China has announced it will retaliate if U.S. President Donald Trump continues to increase tariffs on Chinese imports.

Foreign ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, said China will definitely take countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests if necessary.

Despite rising tariffs, China’s exports to the United States have increased in July and August fuelling Washington’s incentive to restrict imports.

California has passed a law pledging commitment to carbon-free energy by 2045.

This is the latest legislation against US President Donald Trump’s administration policies.

Governor Jerry Brown said this law will transition the Californian economy to zero carbon emissions, honouring the terms of the 2015 Paris agreement.

Thousands of residents have submitted a petition to stop a proposed development at Nundah.

The eight-storey building, which would demolish a section of a heritage listed building, has been opposed by local residents who believe the development will ruin a local treasure.

The property application submitted in January is still under assessment by the Brisbane City Council.

The rate of Queensland Prep students suspended or expelled for schoolyard bullying has doubled since 2013.

In 2017, over 1000 prep students and 2000 grade one students were sent home due to bad behaviour, including physical violence.

Queensland Teacher’s Union President Kevin Bates says this increase in bad behaviour has developed “as a consequence of increasing violence in our community…[which is] spilling into our schools.”

One in 25 Australian babies are now born from IVF, with one in four embryo transfers resulting in a live birth.

A UNSW study found the complications associated with the procedure continue to decrease, while the age of mothers able to have children through IVF is slowly rising.

Michael Chapman, President of the Fertility Society of Australia, says IVF was just an experiment 35 years ago, but has evolved into a standard medical treatment.

Compulsory reporting of life-saving drug shortages will be introduced after legislation was passed in the Senate on Monday.

Health Minister Greg Hunt believes this mandatory scheme will aid in patient welfare and reduce risk created by events like the Epipen shortage in April this year.

This replaces the voluntary scheme put into place in 2014, which Hunt believes was ineffective.

Thai police have closed a Bangkok forum on potential prosecution of Myanmar military officers after their alleged abuse of Rohingya Muslims.

Police attributed potential threats to national security and foreign relations as the reasons behind the intervention.

This is believed to be the sixth time police have forcibly cancelled similar events.

Tanzanian president John Magulfuli has advised Tanzanians to stop using contraception in order to boost the nation’s population.

President Magulfuli has said those who use contraception are lazy and do not want to work hard to feed a large family.

Parliament member Cecil Mwambe said the statements are inconsistent with policy, and that the country’s health insurance can only currently accommodate a maximum of four children per family.

Morningside councillor Kara Cook has called for a smoking ban to reduce “clouds of toxic smoke” on Edward, Ann and Queen St footpaths.

Cook presented a petition to the Brisbane City Council asking to enforce the Edward and Ann street hostel to take responsibility for cigarette litter and congestion outside the hostel's entry.

While the council assessed the request, they ruled a smoking ban was already in place within the area, and the litter was the obligation of hotel management.