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TRANSCRIPT
- 34 Australians released from a detention centre in Syria are returned to the camp.
- An historic case against Coles and its pricing policy enters its second day.
- And in cricket, Australia could be out of the T-20 World Cup after a stunning loss to co-hosts Sri Lanka.
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Thirty-four Australians released from a camp in northern Syria holding families of suspected I-S group militants have returned to the detention centre.
Syrian officials cited "technical reasons" between the families and the government in Damascus for their return, with one claiming it's a purely procedural issue to be resolved today with the families still set to leave.
Co-director of the camp, Hukimya Mohamed, has told Reuters the 34 Australians had been given into the care of members of their families who had come to Syria for the release.
They were put on small buses for Damascus ahead of their departure from the country with a military escort but were then returned to the camp.
Thousands of people believed to be linked to I-S militants have been held at the Roj camp since the jihadist group was driven from its final territorial foothold in Syria in 2019.
A statement from the Australian government says it will not repatriate people from Syria, adding that security agencies are monitoring the situation there to ensure they are prepared for any Australians seeking to return to Australia.
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Supermarket giant Coles will be probed on its price tactics for a second day in the Federal Court in what one economist has described as the case of the century.
Competition regulator the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission brought the case, alleging Coles artificially increased prices before reducing them and claiming it as a discount.
In the first day of the trial, the ACCC alleged that Coles had misled customers on prices for 245 products, including toothpaste, soft drink, shampoo, band-aids and laundry powder.
The ACCC called the tactics utterly misleading to disguise inflation-driven hikes and retain sales.
But Coles claims unprecedented supplier cost increase requests drove the price changes and said reasonable consumers expect upward price shifts in an inflationary environment.
Economist Allan Fels has told SBS News it's hard to underestimate the case's importance.
"This is the case of the century. It affects millions of Australian consumers and households, in hundreds of stores around Australia on essential goods and services and groceries. For Coles it's a huge reputation issue also potentially fines in the hundreds of millions."
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Millions of people across southeast Australia are facing elevated fire danger today as authorities warn of abundant dry fuel despite recent blazes.
Authorities say Victoria remains at risk after recent bushfires as strong winds threaten to push dry heat and thunderstorms east from South Australia.
A total fire ban covers five of Victoria's nine districts, while major fires near Walwa, Longwood and the Otways are being contained.
Fire Rescue Victoria Commissioner Gavin Freeman says all Victorians should be vigilant.
"This includes people that live in towns and cities across Victoria, particularly tomorrow, north west of Melbourne, and around the Geelong area, and of course, anywhere where the city meets the bush or the town meets the bush can be still at risk. So just because you might live in a built up area, don't think this message is not for you. It is. Make sure you know how to react. And in the very minimum, move two streets back if a fire starts near you."
High fire danger ratings are also in place across much of South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania.
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Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning Hollywood actor known for starring roles in 'Apocalypse Now' and 'The Godfather', has died aged 95.
His wife, Luciana Duvall, announced his death in a statement on social media, saying he "passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort".
She says, "To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything... Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind."
No formal service will be held for the actor.
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And in cricket,
Australia could be out of the T20 World Cup before they even play their final first round group match, after a stunning fightback by Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
Returning captain Mitch Marsh and a revived Travis Head looked to have set Australia on course for a victory that would have kept their tournament hopes alive as they smashed a century-plus opening stand at more than two-runs-a-ball.
But after Head was dismissed, the innings collapsed with Australia losing ten wickets for 77 in 70 balls.
The co-hosts made light of the challenge, winning by eight wickets with two overs to spare.
The result put Sri Lanka into the Super Eights, and now Australia are relying on a loss by Zimbabwe to Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
