With Irina and Amy.

Thailand prepares for its first elections since the 2014 military coup with a new weakened system to allow the military to continue to play a strong role in the country’s governing.

Up to 52 million Thais are eligible to vote this year in the polls on March 24th, which will be the first under the new constitution created by the military.

Nearly 100 musicians from across the Middle East have created a “peace album” with the intention of promoting peace in the embattled region.

Iranian musician Mehdi Rajabian (MEDI RA HA BIAN) put the together the album, titled “Middle Eastern”, using songs from local artists across 13 countries using local instruments and also aims to highlight the native tunes of the Middle East.

Since the New South Wales Liberal-National Coalition was elected in 2011, 40 schools have closed in the state with only 19 having opened in the same time frame.

Most of the closures occured to schools in Regional NSW that often has fewer than 5 students attending in their final years of operation.

Whereas the schools that have opened are mostly in Sydney and surrounding suburbs, catering to far more students than those affected by closures.

645 students were impacted, but at least 10, 000 students are benefiting from the new schools.

Right-wing commentator Milo Yiannopoulos has been banned from entering Australia following remarks he made on social media about the Christchurch terror attack.

Immigration Minister David Coleman describes Yiannopoulos’ comments as “appalling” and “foment[ing] hatred and division.”

Yiannopoulos was planning to “come roaring back” to Australia following his 2017 tour which sparked a number of violent protests across the country.

Queensland activists and kennel owners are at odds, due to weak puppy farm laws and applications for breeding facility expansions.

There are no laws restricting the number of breeding dogs a single facility may house in Queensland.

The point of contention has arisen thanks to Diamond Valley Kennels application to the Sunshine Coast Council for a new facility in Landsborough to have 100 breeding kennels.

Owner, Lisa Howlett says her expansion plans are in response to the "huge demand" for designer breeds, but activists disagree.

Stem cell scientists from the University of Queensland are using technology to fix shortages in avocados.

According to Professor Neena Mitter, she and the university are using stem cell multiplication technology to reduce the time avocado trees grow, which can be from ten years to less than three years.

Professor Mitter says the “key message” of the project is “sustainability… and [creating] a sustainable production”.

With Amy and Irina.

After Friday’s terror attacks in Christchurch New Zealand there has been an outpour of support for Muslim communities worldwide alongside the victims of the tragedy.

The response in New Zealand alone has raised thousands of dollars in crowd-funding, halal donations to communities and many citizens have offered to accompany local Muslims who are afraid for their own safety.  

The attack has killed 50 people at two mosques and received an outpouring of messages, tributes and offerings at the mosques in New Zealand alongside tributes worldwide.

A special Rohingya Elephant Tusk Force - pun intended - has been set-up by the United Nations Human Rights Council and International Union for Conservation of Nature in Bangladesh to keep refugees safe from deadly elephants.

14 Rohingya been killed and several others injured by Asian elephants living in Southern Bangladesh when the animals migrate eastwards once a year, passing through the world’s largest refugee camp in the forest that straddles the border with Myanmar.