Health courses were the most popular for Queensland students entering tertiary education this year, according to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre.

QTAC CEO Dr John Griffiths believes the high preference for health courses was in reaction to the growing demand for professionals in the allied health industry, including physiotherapy and psychological services.

The allied health field covers health professions outside of doctors, dentists, and nurses, supporting patients via a range of technical, therapeutic, and diagnostic services.

Sydney rail workers will go ahead with a planned strike, despite ‘promising’ talks between union leaders and rail management.

The 24-hour strike, which will take place on Monday the 29th of January, comes after the New South Wales government refused union demands for a six percent pay rise over four years.

Currently, the government is holding fast to a 2.5 percent increase only.

Victorian police have announced two former state MPs will not face charges, despite both having falsely claimed a parliamentary allowance.

Former Speaker Telmo Languiller and former Deputy Speaker Don Nardella were forced to resign from their posts after it was discovered they were falsely receiving an allowance for living outside of their electorates.

Before the scandal broke, Languiller and Nardella had received $38,000 and $98,000 respectively, which they have been ordered to pay back.

The President of Zimbabwe has pledged to hold democratic elections in the country within the next six months.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took office after the forced resignation of General Mugabe, said he will uphold his promise for free and fair elections.

General Mugabe was ousted by the army last November, after 37 years in power.

The Ukrainian Parliament has declared Russia has occupied the far eastern regions of Ukraine in a statement yesterday.

Ukraine denounced Russia as an aggressor state which is temporarily occupying areas of the Donbass region, and further relaxed laws allowing Ukrainian citizens to sue the Russian government for damages to their property.

In response, Russia stated the declaration could increase diplomatic tensions and reignite a new conflict in the region.

Queensland’s unemployment rate is now the third worst in the country, rising to 6% in December from 5.9% in November.

The figures, released by Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday morning, placed Queensland behind Tasmania and Victoria, both on 6.1%.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says 143,900 jobs were created since Labor won the 2015 election, however, Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington believes the unemployment rate is “not good enough”.

Civil libertarians have called a police operation in Mount Isa 'illegal' and urged it to be stopped after it was found officers were questioning and photographing unsupervised children.

Operation Tucson involves police officers recording children’s names, addresses, clothing, destination, and at times escorting the children home.

The Queensland Civil Liberties Council will petition the state’s privacy commissioner to review the operation after several politicians suggested the operation be extended to other regional areas.

Regulatory reform on new genetic engineering techniques will allow Australian scientists to speed up research on health and agriculture.

Raj Bhula, Australia’s gene technology regulator hoped the newer and more efficient forms of gene editing will no longer be considered ‘genetic modification’, as gene editing manipulates existing material, unlike genetic modification which uses foreign genetic material.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast another heatwave over the weekend, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 degrees in some states.

Total fire bans have been declared across South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, with approximately 10 uncontrolled fires burning in New South Wales alone.

Victorian Emergency Management officials have urged people to be prepared to stay vigilant in regards to heat, fire and water safety.