The House of Representatives has voted against a movement to raise JobSeeker payments by 80 dollars a fortnight.

The Social Services Legislation Amendment Bill proposes an increase in maximum rates of social security payments by $50 a fortnight, which still places recipients under the poverty line.

Tanzania's President John Magufuli has died aged 61 after weeks of health rumours. 

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa insisted last week that the president was “healthy and working hard,” however Magufuli was last seen in public on February 27.

Scientists in Melbourne have created human embryos from skin cells. 

The Monash University led-team re-programed skin cells into three-dimensional structures similar to the early stages of human embryos. 

Only 34 children were adopted in Queensland last year - an 80 per cent decrease in figures from two decades ago. 

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows 11 of these adoptions were from overseas and another 11 were adoptions between known contacts. 

Protesters have blockaded a weapons manufacturer at their factory in Tennyson, Brisbane.

The protests were sparked by an investigation that revealed Electro-Optic Systems was illegally shipping weapons systems to the United Arab of Emirates at the height of the war on Yemen.

Tensions between Central Queensland cattle farms in Clermont and the company formerly-known as Adani are growing due to loud road trains. 

Grazier David Luke says a land-swap deal struck five years ago saw the company build a road bypassing his house. 

The Indigenous-led campaign is urging governments to adopt the Uluru Statement from the Heart and achieve health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

The Close the Gap report released today has 15 recommendations for systemic reform to protect Indigenous health, wellbeing and culture. 

Experts are calling on Queensland to implement police stations staffed only with women to lower domestic abuse. 

QUT Centre for Justice Professor Kerry Carrington said women-only police stations in Argentina have been shown to encourage victims to come forward.

Iran's civil aviation body said an error by air defence operators led to a Ukrainian passenger plane being shot down in January last year.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards shot down Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 on January 8, killing all 176 people on board.