TRANSCRIPT
- Australia joins US-led military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen
- Far-north Queensland braces for yet another potential cyclone
- Australian Josh Giddey helps the Oklahoma Thunder to a stunning victory.
Australia has joined the military operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen, with the government saying it is central to the national interest.
The United States and the United Kingdom have begun missile strikes on Houthi military targets, in response to the group's growing attacks on key international shipping routes in the Red Sea.
The Iran-backed Houthis say they are protesting Israel's invasion of Gaza.
Four other countries have joined the UK and US operation, including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands.
Defence Minister Richard Marles has told ABC News his government has provided defence personnel to the mission's operational headquarters, although he declined to give more detail.
He says the decision to support the U-S operation was "not taken lightly" but is central to Australia's national interest.
-
Recovery from Tropical Cyclone Jasper is on hold in far-north Queensland, as the region faces another potential cyclone amid heavy rain and storms.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned flash flooding could occur in the area between Port Douglas and Daintree, with a minor flood warning current for the Daintree River.
The Bureau says there's also a low chance the heavy rain will develop into another Tropical Cyclone [[from Friday evening just weeks after Jasper lashed the region.
Mayor of Douglas Shire Michael Kerr has told SBS News he believes the risk of flooding is low, but his community is hoping less rain will fall than forecast.
"It's more concern about these blockages again from further possible landslides, or the landslides that are there becoming unsafe. There's some parts, different landslides that we've had, (where) there's large amounts of dirt still sitting on the roads. Now the water seeping in that of course will make it extremely heavy and the geo-techs are concerned that there could be possibilities of the road giving way, and all that dropping down, which makes a major disaster as far as the roads go."
-
The government says the Opposition is trying to stoke a culture war over two supermarkets' decision to scrap Australia Day merchandise.
Supermarket giant Aldi has joined Woolworths in choosing not to sell the merchandise in the lead up to the national holiday on January 26.
It comes after Opposition leader Peter Dutton called on shoppers to boycott Woolworths, saying the supermarket chain shouldn't tell Australians how to feel about the day.
But Labor Minister Murray Watt has criticised this stance on Channel 7's Sunrise program.
"Every year in the run-up to Australia Day, Peter Dutton and a number of other people try to start a big, divisive war, when it should be a day where we bring the country together. It's a day to recognise the tens of thousands of First Nations history in this country, and also to recognise and celebrate the positive things that have happened in this country. the last thing we need entering Australia Day is another big culture war that divides Australians rather than brings us together."
Woolworths says its decision was a business call based on a lack of demand, although it has also listened to the "broader discussion" about differing views in the community.
-
A migration expert says more analysis is needed to understand why there's been a sharp increase in the numbers of people failing the Australian citizenship test.
Department of Home Affairs Data shows the pass rate fell from 87 per cent in 2019 to just 65 per cent in 2023.
Changes to the test made by the former Coalition government in 2020 added mandatory questions on Australian values such as freedom of speech and rule of law.
Migration agent and researcher, Emanuela Canini, has told SBS Italian more analysis is needed to understand how the test may present unfair challenges to applicants.
"In my opinion, there are various reasons behind test failures, but mainly I would include a low level of English, because it is true that at the moment to get a permanent residence Visa you have to pass a high-level English test, but your family members are not required to do so. Another reason is definitely the nature of the questions, which for us Westerners from democratic countries are almost taken for granted, while for people from other countries under dictatorships or where a religion is imposed is not that straightforward."
Australia's Josh Giddey has helped himself to his ninth career triple-double, as Oklahoma Thunder stormed to victory against the Portland Trailblazers.
The Thunder thumped their opponents 139 to 77, securing the fifth-biggest winning margin in NBA history.
Giddey contributed 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in his 23 minutes on the court.
