"We have an independent foreign policy", says New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, after confirming that New Zealand would not lift a ban on nuclear-powered vessels entering its waters in the wake of Australia's decision to develop a nuclear submarine fleet.

The US and UK will share nuclear-powered submarine technology with Australia as part of the new three-way defensive alliance. The move comes amid tense relations with China.

CCTV footage shows a ski run at Mount Buller during an earthquake that shook southeastern Australia. The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the quake at 5.8, later revised up to 5.9, and said it struck at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles).

Taiwan has formally filed to join the trans-Pacific trade deal initially negotiated by the US. Intended to freeze China out, Trump walked away from the deal but now China and Taiwan want in.

A set of hulking machines from 'Mad Max: Fury road' await a new owner in a Sydney warehouse as a far-out fleet of 13 from the 2015 film goes up for sale.

The premier of Australia's most populous state New South Wales says "quite confidently" that vaccinated Sydney residents will finally emerge from a lengthy lockdown on October 11.

France says it is sending its ambassador back to Australia to help "redefine the terms'' of the bilateral relationship after Canberra ditched a multibillion-dollar submarine contract.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces a comprehensive in-principle free trade agreement with the UK, arrived at after 16 months of talks. London said the deal ends tariffs on British exports such as clothing, footwear, ships and bulldozers. It estimated that trade between the two countries last year was worth £2.3 billion ($3.2 billion, 2.7 billion euros).

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces a much-delayed pledge to meet 2050 net-zero emissions target ahead of a landmark UN climate summit. Widely seen as a climate laggard, Australia is one of the world's largest coal and gas exporters and its conservative government has resisted climate action for most of its eight-year term.

Australia reopened its borders Monday, permitting citizens to return and exit the country. Foreign workers in Australia remain unable to do so though.

The two countries join the ASEAN nations, China, South Korea, and Japan. The pact will cover 30% of the world's population and 53% of last year's exports.

A British woman has won her case after she paid significantly higher taxes than Australian locals while employed as a waitress on a working holiday visa.