TRANSCRIPT
- Extreme heat continues across southeast Australia
- Point Cook residents shocked by discovery of woman's body in Victoria
- North Queensland snatch top spot on the N-R-L ladder after defeating the Dolphins.
Extreme heat is forecast to continue across Australia's southeast for several days, as Tasmania recorded its hottest night in 112 years on Saturday.
Record temperatures on Sunday across South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales caused the cancellation of long weekend events, including the Pitch music and arts festival in Victoria.
A total fire ban was enacted in five Victorian districts on Saturday, with extreme fire conditions forecast downgraded on Sunday.
Chief Fire Officer at Vic Fire Emergency Services, Chris Hardman, tells Sky News all Victorians should be prepared.
"Victorians have lived with fire for generations, they know fire. So if you know you're in a fire-prone area, have access to the Vic Emergency App, have more than one source of information, and make good decisions as the situation changes. As I said, we don't know where fires will start, and if they start in areas close to you, you need to know what to do, where to go, and how to act at that time. So stay informed and know what's happening in your area."
The Bureau of Meteorology says temperatures should ease when a southerly change hits Melbourne and southern Victoria on Tuesday.
But the state’s north and parts of South Australia will continue to swelter until Thursday when a “blocking” high-pressure system moves away.
**
Police say two crime scenes have been established in the investigation into the death of a woman whose body was found dumped inside a wheelie bin in Victoria's south-west on Saturday.
Investigators say a second crime scene has been established at a residential address in Point Cook.
The body, which is believed to be Shwetha Madhagani, was discovered in the town of Buckley, almost 90 kilometres away from her home in Point Cook.
Police are yet to release details about any suspects but investigators say they believe the alleged offender may have "fled overseas".
Neighbours of Ms Madhagani say the news was very unexpected.
"NEIGHBOUR 1: "Very shocking, I saw them like a few times outside their house, they are just playing with their son. Like, a friendly couple yeah, a family.. it's very very shocking." NEIGHBOUR 2: "We are completely shocked, we knew [these] people, very simple, quiet, we just can't imagine this could happen here, in this neighbourhood. It's just completely out of surprise for us."
**
Queensland Premier Steven Miles says the state's high-visibility policing operation is working in a statement marking one year since the operation launched.
The operation was launched to target youth crime in Queensland and has led to over 11,000 arrests in the past 12 months.
Concerns however have been raised about the alarming proportion of Indigenous young people being incarcerated in Queensland, which has the highest rates of youth incarceration of any state in Australia.
Data from September found 73 per cent of the 461 young people classified as serious repeat offenders in Queensland are Indigenous.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer initiated the construction of a new 80-bed youth detention centre in late February.
**
The Palestinian Civil Defence group says all 10 members of a family living in Tal Al-Hawa, west of Gaza City, have been killed in an aerial attack by Israel.
The group published a video on Sunday showing rescue teams pulling lifeless bodies from the rubble and wrapping them in blankets.
Newsagency Reuters was not able to independently verify the location or the date when the video was filmed.
United States President Joe Biden has expressed his disappointment at the loss of civilian lives and says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu must do more to protect civilians.
“He (referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) has a right to defend Israel, a right to continue to pursue Hamas. But he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken. In my view, he's hurting Israel more than helping Israel by making the rest of the world – it's contrary to what Israel stands for. And I think it's a big mistake, so I want to see a ceasefire."
Palestinians are preparing for Ramadan amid heightened security measures by Israeli police.
The conflict and the possibility of widespread famine in Gaza are overshadowing the normally festive Muslim holy month, as talks to secure a ceasefire have stalled.
**
Officials in Saudi Arabia saw the crescent moon on Sunday night, marking the the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan for many of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims.
The beginning of Ramadan is based on sighting the new moon.
Many Sunni-dominated nations in the Middle East follow the lead of Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest site Mecca.
It makes Monday the first day of the fast.
However some countries in the Asia-Pacific, including Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia, will begin Ramadan on Tuesday.
**
To the N-R-L now, North Queensland have taken top spot on the N-R-L ladder after defeating the Dolphins in a 43-18 win.
The Cowboys scored five first half tries to lead 31-12 at the break in a display of speed and skill, delivering exactly what coach Todd Payten had called for after the team missed out on last year's finals.
The Dolphins suffered an injury blow when second-rower Connelly Lemuelu left the field just before halftime with a knee injury.
The new Cowboys centre Zac Laybutt was outstanding; the Papua New Guinea international sliced through defence, scoring in the second minute.
