TRANSCRIPT
- Emergency crews and volunteers work overnight following record downpours in New South Wales.
- WA Police launch a search for a man thought to have arrived in Australia on an "unknown vessel".
- Matildas vice-captain Ellie Carpenter on the team's ambitions for the Olympics.
Emergency crews and volunteers across Sydney and southern New South Wales have been working overnight to limit the damage from flooding following record-breaking downpours.
Moderate to major flooding will continue to affect several communities with river rises expected along the Hawkesbury River this morning (Sun Apr 7).
The river was expected to peak above the major flooding level at North Richmond, but still two metres below the peaks reached in major floods in 2021 and 2022.
Evacuation centres have been established either side of the river for displaced residents.
New South Wales State Emergency Services Superintendent Scott McLennan has told the ABC the work of 4,000 volunteers has been crucial.
"We do have crews available during the day, and we have crews available at night. Volunteers are awesome. They live, work and serve the communities that they are part of. And we do have resources from other areas throughout the state to make sure communities, no matter where they are across NSW, are all safe and protected."
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Police in Western Australia say a search has been launched for a man they believe may have been a passenger on what they're calling an "unknown vessel".
The vessel landed in a remote area of the Kimberley District on Friday (Apr 5).
WA Police say a land search operation is in its preliminary stages, and will involve navigation of challenging terrain in an extremely remote area.
The Australian Border Force says it does not confirm or comment on operational matters.
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The Israeli Defence Forces say they have found the body of one of the hostages held by Hamas during a military operation in Khan Younis.
The remains belong to 47-year-old Elad Katzir, who was abducted by Hamas during the October 7 raids on southern Israel.
A joint statement by the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency says his body was brought back to Israel after being identified by medical officials.
Relatives of the remaining hostages, including the Katzir family, gathered in Tel Aviv to call for the release of their loved ones.
This person says this tragedy could have been avoided if the two warring sides had brokered a deal in time.
"Elad Katzir managed to survive three months in captivity. He should have been with us today. He could have been with us today. And we demand the world to do anything to make this deal come true and bring them all back home."
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Victoria’s environmental regulator, the EPA, is urging anyone who spots suspicious material to contact them or their local council.
It comes after four parks in Melbourne were closed over asbestos-contaminated mulch.
A fifth location, Shore Reserve in Pascoe Vale South, was given the all-clear by the EPA.
The state opposition is calling for the creation of an asbestos taskforce.
Local mother Alexandra Damasoliotis says it has been frustrating for her and her children to hear more parks have been contaminated, after the EPA said the first park was an isolated incident.
"And they're really disappointed because they're young, they still get enjoyment out of places like this. And so we're probably just going to have go somewhere else - out of our municipality. But then I almost not sure what other parks in other municipalities are affected. So it looks it's going to be indoor play centre for the rest of the school holidays...Can someone just talks to us please? Tell us what's going on. Which parks are affected - and why this happened in the first place?"
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In football, ahead of a friendly match against Mexico in Texas next week - vice-captain Ellie Carpenter says the Matildas are using their World Cup disappointment as inspiration for the Olympics.
Australia has fallen just short of a podium finish in its last 3 major competitions - including the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Carpenter says this time the Matildas will do everything to return from Paris with something to show for their efforts.
"We're focusing on what's next. And we've come fourth at the last two major world tournaments. I think we have that in the back of our minds. And we want to do everything we can not to let that repeat itself. And I think it is very important to get everyone on the same page. And once that clicks, I think that has nearly clicked - come mid-July we will hit the ground running. So I'm really thinking forward with this team come Olympics. And I think we can really do something special."
Australia is currently in camp in Florida, in the United States, ahead of Wednesday's encounter.
