Farmers who have been affected by drought will receive up to $12,000 in cash payments.

The initiative has been supported by the National Farmers Federation, NFF President Fiona Simson says it’s vital we help farmers and families dealing with the stress and pressures drought brings.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced a $190 million relief package which will also boost mental health services, with couples being able to access $12,000 and singles receiving $7,200.

A helicopter carrying oil workers and three crew members crashed into another aircraft in the Krasnoyarsk region in Siberia, killing 18 people.

The incident occurred when the Russian-made Mi-8 aircraft knocked into the cargo of an adjacent helicopter as both were completing take-off.

A commission has been set up to investigate the crash with both helicopters’ black boxes sent to Moscow.

Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina is urging students to go home as police fired teargas on the eighth day of protests over road safety.

Tens of thousands of students took to the capital after two teenagers were killed by a speeding bus however protests took a violent turn with more than 100 people injured after police fired rubber bullets.  

High schools were shut on Thursday as officials promised students their demands for road safety reforms would be considered.

Trips on Brisbane’s city cycles have increased 35 per cent in the past year with more than 2,000 trips taken each day according to recent data.

Council’s public and active transport chairman Adrian Schrinner says a change to the memberships as well as the visibility of the bikes contributed to the recent increase in usage.

The council has signed a 20 year contract with JCDecaux with bikes progressively replaced and new technology to allow the bikes to be tracked could be considered.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he will not hold a referendum to provide an indigenous voice to parliament.

Australian author Richard Flanagan says the Prime Minister has humiliated indigenous leaders and squandered a chance at reconciliation.

The idea of having an indigenous voice in parliament through an advisory body has been reportedly encouraged by the Prime Minister’s Indigenous advisors.

Australian women could soon be able to purchase sanitary products without having to pay any Goods and Services Tax (GST), after Treasurer Scott Morrison revealed the government would push for an exemption for all sanitary products from GST charges.

The charges on Sanitary products have been a point of debate for years, with many opponents of the charges describing it as sexist as products such as condoms are exempt from the 10 per cent GST charge.

An earthquake which has hit the indonesian tourist island of Lombok has killed at least 82 people.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake, triggered a Tsunami warning for a short period of time and damaged buildings on other islands including Bali where buildings including Denpasar airport terminal was slightly damaged.

The latest quake comes only weeks after a 6.4 magnitude quake hit Lombok on July 29th, which killed 17 people.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Madura says he survived an assassination attempt involving explosive drones whilst speaking at a military event in Caracas.

Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez says two drones loaded with explosives went off near the president’s stand however firefighters at the disputed this version of events citing the incident was a gas tank explosion inside an apartment.

The Colombian government has denied any involvement saying there is no basis to Mr Maduro’s allegations of their involvement.