From the Daily ohs, I'm Billy, I'm Zara. It's Wednesday, the eighteenth of December. Here's what's making headlines this evening.
The Federal government has unveiled its mid financial year budget update, forecasting a twenty six point nine billion dollar deficit for the current financial year. This is slightly smaller than the deficit predicted by the government back in May. Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katie Gallagher claimed the deficit this year was quote almost half the forty seven point one billion dollar deficit we inherited for this year from our predecessors.
There they are referring to the former coalition government. The update highlights cost of living pressures is a key issue likely to dominate the twenty twenty five election. Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said in a press conference this afternoon that this is the biggest spending government we have seen outside of wartime or crisis. His quote goes on to say there is absolutely no pathway in this update to a restoration of Australian standards of living.
Alan Jones has been served with an additional eight charges of assault while in court today. These new charges come in addition to the twenty six offenses that police charged the eighty three year old with in November. It relates to several alleged indecent assaults and sexual touching incidents over nearly two decades. The retired broadcaster spoke outside court today confirming he will plead not guilty to all thirty four assault charges, which he said are all either baseless or
they distort the truth. These new alleged offenses relate to a tenth victim.
A senior Russian military figure has been assassinated in Moscow. Lieutenant General Igor Kirilov and his assistant were killed when a bomb exploded near an apartment building on Tuesday. That's according to a Kremlin spokesperson. Kirilov was the head of Russia's nuclear defense Forces. Prior to his death, Ukraine had accused the fifty four year old of war crimes involving
the use of banned chemical weapons. Ukrainian media and other global news outlets have reported the attack was carried out by Ukraine's secret service.
And Today's Good News, The BBC and Disney have announced they will create a blue feature film, Bluey, which first aired on the ABC in Australia follows the life of a lovable blue healer dog as she goes on adventures with her family in Brisbane. Available in over one hundred and forty countries, Blue is twenty twenty four's most watched series globally on Disney Plus. Speaking of the new film, Blue creator Joe Brums said, I've always thought Blue deserved
a theatrical movie. I want this to be an experiential event for the whole family to enjoy together. It will land in cinemas in twenty twenty seven.
Will be eagerly awaiting that Blue drop. But until then, we'll be back with another deep dive tomorrow morning. Have a great evening and chat to you then.
My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda Banjelung Calcoton woman from Gadighl Country. The Daily oz acknowledges that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and torrest Rate island and nations. We pay our respects to the first peoples of these countries, both past and present.