ALP describes Australia's relationship with China as 'terribe'

Federal Labor has described Australia’s relationship with China as terrible and accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of using “megaphone diplomacy” against the nation’s largest trading partner. 

Labor’s Deputy Leader Richard Marles says there is a sense in China that Australia is losing relevance, and says we should be focused on building trust with China. 

'We shall never surrender': Sydney and Taiwan kick off global protests for Hong Kong

On Sunday, thousands rallied in Sydney and Taipei to support Hong Kong democracy protesters.

In one of the largest solidarity marches in Australia since Hong Kong's latest pro-democracy movement began in June, black-clad participants took to the streets chanting "Add oil", a protest slogan denoting encouragement.

Some Sydney protesters held signs that read "Save Hong Kong" and "Stop tyranny", while others carried yellow umbrellas or handed out paper cranes in scenes that played out in other major cities across the country.

Australia urged to 'step up substantially' to halt violence in neighbouring West Papua

Australia has been urged to step up substantially on the issue of West Papua, with  Vanuatu’s leaders taking to the stage of the UN General Assembly to "emphatically condemn" alleged human rights violations in the region.   

Vanuatu's Prime Minister says Australia’s position on the Human Rights Council and membership of the Pacific Island Forum means it has a responsibility to help end clashes between Indonesian security forces and pro-independence protestors. 

SEARCH FOR MISSING ULTRALIGHT NEW ZEALAND PLANE CONTINUES

New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre are currently conducting an air and land search for an ultralight plane carrying two men.

The search is taking place in New Zealand's Tararua Ranges, as the plane left Foxpine Airstrip on Sunday afternoon and did not reach its destination. 

Rescue co-ordinator Keith Allen stated that the reported height of the plane would have indicated that the passengers faced rough skies, reasonably strong winds and rain.

 

BRISBANE FARMER PLANS TO ESTABLISH AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST URBAN FARM NETWORK

Home to more than five million people, south-east Queensland is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia and is soon to become home to the country's largest urban farm network.

The evolving community of urban farmers are taking advantage of unused spaces within Brisbane's suburban estates and on the metropolitan fringe to grow food for a hungry city.

One such site is a former CSIRO research station in the Samford Valley where the Moreton Bay Regional Council has helped locals create the 5,000-square-metre Millen Farm.

Labor announces new mayoral candidate for 2020 Council elections

Queensland Labor has announced former Journalist and Broadcaster Patrick Condren as their candidate for Brisbane’s Lord Mayor in the March 2020 election. 

Former candidate Rod Harding was dumped by the party on Saturday – leading Mr Condren to be chosen in the hope he will have better cut through with voters -  and better Labor’s chances at winning back City Hall.  

Australia's migrant communities say they feel left out of climate conversation

Action on climate change is an at-times emotionally-charged issue. But there are some communities in Australia who say they feel left out of the discussion entirely. 

At a Uniting Church in the inner-west Sydney suburb of Strathfield, a multi-faith meeting is being held between local leaders, representing Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities in the area.

These leaders are united over the main item on their agenda: global warming.

New drugs listed on PBS saving sufferers thousands of dollars a year

Drugs for lung cancer, leukaemia, cholesterol, nerve pain and chemo-caused nausea will be drastically reduced in price under a half a billion dollar announcement from the Morrison Government today. 

The drugs will be listed on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme – giving Australian’s living with life threatening illnesses a significant boost in the fight for their health.  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says budget management has allowed more drugs to be listed on the PBS faster.

 

Largest Russian rally in a decade over jailing of protesters

Moscow's largest sustained protest movement in a decade occurred on Sunday, as 60,000 people  rallied to demand the release of protesters who were jailed in July.

The July protests occurred as more than 12 opposition candidates were not allowed to run in an election on September 8th due to a technicality- with police stating that the protesters were prosecuted for  breaking the law in the unauthorised rallies.