Darwin properties destroyed in blaze

Two Darwin properties have been destroyed in a blaze, with 15 affected as fire crews prepare for further difficult fire conditions.

Water Bombing aircrafts were called in yesterday afternoon as the blaze stretched across 160 hectares of land along Darwin River.

Senior Fire Control Officer John Fischer reported further infrastructure had been damaged and livestock killed.

The blaze is now controlled but not yet extinguished.  

Polish protestors gather in response to Supreme Court law reform

Protestors gathered across Poland on Monday in response to a new law which will force forty percent of Supreme Court Justices to retire.

The law, which reduces the age of retirement for justices, will allow President Andrzej Duda (Andrei Doo-da) to fill the vacant seats.

Organisers say the Supreme Court is another victim of the Law and Justice Party’s assaults on democracy, which began the night they were elected.

Sri Lanka shift naval base to China-controlled port

Sri Lanka have begun shifting its naval base to a port built and controlled by China.

Powerhouse governments across the world have expressed concerns China may utilise the port as a naval base.

Sri Lanka and China governments have denied any ties, with the contract explicitly stating the base cannot be used for military purposes.

New research into alternative schooling programs

Alternative schooling programs such as home-schooling could provide better learning opportunities for struggling students, according to a study from the University of South Australia.

Researcher Dr Thomas Stehlik says the alternative programs are excelling worldwide as the “one size fits all” schooling approach is not working.

The not-school movement continues to grow in Australia, in the wake of 2018 Gonski findings concerning student wellbeing.

Nauru ban major media coverage

The ABC has been banned by the government of Nauru from entering the country, avoiding their coverage of the Pacific Islands Forum which takes place over September.

The ABC had been accused of harassment towards the president, as well as interfering with the politics of the small nation.  

It is reported no journalist or representative from the ABC will be granted a visa into Nauru. The nation has promised one Australian network will be given entry whilst the forum takes place.

UQ Art Museum welcome new Indigenous Art

A large selection of contemporary Indigenous art will be displayed at the University of Queensland Art Museum.

The works of over thirty contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists will be displayed, including Brooke Andrew  and his exploration of white ideas in Aboriginal culture.

The exhibition will open on the 28th of July.

Calls for state school playgrounds to stay open over holidays

Parents and playgroups are calling for Queensland state school playgrounds to remain open over school holidays.

New South Wales government allowed 42 schools to keep their grounds open over christmas break last year, Education Queensland currently have a hire system for holiday periods.

Everton MP Tim Mander has expressed interest in implementing a similar policy in the sunshine state, calling the current system a waste of resources.