Stars of movie and screen have descended on Queensland as filming begins on two major productions,and a third production well underway.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said history as well as television and movie magic was being made in Queensland.

She said there will be more jobs for our local screen industry with more money being generated into the local economy and Queensland being showcased to the world.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services were called to a fire at Brisbane’s Port Office Hotel yesterday afternoon.

The fire which started in the kitchen was contained and the Heritage-listed Brisbane pub was saved from major structural damage.

No injuries were reported.

The venue is closed indefinitely, but the owners are determined to reopen soon.

Nigeria’s anti-trafficking agency said it has found thousands of missing girls and women in southern Mali, many of whom were sold as sex slaves.

According to the agency NAPTIP, there are between 20,000 and 45,000 kidnapped Nigerian women in Mali it intends to return to Nigeria.

Nigerian victims of human trafficking were found in about 40 different countries, the report stated, adding that "80 percent of all female Nigerian migrants in Italy are or will become sex trafficking victims".

Scientists looking at ways of turbo-charging crop production say they may have found a new pathway to cure Alzheimer's disease.

Working with a team from a German biochemistry institute, researchers say that blue-green algae produces tiny carbon-capturing engines.

These microscopic engines are a driving force in many biological systems, including the development of Alzheimer's disease.

An independent mental health advocate has asked the Western Australian Government to consider banning involuntary patients from Kalgoorie Hospital’s mental health ward in a report that labelled it the worst in the state.

The report by the Mental Health Advocacy Service (MHAS) followed two incidents last year, one where a young person escaped the mental health ward and died by suicide.

Justice Minister Shane Rattenbury has admitted to previously taking MDMA, following calls for pill testing at music festivals in New South Wales.

Mr Rattenbury played a key role in establishing the first pill testing trial in Australia at Groovin' The Moo in Canberra last year.

In a joint letter with Ms Faehrmann, Mr Rattenbury called on Premier Gladys Berejiklian to consider a trial in the state, after suspected overdoses at Australian music festivals resulted in the deaths of six young people this summer.

With an increase of assaults and suspicious behaviour in the Brisbane region, women are encouraged to be cautious when walking alone.

This follows the attack of a 16-year-old girl in Chermside West yesterday.  

The attacker was described as Caucasian, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, and about 185cm tall with a proportionate build.

Police are appealing for anyone who noticed a man acting suspiciously or out of place in Chermside West on Wednesday to come forward.

Ancient myths of the bull shark population in the Brisbane River, colloquially known as the ‘Brown Snake’, have been brought to light recently, when a local riverwalk regular inquired about whether it is safe for dogs to swim in the river.

During the warmer months, rumours of fishermen catching metre-long bull sharks have travelled around the city.  

Queensland Museum ichthyologist Jeff Johnson says bull sharks are a common resident of the Brisbane River, with researchers estimating approximately 1,000-3,000 bull sharks live in the river.