Temperatures across Australia are soaring as Melbourne is expected to experience its hottest day of the year. The mercury is forecast to reach 38 degrees in the city. Northern parts of regional Victoria could soar to 43 degrees. Severe heatwave warnings are in place across much of New South Wales, which are expected to last until Tuesday. The temperature in Sydney will reach 32 degrees in the city and 39 degrees in the west.

The Prime Minister claims Peter Dutton's near billion-dollar infrastructure pledge ahead of the Dunkley by-election has derailed. Anthony Albanese has spent a full day campaign in the crucial Melbourne seat ahead of a parliamentary sitting week set to be dominated by his tax cut changes. Mr Albanese took aim at Mr Dutton’s Frankston train line pledge, labelling it a “trainwreck”. “The Victorian Opposition have failed to support it as well,” the Prime Minister said. “This is a commitment for rail that got stalled – it’s more a train wreck.”

Australia's oldest person Catherina van der Linden has died at the age of 111. In an interview to celebrate her last birthday, Ms van der Linden credited her longevity to an active lifestyle and finding contentment. She shared her title of the oldest Australian with the title of oldest Dutch person. Ms van der Linden was born in the Netherlands in 1912 and migrated to Australia in 1955. Her philosophies included keeping moving and staying content with what you have.

Fans of the television series 'The Crown' can now take home a piece of the show. London's auction house Bonhams is auctioning off props and costumes from the series. After six seasons of the show, there are plenty of items to choose from. One of the dresses up for auction is the show’s version of Princess Diana’s revenge dress. A miniature yet expansive and accurate display of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession, also seen in the show, is available.

Two tourists have run for their lives after a wildlife photo opportunity nearly turned fatal. The two men were lucky to escape a rampaging elephant in southern India. One stumbled and was almost trampled but managed to crawl off the road. Miraculously the elephant’s charging feet did not find their mark. It is understood the men had stopped in a national park to take photos with the elephant.

The UN has described the southern city of Rafah in Gaza as a 'pressure cooker of despair'. An escalation in hostilities in the Gazan city of Hahn Yunis is what's driving the displacement. Israel has announced Rafah will be its next target. It is estimated more than 1.4 million Gazans are currently sheltering in the city. Israel continues its military operations throughout Gaza as it looks to entirely annihilate Hamas following the terrorist attacks of October 7.

Reports indicate US retaliatory airstrikes have fatally struck multiple targets in Iraq and Syria with civilian deaths also stated. According to the Iraqi Prime Minister, the offensive has killed 16 people including civilians. The US retaliated after three of their soldiers were killed and many more wounded by a drone in Jordan. 125 missiles were deployed over one half-hour period. 85 targets were hit in seven different locations stretching across both Iraq and Syria.

Property values increased by 0.4 per cent across Australia in January, meaning a continuation of higher housing and renting costs. This monthly increase in home values is the 12th in a row. Rents were up 0.8 per cent – the highest monthly rise in the national rental index since last April. Economists believe further price hikes are unlikely to continue. REA Group Senior Economist Paul Ryan predicts the market may “run out of steam” due to affordability concerns.

Mould has been spreading in a major Brisbane hospital where patients are battling infections. A picture sent to The Courier Mail shows the mould growing on roof panels in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. The Australian Medical Association warns mould can exacerbate secondary infections. A Queensland health spokesperson says the mould is believed to have been caused by ongoing rain and humidity. Queensland Premier Steven Miles confirmed the mouldy panels will be replaced.

The Queensland Government has announced a plan to encourage housing development to help ease the demand for more homes. The $350 million Incentivising Infill Fund has been launched to accelerate the delivery of homes state-wide. The fund will be used to subsidise infrastructure charges for market-ready development in underutilised areas. It is hoped the move will create more affordable and social housing. Queensland Premier Steven Miles says the fund will “unlock” developments through the ground leasing of properties.

Five people have died in four days from workplace-related incidents. The deaths have prompted a safety reminder to be sent out to employers and businesses. A 28-year-old tradie was among the recent fatalities after he was electrocuted and fell from a roof in Sydney's south. SafeWork is reminding people of the need for proper training and up to date safety equipment. SafeWork stressed for care particularly in high-risk areas involving heights, electricity and heavy machinery.

Students across Queensland are going old school after the introduction of a statewide mobile phone ban in classrooms. A new study has found students are spending more time enjoying sports like volleyball and basketball. They are also taking up card and board games and spending less time engaged in cyber bullying. Queensland was the last state in Australia to implement the mobile phone ban in schools. The ban began as Queensland children made their way back to school for 2024.

A scuba diver has drowned at a popular Victorian swimming spot. The man was found unconscious in the water near Rye Pier just after 10am this morning. He was pulled onto the pier where other divers attempted CPR. The man, unfortunately, could not be revived. He is yet to be formally identified.

A vegan edition of the popular Connoisseur ice cream has been recalled over fears of a potential contamination. Manufacturers have ordered the plant-based Hazelnut Chocolate tubs to be pulled from shelves after a mix of coconut oil, thickeners, vegetable gums and emulsifiers were detected. Any consumers who have a milk allergy or intolerance were told not to consume the product in case of an “adverse reaction”. Customers who purchased the ice cream are eligible to return the product for a full refund. The ice cream is sold nationally in Woolworths, Coles, IGA, and convenience stores.

Wildfires have engulfed more than 480 hectares in the central coast of Chile. Fire brigades, police, air tankers and helicopters are in the area trying to contain the flames in the Valparaiso region. 10 people are feared dead from forest fires so far. Hundreds of residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes. Heatwaves have been gripping Chile in recent days leaving six regions of the South American country on extreme heat alerts.

It's been revealed a fight broke out during the rescue of Sydney shark attack victim Lauren O'Neill earlier this week, a scuba diver has drowned at a popular Victorian swimming spot, new research shows nearly half of all Aussies feel increasingly stressed by their grocery bills, Connoisseur have recalled a popular vegan ice cream from shelves over contamination fears, Tourism Australia has ranked the country's best beaches, Donald Trump's 2020 election subversion trial has been postponed, and Taylor Swift is set to bring $1.2 billion to the Victorian economy.  See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

A widespread air and sea search is underway after a boating accident off the New South Wales coast. Crews received an emergency call near Port Stephens around 9:30 this morning. One person is unaccounted for, who is believed to still be in the water. Witnesses say debris from a destroyed boat was washed up on rocks Two men and a woman have been rescued and are being treated by paramedics.

Greta Thunberg has been found not guilty of breaking the law at a climate protest in October last year. Ms Thunberg and four other co-defendants were arrested at the rally at the InterContinental Hotel in London. They were charged with a public order offence for blocking entry to the hotel. The judge dismissed the case. He cited a lack of evidence and unclear conditions imposed by police.

ASPI Senior Analyst Dr Malcolm Davis says it is “too early” to tell if the United States and Iran can avoid a “regional escalation” after the US launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed targets in Iraq and Syria. The US airstrikes were in response to the drone attack in Jordan, which killed three American soldiers. US President Joe Biden had previously warned of a ‘tiered response’ over time, so it is this airstrike is unlikely to be the last. The US Central Command says the military struck more than 85 targets, using more than 125 precision munitions. “The US has to carefully calibrate its continuing strikes against the IRGC and the militias in a way that degrades their capability to carry out further attacks against US forces,” Mr Davis told Sky News Australia. “But [they need to ensure it] doesn’t go over some sort of national red line with Tehran that would lead to an immediate Iranian retaliation – either directly or indirectly – through mining the Strait of Hormuz for example, I think it’s too early to say we can avoid that region escalation. “[Iran] could respond in the Red Sea with further attacks by the Houthis, or it could doing something in the Strait of Hormuz, but the Biden administration is very clearly desperate to avoid escalation of this war. “In one sense, that’s entirely understandable – no one wants a regional war – but at the same time, it does see the initiative to a degree to Tehran to see how far they can push the Biden administration and what the Biden administration’s red line is.”

ASPI Senior Analyst Dr Malcolm Davis believes the United States is “very keen to avoid escalation” after they retaliated to three American soldiers being killed in a drone attack as they “didn’t want to inflict heavy casualties” on Iran’s military. The US has launched retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed targets in Iraq and Syria in response to the drone attack in Jordan, which killed three American soldiers. US President Joe Biden had previously warned of a ‘tiered response’ over time, so this airstrike is unlikely to be the last. The US Central Command says the military struck more than 85 targets, using more than 125 precision munitions. “The Americans are very keen to avoid escalation here, so what they didn’t want to do was inflict heavy casualties on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp in particular – that would then force Iran to retaliate,” Dr Davis told Sky News Australia. “I still think the Iranians, through their proxies, will retaliate at some point – this is certainly not over, and the Biden administration is making clear that this is the first in a series of strikes. “We will remain focused on what happens in the coming hours, days and weeks ahead, but clearly, this is the response that everyone has been waiting for.”