Nepalese charity evicted from Brisbane City Council site
Brisbane City Council has evicted a small Nepalese charity from its heritage-listed building after it failed to meet rental payments.
The United Hands Foundation Australia won the bet for the space in 2016 after Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk announced the engine room should be allocated to a charity run organisation.
Mr Quirk declined calls for him to personally cover the cost of the unpaid rent, and council says the charity failed the community by neglecting to take advantage of payment plans, business coaching and mentoring services.
Earth's ecosystems threatened by declining insect populations
Earth’s ecosystems could collapse within the century, according to a global scientific review that shows insects populations are under threat of extinction.
The total number of insects is declining 2.5 per cent per year and a third of insects are currently endangered after significant population collapses across Germany and Puerto Rico.
Researchers say insects are essential for the proper functioning of all ecosystems and their decline is further confirmation a sixth major extinction event is impacting life on Earth.
US presents resolution to elect new Venezuelan president
The United States has presented a draft resolution on Venezuela to the United Nations Security Council, and has announced their sponsorship of a campaign for Juan Guaido to be the head of the country's elected legislative body
Australians missing in China amidst crackdown on Muslim minorities
17 Australian residents visiting family in China are missing and suspected to have been detained by the Chinese government as part of a national crackdown on ethnic muslim minorities.
Human rights advocates say some of the individuals are likely under house arrest, while others are detained in federal prisons and re-education centres in Xinjiang, alongside an estimated million other muslims that claim to be shackled and beaten by authorities.
Kelvin Grove State College alumnus to represent Australia in Eurovision
Kate Miller-Heidke has taken out the vote to become Australia's entry into the 2019 Eurovision song contest.
Our homegrown, Kelvin Grove State College and Con alumni has been nominated by the Australian public, in the first nomination process of its kind.
The 37-year-old singer-songwriter performed her song Zero Gravity during the live TV final Eurovision Australia Decides on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel in May.
Public transport boost in Brisbane
Brisbane residents are relying on public transport more than ever, according to a Translink study showing a 6.5 percent increase in travellers over the last year.
Transport minister Mark Bailey says cheaper fares, the popularity of the Gold Coast’s light rail, the Redcliffe peninsula train line and the roll-out of the new generation rollingstock are responsible for the increase in popularity, creating almost a million additional trips across the network in December.
Brisbane man detained in Cairo
Concerns have grown for Brisbane man Hazem Hamouda who has now spent over a year falsely detained in Cairo jail.
Just minutes after the beginning of what he thought would be the vacation of a lifetime, the devoted father of six was whisked away by Egyptian security.
Egyptian authorities accuse him of being associated with the banned Muslim Brotherhood and spreading false information — but no charges have been laid.
A healthy Diet can ease Symptoms of Depression
This is Aryana Mohmood reporting for 4ZZZ.
An international study involving Australian researchers has found that improving our diet can significant reduce common mental diseases.
Doctor Joseph Firth from NCIM (The National Institute of Complementary Medicine) Health Research Institute says that a healthy diet has more than just physical benefits.
11am Zedlines
This has been Khwezi and Dan with your 11am Zedlines.
Image Credit - Whizzers place
Measles virus triples in Europe to record high
Measles cases in Europe tripled between 2017 and 2018 to over 82 000 - the highest number recorded this decade according to data from the world health organization.
While vaccination rates are improving, the World Health Organisation says coverage is not high enough to prevent circulation of the virus in many countries.
Ukraine reported the highest number of measles cases last year with over 53 000, more than 10 times that of the next highest, Serbia.