New Thai Queen announced
Three days ahead of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn's coronation, the new Thai queen has been announced.
Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayutthaya was announced as the new queen in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday which was the first time the couple’s relationship had been made public.
Suthida is the King’s fourth wife, but the announcement did not specify the date of the couple’s marriage.
Barr defends his decision to clear Trump in Mueller report
Congress has interrogated US Attorney General William Barr amid claims he misrepresented the findings of the Mueller report.
Barr defended his handling of the report that looked into the possible Russian interference in the 2016 election on Wednesday after Robert Mueller had questioned his decision to declare no wrongdoing by President Donald Trump.
The Democrats also debated whether Trump should be impeached for obstruction of justice based on the evidence presented in Mueller’s 448-page report.
Families of DFAT staff offered flights out of Sri Lanka amidst warning of further attacks
The Department of Foreign Affairs has offered families of its staff at its High Commission in Colombo flights to return to Australia, with the Australian government encouraging Australians to strongly consider its travel advice warning that further terrorist attacks are likely in Sri Lanka.
The department’s offer extends to dependants of embassy staff and volunteers working under the Australian Volunteers International program.
Rural parts of Darwin could run out of water following driest wet season in decades
Rural residents in Darwin could run out of water completely after the driest wet season in 27 years failed to replenish groundwater levels.
Director of Water assessment for the Northern Territory, Des Yin Foo, said the situation is serious and that if water consumption continues at the current rate, bores in Darwin’s rural area could run empty before the end of the dry season.
Mr Yin Foo said producers should expect a possibly reduced harvest this year and urged residents to reduce their water usage.
Fire in South Brisbane
Smoke is covering Brisbane city this morning as a fire engulfs a heritage listed boarding house and adjoining property in South Brisbane.
About 36 firefighters are working to extinguish the fire, with neighbouring properties being evacuated.
Queensland Ambulance paramedics have taken one person to hospital.
Wedding outfits of Queensland's first same-sex wedding to be displayed in museum
The outfits worn by the first same-sex couple from Queensland to get married after the passing of the marriage equality bill are set to be preserved and displayed in a museum.
Craig and Luke Burns donated their suits, photos and other memorabilia from their wedding day to the Queensland Museum, all of which are set to be displayed next year after going through preservation processes.
The couple were married in an intimate ceremony in January last year and said it was an honour to be a part of history.
8am Zedlines
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons/Figaro
The Damned Things: High Crimes
- More is more with The Damned Things, although that's tinged with irony since they've slimmed down from three to two guitarists in their extended sabbatical since Iconoclast. Back then it blew me out of the water and it has remained a longtime companion. High Crimes is a genuine return to that form as the band continues a long but almost forgotten lineage of groove laden, riff heavy rock.
11AM ZEDLINES
Good morning, this is Laura and Jack with your 11am Zedlines.
French courts handing out 447 fines for harassment of women under new law
A new law in French courts punishing harassment of women has handed out 447 fines in just eight months.
The law bans sexual or sexist comments that are “degrading, humiliating, intimidating, hostile or offensive,” and offenders can be fined on the spot from $100 AUD to $900 AUD.
A spokesperson for France’s equality minister Marlène Schiappa says the minister feels the legislation will make a long-term difference for French women.