A powerful winter storm, officially categorised as a bomb cyclone, has battered America's northeast from Maryland to Maine with up to 60 centimetres of snow and hurricane force winds. The blizzard, the strongest in a decade, has forced millions to stay home, knocked out power, closed schools and caused more than 8,000 flight cancellations and delays. New York officials say the storm could rank among the 10 worst in the past 150 years, with states of emergency declared across seven states and additional storms predicted to hit in the coming days.

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A 19-year-old driver allegedly crashed a silver Holden Commodore into a row of parked cars in Middle Park, Melbourne, damaging 10 vehicles in total. After the collision, the teenager attempted to flee the scene but was detained by local residents who performed a citizen's arrest, pinning him down until police arrived. The driver was taken to hospital for assessment, with police continuing their investigation and charges yet to be laid.

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Three masked arsonists set fire to Solace Studio barbershop in Adelaide using accelerant, completely destroying the business that had only been open for five months. Owner Jemal Ward, 20, returned to find his shop in ruins after the 2am attack, which police believe may be linked to another suspicious fire at Thorngate 45 minutes later. Despite the devastation, Ward resumed cutting hair at the front of the burnt-out premises the same day.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer supporting the removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the Royal Line of Succession following his arrest on suspicion of sharing confidential government documents with sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Australia is the first of 14 Commonwealth countries required to agree to such a change. The federal government has committed an additional $230 million to planning for high-speed rail between Newcastle and Sydney, with travel times expected to be reduced to one hour and the project creating nearly 100,000 jobs over five decades.

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Severe weather is forecast across Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing multiple alerts. Victorian areas including Bendigo, Melbourne, Shepparton and Traralgon are expected to experience intense rainfall of one millimetre per minute. Heavy rain and potential flooding are also predicted for inland South Australia, Queensland and the Upper Western District of New South Wales, with conditions intensifying throughout the afternoon.

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An 85-year-old grandfather, Chris Bagzarian, was mistakenly kidnapped and tortured by criminals who intended to abduct convicted armed robber Dimitri Stepinyans. A video showing Bagzarian bound and gagged was sent to Stepinyans with a $50 million ransom demand, prompting his lawyer to contact police when the victim was not recognised. The families live in close proximity, though the motive for targeting Stepinyans remains unclear.

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Reports indicate two-thirds of ISIS brides seeking to return to Australia from a Syrian camp will be resettled in Victoria. The Victorian government has not confirmed specific numbers, stating applications are assessed individually, while NSW Premier Chris Minns revealed approximately one-third of 11 brides and 23 children will return to New South Wales. State and federal governments are conducting meetings to determine reintegration strategies, particularly regarding medical care and education for the children.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing support for removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession to the British and Australian throne. The move follows revelations of an email trail showing Prince Andrew's relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Currently, Andrew remains in the line of succession despite being stripped of royal titles, and could become king if Prince William, Prince Harry and their children die or refuse the crown.

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A major winter storm is battering the northeastern United States, bringing blizzard conditions and nearly 60 centimetres of snowfall in some areas. The extreme weather has left hundreds of thousands without power, forced the cancellation of over 5,000 flights, and prompted New York authorities to ban non-essential travel. Shin-deep snow accumulation has created widespread travel chaos across the affected regions.

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A new Melbourne restaurant is offering fine dining for a fraction of the price. Every item on the menu is just $14, as more customers turn to budget-friendly options.

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