SBS News In Easy English 12 November 2024

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TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to SBS News In Easy English. I’m Catriona Stirrat.
A Pacific climate youth leader says this year’s UN climate summit represents an important opportunity for Australia to take on a stronger leadership role, as it seeks to co-host COP31.
Australia’s bid to co-host with Pacific nations is considered to be a strong contender against the other bidder, Türkiye.
An announcement is expected at this year’s COP29, which is currently underway in Azerbaijan.
The US election victory of Donald Trump is being viewed as a step backwards for the environment, adding to concerns about his pledge to exit the Paris climate pact for a second time.
Robert Karoro, from the Kiribati Climate Action Network has told SBS even as the US pledges to roll back climate action, there is an opportunity for other nations like Australia to show leadership.
“This is an important time for Australia to really step up and say: I will be the one to make the difference. If they (the US) can’t make the difference, if they can’t do that. I will do it for the Pacific nation.”
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The World Meteorological Organization has warned of the serious dangers of climate change as global temperatures soar to new record highs.
In its latest report, the organisation says global temperatures in 2024 have already reached 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
That makes 2024 the hottest year on record because of an El Nino event which has driven up global temperatures.
Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organisation, Celeste Saulo, says the world is facing a environmental and humanitarian catastrophe.
“The State of Climate Update confirms that 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record, hotter even than 2023, which smashed all previous records. 2015-2024 will be the warmest ten-year on record. The pace of climate change in the space of just one generation is alarming.” 
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Regional airline Rex is to get an $80-million dollar handout from the Federal Government so it can keep flying regional routes.
The airline went into voluntary administration in July and it stopped flying to major capital cities.
Meanwhile, the consumer monitor says airfares have increased since Rex went in administration.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s latest quarterly report into airline competition has found Rex’s collapse saw the domestic airline industry became more concentrated.
It says less competition since July saw prices go up.
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The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has passed its 400th day, with displaced Palestinians describing the immense difficulty in surviving in the war-torn territory.
The conflict escalated rapidly when Hamas led attacks on Israel last year on October 7th.
The Gaza Health Ministry says a t least 43,600 Palestinians have been killed since then and more than 100,000 are wounded.
Mohamed Abou Al Qaraa, a displaced Gazan sheltering in Jabalia with his five children, says the war feels like an eternity.
“There is destruction and displacement, the loss of loved ones. We lost five martyrs, we lost captives, we lost people dear to us. I haven’t been able to contact some family members for 38 days since the latest invasion. I don’t know if they are fine, or even alive. These 400 days feel like 4,000 years.”
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Human rights groups are urging FIFA to stop a vote to give Saudi Arabia hosting rights to the 2034 men’s World Cup amid fears many migrant workers will die.
National associations are set to vote at an extraordinary FIFA Congress in December with Saudi Arabia the sole bidder.
Amnesty International and the Sport and Rights Alliance say a tournament in Saudi Arabia will lead to severe and widespread rights violations.
It says fans will face discrimination, residents will be forcibly evicted and migrant workers will face extreme exploitation.
That was SBS News In Easy English. I’m Catriona Stirrat.