Heavy rain and hail storms lashed Brisbane yesterday afternoon, blacking out nearly 18 thousand homes and causing flash flooding that has left vehicles stranded.

Greenbank in Brisbanes South had more than 70 millimetres of rain dumped on it in 30 minutes

The State Emergency Service had more than 80 call-outs to homes for roof damage and downed trees, but no injuries were reported.

Former Police officer, Matthew Paul Hockley,  who worked in a child protection unit has been found guilty of grooming a young girl.

Hockley had met the child during an investigation with the child protection unit.

It took a jury more than five hours to find Hockley guilty, Hockley will be sentenced next week

Victorian teenagers racked up over fifteen hundred covid-19 related fines and only ninety seven have been paid so far.

Victorian police issued One thousand six hundred and twenty six COVID-19-related fines to minors during the pandemic.

Victorian Attorney-General, Jaclyn Symes (Sims) said 273 of the fines issued to Victorians aged under 18 have been withdrawn or cancelled.

After a review into sexual harassment in South Australia’s Parliament released yesterday Deputy Labor Leader Susan Close and Greens Member in the Legislative Council Tammy Franks, say the findings were upsetting but not surprising.

The review was ordered last year, after Liberal MP Sam Duluk was outed for inappropriate behaviour. A survey conducted by the Equal Opportunity Commission found that a quarter of survey respondents reported they had experienced sexual harassment in the parliamentary workplace.

United States FBI Director, Christopher Wray (Ray) has labelled the january 6th capitol hill rioters as domestic terrorists.

The terrorist attack on the 6th led to 5 deaths and over 300 criminal charges, 18 members of the far-right group the proud boys have been charged.

The FBI have not arrested any suspects in the death of Capitol Police officer, or for pipe bombs that were discovered outside the headquarters of both the Republican and Democratic national committees.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the international community’s commitment of one point seven billion dollars to prevent famine in Yemen is “disappointing.” The money is less than the minimum of one point nine billion dollars the World Food Programme says it needs to stave off a famine that is predicted to be the worst in decades. This weekend was the deadliest in years in Yemen, with hundreds of fighters reportedly killed during the Iran-backed Houthi rebels’ offensive in the oil-rich Marib province.

The French Government has approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for people over 65 after revising its stance on the issue. French health minister Olivier Veran says older people with pre-existing conditions are now able to get the vaccine from GP’s, hospitals and pharmacies. Since more data on the vaccine has emerged, French health officials say the vaccine is safe and effective after French President Emmanuel Macron said the vaccine was quasi-ineffective in January.

The federal government says it is pledging four hundred and fifty two billion dollars for reforms in response to recommendations made in the final report of the royal commission into aged care. The final report made one hundred and forty eight recommendations following a three year inquiry into the aged care sector. The money is set to be used to improve oversight, subsidise higher-quality care and foster workforce growth.

Bouldering has recently hit West End with Urban Climb’s newest bouldering hall extension. The venue has given a statement that the gym has been “chokers” in recent times, hitting record days for the business over the weekend. Rated “best rock” in Brisbane in a review Urban Climb has rocketed in popularity and aims to continue to grow the new Brisbane bouldering community.