Greenland’s ice sheet melting at accelerated rate
The UN Environment and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns the dire climate trajectory the world is heading toward, while highlighting the enormous effort needed to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius.
In June, research showed a tripling of the rate of melting of the Antarctic ice sheet over the last five years, with recent research showing a similar trend occurring in the Greenland ice sheet.
The Greenland ice sheet holds enough water to raise sea levels by seven metres.
Australian scientists develop ‘10-minute’ cancer test
Researchers at the University of Queensland have developed a new test that can detect the presence of cancer cells in the body.
The 10-minute test can determine whether a tumour is present in the human body by identifying a unique DNA nanostructure that is common to all types of cancer.
According to researchers, the new diagnostic test demonstrated an accuracy of up to 90 per cent when tested on 200 human cancer samples and normal DNA.
Hospitals struggle to keep up with demands as elective surgery waiting lists continue to grow
About 874,000 patients were added to the public hospital elective surgery waiting list in 2017 and 2018, an increase of 70,000 people since 2013.
The figures in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report have also revealed it took, on average, 268 days for 90 per cent of patients to undergo surgery in the last financial year, a 10-day increase on the previous year.
Indigenous Australians waited longer, on average, than non-Indigenous people for surgery, with half seen within 48 days.
Queensland drivers less patient with tailgating
Research conducted by insurance company, AAMI, shows Queensland drivers will happily give way to allow another in but are less patient when it comes to tailgating.
Studying crashes in Queensland occurring from July 2017 to June 2018, researchers found Queenslanders were more likely to collide with a stationary object compared with the rest of Australia.
An AAMI spokesperson says the high number of nose-to-tail crashes could be linked to the tailgating habits of Queenslanders.
Brisbane ferry strike to affect thousands of commuters
Thousands of Brisbane commuters will be affected today as the city’s ferry drivers begin a two-day strike.
The strike began at 4 am today and will last until the end of Friday as workers express their anger over what they claim is a lack of job security and low wages, as well as eroding maintenance and safety standards.
Brisbane River commuters are warned there will be no ferry services during the strike action, and to arrange alternative transport.
Australian scientists develop ‘10-minute’ cancer test
Image source: Pixabay
Review: The Grass Is Dead On The Other Side Wonderland Festival 2018
The Grass Is Dead On The Other Side was a performance like no other. It was filled with rap, poetry, hip-hop and a whole lot of passion. Presented by Anisa Nandaula in partnership with Brisbane Powerhouse, The Grass Is Dead On The Other Side demonstrated that there are ways to engage the mainstream audience regarding issues surrounding social justice, and that maybe just maybe, that could be through zombies.
Cuba will finally get mobile internet access
Cuba has announced that its citizens will be offered full internet access for mobile phones beginning this week, as one of the last nations to offer such a service.
President of the Cuban telecom monopoly ETECSA said yesterday that Cubans can begin contracting 3G services for the first time next Thursday. Until now, Cubans have only had access to state-run email accounts on their phones.
Putin warns of abandoning arms treaty
President Vladimir Putin has warned that if the United States walks out of the the nuclear arms treaty, then Russia will do the same.
Earlier this year, President Trump said the US would withdraw from the treaty, accusing Russia and China of violating it.
Mr Putin accused the US of making up excuses for withdrawing from the pact, saying the US had already made up its mind to walk out of it and started looking for reasons to justify why they should do so.
Urgent national recall for Nanna’s family apple pies over glass contamination fears
A national recall has been issued for Nanna’s family apple pies from Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Foodlands and other independent supermarkets.
In a statement on its website, the NSW Food Authority said all pies with a best-before date of October 21, 2020 and October 22, 2020, are being recalled due to the potential presence of glass in the Nanna’s family apple pies.
Consumers are advised not to eat any of the pies and to return them to the place they were purchased to get a full refund.