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China’s ruling Communist Party approved an amendment of the party constitution Saturday that could further enhance Xi Jinping’s stature as China's leader.

The expected move came at the closing session of a weeklong party congress that set the national agenda for the coming five years.

The text of the amendment was not immediately released, but before its approval an announcer read out the reasoning behind it, repeatedly mentioning Xi and his accomplishments in strengthening the military and the economy and reinforcing the party’s authority.

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Xi, in brief closing remarks, said the revision “sets out clear requirements for upholding and strengthening the party's overall leadership".

At the previous congress in 2017, the party elevated Xi's status by enshrining his ideas – known as “Xi Jinping Thought” – in its charter.

The roughly 2000 delegates, wearing blue surgical masks under China's strict zero-COVID policy, also formally elected a new Central Committee of 205 members to govern the party for the next five years, state media said.

Xi is expected to retain the top spot when the new leadership of the party is unveiled Sunday.

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Foreign media were not allowed into the first part of the meeting, presumably when the voting was taking place, at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

Police were stationed along major roads, with bright red-clad neighbourhood watch workers at regular intervals in between to keep an eye out for any potential disruptions.

An individual caught authorities by surprise last week by unfurling banners from an overpass in Beijing that called for Xi's removal and attacked his government's tough pandemic restrictions.

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A report read by Xi at the opening session of the congress a week ago showed a determination to stay on the current path in the face of domestic and international challenges.

Xi has emerged during his first decade in power as one of China's most powerful leaders in modern times, rivalling Mao Zedong, who founded the communist state in 1949 and led the country for a quarter-century.

An expected third five-year term as party leader would break an unofficial two-term limit that was instituted to try to prevent the excesses of Mao's one-person rule, notably the tumultuous 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, under which Xi suffered as a youth.

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Xi has put loyalists in key positions and taken personal charge of policy working groups.

In contrast, factions within the party discussed ideas internally under his two immediate predecessors, Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, said Ho-fung Hung, a professor of political economy at Johns Hopkins University.

“Right now, you don’t really see a lot of internal party debates about these different policies and there is only one voice there,” he said.

Australia and Japan have signed a bolstered security agreement, sending a "strong signal" to the region of the nations' strategic alignment.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hosted his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Perth, where the two signed a joint declaration on security cooperation.

"Our commitment to consult each other on contingencies is a natural step in our efforts to support the security and stability of our region," Albanese said, announcing the landmark declaration.

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"It shows the responsibility we share for security in our region and towards one another."

The declaration renews a 2007 commitment to closer defence and security cooperation.

"Our affinity is in our common desire for a peaceful, prosperous and secure Indo Pacific," Albanese said. 

Kishida says Japan and Australia's shared "fundamental values and strategic interest have come under the increasingly harsh strategic environment".

"We have developed a framework of cooperation, logistical support and operation and have expanded our security and defence cooperation," he said.

"This renewed declaration, based on the above-mentioned firm foundation, will charge the direction of our security and defence cooperation in the next 10 years."

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Malcolm Davis from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said the commitment marked "a step up in the relationship" when "both Japan and Australia are facing a serious challenge from China".

The two leaders also signed a critical minerals partnership to help build secure supply chains.

Two people have died in crashes on the roads this long weekend. One person has died following a serious crash in the Wellington region earlier today. Emergency services were called to the High St collision in Taita, Lower Hutt,…

An emergency alert has been issued for Brisbane as severe storms are set to hit Queensland.

Residents in the Brisbane City Council area have been warned of heavy rainfall and the possibility of severe thunderstorms that could result in dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding within the next 12 to 48 hours.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast the city could see up to 150mm of rain fall.

READ MORE: Weekend of worrying weather across Australia, with three states in the firing line

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services is asking residents in this area to prepare their homes, warn their neighbours and take care when driving.

Much of Australia's east coast, including south-east Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania is experiencing widespread rain, with multiple evacuation orders in place across Victoria and NSW as rivers break their banks.

NSW Emergency Minister Steph Cooke has warned the floods inundating Northern NSW town Moree will be record-breaking.

Residents can find the latest emergency alerts through the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and weather warnings are on the Bureau of Meteorology website.

God of War Ragnarok is right around the corner.

Impressions of the game's first five hours are starting to release online and, having played through that much myself, it's good. Like, really good.

PlayStation's biggest title of 2022 comes out the gate swinging with battle after battle.

The game's director Eric Williams has told 9news.com.au that was a very deliberate decision.

"We wanted the first hour to be almost like you got your money's worth," says Williams.

"The rest of the game now is just more (of that), right? Let's go!"

"You're bought in at that point in time and I think good films do that. They get you in the first 10 minutes."

"We've looked at a lot of media that we appreciate – that we love – and tried to pace it out in a way that we felt like was like we can teach you the axe, we can teach you the blades, we can get the big moments and you're like OK, I'm into this story."

Years have passed since Kratos scattered the ashes of his wife on the highest peak of the realm.

Their son Atreus is older, more capable and more curious than ever.

Freya continues to hunt you, seeking revenge over the death of her son, Baldur.

And we know the God of Thunder is coming for Kratos after he killed Thor's sons.

It's a lot to set up – and pay off – in one big finale.

And Williams says they took notes on how Marvel handled Avengers Infinity War and Endgame.

"Endgame almost made twice as much money. That's almost impossible to understand."

"Did these people just go see this movie and not watch the previous one? They did."

"So we're thinking the same thing is gonna happen. We're gonna have a lot of people that are going to come to this game and not have played the other games. So how do you onboard them, but also pay respect to your fans that did and have that big experience from 2018?"

"That, I think, was the most difficult thing."

"How do you thread all that at the beginning? And that's why we have the recap."

As good as trailers made the game look, God of War Ragnarok is just as stunning to play.

On PS5, you have the option of fidelity or performance modes.

I picked performance and haven't looked back.

There is zero slowdown and the transition from combat to exploration to cutscene is as seamless as it was in 2018.

PlayStation fans who haven't had the chance to pick up a PS5 will still have the option of playing on PS4, which Eric – whose last two play throughs were on last generation's hardware – says is "every bit as good."

"We put all of the care into making sure all of our fans from the previous (generation) that haven't been able to upgrade due the supply chains or cost or whatever can still finish this story with us.

"But those that have moved on (to PS5) also get a stunning experience and we try to cover all the things with the DualSense and 3D Audio and all of those pieces that the PS5 has to offer."

"(While) also trying not to set a PS4 on fire," Eric laughs.

Williams says the game on PS4 is "pushing (the console) to its absolute brink".

"I don't count any chickens until they hatch."

"When the ninth (of November) rolls around we'll be happy, but you know, we're excited."

God of War Ragnarök launches on PS4 and PS5 on November 9, 2022.

PlayStation provided 9news.com.au with early access to the game for the purpose of this preview. 

You can watch Mark's full video interview with Eric Williams above.

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