Morning News Bulletin 25 November 2024

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TRANSCRIPT
Anger from developing nations over final COP29 climate deal
Pakistan’s capital in lockdown
Matildas forward Mary Fowler withdraws from upcoming international fixtures
After intense negotiations, the COP-29 summit in Azerbaijan has finally wrapped up with delegates agreeing to a climate finance deal.
Dozens of nations walked out of last-minute negotiations which were at risk of collapse over funding to help developing nations tackle global warming.
Among the resolutions, almost 200 delegates agreed for developed nations to provide AU$461 billion per year by 2035 to help developing nations prepare for climate disasters and green their economies.
That’s an increase from the $250 billion that had been put forward a day before.
The amount equates to 45 days of global military spending, which left many countries disappointed.
Cedric Schuster, Head of the Alliance of Small Island states, says their needs are not being heard.
“We’ve just walked out. We came here to this COP for a fair deal. We feel that we haven’t been heard and there’s a deal to be made, and we are not being consulted.”
**
Pakistan’s capital has been placed under a security lock-down ahead of protests by supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan calling for his release.
The government has blocked most major roads in Islamabad and police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in riot gear.
Mobile phone services have also been suspended.
In a statement, the Islamabad police say gatherings of any sort have been banned under legal provisions.
But members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party plan to surround parliament until their demands are met.
The PTI’s demands include the release of all its leaders, including Mr Khan, as well as the resignation of the current government due to what it says was a rigged election in 2024.
**
UAE authorities have arrested three people suspected of murdering an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi in the Gulf country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the death of Zvi Kogan, condemning it as a “heinous antisemitic terrorist act”.
Mr Kogan’s body was discovered in Al Ain, near the Oman border, though it remains unclear if he was killed there or elsewhere.
Former Israeli Druze politician Ayoob Kara says he is awaiting the UAE’s investigation results, but says he blames Iran for the killing.
“Israel does not have enemies today. The one enemy we have today is the terror and Iran that supports the terror. The indication that we have now is this the indication…this is the direction of the investigation.”
**
New South Wales Police have arrested 170 people for their alleged involvement in temporarily shutting down a major shipping channel in Newcastle.
The charges include: disruption of a major facility, and not comply with direction by an authorised officer relating to safety.
Protesters formed a “blockade” in the Port of Newcastle on Sunday, calling on the federal government to end new coal and gas approvals; and impose a 78 per cent tax on coal and gas exports to fund the clean energy transition.
New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley called the protest irresponsible theatrics.
New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner David Waddell says he was disappointed that so many arrests were made.
“I suppose particularly of concern to us is some of the safety risks that occurred. We had 34 people who were required to be pulled out of the water by the police marine area command or divers. We had 10 people who had to be assisted back to shore by water police because they couldn’t get back to shore themselves. We will continue to police the protest over the next few days.”
**
The father of 19-year-old Bianca Jones, one of the young Australians who died from methanol poisoning while backpacking in southeast Asia, has spoken out.
Mark Jones has spoken for the first time on the deaths of his daughter and her best friend Holly Bowles, who also died from poisoning.
Six other foreign tourists have also died after consuming drinks tainted with methanol at a popular hostel in Laos.
Bianca died just days later on Thursday at a hospital in Thailand.
Holly’s death was confirmed a day later by her family.
Mr Jones has urged the Laos government to investigate deaths to the ‘fullest’ and ensure it could not happen again.
“Our daughter was on the trip a lifetime with one of her best mates. This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories and was to be the first of many. Her life had just begun. She was a young woman that had a lust for life.”
**
In football, Matildas forward Mary Fowler has decided to withdrawn from all upcoming international duties.
Football Australia confirmed the news on Sunday[[ NOV 24]], with Fowler explaining her decision was due to mental and physical exhaustion.
The 21-year-old mentioned mental and physical fatigue following an intense and demanding playing schedule over the past few months.
She said she is learning to listen to what her body and mind require in order to perform at the highest level.
The Matildas have a run of four matches starting on Thursday against Brazil and Chinese Taipei, to be played across Australia.