Hamas says it is examining a proposal that United States President Donald Trump calls a 'final' ceasefire proposal for Gaza.
President Trump says Israel has agreed to the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire but Hamas says the agreement must ensure an end to war and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Hamas must be totally disarmed and removed from the strip before Israel will halt its aggression.
A source close to Hamas says its leaders were expected to debate the proposal and seek clarifications from mediators before giving an official response.
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Millions of residents along Australia's east coast have battled through wild weather as extreme winds and heavy rain caused major power outages and flooding.
Gale-force gusts and heavy rain toppled trees, damaged properties and closed roads from southern New South Wales to the mid-north coast, including across parts of Sydney.
The state's south coast was worst hit on Wednesday (2nd July), including in Burrill Lake, where about 200 properties were flooded after 200 millimetres of rain the previous night.
Premier Chris Minns has thanked the emergency workers who worked through the storm, as well as those assisting with ongoing clean-up efforts.
"The last thing anyone wanted to do was be out in that storm. Can I say there were thousands of people who were out in that weather to keep us safe, to make sure that we could get to work this morning."
As the worst of the storm passes for New South Wales, Victorian residents near the East Gippsland rivers are now on alert for possible minor to moderate flooding.
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The jury in the trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs has found Combs guilty of prostitution-related offences.
He was cleared of more serious charges, which disappointed prosecutors who had urged a jury to find him guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
The former billionaire was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking.
After the judge dismissed the jury and lawyers for both sides, Combs faced the gallery and said "I'm gonna be home soon."
Douglas Wigdor is the attorney for Cassie Ventura, a former girlfriend of Combs who testified in court.
"Reaction is that we're, we're pleased that he's finally been held responsible for two federal crimes, something he's never faced in his life. He still faces substantial jail time. Of course we would have liked to have seen a conviction on the sex crimes and RICO (racketeering) but we understand that beyond reasonable doubt is a high standard."
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Current processes around working with children checks are among policies under review, as state and federal governments fast-track childcare sector reforms after the arrest of a childcare worker charged with 70 alleged child sex assault-related offences.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare says he wants the government to have the power to strip funding from childcare centres not meeting safety standards, and the Victorian state government has ordered an urgent safety review that will look at making CCTV mandatory in childcare centres.
Extra safety measures have also been announced which include the fast-tracking of a federal ban on mobile phones in childcare centres, which Premier Jacinta Allan says is one of the reforms they're bringing forward.
Attorney General Michelle Rowland says reforms will also look at the current process for working with children checks, after Victoria Police revealed the man accused of the offences had a valid check.
"Even last week, prior to the education minister's meeting, I have been engaging with my colleague minister Jason Clare to ensure that we have some harmonisation of this scheme at a national level. It's one that has been called for, for a long time and it's one that we are deeply committed to ensuring happens for the safety of children."
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To skateboarding now...
Teenage Olympic champion skateboarder Arisa Trew has made history by winning more gold medals in the X Games summer disciplines than any other woman.
The 15-year-old Australian beamed a wide smile as she was mobbed by fellow competitors after winning the vert best trick competition for her eighth X Games gold medal in Salt Lake City.
The moment recalled her performance at the Paris Games last summer, where she became Australia's youngest Olympic champion by reaching the top of the park skateboarding podium.
Looking ahead, Trew, who grew up on the Gold Coast in Queensland and spends time training in the United States, is set to defend her Olympic title at the L-A Games in 2028 at age 18 and plans to compete again in Brisbane four years later.
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