A helium balloon spotted at Central station yesterday drew Brisbane CBD trains to a halt as Queensland Rail investigated.

Trains between Bowen Hills and Park Road and Bowen Hills to Milton were suspended for up to an hour because they could not proceed without touching the object.

A Queensland Rail spokeswoman says it’s the first time they’ve encountered the bizarre interference and the issue was resolved just after 2pm.

Megachurch Hillsong has taken over Brisbane’s historical Tribal theatre intending on making it the permanent home for their services.

The theatre, also known as the Lyceum opened its doors in 1909 is recognised as Brisbane’s last historic city theatre.

Hillsong’s statement of intentions was released in April and has since sparked fierce opposition from Brisbane residents and the theatre historical society.

A rise in tiger traps is threatening to bring the Sumatran tiger population to extinction in Indonesia.

Local poachers report demand has increased for tigers, with the price growing from 85 to one thousand dollars per tiger.

Only 400 tigers remain in Indonesia, where rapid deforestation drives them further into crowded areas.

The Eastern European country of Georgia faces civil unrest after accusations of corruption plague their recent leadership poll.

25,000 Georgians protested vote buying, voter intimidation and ballot stuffing in front of the capital’s parliament building Sunday.

Civil wars, mass demonstrations and unrest have continued to plague the small country since its independence in 1991.

The outcome of the vote could determine Georgia’s entry to the EU and NATO.

News corp stands against Google and Facebook today as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission hands down its preliminary report into the fairness of competing print and digital platforms.

Google’s parent company expects to top $120 billion US dollars this financial year, while print media’s revenues are falling, leading to the loss of thousands of jobs nationwide.

The ACCC will rule on whether multinational digital servers are abusing their market power and exploiting the work of local journalists.

Rising electricity prices in Tasmania are resulting in increased pressure on small businesses, with many owners admitting costs are passed on to customers.

Farmers may be forced to sacrifice labour and feed costs to account for power and irrigation, according to Tasmanian Energy Consultant Marc White.

John Dabner, the general manager of Tall Timbers, an accommodation and tourism business in Smithton, said his annual power bill jumped by about $50,000 in the past year to $150,000.

Preliminary works have begun on the redevelopment of a former bakery site in Carina, despite concerns raised on habitat loss in the koala corridor.

Truck loads of debris were removed from the Fursden Road development site on Friday, as an excavator dug up concrete on a neighbouring, heavily vegetated site acquired as part of the redevelopment.

A freshly resurfaced road in Annerley has been cut up for gas works just two days after the new bitumen laid.

Residents on the street expressed frustration at witnessing Gibson Street being cut into in several locations for gas works on Thursday and Friday.

A council spokeswoman says because gas works are organised and managed by the utility provider council was not notified. She confirms the utility provider is now required to resurface the road.

The Swedish town of Kiruna is about to disappear into the world’s largest iron ore mine.

Over the last century miners tunnelled so deep under the city that the structural integrity of the town has been compromised, creating an increasingly large sink hole.

Rather than abandoning the town, the mining company plans to spend millions compensating villagers and relocating every building to a nearby valley currently controlled by native reindeer herders.

Russian president Vladimir Putin refuses to release Ukrainian sailors seized in the Sea of Azov last week.

Putin says further investigation is needed to establish whether the Ukrainian navy deliberately provoked the coast guard during their attempt to cross Russian held waters.

The Ukrainian government is accused of inciting war to distract from its economic failures, though accounts of the incident vary greatly between the two countries.