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. 

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 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.

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.

Australian banks will be held to a higher standard after the implementation of a new code of practice which takes effect today, coinciding with the start of the financial year. 

The new code, which every major bank with customers has agreed to be bound by, introduces a number of new policies, including a mandatory offer of low-fee or no fee accounts to lower income customers. 

Queensland is set to scrap freight subsidies heavily relied on by farmers during droughts to offset food and water transport costs.

Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner says the current scheme is outdated and farmers need to make plans which anticipate droughts instead.

Farmer Will Wilson worries the cuts will have a further mental toll, saying farmers need all the help they can get when up against drought conditions.

Oil has leaked onto the road after a semi-trailer hit a bridge in inner-Brisbane this morning, with the impact also knocking an empty shipping container off the vehicle and onto the road. 

Emergency services responded at 5:30am after the truck hit the protection beam of a rail bridge on Annerley Road in Woolloongabba near an intersection at Park Road. 

Firefighters soaked up the oil spill with absorbent, according to a Queensland Fire and Emergency spokesperson, and a crane lifted the shipping container off the road at approximately 7:10am.