A new investigation by the ABC has revealed domestic workers inside Canberra’s foreign embassies are being kept in conditions likened to ‘slavery’.

At least 20 workers escaped exploitation in diplomatic residences, including having been made to work 18-hour days for a fraction of the minimum wage and being forbidden from leaving the premises.

Australian authorities remain largely powerless to act, as foreign diplomats cannot be bought before an Australian court due to diplomatic immunity laws.

A freak storm has plunged over 100,000 properties in Brisbane into darkness overnight, and forced a mass evacuation of US band Paramore’s concert in the city.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency spokeswoman said they would expect an influx of calls this morning as South-East Queensland residents are waking up and checking the damages.

The storm dampened concert-goers plans when they were evacuated from Riverstage due to lightning concerns, however all was not lost, as Paramore took the stage again just under an hour later.

A leading Pakistani human rights activist died yesterday after decades of outspoken civil right action.

Asma Jehangir, one of Pakistan’s most prominent lawyers and civil right activists died of a heart attack, at the age of 66.

She was well known for her pro bono legal work representing minorities in Pakistan, as well as championing democracy and being vocally critical of the country's military and religious policies.

A Russian passenger jet crashed after leaving Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport on Sunday.

The Saratov Airliner vanished minutes after take off, before crashing 80 kilo meters southeast of Moscow, killing the 65 passengers and 6 members of crew on board.

The incident was the first commercial passenger jet crash for more than a year - 2017 was the safest year on record for air travel.

The annual ‘Close the Gap’ report has uncovered just three of the seven targets put in place a decade ago were set to be on track.

The Prime Minister delivered the 10th annual address today, providing the yearly report on the progress to improve employment, education and health outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

This year’s targets were expected to double last year’s efforts — including the goal to halve the gap in Indigenous child mortality rates and to improve early childhood education attendance.

Australia has signed a trade deal which could lead to more local products being sold in foreign supermarkets.

Trade Minister Steve Ciobo signed the pact with Peru this morning, and said it will give Australian farmers preferential access to the fast-growing Peruvian economy for the first time.

The trade deal was expected to include Aussie products such as beef, sugar, dairy and almonds.

Queensland motorists will face thousands more roadside drug tests this year as the state government moves to tackle methamphetamine use.

Health Minister Steven Miles revealed the Palaszczuk government's strategy to help drug-users overcome addiction, which included funding for both health services and community organisations.

Queensland Police will share in $105 million of current and future funding to undertake an extra 12,500 roadside drug tests a year.

Brisbane-based scientist, Lee Constable, has been selected to play a part in the highly competitive Homeward Bound project in Antarctica later this month.

The project is aimed to empower women of the world and bring them to the forefront of decision-making and climate change discussions, according to Constable, who is notably excited for the adventure to come.