An Airbnb-type app that allows people to rent their pools, instead of their rooms, has officially launched in Australia. 

22-year-old American entrepreneur Bunim Laskin designed Swimply to connect owners of private pools with people looking for a place to swim, and says the idea came to him “out of necessity” on a hot day.

“Australians love the outdoors and with the country’s long summers we are excited to be able to democratise the pool experience so every Australian can enjoy affordable access to this summertime luxury,” said Mr Laskin.

The cost of private health insurance is on the rise, and researchers at the Grattan Institute say “greedy” doctors, unnecessary care and inefficient private hospitals are to blame. 

“Private health insurance will continue its death spiral unless excessive private health costs and specialist bills are reined in,” said a report released today.

Researcher Stephen Duckett said premiums could be reduced by 2 billion dollars per year if doctors focus on treating patients, rather than keeping them longer than necessary.

Over the past week, on the Pacific island of Samoa, measles-related deaths (mostly among children) have more than tripled to 20 people. The government has announced eight days after the outbreak entered a state of emergency.

The island nation is only 200,000, located south of the equator, between Hawaii and New Zealand, and a measles epidemic was announced in late October after the first death.

Spain's far-right Vaux Party on Monday's refusal to sign a party-wide declaration condemning violence against women has sparked outrage among civil rights groups and embarrassed allies of the Conservative Party.

Vox's refusal to sign a statement from the Madrid City Council means that for the first time since a landmark gender violence law in 2004, local authorities in the Spanish capital were unable to issue a joint statement.

The state government is fast-tracking $50 million in school air-conditioning funding to provide 300 schools across southern Queensland a cooler learning environment.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says “For our students and teachers, the classroom is where they spend most of their day… We want all Queensland students to learn in a comfortable and cool environment.”

The Mackay Conservation Group has presented a 1300 signature petition to Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert, asking for the government not to fund the Adani coal mine with public money as Saturday’s royalty agreement deadline approaches.

The Queensland Government made an election promise not to use public money for the mine, but they are currently negotiating a royalty holiday allowing Adani to defer government payments for up to 10 years.