The French senate has passed a “anti-separatism” bill including a ban on people under 18 year old wearing the hijab. 

The provision will also stop mothers wearing the hijab from accompanying their children on school excursions and at public swimming pools. 

The bill has received criticism internationally and is yet to go back to France’s lower house to be approved as law. 

Rain continues to hamper search efforts in Indonesia, as the death toll from recent landslides rises to 126 people.

Tropical Cyclone Seroja brought winds and rains across the south-east of the country on Tuesday, triggering flash floods and landslides.

Over 10,000 people have been displaced.

The federal government has asked the nation's medical and vaccine regulators to look into findings of a possible link between AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine and rare blood clots.

The European Medicines Agency found the connection between the vaccine and blood clots yesterday.

"Like with any treatment, vaccine, medicine we have to look at the risk and benefit and we do know that the risk of vaccination against this very serious disease of COVID is a really important component of our control," said Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.

The Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is considering removing humpback whales from Australia's threatened species list. 

More than 33,000 humpback whales are estimated to migrate through Queensland annually, with over 40,000 humpback whales migrating through Australia. 

Griffith University research fellow in Marine Science Dr Olaf Meynecke, said it was too early to delist the species.

"What now is an issue, is a combination of other threats that are a lot harder to address," he said.

An environmental assessment has found a 585 kilometre pipeline considered by the Queensland Government would significantly impact vulnerable species. 

The pipeline construction proposes to clear over 140 hectares of koala habitat in central west Queensland. 

A Federal Department of Environment assessment completed in 2019 found the proposal would significantly impact 2 endangered and 15 vulnerable species.

A report on the Murri Court has found the Indigenous-owned court system is operating positively across Queensland. 

The Ipsos report due to be released this week found the culturally-informed specialist court is generally viewed as somewhere offenders can have a "fair go".

“Importantly, the report showed that Murri Court is valued highly by participants, community members and elders as a means of justice that is Indigenous-owned and more culturally appropriate than mainstream courts,” said State Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman.

Taiwan says the island will defend itself ‘to the very last day’ if China attacks. 

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said China had sent naval strike groups into Taiwanese territory, and military aircraft into its air defence zone. 

"We are willing to defend ourselves without any questions and we will fight the war if we need to fight the war. And if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day we will defend ourselves to the very last day," said Mr Wu. 

Remote Aboriginal-controlled clinics in the Northern Territory have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

The Independent Corporation Miwatj Health spokesperson said the clinics aim to build trust and make information accessible for remote communities. 

The organisation also continues to run question and answer sessions and create in-language vaccine information videos despite additional government funding.