Good morning. Thomas Morgan here with today's AM newsletter.

West Australian police are using artificial intelligence as part of an Australian-first facial scanning operation they say is helping catch criminals and find missing persons. But the trial is now facing scrutiny, amid concerns the technology will erode privacy and disproportionately target First Nations people. 

And in developing news, Colombia has been rocked by a powerful earthquake overnight, with the death toll standing at 111. Plus, Foreign Correspondent takes to the waters of the South China Sea where tensions between China and the Philippines are simmering.

What's the story? West Australian police are trialling the use of live AI facial recognition technology, in a move that has caught the attention and criticism of privacy advocates and legal experts. Already, the faces of more than 130,000 people in Fremantle and Perth have been scanned and compared against a police watchlist in real time.

How are the scans used? The technology is similar but more complex to that deployed by Bunnings at some of its stores. WA police compared captured faces to a database of about 4,000 people, including those accused of serious offences and on missing persons lists. They say 18 arrests have followed, and only one person was falsely identified.

So what is the problem? Experts say this kind of technology has long been subject to accuracy issues, particularly for people of colour and women. And legal advocates say consultation from WA Police about its impact on Indigenous Australians, and the privacy of all Australians, amounted to a "tick a box exercise".

Please explain: Car premiums are being hiked to such an extent that the corporate watchdog is now putting insurers on notice to do better. And consumers battling cost-of-living concerns are also being urged to take action, with more "loyal" customers paying a steeper price than those who shop around.

Was it a bubble? Possibly, writes chief business correspondent Ian Verrender, but the current property price downturn is still quite modest even by recent standards. Deflating a bubble is both tricky and entirely necessary, and the RBA, which meets to set interest rates today, is acutely aware of that fact. 

Gaza peace plan: Donald Trump's "monumental" agreement with Hamas comes at a sensitive time for Benjamin Netanyahu's government, so it is little surprise that Israel has rejected it. But the White House appears "not bothered" by the rejection, as our Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran explains.

Colombia earthquake: At least 111 people are dead and a national emergency has been declared after a magnitude-7.4 quake hit the South American country. Footage shows residents desperately trying to sift through collapsed buildings. Follow our live blog coverage.

'Ah, sorry guys': An airborne helicopter and a fixed-wing plane were involved in a mishap in Antarctica earlier this year, FOI documents show. While no-one was injured in the incident, it has prompted the Antarctic Division to implement new safety protocols to prevent a repeat.

Make it count: Every household in the country will tonight be required to partake in the five-yearly tradition of completing the census, with the ABS reminding people that penalties could apply if it isn't filled out. The survey helps guide delivery of essential services, and participants (that's everyone) are being reassured it remains completely confidential.

Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard isn't shy about calling out China's growing ambition to control the South China Sea. On the other side of the contested waterway, former Chinese diplomat Victor Gao is equally forthright when giving his appraisal of the situation, warning that Beijing is prepared to use force to uphold its claim to islands within its so called Nine-Dash Line.

On this week's Foreign Correspondent, we take to the waters of one of the world's key shipping routes where the stand-off between the Philippines and China continues to intensify, leading to fears about what Beijing may do next.

Ever gone for a beach dip at night and seen an electric-blue flash across the water? No, it isn't your eyes playing tricks or a figment of your imagination.

Locals at Brisbane boat ramps were this weekend taken aback by the phenomenon, a product of minute, glow-in-the-dark sea creatures that can more commonly be found on shores further south but a rare sight in the sunshine state.

Thanks for reading. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more.

Thomas and the ABC News Digital team.

More than 130,000 faces have already been scanned under WA Police's landmark facial recognition trial. The privacy watchdog, experts and Aboriginal advocates are raising concerns about who could be caught in its net.

The corporate regulator ASIC has taken aim at major car insurers, finding the companies are not explaining why customers' premiums are rising faster than inflation.