The Great Barrier Reef is set to receive a $28 million federal funding package to help enhance the marine life and environment.

The funding will be divided between six natural resource projects on Queensland’s east coast. It will include beach clean-ups, managing threatened species, and helping rejuvenate natural habitats.

Warnings have been issued to parts of Queensland’s east coast today, urging people to be prepared for another day of severe thunderstorms.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) advised the south-east corner and northern parts of Queensland are expected to experience heavy storms today.

Researchers at Charles Sturt University have designed plastic boxes as a home for animals that have lost their habitats to the bushfires.

Through the use of 3D printing, the boxes imitate the microclimate of an actual tree hollow.

Melbourne is experiencing some relief as long-awaited easing of restrictions begins midnight tonight.

With the state recording zero coronavirus cases on Monday, the Premier Daniel Andrews has announced the end of the lockdown, and changes to the restrictions.

Belarus has undergone a nationwide strike in a strong protest to see leader Alexander Lukashenko step down from power.

A group of almost 3,000 Belarusians have taken to the streets waving red and white flags and protest signs.

Japan has vowed to become carbon neutral by 2050, as part of the country’s plan to committing to helping climate change.

The Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, delivered his first address on Monday, with the environment as his main concern and issue.

The United States Senate has voted to advance the Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett towards confirmation despite objections from the Democrat party. The Republican-led Senate voted mostly united in support of President Donald Trump’s pick to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Many Democrat party representatives have said whoever wins the election next week should elect the next Supreme Court justice.

Protests have erupted in several cities in Poland on the weekend over the near-total ban on abortions. The protestors were reacting to last week’s ruling by Poland’s constitutional court that an existing law allowing abortion of non-viable fetuses was “incompatible” with their Constitution. The court’s verdict was criticized by several European human rights groups including the Council of Europe.

Federal Industry Minister Karen Andrews has said she believes the rollout of a coronavirus vaccine would be at least nine months away. Appearing on the ABC political show Insiders, Andrews said it would take time before a drug could be approved, manufactured, and distributed to the population. In this month’s budget, the federal government committed $1.5 billion to medical technology and manufacturing.