Bets were placed, drinks were flowing, and colourful frocks were out in force as thousands frolicked at Ascot Racecourse on Melbourne Cup day.

An investigator has told a court the home of an alleged mum killer and his model girlfriend was bugged by police.

Emergency services raced to the scene but couldn’t save the woman.

A malnourished Emperor Penguin was spotted at a south coast beach on Friday in a rare sighting — thousands of kilometres from its icy home in Antarctica.

The wash-rind that features an aromatic sweetness and nutty flavour beat out 31 other cheeses from around the country to be declared Australia’s best cheese. 

The 24-year-old left a heartbreaking final message to her followers.