Executions and Aussies detained: What’s happening with the Myanmar military junta.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has condemned the execution of pro-democracy activists in Myanmar, flagging further sanctions may be placed on the country’s ruling military junta.

The war-torn nation’s military announced on Monday it had executed four people, including former MP Phyo Zeya Thaw, an ally of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

“Australia is appalled by the execution of four pro-democracy activists in Myanmar and strongly condemns the actions of the Myanmar military regime,” Senator Wong said.

“Australia opposes the death penalty in all circumstances for all people. Australia is clear and consistent in our support of human rights around the world. We extend sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives since the coup.”

Protestors outside of Parliament House in Canberra. Image: Getty.

The pro-democracy activists were sentenced to death in secret trials earlier this year, and were accused of helping a civilian resistance movement that has fought the military since the 2021 coup.

In a joint statement, the European Union, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the US, among other nations, labelled the executions as “reprehensible acts of violence that further exemplify the regime’s disregard for human rights and the rule of law”.

The Australian Government and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have also condemned the announcement that Myanmar’s junta is proceeding with a trial against detained Australian economist and professor Sean Turnell.

Mr Turnell was the economic adviser of former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but was arrested, along with Ms Suu Kyi, when the military overthrew the government in February 2021. He is also an Honorary Professor of Economics at Macquarie University in Sydney.

HRW Asia researcher Manny Maung said to SBS News: “As it stands, the military junta is just using Sean as a chess piece.”

Thanks everyone for your concern yesterday. Safe for now but heartbroken for what all this means for the people of Myanmar. The bravest, kindest people I know. They deserve so much better. pic.twitter.com/RA2YvCOEF7

— sean turnell (@SeanTurnell) February 1, 2021

Image: Getty.

The boyfriend of late German backpacker Simone Strobel has been arrested by homicide detectives in Western Australia and is set to be extradited to NSW.

Tobias Friedrich Moran, formerly known as Tobias Suckfuell, had been travelling around Australia with Ms Strobel when her body was found near a Lismore caravan park in 2005. The 25-year-old school teacher had been suffocated with a pillow or plastic bag.

Ms Strobel's murder has remained unsolved despite the establishment of a strike force and the NSW government offering a $1 million reward in 2020.

But on Tuesday, it emerged Moran had been arrested in connection with the case after a warrant was issued by NSW Police. The 42-year-old faced Perth Magistrates Court from custody regarding an extradition application.

Man arrested over 2005 death of German backpacker Simone Strobel https://t.co/v9OOFKaYE3

— ABC News (@abcnews) July 26, 2022

Moran is expected to be flown to Sydney on Wednesday before facing Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court the following day. NSW Police are yet to formally disclose the nature of his charges but confirmed the man's arrest, saying further information would be provided when available.

Police have previously said they believe Ms Strobel was murdered by Moran, who refused to return to Australia to give evidence at her inquest. Deputy NSW Coroner Paul McMahon in 2007 found there was insufficient evidence to recommend charges but said he had a “very strong suspicion” Moran, then known as Suckfuell, was involved in the killing.

Ms Strobel had been on a night out with Moran and friends when she was last seen at the Lismore Tourist Caravan Park on February 11, 2005. Her body was found six days later, concealed under palm fronds at a sports ground, less than 100 metres from the caravan park.

Authorities in Germany also offered a reward in 2014 of 10,000 Euros to German and Australian residents with any information about Ms Strobel’s death.

With AAP.

The first celebrity guests for the Stan Original Series RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Season 2 have just been announced. Here’s everything you need to know.

And Britney Spears is reportedly back in the studio and about to relaunch her music career via a collaboration with Elton John. The news comes at the same time as the singer, still newly free from her longtime conservatorship, released a series of text messages that she claims is proof her mother, Lyn Spears, abused her.

Plus, right now we’re seeing the resurgence of British supermodel Kate Moss, thanks to her new role as Diet Coke’s creative director (yes, we have questions about this). In a rare new interview, Kate has explained the stories behind her biggest career controversies, along with talking through her worst modelling experiences, and it’s left us very divided over her complicated legacy.

Get The Spill in your ears now!

Jumping back in with some breaking news this morning. 

A mother has been charged with the murder of her three children who were found dead after a house fire in Western Australia last week.

A 10-year-old girl and two boys, aged seven and five months, were found dead inside the Port Hedland property by firefighters who responded to the blaze last Tuesday. 

Their mother, Margaret Dale Hawke, 36, has been charged with three counts of murder and one count of criminal damage by fire.

She has been refused bail by police and will face Perth Magistrates Court today. 

Hawke was hospitalised at Hedland Health Campus after the fire before being flown to Perth for further treatment.

In a statement on Friday night, the Hawke family said they were going through a "very traumatic grief process" and asked for their privacy to be respected.

"We are quietly paying tribute to our three little angels, and just supporting each other at this time," they said.

- With AAP. 

Morning all,

Yesterday it was announced television presenter Stan Grant will be the new host of ABC’s Q+A. 

You can read everything we know about the veteran award-winning journalist here. 

But first, these are the stop news stories you need to know today, Tuesday July 26.

1. "A lovely boy." Family killed in Sydney house fire identified.

The three victims of a Sydney house fire have been identified, as fire authorities confirm the blaze broke out in the garage of the family home.

Authorities were called to Hinchinbrook in Sydney's south-west around 5:30am on Sunday. 

Six people were evacuated from the house, including a 10-year-old boy who was taken to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead in a critical condition. He was later confirmed dead on Sunday afternoon.

The child has now been identified as Darren Le, the son of Vickie Le and Minh Nguyen, who were asleep inside the house when the blaze started. 

Darren's two grandmothers and a woman who worked as a carer were also inside the property.

The young boy killed in a house fire in #Sydney's south west is being remembered as cheeky and bright.

His devastated mother has been released from hospital, but there are still no answers as to what caused the blaze. @RuthWW #9News pic.twitter.com/AHtCihUoKN

— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) July 25, 2022

One of his grandmothers and the carer did not survive, while Vickie and Vickie’s mother were taken to hospital, where they have been discharged. Minh is still fighting for his life in the ICU.

Trevor Hibberson, a relative of the family, told 7NEWS, "Minh is still in hospital, he’s in a pretty bad way". 

"(Darren) was a lovely boy. Quiet, listened, did what he was told, learned a lot. He loved his school."

A GoFundMe page has been set up by a family friend to help raise funds for the three funerals.

"This may be a story you have read or seen on the news however, for them this is a lifelong scar," the page reads.

2. Climate change and domestic violence on the agenda as parliament opens.

Climate change, aged care reform and domestic violence leave will mark the start of the Australia's 47th parliament, which will meet today.

All parliamentarians will need to be sworn in, including 35 new lower house MPs elected on May 21.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Governor-General David Hurley will outline his government's ambition in an address to parliament.

"A government which sees it has a responsibility to break Australia out of the inertia that the former government was stuck in," he told his party room on Monday.

"We often came to the (last) parliament without much to do in terms of an agenda. This Labor government will not be like that and we've hit the ground running already."

Our government has ambition for our country to be even better.

A country where we take care of older Australians.

A country where we seize the opportunities of acting on climate change and renewable energy.

A country where secure work and fair pay is available to all. pic.twitter.com/8AYeETJhLA

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 25, 2022

Proposed aged care reforms include putting nurses into nursing homes, stopping high administration and management fees and improving the integrity and accountability of residential facilities.

Labor intends to enshrine a 43 per cent emissions-reduction target by 2030 into a law that will also require the climate minister to report annually to parliament on Australia's progress. A proposal to introduce 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave will be unveiled.

3. Several Manly Sea Eagles players to boycott match over Pride jersey.

A number of Manly Sea Eagles players will reportedly boycott an upcoming match in protest of the club's pride jersey.

On Sunday, Manly announced they would become the first club in rugby league history to wear a jersey celebrating inclusivity and LGBTQIA+ Pride. 

The club is expected to confirm today that up to seven players will miss Thursday's match with the Sydney Roosters, opting not to play in the jersey, which is fitted with rainbow colours instead of the traditional white piping and includes the words ‘Everyone in League’ written on it. 

EXCLUSIVE: several Manly Sea Eagles players sensationally poised to boycott game over club’s pride jersey https://t.co/bNsLCugga7 via @dailytelegraph

— Dean Ritchie (@BulldogRitchie) July 25, 2022

Among the concerns for select players is uneasy questions that will arise within their culture or religion from wearing the jersey. Some players also claim they only learned of the strip on social media on Sunday night and were not previously consulted.

Ian Roberts, who became the first rugby league player to come out as gay while playing for Manly in 1995, said the player revolt 'breaks my heart.'

The former Kangeroo and Sea Eagles star told The Daily Telegraph, "It's sad and uncomfortable As an older gay man, this isn't unfamiliar. I did wonder whether there would be any religious pushback. That's why I think the NRL have never had a Pride round."

"I can promise you every young kid on the northern beaches who is dealing with their sexuality would have heard about this."

The jersey has proved popular among fans, selling out on the club's online store in all men's and women's sizes, with only junior versions of the strip available on Monday night.

4. Anglicare scrutinised in COVID-19 inquest.

A decision to treat COVID-positive patients at Newmarch House rather than in hospital will be a key focus in an inquest into a deadly outbreak that ripped through the Sydney aged care home.

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus spread through the Anglicare-run Newmarch in April and May 2020. In total, 37 out of 97 residents tested positive, with 19 dying over that period. A further 34 staff members also caught the disease.

In opening remarks to the inquest yesterday, counsel assisting Simon Buchen SC said the main focus would be the "Hospital in the Home" program in which sick residents were treated onsite rather than in nearby hospitals.

Buchen said Newmarch, in the western suburb of Kingswood, had problems with staffing, communication and management which negatively impacted residents.

At the height of the #COVID19 pandemic, aged care residents at #Sydney's Newmarch House were locked in.

Now, an inquest into the deaths of 19 people has heard details about their final days - including evidence they went without food and oxygen. @DamoNews #9News pic.twitter.com/VtICEF28eD

— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) July 25, 2022

While Anglicare had made preparations for what would occur at the 102-bed facility during a COVID-19 outbreak by early March 2020, this was inadequate, the Lidcombe Coroners Court heard.

"Those preparations were insufficient for an outbreak of the scale of the one that occurred at Newmarch House," Buchen said.

NSW Health's barrister Michael Fordham SC acknowledged the devastating impact the outbreak had on families and staff.

"The loss of 19 lives was tragic. The tragedy was made worse by the lack of effective communication. NSW Health is sorry for the distress caused and deeply sorry for the loss suffered by each and every family member and carer," he said.

The inquest continues today.

5. UK to host Eurovision on Ukraine's behalf.

The United Kingdom will host the Eurovision Song Contest next year on behalf of Ukraine, after it was decided the event could not be held in the war-torn country following the Russian invasion.

Ukraine will automatically qualify for the grand final alongside the so-called big five nations - the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, which each get a free pass because of their financial contributions to the event.

It will be the ninth time Eurovision has taken place in the UK, more than any other country.

The United Kingdom will host #Eurovision 2023! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

➡️ Everything you need to know here: https://t.co/qQVS3gierN pic.twitter.com/IpHCA2i4U6

— Eurovision Song Contest (@Eurovision) July 25, 2022

Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK would "put on a fantastic contest on behalf of our Ukrainian friends".

He said that in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week they "agreed that wherever Eurovision 2023 is held, it must celebrate the country and people of Ukraine".

You're across everything this morning. We'll be back to bring you more of the top stories throughout the day. 

- With AAP.

We've successfully shown our bosses that we can work from home efficiently since the pandemic forced many workplaces to pivot. 

While many say the work life balance they have achieved since moving to a work from home model has been a game changer, there may be other ways in which those who are working remotely, especially women, may be missing out on career progression.

The Quicky team speaks to an expert to find out how you can keep moving up at work without having to move back into the office.

READ: 

• What women were talking about on Monday

Feature Image: Getty.