Key Points
- Dozens of vessels in aid flotilla still bound for Gaza after Israeli interception
- New lead abandoned in hunt for fugitive suspected police killer
- Tamika Upton and James Tedesco win at Dally Ms
TRANSCRIPT
25 ships from the Global Sumud Flotilla are still sailing towards the Gaza, coast despite Israel earlier seizing at least 20 ships and detaining hundreds of people, according to an online tracker.
The flotilla of roughly 500 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists is aiming to break Israel's naval blockade, and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
Israel has accused the group of links to Hamas, without providing evidence, and declared it block the flotilla, which last reported itself to be within 44 nautical miles of the coast.
Judy Paterson's son Hamish is skippering one of the flotilla ships that an online tracker shows has not yet been intercepted.
"He can't bear to see the Palestinian children suffering as they have been starving, bombed, injured and he thinks of his own daughters, if and if that was happening to his daughters, he would hope there'd be other people in the world who would come to their aid, come and help them - so that's his driving motivation. "
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A man caught up in the hunt for alleged police killer Dezi Freeman, has been cleared of any links to the fugitive, after police descended on a rural property.
Freeman is wanted over the deaths of officers Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who were shot dead on August 26 while serving a warrant at his home in Porepunkah, 300km northeast of Melbourne.
There has been no sign of Freeman since, despite hundreds of police scouring the area, and on Wednesday, attention turned to a new area about 100km away from his last known location.
Police searched a rural property at in Goomalibee near Benalla and a man was intercepted at Undera near Shepparton as part of the probe, but police have since confirmed the unidentified man was not involved.
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New South Wales homicide squad is trying to find a rap musician who's wanted as part of an investigation into the shooting death of a man in inner Sydney last November.
Police say 31-year-old Nidal Acherkouk was on his way to dinner at a Surry Hills restaurant when he was ambushed by two shooters who covered their faces.
It was on his return to the car that Mr Acherkouk was ambushed by two shooters who covered their faces. One was also wearing a poncho to conceal his appearance.
In September, detectives applied for a warrant to arrest 31-year-old Harley Johan, also known by his rap name ‘YC EWZY’.
Detective Acting Superintendent Matthew Russell says Mr Johan is currently believed to be overseas.
"Well, as part of our investigations we looked into his whereabouts and established that he did leave in January and we are working with overseas agencies now to confirm his whereabouts."
Detectives have also released CCTV of a man, hoping the public can help to identify him.
The man in the CCTV is described as being of medium build, wearing a black Nike hooded jacket, blue track pants and white/blue Nike runners.
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Papua New Guinea has officially signed off on a security treaty with Australia, , after a weeks-long delay.
Named after the local word for crocodile, the PukPuk treaty is set to be formally sealed within the week.
It includes a mutual defence pact that commits either nation to helping the other in the event of an armed attack, and allows citizens of both countries to serve in either defense force.
The pact was set to be signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his counterpart, James Marape, during the celebrations to mark PNG's 50 years of independence in Port Moresby last month.
However, it fell apart at the last moment when it failed to obtain the approval of the PNG government's cabinet, as ministers were away in their electorates during celebrations.
Mr Marape is expected to be in Australia for Sunday's Rugby League grand final.
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To sport and in Rugby League, last night, Tamika Upton has become the first NRLW player to win the Dally M medal twice.
Brisbane Broncos fullback Upton praised her parents at the ceremony, saying she'd have never imagined rising so high in professional rugby league.
James Tedesco also won the award for a second time, becoming one of several male players to secure more than one Dally M medal.
Tedesco, a fullback for the Roosters, said he was grateful for the opportunity to lead the team.
"These young boys that we have this year, I know that not many people gave us a hope this year. They are unbelievable. These guys are just getting their careers started and they made my job easy. All I had to do is instil confidence and belief."
The NRL grand final will be played on the weekend, with the Melbourne Storm lining up against the Brisbane Broncos.
