Morning News Bulletin 22 November 2024

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TRANSCRIPT
The International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister, a former defence minister and a Hamas leader
Russia has confirmed the use of an intercontinental ballistic missile during an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro
Pat Cummins looks ahead to the Border-Gavaskar trophy
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The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister, the country’s former defence minister and a Hamas leader for alleged war crimes relating to the Gaza war.
Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant are accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024.
The court said there are reasonable grounds to believe they bear criminal responsibility for causing mass starvation in Gaza, along with the deprivation of medicine, medical supplies, fuel and electricity.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, who applied for arrest warrants against the Israeli officials in May, says these threats to the civilian population in Gaza are ongoing.
“I’ve made it clear that I have real concern over the reports coming out of Rafah, the possibility of further ground incursions by Israeli troops, the reported bombardments and the reality that the laws of war must be respected. They can’t be rendered hollow. They can’t be interpreted so as to void them of meaning.”
A statement from Mr Netanyahu’s office rejects what it describes as “the absurd and false actions” levelled against it.
There have been unconfirmed reports Hamas leader Mohammed Deif, the subject of the third warrant, may have been killed by Israel.
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Russia has confirmed the use of an intercontinental ballistic missile during an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.
Security experts say the strike marks the first known military use during war of a weapon designed specifically to deliver long-distance nuclear strikes.
The strike follows Ukraine’s launch of UK- and US-made long-range missiles at targets within Russia, which Russia said marked a dramatic escalation of the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says the strike was a test of its new intermediate range missiles.
A spokesman for the U-N Secretary General Antonio Guterres says the use of such a weapon is a worrying development.
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A fifth tourist has died after a mass poisoning in Laos that has claimed the life of 19-year-old Bianca Jones.
The British Foreign Office says lawyer Simone White has died.
Earlier, the State Department confirmed a United States citizen had died in the tourist town of Vang Vieng.
Independent MP Zoe Daniel has paid tribute to Bianca Jones in parliament.
She is the local member of Goldstein, where the Jones family lives, and says Australians are heartbroken by Ms Jones’ death.
“Bianca and Holly went on a holiday to Southeast Asia, a rite of passage that many young Australians experienced. And if you look at their holiday photos, you would see the wonderful adventure these best friends were having together. They could be any of our teenage kids, embarking on life from the suburbs, wonderful suburbs of Baysides Melbourne that they’ve been growing up, gone to school, mentoring girls and worked in casual jobs, and of course, played AFLW together at the famous Beauie Shark.”
Holly Bowles remains in a critical condition.
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A shutdown to Sydney’s train network has been averted after a last-minute deal was made between the state government and the rail union.
Sydney’s train services were due to stop running from today to Sunday morning, with train workers to go on strike over a longstanding pay dispute.
After hours of negotiations, the state government reached an agreement with unions, and the strike was called off.
Unions were seeking an eight per cent annual pay rise over four years, and protections for workers if train services are privatised in the future.
Premier Chris Minns says intense negotiations will now begin on a long-term pay deal with the rail unions to finally end the dispute.
“We’ve struck an agreement with the combined rail unions in New South Wales to ensure that trains will be operating this weekend. That means that those who need to use the rail network tomorrow and over the weekend can use it. That’s good news for commuters in New South Wales. Intensive bargaining will begin between the government and unions over the next two weeks with a few on all sides to get a long-term deal.”
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In cricket, Pat Cummins has admitted his Australians are embracing the opportunity to cement their legacy as a generational team ahead of the battle to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Since taking over as captain ahead of the team three years ago, Cummins has led Australia to the top of the Test rankings.
Although they beat India in last year’s World Test Championship final, Australia hasn’t won a Test series against them in almost a decade.
Only Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith remain from the squad that won 2-0 in Australia back in 2014-15.