1. Victoria announces $3 billion mental health levy on payroll tax

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas yesterday announced a $3 billion increase in payroll tax for 9,000 of the state's biggest employers to help fund a $3.8 billion mental health package that is a key part of the state's budget. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told The Australian that Australia's economic recovery "should not be ­undermined by high-taxing Labor governments whose policies to whack families and businesses will cost jobs".

2. Over 50s encouraged to not delay COVID-19 vaccine

Health Minister Greg Hunt has urged all Australians aged over 50 to get their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible and not wait for an alternative option to the AstraZeneca jab. Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid noted that it "would be a bad thing for Australia if we had a large number of our vulnerable population not vaccinated because they had this perception that one vaccine is better than the other when the data does not at all show that".

3. US Treasury proposes 15% global minimum corporate tax rate

The US Treasury has proposed that companies around the world pay tax of at least 15% on their earnings following discussions with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. "We must create an environment in which countries work together to maintain our tax bases and ensure the global tax system is equitable and equipped to meet the needs of the 21st century global economy," said a statement from US Treasury.

4. 11-year-old helps police identify alleged kidnapper thanks to Law & Order: SVU

An 11-year-old girl from Florida who fought off a kidnapping attempt at a bus stop was able to mark the alleged kidnapper with blue slime, later helping police identify a suspect. The girl told NBC's Today that she knew to mark the man after watching episodes of Law & Order: SVU with her mother.

5. Tech stocks lead US rebound

The Nasdaq rose 236.00 points or 1.77% to 13,535.74 on Thursday, ending a three-day losing streak for the index. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 also rebounded from three consecutive down days, with the Dow up 188.11 points or 0.55% to 34,084.15 and the S&P 500 up 43.44 points or 1.06% to 4,159.12.