Anti-protest laws to pass this week
Anti-protest laws to prevent people using dangerous devices to lock themselves to roads and train lines appear ready to pass this week in Parliament.
A committee of cross-section MPs have approved the Bill, now ready for parliamentary debate.
A number of organisations have raised concerns about the Bill’s justifications, with legal groups saying that the claims that protesters have been using dangerous lock-devices have not been substantiated.
Protests against the law are expected outside Parliament today.
Australia’s first judge-swap
A Queensland and Western Australian judge have swapped courtrooms in an experiment to find better ways of doing things through firsthand experience.
Queensland Justice Walter Sofronoff has helped create the first judge-swap in Australian Courts, by exchanging places with his colleague Michael Buss in Western Australia.
Justice Sofronoff found one thing WA's Appeal Court does better, by filtering cases through the appellant persuading a two-judge panel their argument has merit.
New survey reveals most important part of being an Australian
A new survey has revealed what Australians believe to be the key identifier of national spirit, and it’s not what you would expect.
The answer is not our passion for sport, the way we speak, our appreciation of Australia’s natural environment or our sense of justice.
According to more than 50,000 respondents to the Australia Talks National Survey, Australians consider the most important part of being Australian to be: “Respecting our institutions and laws”.
New coins to celebrate Chinese New Year, Year of the Rat
The Royal Australian Mint has unveiled a new range of coins designed to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rat.
The year 2020 begins the next 12-year lunar cycle, and is said to be especially lucky.
One of the coins will feature a rodent and the other will depict each animal in the calendar.
The mint’s responsible minister Michael Sukkar said the coins are a traditional gift for those who celebrate Chinese New Year, and also serve as a momento for the start of the next lunar calendar cycle.
40,000 people are about to run a marathon in the Indian capital of New Delhi with severe air-pollution issue
More than 40,000 marathon runners are preparing to compete in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Sunday, where air pollution has reached dangerous levels.
This week's city image shows that it is covered with thick yellow smoke, and some buildings barely see fog. Air quality indices ranged from 0 to 500, reaching 227 last Friday and classified as “very unhealthy”.
Indian students wear a box on the head during the exam to prevent cheating
A school in India has apologised after a photo of a student wearing a cardboard box on the head during an exam to discourage cheating.
According to M.B. Sateesh, the head of school management, the University of Baggot University in Harvey, in the southwestern part of India, conducted a trial run of the new measure last Wednesday.
A staff member took pictures of students sitting in neat classrooms, and their heads were covered by cardboard boxes.
8AM Zedlines
Jess and Sisi present Tuesday's 8AM Zedlines
Image: 3Dnatives
American Airlines flight diverted after cleaning chemical spillage in cabin
On Monday, a US airline flight from London to Philadelphia landed in Ireland after cleaning chemicals leaked in the aircraft cabin.
An American Airlines spokesperson said the flight 729 from London Heathrow to Philadelphia change direction to Dublin because of an odour caused by a spilled cleaning solution in the galley.
Katie Phillips, a passenger on the diverted flight, said in a tweet that "chemical spills" caused "sickness outbreak" on the plane.
Trade war: The United States hits China with a new round of tariffs
The United States has imposed new tariffs on Chinese imports (such as shoes, diapers and food) worth $112 billion (£92 billion).
New tariffs have escalated dramatically during the fierce trade war, which could cost households $800 a year.
The move is the first phase of the latest plan by US President Donald Trump, which imposes a 15% tariff on $300 billion of Chinese imports by the end of the year.
In response, Beijing began to take measures against US$75 billion worth of US goods.
3D-printed bone allows man to walk again
The first person to get a 3D-printed tibia bone implanted into his leg, in a world-first medical breakthrough, is now able to walk again.
Brisbane resident Reuben Lichter developed a bone infection in 2017 and would have had to get an above-the-knee amputation if it wasn’t for the new technology.
Two years later, he says his journey has been long and painful but he is glad that he “did the hard yards” instead of amputating.