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TRANSCRIPT:
The Federal Government says its committed to improving safety standards in childcare centres, as the national register of childcare workers comes into effect today.
From today, staff have one month to enter details of their employment, and mandatory training will also commence for anyone working in any capacity connected to an early learning centre.
Education Minister Jason Clare says the reforms are part of a national action plan to protect children.
"99.9 per cent of the people who work in our early education and care system love our kids, care for our kids, educate our kids, protect our kids and want the best for our kids. Can I use this as an opportunity again to give a shout out to you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do. I am personally invested in this, because you look after my child, too."
Tasmania police say they are confident they have found the human remains of missing Belgian backpacker, Celine Cremer.
Human remains were discovered in the area this month, before a specialist team located other bones, teeth and a car key belonging to Ms Cremer, who went missing after going on a day hike a few hours northwest of Hobart in June 2023.
Her disappearance sparked a large scale search when she didn't return after nine days.
Iran's foreign minister says the latest round of nuclear talks with the U-S have brought the countries closer to an agreement.
The US has told Iran that it must abandon its nuclear program or face attacks, accusing it of planning to make nuclear weapons - which the nation denies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says his country has outlined its own demands for sanctions relief.
“During these several long and very intensive hours, we made good progress and very seriously entered into the elements of a possible agreement, both in the nuclear field and in the area of sanctions. On some issues, we have now become very close to an understanding; on certain other issues, we still have differences of opinion."
African soldiers say they were lured to fight for Russia under false promises and given no training, in a what is believed to be a scam to build the numbers of the Russian army.
Phumlani says his brother - who was fighting in Ukraine - did not share what was going on with his family.
“They realised something is wrong long time ago, when we talked… around August, yes around August, they realised that there’s something wrong but they didn’t tell us because they didn’t want us to panic.”
Parts of Victoria can expect widespread showers and thunderstorms this afternoon after Sydney was smashed by rain overnight with up to 100 millimetres in parts of the city's west.
The SES says it performed 44 floodwater rescues and answered hundreds of calls after flash flooding.
The short-lived weather system has eased, with Victoria now in for some wet weather.
The weather bureau's says it is likely to be much less intense.
Football season is about to begin again, with both the N-R-L and A-F-L season openers happening this weekend.
In AFL, the Sydney Swans will take on Carlton on Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The first games of the Rugby League season will be played in Las Vegas on Saturday, where the Cowboys play against the Newcastle Knights, before the Dragons and Bulldogs take the field.
