The warship Vendémiaire was lurking off the coast of the North Island.

The report details how the controversial NYE fireworks display spiralled out of control.

The students were robbed by a gun-wielding trio in rural Auckland last month.

China's sprawling capital Beijing has been blanketed with floating sand and dust this week. The highest warning possible for a sandstorm has been issued across the city.

A popular pub in Queensland's south has introduced a controversial new dress code, claiming "no effort no entry" for punters.

The Beach House Hotel in the popular coastal city Hervey Bay posted on Facebook the new long list of outfits that will see pub-goers left on the street.

The venue said after 8pm it doesn't allow workwear of "any kind" including steel-capped boots, dirty stained or otherwise poorly maintained clothing, singlets or tank tops, thongs or slides, tracksuits and fleeced hoodies, hats and no lingerie as outerwear.

READ MORE: Tropical Cyclone Isla downgraded to Category 3 but warnings remain

"If you are already on the premises for the purposes of enjoying a meal in the restaurant or gaming in our gaming lounge, you will be permitted to remain in those locations only," the venue said to people already dressed in one of these items.

"Entry will not be granted to other areas of the hotel."

But not everyone was impressed by the long list of banned clothing items with some social media commenters calling for the venue to "relax".

"Bit late for April fools don't you think?" one person said.

"I was planning on coming down on my birthday with probably well over 20 people dressed up. It will be 100 per cent all effort but these rules may mean we go elsewhere," another said.

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A murdered Queensland teenager's killer has failed in his bid to reduce his jail sentence. 

Jack Beasley was aged 17 when he died after being stabbed in the back and chest in December 2019 when a fight broke out between his group and five other teens at Surfers Paradise.

Jack's father Brett Beasley raised his arms and shouted in triumph as he exited Brisbane Court of Appeal accompanied by family members and police on Friday morning.

READ MORE: Tropical Cyclone Isla downgraded to Category 3 but warnings remain

"That was quick. It was a no-brainer wasn't it," Brett said.

"He got what he deserved, as far as we are concerned. He got it squashed. I'm a bit speechless.

"As far as I'm concerned the 10 years wasn't enough in the beginning anyway. He's where he belongs, he's where any murderer belongs – in jail."

The family had to listen to details of the murder again during the devestating appeal.

One boy, who was 15 at the time, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder and two counts of committing malicious acts.

He must serve 70 per cent of the sentence – or seven years.

READ MORE: NSW Ambulance paramedic stabbed outside Sydney McDonald's

Today, the teen applied to appeal to reduce his sentence to serve less than seven years.

His barrister Andrew Hoare sought to reduce the teen's sentence to five years, which could have seen him released by his 21st birthday.

Hoare told the court the trial judge was incorrect in finding no special circumstances to reduce his client's sentence.

He argued the teen – who surrendered to police after CCTV was released – had "an absent criminal history and there was no evidence he was resistant to rehabilitation".

The prosecution stated in sentencing, the coroner "was clear not to lose sight of the serious nature of the offences".

READ MORE: Sydney mum shares entire conversation with alleged scammer

A panel of three judges refused the application for leave to appeal within minutes.

Jack's parents are now focusing on Jack's Law – new legislation that gives police power to search for weapons in nightlife precincts and on public transport. 

The laws passed parliament a few weeks ago and came into effect on what would have been Jack's birthday.

"We couldn't save Jack's life but hopefully we can save some others," mother Belinda said.

"There are lots of kids out there that have lost their lives to knife crime so if we play our little part, and it's in Jack's name, that's a real honour to him."

Over the Easter weekend, police said nearly 600 people were searched in Queensland's nightlife precincts, resulting in six knife seizures.

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Sports betting company Betr has been slugged with a record fine for breaching state regulations during its launch last year.

Betr ran ads offering odds of 100-to-one and 20-to-one on major sporting events like the Melbourne Cup, NRL and AFL when it launched in October 2022.

The promotions, which ran in newspapers, online and on radio and TV, were found to be "significant breaches" of New South Wales law by the state regulator.

READ MORE: Jarryd Hayne jailed ahead of sentencing for raping woman

"These advertisements breached NSW laws prohibiting the advertisement of any offer of an inducement to participate in a gambling activity, including an inducement to open a betting account or bet more frequently," Liquor and Gaming NSW said in a statement on Friday.

Betr was handed fines for 14 infringements, which add up to $210,000 – the largest ever fine for offering inducements in NSW.

The company elected to pay the fine rather than take the matter to court. It had earlier stopped the ads when it had been contacted by Liquor and Gaming NSW.

"This company tried to attract a new customer base and establish a significant market share with promotions that we consider crossed the line, using inducements that had the potential to cause harm to the community," the executive director of regulatory operations and enforcement at Liquor and Gaming NSW, Jane Lin, said.

READ MORE: Paramedic dies after being stabbed outside Sydney McDonald's

"In many cases, such promotions can only be legally offered to betting account holders who, unlike the general public, have made a conscious decision to open an account and receive this information.

"Wagering operators can legally advertise their products in a variety of ways but they can't advertise or promote inducements such as offers of enhanced odds or bonus bets to entice people to open a betting account."

The penalty handed to Betr comes as another wagering company, SportChamps, was convicted of posting illegal gambling ads online.

It was fined $40,000 and ordered to pay $14,000 in costs in Downing Centre Local Court last month.

It was the third time SportChamps had been prosecuted.

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Tropical Cyclone Ilsa was the most damaging weather event in Western Australia in more than a decade.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been named as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

The yearly list highlights the achievements of artists, leaders, innovators and other significant figures from around the world.

Albanese was included as one of the most influential leaders in the world, as he draws near to marking one year in office.

READ MORE: Sydney mum shares entire conversation with alleged scammer

Albanese's inclusion on the list was accompanied by an introduction from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who called his Australian Counterpart "a symbol of hope and inspiration."

Trudeau gave credit to Albanese's origins, highlighting the fact he grew up in public housing in Sydney's Inner-West.

Praising Albanese's ascent to political leadership, Trudeau said: "The idea that no matter who you are or where you come from, you should have every chance to succeed in life."

"Few politicians embody that journey as Anthony Albanese does."

Albanese drew credit for his proposal to recognise Australia's indigenous people in the Voice to Parliament referendum.

Fellow commonwealth leader, and close ally Justin Trudeau also applauded Anthony Albanese's belief "that we need to take ambitious climate action" and his unwavering support for democracy.

"In a world where people are increasingly uncertain about what the future holds for them and their families, it's easy for politicians to sow fear and division," Trudeau said.

"To choose the path of hope and opportunity takes immense courage, and that courage lives within Anthony Albanese."

READ MORE: Tropical Cyclone Isla downgraded to Category 3 but warnings remain

Albanese was included in the list alongside political leaders from around the world, and both sides of the political spectrum. The President of the United States Joe Biden was included on the list, alongside the US Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, and Brazil's veteran President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made the grade, with Germany's Chancellor Olaf Shultz also lauded.

Notable political absences however were noted for China's President for life Xi Jinping, and the French President Emmanuel Macron.

Beyoncé, Lionel Messi, and Jennifer Coolidge made the list, as did a wide range of the familiar faces in Art, Music and Sport.

Titans of Industry, like the world's second richest man Elon Musk, or Disney's CEO Bob Iger were also included.

Previous Australian Prime Minsters to make the Time 100 list include Kevin Rudd, who appeared in 2008, and John Howard appeared on the global list in 2005.

From challenging investigations into civil war and environmental decline, to the inspiring and serene moments that can only be captured through a camera: these are the best photographs of the year, as chosen by Sony's judges.