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TRANSCRIPT
- Australians mark a national day of mourning for victims of the Bondi terror attack
- Greenlanders react to Donald Trump's claim of a deal struck with NATO on Greenland
- The manager of Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar to visit Adelaide for the Tour Down Under
The 15 victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack are being remembered across the nation with a day of mourning today.
The theme for the day is 'Light Will Win: A Gathering of Unity and Remembrance'.
It is the first time Australia has observed a national day of mourning since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Flags are flying at half mast on government buildings; and national institutions in Canberra and Sydney will be illuminated.
A national memorial service at the Sydney Opera House will take place from 7pm.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says it is an important time of reflection.
"It is an opportunity to come together. And I think around some common ideas that are incredibly important for Australia. And they are are sense of safety, solidarity and unity. And today is an opportunity to do that alongside the reflection. Australia's got a lot of decisions in front of it that will not stop in the next six months, or 12 months. We need to keep going."
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A PhD student has been accused of planning to throw Molotov cocktails at an Australia Day crowd, as part of an alleged terror plot to overthrow the government.
24-year-old Sepehr Saryazdi allegedly planned for the attack to occur at an event in Queensland on January 26, to promote a new phase of civilisation powered by artificial intelligence.
He is accused of targeting a Gold Coast event, allegedly posting online that he would be leading riots on the popular tourist strip.
He faces a single Commonwealth charge of engaging in acts in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act.
Mr Saryazdi has been remanded in custody, with the next court date set for next month.
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Sussan Ley leadership of the Liberal Party is under pressure, after the Nationals leader David Littleproud announced his party is leaving the Coalition.
It is the second time the Liberals and Nationals have announced a split in the past eight months.
In making the announcement this morning, Mr Littleproud cited Ms Ley's refusal to reinstate three Nationals senators who broke shadow cabinet rules when they voted against the government's hate crime legislation.
That action then triggered the resignations of the remaining eight National Party members from the Opposition frontbench.
Mr Littleproud says the expedited timeframe to consider the bill meant normal joint partyroom processes could not be observed, but that there was clear communication about the concerns Nationals members had on the legislation.
Deputy Nationals Leader Kevin Hogan tells Sky News options were put forward to avoid this outcome; and Mr Littleproud has the overwhelming support of the Nationals' party room.
"Yesterday, myself and others were saying we need a pathway out of this. There were solutions put like if those three senators sign a public document that they would adhere to shadow cabinet solidarity. There are extenuating circumstances this week. That will be forgiven because of the unique situation this week. You don't have to then accept their resignations. We won't all have to resign and have this situation unfold."
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A Greenlandic member of the Danish parliament, Aaja Chemnitz Larsen, has dismissed the United States president's claims on Greenland as "absolutely crazy".
Donald Trump has announced he has negotiated a deal with NATO on Greenland, without providing further details.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says while a framework was discussed, there was no specific mention of the issue of Greenland's sovereignty.
In a statement, Ms Chemnitz Larsen says NATO has no mandate to negotiate anything about Greenland.
Greenlanders have expressed scepticism over Mr Trump's announcement that he has settled the question of the Arctic island's future.
Resident Johnny Hedemann says he finds the US president's remarks on Greenland offensive.
"I think it's a little bit disappointing that he talks about the Greenlandic people and the Greenlandic nation as just an ice cube. I think that's, you know, a little bit insulting."
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics says the December unemployment rate fell from 4.3 per cent to 4.1 per cent- meaning it ended 2025, where it started.
The ABS says the decrease was due in part to more younger people entering the workforce.
More than 65,000 people found work - pushing the total number of people employed to a record 14.68 million.
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In cycling, the manager of Tadej Pogacar has travelled to Adelaide to observe the Tour Down Under race this week, increasing the chances the four-time Tour de France champion may feature in the event in the future.
Race director Stuart O'Grady has told AAP, manager Alex Carera will be a guest of the Tour over the next few days.
Mr O'Grady says he sees it is a positive indication of what could happen with a first-hand experience of what the Australian race has to offer.
