United States President Joe Biden has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a “frank” online conference to discuss growing tensions in the Taiwan strait. 

In the meeting, Mr Xi warned the US of encouraging pro-independence Taiwan forces, as the self-ruled island is still considered Chinese territory by Beijing.

Researchers at The University of Queensland are investigating possible uses for excess energy in electric car batteries, to potentially power homes and support the energy grid.

UQ’s Dr Jake Whitehead says that most electric vehicles are using less than 20% of their dedicated range energy, which creates a unique opportunity to export spare energy generated overnight using vehicle-to-grid chargers.

Over 12,000 people are waiting to enter Queensland as police ramp up their presence at airports to ensure COVID compliance. 

Authorities have said recently that only over a thousand of those people are under a newer automated system which would allow travelers to enter the state more easily. 

South Australian Agricultural business Elders has recorded its highest profits in over a decade, due to drastic increases in cattle prices and rural real estate.

Despite fears of a reduced inflow of capital from Chinese investors, CEO Mark Allison says a large portion of support has come from local family money.

The federal government will expand its vaccine program to include Pfizer and Moderna doses,with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region and nations in desperate need of doses. 

At the moment Australia is only sending AstraZeneca overseas, however aid and humanitarian groups have called on the government to be more generous.

Tensions on the Poland / Belarus border are continuing to escalate, as Polish forces have resorted to using water cannons to disperse rock-throwing migrants. 

Thousands of Belarussian migrants are trying to enter the European Union after being forced to flee their homeland in retaliation for protests against President Alexander Lukashenko’s re-election last year.

A US climate agency says last month was the warmest October in the northern hemisphere on record. 

The average land temperature over the northern hemisphere exceeds October 2019, the previous record holder with the average temperature being almost a degree over the 20th century average. 

 42,000 winners of the QLD holiday vouchers aimed at boosting the tourism sector have failed to redeem the prize. 

The initiative designed by the Palaszczuk government hoped the travel vouchers of value up to 200 dollars would encourage Queenslanders to holiday at home, however only half the vouchers handed out resulted in actual bookings.