In this bulletin,
- The New South Wales premier issues a stern warning to white supremacists as neo-Nazis gather for the third straight day in Sydney.
- The United Nations' aid agency in Gaza loses more international funding over Hamas attack claims
- Aryna Sabalenka makes history, winning her second Australian Open.
Police have intercepted another neo-Nazi gathering at a North Sydney park today just hours after New South Wales premier Chris Minns condemned right-wing extremist activity in the state.
A group of least 20 masked men, wearing all black, gathered at Artarmon Reserve at around 9am this morning [[Sunday]].
It marks the third day the men have assembled, following similar demonstrations on a North Sydney train on January the 26th and another gathering in North Turramurra last night.
Premier Chris Minns says anyone found to be involved could be unmasked by the police.
"In New South Wales, police have the ability to unmask you. So, in front of your family, your friends your employers, your co-workers you'll be exposed as a massive racist and that's the situation in New South Wales... This is obviously distressing for many people to see this fascist, ridiculous behaviour on New South Wales streets and obviously it's pathetic."
-
More countries have joined the United States, Australia and Canada in halting funds for the United Nations agency responsible for helping Palestinian refugees.
Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland are the latest to freeze aid, after allegations some UNRWA employees took part in the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an urgent investigation into the matter, saying he is horrified by the allegations.
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has expressed her deep concerns about the allegations but says the pause in funding is temporary.
Spokesman for the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas [[MUKH-mood uh-BAHS]], Nabil Abu Rudeineh, is urging countries to rethink the pause, saying it sends the wrong message.
"There is a war against the Palestinian people. This decision is incorrect and should be stopped immediately. We urge all these countries to repay the UNRWA because it is a humanitarian issue. It has been taken in a wrong time and we hope that they will come back soon to understand that the need of the people in Gaza and everywhere is a necessity for continuing to live on this earth."
-
Cyclone-affected residents in northern Queensland are being offered disaster assistance, as tens of thousands of customers remain without power.
More than 23,000 out of some 66,000 Ergon Energy customers who experienced power outages are still without electricity, with crews working around the clock to restore power.
Personal hardship assistance grants are being extended to people living in the Townsville and Burdekin shires after Tropical Cyclone Kirrily lashed the coast last week.
Grants of up to $180 for individuals, and up to $900 for families of five or more, were announced on Saturday, via the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements jointly funded by the federal and Queensland governments.
-
The world’s largest cruise ship has been launched from Miami despite concerns about the vessel’s methane emissions.
Royal Caribbean International's 'Icon of the Sea' can accommodate over eight-thousand passengers across 20 decks.It runs on liquefied natural gas, that releases less carbon dioxide than traditional marine fuel.But does emit more methane, which is also considered harmful for the environment.
-
In football,
The Socceroos are emphasising being ruthless heading into tonight's Asian Cup Round of 16 matchup with Indonesia in Doha.
Although it's a very different scenario, playing knockout stage football again in Qatar is bringing back memories for the side of their World Cup heroics, thirteen months ago.
Australia has only lost once in its fifteen meetings with Indonesia - and enters this one as huge favourites.
But coach Graham Arnold says that won't change anything about Australia's approach.
"When you play for your nation, and you are representing your country, it doesn't matter who you play against. It's about your own performance, and doing the nation proud."
Awaiting in the final eight if Australia wins is either South Korea or Saudi Arabia.
In tennis,
Aryna Sabalenka has won the Australian Open women's singles final, becoming the first female player to defend the title in more than a decade. [[won in 2023, 2024]]
The world No.2 claimed victory in straight-sets, winning 6-3, 6-2 over Chinese underdog Zheng Qinwen.
Sabalenka joins the likes of Ash Barty Serena Williams Maria Sharapova and Lindsay Davenport as only the fifth woman this century to hoist the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup without dropping a set.
She says it's an incredible feeling.
"It's definitely given me much more belief that I can do well in the Grand Slams and it's given me this, I don't know, boost of energy for the rest of the season. And I'm just happy that everything we've been working on, the preseason it's working well. And we're just going to keep building it and keep getting better."
Tonight Jannik Sinner will face off against Daniil Medvedev in the men's final.
