Japan’s former foreign minister Fumio Kishida has won a leadership race for the country’s Liberal Democratic Party, which effectively guarantees he will be the next prime minister within days.

Kishida beat out numerous contenders, including outspoken defence and foreign minister Taro Kano, and female candidate Sanae Takaichi.

Despite lukewarm public support for Kishida, his replacement of the current unpopular Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will greatly affect the general election in the coming weeks.

New Zealand will no longer be placing ‘at risk’ children into state care, as the process has been found to disproportionately affect the Maori Community.

60% of children in state care are Maori, despite making up only 16.5% of the total population. 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemns this ‘dark chapter’ in the country’s history, and is committed to removing the practices the Maori community have named ‘New Zealand’s stolen generation’.

North-Queensland music festival Savannah in the Round is teaming up with the Cairns and Hinterland hospital to offer festival-goers a Pfizer vaccine before entering the grounds.

Festival director James Dien says the music industry has been a strong supporter of vaccination, and believes this Australian first initiative is a worthy addition to the cause.

Festival-goers must bring their Medicare card to be eligible for the jab.

Member for Traeger Robbie Katter will address the media today to announce game-changing technology in an effort to rid Queensland of the Prickly Acacia plant. 

23 million hectares of grazing country are currently infested with acacia nationwide, which could cost the Australian cattle industry billions.

Katter believes the new technology could also help reduce international carbon emissions, as failing to free up grazing land will lead to a demand for increased beef imports.

Calls for the Queensland government to lift their 2030 emissions reduction target have been made following the New South Wales’ premier’s plans to lift their emissions reduction target from 35% to 50%.

Queensland Conservation Council Energy Strategist Clare Silcock says the Queensland government needs to match or beat this pledge. 

Otherwise, Queensland risks losing investment in renewable energy that can power regional communities and long term clean energy jobs. B   

The last of Australia’s signature gem are set to be sold in an exclusive silent auction by Rio Tinto. 

The Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia’s Kimberley region closed last November, with of the remaining iconic pink diamonds to go under the hammer.

Argyle pink diamonds currently sell at over 35 times the cost of white diamonds, and with prices increasing over 600% since the year 2000, this historic auction is sure to see the cost and rarity increase even further.

An 11-year-old girl has created women’s sporting e-magazine ‘Her Way’ in response to the lack of media celebrating sportswomen.

Abbie Dare has already sold 270 copies of her first issue, attracting the support of high-profile athletes, including cricketer Elyse Villani and golfer Karrie Webb.

Miss Dare hopes that publishing ‘Her Way’ will introduce more young girls to the world of sport and help correct the imbalance in women’s media coverage.

Social media platform Youtube is now blocking all anti-vaccine content from its services. 

Examples of this content include claiming the flu shot can cause infertility, and the MMR shot causing autism. Prominent anti-vaccine activists such as Joseph Mercole will also be blocked from the platform.

The change comes after Youtube and its parent company Google were criticised for not doing enough to deter dangerous and harmful misinformation.