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Microsoft has apologised for the massive outage that hit users, public services and businesses around the world for over twelve hours.
In a statement, the tech organisation says the collapse was caused by a technical issue, was not related to a cyberattack or A-I, and full service is still being restored.
Experts say the outage is expected to cost Australian businesses billions of dollars.
Professor for Cyber Security at the Cyber-intelligence Institute, Dennis-Kenji Kipker warns heavy reliance on a small number of tech companies had left organisations vulnerable.
“I would say that this outage is not some kind of freak accident. So it is a bill for a decision we have been making for years. So we put our offices, our data and our ability to work into the hands of just one single provider and we outsourced everything into the cloud and trusted just one company mostly blindly."
The outage is one of the longest in Microsoft's history and the second disruption to its services this year.
A warning, this story contains references to sexual assault.
British police have launched a criminal investigation into comedian and children's author David Walliams over allegations of serious sexual offences.
London's Metropolitan Police say they've received several allegations relating to incidents in the past.
He has not been arrested or charged.
The investigation follows reports by the Guardian and ITV News accusing the 55-year-old of grooming teenage girls and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old.
Police say the allegations they're investigating are separate from those reported by the media, but those claims are also being examined.
Mr Walliams, best known for Little Britain and his children's books, denies wrongdoing, saying he's not a sexual predator and has broken no laws.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
The federal government is reconsidering proposed restrictions on working holiday visas following concerns from farming, tourism and hospitality groups.
The changes could include delaying a ballot for backpackers seeking a third-year visa until next year and increasing the proposed cap.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is also seeking to curb the sharp rise in British backpackers under Australia’s free trade arrangements with the UK.
Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond has welcomed the rethink but remains opposed to visa caps.
"We're grateful that the government and the Minister has been willing to have a thought process on how the changes might be implemented - and what the implications would be for the industry. But make no mistake, we're not happy about the fact that there's caps. And we'd like to see them gone. I don't think there is any doubt that working holiday makers, backpackers are feeling the brunt of this current debate. And it will be our industries. We are going to feel the brunt of this exercise."
The detention of Indigenous children across Australia has been condemned by a United Nations human rights investigator.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Dr Albert Barume [[Bah-roo-may]], has concluded a fact-finding visit to Australia.
He was denied access to youth detention facilities in Darwin and Townsville.
Dr Barume says the treatment of Indigenous people is shameful and has called for national minimum standards for youth justice.
"The current treatment of Indigenous people in term of rights is shameful throughout the entire nation. I saw images and accounts... and Indigenous people living in extremely unacceptable conditions in a country like this. Is that something ordinary Australian would be proud of? I don't think so. So I think the people in power need to fix this."
Australian government figures show Indigenous children accounted for 60 per cent of those in detention on an average night in the June quarter of 2025, despite making up just 6.6 per cent of children aged 10 to 17.
They were 21 times as likely as non-Indigenous children to be detained
Pacific nations facing worsening climate disasters are receiving a financial boost, with nearly $300 million Australian dollars pledged to a Pacific-led resilience fund.
The Pacific Resilience Facility will help vulnerable communities prepare for and recover from climate-related disasters.
Australia has committed A$100 million dollars, while the Minderoo Foundation has announced a further A$7.25 million dollars, becoming the fund’s first philanthropic contributor.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for greater international support at COP31 in Türkiye, saying Pacific nations must be able to build their own resilience.
"To drive that change, not just for our own nation, but throughout the Pacific as well. And that is one of the themes here. The Pacific countries need investment to basically build up their own national resilience against what is happening with the reliance upon diesel in particular - that was disrupted by the Middle East crisis."
The Sydney Swans have refused to comment on reports that civil action may be taken against four of its players.
Slater and Gordon is representing one of the women who alleges being sexually assaulted, and it's understood they are preparing civil claims against the relevant parties.
On Friday, Victoria Police announced no criminal charges would be laid.
The AFL club's CEO Matthew Pavlich says that while culture issues at the Swans remain far from resolved, the decision not to proceed with criminal charges is an opportunity to once again consider the future.
Mr Pavlich says the club intends to implement any findings that emerge from an ongoing examination of its AFL program - and in the meantime, allow the players back on the field.
"It's a time for everyone to move forward, and at some point they'll be back at training and back with their team mates, and that's going to be an important step."
