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TRANSCRIPT:
- Fresh police search for Dezi Freeman at Mount Buffalo National Park
- Rafah crossing reopens for first time in two years, as Israeli strikes kill 32
- Carlos Alcaraz defeats Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open
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A major police search has been launched to find fugitive Dezi Freeman - or his remains - almost two months after investigators ended a major five-day effort to recover his body.
Freeman has been on the run since 26 August last year after allegedly shooting dead police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart as they served a warrant at his home in the small Victorian town of Porepunkah in late August.
More than 400 police were deployed in the days after the killings, however, they failed to uncover any trace of the 56-year-old.
Freeman was last seen fleeing into dense bushland in the alpine region shortly after the shooting.
Today, police will begin a fresh five-day search of Mount Buffalo National Park, including remote sites in the region, located about 300km northeast of Melbourne.
People in the area have been advised to remain vigilant and not approach the fugitive, who is considered armed and dangerous.
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As politicians return to Canberra for a new sitting week, all eyes are on the Liberal Party as speculations over whether a potential leadership spill may be held.
West Australian MP Andrew Hastie has announced he won't contest the leadership, while shadow defence minister Angus Taylor has yet to confirm if he would challenge Sussan Ley.
Senator Jonathon Duniam, who was seen attending a meeting held by Mr Hastie last week, has also ruled out challenging Ms Ley's leadership.
"What I did [is] to support one of my closest friends in life Andrew Hastie, I have done that now. I come here to get on the job of holding this government to account when they let Australians down."
Nationals leader David Littleproud, who is expecting to be contested by Colin Boyce on Monday, says he doesn't mind who leads the Liberals.
"We've said consistently that we are happy to work with whoever the liberal leader is, so long as the three (senators) were reinstated. We did nothing wrong."
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The Victorian government's 15-billion-dollar Metro Tunnel has introduced over 1,200 new weekly services to Victorians.
The tunnel was announced in 2015 and opened last November for trial.
Besides the increased numbers of existing services, the tunnel will also bring back the Frankston Line into the city loop.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan says the tunnel will bring great benefits to Victorians.
"And what does this mean? Well the reasons why we invested, the reason why for the best part of decade, thousands of workers brought their skills and commitment and dedication to build the metro tunnel is because of what it means to Victorians. And as of this week, the new timetable will bring on 1,200 new weekly services, because the metro tunnel creates that space."
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There have been protests in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth over the weekend by pro-Palestinian activists demanding the government cancel a visit to Australia by Israeli president Isaac Herzog.
Mr Herzog was invited by the federal government and a Jewish community group to come to Sydney in the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack.
He is set to arrive in Australia on February 8.
During his five-day trip, he will meet with survivors of the Bondi attack, senior Australian politicians and Jewish community leaders.
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Israel has reopened the Rafah border in a limited capacity between Gaza and Egypt for the first time in two years.
This comes as 32 Palestinians were killed in multiple Israeli strikes in the enclave.
In a statement, the Israeli government agency that co-ordinates civilian policy in Gaza, COGAT, says the crossing was actively being prepared for fuller operation.
COGAT says residents of Gaza would begin to pass through the crossing once preparations were complete.
The agency had earlier said the return of residents from Egypt to the Gaza Strip will be permitted, in coordination with Egypt, for residents who left Gaza during the course of the war only.
According to the head of the new Palestinian administrative committee governing Gaza's daily affairs, travel in both directions will start today.
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Fresh off another milestone, Carlos Alcaraz says his motivation is only growing as he targets every major honour the sport has to offer.
The 22-year-old became the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam after defeating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final handing Djokovic his first loss in a Melbourne Park championship match.
Alcaraz says the victory was deeply meaningful and the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition, revealing he had poured everything into chasing the trophy after an emotionally turbulent pre-season.
His 2–6 6–2 6–3 7–5 win secured a seventh major title for the world No.1, adding to his previous triumphs at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
