- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with US President Joe Biden
- United Nations warns Middle East on "brink of a catastrophe" after Israeli attack on Beirut
- The Deputy Prime Minister offers words of support for Geelong ahead of tonight's preliminary final clash with Brisbane.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with outgoing United States President Joe Biden ahead of a summit focusing on the Indo-Pacific region.
The prime minister is in the U-S state of Delaware for the fourth in-person meeting of the Quad with leaders of the U-S, Japan and India.
While security and stability in the Indo-Pacific will dominate discussions, the summit will be the last attended by the outgoing president before November's election.
Mr Albanese says the pair's talked covered a range of issues including military cooperation.
"We spoke about the progress in the AUKUS relationship which was very positive indeed. We went on to speak about the depth of cooperation we have across defence and security, economic relationship - the United States is the largest investor in Australia - but also action on climate change, and critical minerals in particular."
The United Nations warns the Middle East region is on the "brink of a catastrophe" and immediately urges deescalation after an Israeli attack levelled a building in Lebanon's capital Beirut.
The Israeli air strike, which killed Hezbollah's top commander Ibrahim Aqil, took the lives of at least 13 others including children and wounded dozens more.
It was the first Israeli attack on Lebanon’s capital in months and came shortly after Hezbollah pounded northern Israel with 140 rockets.
Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric says both parties must do all they can to avoid a devastating regional war.
"We're, of course, very concerned at the heightened escalation across the Blue Line, including the deadly strike we saw Beirut today. We urge all parties to de-escalate immediately. All must exercise maximum restraint. We also urge the parties to immediately return to the cessation of hostilities and to fully implement security council Resolution 1701. The region is on the brink of a catastrophe."
This follows a series of suspected Israeli attacks* in Lebanon involving exploding communications devices, a move the U-N Human Rights Chief says was a clear war crime.
The attacks - which targeted the communication network of Lebanese group Hezbollah - killed at least 37 people, including two children, and injured more than 3400 people, many who now have permanent disabilities.
A man has been arrested in Italy over the "Easey Street murders" of two women stabbed to death in Melbourne almost five decades ago.
Suzanne Armstrong, 28, and Susan Bartlett, 27, were found dead in their Collingwood home in January 1977, each with dozens of stab wounds.
Ms Bartlett's 16-month-old son was found unharmed in his cot.
In 2017, Victoria Police offered a $1 million reward to catch those responsible for what had become known as the "Easey Street Murders".
Today it's been revealed a 65-year-old man has been arrested at an airport in Rome in relation to the murders with the dual citizen of Australia and Greece taken into custody and Victoria Police now seeking to extradite him.
In AFL,
Geelong native and Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, has offered words of support for the Cats ahead of tonight's preliminary final against Brisbane at the MCG.
Geelong know they'll need to shut down Brisbane's star player Lachie Neale to give them the best chance to play against the Sydney Swans in the grand final next week.
Two-time Brownlow medallist Neale, who is managing a lingering heel issue, was tagged with effect by G-W-S stopper Toby Bedford in Brisbane's thrilling semi-final win last week.
Mr Marles told Channel Nine he's looking forward to tonight's match-up.
"We go into tonight feeling confident but, of course, this has been an incredible season where anything could happen so we will see. But, tonight we do see it as a David and Goliath contest. We are a determined, battling and regional town against a state metropolis, an Olympic city no less. This is a contest between all that is good and right on one hand, and on the other hand, Brisbane."
