🚀Israel fires officers in response to the deaths of aid workers in Gaza, Human Rights Council resolution urges arms embargo on Israel
Good Evening .
Welcome back to the Evening Post Wrap.
I apologise for the delay in posting, which was caused by the most recent developments in the conflicts in Israel and the recent earthquake in Taiwan.
Now let's get started.
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The S&P/ASX 200 (XJO) fell 44.0 points to 7,773.3, 0.41% from its session low and 0.57% from its high. Advancers trailed decliners 70 to 205 in the S&P/ASX 300 (XKO).
XJO fell 123.6 points, or 1.59%, for the week.
A trend is emerging. Good performers today were Gold (XGD) (+0.13%), Energy (XEJ) (-0.02%), and Utilities (XUJ) (-0.12%). Gold was the best performer, while the other two were down less.
The rest is also trending poorly. Information Technology (XIJ) (-1.4%) was the hardest hit again after sharp falls in the tech-heavy Nasdaq Index (see ChartWatch), and serial underperformer Materials (XMJ) (-0.80%) was a habitual second worst.
Materials saw most of the big falls in high-flying copper and uranium stocks that were clipped. Conversely, lithium and iron ore stocks are underperforming.
💡Evening’s Headlines
The ACT Integrity Commission has today confirmed it has received and is assessing corruption allegations regarding the conduct of the Hon Walter Sofronoff KC.
The Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania's summer event has been cancelled, adding to the increasing number of festivals across the country.
David Walsh, the founder and owner of the museum, declared on Friday that, after 16 years, MONA FOMA had "unleashed its mayhem" one last time.The dog Milo was discovered three weeks after he ran away, right before his Melbourne to London flight.
🗳️ AUS POLITICS
Australia intends to designate an impartial advisor to examine the Israeli investigation.
The Australian government, which feels that the response to date has been insufficient, will name a "special adviser" to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the Israeli air strike that killed several aid workers, including an Australian woman.
Australia has received a briefing from Israel regarding its expeditious probe into the assault on an aid convoy in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of Australian Zomi Frankcom and six other employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK).
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) declared on Friday night Australian time that it had fired two officers for the strike, citing a violation of its rules of engagement.
On Monday, while travelling along a pre-approved and coordinated route south of Deir al-Balah with the IDF, three WCK vehicles were hit by Israeli drones.
📠 BUSINESS
Marquee Retail Group Appoints Voluntary Administrators
Mitchell Ball, Richard Lawrence, and Domenic Calabretta of Mackay Goodwin have been named voluntary administrators by the Board of Directors of Marquee Retail Group (MRG). The Daily Edited and Colette by Colette Hayman are owned by MRG.
Increased interest rates and rising inflation caused an unplanned sales decline that affected MRG from October 2023 to March 2024. To make matters worse, it still owed the ATO money from the sales decline brought on by COVID-19.
Whilst under voluntary administration it will be business as usual. MRG aims to keep all stores open, with no plans to reduce staff numbers at this stage. Whilst it works towards a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) and explores the potential sale of the business (whole or in part) as part of its strategic options. MRG remains dedicated to its employees and is committed to providing ongoing support during this time. [ Continue reading ]
🚨 Science
Australian Red Cross launches Register.Find.Reunite. to reunite families and friends impacted by severe weather on the coast of NSW
In response to the severe weather on the coast of NSW, Australian Red Cross has launched the Register.Find.Reunite. service.
Australian Red Cross Emergency Services Lead, Sarah U’Brien said being separated from family and friends is one of the most stressful things a person can experience during an emergency.
“Not knowing where your loved ones are, and not being able to contact them by phone or email adds to that anxiety. The Register.Find.Reunite. service helps find and reunite family, friends and loved ones during a disaster,” Ms U’Brien said.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by severe weather on the coast of NSW, Australian Red Cross encourages you to register or enquire through the Register.Find.Reunite. service via the Australian Red Cross website at redcross.org.au from a computer or any mobile device.
The service matches registrations from people affected by an emergency to enquiries made by their loved ones searching for news. Where a match is made, with consent, the person who made the enquiry will be notified.
It’s important for emergency management agencies to know where people are during emergencies. By registering with Register.Find.Reunite. you are also letting important services know that you are OK and what support you may need.
🖥️ Technology
Moving vehicle trials to begin for Volkswagen's kangaroo deterrent, RooBadge
By sounding an alert when a car is approaching, a seemingly straightforward gadget that swaps out a Volkswagen's front badge could prevent hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of damage and save countless kangaroos.
With input from WIRES, the University of Melbourne, and Volkswagen Australia, the "RooBadge" was created over a three-year period with the intention of lowering the number of kangaroo-related collisions. About 90% of wildlife accidents that occur on public roads in this nation are caused by these.
RooBadge uses kangaroo distribution information to calibrate a vehicle's GPS coordinates through an in-car app connection. The "badge" itself is a circular disc with a diameter of about 17 cm that would take the place of the current Volkswagen roundel/badge and serve as protective shields. [ Continue reading ]
🌎 World Tonight
Following the worst earthquake to strike Taiwan in 25 years, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs is investigating the whereabouts of two Australians who were reported missing.
In response to US demands to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, Israel has approved the temporary use of the Ashdod port in southern Israel and the reopening of the Erez crossing into northern Gaza.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that their strike, which resulted in the deaths of seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen (WCK), was against protocol and "should not have happened."
The UN’s top human rights body adopted a resolution on Friday condemning the alleged “use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in Gaza”, while also calling for an arms embargo on Israel.
🏅 Fact Check
How feasible is nuclear power for Australia?
By Alan Finkel, The University of Queensland in Melbourne
Nuclear power is a credible source of abundant zero-emissions electricity, but it would take 20 years to commence operations from a standing start in Australia.
The battle lines have been drawn over Australia’s energy future.
With the nation committed to net zero emissions by 2050, the Albanese Labor government is committed to renewables. The Coalition wants nuclear.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s vision for meeting Australia’s energy needs would include large-scale nuclear power plants and small modular reactors, a technology that is not yet proven, but which Coalition shadow Minister for Energy Ted O’Brien says could be “up and running within a 10-year period.”
While nuclear power might experience a resurgence globally and eventually have a role in Australia, right now, no matter how much intent there might be to activate a nuclear power industry, it is difficult to envision before the mid 2040s.
The reality is there is no substitute for solar and wind power this decade and next, supported by batteries, transmission lines and peaking gas generation.
Any call to go direct from coal to nuclear is effectively a call to delay decarbonisation of our electricity system by 20 years.
Let’s unpack the pros and cons of nuclear power, the obstacles to getting it up and running in Australia by the mid 2040s, and the longer-term prospects. [ Continue reading ]
📰 Good News, Inspiring, Positive Stories
Australia's most remote World's Greatest Shave by 'sarahandkeelan.travels' at stunning Ningaloo Station
Keelan Smith and Sarah Sellin from sarahandkeelan.travels are two travel loving Aussies who have been making their way around the country for the last three years, whilst documenting their adventures for the world to see.
They’ve garnered a large following and have just completed Australia’s most remote ‘World’s Greatest Shave’ at the stunning Ningaloo Station in WA.
Keelan has been growing his long blonde locks for years and decided to take part in this years Leukaemia Foundation's World’s Greatest Shave.
Keelen’s shave happened at the beautiful Ningaloo Station in WA, making it the most remote World’s Greatest Shave for 2024, and to the Leukaemia Foundation's knowledge, the most remote shave we’ve ever seen.
Ningaloo Station is a sheep station located in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia about 40 km north of Coral Bay. It is bordered to the north by Cape Range National Park.
His reason for taking part and raising money for the Leukaemia Foundation is so that he can help as many people as possible, and raise as much money as he can, whilst leveraging his social platforms to raise much-needed awareness of blood cancer in Australia.
Keelan is aiming to be one of this year’s top fundraisers and raise over $45,000 for Aussies living with blood cancer. He is currently very close at nearly $43K. His fundraising page here.
Keelan sported a funky looking mullet which he had cut in different ways over the weeks leading up to his big shave – all of which was documented on social media.
The Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave has seen thousands of Aussies, like Keelan, take part by