Relations with France are declining after French President Emmanuel Macron accused Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying about the 90 billion dollar submarine contract. 

Mr Macron made the accusation after being approached by the ABC on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome. 

The tension between the two leaders has risen after Australia announced it's new defence and security pact with the United States and the United Kingdom along with a commitment to acquire nuclear-powered submarines reneging on a 65 billion deal with France.

Tonga has reported its first ever Covid-19 case since the beginning of the pandemic.

The Island Nation which has remained Covid free until now, reveals a traveller from Christchurch in New Zealand tested positive while in hotel quarantine. 

New Zealand health officials said the traveller was fully vaccinated and returned a negative test before flying. 

Officials have said they will be working with their Tongan counterparts to confirm the case and provide more details in the coming days.

Yesterday marked the deadline for Queenslanders to get their first jab and be fully vaccinated before infected interstate travellers enter across the border. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk set Sunday as the deadline for Queenslanders to get their first jab if they wanted to ensure they were fully protected when the border restrictions ease on December 17. 

As of yesterday the total number of residents aged 16 and older who had received one vaccine dose stood at 77.3 per cent, while 63.5 per cent were fully vaccinated.

Suggestions have been made to use the historic School of Arts on Brisbane’s Ann Street as a headquarters for the new 2032 Olympics organising committee. 

The building, which was built between 1865 and 1866, served as one of the city’s earliest art schools, technical colleges, and as a library. 

Today marks a significant changing of the guard as Dr Jeannette Young has officially stepped down as leader of the state’s pandemic response and is sworn in as the 27th Governor of Queensland. 

Following Dr Krispin Hajkowicz’s shock decision last week to decline the role of chief health officer, Queensland has appointed Dr Peter Aitken to act in the role until a permanent replacement is appointed.. 

In a statement, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath says for personal reasons Dr Krispin Hajkowicz will not begin the job on Monday.

There are plans underway for a First Nations precinct in Melbourne. 

Melbourne City Council and the First Peoples of Victoria are backing a proposal for a multimillion- dollar development in the heart of the CBD that could house the nation’s first “Black Parliament” and become a keeping place for repatriated artefacts and serve as a symbol of reconciliation. 

The idea is supported by First Nations groups and a Victorian government official says state involvement in the project is also being considered. 

There are growing fears that within 100 years, pollution will destroy the world's biggest collection of rock art. 

Scientists around Australia believe the findings of a new report claiming industrial pollution has no effect on ancient rock art, are patently wrong and could have disastrous ramifications. 

Rock conservationists Ian MacLeod and Warren Fish recently published a paper which suggests there is no adverse impact on the engraved rock art of Murujuga from industrial pollution. 

Tens of thousands of Sudanese civilians have taken to the streets across the country in what is being called the largest pro-democracy protest yet since the military seized control last week.

Three protesters have been killed and dozens more injured as security forces opened fire in several locations. 

Pro-democracy groups called for protests to demand the reinstating of a deposed transitional government and the release of senior political figures from detention.