The United Nations refugee agency has called for Europe to establish procedures for the proper disembarkation of people rescued while trying to reach the continent.

This comes after the UN declares the Mediterranean Sea standoff as over, after the Italian Coast Guard ship “Dicotti”  docked in Catania on Sunday morning.

Les Perelman and Walt Haney, two US professors claim that the nation-wide NAPLAN test is considered ‘limited use’ to teachers, students and parents.

The professors suggest that implementing a diagnostic assessment, which involves testing students on specific curriculum would be more efficient, and to deem the NAPLAN test irrelevant.

The Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority however, assured the community that the test had merit.

The latest published Newspoll shows Federal Opposition leader Bill Shorten is ahead in a two-party preferred poll for Prime Minister.

The poll shows the Labor Party at 56% to 44% towards the Liberal National Party.

Newly elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison is also seen as falling behind Shorten as preferred leader, with Morrison on 33% compared to Shorten’s 39%, taking an 11 point downfall after Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s deposition.

A statistic by the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety Queensland has revealed that over 30 people are hospitalised for every one death on Australian roads.

The road toll is said to be larger than previously thought, with the Centre documenting that between 50 to 60,000 people are seriously injured each year in crashes in Australia.

The study also revealed that there are many more injuries than there are fatalities, with road trauma costing Australia up to $70m a day.

A group of senior citizens are currently occupying 1 William Street  while Cabinet meets. The seniors will stay until either they get an urgent meeting with Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch or are arrested.

The intended meeting will call Queensland Labor to prosecute Mining Company, Adani, for releasing toxic sludge into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Adani has broken Queensland law and their pollution licence by more than 800 percent.

A small bridge in the Rio Tachira river in the East Andes, connecting Venezuela and Colombia, is reported to be supporting thousands of refugees in the aftermath of widespread corruption and poverty within Venezuela.

The Simon Bolivar International Bridge is noted as ‘extremely overcrowded’, with thousands seeking entry through Colombia, and onwards to Peru and Ecuador.

US President Donald Trump has ordered more than $200m in economic aid to be redirected elsewhere, initially going to Gaza and the Westbank.

A state department official said the decision was made after a review “to ensure [the] funds are spent in accordance with US national interests”.

Both the Palestinians and the United National Relief and Works Agency warned cutting funding would make everyday life harder for the territories’ citizens.

A doctor-led charity fighting to end tobacco use has been accepting funding from the vaping industry and lobbying for vaping interests.

The Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association says they do not accept funding from the tobacco industry, and state that the vaping industry is separate.

They believe that accepting donations from e-cigarette companies is no different to the Cancer Council accepting donations from pharmaceutical companies.

Foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop has resigned from cabinet, but says she “will remain on the backbench as a strong voice for Western Australia”.

Bishop was deputy leader of the liberal party for 11 years and many colleagues have expressed their well-wishes to the former minister.

Shadow minister for foreign affairs Penny Wong, said Bishop played a “trailblazing role”, and education minister Simon Burmingham called Bishop “the most significant woman in the history of the Liberal party.”