A boy is in a critical condition after being attacked by a shark at a Sydney Harbour beach.

The boy, believed to be about 13, was being treated for "serious" injuries "consistent with what is believed to have been a large shark", police said.

Emergency services were called to Hermitage Foreshore Walk on Steele Point Road at Vaucluse, near Shark Beach, about 4.20pm.

READ MORE: National day of remembrance to remember Bondi terror victims this week

The boy was rescued by water police within minutes of triple zero being called, police said.

"(A) Water Police officer attached two medical tourniquets and was immediately given first aid on board the police vessel Water Police 41 for serious leg injuries before being transported to Rose Bay Wharf, where NSW Ambulance paramedics continued first aid," NSW Police said in a statement.

"The teen was transported to Children's Hospital at Randwick in a critical condition.

"Swimmers are advised to avoid entering nearby waters at this time."

Intensive care paramedics and the Care Flight helicopter were sent to the scene, a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman told 9news.com.au.

A man was sitting in his car when his dashcam captured the dramatic moment lightning struck the footpath.

The motorist got a huge fright when the bolt hit right in front of him at Bellingen in NSW on Friday night.

"Holy Jesus Christ," the man can be heard exclaiming in the dashcam footage after the almighty blast that shook his car.

READ MORE: Boy suffers 'serious' leg injuries after shark bite at Sydney Harbour beach

"You should have seen that, was right in front of my car that was," he says, apparently on a phone call at the time.

The lightning bolt blasted the footpath, leaving big holes, which have since been repaired.

Over the weekend, more than 19,000 lightning strikes have been recorded within a 100-kilometre radius of Sydney – mostly over the city's north and the Central Coast.

Much of coastal NSW was hit by a deluge with flash flooding and landslides.

The NSW government is proposing law changes to criminalise leaving dogs in hot cars.

It would be the most comprehensive reform to the state's animal welfare laws in years.

The government has drawn up a series of proposed changes to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

READ MORE: Dog killed after being electrocuted by hidden danger on Sydney footpath

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said: "There's been over 7000 submissions over the last couple of years about what we can do to strengthen animal welfare laws.

"People across the community expect the government to do more."

The changes would criminalise leaving a dog in a hot vehicle and make it an offence to use or possess prong collars, a painful and discredited tool for dog training.

READ MORE: Man, 41, charged over Canberra pipe bombs

Animal cruelty powers and penalties would also be beefed up.

But there are still questions as to how the laws will look in practicality.

"I'll be engaging with authorities about defining what the rules are for leaving the animals unattended," Moriarty said.

READ MORE: Landslide almost takes out Sydney home as flash floods and storms batter NSW

The RSPCA in NSW identified more than 500 reports of dogs locked in cars in the six years to 2024/25.

Stephen Albin, from Animal Welfare League NSW, said: "They're constant companions, and one of the issues is you've got to ensure you look after them."

The government will present the bill to parliament in the first half of this year.

A refreshing dip became rather hazardous for swimmers today when a large bloom of lion's mane jellyfish washed into Port Phillip Bay in Victoria.

Sandringham Beach in Melbourne was quickly closed when the swarm of creatures appeared.

Sandringham Life Saving Club shared the footage.

READ MORE: Boy suffers 'serious' leg injuries after shark bite at Sydney Harbour beach

"Please avoid the water. Out patrollers will be on hand but the beach will be closed," it said.

Stings from their large tentacles are known to cause intense pain, redness and itching.

Details have been released for the National Day of Mourning to honour the victims of the Bondi terrorist attack. 

To be held on Thursday, the event will have the theme "Light will Win, a Gathering of Unity and Remembrance".

Australians are being encouraged to unite in reflection in the wake of a horrific attack that took 15 innocent lives.

READ MORE: Landslide almost takes out Sydney home as flash floods and storms batter NSW

Alex Ryvchin, from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said: "It's an important day for us but it's important also for wider Australia to pause and reflect on what we've lost as a country in terms of the quality in terms of the way of life, in terms of the harmony we all once took for granted."

The nation is being asked to fall silent for a minute at 7.01pm on Thursday.

Flags on government buildings will be flown at half-mast.

National institutions in Canberra and NSW will be illuminated in the evening.

Australians are also being asked to light a candle on doorsteps or windows.

A national commemorative installation called 15 Pillars of Light will project beacons at locations around the country.

READ MORE: Boy, four, killed after car hits shop in Canberra

Ryvchin said: "There's a very important concept in Jewish culture and tradition of finding the good in every dark situation and ensuring that no matter how bleak the day that we fill the world with light to overcome that."

All Australians are all being encouraged to undertake what Jewish people call a Mitzvah – an act of kindness and compassion, such as checking in on a neighbour, volunteering or spending time with family and friends.

The day of mourning has been planned by both the Commonwealth and NSW governments.

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Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said: "It's so important that we stop and remember what happened at Bondi late last year, it was a terrible terrible tragedy."

This will be the first national day of mourning since the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022.

A 41-year-old man has been arrested after multiple pipe bombs were found in Canberra.

Police found the devices – which they say they don't think are terror related – on streets in Belconnen.

The 15 devices were found around Lake Ginninderra between Joynton Smith Drive and Ginninderra Drive.

READ MORE: Landslide almost takes out Sydney home as flash floods and storms batter NSW

Police allege the man bought and stole items used to create the pipe bombs from a Bunnings.

Residents in the area were told to stay away as police retrieved all of the bombs, some of which had already exploded.

Police say they have searched the area and are confident they've found them all.

It's alleged officers found items used to make the bombs after searching the man's home.

READ MORE: Fears grow as Indonesian plane with 11 people onboard vanishes

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The 41-year-old was arrested at a unit in Gungahlin.

He has been charged with unauthorised manufacture of a prohibited dangerous substance, possessing a prohibited weapon and theft.

He will face the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday.

A four-year-old boy has been killed after a car hit a shop in Canberra.

The boy was struck by a hatchback as it ploughed into a BWS at Southlands Shopping Centre in Mawson at 10.20am.

He was treated by paramedics and rushed to hospital in a critical condition but later died.

READ MORE: Landslide almost takes out Sydney home as flash floods and storms batter NSW

The driver was taken to hospital for observations, ACT Police said.

ACT Road Policing's Major Collision Team is investigating and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Graham Garnett had been missing in Kahurangi National Park since December 30.

Shane Jones has asked Fisheries New Zealand for urgent advice on the issue.

The orca swam within arm’s reach of the divers for about one minute.