El Salvador has become the first country in the world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender, a real-world experiment proponents say will lower commission costs for billions of dollars sent home from abroad but which critics warn may fuel money laundering.

Drowning deaths in Australia have alarmingly spiked in the past year, with interruptions to regular swimming during COVID-19 lockdowns flagged as one of the key reasons behind the increase.

A report found that the pandemic had seen people seeking out remote waterways to escape crowds, swimming outside patrolling hours and venturing to isolated beaches, rivers or lakes.

Lockdowns have also seen children miss out on swimming lessons and caused a reduction in pool access for others, triggering a lack of confidence in the water.

The New South Wales government has set a target of zero extinctions of native wildlife in the state’s national parks estate, the first time an Australian government has set the goal.

Environment Minister Matt Kean says the target is a response to the spiralling decline of threatened plants and animals and Australia's status as the country with the highest rate of mammal extinction 

Mr Kean states, “Just as we have a net zero emissions target, we now also have a target of zero extinctions for our national parks”

A New South Wales mother has pleaded for a second chance for an exemption to cross the NSW-Queensland border after her 18-month son has fallen fatally ill. 

The mother was referred to Queensland Children's Hospital for a paediatric endoscopy but denied by Queensland Health Authorities.

The mother was also fully vaccinated, arguing, "It's an eight hour drive to Newcastle, while Brisbane is only two hours away, it just makes sense to go to Brisbane”.

QLD health minister Y’vette D’ath has announced that there have been no new cases of COVID-19 in QLD overnight. 

The health minister has outlined in QLD’s daily press conference the positive news that there were 13, 036 tests. 

QLD has also hit a new record number of vaccinations, with 23,012 jabs being given out yesterday.

A US Attorney General, Merrick Garland, has pledged to protect abortion clinics in Texas.

This comes after a restrictive ban, also known as the “heartbeat act”, on abortions was implemented into Texas legislation- preventing women from getting an abortion after 6 weeks. 

A new scientific paper has delivered a reality check for people hoping to be freed from their face masks when Australia reaches its 80 percent COVID-19 vaccination target.

The new research suggests that states should move away from aiming to achieve zero daily cases of COVID-19, saying that the goal for zero cases is unrealistic. 

Epidemiologist Catherine Bennett says easing restrictions should not be used as a reward and that some restrictions will be in place until the first half of 2022. 

Worshipers are being fined after breaching Melbourne's lockdown after gathering near a synagogue.

The worshippers were fined Tuesday morning in Ripponlea, marking the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.

The Queensland Police Service has announced a new program to help promote motorcycle safety, designed to equip motorcycle riders with integral skills and know-how to stay safe on their rides.