Half a million Congolese people forced from homes
Reportedly almost half a million Congolese have been forced from their homes and at least 400 killed in inner-ethnic fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
More than 400,000 people have fled the province since the fight started three weeks ago, with many trying to make it across the border.
The Congolese president is expected to assess the humanitarian crisis in the region.
13,000 dogs slaughtered monthly in Indonesia
More than 13,000 dogs are allegedly being slaughtered every month in the Indonesian city of Solo to meet local demand for the animal’s meat.
A recent investigation by the Dog Meat Free Indonesia Coalition of campaigners found about 200 street vendors and restaurants were selling dog meat for typically around $2 a serving.
Campaigners say the dog meat trade poses major public health risks, and Bali’s Governor as well other locals have cracked down on the trade.
First-time Victorian parents to receive free baby bundles
First-time parents in Victoria are receiving free baby bundles to help give their babies the best start to life through a new state government program.
Approximately 35,000 first-time parents are expected to get the starter kit, worth 150 dollars, in the first year of the 22 million dollar state government program.
Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos says bringing your baby home for the first time is challenging, and she plans to make the moment easier by giving babies everything they need to thrive.
Alice Springs Gap Youth Centre now open seven nights a week
The Alice Springs Gap Youth Centre is now open seven nights a week, following a boost in Northern Territory government funding.
Gap Youth Centre chief executive Michelle Krauer says there was a definite push from specific groups in the community wanting to have a youth centre open all the time.
Mrs Krauer says the numbers of children at the centre each night has doubled since the change, and there has been up to 120 children visiting the centre in one night.
Sniffer dogs detect 12 underground water leaks in SEQ
Two sniffer dogs have saved South-East Queensland from 12 underground water leaks across the year which could have otherwise gone undetected for years.
The two springer spaniels are set to be rewarded with games of catch after they “aced” their one year trial period with Queensland Urban Utilities and locked in their long-term employment detecting water leaks.
Hatchie - 'Keepsake'
Hatchie’s debut album Keepsake sees Harriette Pilbeam, the artist behind Hatchie, team up once again with her 2018 Sugar & Spice EP producer John Castle (Cub Sport, Vance Joy, Jack River). While the album begins and ends with two massively catchy pop tracks - the brightly defiant ‘Not That Kind’ and the euphoric and epic ‘Keep’ - many songs drift into more emotionally tangled terrain, shedding light on experiences both ephemeral and life-changing.
There’s a self-possessed spirit infusing all of Keepsake, which ultimately serves as a document of a particularly kinetic moment in Harriette’s life.
“I’m not much of a nostalgic person when it comes to memories, but I do have a tendency to hold on to certain things, like tickets from the first time I went someplace on holiday,” Harriette says, reflecting on the album’s title.
“It made sense to me to call the record that, at a time when I’m going to probably end up with a lot of keepsakes – and in a way, this whole album is almost like a keepsake in itself.”
Keepsake is a culmination of what’s been an incredible two years for Hatchie. After exploding onto the scene in 2017 with the breakthrough debut single ‘Try’, Hatchie caught the attention of music fans and critics around the globe, before following it up with the exceptional dream-pop hit, ‘Sure’. Both tracks, alongside ‘Sugar & Spice’, ‘Bad Guy’ and ‘Sleep’ formed Hatchie’s striking debut EP Sugar & Spice (May 2018), a release that garnered widespread acclaim from international music media.
2019 has already been a huge year for Hatchie, with the band touring non-stop across the world. Locally, as well as her own sold-out tour, Hatchie supported the likes of Beach House, Death Cab For Cutie and Kylie Minogue in Australia. Elsewhere, the band just returned from a UK/EU tour, which included festival sets at Primavera & Heartland festival and sold-out London & Manchester headline shows. Off the back of a 30-date tour with Girlpool in North America in April & May, Hatchie has also announced her return to North America for an extensive headline tour in September.
On home soil, Hatchie has been recognised by AIR, who have nominated her for Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year at their upcoming awards in July, the same month that will see her return home to play Splendour in the Grass!
9AM ZEDLINES
[Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons]
Development application approved to make a new public space in Brisbane CBD
A development application proposed by Aria Property Group to transform a run-down laneway on the corner of Elizabeth and Edward Streets into a new public space, was approved by the Brisbane City Council last week.
Aria commercial manager Michael Zaicek says the development will be similar to the group's own Fish Lane in South Brisbane, but on a smaller scale.
Works on the refurbishment estimated at $4-5 million will begin on October 1, with the whole development expected to be completed by March 2020.
Iran seized 1000 Bitcoin machines in two factory raids
Iran seized 1000 Bitcoin machines in two factory raids after authorities blamed a spike in electricity consumption on cryptocurrency mining.
Iran electricity official Arash Navab says two bitcoin farms have been identified, with a consumption of one megawatt.
Researcher Mahsa Alimardani from the Oxford Internet Institute says Bitcoin is gaining more attention in Iran as an alternative way to store money.
Trump administration postpone the implementation of an anti-abortion health care rule
The Trump Administration has postponed the implementation of an anti-abortion health care rule.
The rule, which was initially set to take effect on July 22nd, would allow medical workers the right to decline performing abortions and related procedures based on religious or moral terms.
A final ruling will be made on November 22 with the US Department of Health and Human Services calling the change the most efficient way to make a formal judgement on the disputed matter.