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The federal government has abandoned plans to sell several historic Defence properties, including the 186-year-old Victoria Barracks in Sydney.
The proposed sale sparked a backlash from veterans, politicians and three former prime ministers.
Defence Minister Richard Marles says four heritage sites - including the Victoria Barracks in Sydney - will instead be transferred to the Finance Department, with Defence personnel moved out; and the properties opened to the public.
Israel's President Isaac Herzog has chosen former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to form a new government.
Mr Eisenkot, a political rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, received the most parliamentary endorsements, including from Arab-Israeli parties.
But forming a coalition could prove difficult. Mr Eisenkot has ruled out joining forces with those parties, which won a record 19 seats.
Mr Netanyahu has warned that a government including those parties would threaten Israel's security.
"Such a government will not remove the existential threat from Iran. It will not protect our heroic soldiers in Gaza and Lebanon, when one-third of its members, one-third of its members, call IDF soldiers war criminals and praise the murderers of the Nukhba and Hezbollah."
Mr Eisenkot now has 28 days to secure enough support to govern.
New Zealanders face an anxious wait to find out who will form their next government.
SBS News reporter Tom Stayner is in Auckland with the latest.
"I'm in Auckland, New Zealand, where voters have woken up after election night with the result still hanging in the balance.
Christopher Luxon's centre-right National Party is projected to win 42 seats, but falls 19 short of the majority needed to govern alone.
Combined with its coalition partners, ACT and New Zealand First, the bloc does hold a slim lead.
Here was Christopher Luxon last night.
'It is heartening to see that on the numbers so far, National is once again the largest party in Parliament. And, and we have a pathway to forming the next government. But I have to tell you right now, it is too close to call.'
Chris Hipkins, whose Labour Party won 36 seats, hasn't conceded, saying the shape of the next government remains uncertain.
'Tonight, New Zealand has spoken. It may take us a little bit longer to figure out exactly what it is that you've said.'
New Zealand could be waiting days or even weeks to find out where coalition negotiations land; and who will ultimately govern the country.
In Auckland, New Zealand, Tom Stayner, SBS News."
The death toll from a shooting in Poland has risen to nine.
A gunman is suspected of killing three people inside a house before driving to a crowded square in central Krakow and opening fire.
Polish authorities say early investigations suggest the suspect held radical ultranationalist views and was fascinated by far-right ideologies.
A number of weapons were found in the car he was driving.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk has declared two days of national mourning, describing the attack as an act of terrorism.
The fatal stabbing of a food delivery rider in Melbourne has sparked fresh concerns about safety in the city's CBD.
More than a thousand people attended a vigil last night for 47-year-old father-of-two Jianming Feng, who was stabbed to death on Friday night, after confronting a man allegedly tampering with his bike.
The Victorian opposition says the attack highlights the need for broader police powers to tackle knife crime.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece says the killing has deeply affected the city.
"This death has really rocked our city, um, and put a spotlight on the working lives of delivery riders, and also caused many people in the Asian community here in Melbourne to ask some hard questions about our city."
Millions of people around the world are celebrating Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights.
In Australia, the Defence Force's first full-time Hindu chaplain is bringing different faiths and cultures together to mark the occasion.
Nepal-born Pandita Kamala Sharma-Wing has helped organise celebrations involving Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist communities in the Royal Australian Navy.
Speaking to SBS Nepali, she says the festival has a message for everyone.
"Diwali is about allowing your light within you to lead you and not the darkness. And although we have both light and darkness within us, and both of them are important, what we're trying to achieve is make sure our light within us is the one leading it. And that is something, you know, we can all universally share."
Across Australia, Diwali celebrations are underway, featuring music, dancing and traditional food.
The Kangaroos are aiming to reach their 16th consecutive Rugby League World Cup final when they take on Samoa in Sydney tonight.
The winner will go up against New Zealand in next weekend's decider.
The Kiwis secured their place in the final with a 34-to-10 victory over Tonga in Newcastle last night.
Kick-off is at 8:05pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
