For two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, Svetlana Mishuk was unable to cope with talk of it.

Most people wanted to discuss the shocking, world-altering event, but it could not be raised around Svetlana without her becoming overcome by emotion.

"I couldn't handle it," she said.

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The school teacher, who emigrated to Melbourne from Ukraine 23 years ago, has been grief-stricken by the turmoil occurring in her home country and its effects on her friends there.

Her daughter, Elizabeth Mishuk, who emigrated from Ukraine with her, had to take a week off work to process the tragedy unfolding and grapple with feeling "absolutely helpless" about it.

"When you're on the other side of the world and can't do anything about it, you just have to sit and watch the horror unfold," Elizabeth said.

"It's heartbreaking."

The Mishuk family was planning to return to Ukraine this year or next.

"It's not looking like that might be possible now," Elizabeth said.

"There might not be much to get back to."

Svetlana is watching the place where she grew up and spent some of the best years of her life be destroyed.

READ MORE: Why Russia is struggling against Ukraine

"To imagine how hard it is, just imagine seeing Flinders Street Station being bombed, and St Paul's Cathedral," she said.

"That's how it feels."

Elizabeth believes one of her family friends has been killed in bombings in a town near Mariupol.

His apartment building was hit, and they haven't heard of him making contact with anyone since, but they have no way of knowing for sure – a concept that she is struggling to grasp.

"That's going in a box and that will be processed at a later time," she said.

"You just can't process that along with everything else."

Every time Svetlana contacts one of her dozens of friends in Ukraine, she braces to not get a response and be left wondering what has happened to them.

"It's just terrifying," she said.

"Last time and I talked to one of my girlfriends, she said that there was bombing six times a night.

"So that's six times people have to get up and go and hide."

Everyone Svetlana knows in Ukraine has chosen to stay, rather than flee to neighbouring countries.

"There's no place to go. That's their home. Why should they leave?"

They are helping with humanitarian aid, doing things like cleaning up debris and collecting warm clothes for the people in hiding in the cold temperatures.

"The people in the tunnels hiding from bombs are freezing," Elizabeth said.

One of Svetlana's friends is taking care of the pets of people who fled Ukraine without them.

Australians rally to support Ukrainians

Both women have received incredible support from Melburnians since the attack on Ukraine began.

"The support that I've received from Australian people is just fantastic," Elizabeth said.

"The Australian culture is just so heart-warming and so human."

Svetlana agreed Melbourne was very multicultural and "absolutely lovely".

The school community where she works has been "very, very supportive".

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One colleagues told people not to ask her about the invasion, while other have brought her cards and gifts, and many have sent her messages.

"Just to show me that they are with me," she said.

"I'm really grateful."

The day after war broke out, she was touched when one of her former students, who is Russian, contacted her to say he and his family were sorry for what was happening to Ukraine, and they were not supporting Vladimir Putin's actions.

Calls for Australians to keep Ukraine front-of-mind

However, as the turmoil in Ukraine passes the three-week mark, Svetlana called on Australians not to forget what is occurring there.

"It seems like people have already lost interest after 21 days," she said.

"And it is people's lives we're talking about."

Svetlana said Australians need to keep protesting to get the the Federal Government to offer further help to Ukraine.

"It's already way too many lives lost."

Elizabeth has been using social media to raise awareness for the conflict in Ukraine.

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A 13-year-old boy was driving the pickup truck that struck a van in West Texas in a fiery collision that killed nine people, including six members of a college golf team and their coach, a National Transportation Safety Board official said today.

The child and a man travelling in the truck also died.

The truck's left front tyre, which was a spare tyre, also blew out before impact, said NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg.

READ MORE: Good news from Mariupol theatre shelter bombed by Russian 'monster'

Although it was unclear how fast the two vehicles were traveling, "this was clearly a high-speed collision," Mr Landsberg said.

One must be 14 in Texas to start taking classroom courses for a learner's licence and 15 to receive that provisional licence to drive with an instructor or licensed adult in the vehicle.

Department of Public Safety Sergeant Victor Taylor said a 13-year-old driving would be breaking the law.

The pickup truck crossed into the opposite lane on a darkened, two-lane highway before colliding head-on with a van, killing the boy, a man travelling with him, six New Mexico college students and a golf coach.

The University of the Southwest students, including one from Portugal and one from Mexico, and the coach were returning from a golf tournament when the vehicles collided Tuesday night.

Two Canadian students were hospitalised in critical condition.

The NTSB sent an investigative team to the crash site in Texas' Andrews County, about 50 kilometres east of the New Mexico state line.

While the area is rural, its roads can often be busy with traffic related to agriculture and oil and gas development.

University of the Southwest spokeswoman Maria Duarte declined to comment on the NTSB's announcement about the young driver, citing the ongoing investigation.

The golf teams were traveling in a 2017 Ford Transit van that was towing a box trailer when it collided with the truck, and both vehicles burst into flames, according to NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss.

He said the vehicles crashed on a two-lane asphalt highway where the speed limit is 75m/h (120km/h), though investigators have not yet determined how fast either vehicle was travelling.

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The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the deceased as: Golf coach Tyler James, 26, of Hobbs, New Mexico; and players Mauricio Sanchez, 19, of Mexico; Travis Garcia, 19, of Pleasanton, Texas; Jackson Zinn, 22, of Westminster, Colorado; Karisa Raines, 21, of Fort Stockton, Texas; Laci Stone, 18, of Nocona, Texas; and Tiago Sousa, 18, of Portugal.

Also killed were Henrich Siemens, 38, of Seminole County, Texas, and the unidentified 13-year-old boy who were in the 2007 Dodge 2500 pickup.

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https://twitter.com/USW_HobbsNM/status/1504090901135695874

Critically injured aboard the van were Canadian students Dayton Price, 19, of Mississauga, Ontario, and Hayden Underhill, 20, of Amherstview, Ontario.

Both were taken by helicopter to the University Medical Centre in Lubbock, about 180km to the north-east.

"They are both stable and recovering and every day making more and more progress," University of the Southwest Provost Ryan Tipton said of the two injured students.

"One of the students is eating chicken soup," said Mr Tipton, calling their recovery "a game of inches."

Mr Tipton said University President Quint Thurman visited the students' parents at the hospital, illustrating the close community at the college with only about 350 on-campus students.

Mr Underhill's brother Drew said their parents, Ken and Wendy, flew to Texas.

"Hockey was a big part of life for a while, but his true passion is golf," Drew Underhill said.

The Mexican Federation of Golf posted an online note of condolence to the loved ones of Mauricio Sanchez.

Mr Sousa was from Portugal's southern coast, where he graduated from high school last summer before heading to college in the US, said Renata Afonso, head of the Escola Secundária de Loulé.

"Any school would be delighted to have had him as a student," she said.

Ms Stone's mother wrote of her loss on Facebook on Wednesday, calling the teen "an absolute ray of sunshine during this short time on earth."

Team member Jasmin Collum had been scheduled to play but at the last minute decided instead to visit her parents in Houston, her mother said.

"We knew all those people on board," Tonya Collum said.

"Basically the whole team is gone or in the hospital."

The University of the Southwest is a private, Christian college located in Hobbs, New Mexico, near the state line with Texas.

A memorial was set up Wednesday at the course near campus where the team practices.

There were flowers, golf balls and a handmade sign with a cross and the initials USW.

"It's the very least we could to for the players, and of course Coach James," said Rockwind Community Links Manager Ben Kirkes.

The university said on Twitter that counselling and religious services would be available on campus.

The teams had been taking part in a golf tournament at Midland College, about 505 kilometres west of Dallas.

Midland College cancelled Wednesday's play because of the crash.

Labor Senator Penny Wong says she "regrets" any pain that reports surrounding her interactions with late colleague Kimberly Kitching have caused but has rejected claims of bullying.

Senator Wong, along with fellow Labor Senators Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher, released a statement today following ongoing reports of a culture of bullying within the Labor Party.

Senator Kitching, who died from a suspected heart attack aged 52 last week, had reportedly told senior Labor figures she had been bullied, while ex-MP Emma Husar has said she suffered similar treatment.

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The trio of Senators said they had not responded so far to the accusations out of respect for Senator Kitching's family.

"Given the hurtful statements that continue to be made we feel it necessary to respond," the statement read.

"The allegations of bullying are untrue. Other assertions which have been made are similarly inaccurate."

The three said politics could involve "robust" contests and "difficult" interactions.

"All of its participants at times act or speak in ways that can impact on others negatively," the statement read.

"We have and do reflect on this, as individuals and as leaders."

The statement said Senator Wong had apologised to Senator Kitching for her behaviour in an "exchange" more than two years ago and that Senator Wong "understood that apology was accepted".

"The comments that have been reported do not reflect Senator Wong's views, as those who know her would understand, and she deeply regrets pain these reports have caused," the statement read.

"All three of us will be attending Senator Kitching's funeral.

"This follows engagement with Senator Kitching's family about our attendance.

"We will do so to recognise and respect her contribution to public life."

Senior figures push back on reports

Labor deputy leader Richard Marles remained tight-lipped after being quizzed on live TV about whether Senator Kitching had come to him with a complaint about bullying within the party.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese had previously denied claims Senator Kitching was targeted by a "mean girls" culture within the party.

But former MP Ms Husar has accused Mr Albanese of "gaslighting", News Corp has reported, and claimed she was a victim of the same culture in the party.

Ms Husar doubled down on her allegations on Today, accusing Labor of being focused on campaigning rather than "taking action" on claims of bullying within the party.

"I would suggest that the Labor Party are doing what they've always done, which is pretend nothing's gone wrong and then next week it will be business as usual," she said.

Ms Husar, who left Parliament in 2019 after a Labor investigation found she had behaved offensively toward her staff, said she had been unaware of Senator Kitching's bullying claims, but that she had faced similar treatment from "quite a number" of senior women in the party.

"I am absolutely not at all shocked that in the wake of her death that these revelations are being levelled at the Labor Party and the women within it," she said.

"There is definitely a culture of bullying within the Labor Party."

Ms Husar claimed she had made multiple complaints to party officials and leaders, but no action had been taken.

Mr Marles this morning refused to comment on whether Senator Kitching had come to him with a bullying complaint.

"It is impossible to walk down this path now without finding yourself in a situation where we are doing something other than celebrating and dignifying Kimberley Kitching's life," he told Today.

He said he rejected allegations of bullying levelled against Labor figures such as Senators Wong and Keneally.

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Mr Marles also said he was unable to discuss the "specifics" of Ms Husar's allegations.

"Not for a moment do I think that we are perfect, I don't, and I don't think for a moment that issues around culture are limited to one side of politics, and I've made that really clear in a range of comments that have been made about this broad topic over the last year or more," he said.

Wayne Swan, National President of the Labor Party, said Senator Kitching took her concerns to Mr Marles, but he was unaware if there had been an "official" complaint.

"I don't believe we've got a systemic problem with bullying at all," Mr Swan told Today.

"It is not surprising when you have principled, articulate and passionate people in your party, that from time to time they have differences of opinion. 

"We take the issue very seriously and if there are issues they should go through the party processes which are world-leading and comprehensive."

Mr Swan said an investigation into the allegations had been launched.

Disgruntled workers of UK ferry operator P&O Ferries have shared the video in which a company executive announced the sacking of 800 workers over Zoom.

The un-named executive – who is not the CEO of P&O Ferries – apologises for his "stilted style" but said a scripted video was needed to ensure that all employees received the same information at the same time.

Citing losses of 100 million pounds ($178 million) annually, the ferries boss said all workers would be replaced by a third-party crew.

READ MORE: UK ferry operator fires 800 crew over Zoom

"The company has made the decision that its vessels going forward will be primarily crewed by a third-party crew provider," he says.

"Therefore I am sorry to inform you that this means your employment is terminated with immediate effect on the grounds of redundancy.

"Your final day of employment is today."

The announcement prompted onboard demonstrations among workers, some of whom were reported to have locked themselves onboard vessels in protest.

Others reported seeing bus loads of agency workers arrive at the docks to take the positions of the sacked workers.

READ MORE: Why Russia is struggling against Ukraine

While P&O Ferries carries more than 10 million passengers and millions of tonnes of freight between the UK and Europe each year, it is owned by Dubai-based logistics group DP World.

In a statement released to the public, P&O Ferries said it was doing this to provide "better service to customers" and warned of short-term delays.

"P&O Ferries have today announced a programme of work to become a more competitive and efficient operator, providing a better service to our customers across the tourism and freight industries," a statement on the operator's website reads.

"While we enact these changes, there will be significant disruption across P&O Ferries services over the next few days, however we are working to minimise the impact on your journey."

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Rustom Tata, an employer lawyer and chairman of law firm DMH Stallard, said that it looked like P&O Ferries was trying to avoid renegotiating pay with its workers and replace them with agency staff.

"For those staff who have been, or are about to be dismissed, they will certainly have claims for unfair dismissal," Tata said.

"One has to question the extent to which the integrity of the P&O brand will be impacted not only by the fact of redundancies, but also by the apparently wholly planned approach being taken to such a large proportion of its workforce ignoring some of the basic fundamentals of employee relations."

Additional reporting by CNN

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