Nominations for councillor are now open in Queensland’s northern Carpentaria Shire Council following the resignation of Councillor Peter Wells in late March.

The Australian Electoral Commission called the May-eight by-election on Friday, saying nominations for the replacement councillor will close on 19 April.

The electoral roll closes on 15 April, so constituents have been urged to enrol or update their details as soon as possible.

On Friday, Australian National Imams Council led by the Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamad, declared the commencement of Ramadan fasting in Australia for Tuesday 13 April 2021.

The Islamic month of Ramadan is a time of peace and serenity for the community, where groups gather in mosques for prayers after fasting from sunrise to sunset.

Batul Gulani, a prominent female leader in Australia's Shi'ite Muslim community, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Ramadan is an exciting time to promote messages of unity to others.

The Full Federal Court dismissed an appeal on Friday by Volkswagen AG against the penalties awarded for false representations about compliance with Australian diesel emissions standards.

In dismissing the appeal, the Full Court upheld the $125 million penalty imposed by the Federal Court, and held that the $125 million penalty ‘was not excessive, let alone manifestly excessive’, which Volkswagen alleged.

New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service has acquired 37 hectares of land adjoining the Billinudgel Nature Reserve. 

Tamara Smith, Member for Ballina, says the move will protect habitat such as the Common Blossom-bat and the threatened Tweed koala.

The land will be added to the Billinudgel Nature reserve, removing the possibility for it to be logged in future.

Rescue efforts are continuing in China’s Xinjiang region, after 29 people were trapped in a coal mine as a result of surprise flooding on Saturday. 

Eight people have since been rescued and crews have located all the trapped miners, state broadcaster CCTV has reported.

The flooding is reportedly hampering the rescue efforts, as power cuts disrupt communication lines.

Over 300 people gathered in Brisbane’s King George Square over the weekend, joining in the nation-wide protests against Indigenous deaths in custody.

Family and friends of those that have passed away gave emotive speeches during the rally, and participants held a smoking ceremony outside of the Brisbane police headquarters. 

Thursday will mark 30 years since the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody handed down its final report.

A content warning on this next story, which might be distressing to some.

An 18-year-old man from Chermside has died while rock climbing in the Glass House Mountains over the weekend, after falling 40 metres from Mount Ngungun on Saturday. 

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and SES volunteers assisted multiple paramedics at the scene.

Mr Garlick was studying teaching at the Queensland University of Technology and is being remembered as a kind, humble and joyful person.

The City of Sydney is taking steps to make their CBD more pedestrian-friendly, beginning works to convert 9,000 square metres from Town Hall to Railway Square to car-free space.

The works will also include a new public space in Surry Hills, with work set to start in 2022. 

Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the $43.5 million project will be a boost for the local economy and support recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.