South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says his governing party could have done more to halt state corruption, under his predecessor, Joseph Zuma.

Ramaphosa, who was Zuma’s deputy president from 2014 until 2018, acknowledged the party failed to stop Zuma’s abuse of power and misappropriation of resources. 

Legislator with the small COPE party, William Madisha, says Ramaphosa is deflecting his personal responsibility for the misappropriation of funds whilst deputy president.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian has called certain Australian politicians “troublemakers” and has advised them to abandon their cold war mentalities. 

"As a country that has long benefited from cooperation with China, it is unethical for Australia to hype a 'China threat' theory, nor is the allegation consistent with facts ... It will end up hurting itself," he said. 

The statement follows Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo’s ANZAC day staff address saying, “drums of war” are beating in the region. 

Australia’s internet broadband provider, NBN Co., will convene with the national consumer watchdog to reform its pricing model. 

Until now, the terms and prices for access to the National Broadband Network have largely been developed by NBN Co without oversight. 

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims said the reform process is the start of bringing NBN prices under regulation, and improving prices for customers.

A new facility at the University of Queensland is set to develop mRNA vaccines following a two-point-two million dollar federal government injection. 

The university’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology will develop the new generation vaccines against new targets. 

Associate professor and vaccine expert Timothy Mercer says there has been a growing need for Australia to step up and produce vaccines to combat COVID-19 and future viruses.

Australian businessman and politician Clive Palmer’s proposal to build a coal mine near the Great Barrier Reef has been deemed not suitable by the Queensland Environment Department. 

The mine was planned just 10 kilometers from wetlands that feed into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. 

The Queensland Department of Environment and Science report found the project presented significant environmental risks due to its location.

Protesters of a military weapons expo occupied the Brisbane offices of senior ministers Wednesday afternoon.

Protesters stormed the offices of Peter Dutton and Anastacia Palaszscuk to oppose both politicians' support for the Land Forces Expo, which is due to be held at the Brisbane Convention Centre in June.

The arms dealers’ expo is due to bring eight of the world’s top ten arms manufacturers together to showcase weapons and technology for the Australian and Indo-Asia-Pacific armies.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster has announced her resignation, after an internal party no-confidence vote. 

Her resignation comes after post-Brexit rules re-ignited political tension and violence between British unionists and Irish nationalists.

In a televised statement, Ms Foster said she sought to lead Northern Ireland away from division.

"I have sought to lead the party and Northern Ireland away from division and towards a better path," she said. 

iPhone users can now choose to opt out of apps tracking them across the internet for advertising. 

The new pop-up feature follows Apple CEO Tim Cook’s announcement that users should have the choice over how their data is collected and used. 

Queensland University of Technology digital communications expert Daniel Angus said apps have been free to give away personal data and this new update puts the choice front and centre. 

"We are getting better and consumers are getting more savvy and demanding more in terms of safety and privacy."

Indigenous legal advocates are calling for change, justice and accountability from the government, following two Indigenous deaths in custody this week.

Authorities confirmed two Indigenous men died in prison in Victoria and New South Wales on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. 

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services Chair Priscilla Atkins is concerned at the lack of information about all deaths in custody.