Panama's president hits back at Donald Trump's threats to take control of the Panama Canal, Reports Russia has captured an Australian fighting for Ukraine, Western Sydney Wanderers bag a morale-boosting win against Wellington Phoenix.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Panama's president hits back at Donald Trump's threats to take control of the Panama Canal ...
- Reports Russia has captured an Australian fighting for Ukraine ...
- Western Sydney Wanderers bag a morale-boosting win against Wellington Phoenix.
Donald Trump has drawn a sharp rebuke from the Panama's president after threatening to re-assert US control over the Panama Canal.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters on Sunday Mr Trump repeated his view that the U-S is being "ripped off" with unfair fees from the Central American country.
Control of the largely US built canal was transferred to Panamanian hands decades ago, but Mr Trump now claims this relinquishment came with provisions.
The waterway plays a significant role in global shipping, and Mr Trump says he will demand that it be returned to US control unless the fees change.
But Panama's president José Raúl Mulino quickly rebuffed Mr Trump in a video message posted to X.
“Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zones is part of Panama, and it will continue to be. Our country’s sovereignty and independence are not negotiable."
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has condemned industrial action by a collection of transport unions pushing for increased pay over the holiday period.
Commuters are facing delays and disruptions across Sydney today as the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, along with several others, attempts to force an end to the prolonged pay dispute.
The standoff now threatens Christmas and New Years plans.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has even raised the prospect that popular fireworks displays over Sydney Harbour may need to be cancelled.
This morning, Mr Minns called on the unions involved to call off their industrial action.
"I just want to reiterate that the only way through this is for the rail unions to pull their industrial action in the run up to Christmas and New Year's. It's just too important for Sydney. It's just too important for our economy. There are literally millions of people that need to see family, to see friends, over the Christmas period, and having the kind of chaos on our transport network as a result of this industrial action is the opposite of what an international city wants and needs now. We have made good faith offers to the unions, not only over the last weekend and the last week, but stretching back months and months, all of them have been rejected."
Queensland Police are searching for two men in connection with the shooting death of a 23-year-old woman on Sunday.
Officers arrived on the scene at Railway Parade in Caboolture around 12.10 am to find the woman unconscious and struggling to breath.
They were unable to revive her and she died at the scene.
Detective Inspector David Harbison says the woman has been identified and police are in contact with her next of kin.
"This is a suspicious death, and police are treating the matter as a homicide. Early investigations indicate the deceased was assaulted by two male persons who may have chased her down railway parade. During that assault, the deceased received a gunshot wound. It's too early in the investigation to provide any further advice in respect of that a post mortem examination will be required to establish the exact cause of death."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government is working to provide support amid reports an Australian man has been captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine.
Video surfaced on social media shows the man, visibly shaken and bruised, being interrogated by his captors, who are speaking in Russian.
In the video, the man identifies himself as Oscar Jenkins, aged 32, and says he's a teacher.
If the details are confirmed, Mr Jenkins would be the first Australian combatant captured by Russian forces while fighting in Ukraine.
Mr Albanese says the government is working to determine the facts.
"This is concerning news, and we're working through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide support, including, including for this gentleman, trying to ascertain the details and the facts which are there, we know that the Russians often put out information that isn't right. So our embassy in Moscow is working. But in addition to that, Foreign Affairs and Trade are working here as well."
And in Football ...
Western Sydney have claimed a morale-boosting 4-1 A-League Men triumph, condemning Wellington Phoenix to a third-straight defeat.
Goals from Zac Sapsford and former 'Nix striker Bozhidar Kraev gave the hosts a handy first-half lead at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
Then two more goals fought off a second-half challenge to clinch the win.
The victory lifts Western Sydney side into the top six, on 11 points after a season start of mixed fortunes under the new coach.
