TRANSCRIPT:
- A woman killed in a deliberately lit fire in Melbourne;
- The leader of the Greens accuses Labor of failing to deliver on its Middle East election promises;
- Miomir Kecmanovic storms into the third round of the Australian Open.
A woman has been killed in a ferocious fire in Melbourne's west.
She died after calling emergency services to a three-story townhouse in Truganina, which went up in flames about 2.30 this morning.
Victorian Police say the woman was house-sitting the property for her brother while he was on his honeymoon.
Detective Inspector Chris Murray says investigators are treating the death as a targeted attack but say they have no details on why that might be the case.
"This individual is completely innocent and should not have died. We have no history on this individual, nor the family. In my early stages - my early call is these offenders have targeted the wrong address, which is nothing short of a tragedy."
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Greens leader Adam Bandt has called a ceasefire deal in Gaza welcome news and long overdue - but he says Labor must do more to support Palestinians.
The Greens want the Labor government to call for a permanent ceasefire, and to sanction members of the Israeli government directly involved in war crimes.
Mr Bandt has also been critical of Anthony Albanese's statement that he can't see Australia recognising Palestinian statehood before the election.
The Greens leader argues that Labor is failing to fulfill election promises.
"Labor said that recognising Palestine would be a priority and it's clear that it's not. It's now clear that it's not. It's clear that what Labor took to the election last time is not something they were prepared to act on."
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U-S President Joe Biden has issued a warning in his farewell address to the American people about what he calls a dangerous concentration of power among a few wealthy people.
The outgoing U-S President, without mentioning names, has said extreme wealth, power and influence are threatening American democracy as well the basic rights and freedoms in the country.
Biden says a "tech industrial complex" has developed, characterised by a crumbling free press, disappearing pillars, and social media that has given up on fact checking.
His final Oval Office speech has brought to a close a political career that has included three decades in the senate and eight years as Barack Obama's Vice President before his own stint in the top job, which he has described as the greatest honour of his life.
"After 50 years of public service, I give you my word: I still believe in the idea for which this nation stands. A nation where the strength of our institutions and the character of our people matter and must endure. Now it's your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame."
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More rain is forecast in New South Wales after a deadly storm left one man dead and cut power to thousands of homes.
The man in his 80s was killed during after a tree fell on his car as the storm passed over the central west town of Cowra.
People are being asked to monitor the updated forecasts and stay out of danger, though the expected storms are predicted to be less severe than before.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says the community is incredibly grateful for the work of emergency services, and their advice should be listened to.
"Tens of thousands of people devote their spare time to the SES and the RFS. We couldn't run the state without them. It's fantastic work."
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There's been a surge in the number of Australians seeking help with debts.
The National Debt Helpline says almost 170,000 people sought their assistance in 2024, a 12 percent increase on the previous year.
Financial Counselling Australia co-CEO Peter Gartlan says the increase shows just how hard it is for many Australians to get by at the moment.
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The elevation of four female politicians within the prime minister's cabinet has revived debate about women's representation in Parliament.
Aged Care Minister Anika Wells has been promoted to the Cabinet, while Katy Gallagher has added Government Services to her responsibilities, Amanda Rishworth is taking charge of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, while Anne Aly has become the junior NDIS minister.
But there are concerns the Coalition is failing to address its gender imbalance.
Women make up less than one-third of the coalition's MPs and senators, whereas more than half of Labor's federal parliamentarians are women.
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Miomir Kecmanovic has stormed into the third round of the Australian Open.
The unseeded Serbian kicked off his Open run two years ago when he was supposed to play then-world No.1 and nine-time champion Novak Djokovic in the first round at Melbourne Park, only for his countryman to be famously deported on the eve of the tournament.
This time, the world No.51 has swept past Polish 18th seed Hubert Hurkacz as he looks to improve on last year's Open quarter-final berth.
