More than 14,000 people are expected to attend the 12th annual Gold Coast Multicultural Festival at the Southport Broadwater Parklands this Sunday.

Ben Brauer, President and CEO of Queensland Cultural Events Association says there is a lot of cultural diversity on the Gold Coast with 28 per cent of residents born overseas. 

The festival will provide a display of culture including international music, dance, drumming, instrumentals, art and craft, food and cultural information with up to 65 stalls.

Saudi Arabia will allow women to obtain passports and travel abroad without approval from a male "guardian", ending a longstanding restriction that drew heavy international criticism.

A government ruling, published in the official gazette Umm Al Qura says "a passport will be granted to any Saudi national who submits an application.” 

The regulation will be applicable to women over the age of 21, the pro-government Okaz newspaper and other local media reported. 

The United States has launched a new set of tariffs on China, escalating tensions in the ongoing ‘trade war’. 

Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the US will target China with punitive tariffs on another $300 billion in goods, with 10 per cent duties taking place from September. 

This follows previous tariffs introduced on Chinese goods, meaning Trump has now targeted virtually all of the $500 billion of Chinese-made products imported into the US yearly. 

A national survey shows for the second consecutive year that tradies are more likely to take care of their tools than their physical and mental health.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association surveyed more than 800 construction tradespeople, the results showed attitudes towards health and safety have increased, but only 60 per cent look after their body and mental health.

The Morrison Government’s emission reductions fund has been labelled ineffective, following reports that the initiative bought cuts equivalent to only 0.01% of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison previously said the emission reductions fund, which is the Coalition’s main climate change policy, would get an extra $2 billion in funding, but less than $1 million has been dedicated to the initiative’s projects.

Brisbane’s Powerhouse is hosting Livewired, a free comedy event, this August. 

The event will take place every Sunday in August, from 5pm to 6pm. 

The event is free but attendees must book tickets, which can be picked up from the box office 60 minutes before the show starts.

The proposed Nullinga Dam site will be protected by the state government who have decided to pursue alternative water supply options for the Far North. 

Natural Resources Minister Dr Anthony Lynham today announced the release of the business case which says water would cost five to six times more than any prospective water users could pay.

Dr Lynham says the government will pursue other water supply options to support development and jobs and lock down the dam site as a precautionary measure for the future. 

Two new cases of Ebola in the frontier city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo causes friction with Rwanda, after they closed the border out of fear of the disease spreading. 

Fears that Ebola could spread to neighbouring countries have mounted after the first two deaths in July at a transport hub adjacent to Gisenyi, Rwanda.

President Felix Tshisekedi´s office says  Rwanda had made a unilateral decision to close its border, a choice that was reversed eight hours later.