Information stay: Australian captured by Russia says he feels weak and has a damaged arm in unverified YouTube video

Bushfire hazard interval lifted early for 9 NSW LGA’s amid current rainfall

As a consequence of easing circumstances and up to date rainfall in northeastern New South Wales, the Rural Fireplace Service has declared an early finish to the bushfire hazard interval for 9 LGAs. This consists of:

• Ballina

• Bellingen

• Byron

• Clarence Valley

• Coffs Harbour

• Kyogle

• Lismore

• Richmond Valley

• Tweed

Fireplace permits are nonetheless required in all different areas, the RFS mentioned.

One useless in home fireplace in Sydney’s west

An individual has died in a home fireplace in Sydney’s west this morning.

Emergency companies responded to the blaze at Guildford simply earlier than 5am, which brought on in depth harm to a house, NSW police mentioned.

5 occupants escaped, nonetheless a person – but to be formally recognized – was discovered inside. He was handled by paramedics however died on the scene.

Officers have established against the law scene and an investigation is beneath means into the circumstances surrounding the hearth. A report will even be ready for the coroner.

NSW transport minister ‘not suggesting we are close’ to ending rail dispute

The NSW transport minister, John Graham, additionally spoke on ABC Information Breakfast this morning to offer an replace on the state’s rail community and negotiations with the unions.

He mentioned companies had been working “close to time” this morning, “despite having more than 100 staff who haven’t shown up to work”.

A lot of these households or companies who’re hoping for a lower from the RBA, in relation to rates of interest later this afternoon, will probably be hoping for an finish to this rail dispute additionally. It has put enormous strain on households and companies proper in the meanwhile.

Requested how lengthy the dispute with the unions could continued – for days, weeks? – Graham pointed to the Honest Work Fee listening to concerning the motion tomorrow morning.

We hope for an finish to this industrial motion, an opportunity to have a cooling-off interval, negotiate an finish to this industrial motion and a good pay deal for these rail employees.

However he went on to say, “I am not suggesting we are close”.

I don’t wish to make predictions given the twists and turns on this story, however [we] will put a powerful case within the morning.

Hanson-Younger: ‘definitely time’ for rate of interest lower

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Younger spoke on ABC Information Breakfast simply earlier, forward of as we speak’s rate of interest determination by the RBA. She mentioned it was “definitely time for a cut” and that households throughout the nation had been hoping for this.

We’d like the RBA to heed the issues of Australians and economists – inflation is down, individuals are hurting, companies are struggling. It’s time to lower.

Hanson-Younger added that Australians wanted greater than a lower, which might be “very small”.

Something at this level is useful, however we’d like extra cost-of-living aid for households. We’d like extra from the federal authorities and Peter Dutton as we go into this election.

The opposition has put nothing on the desk for cost-of-living aid for households. Some for the bosses, to allow them to go and have lunch, however little or no for serving to households pay for the lunches of youngsters as they prepare for college within the morning.

The prime minister was additionally requested to weigh in on the continuing dispute between the NSW authorities and rail unions – and whether or not the federal authorities plans to intervene.

However Anthony Albanese shot this suggestion down, saying this was “a state dispute of a state branch of a union over pay with a state government”.

I help very a lot the efforts of the Minns authorities to convey this dispute to an finish, frequent sense has to use right here, and I believe that the union must acknowledge that it’s alienating folks by means of these actions of not turning as much as work. And there was hope on the weekend that it might be settled, [and] it ought to have been …

We’re attending to the purpose the place the union must see frequent sense, settle this dispute with the Minns authorities. [The NSW premier] Chris Minns is working very exhausting to get an finish to this dispute.

Albanese requested if Labor is working ‘Mediscare’ marketing campaign

Anthony Albanese was requested whether or not Labor’s message about cost-of-living aid was truly getting by means of to voters, after the most recent polling numbers launched yesterday. He responded:

We all know that every one of these cost-of-living measures, together with the tax cuts, had been opposed by Peter [Dutton], each single certainly one of them, and if he had have had his means, Australians could be – on common – $7,200 worse off.

And we all know that he’s planning additional cuts. He received’t inform folks what they’re, however he’s saying there’ll be cuts. And final time round, that meant a GP tax.

The prime minister was requested about an ad the Labor occasion ran relating to Dutton’s stance on Medicare, and whether or not Labor is working a “Mediscare” marketing campaign. Albanese once more pointed to the tried GP tax, and continued:

It’s correct to say that Peter Dutton tried to abolish bulk billing by introducing a GP tax each time folks went to the medical doctors … On the weekend, he did an interview once more the place he repeated … the assertion that you simply don’t worth it if it’s free.

Anthony Albanese has been requested concerning the video of Oscar Jenkins – which has not been independently verified by Guardian Australia – and has mentioned the Australian authorities continues to carry “serious concerns” for his welfare.

I’ve seen the video, however we nonetheless maintain critical issues for Mr Jenkins’ welfare. We’ve made it clear to Russia that Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of warfare and that there are obligations that kick in, in accordance with worldwide humanitarian regulation, they usually have to be noticed.

We’ve additionally, in fact, made representations to Ukraine, together with a one-on-one dialogue that I had with president [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy elevating Mr Jenkins’ welfare. We now have referred to as for Russia to launch Mr Jenkins in order that he can come house to his household.

PM defends financial document forward of RBA rate of interest determination

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has been talking on ABC Sydney radio forward of as we speak’s rate of interest determination from the Reserve Financial institution.

He mentioned the RBA would “make a decision based upon the economics, not based upon any politics”, and defended his authorities’s financial document:

This has been a worldwide inflation spike and abroad, in fact, [it] hit double digits in some locations. Our neighbours in New Zealand [are] in a deep recession in the meanwhile now. We’ve managed to keep away from that. The financial system has continued to develop.

We’ve created extra jobs than any authorities since federation, and importantly, I believe one thing I’m actually pleased with is that we’ve got the bottom common unemployment price of any authorities within the final 50 years.

Australian and Chinese language officers meet after midair incident

Australian navy officers have reportedly raised issues with their Chinese language counterparts a couple of midair incident over the South China Sea throughout senior official talks in Beijing, AAP stories.

On Monday, senior officers from each international locations met in Beijing for the Australia-China Defence Strategic Dialogue – the primary since 2019. The Australian defence division’s assertion after the talks hinted on the midair incident being mentioned:

Australia reiterated the significance of all international locations within the area working in a secure {and professional} method always to keep away from the danger of miscalculation or escalation. Each international locations exchanged views on bilateral, international and regional safety points, in addition to navy transparency and communication.

Australia affirmed the significance of “all countries acting in a manner that respects sovereignty and upholds peace, security and stability”.

In the meantime China’s defence ministry mentioned in a press release that the 2 international locations had an “in-depth” alternate of views on bilateral and navy relations, regional safety and different problems with frequent concern.

Each side agreed to proceed to strengthen strategic communication in defence, correctly deal with conflicts and variations, and perform exchanges and cooperation, the assertion mentioned.

Burke declines to weigh in on Artistic Australia determination

Persevering with from our final publish: Tony Burke was additionally requested concerning the turmoil on the board of Artistic Australia after it dumped artist Khaled Sabsabi because the nation’s consultant to the 2026 Venice Biennale.

Burke wouldn’t weigh in on whether or not CA ought to reinstate Sabsabi:

They decided as to not [be] going forward with that now. I believe the worst factor may occur now could be for politicians to be adjudicating on it. It ought to be made at arm’s size from politicians, that’s so essential.

Burke mentioned he had spoken to the CA chief govt, Adrian Collette, after the artist’s work got here up in Senate dialogue.

At that time, he had already decided that they had been going to have a board assembly that night time. I used to be very clear. I made clear to Adrian Collette, who I’ve identified for greater than a decade. I mentioned to him no matter you resolve, I’ll help you and I’ll help Artistic Australia.

Cait Kelly

Burke questioned on Nauru agreeing to take three violent offenders amongst NZYQ cohort

Showing on ABC’s 7.30 program final night time, the house affairs and artistic arts minister, Tony Burke, was requested about Nauru agreeing to take three violent offenders who had been among the many so-called “NZYQ” cohort.

He mentioned Nauru had approached the federal government, however wouldn’t say how a lot Australia had paid the small nation as a way to offload the refugees.

As , I’m not going to reply that one. I’ll clarify simply one thing on price. The prices of an association like this don’t get disclosed. That’s been the case for many years. It’s a part of the association with Nauru that’s entered into, is that these points even be stored confidential.

When requested how he would really feel in the event that they reoffended on Nauru, Burke mentioned:

Generally we’re speaking about people who’ve solely lived locally for a really, very brief time … and typically you get individuals who the primary time they had been locally was the identical time they had been committing against the law. The idea that Australia owes a selected obligation to those people, I actually suppose is a stretch.

An unverified video seems to indicate Australian man Oscar Jenkins alive in Russian captivity, after he was feared useless at one level.

Within the video, uploaded to YouTube, a person behind the digital camera says it’s 17 January 2025, earlier than Jenkins identifies himself:

My title is Oscar Jenkins … I’m 32 years previous … I come from Australia.

The person behind the digital camera says Jenkins is a prisoner of warfare from the 66th Mechanised Brigade of the armed forces of Ukraine. Jenkins mentioned he feels weak and has misplaced numerous weight, and likewise has a damaged arm.

The person behind the digital camera places to him, “The information about your death is not right?” to which Jenkins replies, “correct”. The person behind the digital camera then asks Jenkins to take away his beanie and says:

All the pieces is OK, he’s alive, and I believe he’ll [be] higher.

Guardian Australia has not independently verified the video. You’ll be able to view it in full under, however please be warned: it might be distressing to look at.

Folks making racist remarks publicly may spend as much as two years in jail and cop a high-quality of greater than $10,000 beneath powerful new legal guidelines in NSW, AAP stories.

Amid escalating antisemitic graffiti and vandalism incidents in Sydney, the Minns authorities is introducing a racial hatred incitement offence modification to the Crimes Act in parliament as we speak. The state’s lawyer normal, Michael Daley, mentioned:

Racial hatred is unacceptable – and beneath this new laws, will probably be against the law to publicly and deliberately incite racial hatred. It is crucial for members of our neighborhood to be protected against conduct that causes them to worry for his or her security, or to worry harassment, intimidation or violence.

The laws will make it against the law to deliberately and publicly incite hatred in direction of one other individual, or group of individuals, on the grounds of race.

The modification will set up a brand new part, 93ZAA of the Crimes Act, with a most penalty for a person of two years behind bars, fines of as much as $11,000, or each, whereas firms can face fines of $55,000. The proposed offence stipulates that it have to be a public act and that it deliberately incites hatred primarily based on race.

The federal government maintains freedom of political speech will probably be protected and makes an exception “for directly referencing religious texts during religious teachings”.

Welcome

Emily Wind

Good morning, and welcome again to the Australia information stay weblog. I’m Emily Wind and I’ll be taking you thru our rolling protection for many of as we speak.

The New South Wales authorities will as we speak introduce a racial hatred incitement offence modification to the Crimes Act, in response to a variety of antisemitic assaults within the state. As AAP stories, folks making racist remarks publicly may spend as much as two years in jail and cop a high-quality of greater than $10,000 beneath the powerful new legal guidelines.

The Reserve Financial institution of Australia is anticipated to chop the official money price as we speak, elevating hopes amongst mortgage holders that the period of excessive curiosity repayments will lastly begin to unwind. The official announcement is due at 2.30pm AEDT – so keep tuned.

Additionally, an unverified video on-line seems to indicate Australian man Oscar Jenkins, who was captured in Russia and at one level feared useless. We’ll have extra on this shortly.

As at all times, you possibly can attain out with any ideas, questions or suggestions through e-mail: emily.wind@theguardian.com. Let’s get began.