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- Three people arrested over separate hate-related incidents in Sydney...
- United States envoys urge Israel to enter second phase of ceasefire...
- Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner set to dominate at Australian Open.
New South Wales Police say three men have been arrested over separate hate-related incidents in Sydney in the lead-up to Australia Day.
In the most serious case, a 70-year-old man was charged after a letter containing threats of kidnapping and murder was sent to a mosque in Lakemba.
Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden provided this update today,
“As a result of the great work from detectives from Campsie, but also from the Security Investigations Unit at a state and federal level, a search warrant was executed at a Belmore address last night. A range of items associated with the letter were seized, and a 70-year-old male was arrested, charged with a number of offences, and refused bail.”
Police say they remain on high alert and are urging the public to report threats or harassment.
Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty has been named Australia’s next ambassador to the United States, replacing former prime minister Kevin Rudd when he steps down at the end of March.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the appointment this morning on ABC's Insiders, praising Mr Moriarty as an outstanding public servant with strong U-S connections, saying his experience puts him in a strong position to manage key priorities, including AUKUS.
"He has served both Labour and Coalition governments, and he's been Secretary of the Department of Defence. And of course, the AUKUS relationship is central to our relationship with the United States, and he's in a very strong position to be on top of all of that detail, and I've been impressed by the dignified way in which he handles himself, by his connections in the United States as well."
Police have narrowed their search for an alleged triple killer in regional New South Wales, after a possible overnight sighting of 37-year-old Julian Ingram.
Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland says new information from the public has led tactical police to the Mount Hope district, where officers are now searching multiple properties.
“Information from members of the public has been forthcoming overnight. Now a possible sighting of the offender in the Mount Hope district. Tactical police are in that location now carrying out searches of multiple properties in the area. Obviously, with an armed offender in that area, we are asking for members of the public to exercise extreme caution. There is no lockdown of that area, but people need to be careful about their movements and obviously report any unusual activity.”
The search entered a third day after Ingram was accused of killing three people and seriously injuring another in the state’s Central West.
US envoys have met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pressing his government to move into the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.
Mr Netanyahu held talks with Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Middle East adviser Jared Kushner, with US officials saying discussions focused on recovering the remains of the last hostage and next steps towards demilitarising Gaza.
Washington is keen to keep the Trump-brokered deal on track, but Mr Netanyahu faces pressure at home to wait until Hamas returns the hostage’s remains.
A key sign of progress would be reopening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
Gaza officials say it could reopen this week, though Israel has yet to confirm.
Singer Kasey Chambers and ex-husband Shane Nicholson have won song of the year and single of the year at the 2026 Country Music Awards of Australia.
The decorated country music collaborators and former lovers had not written a song together since they separated in 2013 but collaborated on a ballad called The Divorce Song
Country-rock duo The Wolfe Brothers swept the 2025 awards, winning five Golden Guitars including for album of the year.
A leading tennis analyst says most Australian Open challengers are still falling well short of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, warning rivals risk becoming little more than second-week obstacles unless they lift their preparation.
Former Djokovic strategist Craig O’Shannessy says too many players fail to properly analyse the world number one Alcaraz and defending champion Sinner, who have shared the past eight major titles.
He believes the pair will keep dominating until their competitors start seriously studying even the smallest weaknesses, saying it’s the only way the chasing pack can close a gap that has grown wider as the top two continue to raise their level.
