Plans to officially thank Australian rescuers of Thai soccer team
Plans have been laid for Australian rescuers assisting efforts to save the trapped Thai soccer team to be officially thanked.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she is proud the Australian team have been able to play an important role in the rescue.
The thanks will come an appropriate time after their work is complete with current priorities on the rescue.
Imprisoned former Brazilian president release request denied
A Brazilian appeal court judge overruled an order to release imprisoned former president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Lula, who is currently serving twelve years for accepting bribes, insists he is innocent, labelling the accusations against him a conspiracy.
Brazil’s electoral court is yet to decide whether Lula can run for presidency in the October election.
Air pollution linked to diabetes
According to analysis by Washington University, air pollution could be responsible for 3.2 million new cases of type 2 diabetes every year.
Air pollution has already been linked to increased risk of heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease and other illnesses, contributing to 4.2 million deaths in 2015.
Low-income and low-to-middle income countries bore the largest burden of air pollution-related diabetes.
Sum Of Us: Sharp Turns In Dark Tunnels
- Exploding onto the local progressive metal scene are Sum Of Us with their debut release Sharp Turns in Dark Tunnels. In just shy of sixteen minutes, the band displays technically impressive performances, creative songwriting, emotive lyricism, and a clear personal style within the four track EP.
Pagan: Black Wash
- In recent times, I’ve been slowly but surely assimilating into the cult of Melbourne quartet Pagan, who have been releasing a handful of spells without any real indication as to whether these occult compositions were to be a part of a larger spell book (a.k.a an album). It may come across as corny to refer to singles released on bandcamp as spells but Pagan have curated their sound and aesthetic around burning through straight forward rock riffs with the hellacious sound of black metal and adding a metallic tinged punk dosage to the singed remains.
10am Zedlines
This is Nic and Patrick with your 10am Zedlines
Image credit: Wikimedia
Refugee Action Collective rally to mark five years of offshore detention
Refugee Action Collective will be holding a rally in King George Square at 5pm on Friday the 20th of July to mark five years of refugees on Manus and Nauru.
There are currently more than 1600 refugees and asylum seekers stranded on the islands, with around half of these blocked by current US travel bans.
Despite majority support for bringing refugees off the offshore prison islands, the urgent situation continues to escalate with the 12th person to die as a result of offshore detention passing on June 15.
Right-wing internet personality declined Australian visa
Canadian right-wing internet personality Lauren Southern has been declined an Australian work visa.
Ms Southern says the situation is a very scary precedent for free speech and believes the Islamic community is responsible.
The denial of her visa comes in the wake of a series of planned protests from Australian anti-fascist activists.
24 hour strike by Geelong bus drivers
About 600 Geelong bus drivers have walked off the job for a 24-hour strike as part of wage disputes.
Transport Workers Union are arguing for a 4 per cent wage increase, in the face of the current offering of 2.5 per cent.
The strike is expected to shut down all of Ballarat’s bus network and half of Geelong’s network, Melbourne’s east is also expected to be affected.
Nestle dumped from Zoos Victoria
Zoos Victoria has dumped Nestle products from sale at their zoos amid palm oil controversy.
Nestle’s certification with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil was suspended last week when they failed to submit a report detailing practices for sustainable use of the product.
Zoos Victoria have said they will remain firm on their stance to not stock Nestle products until the company has abided by RSPO standards.