TRANSCRIPT
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a reminder of the need for unity against hatred.
Ms Wong is part of a senior Australian government delegation at an official commemoration event in Poland, which marks 80 years since the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by Soviet soldiers.
About 1.1 million people were murdered in the concentration camp before it was emancipated on 27 January 1945.
Ms Wong is representing the Australian government at the event, along with Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and the special envoy for antisemitism, Jillian Segal.
She says the rise of antisemitism around the world today makes the lessons of that time more relevant than ever.
"I would say at this time, we have to stand together across beliefs, across political difference. We have to stand against prejudice and hate and antisemitism in all its forms. Attending this commemoration is solemn and important. The memory of six million murdered and the knowledge of what hatred can lead to."
Mr Dreyfus says the event has special resonance for him.
"Over a million Jews were murdered at Auschwitz. That number includes at Auschwitz a member of my own family. My great-grandmother, Ida Ransenberg, then aged 60, was murdered at Auschwitz on the 14th of October 1942. We’re attending the commemoration to remember the dead - and to say never again."
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The Country Fire Authority in Victoria has urged residents living in areas subject to today's total fire ban to activate their bushfire plans.
An extreme fire danger rating has led to total fire bans being imposed on five areas of Victoria: Mallee, Wimmera, Central, North Central and Southwest districts.
People are also being warned to abide by the ban, including the avoiding lighting fires in the open air.
An extreme fire danger rating has been forecast for eastern South Australia, with isolated thunderstorms also possible.
Dean Narramore, from the Bureau of Meteorology, says a cool change is on its way - but residents in high-risk areas should stay across the latest fire alerts.
"So we're likely to see the cool change move through southern South Australia later this morning, including around the Adelaide in the metropolitan area and that will drop temperatures quickly. A cool change into western Victoria early this afternoon - and then central Victoria into the later afternoon and evening hours, sweeping across the rest of northern and eastern Victoria overnight - and southern New South Wales. Then that cool change will move through much of New South Wales Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday evening."
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New South Wales Police are investigating damage to a Sydney monument dedicated to officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Vandals significantly damaged the Police Wall of Remembrance in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police are asking anyone with information or footage of the incident to come forward.
Sydney City Council is assisting police in repairing the monument.
The wall is part of the Domain, next to the Royal Botanic Gardens.
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US President Donald Trump has announced his administration’s plans to impose emergency tariffs and travel bans on Colombia, after the country blocked US flights of deported Colombians.
Mr Trump said Colombian leader Gustavo Petro put U-S national security at risk.
Mr Petro criticised Mr Trump's mass deportation plan, saying his country would not accept such flights until the White House created a more dignified system that does not treat migrants like criminals.
The country has accepted almost 500 deportation flights from the U-S since 2020.
Colombian residents in Bogota, including Jenny Ortiz, say they fear the economic consequences to come.
"It affects us, it will affect all people exporting their products. This will put a halt on Colombian commerce with the United States. This will completely affect us."
In a statement posted on X, Mr Petro says he has ordered the foreign trade minister to raise import tariffs from the U-S by 25 per cent.
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Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has confirmed an agreement has been reached with Hamas on the next hostages to be released as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Civilian Arbel Yehud, soldier Agam Berger and a third unnamed hostage will be released on Thursday.
An additional three hostages will be freed on Saturday.
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In sport, Australia has won the finals of international rugby sevens, defeating New Zealand 28-26, in their first title at home in seven years.
It is also Australia's second triumph in three World Series events, moving them to within two points of the ladder-leading Kiwis.
Australian rugby sevens great Charlotte Caslick says the win at the Perth event is one of the best moments of her stellar career.
Their win was even more meritorious given major strike weapons, world sevens player of the year Maddison Levi and Faith Nathan, were unavailable for the two matches on Sunday.
Heidi Dennis won the Player of the Final award.
She says the result is a product of lots of hard work.
"Just grit all the way until the end. They made us really fight for that one. But to do it at home is so special. (We told ourselves) just to back ourselves. We've done the training. Now what we need to do is go out and do it. It's just yeah, it's great."