The WHO says Gaza City is the area worst-hit by malnutrition

SBS Australia

6 days ago

TRANSCRIPT
The World Health Organization says Gaza City is the area worst-hit by malnutrition
Legislation for cheaper medicines to come before the parliament
Tadej Pogacar wins the Tour de France for the fourth time The World Health Organization says malnutrition is worsening in Gaza, with Gaza City the worst-hit area. The UN agency says nearly one in five children under five are now acutely malnourished. Meanwhile, Israel has announced it would halt military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza, and also allow aid corridors, to refute the claim of intentional starvation. The World Food Programme says they have been able to bring in 80 aid trucks in the last 24 hours. The agency's Antoine Renard says a lot more aid is needed to address the level of starvation in Gaza. "We've been advocating for many of the different, let's say, assurances that we have now related to bringing more aid into Gaza. This is long overdue, and we need still to reiterate how important is the ceasefire. So now we see this as a proper way for us to increase the assistance into Gaza, but it will not be within one single day that we can actually change the current level of starvation that you have currently in Gaza." Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has re-affirmed Australia's commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East, following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's remarks that Australia won't join France in recognising Palestinian statehood immediately. Mr Marles says Australia's support is conditional. "So we've made it clear that we support a two-state solution. But we also make it clear that conditions about what that would be from an Australian point of view. Obviously, any Palestinian state can't have a role for Hamas within them, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have made it clear." Mr Albanese has said Australia will engage in constructive discussions about whether it will recognise Palestinian sovereignty. The United States and European Union have struck a deal on tariffs, which will see a blanket tariff of 15 per cent imposed on EU goods imported to the US. The negotiations were concluded in Scotland at meeting between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The new deal is set to start on Friday and is seen as an improvement on the threatened import charges of 30 per cent. Some had been hoping for a tariff-free agreement but Ms von der Leyen says she is happy with the outcome. "We have a deal. We have a trade deal between the two largest economies in the world and it's a big deal, it's a huge deal. It will bring stability, it will bring predictability, that's very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic." The federal government is introducing legislation this week to bring down costs for prescription on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. If the bill is passed, prescriptions on the PBS will cost no more than $25 from January next year. The Albanese Government says the change would effectively bring PBS medicines to the same price threshold as they were in 2004. For pensioners and concession card-holders, PBS medicines would stay at the level of $7.70 until 2030. All medicines that pharmacies can discount can continue to be discounted once the co-payment is cut to $25. Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan has dismissed a new report claiming the Labor government has invested almost $400 million on Treaty negotiation since 2016. The analysis was published by conservative analysis centre the Institute of Public Affairs. The report also warns the cost of the issue could rise, with Victoria expected to introduce a Treaty bill to parliament later this year. Ms Allan has dismissed the claim, denying the expense was only to pay for Treaty negotiations. "It would be incorrect, indeed completely false, to characterise the investment that's being made today as just being on the negotiations. We've been in a long and steady journey here in Victoria for the past 8 years. That it's involved legislation going to the parliament, two pieces of legislation to set up this framework. It's involved extensive, intensive engagement with Indigenous Victorians, but also the entire community." In cycling, Tadej Pogacar has claimed his fourth Tour de France title , cementing his status as the most dominant rider of his generation. Wout van Aert won stage 21 after taking the lead from Pogacar with six kilometres to go. Pogacar is the sixth rider to win four Tour de France titles. The world champion effectively sealed his victory in the Pyrenees, with a brutal attack on the climb to Hautacam and a commanding victory in the uphill individual time trial, leaving chief rival Jonas Vingegaard more than four minutes behind. He says he is overjoyed with the win.
"I'm speechless to win the four Tour de France six series in a row on a podium. And this one feels especially amazing. And I am super proud that I can wear this yellow jersey. Now it is time to celebrate. Everyone thinks differently how they want to celebrate. I want to celebrate with peace, have a nice weather, just enjoy some quiet days at home."