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TRANSCRIPT:
- Three people shot dead in regional New South Wales with suspects still not apprehended
- Ukraine's leader calls out Europe for inaction after meeting with the US President
- Novak Djokovic defeats Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli in straight sets
Three people have been shot dead and another seriously injured, triggering a major police response to a small regional town in central west New South Wales.
Emergency services were called to the scene of a shooting in a vehicle in Lake Cargelligo about 4.20pm on Thursday.
First responders found the bodies of a man and a woman.
A short time later police were called to a second scene, where they found a man and a woman with gunshot wounds.
The woman died but the man was taken to hospital.
Western Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland says the gunman is still at large and he's advising local people to remain indoors for their own safety.
"A scene like this, any death in a small country town is confronting but again a scene where you have people shot by firearms is obviously going to make people very very tense and very concerned. The scene faced by the emergency services officers at that time would have been horrendous."
**
Australians observed a minute of silence last night during a National Day of Mourning for the victims of last month's Bondi terror attack.
Flags flew at half-mast and buildings and landmarks across the country were lit up, including the Sydney Opera House, the MCG in Melbourne, Story Bridge in Brisbane, Optus Stadium in Perth and Adelaide Town Hall
Rabbi Mendel Kastel, CEO of charity Jewish House, spoke at a commemorative service in Sydney and honoured his late brother-in-law, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was killed in the mass shooting.
He commended the community response of solidarity and support, and called upon all Australians to find hope in this dark time.
"If we go and we light the candles, we light the world, we light Australia, we bring back the values we hold so tight. And like Channukah, one light is not enough. Once we light one, we're gonna light another one and another one and continue to grow. So let's hope together we can light up this country and bring back the sense of mateship, the sense of friendship and care that we love so much about this country."
**
Sussan Ley's leadership of the Liberal Party is under pressure, after the Nationals leader David Littleproud announced his party is leaving the Coalition.
It is the second time the Liberals and Nationals have announced a split in the past eight months.
Mr Littleproud cited Ms Ley's refusal to reinstate three Nationals senators who broke shadow cabinet rules when they voted against the government's hate crime legislation earlier this week.
That action triggered the resignations of the remaining eight National Party members from the Opposition frontbench.
Mr Littleproud says the expedited timeframe to consider the bill meant normal joint partyroom processes could not be observed, but that there was clear communication about the concerns Nationals members had on the legislation.
Deputy Nationals Leader Kevin Hogan tells Sky News options were put forward to avoid this outcome, and Mr Littleproud has the overwhelming support of the Nationals' party room.
"Yesterday, myself and others were saying we need a pathway out of this. There were solutions put like if those three senators sign a public document that they would adhere to shadow cabinet solidarity. There are extenuating circumstances this week. That will be forgiven because of the unique situation this week. You don't have to then accept their resignations. We won't all have to resign and have this situation unfold."
**
Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has scolded European leaders for not doing more to help his country fight a war against Russia.
The remarks were made this morning at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and came after President Zelenskyy and Donald Trump met on the sidelines of the meeting.
Mr Zelenskyy announced the United States, Ukraine and Russia will meet in coming days.
"It will be the first trilateral meeting in (the) Emirates. It will be tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Yes, it will be two days meetings in (the) Emirates. I hope that (the) Emirates know about it. Yes, sometimes we have such surprises from American side. But, anyway they will go there and I hope and I think this is good if on the tactical level we will begin this trilateral meeting. I hope that we will find some, I don't know, Russians have to be ready for compromises."
**
In tennis, age-defying Novak Djokovic has moved within touching distance of becoming the first person to win 400 matches at major tennis tournaments, with a clinical straight-sets Australian Open victory over Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli.
In a grand slam career dating all the way back to 2005, Djokovic has never been beaten by a qualifier or anyone ranked outside the top 120 in the world.
The 24-time major champion was mostly in cruise control as he downed Maestrelli 6-3 6-2 6-2 in two hours and 15 minutes for his 399th major win.
The 38-year-old Serb is seeking to claim a record-extending 25th grand slam title at the Australian Open.
