TRANSCRIPT
- A ceasefire deal is reached between Israel and Hamas to pause the war in Gaza
- Sydney commuters brace for more train delays
- Thanasi Kokkinakis has failed to advance to the third round of the Australian Open
A ceasefire deal has been agreed between Israel and Hamas to pause the war in Gaza and secure the release of dozens of hostages.
Qatar's Prime Minister has confirmed the agreement but the Israeli Prime Minister's office says several details are yet to be confirmed.
Israel’s war against Hamas escalated on the 7th of October 2023, when militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted around 250 in southern Israel.
Of the 100 hostages still held, a third are believed to have died.
Mother of Israeli hostage Doran, Simona Steinbrecher, is urging the Israeli government to follow through with the deal.
"What is important for me to say is that it is very important not to question this agreement because we may not have another chance, so do not miss it and do everything to ensure that the agreement is implemented and all the hostages are released."
The conflict has claimed over 46,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza health authorities, who report that women and children make up more than half the fatalities.
Palestinians have taken to the streets to celebrate.
**
Sydney is set to face more rail chaos today as industrial action continues.
Around 40 per cent of services were cancelled yesterday up to 7.30 pm.
Then, services were severely scaled back after 9 pm ahead of further strike action today.
The situation has been made worse by wild weather that downed trees across overhead wiring and affected parts of the network.
A similar number of work bans are expected today as rail unions continue their push for increased pay.
Commuters will be caught in the crossfire again.
COMMUTER: "I don't drive. I depend on the train. My problem is there's no busses between Gordon and Linfield. I'm in a small station, sometimes the trains don't stop at Killara. So I depend on the train. So when they go on strike or something happens, I'm gone, and I have to get an Uber or taxi and the prices are quite high."
REPORTER: "Now, what did you do today?"
COMMUTER: "I got on a metro thank God the metro was working. If not, I've been having a big problem, because I don't drive."
Commuters are being advised to delay non-essential travel, use alternative forms of public transport and check for updates online.
**
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has criticised the government's response to a recent rise in hate crimes and racist incidents.
It comes after the most recent event, in which a synagogue in Sydney's west was spray-painted with a Nazi swastika.
The incident has been condemned by religious groups, who have joined the Opposition's calls for a national cabinet meeting to discuss domestic terrorism.
Mr Dutton says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should have acted more quickly to address the issue.
"For months and months, people were protesting on campuses, yelling hateful language and spite at people of Jewish faith and the Prime Minister didn't act then. He's been slow to act in turning up to the synagogue which had been attacked by arsonists and these are terrorist events. And the Prime Minister should convene the national cabinet. I wrote to the Prime Minister in November of 2023, 14 months ago, suggesting that the national cabinet should be pulled together."
**
Deputy Opposition Sussan Ley is repeating calls for the government to dismiss the Russian ambassador after reports of the death of Australian solider Oscar Jenkins.
The former teacher has reportedly been executed by Russian forces after he was taken captive in Ukraine.
Those reports remain unverified, with the Department of Foreign Affairs calling on the ambassador to provide clarification.
Prime Minster Anthony Albanese says if the reports are confirmed, the government will take the strongest possible action.
However Ms Ley has called on the government to resolve the issue swiftly.
"What this Prime Minister should be doing is calling in the Russian ambassador, calling him in, asking for an explanation, demanding that we know what has happened to this Australian, and if he cannot be reassured, he should be, the Russian ambassador should be shipped out."
**
Bill Shorten has announced he will resign nine days earlier than he had planned, paving the way for a possible cabinet reshuffle next week.
Mr Shorten made the announcement in an interview with the ABC ahead of taking up his new role as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Canberra.
His departure is set to leave two portfolios open - Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has previously confirmed there will be a cabinet reshuffle before the election, but says he doesn't envisage major changes to his frontbench.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth is widely tipped to take on responsibility for the NDIS, but Mr Shorten says the decision is not up to him.
"I think she's a very talented minister, but it'll be up to the prime minister to pick someone all my colleagues are talented, and frankly, they're as good a cabinet as has been around in many, many years."
**
Thanasi Kokkinakis has failed to advance to the third round of the Australian Open for the first time, losing a five-set epic against 15th seed Jack Draper.
The 28-year-old was just one service game away from ending a 11-year wait to make the round of 32 at Melbourne Park, but Draper rallied to win 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 3-6 7-5 6-3 in four hours and 35 minutes at John Cain Arena.
Kokkinakis served for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set and was widely expected to win, but the Brit instead took the next three games.
The Australian was struggling physically during the match, receiving treatment for a a shoulder injury, as Draper finished stronger in the fifth set to silence the crowd.
