TRANSCRIPT
- Hamas releases the names of four female hostages to be released in second swap.
- A woman fighting for her life after contracting botulism from a cosmetics injection.
- Five new names announced for the Tour Down Under Hall of Fame.
Hamas has revealed the names of the four Israeli hostages set to be released in the second exchange under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.
Soldiers Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag are expected to be free on Saturday afternoon, Gaza local time, with their release in turn triggering the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli jails.
A Hamas official has said that Israel requested that the group replace one of the soldiers with a civilian woman named Arbel Yehoud.
But even so, Israeli pianist Shani Riff says she is happy to see more hostages coming home.
"I don't care if it's specifically this one or this one. I just want their all to be back home, for sure we prefer that the alive ones because we know some of them are already dead, and women because we know that it's a bit more problematic for them, if you know what I mean. But I wish and I'm sure every Israeli and everyone in the world wish for all of them to be back and to be safe and sound and back with their parents, their family, their friends, and start their healing process and journey, because that that's going to take a while."
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A woman is in intensive care in Sydney after contracting botulism from a recent anti-wrinkle injection.
New South Wales Health say they believe the woman contracted the rare and serious condition after getting the injection from a person at an unregulated residential premises.
Executive Director Dr Jeremy McAnulty says the case is a reminder of the potential side effects of unregulated cosmetic injections.
He has urged consumers to ensure they receive treatments from authorised practitioners.
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Ukraine has hit an oil refinery and microchip factory in Russia as part of its drone defence program.
A battalion commander of the drone unit known as Kasper says the main goal is to conduct strikes that hit logistics hubs and ammunition warehouses in order to decrease pressure on their frontline troops.
Russia's defence ministry has acknowledged the strike, confirming more than 121 drones had targeted 13 of its regions.
But they say Russian forces repelled the attacks.
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Friends of Australian citizen Yang Hengjun have urged the federal government to put more pressure on China over what they have described as increasingly harsh conditions in his prison cell.
They say Sydney-based China academic Feng Chongyi says Dr Yang has been forced to choose between food and clothes during winter, while his health has been deteriorating.
The Sydney Morning Herald says Australia's Ambassador to China Scott Dewar has raised complaints about Dr Yang's condition to Beijing prison officials - but his friends want authorities to do more.
In a written statement to SBS News, a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said the Australian government is doing everything they can.
"The government advocates for Dr Yang at every opportunity, at the highest levels, and we will continue to do so. This includes advocacy in support of Dr Yang’s interests and well being, including access to appropriate medical care."
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A group of churches in the United States are preparing to provide sanctuary to people without legal status as a hardline deportation takes effect.
Reverend Mark Knutson's Augustana Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon is among those planning to provide sanctuary, despite the Trump administration throwing out established policies that once limited where these types of arrests could happen.
The Reverend says he’s been in contact with other faith leaders of synagogues, mosques and temples about providing support to people seeking refuge from deportation.
"If 50 people showed up - 100 - because suddenly they're afraid ICE is at the door, we’d of course bring them in and we'd quickly start working with the expertise we have in the community to help get things settled, get people back out into a living situation."
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In sport,
Inaugural race director Mike Turtur and four-time winner Simon Gerrans have been inducted into the Tour Down Under hall of fame.
Broadcasters Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, as well as German sprint ace Andre Greipel, have also been also honoured.
Turtur stepped down as race director in 2020.
Gerrans is the only rider to win the Tour four times - 2006, 2012, 2014 and 2016.
