Russia has carried out airstrikes in Syria overnight. Russia claimed the strikes were against Islamic state targets, but the jets reportedly bomb targets in provinces held by groups support the Syrian President. Speaking in Moscow, Mr.Putin said it was necessary to fight terrorists in Syria or they would come to Russia.

The National Broadband Network has launched the first of two satellites to divide high-speed internet to remote parts of Australia. The rocket carrying half-a-billion-dollars worth of equipment blasted off this morning from the Guiana Space center in South America.

Unions and business groups say they don't want the Prime Minister's economic reform meeting today to be yet another talkfest. Malcolm Turnbull has convened a summit in Canberra with business, union and community leaders to discuss policies to grow the economy. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants to discuss the GST, youth joblessness and superannuation, while unions want to ensure the entitlements preserved under any changes.

And Victorian police will test human remains found near Bendigo to see if they link to 33-year-old Simone Quinlan who disappeared in August. Three men have been charged with her murder.

And finally two prisoners are on run this morning after separate escapes in New South Wales. Police are still searching for 33-year-old Al Hussein Chahine who escaped from Sydney's Downing Center Court yesterday afternoon. Hunts are also underway for 25-year-old Beau Wiles who fled a minimum security area of Goulburn jail yesterday morning.