Victorian men face court over alleged Australian of the Year awards insider bets

A hot air balloon in Brazil carrying 21 passengers caught fire during a joy flight, resulting in at least eight fatalities and several others critically injured. The incident occurred near Praia Grande, where passengers were seen jumping from the burning basket; 13 survivors were hospitalized as local officials and Governor Jorginho Mello addressed the tragedy. Need More Context? 🔎

Roger Cook, the Premier of Western Australia, is traveling to the UK to advocate for the continuation of the AUKUS defense agreement worth $368 billion, amid concerns that Donald Trump's review could jeopardize it. He aims to highlight the deal’s significance for Australia, the US, and the UK, particularly its benefits for WA, including a $20 billion defense hub in Henderson and opportunities in submarine construction and maintenance. Need More Context? 🔎

The Western Australian government has allocated an additional $28 million for flammable cladding remediation at Perth Children’s Hospital, following a previous $33.3 million for Fiona Stanley Hospital. With total costs expected to exceed $41 million, ongoing cladding replacement efforts are projected to extend until at least the 2028-29 financial year across several major hospitals. Need More Context? 🔎

Belarus has released 14 political prisoners, including opposition leader Syarhei Tsikhanouski, following a visit by US envoy Keith Kellogg. Tsikhanouski, sentenced to 18 years in 2021, is now in Vilnius with his wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who continues to advocate for the release of an additional 1,150 prisoners amid ongoing tensions related to the 2020 presidential election. Need More Context? 🔎

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scored his second century of the match with an unbeaten 125, helping Bangladesh draw the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, where Angelo Mathews played his final Test. Bangladesh declared at 6-285, setting Sri Lanka a target of 296, but they ended the match at 4-72, marking the first drawn Test in Galle in 12 years. Need More Context? 🔎

Two West Australians are celebrating after winning a share of the Saturday Lotto's $20 million prize draw, with each taking home $2.2 million. The winning tickets, sold at Derby Newsagency and through Lotterywest Play Online, were among nine total winners, as WA experienced a lucky weekend with five Division One wins overall. Need More Context? 🔎