NSW police say charges include child rape and relate to 23 alleged victims aged between one and five at a Sydney childcare centre

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

One of Australia’s most notorious paedophiles is facing hundreds more child abuse charges, including for the alleged rape of children as young as one.

Days after being extradited from Queensland to New South Wales, Ashley Paul Griffith was hit with 202 charges dating from between 2014 and 2017, with police labelling the allegations “deeply disturbing”.

Trial hears accused told police he wasn’t ‘avoiding them’ in three-minute call before he turned himself in after allegedly murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

A police officer accused of a double murder told police he was not avoiding them despite vanishing for days after the incident, a Sydney court has heard.

The court heard police attempted to contact Beau Lamarre-Condon after the alleged murders, with a colleague messaging him on Instagram: “Hey hun … can you please contact the crime manager at eastern suburbs asap when you get a chance?”

NSW government imposes water restrictions after Menindee water volumes fall below 2021 levels

• Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here

Water levels at the Menindee Lakes in western New South Wales have fallen to their lowest point in five years, prompting the state government to impose upstream water use restrictions as experts warn of potential mass fish deaths over summer.

Combined volume at the Menindee Lakes fell below 480 gigalitres earlier this month, the first time since 2021.

Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 78 offences after allegedly committing a terrorist act. The case has been adjourned until February

• Follow our Australian politics live blog for latest updates

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

The criminal case against Naveed Akram for his alleged role in the Bondi terror attack faces more delays after an “unprecedented” investigation by the joint counter-terrorism team.

The matter will not return to court until 24 February after it was adjourned on Wednesday before Sydney’s Downing Centre local court. Prosecutors expect to be ready to certify the charges against Akram, who is yet to enter a plea, by that date.