Homeless displaced from under Kurilpa Bridge
The Queensland Government has commenced work to place sandstone blocks under the Kurilpa Bridge on the South Bank side, halting it from being used as a place for homeless people to sleep.
Fences were set up around the site in recent weeks, prompting protests from Brisbane City Council Greens councillor Jonathan Sri, who called the works cruel and disgusting.
Nine leading pro-democracy campaigners face court today in Hong Kong
Nine leading pro-democracy campaigners go on trial today in Hong Kong.
Members of the Umbrella Movement occupied Hong Kong’s central business district in 2013, demanding a democratic vote for the city’s leader.
Beijing’s appointment of Hong Kong officials is contrary to the one-country, two system plan negotiated by Margaret Thatcher.
Protesters face seven years jail time if convicted.
UK face another two years of Brexit negotiations
The UK faces another two years of Brexit negotiations, in a proposal by the EU that could cost billions of dollars.
Europe’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, raised the idea during a special meeting with ambassadors from the EU’s 27 member states.
The plan would mean the UK follows EU rules and pays into its budget for six and a half years post-Brexit vote.
Both sides hope to finalise extension negotiations during the summit on November 25.
US will partner with Australia and Papua New Guinea to develop the Lombrum naval base
US vice president Mike Pence has announced America will partner with Australia and Papua New Guinea to develop the Lombrum naval base on Manus Island, amid rising anxiety about China's power in the region.
ALP promises commitment to environment
A draft policy platform signed off by the ALP national executive and circulated to conference delegates last month suggests both policy commitments and a national environment commission will be adopted by the party at their national conference in December.
Lady Cilento Hospital name change survey rigged
New data reveals the Queensland Government poll to change the name of the Lady Cilento hospital was rigged.
The survey reported 62% of 38,000 respondents favoured the name change.
Managing director of independent polling company Galaxy found the results unreliable, as more than 18,000 of the votes came from the same IP address.
He says because they don’t know who or how many people responded, there won’t be any action taken based on the findings.
Lime scooters appear in Brisbane
Last Friday morning, hundreds of Lime scooters appeared in the Brisbane CBD, South Bank, West End and Fortitude Valley after transport authorities issued a temporary permit.
The Lime scooters can travel at the speed up to 27km/h and can be found and hired by the app.
Locals were divided by the introduction, with some supporting the increase in accessibility.
Bombino @ The Foundry
Niger's Tuareg rockstar Omara "Bombino" Moctar is in Australia for the third time on the back of this year's album Deran.
I like that the Brisbane show took place at The Foundry in Fortitude Valley. So often, artists from non-English speaking countries are treated as cultural experiences to be had for expensive prices at fancy concert halls. But the music of Bombino is at its core rock music, and I think it belongs in the sticky carpet dancefloors where rock music is best experienced.
The Smashing Pumpkins: Shiny & Oh So Bright, Vol 1. / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.
- It's probably going to be useful for this review to define what sort of Smashing Pumpkins fan I am. I'm the sort of fan who, nearly two decades after the end of the initial iteration of the band ceased, will still get the urge every year or so to listen to all of their albums over the span of a week or two. The sort of fan who enjoyed virtually everything they released in that initial run, even the 28 B-sides from the already overblown Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness double album.
Mick Thomas And The Roving Commission: Boxing Day Drive
- Even as a young punk, former Weddings Parties Anything singer Mick Thomas was a bit of an old soul. Their folk-rock songs were pub yarns, tales of Australian history, and wry observation rather than raw emotion.