TRANSCRIPT
- A body found in the ashes of a fire north of Brisbane
- India to enact a divisive citizenship law which critics say is anti-Muslim
- Carlos Alcaraz confident he'll stay injury free as his Indian Wells title defence continues
A body has been found in the wake of a fire at a housing complex in Queensland's Moreton Bay region.
It is believed to be the 83 year old resident of the unit in Burpengary, 38 kilometres north of Brisbane.
A crime scene has been declared at the scene.
Investigations into the cause of the fire and formal identification of the deceased are ongoing.
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The government says it has ruled out using a levy or tax to fund the aged care system following the release of a taskforce report on the sector.
The taskforce says the Commonwealth will remain the principal funder of aged care services in the future, as the population ages and demand for care increases.
It has recommended retirees use superannuation balances to pay for aged care services to take pressure off the Commonwealth's coffers.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth has told Channel 9's Today programme the government is working through the 23 recommendations to get the balance right.
"There'll be a lot of work to be done about how we fund a sustainable system going into the future, but I think Australians want to have the confidence, which they haven't had and that we're working on, that our agedcare system, whether that's at home or in an aged care facility, is of high quality and will look after our older Australians."
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A new video-based counselling service will be unveiled today that the government says will give victims of domestic violence more options to seek help.
The new technology allows callers the opportunity to speak with someone face to face at 1800 Respect, Australia’s national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information and support service.
Assistant Minister for Social Services Justine Elliott says that would give some people comfort in a time where they needed support the most.
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India's interior ministry is set to enact a citizenship law that critics have described as 'anti-Muslim,' just weeks before the country heads into a general election.
The laws grants Indian nationality to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians who entered India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before December 2014 - but not if they are Muslim.
While the law was passed in 2019, its implementation was delayed after widespread protests and violence resulting in the deaths of more than 100 people.
The chief minister says it was a long-pending demand - but Opposition leader and General Secretary of the Regional Communist Party of India D. Raja says the laws are divisive.
"Now, on the eve of elections why suddenly this government declares it has decided to implement CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act)… the rules are being framed…Nothing but to divide the people, create tension among the people at the time of elections."
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One hundred new marine species have been discovered in an under-explored area off New Zealand's South Island.
The stunning finds have been made by a team of scientists who descended almost 5,000 metres into the ocean to document new molluscs, corals and even fish in the Bounty Trough, an 800 kilometre stretch of underwater geography that has barely been examined before.
The suspected new discoveries must all be carefully examined in laboratories to confirm they have indeed never been found before.
But the science director of the Ocean Census, Alex Rogers, says they're confident these discoveries will fit the bill.
"It looks like we have three new species of eelpouts from the deep, deep sea in the Bounty Trough. We've probably got dozens of new species of molluscs, marine snails. We also have new species of corals. We've even got at least one creature, which we're not really sure what it is. So, a whole variety of different groups of animals."
The mission was a cooperation between The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census Alliance, New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, and the Museum of New Zealand.
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To sport,
Carlos Alcaraz says the ankle injury which forced him to withdraw from the Rio Open last month is not an issue as he continues his title defence campaign at Indian Wells.
Alcaraz moved into the fourth round with a 6-2 6-3 win and next plays Hungary's Fabian Marozsan.
He says he is moving "very well" and is not thinking about his ankle in training or during matches.
"I felt really well on the court. I played a really high level of tennis, so much higher than the first round. Hopefully keep climbing my level."
