TRANSCRIPT
- Hungarian President Katalin Novak resigns over a sex abuse case pardon
- Seventeen people are killed in Israeli air strikes in Gaza's Rafah
- Brisbane Roar stun Melbourne City 5-1 in record ALM turnaround
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Hungary's conservative president has resigned amid public outcry over a pardon she granted to a man convicted as an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case, a decision that unleashed an unprecedented political scandal for the long-serving nationalist government.
The 46-year-old president, Katalin Novak, announced in a televised message that she would step down from the presidency, an office she has held since 2022.
Her decision came after more than a week of public outrage after it was revealed that she issued a presidential pardon in April 2023 to a man convicted of hiding a string of child sexual abuses in a state-run children's home.
"I apologise to those I have hurt and to any victims who may have felt I am not standing up for them. I have been, am and will be for the protection of children and families. ... As head of state, I am addressing you for the last time today. I resign from the office of President of the Republic."
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Medics say Israeli air strikes have killed 17 people in Gaza's Rafah overnight, as more than a million Palestinians await a full-blown offensive.
It comes as relatives have found the body of a six-year-old Palestinian girl who had begged rescuers to send help after being trapped in Gaza City by Israeli military fire.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society has accused Israel of deliberately targeting the ambulance it sent to rescue the girl.
Israel have not yet responded to the incident, but have previously accused Hamas of using ambulances to transport its weapons and fighters.
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Candidates backed by the party of jailed Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan plan to form a government, a senior aide to the former prime minister says, urging supporters to peacefully protest if final election results are not released.
The South Asian nation of 241 million people voted on Thursday in a general election, as the country struggles to recover from an economic crisis and battles militant violence in a deeply polarised political environment.
Both Mr Khan and his main rival, three-time former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, declared victory on Friday, increasing uncertainty over who will form the next government at a time when swift policy action is needed to address multiple challenges.
The results mean the parties must enter coalition talks, only prolonging the instability.
Aleema Khan, Imran Khan's sister, tells SBS she is confident Pakistanis want Mr Khan as their leader and will prevail.
"I think Imran Khan predicted months ago, that when people make a decision that they want change, there is nothing that can stop them"
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Tasmania's minority government remains in suspense over two powerful independents, as the Labor Party positions itself for an early state election.
Jeremy Rockliff, Australia's only Liberal premier, has fallen out with former party colleagues turned independents, John Tucker and Lara Alexander.
The two rejected a new deal by the premier that would have prevented them from voting against the government, with Mr Rockliff threatening to trigger an early election if they did not agree.
Mr Rockliff says he will now set time to consider and consult with his colleagues and that he wants to ensure "stability and certainty" for the people of Tasmania.
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Investigators have renewed their appeals for CCTV and traffic camera footage almost a week after mother Samantha Murphy disappeared during a run.
The 51-year-old woman was last seen leaving her home in Ballarat East to go for a run in the Canadian State Forest last Sunday.
Despite extensive searches in the area over the past week, no sign of her has been found,.
Residents of Ballarat have mapped the gold mines and disused shafts around the former gold rush town in the hope to find Ms Murphy.
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Known as one of the biggest holidays in East Asian culture, the Lunar New Year festivities and traditions have been embraced by more Australians every year.
Australia now boasts some of the largest Lunar New Year celebrations outside of Asia, which experts say contributes to Australia's identity as a multicultural nation.
The city is organising a sixteen-day party, with food, music, art and performances, as well as one of the biggest dragon boat races in the southern hemisphere.
2024 is the year of the dragon, which represents power, strength and luck.
But although the Lunar New Year can contribute to greater social cohesion, Dr Shanthi Robertson, an adjunct professor at the University of Western Sydney, says that it is not a panacea for major problems.
"Going along once a year to a festival, going to see a dragon boat race or going to go and see some of the decorations that are up around the city, that's not really enough to really build a cohesive, multicultural community. The everyday connection and effort with your friends and your neighbours and your community and the efforts to kind of engage with some of the things that are uncomfortable and that are challenging, that's also really important as well."
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In football, Brisbane Roar have stunned Melbourne City 5-1 in an A-League Men turnaround for the ages, after conceding eight the last time the two sides met.
City's 8-1 thumping of the Roar in December led to the firing of acting Brisbane coach Luciano Trani, but the boot was firmly on the other foot at Suncorp Stadium.
The Roar scored four goals inside the opening 39 minutes, with Thomas Waddingham adding his second goal of the match a minute after the halftime break
The 11-goal turnaround between the games surpassed the previous record of nine, also achieved by Brisbane in 2016.
