Ukraine bans Russian Men From Entering the Country
Ukraine has placed a ban on Russian men aged 16-60 years crossing into the country.
Martial law was imposed this week following fears that Russia was planning a full scale invasion after Russian ships fired on and captured Ukrainian vessels last week.
The head of border service, Petro Tsygykal, has said the entry of foreigners is limited, primarily citizens of the Russian Federation.
Nigerian President Denies Dying
Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari denies claims that he died and was replaced by a Sudanese imposter, breaking his silence on a rumor that has circulated on social media for months.
Buhari, who is running for re-election in February, spent 5 months in the UK last year, receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. One theory widely shared on social media and by some political opponents was that he had been replaced by a lookalike from Sudan called Jubril.
Katter Proposes Bill to Legislate Gendered Pronouns
A bill proposed by Queensland cross bencher, Robbie Katter, seeks to legislate the right to use gendered pronouns in the workplace.
The Anti-Discrimination Commission of Queensland has received no complaints from people forced to use non-gendered language at work, and are ‘not aware of it happening and it being a concern’.
Commissioner, Scott McDougall, says the bill could expose vulnerable people, such as those who are transgender, gender diverse or intersex, to increased discrimination.
Brisbane Ferry Strike
Brisbane ferry drivers will strike for two days this Thursday to protest a lack of job security and low wages.
Ferry drivers also accuse ferry operator Transdev of eroding maintenance and safety standards under the contract it holds to run CityCat and CityFerry services for the Brisbane City Council.
Jason Miners from the Maritime Union of Australia says many workers are being paid under award rates and many had no sense of job security because they were employed on casual contracts.
One in Five Workers Experience harassment at work
Leaked Border Force report showed one in five staff bullied or harassed at work and the same proportion has suffered discrimination.
These leaked internal documents that confirm the profoundly toxic culture is destroying the quasi-military agency.
The Australian Border Force, which merged customs, immigration, and border protection, has been controversial since its inception in 2015. Critics questioned the military-style uniforms and hardline, "hairy-chested" image of the agency.
Defence Lawyer revealed as police informant
An Australian defence lawyer was revealed to be a police informant, which has made the convictions of some of Australia's most high-profile criminals cast into doubt.
Court documents show the defence barrister, who represented notorious organised crime figures, gave information to Victoria Police between 2005-2009.
The High Court's decision to lift injunctions on the case means they could appeal against their convictions, having their sentences reduced, or convictions quashed altogether.
Ukraine deploys troops to Russian border
Ukraine has begun calling up reservists and deploying troops to the border to counter what it says is a growing threat of Russian invasion.
President Petro Poroshenko, who last week declared martial law in 10 regions, announced the military actions on Monday in response to what he said was a, “sharp increase in Russian forces forces along our borders and in occupied Crimea.”
Chinese Scientist who claims to have created first gene-edited babies, has disappeared
He Jiankui, the Chinese scientist who claimed to have created the world’s first gene-edited babies has gone missing after his former employees denied that he was detained over the weekend, the South China Morning Post reports.
He apparently hasn’t been seen publicly since he made an appearance at a scientific summit on Wednesday, a spokeswoman for his former workplace denied reports that he was being detained. Telling the newspaper “right now nobody’s information is accurate, only the official channels are.”
9AM Zedlines
This is Robyn and Micheala with your 9am Zedlines.
End Now In Sight for Queensland Fires
After ten days of significant firefighting operations, more than 100 blazes continue to burn across Queensland, but authorities believe the state's unprecedented bushfire crisis won't drag on for much longer.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll said after a marathon effort, the end was now in sight.
Since August three million hectares has been burnt by bushfire across Queensland, an area the approximate size of Belgium.