The government has relaxed the cap on working hours for student visa holders employed at supermarkets to address a worker shortage.

Supermarkets in locked-down regions in New South Wales and Victoria will be allowed to employ international students for more than 40 hours a fortnight to prevent a virus-induced staff shortage.

Students working more than 40 hours per fortnight are required to maintain their course enrolment and ensure satisfactory attendance and progress.

Katie Hopkins, a far-right British commentator, will be deported from Australia after openly breaking hotel quarantine rules.

Ms Hopkins had been allowed into Australia from support of the government that she would bring considerable economic benefit to the country. 

She was going to appear on Channel 7’s reality television program Big Brother VIP, but has since been dropped.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews told the ABC that Ms Hopkins’ actions were “shameful” and “appalling”.

Western Europe floods have reportedly killed 120 people, with the death toll still rising and many still missing. 

Authorities fear with dozens still missing, the death toll may continue to rise. 

The Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel expressed shock after visiting the hardest hit flood region and called for action against climate change. 

Ms Merkel says, quote “We have to hurry up, we have to speed up the fight against climate change.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk faces criticism for her trip to Tokyo for the Olympic Games.

Ms Palaszczuk flew out last night, and arrived this morning, claiming her presence is essential if Brisbane is to host the 2032 Olympic Games.

Queenslanders have argued this trip is “hypocritical”, and are concerned that her return, and subsequent hotel quarantine, will take up the spot of another Australian waiting to come home.

More than 100 refugee advocates gathered outside a Brisbane immigration detention centre yesterday to protest Australia's asylum seeker policy and the indefinite detention of several detainees.

Protesters marched around the perimeter of the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation (BITA) Centre at Pinkenba, where about 35 detainees have been housed.

Today marks eight years since the federal government changed its asylum seeker policy to disallow anyone who arrived by boat from being settled in Australia.

Local businesses continue to feel the impacts of Queensland’s snap lockdowns and ever-changing exposure sites.

Sunshine Coast residents are particularly concerned as the area keeps facing COVID near misses.

Many of the businesses rely on interstate travellers escaping their winter weather to come, however with New South Wales and Victoria in lockdowns yet again, businesses are struggling.

The national cabinet is being urged to make vaccinations compulsory for all hospital staff and to create a roll-out plan to ensure every worker gets a jab.

Catholic Health Australia, which represents Catholic not-for-profit hospitals, says every year healthcare staff are required to get vaccinated against the flu but yet there is no such directive for COVID.

They are urging the government to form a uniform rule across Australia for everyone working in a hospital environment.

A push for greater disability acceptance in the workplace is hoping to change ideas of inclusion and ability.

Nathan Basha, a disability advocate, says many people with disabilities face workplace rejection just because organisations are unaware or challenged by their support needs, even though often these people come forward with their own support and solutions.

Mr Basha says, “organisations and businesses need to stop putting people in boxes and recognise that everyone has their own unique potential, to lose their fear of the unknown."

Oil producing nations have agreed a deal to control oil prices. 

Under the new deal, OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and partners have agreed to increase supply by a further 2 million barrels per day from August until December 2021 to help stabilise the market.

The OPEC cartel and partners, such as Russia, will boost supply after prices climbed to two-and-half-year highs during the pandemic