Fifty-six former presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers and defence ministers from 20 NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) member states, as well as Japan and South Korea, have issued an open letter calling on current leaders to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

The treaty primarily adopted in 2017 with the support of 122 countries, outlawed nuclear weapons and established a framework for their total elimination.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced that China owned video sharing platform Tik Tok will be banned on all app stores in the United States, starting from Sunday. 

According to a report in the Financial Times, existing users will still be able to use the application, but the lack of software updates will result in a decrease in the application’s user experience. 

Victoria has recorded 11 coronavirus cases overnight, as well as two deaths.

It is the state’s lowest recording since June 16, with their 14-day average dropping to below 35 cases.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews is conducting a press conference today.

 The federal government’s National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation has forecasted that demand for housing could be cut by between a 129,000 and 232,000 dwellings over the next three years.

According to the Brisbane Times, the collapse in Australia’s population growth is linked to the lack of overseas migration in Australia this past few months due to the pandemic restrictions.

About 60 per cent of the nation's population growth over the past decade has been driven by net overseas migration, which totals 2.7 million residents. 

The Minister for agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner has announced that Queensland’s border arrangements for the agricultural industry has been extended for one month. 

The border exemptions have allowed NSW and Queensland agricultural workers to travel between the states to continue to perform essential agribusiness and farming activities. 

Minister Furner says that the extension will keep Queenslanders safe from COVID-19, while ensuring that the agricultural industry can continue to operate. 

The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience released a report today which showed using spider venom is promising to tailor pain blockers for people with irritable bowel syndrome.

Researchers analysed 28 spiders and it was the Venezuelan Pinkfoot Goliath tarantula that showed the most promise.

Team leader Professor Richard Lewis as well as his collaborator from Flinder's University professor Stuart Brierley explained how the venom can work to inhibit the pain.