TRANSCRIPT
- Mourners travel interstate to attend a vigil for murdered couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies
- Supporters of Alexei Navalny bid farewell to the Russian opposition leader at his funeral in Moscow
- The South Sydney Rabbitohs spend time with Las Vegas' First Nations communities
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Hundreds of mourners have gathered in Sydney's east to pay tribute to murdered couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, laying flowers and signing condolence books to honouring their lives.
Federal Sydney MP and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley, Independent MP Alex Greenwich and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore were among those who attended.
The bodies of Mr Davies and Mr Baird were found inside surfboard bags at the fence line of a rural property in Bungonia near Goulburn, about 200 kilometres southwest of the city, on Tuesday.
Last night, people sat on the grass and silently watched as a slideshow of the two men played on big screens alongside a soundtrack of Shania Twain, Lionel Richie and Coldplay.
These mourners travelled across the country to be a part of the vigil.
"It's all over the news in Australia. It's a very sad occasion and everything. We've flown up from Tasmania today just to be part of tonight. We're going to stay for the Mardi Gras as well, and that with my wife and everything, but made a special trip just for today because it's been in the papers and we've been reading and very sad. I think it impacts us. Just makes everyone think. I think it really does. How lucky we are really in life and everything and just taken away just like that."
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Sequins and glitter will light up the streets of Sydney today for the annual Mardi Gras parade, although it's also expected to be a sombre occasion for the LGBTIQ+ community following the murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
The parade will serve as a finale to a February full of events in the New South Wales capital.
Arts Minister John Graham says the packed calendar, which had led to full hotels and a booming tourism trade, has marked a significant shift in the city following the lingering effects of multiple COVID-era lockdowns.
While Chief Executive of Mardi Gras, Gil Beckwith, says the parade elevates Sydney's diverse community.
"It is a beacon for us all knowing that love, equality, peace and diversity are human rights for us all. Knowing that others will see the parade and know this is where they can find safety in their community, who will always embrace them and validate them. You are always welcome. This is our future. This is essential lifesaving work to challenge the status quo to seek and work towards essential changes so that we all feel safer and accepted by all."
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Labor and the Liberals are downplaying hopes of a clear win, as voters head to the polls in the by-election for the Victorian federal seat of Dunkley today ((Sat 2 March))
Triggered by the passing of Labor MP Peta Murphy, the seat in southeast Melbourne is held by Labor with a 6.3 per cent margin.
Community leader Jodie Belyea is vying to keep it for Labor, while Frankston City Council mayor Nathan Conroy represents the Liberal Party.
Cost of living and local crime are key issues, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighting government relief measures, including larger tax cuts for lower and middle income earners.
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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an independent investigation into the deaths of people seeking humanitarian aid in an incident in which Israeli soldiers fired into crowds.
Several countries, including the UK, France and Germany have joined calls for an investigation, after Gaza health authorities said Israeli forces had killed more than 100 people trying to reach a relief convoy near Gaza City early on Thursday.
Israel has said most of the deaths were caused by crowds being trampled or run over as they converged on aid trucks, but says troops had "in a limited response" later fired on crowds they felt had posed a threat.
The incident has underscored the collapse of aid deliveries in areas of Gaza occupied by Israeli forces with no administration in place, and the main U-N refugee agency UNRWA unable to deliver aid during an inquiry into alleged links with Hamas.
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Relatives and supporters of Alexei Navalny have gathered to bid farewell to the opposition leader at a funeral in southeastern Moscow.
The service took place at the 'Church of the Icon of the Mother of God' in a district where Navalny used to live.
Russian authorities have deployed police there, two weeks after he died at the age of 47 in an Arctic penal colony.
Mourners have paid tribute.
"This is a huge loss. Our deepest condolences to the mother because not every person can endure this. To his wife and his child we have lost a lot." ... "I came here to Moscow for Alexei's funeral. To give the last honours. It is important to me, for many people it is important. That is why I came for the funeral."
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And in sport, the NRL has launched the round one double header in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip before it begins tomorrow.
The governing body says more than 40,000 tickets have been sold for Sunday's fixtures, which will be played at the site of this year's Super Bowl.
Ahead of the opener, the South Sydney Rabbitohs have taken time to share in local First Nations culture.
While training in San Diego, California, the Bunnies have spent time learning about the traditional custodians on whose lands they trained, receiving a traditional welcome from the people of the Kumeyaay Nation.
"By this enactment, by you coming here, you have lit our spirit. Our you have fed our souls and our spirit and our happiness that no other people from this country has done so we are ever so grateful."
