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Aussies battered by $3.5 billion blow

New data has revealed hail, floods and storms cost Australia $3.5 billion in insured losses last year.

Figures from the Insurance Council of Australia showed five weather events were declared "significant or catastrophic" in 2025.

These included the February floods in North Queensland, ex-tropical cyclone Alfred in March, the NSW Mid North Coast floods in May, and two severe storm events in October and November in Queensland and NSW.

Cyclone Alfred hit Queensland and New South Wales earlier this year, and caused significant damage. Similar cyclones could hit Australia in the upcoming summer months.

Alfred, which hit the Gold Coast and south-east Queensland on March 8, was the most expensive of them, even though it had weakened to a tropical low and lost its cyclone status by the time it made landfall.

The Insurance Council said 132,000 claims with a collective value of more than $1.5 billion were lodged in Alfred's wake.

Severe hailstorms in October and November, affecting Queensland and NSW, racked up a similar collective damage bill of $1.4 billion with more than 105,000 claims.

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Insurers expect the overall damage bill will grow as claims from more local severe events are added.

But the cost is already huge compared to 2024, when the insurance bill from extreme weather came to $581 million - itself down from $2.35 billion in 2023.

The council said this demonstrated "the unpredictable nature of extreme weather".

Enormous bruise spotted on Donald Trump's hand

9News

The White House has explained a massive bruise on Donald Trump's left hand.

While at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the president was sporting a red and black bruise several centimetres in diameter.

But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump bruised his hand after hitting it on the corner of a table.

The large black and red bruise seen on Donald Trump's hand.

"At the Board of Peace event today in Davos, President Trump hit his hand in the corner of the signing table, causing it to bruise," Leavitt said.

Though there were many cameras in the room, the moment does not appear to have been filmed.

This year the president has frequently had a prominent bruise on his right hand.

At other times, his hand has been covered in a thick coating of makeup or with a large Band-Aid.

The White House has said the bruise stems from shaking so many hands.

Donald Trump has often had serious bruises on his hands.

But the president does not shake hands with his left hand.

Trump previously told the Wall Street Journal that he was taking 325mg of aspirin a day, more than three times the daily recommended dose unless you have pain, fever or inflammation.

"They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don't want thick blood pouring through my heart," he said.

"I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart."

A person with thin blood is more likely to bruise.

The Journal also reported his hand started bleeding after getting a high-five from now-Attorney-General Pam Bondi at last year's Republican National Convention.

A bruise can be seen on the back of Donald Trump's left hand.

The White House has been loath to admit any physical malady from Trump, with a statement issued in December declaring his "excellent" health.

"President Trump's cardiovascular imaging is perfectly normal," his osteopath Sean Barbabella said.

"There is no evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow or abnormalities in the heart or major vessels.

"All major organs appear very healthy and well-perfused.

"Everything evaluated is functioning within normal limits with no acute or chronic concerns."

Trump is 79, making him the second-oldest president of all time.

By the end of his term, he will be the oldest.

In Davos yesterday, Trump appeared to repeatedly mistake Iceland for Greenland.

In his speech, the president referenced Iceland four times in a context that seemed to fit his previous remarks on Greenland.

A bandage is seen on the hand of President Donald Trump while he walks the red carpet before the 48th Kennedy Center Honor

"I'm helping Europe, I am helping NATO, and until the last few days when I told them about Iceland, they loved me," he said.

"(NATO is) not there for us on Iceland, that I can tell you. Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland.

"So Iceland's already cost us a lot of money."

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Wall Street cashes in as TACO Trump 'chickens out' on Greenland

9News

Donald Trump has retreated on his ambitions for Greenland, instead announcing an unspecified "framework of a future deal" for the island.

The US president went into few details about the agreement he had struck with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

"This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

'Trump always chickens out' is a common expression on Wall Street.

"Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st."

The president's apparent retreat is the latest example of what his critics refer to as TACO Trump.

The unflattering acronym is short for Trump Always Chickens Out, according to former Barack Obama staffer and Pod Save America host Tommy Vietor.

"I mean, it does seem positive that President Trump has walked back his threat to invade Greenland or tariff the entire continent of Europe," Vietor told Today.

"But the fact that I'm saying these words out loud just kind of shows you how ridiculous things have gotten and how America is viewed as a pariah state in a lot of places."

Donald Trump has retreated on his ambitions for Greenland.

Vietor was sceptical Trump's announced framework will amount to anything meaningful.

"I doubt there will really be a deal," he said.

"This is Trump doing what he always does, which is TACO."

Vietor was baffled that the president would be so focused on Greenland when the American people were demanding action on the economy.

"He's just a weird mercurial old man who doesn't seem to know what's going on," Vietor said.

"He's doing things that are unpopular and politically damaging."

Top Democratic congressman Jim McGovern was no kinder.

"He said a lot of crazy shit today. I think it's time to take the keys away from grandpa," he said.

"He doesn't seem like he's all there."

Donald Trump is no longer pushing a military takeover of Greenland.

TACO as an acronym emerged from Wall Street, where traders were cashing in on the assumption that the president would back down from his most audacious proposals.

The term first came into use after Trump delayed many of his Liberation Day tariffs.

And many traders have made substantial sums of money betting the president wouldn't keep his word.

"The market is still of the mind that we are going to see this kind of bluster from the get-go — an opening salvo that's pretty aggressive," Natixis Investment Managers Solutions' Garrett Melson told MarketWatch.

"But then it gets dialled back."

Wall Street jumped today in the wake of Trump's announcement.

Wall Street jumped on news Donald Trump was backing down on Greenland.

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Bill and Hillary Clinton risk prison after vote by Epstein committee

9News

A US congressional committee has voted on charging Bill and Hillary Clinton with contempt, the first step of a process that could see both facing prison time.

Both the Clintons declined to testify in a House Oversight Committee investigation into notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

As a consequence, the committee voted to recommend charges for the former president and former secretary of state.

Bill Clinton in a hot tub in a photo from the Epstein files.

If the House of Representatives as a whole approves the citations, a referral will go to the Justice Department.

If found guilty, the pair could face up to a $US100,000 ($147,000) fine and a year in prison.

Today's vote passed on bipartisan grounds, with nine Democrats voting with all the Republicans on the committee on Mr Clinton's charge.

Three Democrats voted in favour of charging Mrs Clinton.

"No witness, not a former president or a private citizen, may willfully defy a Congressional subpoena without consequence," committee chair James Comer said.

"But that is what the Clintons did and that is why we are here."

The Clintons were friends with Epstein, though neither has been implicated in any of his crimes.

This undated photo released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee shows former President Bill Clinton, Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein, with Clinton's signature at the top of the photo.

"And I think if you ask the victims, 'Do you want to hear from Bill Clinton?'" Comer said.

"I'm pretty confident I know what the answers will be."

Mr Clinton had agreed to be interviewed by the chairman and ranking member under specific conditions.

His conditions included the interview be conducted at his New York office and that questions be limited directly to "travel, use of plane, awareness of criminal activities, knowledge of the federal investigation or prosecutions, and efforts by Epstein to gain leverage".

The committee declined his conditions.

But Democrats would not stand behind the Clintons.

"We should hold anybody connected to Epstein in contempt who will not give us information," Representative Rashida Tlaib said.

"The survivors deserve transparency and justice."

Bill and Hillary Clinton at Donald Trump's inauguration.

Epstein visited the White House 17 times during the Clinton presidency.

The former president flew on Epstein's plane about 27 times.

Another close friend of Epstein, President Donald Trump, has not been subpoenaed.

There is recent precedent of somebody being jailed for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena.

Trump White House advisors Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro were both jailed for four months in 2024 after defying a subpoena.

Shark alarm drives morning swimmers to shore in Sydney

9News

The shark alarm sounded at Coogee Beach in Sydney today, sending swimmers racing for the shore.

The alarm rang out at about 7am, with lifesavers announcing there had been "several" reports of a bull shark being spotted in the area.

Lifesavers were seen on jetskis patrolling the area, looking for the shark.

Bull sharks are believed to have been involved in a recent spate of attacks in NSW waters, including one on 12-year-old Nico Antic, who remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Experts say bull sharks are likely to have been drawn to shallower, beachside waters after recent heavy rain in NSW, which has also churned up the waters to help conceal them.

Professor Jodie Rummer from James Cook University said bull sharks are one of the few shark species that can tolerate the brackish post-storm water, when saltwater and freshwater mingled more than normal.

Other experts say they are drawn to stirred-up areas to feed, as the rain flushes animals downriver.

People are urged to steer clear of murky waters after heavy rain.

'Saw it shake the board': Shark survivor recounts moment of attack

9News

A surfer attacked by a shark on New South Wales' Mid North Coast yesterday has spoken about his dash for safety after the terrifying encounter.

Paul Zvirzdinas, 39, was surfing at Point Plomer, north of Port Macquarie, when a shark took a bite out of his board and wetsuit at about 10am.

"I saw it shake the board and then I paddled to shore … was just [thinking] get to shore, just paddle as hard as you can," he told 9News.

"Just get to land, that's all that was in (my) head … what could have been is a pretty scary thought."

Zvirzdinas self-reported to Kemsey Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries before he was discharged.

Subsequently, he reported the shark attack to police, though emergency services were not called over the incident.

Multiple beaches were shut down on the Mid North Coast in the wake of the attack.

Zvirzdinas said it was "too early to tell" if he'd head back into the water on his board, after surfing at Point Plomer his entire life.

Zvirzdinas was the fourth shark attack victim in NSW in a 48-hour span from Sunday to Tuesday.

A 12-year-old boy attacked on Sunday at Vaucluse remains in critical condition, with reports that "the worst" is expected.

A 27-year-old surfer attacked at Manly on Monday evening is in hospital after part of his leg was amputated.

An 11-year-old boy had a lucky escape at Dee Why earlier on Monday after a shark took a bite out of his board.

Two new pictures reveal where Trump wants to target next

9News

President Donald Trump has hinted at annexing Greenland, Canada, Cuba and Venezuela and turning them into US territories in a series of doctored images shared online, sparking swift condemnation from world leaders.

The US president appeared to signal his next move with two AI-generated images posted to Truth Social, including a picture of a US flag planted on Greenland soil and a revised map of the USA.

In the first doctored image, posted without a caption or comment, Trump is seen in a room with other world leaders, while an altered map in the background shows Canada, Greenland, Venezuela and Cuba as US territories.

President Donald Trump listens to a question from a reporter during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

The original image was from an August meeting in the Oval Office with a host of European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italy's Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The second altered photo shows Trump holding a US flag alongside Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

A sign on the ground reads: "Greenland. US territory since 2026."

In response, Venezuela's government called on its citizens to share official maps of the country online as a form of "symbolic action".

"In light of this situation, the Venezuelan State calls on all citizens to take symbolic action in unity, with the aim of defending territorial integrity and countering misinformation," Venezuela's government said in a statement.

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said he was aware of social media posts that showed a US takeover.

"We have seen the different things that are being said on social media, it is not respectful," Nielsen said at a press conference in Nuuk.

"What we prioritise from Greenland's side is that we should not have dialogue through social media, we should do that in the right channels."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told the World Economic Forum in Davos that the world should quickly adapt to the "rupture" caused by "great powers" in a veiled reference to Trump's threats.

"We know the old order is not coming back. We shouldn't mourn it," Carney said.

"Nostalgia is not a strategy."

The Truth Social posts were shared as Trump doubles down on his demand to acquire Greenland.

The president offered an ominous response to reporters at the White House who asked how far he would go to seize Greenland.

"You'll find out," Trump replied.

Trump said he was confident an agreement would be reached over the status of Greenland during a meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

He also claimed Greenlanders would be excited to join the US, despite polls consistently showing locals oppose his plans to claim the island.

"I haven't spoken to them. When I speak to them, I'm sure they'll be thrilled," Trump said.

"Something is going to happen which will be very good for everybody.

"We will work out something out where NATO will be very happy and we will be very happy."

Trump added that the US "needs Greenland for national security and even world security".

Over the weekend, Trump placed additional tariffs on eight European countries that opposed his plans to annex Greenland.

The ten per cent tariffs were placed on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland.

Denmark and some other European allies responded to the president's threats by sending more troops to Greenland.

Trump refuses to rule out military action in Greenland after raging at Norway's PM

9News

US president Donald Trump has refused to rule out military action to seize Greenland, hours after an explosive text sent to Norway's prime minister was leaked.

Speaking in a phone interview with NBC News, the president was asked if he would use force to seize Greenland.

"No comment," he replied.

Donald Trump has raged at Norway's prime minister after he didn't win the Nobel Prize.

He doubled down on his claims that the Norwegian government played a hand in him not winning the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

"Norway totally controls it despite what they say," he said.

"They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything to do with it."

Greenlanders protest Donald Trump's ambitions to annex the territory.

His comments come after a text sent to Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store went public.

"Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America," Trump wrote to Store.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a committee appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.

Ice floats on the sea off the coast of Nuuk, Greenland.

The five member panel includes three politicians from different parties, a foreign policy scholar and a nonprofit leader.

"Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a 'right of ownership' anyway?

"There are no written documents, it's only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also."

Denmark started its colonisation of Greenland in 1721, decades before the United States existed as a country.

"I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States," the president wrote to Store.

"The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland."

The president is amping up his rhetoric in his ambitions for the massive island in the Atlantic, which has for centuries been a territory of Denmark.

Over the weekend Trump placed additional tariffs on eight European countries that opposed his plans to annex Greenland.

The ten per cent tariffs were placed on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland.

Denmark has responded to America's threats by sending more troops to Greenland.

Danish troops unload equipment as they land in Greenland.

About 200 Danish soldiers have landed in the towns of Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq.

Polling showed that Americans were overwhelmingly opposed to annexing Greenland.

A Reuters poll found just 17 per cent of Americans approved of his efforts to take Greenland.

Just 10 per cent approved of "using military force to obtain new territory".

Man charged with domestic violence murder of woman near Cairns

9News

A man will appear in court today charged with the domestic violence murder of a woman in Gordonvale, just south of Cairns, yesterday.

Police were called to a home in Pritchard Close just after 11am (AEST) to reports there was an armed man at the property.

Officers arrested a 29-year-old local man before finding the body of a 29-year-old woman inside the home.

The man was charged with murder (domestic violence offence) and is due to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court today.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

'Anarchy': Call for action over e-bike gangs

9News

A gang of teenagers on e-bikes have been captured hooning down streets and even a golf club on Sydney's Northern Beaches, sparking fears it's only a matter of time before there's another fatality.

Footage from Cronulla shows an electric mob on wheels charging down a main road.

Some do wheelies, while others hoon down the wrong side of the road before spilling onto a busy intersection.

A gang of teenagers on e-bikes have been captured hooning down streets and even a golf club on Sydney's northern beaches, sparking fears it's only a matter of time before there's another fatality.

Pedestrian Council of Australia chief executive Harold Scruby called it "anarchy".

On Sydney's Northern Beaches, a baby-faced e-bike gang stopped traffic at North Manly in more video.

Local Toby Martin called it "a fatality waiting to happen".

A teenage crew took their antics off road captured two days ago ripping up the greens at Long Reef Golf Club at Collaroy.

Martin believes it's only a matter of time before a pedestrian or e-bike rider dies.

"It's a highway to hell each way we look at it they're flying over golf course, roads in large packs each pushing each other on," he said.

Scrooby said parents could be liable, too.

Footage from Cronulla shows electric mob on wheels charging down a main road.

"Parents have got to realise if they're children are riding unregistered uninsured motorbikes, they could be liable for any injuries sustained by people they either hit or if the pillion passenger comes off," he said.

"These things are just motorbikes dressed up as bicycles."

Legal e-bikes don't require registration or insurance, there's no age limit and riders don't need a licence.

In 2025, there were four deaths involving e-bikes prompting the NSW government to introduce new laws to reduce their legal power and speed.

"Every hour of every day, I'm worried about someone being injured and seriously injured or killed," Martin said.

News Pro Zone

Aussies battered by $3.5 billion blow

Enormous bruise spotted on Donald Trump's hand

Wall Street cashes in as TACO Trump 'chickens out' on Greenland

Bill and Hillary Clinton risk prison after vote by Epstein committee

Shark alarm drives morning swimmers to shore in Sydney

'Saw it shake the board': Shark survivor recounts moment of attack

Two new pictures reveal where Trump wants to target next

Trump refuses to rule out military action in Greenland after raging at Norway's PM

Man charged with domestic violence murder of woman near Cairns

'Anarchy': Call for action over e-bike gangs

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