The Loop: Three dead and shooter at large near Mackay, China launches live fire military drills around Taiwan, jury deliberates on Alex Jones

Hello, it's Thursday, August 4. Here's what you need to get caught up on today's news.

One thing to know: three people are dead in a Queensland shooting

Here are the details:

• Three people have been found dead at a rural property in Bogie, near Mackay, this morning
• A man is in a critical condition with a gunshot wound to his abdomen

The injured man was flown to Mackay Base Hospital. (ABC News: Melissa Maddison)

• Police are searching for the gunman
• Police requested the public and aircraft to stay away from the area while they conduct an "emergency operation"

We heard about China's response to Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan trip

Here are the main bits:

• China has launched unprecedented live-fire military drills in six areas that ring Taiwan.
• The drills are due to end at 12pm Sunday.
• Taiwan officials said the drills violated United Nations rules, invaded Taiwan's territorial space and were a direct challenge to free air and sea navigation.
• The drills come a day after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island where she pledged US solidarity with Taiwan.
• The trip was condemned by Beijing, which claims self-governed Taiwan as its sovereign territory.
• Pelosi has now arrived in South Korea, where she'll meet the speaker of the national assembly.

Take a look back on Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit

The news Australia is searching for

Alex Jones: The conspiracy theorist is facing potentially millions of dollars in damages for spreading lies about the deadliest elementary school shooting in American history — the Sandy Hook massacre that killed 26 children and staff.

As the jury deliberates, here are the key takeaways from the trial:

• Jones accepted the Sandy Hook massacre wasn't a hoax and said this was clear to him after being confronted in court by the parents of a six-year-old victim

Conspiracy theorist accepts Sandy Hook massacre is not a hoax

• Jones told the jury that any compensation above $2.9 million would "sink" his company. The parents are seeking $216 million
• The court was shown an email from an InfoWars business officer, informing Mr Jones that the company had earned more than $1.15 million in product sales in a single day. Jones said that was the company's best day in sales
• Jones's lawyer said his client was not responsible for any harassment the parents had received from others
• Under cross-examination, Mr Jones acknowledged his history of raising conspiracy claims on InfoWars

Jurors must now decide whether Mr Jones should pay the parents compensation for defamation and emotional distress, as well as punitive damages.

News you might have missed

• ANZ, NAB Westpac and Commonwealth Bank have passed on the RBA's rate hike, lifting its variable mortgage interest rates by 0.5 percentage points

• Health Minister Mark Butler says Australia may have hit its winter COVID peak earlier than expected. But he has warned about a "school holiday effect"

The Health Minister said hospital admissions were down, though remained high: about 5,000 admissions across the country. (ABC News: Nick Haggarty)

One more thing: the climate bill has passed the lower house

A bill to write the government's 43 per cent emissions reduction target into law has passed the lower house after the government agreed to several minor amendments from the crossbench.

The "teal" independent MPs celebrated the government's willingness to negotiate changes. (ABC News: Nick Haggarty)

Business groups welcomed the decision but independent MPs were disappointed.

They see this target as insufficient for limiting global warming to below 2C and said they would continue to push the government for more ambitious action.

The government rejected a separate Greens amendment to lift its target to reduce emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2035.

That's it for now

We'll be back tomorrow with more.

ABC/wires