TRANSCRIPT
- A fifth United Nations peacekeeper injured in Lebanon
- Victoria's Police Chief apologises to the Jewish community
- Defending Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki to start today's Bathurst 1000 in pole position
The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon says a fifth peacekeeper has been injured from gunfire.
In a statement, it says the peacekeeper has undergone surgery to remove the bullet - and is currently stable.
The statement says the gunfire was due to ongoing military activity nearby, without specifying the origin of the shooting.
Israeli forces have urged UN peacekeepers to leave their positions.
A spokesperson for the UN peacekeeping mission says there had been a unanimous decision to stay in the border region.
Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has added his voice to criticism from world leaders of the attack on peacekeepers.
He urged other governments to follow Spain's example and stop the sale of arms to Israel.
"Spain shares the proposal that the international community should stop sending arms to Israel. Spain has not done so for some time, we have not sold arms to Israel since the beginning of the war and the logic is simple. If there are no arms there are no wars."
**
United Nations officials are warning that Israel's offensive and evacuation orders in northern Gaza could disrupt the second phase of its polio vaccination campaign, set for next week.
Humanitarian pauses in the conflict are planned to vaccinate children, but Israel has intensified its offensive in northern areas such as Jabalia and Beit Hanoun.
The World Health Organization's Rik Peeperkorn says a number of healthcare facilities have been affected.
"I am, of course, concerned about the developments in the north. And specifically, we know that within these evacuation orders, we talk about a total of 61 health facilities, 20 in the north of Gaza and 41 in Gaza, including the 10 hospitals, 90 primary health care centres and 32 medical points, are within the evacuation orders and zone announced on the 6th October."
**
Victoria's police chief has apologised to the Jewish community after allegations a senior officer twice performed the banned Nazi salute in front of new recruits.
The sergeant has been suspended and is under investigation with charges expected to be laid.
Under the law, Nazi gestures can only be performed in public for genuine artistic, religious, scientific, or academic reasons.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton says he's sorry for any distress caused.
"I want to profoundly apologise to the Jewish community but also the community as a whole. They will undoubtedly be feeling let down that this conduct has occurred by a police officer."
If charged under the current laws, the sergeant faces dismissal from the force as well as a year in prison or a $23,000 fine.
**
Queensland's Labor party are pledging fifty new bulk-billing GP clinics will open in the state under a $365 million re-election promise.
But the plan is already facing backlash from doctors and the opposition.
Premier Steven Miles unveiled Labor's latest cost-of-living pitch on the campaign trail on Saturday, two weeks out from election day.
Queensland taxpayers would foot the bill to establish the extra clinics if Labor can extend its nine-year reign in the state, despite GPs and primary care usually being a Commonwealth responsibility.
**
The New South Wales government has pledged $50,000 toward cancer care at Campbelltown Hospital and Camden Hospital.
It's been donated to an annual cancer relay, the 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer Macarthur, which has hosted its 20th anniversary event.
This year, around 1,500 people are expected to join the relay over a 24 hour period for their families, local businesses and community organisations.
The charity has provided patient transport vehicles, fall prevention alarms and overnight recliner chairs to hospitals through the event fundraising.
New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park says he's confident the money is going toward a very deserving charity.
"This is a special charity, a charity that the community get behind. Local sponsors get behind to raise important funds for a charity that does great works and continues to work hand in hand to try and fight cancer, to try and improve outcomes for people living with cancer, and to try and get to a world through research where hopefully, that we can live within a world free of cancer one day."
**
And in sports, an international arrest warrant has reportedly been issued for former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom over his conduct as president of French rugby union club Narbonne in 2015 and 2016.
French media outlets report 41-year-old Elsom has been found guilty of forgery, use of forgery and misuse of corporate assets.
Elsom played 75 Tests for the Wallabies between 2005 and 2011.
**
In racing, reigning Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki is in prime position to claim a maiden Bathurst 1000 victory, after blitzing the Top 10 Shootout to win back-to-back poles.
He will start today's 161-lap, 1000km race at 11.30amin the front row with Tickford's Cam Waters.
Driving for Erebus Motorsport, Kostecki will want to go one better than his 2023 efforts.
Last year, he and David Russell finished runner-up to Red Bull Ampol Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen and Richie Stanaway.
He says he learned from last year's experience - and won't be making the same mistakes.
"We didn't really have a good strategy last year so we made a few mistakes in the race, and let the Bulls get in front of us. It's pretty hard to pass from there. And just made a few more mistakes leading on from that. But we've got some manpower this year to help us with that. I twas great having Blake on board at Sandown. We just have to focus on our ourselves. We know we have a fast race car. We just have to minimise the mistakes."
