TRANSCRIPT
The Prime Minister has condemned the vandalism of a synagogue in Sydney.
New South Wales Police have launched an investigation into the incident at the Southern Sydney Synagogue in Allawah, which police believe occurred in the early hours of the morning between 3.55am and 4.30am ((10 Jan)).
The Nazi symbol [[Nazi Hakenkreuz]] was spray-painted on the walls of the synagogue.
It follows other attacks across Sydney targeting the Jewish community in recent months.
Anthony Albanese says there's no place for such behaviour in Australia.
"This is a crime, and those responsible should face the full force of the law. That's why my government was the first to introduce legislation to make sure that crimes such as this are called out for what they are."
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Education Minister Jason Clare says the nation will need the support of all types of workers.
It comes following an op-ed by Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, in which she criticised Australian culture for forcing kids to attend university.
Ms Ley has said that in Labor's first year in office, skill shortages went up by 12.5 per cent, with latest data showing that figure has risen to 33 percent.
The Deputy Opposition Leader has blamed the rhetoric used by the government, who have framed a place in university as a golden ticket, in pushing children towards higher education.
Speaking to Channel Seven, the Education Minister has flagged that he belives the main cause for concern lies elsewhere.
"We need more people to go to TAFE and more people to go to university, more and more jobs that are going to be created in the years ahead are going to require people to go to uni, or to TAFE, and that'll include sometimes people doing a little bit of TAFE and a little bit of university. At the moment we've got six universities that are also TAFE providers. And I think we'll see more of that. I'm trying to break down the barriers between TAFE and uni to make it easier for people to move between the two. The real thing that keeps me up at night is that we're now seeing a decline in the number of kids finishing high school."
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A man has died during an incident in Melbourne's west, with Victoria Police saying he was linked to organised crime.
Emergency Services were called to Caroline Springs late in the evening after reports of gunshots.
They found the man, who has been identified as Hawre Sherwani, lying on the ground with gunshot wounds.
He was transferred to hospital where he died despite efforts from medical crews.
Victoria Police Detective Superintendent Janet Stevenson says early signs of their investigation show the victim was being targeted.
"What we know is that this is a targeted attack. There is nothing for the local residents to fear, it was absolutely targeted so we are still trying to piece that together. What we have found at the scene was a firearm. So that firearm has been seized and it will be forensically examined, and hopefully that will be of assistance to us as well."
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A new fire has forced authorities in the western U-S state of California to call for further evacuations, as firefighters continue their struggle with the already burning wildfires.
The fire started in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, and has grown rapidly.
It ignited close to a school in which people who were affected by the Pacific Palisades blaze have taken shelter.
Over 180,000 people have been displaced from their homes due to the natural disasters across Los Angeles, with the aftermath beginning to come into vision.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone says thousands of buildings have now been lost to the fires.
"We now have a confirmation that we have a potential for over 4 to 5000 structures damaged or destroyed. The definition of a structure could be a single family residence, a multi-family residence, a commercial occupancy, an outbuilding or a vehicle. So this morning I reported 1000. We are now reporting 4 to 5000 of those types of structures."
Meanwhile, speaking from Florida, U-S President-elect Donald trump has taken aim at California governor Gavin Newsom for his poor handling of the situation.
"Gavin Newsom had an opportunity to have millions of gallons (of water) a week, a day, millions and millions of gallons come down from the north. And I was able to get him federal approval for that, from, actually, from the Department of Commerce of all Departments. I didn't realise it would go through Commerce, I would've thought Environmental, but it goes through Commerce. I got all of the approvals and he said I don't want to sign it, I don't want the water, we don't need the water."
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The federal government says it has reached out to the U-S to provide support in its fight against the deadly wildfires affecting Los Angeles.
Emergency Management Minister Jenny Mcallister has told Sky News that it is up to the Americans whether they accept any help.
"We've reached out through diplomatic channels and made it clear that we're ready to assist, but of course, it's for the US authorities to define what they require. And we'll do everything we responsibly can to support them, should they make a request of us."
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The Danish Prime Minister Metter Frederiksen has openly admitted that her country has failed to make any significant investments in the defence of Greenland.
It comes after recent comments by U-S President-elect Donald Trump, who said he would use any means necessary to acquire the autonomous region.
Mr Trump marked Greenland's military importance for the U-S, hoping to rid the area from the presence of vessels belonging to China and Russia.
Denmark has responded strongly to these comments, pointing out that the region is not for sale and that the people of Greenland are independent.
But the nation's prime minister says they will require the support of their western allies to ensure Greenland's safety.
“And now we will hopefully create an investment package, where we will strengthen our ability to monitor what is happening in the Arctic, and also for some new capacities to be put into place. Because I would like to say, quite frankly tonight, we have neglected for many years to make the necessary investments in our ships, in the aircraft that will help to monitor our kingdom, and that is what we are now trying to do something about. I hope we can make an agreement on this with the parliamentary parties in a short time.”
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State leaders, politicians, current and former colleagues have attended the funeral of former prime minister of Greece Costas Simitis.
Mr Simitis, who died on Sunday ((January 5)) at 88, was a former leader of Greece's socialist movement whose policies played a major role in the country adopting the Euro currency.
It was also during his tenure that the nation was given the rights to the 2004 Olympic Games, which were successfully held a few months after he stepped down.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides were among those to attend the funeral.
Mr Mitsotakis gave a eulogy at the service, hailing Mr Simitis as an honourable opponent.
"Today we bid farewell to a personality that placed its own signature in the history of this land. A two-times elected prime minister, for whom my institutional role imposes me to honour him as he deserves. A warrior against dictatorship and a worthy servant of democracy. But also a noble opponent, with whom our parties were able to coincide."
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Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic claims he was poisioned duting his stay in Melbourne for the 2022 Australian Open.
In an interview published overnight, he claims he realised he was poisoned in the first few hours after he left Melbourne.
The 37-year-old has said the reasons for his deportation were mainly political, after he refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The government has not released an official response to Mr Djokovic's accusations, with Australian player Nick Kyrgios pointing out he thinks that the Serbian was treated poorly.
"I haven't spoken to him about that. I didn't even know that but I mean I stand on what... We treated him like shit. That's for sure. We shouldn't have done that."
