Queensland and New South Wales recovery efforts are underway after ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred; Australia to join other nations in Ukraine security talks in Paris; And in sport, Australia to host its first ever NBA game.
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In this bulletin;
- Queensland and New South Wales recovery efforts are underway after ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred;
- Australia to join other nations in Ukraine security talks in Paris;
- And in sport, Australia to host its first ever NBA game.
Queensland Premier David Chrisafulli has declared the worst of the impacts of ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred are over, with all emergency alerts cancelled.
Damage from the storm system is being assessed by emergency services, including the major erosion of beaches on the Gold Coast and flooding in areas including Beaudesert, Beenleigh and Ipswich.
Residents are returning home in many impacted areas and schools have reopened across the state.
Mr Chrisafulli said the recovery effort is now underway, with support available for all Queenslanders.
"The rainfall is easing, rivers are receding and the threat of heavy rainfall is disappearing. And with that comes the step towards recovery."
Energy company- Energex - is reporting Cyclone Alfred has caused the worst ever power outtage from a natural disaster in southeast queensland.
450 thousand homes in the region have been affected by electricity supply issues since last Thursday, but there are reports power has been restored to three-quarters of the households.
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The Foreign Minister says Australia won't be intimidated by Russia, after the Kremlin's representative in Canberra warned of grave consequences if Australia joined an international group providing support to Ukraine.
The comments come as Australia joins military officials from more than 30 nations to take part in talks in Paris tonight on the creation of a peacekeeping force.
International law expert Don Rothwell told SBS News that Russia's interpretation of international law could see them justify targeting any country that participates in this so-called Coalition of the Willing.
“If Russia was to consider these foreign forces were entering Ukraine and exercising the rights of what’s called ‘collective self-defence,’ those foreign forces could then become legitimate combatants. That means they could then be targeted by Russian forces, Russian military, Russian missiles and Russian drones .”
The UN has repeatedly condemned Valdimir Putin's attack on Ukraine and called for a ceasefire with acknowledgement of the country's sovereign borders.
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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton denies claims that he refused to take a briefing from law enforcement agencies to win political points.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the Opposition leader refused to be briefed by the AFP following the discovery of the caravan, so he could campaign on the issue.
When reports about the incident emerged publicly, Mr Dutton called for an inquiry into when the Prime Minister knew about the discovery.
Police yesterday confirmed that the caravan containing explosives and antisemitic material in New South Wales was a "fabricated terrorist plot".
Mr Dutton says the Prime Minister should explain why it wasn’t disclosed earlier to the public that this was a fake terror plot.
"If the Prime Minister had that knowledge, he did not publicly disclose it. If the Premier of New South Wales had that knowledge, when he was still saying it was a terrorist attack in the planning then we need an explanation of that."
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The Syrian Government has announced the end of the most deadly military operation since the outbreak of the civil war.
In the past week, the military killed a reported 800 civilians* in reprisal attacks on the Alawite community, after several of its members attacked a police patrol car .
Former president Bashar al-Assad's family are Alawites.
In December, his government was ousted by rebels led by interim Syrian president Ahmed al Sharaa.
Syrian Defence Ministry spokesman, Colonel Hassan Abdel Ghani, said his government will investigate the killing of civilians and identify the perpetrators.
Mr Ghani also sent an explicit message to Bashar Al-Assad's remaining supporters in Syria,warning them against counter-attacks.
“If you return, we will also return, and You will find before you men who do not know how to retreat and who will not have mercy on those whose hands are stained with the blood of innocents."
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After a years-long campaign, Australia will play host to an NBA team, with basketball side the New Orleans Pelicans to take on Melbourne United and South East Melbourne for pre-season clashes in October.
The landmark games will take place on the 3rd and 5th of October 2025, nine years after Australian basketball teams in the NBL began touring the US to play pre-season NBA fixtures.
It is a major coup for the sport, with the NBL's owner Larry Kestelman describing it as a dream come true.
