TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Syrian rebels vow to hunt down guards responsible for prison torture;
- Greens leader Adam Bandt says Labor's childcare plan doesn't go far enough;
- And in football, Saudi Arabia named hosts of the 2034 World Cup.
Syrian rebels have vowed to hunt down anyone involved in the torture or killing of detainees during the ousted Syrian president's rule, as they lifted the curfew imposed on the capital Damascus a few days ago.
A statement by the rebel command said they lifted the curfew they had imposed to urge people to resume going to work to help rebuild the new Syria.
Main commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani said in a statement published on the Syrian state TV's Telegram channel that they would pursue anyone involved in killing or tortures "so we can achieve justice".
Syria now faces the prospect of trying to stabilise and rebuild a country that has fought a 13-year civil war, and following one of the most oppressive police states in the Middle East during five decades of Assad family rule.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said there is hope for Syria following the insurgency.
"The UN is totally committed to supporting the smooth transition of power with an inclusive political process in which the rights of minorities will be fully respected and paving the way towards a united sovereign Syria with its territorial integrity fully reestablished."
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The Greens have criticised a sweeping new childcare proposal from the Albanese government for not going far enough and not being put into action prior to the federal election.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's landmark pre-election pledge promises a $1 billion early education fund aimed at building and expanding services and expanding childcare subsidies.
The announcements also included the expansion of the government's childcare subsidy, scrapping a former activity test in favour of a three-day guarantee.
Greens leader Adam Bandt says this not what families were expecting to hear from the Prime Minister.
"A lot of parents, they'll be pretty disappointed by these announcements today. People hoped that there would be some fundamental changes to our childcare and early childhood education system so that parents could afford it and get it when they need it. But that's not what Labor has delivered."
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Global mining giants BHP Group and Rio Tinto are facing class actions alleging widespread and systemic sexual harassment at mine sites around Australia.
Law firm JGA Saddler says women who spoke out about the harassment were allegedly discriminated against by the miners.
They expect thousands of female workers at the two companies to join onto the class actions.
BHP has issued a statement saying it apologised to anyone who has ever experienced any form of harassment at B-H-P.
A Rio Tinto spokesman says the company was aware of the claim and does not tolerate any form of sexual harassment.
It follows a 2022 review from the W-A government into abuse at mining sites which found women frequently dealt with sexual harassment and sexual assault.
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In football,
FIFA has announced it has awarded the rights to the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia.
The decision was announced during the peak football body's annual extraordinary congress.
While Saudi Arabia was the only nation to bid for the tournament, the decision has raised concerns from human rights groups.
Amnesty International says there are concerns workers will be exploited - and even die - without fundamental reforms in Saudi Arabia.
A group of lawyers have requested from FIFA to enforce its human rights policy on the 2034 World Cup hosts, but have received no response.
High-profile London-based lawyer Rodney Dixon has threatened legal action, if the peak football body refuses to stand by its own ideals.
"We are going to look into this once the decision is made to see whether there is a basis to take legal action. There are many people, particularly those who are affected, the victims, those who are detained, those who are the subject of these human rights abuses, that want it done. And if there is a proper avenue, then those measures should be taken. If FIFA won’t come to some reasonable agreement, then it may have to go to the courts.”
