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In this bulletin;
- Legal challenge targets extra police powers for the Israeli president's visit to Australia
- The Christchurch Mosque gunman's appeal hearing is set to begin
- Gout Gout will skip this year's Commonwealth Games to focus on the world under-20s
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Protest organisers are headed to the New South Wales Supreme Court today ahead of a contentious visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
The Palestine Action Group have argued police powers to restrict demonstrations during the visit are excessive and unlawful, with organiser Josh Lees saying the group would still rally at Town Hall before marching to state parliament.
A United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which does not speak on behalf of the UN as a whole, last year found that Israeli leaders, including Mr Herzog, had "incited the commission of genocide" in Gaza.
Those are allegations Israel has categorically rejected while separately defending a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
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Nationals leader David Littleproud has defended the actions of three senators who voted against the government's hate-speech laws which led to the Coalition's three-week split.
The Nationals and Liberals have announced their reunification which will see them operate under a new framework which prevents either from overriding a decision of shadow cabinet.
David Littleproud says the defections came under significant time pressure.
"To have literally a matter of hours to determine whether it's appropriate for the Australian people. I come to this place, the National party comes to this place with a good conscious of making sure that when we walk into than chamber, we have scrutinised the bill."
Sussan Ley says the Liberals and Nationals are focused on what they have in common.
"We have a record of delivering strong and stable government. So, our plan is to fix the budget, to address the cost of living crisis, to bring down personal income tax rates."
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An appeal hearing is set to begin today for the Australian white supremacist who killed 51 Muslim worshippers in a Christchurch mosque in March 2019 - the country's worst mass shooting.
The 35-year-old man was convicted of 51 murders, attempted murders and committing a terrorist act, and is serving life in prison without parole.
He is seeking to have his guilty pleas set aside, arguing he was incapable of making rational decisions at the time, and is asking for a trial or, if that is refused, leave to appeal his sentence.
He will address the court from a special unit within New Zealand's highest-security prison in Auckland.
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Around 180 Palestinians have left the Gaza Strip since the limited reopening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt a week ago, according to officials in the territory.
The key lifeline for Palestinians in the besieged enclave was reopened on February 2nd under a US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The reopening was a requirement of the ceasefire's first phase, aimed at ending the October 2023 war.
Aid and fuel trucks bound for Gaza have also been seen heading toward Egypt's Rafah border crossing.
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Early vote counting shows Japan's incumbent government, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has secured an absolute majority in Japan's lower house.
Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, alone has secured 271 seats of 465 in the more powerful of Japan's two-chamber parliament.
The huge boost in votes from the pre-election share in the more powerful lower house, would allow Takaichi to make progress on a right-wing agenda that aims to boost Japan’s economy and military capabilities.
The leader has been nurturing ties with the United States as tensions grow with Japan and China - but young office worker Waka Kimura says the results don't seem to reflect what young Japanese people want.
"I find it somewhat a bit disappointing. It seems the opinions of younger people are not being reflected very much, or rather, that there is a visible lack of effort among young people themselves to try to have their views reflected. I find that a bit unfortunate."
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Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout will skip this year's Glasgow Commonwealth Games, choosing instead to focus on the world under-20 championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The 18-year-old and his team say the back-to-back schedule makes it unwise to contest both events so early in his career.
Gout hopes to emulate Usain Bolt, who launched his rise with 200m gold at the world juniors in 2002.
His absence is a blow for Australia's Glasgow campaign, but officials say they respect his decision as he builds toward Brisbane 2032.
