Great Barrier Reef Symposium hopes to provide relief

An in-depth session will take place today at the International Great Barrier Reef Restoration Symposium in Cairns.

Experts will be providing information into the restoration of the reef, with the investigation aiming to preserve and restore the reef.

It is believed that sunlight reflecting clouds and mass produced baby corals are some of the proposed solutions.

Drones send QLD prisons into lockdown

Four of Queensland’s high security prisons were reported to have gone into lockdown on Sunday night as drones were illegally flown over head.

Brisbane Correctional Centre, Brisbane Women's Correctional centre, Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre and Wolston Correctional Centre were the four forced into lockdown.

QLD police are now investigating why the drones were flown over and the prisons have now been returned to normal after it was ensured that no goods had been dropped in.

Price of hay to increase for farmers as drought worsens

Drought conditions in New South Wales and Victoria has lead to an increase in the price of hay, with fodder being sourced from as far away as Western Australia.

One farmer, Michael Sweeney, has begun feeding his cattle watermelons to supplement their diet, as watermelons cost around a quarter of other feeding options.

Kat Gration, a Victorian transport service owner, says because many hay merchants have tripled their price, she decided to provide watermelons as an alternative, charging only the cost of freight.

CSIRO study shows huge opportunity for Lithium-ion recycling initiative in Australia

Studies from the CSIRO have shined a light on the potential for a new battery recycling industry in Australia, to address the waste currently growing at 20 percent per year.

Australia currently produces 33,000 tonnes of lithium-ion waste with only 2 percent being recycled, CSIRO believe there is capability to recycle 95 percent of waste in the future.

CSIRO currently support recycling efforts, conducting research into new processes to recover materials from batteries and develop new products.

Haitian PM resigns after days of violent protest

Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant announced his resignation on Saturday, following days of violent protests which killed at least seven people.

The protests broke out when the government revealed a plan to eliminate fuel subsidies which would have resulted in a steep increase of price.

Following Lafontant’s resignation, President Jovenel Moïse and two heads of parliament must chose a new prime minister, as otherwise Haiti will have no functioning government.

Over 1 billion people struggle to stay cool in face of global warming

About 1.1 billion people in Asia, Africa and Latin America are at risk due to a lack of sufficient refrigeration to keep food and medicines safe, as well as their personal temperature.

The statistics come from a study by the UN into the impact of global warming in 52 countries, with more than half of those affected living in slums of cities.

The UN’s health agency has also warned heat stress linked to climate change will likely lead to 38,000 extra deaths a year between 2030 and 2050.

Endangered snake species discovered on the Cape York Peninsula

A biologist from the University of Queensland has declared a new species of venomous burrowing snake is at high risk of becoming extinct by mining before it can be declared a “threatened species”.

The discovery of the new species of bandy-bandy snake close to a mine at Weipa on the Cape York Peninsula prompted professor Bryan Fry to seek protected species protection for the animal.

It is believed the snake must also be protected due to its rich venoms providing sources of compounds used to develop medications.

Police search for young missing girls

Two girls, aged 11 and 9 who were reported missing from the city of Logan on Monday morning have been found; however, Queensland police have confirmed another 3 young girls are still missing.

A 15 year old girl is one of the three, last seen in Rochedale south on Sunday afternoon, the other two were reported missing on Monday afternoon, aged 13 and 14 and were last seen in Capalaba, Redland City.

These cases are all believed to be unrelated and anyone with information is urged to contact police.