TRANSCRIPT
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says fighting may continue hours before ceasefire takes effect.
- Thousands of New South Wales residents remain without power following storms.
- And in tennis, Iga Swiatek beats Emma Raducanu comfortably in the third round of the Australian Open.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel reserves the right to return to fighting in Gaza if needed.
Hours before a ceasefire deal is set to come into effect between Israel and Hamas, he says fighting may resume after the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire deal.
“I promise you we will meet all the goals of the war. We will bring everyone home. ... If we have to go back to fighting, we will do it in new ways and we will do it very powerfully. ... We reserve the right to return to fighting if needed with the backing of the United States.”
The first phase of the deal will see an initial six-week ceasefire as well as a partial Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of 33 Israeli hostages and over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The Israeli army says it has completed preparations to receive the hostages expected to be released today.
Meanwhile, Egypt is preparing to open the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s primary link to the outside world, for humanitarian aid to flow through.
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A search has resumed after a car swept away by floodwaters at Limpinwood, near the Queensland border, was found empty.
The vehicle was washed off a causeway around 9:30pm last night, with emergency services continuing the search on Sunday morning.
Heavy rain in northern New South Wales triggered several flood rescues, with two people trapped in a car, two others evacuated after becoming isolated, and ten cows rescued in Bulahdelah.
Storms have left 18,500 residents without power, including this woman from the Hunter region who tells Channel 7 she's quite frustrated.
"And all of a sudden, bang. No power, sparks. Very frustrated. I totally understand we're not going to have power overnight. I'm not after the power to go on straight away, I know even it's probably going to still be a week, but I really feel that they need to come out and make it safe that we can enter our properties."
The SES has received 8,300 calls over four days, mostly for fallen trees.
Warnings remain for multiple rivers, including minor flooding on the Bellinger River.
A natural disaster has been declared for Maitland, Port Stephens, and Snowy Valleys.
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At least 70 people were killed and many injured in northern Nigeria after a petrol tanker overturned and exploded.
The accident occurred in Niger state on Saturday, echoing a similar blast in Jigawa state last October that killed 147 people.
According to Kumar Tsukwam, the FRSC’s sector commander for Niger, most victims were impoverished locals who rushed to collect the petrol spilled from the overturned tanker, despite efforts to stop them.
Local resident Abdulaziz says large crowds had gathered to scoop fuel which had spilled on the ground when the tanker suddenly burst into flames.
Firefighters have since extinguished the blaze.
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A South Korean court has extended President Yoon Suk-yeol's detention by up to 20 days, citing concerns he might destroy evidence in a criminal probe into his brief declaration of martial law in December.
Mr Yoon, arrested on Wednesday, is the first sitting South Korean president to face allegations of insurrection.
After Mr Yoon refused questioning, investigators petitioned the Seoul court on Friday to extend his detention beyond the initial 48-hour limit.
The Seoul Western District Court approved the request,following the hearing that lasted nearly five hours.
Mr Yoon's lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, says his client gave testimony relating to the facts of the case.
"Yoon sincerely explained and answered questions on factual relationships, evidence and legal principles... We will quietly wait for the court to decide."
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Iga Swiatek has praised the Australian Open's new courtside coaching pod, despite not using it during her dominant third-round win at Melbourne Park.
The world Number Two extended her unbeaten record against Emma Raducanu, defeating the 2021 US Open champion 6-1, 6-0 on Rod Laver Arena to reach the last 16.
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam winner, has yet to lose a set this tournament and required no courtside advice during Saturday's match.
However, she backed the new system, saying:
"It's not that I needed that much coaching now, but for sure in the next matches, there will be moments when I need them."