The Yellow Wiggle, Emma Watkins, has donated $20,000 to ensure a Yolngu sign language book can hit the printing press by the end of the year to keep the ancient Australian aboriginal language alive.

Ms Watkins personal passion for deaf services compelled her to donate to the 25 year project to ensure the globally rare language could be preserved and studied for generations..

Once published, the Yolngu sign language directory will be comprised of photography and printed in both Yolngu and English.

The investment arm of Brisbane City Council is facing criticism after an internal review found “fundamental and systemic issues” with the fund and a “substantial risk” ratepayer money could be lost.

Opposition Lord Mayoral candidate Rod Harding has called for the fund to be shut down, saying board members were overpaid and the investment should be the responsibility of the council itself.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner released a draft plan on Tuesday to transform Adelaide Street into a “gateway” to the city centre.

The plan will see a new walkable boulevard, pocket park and a Brisbane Metro tunnel connecting North Quay to King George Square bus station, with Brisbane City Council also planning an overhaul of Adelaide Street to coincide with the project.

Mr Schrinner says King George Square Station will be a new front door for commuters, and the arrival at Adelaide Street will be a more pleasant and safer environment for commuters.

A new coal-fired power station in Queensland is on the federal government’s agenda, despite calls from environmentalists to shift towards renewable energy.

Resources Minister Matt Canavan is backing the new power station proposal, saying it has been “overwhelmingly endorsed by the people of North Queensland.”

Senator Canavan said a pilot scheme to build a new power station would go ahead and could be expanded into a major project within a few years.

Papua New Guinea is facing a leadership crisis as the country’s Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, appears to be attempting to stall his own resignation, days after announcing he would step aside.

Mr O’Neill told reporters on Sunday he was going to hand power over in the interest of “political stability” but has yet to formally hand in his resignation, and launched a bid to block a no-confidence vote in his government with the Supreme Court.

A UN report says North Korea’s citizens face a daily struggle for survival, accusing Kim Jong-un’s government of severe economic mismanagement.

The report reveals that military funding is a higher priority for the nation than ensuring its citizens aren’t starving, with 10.1 million North Koreans being impacted by severe food shortages following the worst harvest in a decade.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the Brisbane City Council will actively seek out local small businesses to contract for the council’s procurement spend.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Cr Schrinner made the promise to invest 80% of the council’s procurement spend in Brisbane and South-East Queensland businesses to support the region’s industry.

Cr Schrinner said the decision was made to support Brisbane’s small businesses to grow into medium and large businesses.

Labor members of Brisbane City Council are calling for smoking to be banned in King George Square.

Cr Kara Cook unsuccessfully moved a motion asking the Council administration to take urgent action, saying “a smoke-free environment is the only way to protect non-smokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke.”

Community Arts and Lifestyle Chairman Peter Matic says the Council has a strong track record of smoking bans in the city, but blamed the Queensland state government for dragging its feet on further bans.