Hillary Clinton testified before a congressional committee in a closed-door hearing about her alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, stating she never met him, flew on his plane, or visited his properties. The former Secretary of State characterised the six-hour deposition as a fishing expedition to distract from President Trump's actions, while Democrats questioned why documents detailing allegations against Trump were excluded from the publicly released Epstein files. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify next, marking the first time in living memory that a former president has been called before a congressional committee.

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Magda Szubanski has completed chemotherapy for stage four blood cancer and is now in remission. The Australian actress and comedian shared the news on social media, expressing gratitude for the support from her followers. While not a cure, the successful remission is expected to keep the cancer at bay for an extended period.

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Commonwealth Bank has reported itself to police over $1 billion worth of possible mortgage fraud, marking what could be the largest fraud case against an Australian bank. Cybersecurity experts suggest criminals are using data from previous breaches like Optus, Medibank and Latitude, combined with artificial intelligence tools, to create fraudulent documents including payslips and bank notices for loan applications. The case follows NAB's $150 million fraud incident last year, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities in lending processes and the need for enhanced verification procedures in the banking sector.

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A 16-year-old boy has been refused bail after being charged with kidnapping a 53-year-old tobacconist owner from Mount Pritchard on behalf of a crime gang. The victim was allegedly assaulted with baseball bats, golf clubs and electrical cords while being held at a rural property in Dural, with ransom demands sent to his family. Police are still searching for four other offenders captured on security video carrying out the abduction in balaclavas.

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Virgin Australia has posted a $279 million profit, marking a 21% increase, while its Velocity loyalty program gained 700,000 new members. The airline celebrated with its annual Mardi Gras Pride flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to Sydney, featuring 'Disco Rodeo' themed services with onboard DJs and drag performers.

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Remains found by a volunteer in a Tasmanian national park have been identified as likely belonging to Celine Cremer, a 31-year-old Belgian tourist who went missing during a hiking trip in 2023. Police confirmed the identification this morning, with Cremer's sister describing the news as an immense relief for the family.

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Brunton Avenue beside the MCG in Melbourne is being renamed Barassi Way in honour of AFL legend Ron Barassi, who won 10 VFL premierships. The road name change was announced by Premier Jacinta Allan and accepted by Barassi's family, including his two sons, grandson and great-grandson. The renaming will be completed in time for the first AFL match at the MCG, coinciding with what would have been Barassi's 90th birthday, following his death in September 2023.

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Four masked intruders broke into SES facilities in Aberfeldie, stealing $40,000 worth of life-saving equipment including power tools, harnesses and radios. The thieves struck around 1am on Wednesday, with two returning shortly after for a second theft. The stolen equipment belongs to SES volunteers who provide emergency services to the community.

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Police have seized $1 million worth of cocaine in coordinated raids across Melbourne's Bayside suburbs, targeting homes, gyms, a storage facility and a factory. Officers confiscated a fake gun, $175,000 in cash and a kilogram of acid used in illicit drug manufacturing. Two men have been arrested and charged with drug trafficking, facing up to 25 years imprisonment.

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A sinkhole opened in a CBD street outside St Mary's Cathedral, causing a Coles truck to fall into the pit. The incident was likely caused by a burst water pipe, resulting in local water supply being shut off, traffic diversions, and St Mary's Cathedral College students being sent home while crews worked to fix the issue.

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