New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announces a plan to provide state residents with free tuition to public colleges.

Governor Grisham says the program will apply to all 29 of the state’s two and four-year public colleges and universities.

"Higher education in this state, a victim of the recession, has been starved in recent years," Governer Grisham said. 

The plan, if passed by the state legislature, will add New Mexico to the list of Democratic-led states offering free higher education.

Victoria’s Great Ocean Road celebrates its 100th birthday today, but locals fear that climate change and over-popularity is threatening its survival. 

Aireys Inlet and District Association President Charlotte Allen says locals would like to tourists spending longer in the area, and less day-trippers.

“One of the real pressure point places is at the memorial arch, it just becomes absolutely crazy with people standing in the middle of the road and people using the bushes for toilets. It’s a nightmare,” Ms Allen said. 

The Women’s Auxiliary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Australia will hold their 35th Annual National Convention in one of Australia’s largest mosques in western Sydney.

The convention held between 27th to 29th September will bring together 1,000 Muslim women and girls.

The communities President, Abida Mubashar, says the purpose of the convention is to promote the peaceful teachings of Islam and understand the roles and responsibilities of Australian Muslim women in the society.

The Queensland government has launched Operation Spring Break to encourage drivers to keep safe on the roads during the school holidays. 

The state-wide effort aims to reduce contributing factors to crashes including fatigue, speeding, and phone use while driving. 

Minister for Police and Minister for Corrective Services, Mark Ryan said the goal was simply for everyone to reach their destination safely.

“This school holiday based period of high visibility policing on our roads comes at a time when we traditionally see a devastating road toll,” Minister Ryan said.

A University of Queensland and CSIRO study has found that wilderness areas in Australia, where human impact is minimal or absent, halves the global risk of species extinction.

Biodiversity and Conservation Science Director at UQ, Professor James Watson said vital wilderness areas could not be restored and urgent action is needed to ensure these areas were marked for conservation and remained protected.

A 19-year-old Chinese giant panda, Chuang Chuang, has died at the Chiang Mai zoo in Thailand.

Giant pandas have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years in captivity, causing social media users to criticize the zoo’s care of the animals. 

They were regarded as endangered but were reclassified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, following an increase in numbers.

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said electronic cigarettes will be banned in India as it health risks among young people escalates.

Mr Sitharaman announced the ban would prohibit the production, manufacturing, import, export, sale, distribution and advertising of e-cigarettes.

Vaping as an alternative choice to smoking has increased rapidly in the US and India.

The ban on e-cigarettes would see offenders facing up to three years in prison.

Libra ad campaign showing menstrual blood for the first time on Australian TV does not breach the industry’s code of ethics according to regulators.

Over 600 complaints were made about the “disgusting” and inappropriateness of the advertisement.

Libra’s parent company, Asaleo Care, said the adverts addressed the shame experienced by many women and girls when having their period.

The ad was based off Essity’s #BloodNormal campaign launched in 2017 across the UK, featuring sanitary pads stained with red liquid.