Computer Scientist Responsible for Black Hole Image Targeted by Trolls

One of the computer scientists responsible for the construction of the image of a black hole has been targeted by social media trolls claiming she is trying to take all of the credit for the project.

A photo of Katie Bouman’s reaction to the black hole image went viral after it was copied and tweeted from MIT’s social media account.

Colleagues have rushed to her defence, claiming she was not to blame for the misleading information shared online.

Japan Undertaking Nuclear Pool Clean-up

Japan has begun a massive nuclear pool clean-up after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

The operator of the affected nuclear plant has begun the enormous task of removing fuel from a cooling pool at one of the three reactors that melted down in the disaster.

The work is expected to be completed in March 2021, but a spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power Co has made it clear that safety is their first priority.

Petition Launched to Retain the Indigenous Legal Assistance Program

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services has partnered with Change the Record to launch a petition for the government to retain the Indigenous Legal Assistance Program

The Program is the only national program that addresses the disadvantage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the justice system. However, the recent Federal Budget revealed the government's intent to combine the ILAP into a single mechanism, with Legal Aid Commissions and Community Legal Centres.

Nickel Company Employees Reimbursed

Clive Palmer has agreed to pay entitlements to workers from his Queensland Nickel company, three years after the refinery was shut down.

Hundreds of workers and taxpayers were owed some $70Mn after Queensland Nickel went into liquidation in 2016.

Despite continuing to refuse responsibility for the dismissal of the workers, Palmer has agreed to pay the $7.16Mn in worker entitlements that were left outstanding by liquidators. It remains unclear whether he will also agree to cover the remaining $66Mn owed to taxpayers.

Two Million Dollars Promised For Bulk Billing Incentives

The ALP has promised $200Mn to bulk-up bulk billing incentives for select pathology services as part of its $2.3Bn cancer fund.

The money will be targeted at reducing out-of-pocket costs and waiting lists for elderly Australians and cancer patients.

The LNP government has spent the first days of the campaign doubling down on its tax incentive rhetoric but has not ruled out matching Labor’s $2.3Bn cancer package.

Stress on Electoral Roll

Australians have until the end of the week to make sure they are enrolled and up to date on the electoral roll.

The Australian Electoral Commission says about half a million Australians are missing from the roll and expect several hundred thousand more to be updating their details before rolls close.

They warn that you may be excluded from voting and potentially face fines for failing to enroll or for not updating crucial information like your address.

Sudan Celebrates Dictatorship End

The Sudanese are celebrating the end of President Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year dictatorship by singing and dancing to loud music well into the early hours of the morning.

Until last week, residents required a permit to play loud music late at night, but the tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the military headquarters aren’t planning on leaving anytime soon.

Go Fund Me Announces an Anti-Vax Ban

The international crowd funding service GoFundMe has formally announced a ban on anti-vaxxers from their platform.
 

In response to reports that one campaigner had gathered nearly £60,000 in donations, the company decided that anti-vax content violates their misinformation terms of service.
 

A GoFundMe spokesman says they are currently conducting a “thorough review” of any campaigns currently underway and will remove any that violate the terms.

More than 500 Patients Left Stranded on Stretchers in Brisbane Hospitals

Brisbane hospitals are dealing with an escalating beds crisis, with more than 500 ambulance patients left on stretchers in hallways last month.

Under the rapid offload policy, 524 patients were offloaded at four Metro South emergency facilities, including Logan Hospital.

These reports come in wake of last week’s standoff between Logan E.D nurses and paramedics over rapid offloads, which allow paramedics to park patients on temporary trolleys, while they await an Emergency bed and get back on the road.