Chinese hackers came within minutes of shutting down a series of power stations capable of lighting three million homes in a sneak cyber attack of a sort experts warn are becoming increasingly common – and which could be used to limit Australia’s ability to respond to a military crisis in the future.

Fully vaccinated Queenslanders who come into close contact with Covid cases could soon have to isolate only for seven days.

A 12-year-old boy is fighting for life while four other youths are in hospital after a high-speed joy ride ended in tragedy on the Gold Coast.

And any hidden fees and charges when paying at a checkout with a digital wallet on a mobile or buy now pay later apps will be revealed under the biggest reforms to how Australians pay for goods in more than 20 years.

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