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Good morning!

Today’s riddle is one of my favourite ‘Picture This’ riddles so far.

What iconic Australian treat is this?

🚗🐏👋🐨

Answer is is in tidbit! And if you want more emoji riddles, you can play Picture This here.

I’ve got 10 seconds

Quote of the day

“This is an issue for the whole of society. Women should not be responsible for ending violence against women.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing an expert panel investigating violence against women, led by Domestic and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin. The panel is set to deliver a “rapid review” later this year.

Stat of the day

12,817
How many ‘questions on notice’ Federal Liberal Senator Jane Hume has asked the Government since it came to power in 2022. Questions on notice are formal queries submitted to government departments during Senate ‘estimates’, a weeks-long process where the Government must account for its spending and activities.

Today in history

1953
New Zealand’s Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to climb Mount Everest.

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

  • Nearly 8,000 residents in a remote Papua New Guinean village could be forced to evacuate over concerns of another landslide. A deadly landslide struck part of the Enga Province on Friday, trapping up to 2,000 locals beneath rubble. Rescuers say the area remains “very unstable.” Enga Province Disaster Committee Chairperson Sandis Tsaka told Reuters: “When we're up there, we're regularly hearing big explosions where the mountain is, there [are] still rocks and debris coming down.”

  • Spain has announced funding for military aid to Ukraine worth €1 billion ($AU1.6 billion). Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, where the pair signed a new security agreement. The deal includes an additional €5 billion ($AU8.2 billion) for Ukraine by 2027. It comes amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country. President Zelenskyy said he was “grateful to the Spanish Parliament for supporting Ukraine.”

Recommendation of the day

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I’ve got 1 minute

Victoria has appointed Australia’s first Parliamentary Secretary for Men’s Behaviour

The Victorian Government has appointed Australia’s first Parliamentary Secretary for Men's Behaviour.

Premier Jacinta Allan announced the role on Tuesday, as part of the state’s response to a spike in domestic violence rates.

The position will be filled by Victoria’s current Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Tim Richardson.

Richardson’s new role is expected to focus on the influence of social media and the internet “on boys’ and men’s attitudes towards women”.

Further details

The Premier said Richardson will work alongside Family Violence Prevention Minister Vicki Ward to end “the tragedy of deaths of Victorian women at the hands of men.”

It follows the alleged murders of three women in the Victorian town of Ballarat this year.

Richardson said: “The time to act on men’s violence against women is now and it starts with us men and boys.”

Victoria’s Liberal Opposition said it didn’t have “any opposition” to the appointment.

I’ve got 2 minutes

An Israeli airstrike has killed 45 Palestinians in a camp for displaced civilians in Rafah, Gaza.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a “tragic accident”.

It comes after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah on Friday.

Background

On 7 October, Hamas launched an attack on Israel. According to data cited by the UN, roughly 1,200 people were killed.

Hamas, which Australia lists as a terrorist organisation, captured about 240 hostages. 125 remain captive.

Israel responded by declaring war and bombarding Gaza. According to data cited by the UN, more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October. Israel’s war in Gaza has caused a humanitarian crisis.

Latest airstrike

On Monday, an Israeli airstrike hit a makeshift camp for displaced Palestinians. According to the UN, 45 Palestinians were killed and 249 were injured. Israel said the strike was targeted at a Hamas compound.

It came after Hamas launched rockets towards Tel Aviv on Sunday for the first time since at least January. Most of the strikes were intercepted by Israel’s air defence systems. There were no reports of injuries or deaths.

Rafah

More than 1.5 million people had been sheltering in the southern city of Rafah, because at the start of Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the military’s focus was on the north, causing civilians to flee south.

Hundreds of thousands have since been forced to flee Rafah, because Israel’s military has started launching strikes on the area.

Israel has said Rafah is Hamas’ “last stronghold”.

Last week, UN emergency relief chief Martin Griffiths said: “There has been nothing limited about the suffering and misery that Israel's military operation in Rafah has brought to the people of Gaza... [it] has cut off the flow of aid into southern Gaza and crippled a humanitarian operation already stretched beyond its breaking point.”

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said of Israel’s latest attack: “It is important to note that this location was designated by the Israeli occupation as a humanitarian area, and citizens were coerced into evacuating to it.”

Netanyahu

In a speech on Monday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike was a “tragic accident”.

“Tragically, despite our immense efforts to avoid harming non-combatants, an incident occurred yesterday. We are investigating it thoroughly and will learn from it, as is our policy and longstanding conduct,” he said.

ICJ ruling

Late last week, the highest court of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), ordered Israel to “immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah”.

At the time, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in response that it “has not and will not conduct military actions in the Rafah area which may inflict on the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza conditions... that could bring about its physical destruction”.

The ICJ called on Israel to comply with its ruling, but it does not have powers of enforcement.

Global reaction

Following the strikes, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “Events of the last 24 hours underscore that we must see a humanitarian ceasefire now so that civilians can be protected.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was “outraged by the Israeli strikes that have killed many displaced [people] in Rafah”. He added: “These operations must stop. There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians.”

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Give me some good news

The Queensland University of Technology is working to develop a breakthrough treatment for Parkinson’s Disease.

Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological disorder that causes a person to lose control of their movement. There is currently no effective treatment for Parkinson’s. However, QUT scientists are developing a drug that could slow the disease, and in some cases, stop it completely.

The drug would target patients’ gut ecosystems and the body’s systems that connect the human brain and gut. Associate Professor Richard Gordon said if their developments are successful, it will open new avenues to stop the disease “and improve the quality of life for millions living with this condition.”

TDA tidbit

The world’s longest-serving flight attendant has passed away, after over 64 years of service.

Bette Nash started working at the now-defunct Eastern Airlines in 1957, and finished her career at American Airlines. She recently died at the age of 88.

In a statement, American Airlines said: “Bette inspired generations of flight attendants. Fly high, Bette.”

The flight attendants’ union said Bette “touched many with her warmth, dedication, and service.”

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Riddle Answer: Caramello Koala

Want more from The Daily Aus? Listen to our podcast!

An expert panel has handed the Government a list of recommendations, aimed at reducing eating disorder rates in young people. It comes after eating disorder survivors and support advocates met with politicians and social media bosses in September last year.

Now, they’re calling for legislative reform and changes to the way young people use social media. We unpack the panel's recommendations in the today’s deep dive, and discuss whether these suggestions will lead to any change. 

TDA asks

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