New Zealand is set to ban military style weapons in the wake of last week’s mass shooting in Christchurch which saw 50 people killed.

Prime Minister Ardern said she expects new legislation to be in place by 11 April, saying: "Our history changed forever. Now, our laws will too."

An amnesty has been imposed so the owners of affected weapons can hand them in, and a buy-back scheme will follow.

Climate change has been identified as a key issue for voters in Saturday's New South Wales election, and is expected to be an influential factor in the upcoming federal election in May — particularly in the northern Sydney seat of Warringah, held by Tony Abbott.

Currently, New South Wales and Western Australia are the only two states in Australia without a renewable energy target. The NSW Liberal-National coalition government and Labor opposition have both campaigned on investment in renewable energy, including solar energy.

34 bars in Sydney will stop serving drinks for up to 15 minutes at 6pm tonight in a pre-election pitch to draw voters’ attention to the future of Sydney’s night time economy.

Sydney’s Night Time Industries Association says in a statement that the bars involved were set to “turn up the lights”, with owners being encouraged to grab a microphone and discuss with Friday night drinkers about the election issue

More than 1,000 people from the Northern Territory communities in the Gulf of Carpentaria are in evacuation centres this morning in Katherine and Darwin, safe from cyclone Trevor.

It is expected that Cyclone Trevor will make landfall tomorrow, in what the Bureau of Meteorology forecast to be a “severe impact in the south-western Gulf of Carpentaria coast.”

Hundreds of people have been given emergency accomodation at the Darwin Showgrounds after being flown in from Groote Eylandt and the Borroloola areas.

Townsville’s new $290 million North Queensland Stadium will be ready for the start of the 2020 NRL Premiership Season despite the unprecedented flooding earlier this year.

Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni says the stadium contractor, Watpac, has sought an extension to the practical completion date of the stadium, but remained confident the massive project would still be open on schedule.

Vanuatu has flagged its plans to become the first nation in the world to ban disposable nappies, but is struggling to find an alternative.

The ban is said to take effect in December, meaning Vanuatu will need to source enough reusable diapers to swaddle its estimated 20,000 babies and toddlers.

Belinda Rosselli from local NGO Mama’s Laef says she is developing a prototype reusable nappy that will work best for the heat of Vanuatu.

New satellite images of the Mozambican port city of Beira have revealed the vast scale of flooding, as rescuers race to reach tens of thousands of people trapped by flood waters from Cyclone Idai.

A large number of people in and around Beira who sought refuge on rooftops and trees are still waiting to be rescued a week after the cyclone struck

A severe tropical cyclone, titled Cyclone Veronica, brewing north of Western Australia has intensified more rapidly than expected, reaching a category four severity.

The incoming cyclone has prompted warnings of heavy rainfall, damaging winds and a destructive storm surge along coastal areas.

The slow-moving system is tracking south-west, but is expected to veer towards the coast after developing into a category five system early on Friday morning.

Cricket Australia is hoping an increase in elite coaching will boost the performance of its intellectually disabled men's side and attract new players to the sport.

It is the first time the camp has been run with the players having their expenses paid to fly across the country to stay in Brisbane.

The increased support from Cricket Australia is a significant positive change and recognition more funding is needed to compete with the elite English teams.