Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT:
- Calls for transparency around Australian families of suspected I-S group militants;
- New York declares a state of emergency as it prepares for a major storm;
- Norway breaks a Winter Olympics gold medal record.
The Prime Minister says charges could apply to a group of women currently in a refugee camp in Syria - if they return to Australia.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has already said he acted on advice from ASIO in issuing a temporary exclusion order for one of the group of 34, while the rest did not meet the intelligence agency's threshold for such measures.
Labor has been under pressure from the opposition to block the entire group from entering Australia, but Anthony Albanese has told Sky News his government is operating under laws introduced by the coalition.
"Australian citizens have rights and they also have responsibilities, and those responsibilities mean that the Australian government, like with anyone else, will apply the full force of the law to anyone who has broken Australian law."
Still, shadow defence minister James Paterson maintains the government should do more to stop the cohort's arrival.
"If they think the law is not adequate, if they think there is not enough room for them to deny passports, well then we have already said we will work them to strengthen the law. Jono Duniam, our Home Affairs spokesman, has said we will work with them to give them all the powers they need to block these people."
.
More than 350 First Nations Elders, community leaders and activists have signed an open-letter calling on the federal government to commit to a national pathway to treaty and truth-telling.
The letter has been signed at the Together for Treaty National Summit in Victoria, a conference bringing First Nations leaders together to build momentum towards treaty and truth-telling processes across Australia.
There is currently a treaty process underway in Victoria - but the Together for Treaty group argues that without a national process, responsibility for issues affecting First Nations people is fragmented, and recognition remains inconsistent.
The organisation says treaties offer an important and effective way to acknowledge past and present injustices and resolve differences.
.
A British nuclear-powered submarine, the HMS Anson, has arrived in Western Australia for a month-long visit.
The visit is part of preparations for the setup of nuclear submarine rotations out of the West Australian HMAS Stirling site from 2027 under AUKUS.
The arrival marks the first time Australian navy members will be able to carry out work on UK nuclear submarines on home as part of the AUKUS partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
.
At least three people have died after a boat packed with migrants capsized off the Greek island of Crete.
Greek public broadcaster ERT says the accident occurred during a rescue by a commercial ship, with a sudden movement triggering the overturning as passengers tried to go up ladders into the other vessel.
For over a year, migrants have been attempting the perilous crossing from Libya to Crete, the gateway to the European Union.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says more than 16,770 people seeking asylum in the EU arrived in Crete in 2025.
.
To the US, and the governor of New York has declared a state of emergency ahead of a major storm that is expected to impact most of the region.
The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for New York City, Long Island, southern Connecticut and coastal communities in New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Governor Kathy Hochul says residents should prepare for the possibility of flooding, which she has described as being part of out of the ordinary weather event.
"We're all New Yorkers. We think we can handle anything. But here's the bottom line. You need to hear this from me, someone who's been through more blizzards than any governor in the history of the state of New York... This is not new for us. But the impact is going to be very much extraordinary, out of the ordinary, and something you need to take very seriously."
.
A Turkish-language drama film called 'Yellow Letters' has been awarded the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival.
The film by the German director İlker Çatak, shot in Germany but set in Turkiye, deals with themes of authoritarianism and political repression.
Turkish filmmaker Emin Alper, whose film 'Salvation' took the second-place Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, says he hopes his own film, which is about a historic violent atrocity, finds global relevance.
"These all insane leaders are dragging people into really close to the catastrophe, I can say. So that makes me really scared. That's why I made this film. I will be very happy if it will be considered as a warning."
.
To sport and in Olympics news,
Norway's Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has become the first athlete to win six gold medals at a single Winter Olympics.
It was Klaebo's victory in the 50-kilometre start race which had him break the nearly 50-year record set by American speed skater Eric Heiden, who won five golds in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
His wins place Norway at the top of the medal tally for a third straight games, with a record 18 gold medals.
Australia sits in 14th position heading into the final day of competition.
