Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied using gas as a political weapon, with skyrocketing gas prices in the European union sparking an emergency summit.

Russia currently accounts for a third of the European Unions gas supply, prompting politicians to blame Moscow for not pumping enough into the system.

President Putin says Russia has met its contractual obligations within an unpredictable market, and is ready to boost supplies if asked.

Danish toy company Lego will no longer distinctly market boys and girls toys after they commissioned research into the influence of gender on International Day of the Girl.

The study conducted by the Geena Davis Institute found that girls still feel restrained by gender biases in toys, and that 71% of boys feel embarrassed about playing with quote on quote “girls toys”.

The company has not detailed what changes it will make to existing or future product lines to remove gender bias.

Star Entertainment Group is set to be investigated by Queensland’s gaming regulator after allegations of money laundering and organised crime. 

The casino operator, who has locations in Brisbane and Gold Coast, had its shares drop 23% yesterday after publications in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald newspapers described large-scale fraud that Star enabled.

The investigation will work in conjunction with Queensland police and anti-laundering agency AUSTRAC.

 Queensland’s new home quarantine trial is at 99 per cent compliance, with positive signs for expansion when more people are allowed into the state. 

The state’s home quarantine check-in service which uses mobile phone location data and a text-messaged link requiring a response in 10 minutes is being used to monitor those isolating.

Despite the positive results of the home quarantine trial the Queensland government has remained highly cautious on plans to further ease travel restrictions. 

A 45-year-old woman has been arrested on the Gold Coast after allegedly pretending to be a doctor and issuing COVID-19 exemptions.

Before her arrest, the woman managed to issue approximately 600 certificates exempting citizens from vaccination and mask wearing.

This is the first instance of this offence in Queensland.

Victoria has recorded their highest daily total of COVID cases of 2,297 and 11 deaths. 

The figure comes after 3 consecutive days of lower case numbers, dampening hopes of a turning point in daily case numbers.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has said it will be quote, “a bit of a bumpy numbers ride day-to-day”.

Facebook announced yesterday that it will now remove severe sexualizing content targeting public figures on Facebook and Instagram. 

Politicians, celebrities or those who have become involuntarily popular because of their work, such as activists and journalists, will be among those protected. 

Facebook's Global Head of Safety, Antigone Davis said it was part of an effort to reduce attacks disproportionately faced by women, people of colour and the LGBTQ+ community.

Millions of Afghans who have applied for Australian humanitarian visas say they are living in fear under the newly introduced Taliban regime. 

Residents describe that they are interrogated by the Taliban, demanding activists or anyone with foreign links to expose themselves. 

Testimonies of beatings, interrogations and threats to family members are set to be provided to a Senate inquiry into Australia’s engagement in Afghanistan, which begins public hearings next Monday.