Four million people are making last-minute preparations for tropical Cyclone Alfred's arrival as the weather system lurks off Australia's east coast.

Significant damage and power outages are possible in the densely populated region of Queensland, where tropical cyclones impacts are not uncommon, but direct landfalls are.

Storm is expected to make landfall between Brisbane and Sunshine Coast and could be one of most destructive in the region for decades

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed regret over his angry exchange with Donald Trump in the Oval Office and vowed to return to the negotiating table to sign a minerals deal and secure peace.

The stadium gig on the Gold Coast slated for Wednesday night (March 5) was the last stop on the Down Under run of the veteran group's "Saviors" tour.

Damaging winds, heavy rainfall and life-threatening floods are expected after the storm made a sudden shift toward Queensland.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to cross the southeast Queensland coast late this Thursday as a Category 2 storm. The last tropical cyclone to make landfall in the region was ex-Tropical Cyclone Zoe in 1974, half a century ago.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has wreaked havoc on sports across all levels in Queensland, with AFL and NRL among those forced to reconsider their plans for this weekend.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will provide A$8 million ($5 million) to technology firm Licella for a study on a biorefinery in Queensland to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the Brisbane Airport.

Australia’s east coast is closely watching Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which has been churning and strengthening over the Coral Sea. Although the storm is expected to stay offshore for now, it’s still set to bring gusty winds, rising swells and hazardous surf conditions to Queensland’s heavily populated coastline in the coming days.

Travellers have been warned to watch for updates amid the impending landfall of severe . The severe weather system, which resulted in NSW’s first cyclone watch issued in over three decades, is expected to smash Australia’s coastline as a category two system on Thursday night.

Queensland has been named Australia’s worst state for NBN service, recording the highest number of faults and slowest repair times, according to the latest ACCC report out today.