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A man believed to be cop killer Dezi Freeman has been shot dead by police in bushland in northeast Victoria following a three-hour standoff. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush confirmed officers made contact with Freeman at 5:30am, pleading with him to surrender peacefully before the fatal shooting occurred. Police are now investigating how Freeman evaded capture for six months since the August shooting of two police officers in Port Punkah, and whether anyone assisted him during that time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victoria Police fatally shot a man during Operation Summit in northeast Victoria, believed to be Desmond Freeman, the suspect in the shooting deaths of two police officers on 26 August. The operation concluded after a standoff where the armed man refused to surrender peacefully and was shot by members of the Special Operations Group. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush confirmed the shooting was justified and brought closure to the families of the slain officers, Neil Thompson and Vadim Devart Hothart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victoria Police fatally shot a man during Operation Summit in northeast Victoria, believed to be Desmond Freeman, the suspect in the shooting deaths of two police officers on 26 August. The operation concluded after a standoff where the armed man refused to surrender peacefully and was shot by members of the Special Operations Group. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush confirmed the shooting was justified and brought closure to the families of the slain officers, Neil Thompson and Vadim Devart Hothart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Desi Freeman, who had been on the run for six months following a police shooting incident, has been found and shot dead by police in the Poorpunk area, close to where the original incident occurred. A million-dollar reward had been offered for information leading to his capture. The resolution brings closure to the families of the officers killed in the initial shooting months earlier.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's freight industry is transitioning from diesel to electric trucks, with a major Canberra conference called Freight Forward addressing the shift. Electric trucks are now capable of long-distance hauls, demonstrated by a recent 460-kilometre zero-emissions delivery from Sydney to Canberra. The push comes as businesses warn of imminent price increases on groceries and other goods due to the fuel crisis, with three in four trucks capable of going electric if charging infrastructure and cost gaps are addressed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announces free public transport for one month starting tomorrow, costing the state government $71 million in foregone revenue. The measure aims to provide cost-of-living relief as fuel shortages affect 109 service stations across Victoria, with regular users expected to save over $220. State and federal governments are coordinating responses to fuel supply pressures, with Queensland and Tasmania implementing similar relief measures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia faces a fuel crisis driven by war in the Middle East, with National Cabinet meeting to decide on emergency measures including potential fuel purchase limits and work-from-home directives. Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers discusses the government's focus on securing fuel supply, improving distribution to regional areas, and cracking down on price gouging, while refusing to rule out a cut to the fuel excise. Panic buying continues despite government warnings, with service stations experiencing shortages as authorities attempt to keep the country moving without implementing harsh COVID-style restrictions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran has issued threats against potential American military operations on its soil as the Pentagon reportedly prepares for limited ground operations in the Middle East. The operations under consideration include targeted raids that could involve securing Karg Island, the Strait of Hormuz, or Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles. Economic impacts from the ongoing conflict, including rising fuel and fertiliser prices, are expected to persist even after hostilities end.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diplomatic talks are taking place in Pakistan as foreign ministers from Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia attempt to mediate an end to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran entering its second month. Iran has rejected the U.S.-proposed peace plan and accused Washington of planning a ground attack while publicly pursuing diplomacy. The conflict continues to escalate with 3,500 additional U.S. Marines deployed to the region and Israel announcing expansion of ground operations in Lebanon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rare once-in-a-century swell is battering Sydney's coastline, creating dangerous surf conditions. At least nine people required rescue yesterday, including a lifeguard whose jet ski was washed onto rocks. Ferry services have resumed and beaches are expected to reopen by this afternoon as conditions improve.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A driver deliberately crashed a vehicle into the front of a shop in Glenroy, north of Melbourne's CBD, before setting the car alight. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but the business sustained significant damage. Police are investigating the ram raid incident and no arrests have been made.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tens of thousands of Americans have participated in 'No Kings' protests across more than 3,000 rallies in major cities including Washington D.C., Los Angeles and Philadelphia, demonstrating against the Trump administration's policies. Protesters are voicing opposition to mass deportation agendas, handling of the war with Iran, and rising fuel prices amid cost of living pressures. The protests have attracted international support with crowds gathering in Italy and Germany, while the White House has labelled them 'Trump therapy derangement sessions'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victoria announces free public transport for the month of April as petrol prices approach $3 per litre and over 100 petrol stations across the state run out of fuel. The Victorian Premier is meeting with the Prime Minister and other state leaders to discuss a national response to the fuel crisis, which has also led to increased fuel hoarding and a 50% spike in fuel thefts in some areas. The free public transport initiative, covering trains, trams and buses from Tuesday, aims to ease pressure on fuel supply and reduce costs for struggling commuters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's taken almost a month, but the Prime Minister has today announced a plan to tackle the fuel crisis. The Federal Government will begin underwriting fuel and fertiliser imports, potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars, as it tries to soften supply risks brought on by the Iran war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supermarkets are under pressure to offer better value this Easter as Australians tighten their budgets. Cost of living pressures are forcing families to rethink what goes in the trolley, but some traditions remain strong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angus Taylor arguably has the hardest job in politics, leading a depleted opposition against a dominant Labor government and a resurgent One Nation. The new Liberal leader sat down with 7NEWS to discuss the fuel crisis, immigration and the budget, also opening up on a painful time in his younger years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of Australian sport's biggest names have joined forces to beat medication discrimination. Fighting injuries themselves, they're backing a campaign by the Legalised Cannabis Party to stamp out prescription drug stigma in the workplace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney's coastline has been smashed by wild conditions, huge dangerous swells rolling in, putting on a spectacular show and despite the warnings, surfers were out hunting the ultimate ride. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A quirky home that's been a wizard's castle for the last 40 years tonight has a new ruler. With some intense interest, the property at Logan, south of Brisbane, sold at auction today for a king's ransom. HandingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the world waits to see if Iran will agree to a U.S.-backed peace plan, Israel has vowed to escalate the war further. It attacked key nuclear and missile facilities in Tehran, but in an act of retaliation, American soldiers then came under fire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

American golf legend Tiger Woods has been freed from a Florida prison cell where he spent eight hours after crashing his car again while high on drugs. It happened not far from his mansion and while he wasn't hurt, the fallout from yet another scandal will be incredibly damaging. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Master Builders has revealed the questions you need to ask on Weekend Sunrise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Blackburn has warned we're yet to experience the full weight of the shortage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kyle Sandilands turned up the drama as he began an $85 million legal fight over his sacking after an on-air bust-up with co-host Jackie O. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney is getting smashed as we go to air tonight, and things are getting worse by the minute. Damaging winds are being felt from here all the way to the Victoria border, and dangerous surf is pounding the coast all the way north to Coffs Harbour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With fuel prices across Sydney still biting, drivers are looking for the smartest ways to make every tank go further. From how you drive to what you put in your car, a few simple changes can go a long way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The building industry is warning that we are on the cusp of another construction crisis, like the one seen during the COVID pandemic. The war is driving up material, logistics and transport costs, which is impacting new home builds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four adorable fluffballs are getting ready to meet their fans at Melbourne Zoo. Australia's only snow leopard cubs are growing in size and confidence proving to be a handful during health checks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 40th anniversary of the Russell Street bombing marks Melbourne's first terrorist attack, where a car bomb killed 21-year-old Constable Angela Taylor and injured 21 others outside police headquarters on 27 March 1986. The memorial service brought together two families connected by police tragedies, as the parents of Senior Constable Vadim de Waart, murdered in Porepunkah last year, consoled Angela Taylor's mother. The bombing, carried out by two men motivated by hatred of police, permanently changed policing in Victoria but did not break the force's resolve.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NRL legend Wendell Sailor has been cleared of assualt charges over a drunken rampage in 2024. A judge dismissed the case against him on mental health grounds, finding the football great was suffering depression at the time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Water levels on Sydney's North Shore have been stabilised after a major rupture at a West Ryde pumping station. But there were more water woes today when a fire hydrant burst, with questions now over Sydney's ageing pipes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An unsung Melbourne footy hero is on a marathon goal-kicking mission. He has just hit quarter time in a cold and windy 24-hour campaign for charity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health bosses have admitted they will never know the exact source of a deadly mould outbreak at one of Sydney's biggest hospitals. A 7NEWS investigation uncovered the deaths of two patients from Royal Prince Alfred's transplant ward, and today a new report exposed the extent of that cluster. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has again delayed striking Iran's energy infrastructure, insisting Tehran is begging to make a deal. He's extended the window for talks into next month as thousands more US troops are due to arrive in the Middle East tonight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson is facing fresh humiliation, losing a title she has held for nearly forty years. York City Council unanimously removing its highest honour, over her links to Jeffrey Epstein. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melbourne-born US television host Savannah Guthrie says she fears her mother was kidnapped because of her celebrity status. It has been almost two months since the 84-year-old vanished from her Arizona home, in a disappearance that has mystified investigators. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney faces a severe fuel crisis with 59 service stations empty, over 200 without diesel, and more than 300 with limited unleaded supplies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kyle Sandilands turned up the drama as he began an $85 million legal fight over his sacking after an on-air bust-up with co-host Jackie O. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra oil shipments are on their way to Geelong to help Victoria’s only refinery increase fuel production. Petrol stations interstate are introducing purchase limits to curb demand but the Premier is confident our supply will hold up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melbourne is shivering through a bitter winter blast that has sent temperatures plunging and triggered hundreds of emergency calls for help. Wild icy conditions forced dozens of flights to be cancelled, and dumped snow on the ski fields months ahead of schedule. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Birdsville Big Red Bash, an outback music festival on the edge of the Simpson Desert, has been cancelled due to flooding at the site. Organisers were unable to find an alternative location for the iconic event. The majority of this year's line-up have committed to perform at the 2027 festival, with ticket holders offered refunds, transfers to next year, or transfers to this year's Mundi Mundi Bash in Broken Hill.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than one in four children across Australia have stopped playing contact sports due to parental concerns about head injuries and concussion. The trend has extended beyond contact sports, with some parents now restricting their children's participation in non-contact activities and outdoor play. Experts warn this protective approach may be excessive and could negatively affect children's physical and mental wellbeing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian researchers tracked more than 11,000 women over 23 years and discovered that middle-aged women who engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week can halve their risk of early death. The long-term study found these active women were significantly less likely to pass away before reaching their mid-70s compared to those who remained inactive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 5 million Australians have used dating apps to find love, with 54% reporting long-term relationships from these platforms. However, Australians lost approximately $28 million to dating scams last year, with fraudsters using tactics like love bombing and fabricated emergencies to extract money from vulnerable users. Safety measures include keeping conversations on dating apps, reverse image searching profile photos, limiting personal information sharing, and never sending money or identity documents to online matches.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ASX 200 declined approximately two-thirds of 1% following a weak lead from Wall Street, where the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell almost 2.5% amid mixed headlines on US-Iran peace talks. Despite the daily losses, the Australian index remains on track for its first positive week since conflict began nearly a month ago, with the energy sector leading gains while mining, technology and communications sectors face pressure. The Australian dollar has suffered its worst week since April of last year, falling roughly 2% to sit around 68.8 US cents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A skeleton discovered beneath a Dutch church may be the remains of Charles de Batz-Castelmore, the real-life 17th-century French musketeer who inspired the fictional character D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers. The soldier was killed in battle in 1673, and scientists are planning DNA tests to confirm the identity of the remains found in the Netherlands.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife appeared in a New York court facing narco-terrorism charges. The judge refused to dismiss the case against the dictator, while protesters gathered outside the courthouse. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested additional charges may be filed, including claims about Venezuelan prisoners being released into the United States, though no evidence supports this assertion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The International Olympic Committee has banned transgender athletes from competing in women's events following a two-year review that identified clear advantages in strength, power and endurance. The decision takes immediate effect and has been welcomed by many top female athletes. The ruling establishes guidelines for Brisbane 2032, seeking to prevent controversies similar to those experienced in Paris.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Ferguson has been unanimously stripped of her Freedom of the City of York title, an honour bestowed upon her in 1987. York City Council voted to remove the title due to ongoing reputational damage caused by her association with the Jeffrey Epstein scandal through her former husband, Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew lost the same honour in 2022 after settling with his late accuser, Virginia Giuffre.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US television host Savannah Guthrie has revealed the agonising guilt she feels over her mother Nancy's abduction, fearing the 84-year-old was targeted because of her daughter's fame. Fifty-four days after her mother's disappearance, Guthrie believes it was a kidnap for ransom, with two Bitcoin demand notes sent to American news organisations. Despite a $1 million reward, police remain no closer to finding Nancy, and Guthrie is speaking out to prevent the trail from going cold.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.