Updated August 3, 2026 — 11:01am,first published August 3, 2026 — 9:45am11.01amHockey headlines Diggers as mining meet puts AI, fuel on the agendaBy Kaaren MorrisseyAustralia’s contribution to the global boom in artificial intelligence will be front and centre when thousands of mining executives gather near the rim of one of the world’s most remote gold mines.Fuel costs are also likely to be on the agenda at the Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum in the outback town of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, after the federal government on Sunday let excise relief lapse, raising costs for the sector.Kalgoorlie’s Super Pit, Australia’s biggest gold source. It sits on the edge of the Goldfields town, where Diggers & Dealers is being held.Trevor CollensAustralia’s former ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, will headline the first day of the forum on Monday, when he’s expected to discuss geopolitics and the mining industry, given the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran.Hockey, who now leads his own consultancy firm, is likely to reinforce the ongoing value of critical minerals to defence supply chains and the AI sector, alongside closer Australia-US co-operation, when he addresses up to 2600 company executives.9.46amTwo men charged with murder over Australind deathBy Two men will face Bunbury Magistrates Court on Monday charged with murder after a man was found dead in the regional South West town of Australind early on Sunday.Emergency services were called to a bus stop on The Boulevard just after 1am on Sunday after the 29-year-old victim was found unresponsive. He was taken to Bunbury Hospital, where he was declared dead.Now, police have charged two men over the death, alleging they chased the victim from a carpark nearby on The Promenade before one man allegedly bashed the 29-year-old with a pole.The men, aged 30 and 33, were arrested nearby. They have been charged with one count each of murder.9.46amAcross Australia and around the worldBy Here’s what’s making headlines elsewhere today:A passionate young Australian hiker was attempting a gruelling trail in the US when he went missing. Now, his family say his soul will be “forever in the mountains”.The RBA’s three rate rises were always going to slow inflation. But it’s got an unexpected assist from the government’s budget measures.The watchdog overseeing the safety and efficacy of hundreds of thousands of medical devices has drastically fewer staff than it predicted it would need to cope with an expected surge in reports of problems in hospitals. Two firefighting helicopters owned by an Australian company collided in midair as they were battling a wind-driven wildfire west of Athens, sending one aircraft crashing to the ground.Alan Jones dominated the airwaves in Sydney for decades. Today his criminal trial in the NSW Local Court for indecent assault and sexual touching begins.9.46amToday’s weatherBy We’ve just had our driest July since 2012, but the first week of August is thankfully looking a little wetter.There’ll be rain tonight into tomorrow morning with showers on and off until next Sunday.9.45amWelcome to our live news blogBy Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Monday, August 3.Making headlines today is news that WA’s government watchdog is investigating whether police acted appropriately in their dealings with Virginia Giuffre before her death last April.It is understood the WA Ombudsman’s investigation is examining the issues raised by Giuffre’s family in the United States detailed in a letter to the organisation in June.Virginia Giuffre was one of the most prominent survivors of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.APThe ombudsman is responsible for independently investigating complaints about the actions of public authorities.1 of 1