Slovenian MP steps down following sandwich theft
A member of the Slovenian parliament has stepped down after stealing a sandwich from a shop where he says he was ignored by staff.
Darij Krajcic (Da-ridge Kradge-Kick) told local media he was annoyed at being "treated like air" and decided to test the supermarket's security by walking out, but always intended to return and pay later.
Fellow MPs initially laughed at the story, but the head of his parliamentary faction, condemned his actions as "unacceptable", with Mr Krajcic stepping down on his own accord.
Nearly 1,000 Madagascans killed by measles
Over 900 children and young adults have died of measles in Madagascar since October.
Measles is a contagious viral disease which can cause blindness, brain swelling and an increase susceptibility to other diseases.
Only 58% of Madagascans are vaccinated against the disease; since October, an emergency response has vaccinated 2.2 million out of the 26 million Madagascans.
Jacinta Collins confirmed as the new head of the National Catholic Education Commission
Former Labor Senator, Jacinta Collins, has been confirmed as the new head of the National Catholic Education Commission.
Collins will start her new role next week and is responsible for lobbying on behalf of approximately 770,000 catholic school students and their families, as well as more than 90,000 people who work in the sector.
Collins retired from politics yesterday, after first entering parliament in 1995.
Disability inquiry vote is likely to succeed
A vote calling for a disability royal commission is on track to succeed when federal parliament resumes.
Yesterday, the Senate voted again for a royal commision into the disability sector which Labor wanted the lower house to vote on, which it may have won.
However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison allowed question time to run for two-and-a-half hours which is well past the previous record of 126 minutes, leaving no adequate time for the vote to occur.
$3.7 million upgrade to the Brisbane Valley Highway
The Queensland Government has announced a $3.7 million upgrade to the Brisbane Valley Highway.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said that work would start from mid-February, with crews set to resurface a 26 km stretch of the Highway between Esk and Fernvale.
Traffic controllers, reduced speed limits and road signage will be in place to ensure the safety of road workers and motorists.
Queensland Health and Royal Flying Doctors Service to fly in mental health staff in flood ridden regions
Queensland Health has teamed up with the Royal Flying Doctors Service to urgently fly-in mental health staff to flood affected areas in North and Western Queensland.
Health Minister Steven Miles says this will ensure Queenslanders affected by the floods are supported, especially farmers, many of whom have lost livestock.
A total of 14 mental health staff have been deployed in Townsville, with more planning to travel shortly.
If you are struggling with mental health please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Tin Star: A Better Way To Do Things
- If you follow the folky circuit you may be quite familiar with Tin Star, who’ve been working it hard over the last eighteen months. I have to admit that I used to follow it a lot more closely than I do now which is why Tin Star’s very polished debut full-length blindsided me completely. It’s so polished it’s a little bit shocking: as if I were gabbing with someone about music at the pub and they had to tell me, a little patronisingly, that there’s this classic Australiana band, beloved by all, only I have no idea who they are.
Big Bad Echo: Pop Godz
- Brisbane five-piece Big Bad Echo formed some six years ago and have built up a following via their post-punk infused songs, which veer from twitchy to tranquil while always maintaining an atmospheric core. A further distinctive feature is frontman Mick Reddy, whose naturally nervous vocal style can evoke everyone from Ian McCullogh to Ed Kuepper.
Relatives of detained Uighurs demand 'proof of life' in social media campaign
A video released by the Chinese government aimed at appeasing Uighur activists has done the opposite, sparking a global social media campaign demanding proof of the well-being of detained Uighur's.
The campaign was started by Uighur activist Halmurat Harri who lives in Finland.
He says the world needs to realise that the issue of Uighurs’ detained in Chinese camps is not an ethnic or racial issue but a tragedy for all humans.
Manus Island refugee to accept major human rights award in Switzerland
A Sudanese refugee detained on Manus Island has won a major human rights award.
Abdul Aziz Muhamat, who has been on the island since 2013, was allowed to travel to Geneva where he was honoured for demonstrating outstanding commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, while often working under threat, imprisonment, torture or worse.
Mr Muhamat speaks to international media outlets regularly from Manus Island, shedding light on and condemning the quality of life in offshore detention.