The flood crisis continues in Victoria; Antony Blinken meets Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv; And in sport, Australia one step closer to finding out who their new opening batsman will be.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The flood crisis continues in Victoria;
- Antony Blinken meets Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv;
- Australia one step closer to finding out who their new opening batsman will be
Major flood warnings in Victoria remain current for the Goulburn and Campaspe Rivers.
The Goulburn River is expected to peak at 10.5 metres late this morning in the town of Murchison.
While residents in the town of Rochester, on the Campaspe River, 180 kilometres north of Melbourne, have been told it is too late to leave, and to shelter at the highest available ground.
Floodwaters are expected to peak there at 6.2 metres.
Mick Fragiacomo owns a business in the main street of Rochester.
He says he's in a delicate situation.
"At the moment, I'm safe. If it peaks to where they say it's going to be peak, we'll still be safe. But, if it goes up over that level, we're going to be in trouble."
Freshwater supplies, cut off to protect infrastructure in the town, are expected to be restored today.
The Victorian flood emergency is expected to shift towards the towns of Maroopna and Shepparton today, before heading north to Echuca, on the border with New South Wales.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv to discuss the war in Gaza.
On his fourth trip to the Middle East since the latest round of the long-running Israel-Hamas conflict began in October, Mr Blinken has told Mr Netanyahu Israel still can still win acceptance from is Arab neighbours, but only if it creates a path to a viable Palestinian state.
The meeting comes as families of Israelis being held hostage by Hamas have tried to block aid trucks going into Gaza.
Shay Vankert, whose son is one of 130 Israelis still being held hostage in Gaza, says Palestinians in Gaza don't deserve humanitarian aid while Hamas is still holding hostages there.
"My son was kidnapped 95 days ago. He's a sick ,he has a colitis disease, and his stress situation is getting severe. I know he needs us to take him out. We are going to stop the trucks because it's supposed to be humanitarian for humanitarian, it can't be only one side. Take out the hostages."
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Northern Territory Police have arrested three men in Alice Springs in relation to the suspicious death of a 19-year-old.
The body of Yiel Deng Gatluak was found along a dirt road on New Year's Day.
Last night, a 21-year-old, a 20-year-old and a 17-year-old were taken into custody.
Police believe the victim was known to those arrested.
Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst says the investigation remains ongoing.
"So we're investigating a homicide so the death of a person. Charges will be laid in due course I cannot give you a definitive timeline."
NT Police say they're providing support to the deceased's family, based in Melbourne, who yesterday spoke with the NT Chief Minister in Alice Springs.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the federal government's efforts in housing - saying it's doing all it can to improve rental conditions.
It comes after data released yesterday suggests the average rental has increased in cost by 11.5 per cent compared to last year.
The PropTrack Market Insight report has found rental prices increased 1.8 per cent over the December quarter to a national average of $580 per week.
Mr Albanese says it's not a quick fix.
"There's no easy solution. You need to build supply. And that's why we're investing in public housing, again, opposed by the coalition. That's why we have the incentive that's there for private build to rent. That was included in our budget of last May. And that's why we'll continue to work with the private sector as well."
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In cricket, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft have reportedly been overlooked to replace David Warner in Australian men's Test match team.
The Australian newspaper is reporting Matthew Renshaw has been picked in the squad for next week's first Test match against the West Indies.
The squad will be officially announced today.
27-year-old Renshaw has played fourteen Test matches- eleven as an opening batsman, and his last three as a middle order batsman.
His selection gives the team flexibility, as, if picked in the playing eleven, Renshaw could play as either an opener or a middle order batsman.
Incumbent squad members Steve Smith and Cameron Green, both of whom have never opened the batting in Test cricket before, have also been proposed as replacements for the recently-retired Warner.
