Richard Mallers will be the first minister to visit Kiribati in nearly two years. American AP Association Report.

The deputy prime minister and defense minister will travel to Kiribati for high-level talks with the country's re-elected government, which has closed the country's borders ahead of national elections in 2024.

Mars to meet with Vice President Store all Discuss economic and strategic priorities between the two countries, including maritime security. minister of foreign affairs, Huang YingxianHe was the last Australian minister to visit Kiribati in February 2023.

Mallers will also open the new Australian High Commission offices in the capital, Tarawa, and attend the commissioning ceremony of the Guardian-class patrol boat RKS Tobwaan Mainiku.

The new vessel, due to be delivered in 2024, is the second vessel to be commissioned by Kiribati, enhancing the island nation's ability to protect and patrol its vast exclusive economic zone.

Good morning

Emily Wind

Happy Friday. Emily Wind Here it is, signing off on blogging duties this Friday – thanks Martin To get things started. I'll be with you most of the day and we'll have rolling coverage.

As always, you can reach out with any tips or feedback via email: emily.wind@theguardian.com. let's go.

Two men die after fight in Melbourne

Victoria Police homicide detectives are investigating the deaths of two men in Melbourne's southeastern suburbs last night.

Emergency services were called to a property in Clyde North shortly after 9.30pm following reports of a fight, police said in a statement.

Two men were found with wounds consistent with stab wounds and both died at the scene. The two men have not been formally identified.

Police said the third man left the address before they arrived and they were searching for him and speaking to others who were present.

Those involved are believed to know each other.

The latest news on Sydney train disruptions

As we wait to find out if all is well today after two days of train chaos, here are our latest news reports Jordyn Beazley.

Australian Gazans await ceasefire

Mustafa Lakhwani has been talking to Gazans seeking refuge from the war in Australia.

Despite more than a year of bombardment, ceasefire could bring changes to Gaza, Karam Alakruk Still concerned about:

We have very mixed feelings about this agreement because we had a lot of bad experiences with previous ceasefires, and violence increased before the agreement came into effect.

Before it officially begins, these few days will be very heavy on our souls - every moment will be counted as a year. We just want to sleep through these days and wake up to find an official ceasefire.

Read Mustafa’s full story here:

Ben Doherty

Man charged with threatening to kill

A Sydney man faces possible jail time after being accused of making death threats against members of a Jewish organization.

The Australian Federal Police on Thursday charged the 44-year-old man with one count of using a horse-drawn carriage service to threaten to kill and one count of using a horse-drawn carriage service to threaten, harass or offend a person.

If convicted, these offenses carry a maximum penalty of 10 years and 5 years in prison respectively. The man has been bailed and is scheduled to appear at Downing Center Local Court on February 26.

AFP special forces Avalite executed a search warrant at the man's home in Blacktown on Thursday, seizing electronic equipment and documents.

Prosecutors will accuse the man of posting death threats on the Jewish association's social media page.

AFP Assistant Commandant, Counterterrorism and Special Investigations Command Stephen Nutt Said the charges are the first brought by Special Operations Avalite since its formation in December:

Special Operation Avalite was established to target highly harmful, repeat offenders of anti-Semitism. Many individuals are under investigation and the community should expect further charges.

It is abhorrent that individuals are targeted and threatened because of their race or religion.

Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I am Martin Farrell with the hottest stories of the night and then it will Emily Wind Take you through the day.

Sydney commuters should have an easier journey this morning after the Fair Work Commission issued an interim order suspending more than 300 work bans imposed by rail workers that have crippled the rail network.

Australia's "cruel" treatment of asylum seekers and youth crime has worsened, a global human rights advocacy group has warned, urging voters to resist leaders politicizing the issue for profit. Human Rights Watch's latest world report, released overnight, slams Australia's backsliding on children in the criminal justice system in 2024, citing the Northern Territory's decision to reintroduce spit hoods for juvenile detainees and Queensland's continued use of detention centers to detain children. .

Although the peace deal between Israel and Hamas has not yet been ratified Benjamin Netanyahu's The government hopes the deal will eventually be reached. Gazans in exile in Australia said the prospect of a ceasefire gave them hope of returning to their loved ones but also "began to endure unimaginable pain". A Sydney man has been charged after allegedly making death threats against members of a Jewish organization. More related content coming soon.