national security law."
**
In Rugby Union, the Wallabies have suffered a heart-breaking series loss to the British and Irish Lions.
The team went from an 18-point lead to crash to a 29-26 loss in the second Test at the MCG.
A last-minute try from Hugo Keegan saw the Lions win the game, although it ended in controversial circumstances with the Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano appearing to have been illegally cleaned out in the build-up to the match-winning try.
After multiple replays, it was determined there was no illegal contact.
