The father of a young boy was weirdly silent and disengaged as his child screamed in pain from a house fire, a coroner has heard.

The pre-school-aged boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, died in hospital after being airlifted by helicopter from a rural property in southeast Queensland in 2017.

Police investigated the fire as suspicious but no charges were laid, counsel assisting Kate Juhasz told coroner Megan Fairweather during the start of an inquest into the death on Monday in Brisbane.

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Two police officers who were first on scene about 8pm and tried to speak to the father gave evidence to the inquest.

Sergeant Peter Rumford said he found the father in the bathroom of the property's main house after seeing blood on the patio and hearing children wailing.

"He didn't provide me with any information," he said.

"I found it weird or peculiar that while his two sons were screaming and wailing he was standing in the shower with a cigarette in his hand."

The father and the boy's younger brother also suffered burns during the fire in a dwelling about 150 metres behind the property's main residence.

The two boys were seriously burned and were sitting on a sofa while wrapped in sheets or towels but their father had lesser injuries, Fairweather heard.

One or both of the boys were making a sound like he'd never heard before, Rumford said, adding they were "unrecognisable" due to their injuries.

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Senior Constable Andrew Bell testified he recorded audio and video during his time at the fire scene using a non-police issue body camera.

The father said "I don't remember anything. I just woke up and the house was on fire," Bell said.

"He told me his (ex-partner) was probably responsible … if police had to point the finger at anyone."

The father had a minimum level of interaction with his injured children, Bell said.

"I don't recall anything a father would normally do, interacting with them or calming them or giving them any reassurances.

"He was essentially disconnected from them. There essentially wasn't any connection I would expect or having concern for them."

Bell said he could not recall the father asking him about the health of the boys in the minutes before an ambulance arrived.

One of the people who lived in the main house said they smelled smoke and heard a loud bang before looking outside to see the second dwelling on fire, Rumford said.

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Sweeping showers have soaked parts of every state and territory, mere weeks after record-high temperatures and destructive bushfires gripped parts of the country.

A "vast northwest cloudband" fed by moisture from the Indian Ocean has stretched from Western Australia across the country, bringing heavy rain as far as Tasmania.

Arkaroola in SA's northern Flinders Ranges received 40 per cent of its annual rainfall in just one day, after it was drenched with 100.6mm in the 24 hours to 9am yesterday, Weatherzone said.

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Dubbo in the NSW's Central West was lashed with 39mm, a welcome drenching after drier-than-average conditions had left the area parched since October last year.

Most of Victoria received some rain yesterday, but the central part of the state copped the brunt of the cloud band, with 25mm recorded in at least 10 locations.

Victoria's highest rainfall total was logged in Mena Park, near Ballarat, where 37mm fell in the 24 hours to 9am today.

Birdsville in far south-west Queensland received 29mm in one day, which was more than the town has had in any month since last Autumn.

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In the Northern Territory, typically-arid Alice Springs has posted five days with record-rainfall, where 66mm of rain soaked nearby Upper Bond Springs in the 24 hours to 9am today.

The highest rainfall totals in Western Australia were recorded in the Pilbara, where Tropical Cyclone Mitchell is expected to cross the coast in the coming hours.

The moisture from the Indian Ocean has spread all the way to Tasmania, where most of the state received a light smattering of rain.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue across most of the country in the coming days as they trend north.

The rain is unlikely to reach bushfire-stricken parts of South Australia and Victoria this week.

The wet weather system comes just over a week after south-eastern Australia sweltered in record temperatures.

Temperatures in the South Australian towns of Indamooka and Port Augusta reached 50 degrees, while temperatures in Victoria soared to their highest on record, with the mercury reaching 48.9 degrees in Hopetoun and Walpeup.

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One of China's most vocal critics has been sentenced to 20 years in jail under the national security law imposed on Hong Kong which has virtually silenced any dissent against Beijing in the city.

Media mogul and businessman Jimmy Lai, 78, has been behind bars since 2020 after being arrested under laws drafted into Hong Kong and China in the aftermath of widespread protests on the island in 2019.

Lai was the owner of Apple Daily, a pro-democracy newspaper that published several critical reports of China.

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Lai was convicted in December of various offences, including conspiring with others to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security, and conspiracy to publish seditious articles.

He was spared a life sentence in name by the three judges, but given his advanced age and health issues, he may well spend the rest of his life in prison regardless.

His co-defendants, six former employees at Apple Daily and two activists, were also handed prison terms ranging from 6 years and 3 months, to 10 years.

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Lai's sentencing could heighten Beijing's diplomatic tensions with foreign governments. His conviction has drawn criticism from the USA and the UK.

President Donald Trump said he felt "so badly" after the verdict and noted he spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping about Lai and "asked to consider his release".

The UK government has also called for the release of Lai, who is a British citizen.

Apple Daily was shut down in June 2021, with the final edition selling over a million copies, with the decline of the newspaper highlighting how press freedom has been dented in Hong Kong.

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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said the sentencing had destroyed the rule of law in Hong Kong.

"Today's egregious decision is the final nail in the coffin for freedom of the press in Hong Kong," CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg said. In a statement released after Lai's sentencing.

Several Australians have also been imprisoned under the National Security Law, including Gordon Ng.

He was arrested in 2021 for his role in an unofficial primary election, and is serving a seven-year prison sentence.

Reported with Associated Press

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McDonald's is trying again to open a restaurant in the Sydney suburb of Newtown.

The global giant had its application refused last year but says it has addressed the reasons why.

Furious locals opposed the plan for the 24/7 cafe at 212-214 King Street in the lively suburb not far from the CBD.

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Police worried about crime and residents worried about litter as well as the loss of independent businesses, were among those against the proposal.

More than 1000 residents signed an online petition after the development application was lodged on July 8 and City Of Sydney knocked it back in October saying it was "not suitable."

There are already six chicken shops, including KFC and El Jannah, within 170 metres.

Letters from locals against the plan said they didn't want "another American fast food chain" and said it could hit local company, Clem's Chicken.

Ogalo Newtown owner Razwan Raza wrote that KFC had already hit his business hard and if McDonald's opened, they would be forced to close.

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"it's already hard for us to survive," Raza told the council.

Others feared it would increase the number of food delivery riders illegally using pavements.

About 1400 submissions were made, most against the restaurant, which would cost the company $1.7 million.

The company told 9News the reviewed application it lodged in January 2026 reduces its hours to 7am – 11pm Sunday to Thursday and 7am- 2am Friday and Saturday.

It says it has also addressed plans to handle rubbish, loading and deliveries – including earmarking "dedicated areas" for food delivery riders which was something councillors were worried about.

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McDonald's told 9News: "We see strong potential in joining the Newtown community and have lodged a review to provide further information and respond directly to Council's feedback.

"We remain committed to working collaboratively with Council and exploring solutions that support a positive outcome for the community."

The new application is under review by City of Sydney Council.

Last May, council gave similar plans for a McDonald's in Redfern the red light.

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In November, a plan to build a 24-hour McDonald's restaurant in one of Melbourne's trendiest suburbs was knocked back following community backlash.

Councillors voted against plans to transform a fire-damaged and vacant building at 323 High Street, Northcote, into a restaurant.

The company is fighting the decision in court.

Locals on the Mornington Peninsula lost their fight against a Maccas.

US President Donald Trump has lashed out at the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, which was headlined by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny.

Trump shared his thoughts on Truth Social shortly after what he called one of the worst halftime shows ever aired.

"The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!" the president wrote.

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"It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn't represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence.

"Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World."

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has won six Grammys to date, including Album of the Year at this year's awards.

He performed the halftime show in his native Spanish.

The Hispanic population is the largest minority group in the US, where more than one in five people spoke a language other than English at home between 2017 and 2021, the most popular of which was Spanish, according to the US Census Bureau.

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Trump called Ocasio's performance a slap in the face to the US, which he somewhat confusingly claimed sets new standards and records daily.

"Including the Best Stock Market and 401(k)s in History!" he wrote.

"There is nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show and watch, it will get great reviews from the Fake News Media, because they haven't got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD."

The president concluded his post by demanding the NFL immediately replace its "ridiculous" new kick-off rule.

The rule he was referring to was brought in at the start of the NFL season and is designed to make kickoffs safer.

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There was significant backlash in conservative circles when Ocasio was announced as the Halftime Show headliner last year, much of it centred around the fact that he sings in Spanish.

One right-wing group felt so strongly about that it produced its own alternative halftime show to rival the official NFL one.

Turning Point USA, a conservative political organisation formerly led by Charlie Kirk, ran the 'All-American Half-Time Show' on various conservative TV channels at the same time as Ocasio's performance.

It was headlined by Kid Rock, who has faced his own share of criticism.

His 2001 song Cool, Daddy Cool recently resurfaced and sparked backlash for including the lyrics: "Young ladies, young ladies, I like 'em underage/ See, some say that's statutory/ But I say it's mandatory".

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It's a bad habit many Australians are guilty of; driving with a phone in their lap.

Some Australians even use it as an excuse to try to get out of mobile phone fines, claiming the phone was in their lap and not their hand.

What many don't realise is that even though they're not touching the phone with their hands, they're still breaking the law.

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Using or touching a phone with any part of your body is illegal in all Australian states and territories, and is punishable by more than $1200 in fines in one state.

That includes resting a phone on your lap, leg, or between your shoulder and ear.

It is still illegal even if you are stopped at traffic lights or stuck in traffic.

Fines and penalties for mobile phone offences in each state and territory are as follows:

• NSW: fines start at $423 and five demerit points
• Queensland: $1,251 fine and four demerit points
• Victoria: $611 fine and four demerit points
• ACT: $548 fine to $674 and three to four demerit points
• SA: $658 fine and three demerit points
• WA: $500 fine to $1000 and four demerit points
• NT: $500 fine and three demerit points
• Tasmania: $410 fine and three demerit points

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There are a few very limited circumstances in which drivers can touch or operate a mobile while driving, but while it's resting in a driver's lap isn't one of them.

Fully licenced drivers may use a phone for a few specific things if it is secured in a cradle, or can be operated hands-free (e.g. voice control).

If operating a phone in a cradle, the cradle must be fixed to the vehicle and must not obscure the driver's view of the road.

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A phone in a cradle or being operated hands-free can only legally be used to take or receive audio calls and use music or audio functions like navigation systems.

The only other situation in which it is legal for a driver to touch a phone is if they're passing it to a passenger.

Thousands of NSW drivers attempted to dodge mobile phone fines last year using bizarre excuses, like claiming the item they were caught holding was a KitKat or calculator.

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Lives and homes are under threat and some residents have been told it is too late to leave as Cyclone Mitchell tracks south along the Western Australian coast.

The category 2 cyclone was near Exmouth early this morning but is expected to make landfall near Coral Bay at some point today or this evening.

This morning, authorities issued a new shelter-in-place warning for Coral Bay to Minilya Roadhouse and north of Ningaloo.

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"Tropical Cyclone Mitchell is expected to result in abnormally high tides which may include storm surge. Do not enter floodwaters," the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said in a social media post.

Another shelter in place warning is in place for Minilya Roadhouse to north of Wooramel Roadhouse, including Carnarvon.

Residents in these areas have been told it's too dangerous to leave their homes.

At 3am local time, the storm had winds near 100km/hr at its centre and gusts up to 140km/hr, with wild winds battering a large area.

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Those winds and drenching rainfall brought by the storm are battering a swathe of the north-west coast from Exmouth to south of Denham.

"It's not just the wind risks we're concerned about," James Ashley of the Bureau of Meteorology said.

"The system will also bring really heavy rainfall, 100mm to 200mm over 24 hours."

The storm is forecast to weaken once it makes landfall and will lose cyclone status at some point tomorrow, but warnings about severe weather will linger.

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Residents were on high alert as the weather system barrelled towards the coast with gale-force winds, big waves and dumping rain.

"We've had a good morning of preparation and doing those last things that were left to the last minute, but I think that the town's pretty prepared and kind of knows what it's in store for," Exmouth Shire President Matthew Niikkula said.

About 300 homes and businesses were already without power but it wasn't safe for Horizon Energy crews to head out to fix the problem. 

Mitchell was downgraded to category 2 yesterday afternoon but still expected to pack a punch.

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Karratha, where about 80 addresses were without power, copped 100km/h and 90 millimetres of rain overnight, while Legendre Island recorded 169km/h and a 148km/h gust hit Barrow Island.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services district officer Todd Pender said despite the damage, Karrath and Gambier were "very fortunate".

Some mine sites in the region were evacuated, along with the Blowholes camp site near Carnarvon. 

The North West Coastal Highway was shut off north of Carnarvon to heavy vehicles and holidaymakers this afternoon, cutting off access to a number of towns, including Exmouth Coral Bay and Onslow.

WA Premier Roger Cook said it was "just a question of battening down the hatches and allowing the cyclone to run its course, and then we can see what any damage is that needs to be responded to".

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The eyes of the world will be on San Francisco for Super Bowl 60, for both the action on the pitch and the half-time show.

This year's version will be led by Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican rapper who will perform the show exclusively in Spanish, but it may not be his music that will make the headlines.

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is an outspoken critic of US President Donald Trump, and used his Grammy acceptance speech last week to protest against recent immigration crackdowns in the United States.

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"We are not savages, we are not animals, we are not aliens – we are humans, and we are Americans," he said, "ICE out."

With the chance Bad Bunny could make more inflammatory political statements during the half-time show today, America's right-wing has responded by creating their own half-time show.

Turning Point USA, a conservative political organisation, last week announced it would produce the 'All-American Half-Time Show', which will air on various conservative television channels in the United States.

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It will be headlined by Kid Rock, a singer who is a prominent supporter of President Trump, and will also be streamed on Turning Point USA's YouTube channel.

The organisation also planned to air their show on X, formerly known as Twitter, but said they were unable to do so due to licensing restrictions.

Politicians close to Trump have claimed the President will not tune into Bad Bunny's performance

"I think the president would much prefer a Kid Rock performance over Bad Bunny, I must say that," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said last week.

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Experts say there could be various motivations behind the All-American Half-Time Show.

"[It's an] attempt to discredit the Bad Bunny selection as the NFL endorsed half-time performer and put forward a more 'patriotic performance' by entertainers whose politics leans to the right," Swinburne sport media expert Associate Professor Robert Gill said.

"But it could be as much about media networks rivalry and competition and trying to hijack Fox's ownership of the Super Bowl entertainment, then it is about being All-American."

The official half-time show should begin at around 12pm AEDT.

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A Melbourne tradie has been left with serious injuries to his face after being attacked by an e-scooter rider in a road rage incident.

Tyler Macaloney was driving home from his panel beating job in Parkville on Friday when he was confronted by a man who was weaving in and out of traffic.

The 22-year-old pulled up next to the rider and attempted to get him to ride in a separate bike lane for scooters.

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The rider reacted violently, attacking Macaloney.

"He sort of stepped into the view, and threw a punch through my window," Macaloney told 9News.

"I didn't expect it to go as aggressive as it did."

The e-scooter rider fled, leaving Macaloney with serious injuries to his nose.

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"My friend who was in the car when I got to my mum's place, I said, 'I need you to move my nose back into place, I cannot breathe!'" he told 9News.

"My nose has been detached and it's been fractured on the tip in three places."

Macaloney will undergo surgery in the coming days, with his face still badly bruised from the attack.

He will have to miss work for a number of weeks as he recovers from his injuries.

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"It 100 per cent could've been worse," he admitted.

"Anything could be worse.

"I could not be here right now, and my mum has to sort out a funeral."

The attacker still hasn't been found. He is believed to have been wearing a grey helmet and padded gloves.

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Blessing of the Boats was cancelled, but crowds still packed Island Bay.