Tens of Thousands gather in Tel Aviv to protest Israel’s ‘nation-state law’.

Passed last month, the law officially affirms Israel’s jewish character, but critics say the law turns non-jewish citizen into second-class israeli’s. This move would further marginalise the 1.8 million Palestinians and other minorities with Israeli citizenship.

The protest saw both Jewish and Palestinians participants advocating for equality under Israel Law

At least 39 people, including 12 children, have been killed in a blast in the north-western province of Idlib, Syria.

A building, said to contain illegal munitions, was brought down to rubble on Sunday. UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that there were still dozens of people missing.

Some reports suggest the number killed could be higher than 39.

Queensland’s peak agricultural body wants the Queensland Government to implement an economic stimulus into rural communities to keep them prosperous throughout the 57 percent of Queensland which is now in drought.

CEO of the agricultural body Agforce, Michael Guerin, has remained adamant in the need for capital in outback towns.

Mr. Guerin has also called on the government to provide relief for struggling farmers, as well as maintaining more available mental health services for rural communities throughout the drought.

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford has praised the efforts of hundreds of QFES staff and volunteers involved in the weekend fight against 230 vegetation fires.

The combination of prolonged dry conditions and high fuel loads means the state is at risk of a long, active bushfire season. Minster Crawford says there are currently about 20 bushfire incidents across Queensland.

Over the weekends efforts, one firefighter suffered from heat stress at Fernvale and one firefighter suffered minor burns at Linville.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has vocalised his support for Malcolm Turnbull’s National Energy Guarantee, on the condition that a ‘plan B’ is offered to reduce electricity prices, if the plan doesn’t work as promised.

Mr Joyce proposed this plan as a method of threatening energy companies to break up the firms if they fail to cut power prices.

The Coalition are currently holding meetings regarding this policy today and Tuesday.

New data is indicating that high school students with lower ATAR and OP scores are being accepted into tertiary teaching courses.  

Data from a Senate Inquiry reveal that one student was accepted into a teaching course at a Victorian university with an ATAR OF 17 out of a possible 99, with another accepting scores as low as 22.

Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham has introduced a literacy and numeracy test, and requested that all states and territories participate and ensure it is implemented consistently.

Malians are attending the polls to cast their second round ballot in a runoff presidential election, overshadowed by security concerns and reports of low turnout.

The election is tight as President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita faces opposition leader Soumaila Cisse.

Security has been increased to prevent the armed attacks and other violence that affected 20% of the polling places during the first round of voting.

Scientists believe that the Island of Lombok in Indonesia was struck by over 25cm after the August 5 earthquake killed over 300 people.

The rupturing faultline near the epicentre in the north-west caused the earth to lift by up to a quatre of a metre.

Villagers are beginning to return to the Island, with temporary replacements of damaged mosques being organised.