Top Trump administration officials have met with a key GOP lawmaker about an effort in the US House to force a vote on releasing Justice Department case files related to Jeffrey Epstein, according to multiple sources familiar with the meeting.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the meeting later Wednesday when asked about reporting that administration officials were huddling with GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert.

"Doesn't that show the level of transparency when we are willing to sit down with members of Congress and address their concerns?" she told reporters at the press briefing.

READ MORE: Epstein claimed Trump knew about his conduct, emails say

Leavitt added: "I'm not going to detail conversations that took place in the Situation Room."

A source familiar confirmed the meeting in the Situation Room included Boebert, who has wanted the Justice Department to release its trove of Epstein files and has signed onto the effort in the House to force the vote compelling their release.

But after the White House meeting, the Colorado Republican is not expected to remove her name from the petition that would force such a vote, another source familiar with the meeting told CNN.

CNN has reached out to Boebert for comment. She wrote on X, "I want to thank White House officials for meeting with me today. Together, we remain committed to ensuring transparency for the American people."

Separately, President Donald Trump and Rep. Nancy Mace, another Republican who's signed the petition, have been playing phone tag. The South Carolina Republican previously told CNN's Manu Raju that rumours that she was planning to remove her name from the petition were untrue.

Both the meeting and Trump's efforts to talk to Mace underscore the administration's concerns around the Epstein saga, which roared back Wednesday morning when the House Oversight Committee released more documents it had obtained from Epstein's estate. (Leavitt said Wednesday the emails from that trove that mention Trump "prove absolutely nothing.")

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Besides Boebert and Mace, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is the other Republican who's signed onto the petition from Reps. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, and Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, to force the vote on the release of the files on the House floor. The pair is set to receive the 218th decisive signature from Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva on Wednesday afternoon, allowing the push to force a vote to move forward.

Should anyone remove their name from the petition, Massie and Khanna would no longer have the support needed to move forward.

Boebert had previously told CNN's Raju in September that she wouldn't be removing her name and wasn't getting pressure from the White House.

Under the arcane procedure of a House discharge petition, if 218 members of the House – a majority of all 435 districts – sign on, they can force a floor vote in the chamber on anything — even if leadership opposes it. Such an effort rarely succeeds.

The unreleased Justice Department files, which capture years of investigation into child sex trafficking, could include details the House hasn't obtained.

Ahead of the White House meeting, one source said it would also include Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment, and the White House did not immediately return a request for comment.

Bondi was seen leaving the White House on Wednesday.

The controversy around Epstein and his contacts with other powerful people, including Trump, has divided the Republican Party in recent months, with Boebert being among the Republican House members publicly pushing for more transparency around the case.

Trump hasn't been accused of any crime, and longtime Epstein contact and convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell previously told Blanche in an interview this summer that she had seen no wrongdoing, including by Trump.

At least two women who say they are survivors of Epstein's abuse were expected to attend Grijalva's swearing-in ceremony Wednesday afternoon, sources with knowledge tell CNN.

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US hip-hop artist Akon was arrested last week in suburban Atlanta after he didn't show up in court to face a ticket for driving with a suspended licence.

Police records show Akon, whose legal name is Aliaune Thiam, was arrested Friday by police in Chamblee, just northeast of Atlanta.

Akon was taken to the DeKalb County jail, where he was handed over to the Roswell police.

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They in turn booked Thiam into another jail, after which he posted bail and was released the same day.

Akon, who was born in the United States to Senegalese parents, rose to RnB fame after his 2004 debut album.

The Grammy-nominated singer has performed on more than a dozen Top 10 hits, including Smack That, I Wanna Love You and Locked Up.

He has also been active in philanthropic ventures in Africa, having lived in Senegal as a child.

Representatives for Akon didn't immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

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Police reports from Roswell show Akon, who lists an address in gated community in neighbouring Alpharetta, was found September 10 in a disabled Tesla Cybertruck on a busy street. 

The police officer called for a tow truck.

While he was waiting, the report states the officer checked the licence plate and found Akon had no valid auto insurance and had a suspended driver's licence for failing to appear for a court hearing in January 2023.

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Police impounded the truck and cited Akon for driving without a valid licence, the report says, taking the licence he was carrying and releasing him.

Police also found and seized an "illegal vape," the report says.

Chamblee police told local news outlets they responded to a business called Tint World on Friday when a traffic camera alerted them that the Cybertruck was present and was connected to an outstanding warrant.

Akon is currently on tour in India.

He performed in Delhi on Sunday, two days after his arrest.

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Thunder and lightning could be seen from the top of the Northern Territory to the bottom of South Australia today as storm activity ramps up around the country.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast serious storm activity moving eastward from Western Australia through to the weekend, with Central Australia in the firing line today.

"Thunderstorms are possible all the way from the Top End into southern parts of South Australia," BoM meteorologist Jonathan How said in a Bureau forecast.

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"There remains an area where severe thunderstorms are possible across central Australia.

"In Queensland, thunderstorms start to dip a little further down into the southern interior and become more likely."

Tomorrow, a number of weather systems are forecast to merge, making thunderstorms possible over a "very broad" swathe of the country, including the west, the interior, and the east.

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This will include southern and south-eastern Queensland, north-east New South Wales, southern South Australia, and western Victoria.

"Saturday is the peak day for activity, with thunderstorms building through the day and peaking in the afternoon and evening," How said.

"By Saturday evening, thunderstorms are possible from central and eastern New South Wales up into Queensland and the north of the country. Severe thunderstorms may develop across populated areas during the afternoon and evening."

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However, he said, the weather maps were dynamic and likely to change, urging people to keep an eye on the BoM website for updates.

"Storms, particularly severe storms, can cause impacts," How said.

"Rain can wash away dirt and secondary roads, causing transport disruptions. Wind can cause damage to trees and property.

"Heavy rain and large hail can cause impacts to agricultural communities that are now starting to enter the harvesting season."

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A range of brightly coloured children's sand products have been recalled due to asbestos fears.

The recall was issued by the supplier, Educational Colours, for three products which were sold throughout Australia at Officeworks, Educating Kids, Modern Teaching Aids and Zart Art  between 2020 and 2025.

The products are labelled as Kadink Sand (1.3kg), Educational Colours – Rainbow Sand (1.3kg), and Creatistics – Coloured Sand (1kg).

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the products were recalled because they may contain tremolite asbestos, a naturally occurring asbestos, which was detected in some samples after laboratory testing.

"The ACCC will continue to monitor developments in relation to the products and the recall notice may be updated as new information emerges," the watchdog said in a statement.

Asbestos is a prohibited substance in Australia.

"We have engaged with Officeworks, who is a major supplier of these products, and they advised that the products have been removed from sale. We expect they will take all the necessary steps to alert their customers," ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said.

"We continue to engage with suppliers and expect all to provide appropriate support to consumers including responding to queries, and providing advice about arranging a refund.

"We urge customers who own any of the products to stop using them immediately and place the sand in a heavy-duty plastic bag and double tape it securely and keep it out of reach of children.

"When doing so, in an abundance of caution, customers should take precautions such as a wearing disposable gloves and a mask."

Customers are urged not to dispose of the product in general waste.

Information on the disposal of Asbestos waste, including disposal facilities in your state or territory can be found on The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency website.

Contact re*****@****************ge.com on disposal and for seeking a full refund.

A voluntary recall was also issued in New Zealand today for the same products.

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Researchers have found the oldest crocodile eggshells in Australia, which reveal an ancient version of the species may have climbed trees to hunt their prey.

The fossilised fragments were found in the backyard of a grazier in the small Queensland town of Murgon, about 247km north-west of Brisbane, by an international research team, including palaeontologists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

The fossils reveal evidence of mekosuchine crocodiles that roamed Australia 55 million years ago.

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By contrast, modern saltwater and freshwater crocodiles only arrived in Australia 3.8 million years ago.

The specific species of mekosuchine found in Queensland has been called Wakkaoolithus godthelpi, and experts said they were far different to modern crocodiles.

"It's a bizarre idea, but some of them appear to have been terrestrial hunters in the forests," UNSW palaeontologist Professor Michael Archer said.

"Some were also apparently at least partly semi-arboreal 'drop crocs'.

"They were perhaps hunting like leopards, dropping out of trees on any unsuspecting thing they fancied for dinner."

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The latest discovery is not the only mekosuchine to be found in Queensland, with fossils estimated to be 25 million years old found in the Boodjamulla National Park in north-western Queensland.

Archer said the findings revealed the ancient crocodiles could have reached huge sizes, up to five metres long.

Modern crocodiles found in Australia are usually around four metres long if they are male, or three metres long if they are female.

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A driver has been arrested after the death of a young father in an alleged hit-run in Adelaide's north last night.

Daniel Harrison, 25, was struck and rushed to hospital on Hillier Road in Hillier just before 8pm but died from his injuries.

Police arrested a 21-year-old woman from Stockport early this morning and charged her with causing death by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

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A 19-year-old Munno Para West man was also arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated affray and possessing a firearm without a licence after police allegedly found a firearm in his home today.

A Holden sedan was also seized for forensic examination.

Devastated friends ofHarrison laid flowers at the crash scene today.

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"He's the most caring, big-hearted person you know. If you ever had a problem, he'd try to help you sort it out," friend Dene Steele told 9News.

Steele's wife Jessica said: "I always remember him always smiling, always laughing, always having a joke, that's how I remember 'DJ'."

Local residents, police and paramedics rushed to assist at the scene.

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Harrison leaves behind a large, loving family and his five-year-old daughter. 

"She was everything to him. I just don't know how they're going to cope," Mr Steele said.

"I've got kids myself and I couldn't imagine them losing a parent, it's so sad."

The 21-year-old woman and 19-year-old man are expected to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court tomorrow.

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Australia and Indonesia will sign a major defence treaty early next year in what Anthony Albanese has described as a "historic" moment.

Speaking alongside Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Sydney this afternoon, the prime minister announced that negotiations on the deal have been all but finalised.

The pact, which is expected to be formally signed in January, will significantly tighten the security relationship between the two nations.

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"This treaty will commit Australia and Indonesia to consult at a leader and ministerial level on a regular basis on matters of security, to identify and undertake mutually beneficial security activities," Albanese said.

"And if either or both countries' security is threatened, to consult and consider what measures may be taken either individually or jointly, to deal with those threats.

"This is a watershed moment."

The world's fourth-largest country by population with some 285 million people, Indonesia has for years remained non-aligned and largely neutral even with geopolitcal tensions in the region increasing.

It has deepened ties with Western nations including Australia and inked deals to buy military equipment from the likes of France and the US, but at the same time maintained ties to Moscow.

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Just last year, Indonesia held its first-ever bilateral military drills with Russia, at the same time as it was carrying out its own exercises with Australia.

And in April, reports emerged the Kremlin had requested to set up an air base on Indonesian soil about 1400km from Darwin – something the Indonesian defence minister assured his Australian counterpart would not happen.

Albanese said the new treaty would build on previous deals signed between Canberra and Jakarta.

"This treaty represents a major extension of our existing security and defence cooperation," he said. 

"It shows the relationship is as strong as it has ever been, and that's a great thing for our region and for the people of both Australia and Indonesia."

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Subianto said it was crucial for his nation to have strong regional relationships.

"In the Indonesian culture, we have a saying, when we face an emergency, it is our neighbour that will help us," he said.

"Maybe our relatives will remain far away, but our neighbours are the closest and only good neighbours will help each other."

The agreement will be the second major defence pact signed by the Australian government in recent times, following the inking of a formal military alliance with Papua New Guinea last month.

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After two months, Maria Psillakis felt it was time to tell everyone about her husband, Mercury Psillakis, who lost his life following a shark attack in Sydney's Northern Beaches.

She is on a mission to prevent other families from suffering the same heartbreak of losing a loved one to a shark.

"Losing Merc has put a place in my heart that I can't really put into words. He is – was – my rock, my everything."

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Mercury Psillakis was surfing with some friends on September 6 at Dee Why and was only in the water for half an hour before the great white struck.

"If we can make a positive out of this loss, I just want to, like I said, minimise the risk and perhaps prevent this from happening to another family," Maria said.

"I have a little girl that keeps on asking why, and I don't know what to tell her."

It happened two weeks before the start of the patrol season.

The surf club was closed and the shark alarm was not triggered for 45 minutes.

"Not half an hour later, there were children swimming within 10 metres of where my husband was."

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Maria understands that the ocean will always be dangerous for surfers.

"He knew the risks involved, he was aware that it was their territory and not his."

Maria now has questions she wants answered about how to minimise the risk of shark attacks, including the use of drones, which are only used in Sydney for shark patrols in Summer.

She also wants to strengthen protections.

Mercury was 80 metres offshore, and the predator was untagged with smart drum lines, meaning authorities couldn't detect it.

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"I want to advocate for evidence-based systems to perhaps prevent another tragedy like this."

Member for Wakehurst Michael Regan is helping her fight for change.

"Maria, along with Surfing NSW, approached us with a drone program that they wanted to roll out in the metro areas that exist in the regional areas," he said.

Maria is taking her fight for change all the way to the top, asking Premier Chris Minns to sit down for a round table with scientists, surf lifesavers, and the community to save lives.

"I want [Mercury] to be remembered as the remarkable guy he was… is."

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Prosecutors will not charge radio duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O with contempt of court over comments made during Erin Patterson's triple-murder trial.

The KIIS FM breakfast show hosts were referred to the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions on June 16 after Sandilands made on-air comments about the case, including "just lock that bitch up".

At the time, Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale encouraged commentators to "engage their brains before they open their mouths", warning they could land themselves in hot water.

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But the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions on Wednesday confirmed the radio duo would not be charged with contempt of court.

"It has been determined that in all the circumstances none of the incidents had a clear tendency … to prejudice the fair trial of Ms Patterson on the charges against her," the statement read.

"It is considered that the required elements of contempt could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt and there are no reasonable prospects of conviction for the referred incidents."

A Mamamia Out Loud podcast episode and a presentation from forensic psychologist Rachel Toles about the trial were also referred to prosecutors, but they too were spared charges.

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Patterson was in July found guilty of murdering her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66.

A jury found she deliberately served beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms to her lunch guests in July 2023 at her Leongatha home in regional Victoria.

She was also convicted of the attempted murder of Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson, 69, who fell seriously ill after eating the meal but survived.

Patterson was sentenced in September to life behind bars, with a non-parole period of 33 years.

She has lodged an appeal against her convictions, while prosecutors are appealing her sentence, describing it as manifestly inadequate.

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How suppression and secrecy nearly buried a major police scandal.