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Australia and the Philippines have signed a significant defence treaty focused on maritime security as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visits Manila for the ASEAN talks.
Mr Albanese says the deal will contribute to making the region safer, more secure, and more prosperous, emphasising sovereignty and territorial integrity in his remarks.
The Philippines and China have repeatedly confronted each other over claims to the South China Sea, which is a significant waterway for global trade.
Marking the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Philippines, Mr Albanese says the deal consists of three main parts.
"Firstly, it'll guide our priority areas of cooperation. Secondly, to enhance our maritime awareness activities and information sharing. And thirdly, to increase our strategic dialogue, planning, training, interoperability, and defence infrastructure development."
The major parties have formally launched their campaigns in Victoria ahead of the 28th of November election that is being closely-watched as a major test for One Nation.
The incumbent Labor government is facing a tough fight for its fourth term in a three-cornered race as polls put the coalition on track to form government.
Since replacing his predecessor Jacinta Allan in July, Premier Ben Carroll has sought to differentiate key issues like crime and debt.
"It requires hard decisions and careful management of the budget, but Labor's plan will work. The Liberal-One Nation cuts won't. Their cuts will hurt the economy and hurt working people. That's the truth."
Liberal leader Jess Wilson has united her party after years of division and made the Liberal-National coalition competitive for the first time in years.
She's campaigning on crime, economic restraint, and the state of Victoria's pothole-ridden roads.
"This election, there is a clear choice: the choice between a Labor government that has increased taxes, wasted your money, and let crime and corruption take over, or a fresh start with lower costs, reduced crime, and a government that works."
A man who was struck by lightning while swimming north of Sydney on Saturday afternoon remains in a critical but stable condition.
He was hit by lighting while swimming under clear skies and sunshine at Ettalong Beach shortly after 3pm.
Surf lifesavers were the first to the respond, with the man rushed to Gosford Hospital.
He has since been transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney.
Victorian homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man located with suspected stab wounds in Frankston around 1.20am this morning.
Emergency services performed CPR but the man - who is yet to be identified - was declared dead at the scene.
A woman was arrested at the scene in relation to another matter, and a crime scene has been established.
Investigators say they are probing whether the stabbing is related to another incident at a nearby property.
Cyber experts are warning Australia could face serious risks as a result of Friday's (13 Nov) Microsoft outage.
Australia's peak cyber-security body says an enormous amount of sensitive information may have bypassed normal security walls during the day-long outage.
The major incident, which crippled online communications for nearly 24 hours, has also raised questions about global reliance on a handful of major tech companies supplying essential software.
Professor Denis Kenji-Kipker from the Cyber Intelligence Institute says it's likely to happen again if measures aren't taken to ease this reliance.
"So support alternatives, oblige public authorities to be able to switch to alternative providers, especially in the field of cloud computing and stop procurement from defaulting to a single vendor."
A new Cancer Council Australia survey has revealed almost half of Australians have only a basic or limited understanding of the U-V Index.
The YouGov poll, released for National Skin Cancer Action Week, has identified gaps in sun safety knowledge and behaviour across all generations.
Baby Boomers were the most likely to report going without sunscreen over the previous eight months, among respondents who use it.
Cancer Council Australia CEO Jacinta Reddan says sun protection habits established early in life can reduce the risk of skin cancer.
"Research has found that 50 per cent of lifetime UV exposure happens before the age of 20, showing that sun protection habits established today can help lower our risk of skin cancer tomorrow. Studies also tell us children are 12 times more likely to use sunscreen and three times more likely to wear a hat when they see their parents do it first."
To sport, and in Rugby Union, Wales has pulled off a historic upset, defeating New Zealand 35-28 in Cardiff for its first victory over the All Blacks since 1953.
The result ended New Zealand’s streak of 34 consecutive victories over Wales, with the Welsh side scoring five tries to four in the Nations Championship clash.
After years of disappointing results, Wales produced a determined defensive performance to withstand repeated New Zealand attacks and secure one of its most memorable victories.
Fly-half Dan Edwards could barely believe the result.
"Unbelievable! Can't believe it. If you'd told me yesterday we beat the All Blacks I'd have laughed at you, but ... I don't know, I can't believe it. Unbelievable! It's grouse."
