New Caledonia has elected a pro-independence government for the first time since 1999.

This comes following the government collapse on February 2nd, and months after a narrow referendum vote to remain within the French republic. 

A pro-independence president is expected to be elected for the first time in almost four decades. New Caledonia will hold an independence referendum for a third and final time at the end of 2022.

Hundreds of thousands of people have protested across Myanmar, staging some of the biggest anti-military rallies since the coup began. 

Drivers in Yangon staged a car break-down protest, blocking the city's key roads.

The demonstrators demanded their state counsellor and civilian leaders be released. 

The military has promised to hold fresh elections and relinquish power, though many protesters remain sceptical.

The following story reads of domestic violence, reader discretion is advised. 

The Queensland Government is setting up an independent task force to investigate the potential to make coercive control a crime. 

Coercive control is a form of non-physical domestic and family violence which includes behaviours such as limiting one’s financial accessibility and tracking their location.

The task force will consult with domestic violence survivors, legal and domestic violence experts and the community. 

Queensland University lecture theatres can return to 100 per cent capacity as of next week.

The ease of restriction comes a week before university classes return.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says all other university settings, such as tutorials and laboratories are not subject to occupant density requirements but should observe physical distancing to the extent possible.

The Government’s proposed code to force news publishers and tech giants to the negotiating table have already brought about multi-million dollar agreements.

The code would ensure search engines and platform sites, like Google and Facebook, fairly pay news publishers for the use of their original content.

Seven West Media announced a $30 million deal with Google earlier this week.

"None of these deals would be happening if we didn't have the legislation before the Parliament," said Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

A new bone, organ and skin printing facility opens in Brisbane as the first of its kind in Australia. 

The Herston Biofabrication Institute is translating research in 3D-printed prosthetics and implants to practical treatment on its grounds at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Institute director Michael Wagels said, “The institute wants to be a part of leaving a legacy for healthcare that is fit for purpose in the future”. 

United States of America President Joe Biden has responded to the handling of Muslim minorities in Western Chinese regions. 

President Biden says China will face repercussions on human rights abuse, reasserting America's role in the matter. 

Biden has assured the Chinese government that he will be taking a different approach to Donald Trump. 

"China is trying very hard to become a world leader and to get that moniker and be able to do that they have to gain the confidence of other countries," said Mr Biden.

Over 3000 live music industry members are calling upon the Federal Government for continued financial assistance in an open letter released yesterday.

The live music industry is calling for the JobKeeper wage subsidy to be extended beyond March, as music rights group APRA AMCOS says the industry is only running at 4 per cent capacity. 

"Each time there is another COVID-19 cluster or a quarantine breach, any plans to trade again are halted," the letter reads.

"We are an industry in crisis."

The Australian Marine Conservation Society has called on the Government to install cameras on gill-net fishing boats. 

Fisheries campaign manager Simon Miller says the onboard camera would show the public the volume of entanglements. 

"Gillnets are indiscriminate killers," Mr Miller said.

"They're very effective at catching fish, but they're largely invisible to lots of other species, like turtles and dugongs and sawfish."