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TRANSCRIPT
Two men in their twenties have been charged in relation to the alleged kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old grandfather, Chris Baghsarian [[ BAG- sar- ee- yan]]
Baghsarian's remains have been found in northwestern Sydney after he was taken from his home on the 13th of February.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Marks says the body was located at a golf course in Pitt Town, during a widespread search for the 85-year-old, who detectives believe was taken in a case of mistaken identity.
"We have done this through forensic testing. Whilst the family of Mr Bagsharian - well, they welcome the news of the arrests. They are still devastated by the loss of their father and grandfather."
The men, a 29-year-old from Kenthurst and 24-year-old from Castle Hill, will face Blacktown Local Court on Thursday.
Police allege a third unknown person was also involved in the kidnapping.
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The Federal Government has directed the families of Australian embassy staff and officials posted in Israel and Lebanon to leave, citing escalating tensions in the region.
Smartraveller has updated its travel advice, saying the government has directed the departure of all dependants of Australian officials posted in both countries.
The official government website for travel advice has published a statement, saying the move is a precautionary measure, in response to regional tensions and an unpredictable situation in the Middle East.
Australia's Embassies in Tel Aviv and Beirut remain open.
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The Chinese Foreign Ministry has responded after a dance troupe banned in China was referenced in a security threat that prompted the Prime Minister to evacuate his official residence.
The threat falsely claimed that explosives had been placed around The Lodge, and would be detonated if performances by a group called Shen Yun, which is linked to the spiritual movement Falun Gong, went ahead in Australia over the coming month.
Shen Yun's organisers in Australia received the threat and relayed it to the Australian Federal Police ((AFP)) on Tuesday.
Spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, says China condemns any form of violent attack, but is also critical of Shen Yun and Falun Gong.
"I have noted relevant reports but am not aware of the actual situation. China has consistently opposed all forms of violent attacks. It must be pointed out that the so-called Shen Yun performance is by no means a normal cultural activity, but rather a political tool used by the Falun Gong to spread cult information and amass wealth. "
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United States democrats have pushed back against President Donald Trump's claim that his immigration policies have made the country safer.
During his nearly-two-hour-long State of the Union address in Congress, the president hailed his administration's economic and diplomatic successes.
President Trump described his second term in office as the "golden era" in the U-S's 250 years of independence, touting his immigration crackdown as a major success.
"We now have the strongest and most secure border in American history, by far. In the past 9 months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States."
Speaking after the address, U-S Governor of Virginia Abigail Spanberger said the President's claims about the immigration crackdown do not align with reality.
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Goorie/Koori poet Evelyn Araluen has won the $100,000 Victorian Prize for Literature at the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards in Melbourne.
Ms Araluen also won the $25,000 Prize for Indigenous writing, with her latest collection of poems described by judges as a work of remarkable poetic intelligence.
Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah won the $2000 popular-vote People's Choice Award for her novel Discipline, with the book also highly commended in the fiction category.
The $25,000 fiction prize went to Borneo and Brooklyn-based Omar Musa for his family saga called Fierceland.
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And in sport...
Test cricket will be played in Darwin for the first time in 22 years- and Mackay, for the first time ever.
Cricket Australia has confirmed the itinerary for Australia's two-match Test series against Bangladesh in August, and as expected, the rare winter Test series will be played in northern Australia to avoid problems with weather and ground availability.
Darwin's Marrara Stadium will host the first match between the 13th and 17th August, and Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena will host the second Test, scheduled for August the 22nd to the 26th.
It will mark the beginning of a very busy period for the Australian men's side, where they will play up to 20 Test matches in the space of twelve months, including away series in South Africa, India, and England.
