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:
Sydney Airport flights disrupted due to air traffic controller shortage
A shortage of air traffic controllers has caused flight cancellations and major delays at Sydney Airport on Friday morning, the federal agency responsible for managing Australia's air traffic said.
Philippine firefighters enter charred ferry as search continues for dozens missing
Philippine firefighters on Friday managed to board a burned-out ferry more than a day after the ship caught fire on its way from Manila to the western province of Palawan, killing five people and leaving more than 80 missing.
Modi, Putin hold talks in New Delhi on trade, defence
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin began talks in New Delhi on Friday, their second meeting in two weeks, that is expected to focus on trade, energy and defence ties between the two countries, which have long been friends.
More US lawmakers seek AI rules after Anthropic researchers warn of extinction
Growing numbers of US lawmakers are calling for new rules to govern AI systems after dire warnings from two Anthropic researchers that rapidly progressing artificial intelligence could lead to the extinction of the human race in the not-too-distant future.
Fire in rebel-held east Congo kills 24 schoolchildren
A fire in Congo's rebel-controlled city of Bukavu killed at least 24 children as it destroyed two schools and burned down around 300 wooden houses, an official from the rebel administration told Reuters on Thursday.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has met with UAE students studying at universities in Germany, as part of his state visit to the country.
UAE authorities have foiled two cross-border people-smuggling operations, preventing the illegal entry of 18 individuals and stopping an attempt to smuggle a wanted foreign national out of the country.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has held phone discussions with his counterparts in Kuwait and Bahrain, national news agency Wam reported on Friday.
