In this bulletin...
- Federal government reaches out to Russia regarding reports of Australian soldier taken captive in Ukraine...
- New South Wales Opposition slams state government after rail union dispute threatened New Year's Eve show...
- The Tasmania JackJumpers prove they remain a force to be reckoned with
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the federal government has reached out to the Russian ambassador regarding the fate of missing Australian Oscar Jenkins.
It comes after a video that surfaced online reportedly showed the soldier being questionned and slapped by Russian forces in Ukraine.
Authorities in Australia were alerted to the Melbourne man's disappearance a few weeks ago, after his family and friends expressed concerns over his whereabouts.
Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Mark Dreyfus has called on Russia to follow the rules of international law.
Mr Albanese has reminded Australians about the travel restrictions that are in place for Ukraine and other war zones.
"We have called in the Russian ambassador to Canberra to make appropriate representations. Our Australian embassy in Moscow is also making representations to secure a positive outcome. It is an opportunity for us to say that the warnings which are there about travelling to areas of conflict are ones that should be heeded by Australians."
When asked about the situation of the captive soldier, Russian ambassador to Australia Aleksei Pavlovski made no comment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims there over 3,000 North Korean troops who have either been killed or wounded in the Kursk region.
The soldiers were provided by North Korea to Russia and stationed at the border with Ukraine despite heavy criticism from the global community.
Mr Zelenskyy has also criticised a recent trip to Moscow by Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The visit was also condemned by major Slovak opposition parties.
The Ukrainian President says he had provided Mr Fico with a beneficial agreement in favour for his nation's support during their recent discussions in Brussels.
"We presented him with an offer regarding potential compensation for Slovaks – the Slovaks specifically – for losses from Russian transit, as well as alternatives for transit – any other gas, not Russian, at the request of the European Commission. We were ready to do this. Fico did not want compensation for the Slovaks. And he does not want to cooperate with the European Commission. For some reason, he finds Moscow more profitable. Everyone in Europe understands why."
New South Wales Opposition leader Mark Speakman has criticised both the state government and the rail union for jeopardising the New Year's Eve celebrations.
It comes following a decision by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union workers to keep their planned industrial action on a much lower scale for the day to avoid disruptions.
The Union had threatened to push forward with their action, with the state government considering cancelling the New Year's Eve firework display.
Such a move would have caused massive financial damage to businesses, with the economic impact of the night estimated at $280 million.
Mr Speakman says the relationship between the Union and the state government is what led to the current dispute.
"The underlying problems are twofold. You've got a greedy, militant Union that treats the public with disrespect. And you've got a weak government that signals to the Union, repeatedly, that it is open to giving these people large pay claims. Chris Minns did that at the election. He promised significant pay rises to Union bosses. On election night, he's told the Unions that he would them because they had looked after him in the election. The Labor Party we know is tied to the Unions."
The International Monetary Fund has warned that the Reserve Bank may need to increase interest rates once again, if inflation does not continue its recent decline.
Despite the consumer price index dropping to 2.8 per cent in October, the RBA has maintained interest rates at 4.35 per cent.
The RBA's board has declared its concern over underlying inflation, which it says does not remain consistently below its target point of 2-3 per cent.
A report by the IMF says inflation should hit the RBA's target by the end of next year, adding that the board should be prepared to take further measures to avoid any risks.
The report also says that the Reserve Bank will need to be supported by the government through a fiscal policy that supports the objective of bringing down inflation.
In basketball,
The Tasmania JackJumpers remain a force to be reckoned with in the N-B-L with a hard-earned 91-97 win over Melbourne United on Monday night at the John Cain Arena.
Scott Roth's players gained the advantage from the first quarter of the game, with United trying to stage a comeback later on in the match.
But the JackJumpers proved more efficient in the crucial moments, walking away with an important win that puts them in fourth place on the NBL ladder.
Five players scored over ten points for the winners, with Jordon Crawford leading the charge with 16.
Tonight the Adelaide 36ers will host the Brisbane Bullets, rekindling the oldest rivalry in the tournament.
