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By ABC Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran in Jerusalem Much of Gaza's infrastructure has been destroyed since Israel retaliated for the October 7 attacks last year. Photo: AFP / Omar Al-Qattaa Australia was one of 159 countries which backed the draft proposal in a United Nations committee, while the United States and Israel voted no The resolution calls on the UN to recognise the "permanent sovereignty" of Palestinians to natural resources in the occupied territories The proposal will now go to the UN General Assembly for a final vote Australia has broken ranks with the United States and Israel to vote in favour of a draft United Nations resolution recognising "permanent sovereignty" of Palestinians and the Golan Heights to natural resources in the occupied territories for ...

Greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production and waste are set to grow by 37 percent by 2050, researchers say. Photo: 123rf A scientist says a study on global plastic waste is encouraging, but the best strategy is to significantly reduce the use of plastics in the first place. Modelling published in the journal Science suggests plastic waste is likely to double by 2050. The study also found that greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production and waste management were set to grow by 37 percent over the same period. According to the research, if just four of the eight interventions being considered for the United Nations Plastic Pollution Treaty are adopted, plastic waste around the world could be reduced by about 90 percent in 25 years. ESR researcher Olga Pantos said policies to r...

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali, Reuters Trump's transition team reportedly drawing up a list of military leaders to fire. Photo: AFP / Jim Watson Members of President-elect Donald Trump's transition team are drawing up a list of military officers to be fired, potentially to include the Joint Chiefs of Staff, two sources said, in what would be an unprecedented shakeup at the Pentagon. The planning for the firings is at an early stage after Trump's 5 November election victory and could change as Trump's administration takes shape, said the sources, who are familiar with the Trump transition and requested anonymity to speak candidly about the plans. One of the sources questioned the feasibility of a mass firing at the Pentagon. It was also unclear if Trump himself would endorse the plan...

By Isaac Yee and Chris Lau for CNN A screenshot from a video taken when a family found a koala in the bedroom of their Adelaide home. Photo: FrandiasRufino & RuffinoBruno via Instagram/ CNN Koalas are normally found in eucalyptus trees, but one couple came home in Australia on Wednesday and were shocked to find one in their bedroom. "I was scared, happy and excited at the same time," Fran Dias Rufino told CNN from Adelaide in South Australia. Rufino, who moved to Australia from Brazil, posted the unexpected encounter on Instagram, saying she was lost for words upon seeing the marsupial inside her home. "I was so nervous that I forgot my English," she wrote in an Instagram post, with the observation "Only in Australia". Video showed the koala sitting on the floor beside their bed,...