For the first time in more than two decades, Australia will commemorate Remembrance Day while not currently involved in an active conflict.
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The first Remembrance Day since Australian troops withdrew from Afghanistan, the nation will pause at 11am to mark the 103rd anniversary of the end of World War I, honouring those who have died defending the country.
Australians are asked to stand and observe one minute's silence and reflect on the more than 60,000 troops who lost their lives in WWI, fought between 1914 and 1918.
Fully vaccinated Victorians are preparing to attend COVID-safe Remembrance Day services for the first time in two years across the state, with a crowd of 3800 to pay their respects at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.
If you're a subscriber to one of our mastheads, you can read this story about a French farmer remembering the sacrifices Australians made during the war, despite the current political tensions between the countries, or you can read as these two veterans reflect on their mates, close calls and getting into trouble.
There's a lot of rain falling across the country
The rain is the thing to watch today with more than half of the country expecting to see more than a month's rainfall in the next few days.
Already Queensland has seen some big drops and experienced flooding, while in Tasmania snow is expected to fall.
Dylan Alcott finalist for Aust of the Year
Paralympian gold medallist Dylan Alcott has been named Victoria's Australian on the Year and will go into the finals for the national awards in January.
Mr Alcott, who this week announced he will retire from tennis after the Australian Open, recently became the first man in history to win the Golden Slam.
COVID updates around the country
A crucial step has been taken towards approving a COVID-19 vaccine for children aged six to 12. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has granted a "provisional determination" to Moderna Australia in relation to its COVID-19 vaccine, SPIKEVAX. It means Moderna can apply to vary the provisional approval of its vaccine for use in children aged under 12.
Queensland recorded three new cases but also said goodbye to masks after hitting 80 per cent single dose vaccination rate. home quarantine is also set to be expanded early with the state having 68.31 per cent of the population fully vaccinated.
NSW is aiming to go past the 90 per cent fully vaccinated mark after hitting the milestone this week. The state looks likely to reach at least 94 per cent vaccination - given that's how many people have already stepped forward for a first dose - but authorities want to reach 95 per cent or more.
Push for consistent abuse laws
Grace Tame doesn't think justice should look different for sexual abuse survivors depending on the state they live in.
The Australian of the Year will meet with the country's attorneys-general in a campaign to make child sexual abuse offences, the age of consent and definition of sexual intercourse uniform across states and territories.
Unemployment rate likely rose in October
The Australian Bureau of Statistics will release its labour force report for October today, which will cover the first two weeks of the month and capture the initial stages of NSW's departure from lockdown.
However, Victoria remained in shutdown during this period.
A spread of data released on Wednesday showed payroll jobs rebounding, job advertising surging and consumers being confident of the jobless rate declining to its lowest level since the mid-1990s.
However, economists expect it will take a few months for the jobs market to get back into full swing.
- with Australian Associated Press