Victoria has recorded 507 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and another fatality ahead of the release of a comprehensive plan for easing lockdown restrictions.

WHO PLAYS WHO IN NRL FINALS, WEEK THREE (All times AEST)FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24First preliminary finalSouth Sydney v Manly at Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pmManly sent a reminder of how dangerous they can be in their 42-6 shellacking of the Sydney Roosters, as Tom Trbojevic again ran rampant.

An investigation has been launched after a woman's body was found on the NSW Mid North Coast.

France considers that it is in a "crisis" with Australia and the United States after the cancellation of a multi-billion dollar submarine order, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says.

More than 250 people are facing charges after anti-lockdown rallies across the country.

More than 1800 new virus cases have been reported from outbreaks in NSW and Victoria as the first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrives in the country.

France has plunged into an unprecedented diplomatic crisis with the United States and Australia after it recalled its ambassadors from both countries over a trilateral security deal that sank a French-designed submarine contract.

Sydney's status as a globally-engaged city can be rebuilt through the establishment of shorter home quarantine periods for vaccinated international arrivals, the NSW government hopes.

The death of a baby girl three days after a home water birth could have been prevented if she had been born in the hospital, a Queensland coroner had found.

New Zealand's ban on quarantine-free travellers from Australia will remain until November at least, with future trans-Tasman travel hinging on vaccination rates.