Australians will go to the polls on May 18, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced, adding that voters "now is not the time to turn back" to Labor.
The election will pit Morrison against Bill Shorten, a former labour union leader.
Arthur Stevens reports from Melbourne:
Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayoral race, capping meteoric rise
Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, won the New York City mayoral race on Tuesday, capping a meteoric rise from a little-known state lawmaker to one of the country's most visible Democratic figures, and the first Muslim mayor of the largest US city.
Typhoon Kalmaegi kills at least 58 in the Philippines, heads toward Vietnam
At least 58 people were dead after Typhoon Kalmaegi left a trail of destruction in the central Philippines and continued to batter parts of Palawan island on Wednesday as it headed toward the South China Sea.
At least four dead after UPS plane crashes in Kentucky, erupts into ball of fire
At least four people were killed and 11 others injured after a UPS wide-body cargo plane crashed and erupted into a massive fireball shortly after takeoff on Tuesday from Louisville, Kentucky, authorities said.
Former US VP Dick Cheney dies at 84
Dick Cheney, a driving force behind the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 who was considered by presidential historians as one of the most powerful vice presidents in US history has died at age 84, his family said in a statement on Tuesday.
Dozens killed, army helicopter downed as Typhoon Kalmaegi hits Philippines
The death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines hit 46 on Tuesday, including six crew of a military helicopter that crashed during the powerful storm that unleashed heavy rains and floods across the central region.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has led the messages of condolences sent to the family of Dick Cheney, former Vice President of the United States, following the announcement of his passing.
The UAE has welcomed the commencement of implementing the peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia that was previously signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, has approved new plans and policies aimed at making Dubai one of the world’s most beautiful, livable and healthiest cities.
