Israel's use of lethal force 'could amount to war crimes'
Israel's use of lethal force along the Gaza Strip border in recent weeks could amount to war crimes, Human Rights Watch said yesterday.
The rights group accused Israel of repeatedly using live ammunition "with apparent lethal intent" against Palestinian demonstrators who posed no imminent threat to life.
Israeli authorities allege that its soldiers were acting in self-defence and had adhered to the rules of engagement.
Prime Minister to Apologise to Child Sexual Abuse Survivors
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said he will issue a formal apology to thousands of survivors of child sexual abuse that went on in schools, religious organisations, and other institutions.
The PM said the government has accepted most of the recommendations from the 2017 report by the Royal Commission, the country’s highest investigative body.
Some of the recommendations include compensating victims and establishing a national office for child safety.
The PM is expected to issue the formal apology in late October this year.
Marriage equality arrives in Queensland
Transgender people in Queensland will now be able to stay married when they change the gender on their birth certificate.
Sally Cripps, the LGBTIQ Training Facilitator of the QLD AIDS council, says that this is an “amazing change.”
“Marriage equality has finally arrived in Queensland. Now that's worth celebrating,” she said
People will be able to use smartphones, credit cards on public transport
The Queensland budget has revealed Brisbane commuters will get discounts on public transport if they buy more than one trip at a time.
The budget shows a $371.1 million spend over four years for a new public transport ticketing system.
In the future, people will be able to use wearable devices, such as smartphones and smartwatches, to buy tickets, along with credit and debit cards.
There is also $8 million dedicated over three years, starting next year, for trials and pilots of the new system.
Families fear consequences of Brisbane rates hike
Brisbane’s south-east has been hit with rate rises of more than $100 a year in the 2018 council budget, which Lord Mayor Graham Quirk claimed was a “perfect 10”.
The Opposition Leader Peter Cumming said the rates increase would take $59 million out of ratepayers’ pockets.
The Brisbane suburb with the highest rate increase is Mansfield with an increase of 6.9 per cent.
Natalie Prass: The Future And The Past
- American multi instrumentalist Natalie Prass<strong> </strong>is back with her second full length record, <em>The Future And The Past. </em>A mature twelve-tracker full of tasty arrangements, clever lyrics, and musical versatility, this album hits all the sweet spots you were hoping for.
The Bamboos: Night Time People
- Melbourne is Australia’s Europe – winters are cold and damp, summers can be similar. Yet, Melbourne has nurtured some of the best funk outfits in Australia, Saskwatch, Cookin’ On 3 Burners and The Bamboos. Why Melbourne should be the hot spot of funk is beyond my ken, but I am grateful for the blossoming work of these top class musicians.
11am Zedlines
This is Nilsson and Risa with your 11am Zedlines.
Fin-tastic research finds fish have personalities
New research from the University of Bristol has found fish are sociable and have personalities.
Researchers said like humans, fish exhibit a range of personalities, with bolder fish more likely to act as leaders in a group.
However, while leadership often results in increased access to food, it also means becoming a more likely target for predators.
73,000 contaminated eggs discovered in Germany
73,000 eggs have been found to be contaminated in Germany after residue was detected from an insecticide called fipronil.
The eggs, which were due to be sold across six German states, have been recalled less than a year after the same toxic anti-lice agent had found its way into millions of eggs in the Netherlands.
The cause of the contamination remains unclear with the investigation currently ongoing.