South East Queensland faces another day of severe thunderstorm activity after destructive weather brought record-breaking hailstones, damaging winds and widespread power outages. The largest hailstone ever recorded in the region fell during yesterday's storms, while thousands on Bribie Island remain without electricity. Meanwhile, Greater Sydney operates under a total fire ban with extreme fire danger conditions, despite experiencing destructive flash storms that killed a 76-year-old man and disrupted transport networks across New South Wales.

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Joondalup City Councillor Nides Jones attempted to claim a beer purchased at Adelaide strip club Crazy Horse Review as a ratepayer-funded travel expense. Jones claimed he unknowingly entered the venue while looking for a bar near his hotel during a conference trip, quickly leaving after realising the nature of the establishment. The council has rejected the expense claim and ordered Jones to complete ethics training and submit a written reflection within 30 days.

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A Batik Air flight bound for Bali was forced to return to Melbourne after experiencing engine failure during takeoff. The aircraft circled for an hour to burn off fuel before making a safe emergency landing, with passengers reporting the plane remained unusually low during the incident. Engineers are investigating the cause while passengers have been rebooked on alternative flights.

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A suspected firebombing occurred on Stevens Street in Yarraville, west of Melbourne's CBD, at 2:30am when someone deliberately set two cars alight in a front yard, causing the fire to spread to a double-storey weatherboard house. A young family of four, including two adults and two children, safely evacuated and were checked by paramedics before staying with family and friends. Police detectives are investigating the incident as a deliberate arson attack.

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The Trump administration has instructed its embassy in Canberra to gather data on migrant crime in Australia. The U.S. Department of State claims mass migration undermines the stability of American allies and is seeking information on human rights implications and public safety impacts of mass migration.

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Four additional suspects have been arrested in connection with the $157 million Louvre heist, including two men aged 38 and 49 and two women aged 31 and 30, all from Paris. French authorities believe this group includes the final alleged member of the four-person gang that physically broke into the museum and stole priceless jewels. The stolen jewels remain unrecovered.

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics has announced significant changes to the 2026 national census, scheduled for Tuesday, August 11. New questions will include sex recorded at birth, current gender identity, sexual orientation, and transportation methods including bike and e-bike usage for commuting. Australians will also be able to list up to four cultural heritages, with the first results to be released in June 2027.

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New South Wales is experiencing its most dangerous bushfire conditions in years, with catastrophic fire risk declared for the lower central west plains near Forbes, Dubbo and Parkes. Sydney faces extreme fire conditions with temperatures reaching 37 degrees in the west, while strong winds threaten to intensify existing fires.

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One Nation leader Pauline Hanson wore a burka into the Senate chamber while attempting to pass legislation banning face coverings, causing the Senate to suspend for one and a half hours. The stunt drew widespread condemnation from senators across all parties including the Greens, Labour, Coalition and crossbench, who voted to suspend Hanson. This identical protest tactic was previously used by Hanson in 2017.

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Reggae legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Cliff has died at the age of 81 following a battle with pneumonia. He was renowned for iconic songs including 'Many Rivers to Cross' and his cover of 'I Can See Clearly Now', which was featured in the film Cool Runnings.

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