Two male vultures successfully raise chick

An endangered griffon vulture chick that was raised by two male vultures has been released into the wild in Sardinia.

The chick was part of a breeding program in Artis Amsterdam Royal Zoo, where an abandoned egg was given to the two male vultures who had been observed by keepers to have been pairing for several years and routinely making nests and attempting to breed together.

The two male birds cared for the egg and it was the first successful hatching of the breed in the zoo in five years.

13,000 residents need relocation after Vanuatu eruption

A volcanic eruption on Ambae Island in Vanuatu led to the Government needing to acquire land to resettle 13,000 residents.

A Government spokesperson, Hilaire Bule, said that the shift in wind direction due to Tropical Cyclone Hola increased the impact of ash fall.

Photos of the volcanic damage showed villages that were heavily covered in ash, destroyed food gardens and polluted water sources.

Online map of Sydney shows hot spots for harassment

An online map is being launched in Sydney today for women to map areas where they feel harassed or unsafe as well as areas where they feel safe.

The lead researcher on the project Dr Nicole Kalms said these maps often reveal that women usually have negative experiences in busy, public places rather than in quiet, dark alleys, where people often expect bad experiences to happen.

The findings will be used to help develop the city as well as several other major cities around the globe.

Report finds skilled migrants add to Australia’s wealth

A new joint report by the Australian Treasury and the Department of Home Affairs found skilled migrants are adding to Australia’s wealth.

The report said migrants will limit the economic impact of the aging Australian population.

The report also said further pressures on infrastructure and housing from an increased population needs to be addressed to “fully reap the benefits” of skilled migrants.

 

Commonwealth Games clock set on fire

Police have released footage of three people setting fire to a Commonwealth Games clock in Southbank in response to police force used against the Stolen Wealth games protest.

While not endorsed by the Stolen Wealth protestors, the three individuals captured on CCTV claimed they were in solidarity with the protestors.

The two females and one male posted the video to social media themselves and stated it was a response to the ‘excessive force’ used by police against indigenous land rights protesters on Friday.

Tow truck regulation to limit prices

Queensland tow truck companies can no longer set their fees, with state-regulation coming in after a number of rogue operators were exposed.

A pre-tow release is now $150, a holding yard release fee is $250, with a flat charge of $25 per day for storage.

Tow truck operators are prohibited from charging for locating the owner, travelling to collect the vehicle, and allowing the vehicle owner access to the holding yard during business hours.

New mosquito trial in north Queensland

A new mosquito trial has begun near Cairns as part of a CSIRO project to eradicate Aedes aegypti in North Queensland.

The mosquitos were bred in a lab environment and then the males, which do not bite, were infected with a bacteria that makes their offspring sterile, they were then released en-mass to make any offspring produced with wild females non-viable.

Aedes aegypti transmit many diseases including dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever.

Viking treasure uncovered by amateur archaeologist

Archaeologists have uncovered treasure connected to 10th century Danish King Harald Bluetooth in northern Germany.

The treasure, initially uncovered by an amateur archaeologist and a 13 year old boy, was made up of about 600 coins as well as jewelry and a Thor’s hammer.

Lead archaeologist Michael Shirren said the discovery is significant as it is “the biggest discovery of Bluetooth coins in the southern Baltic sea region.”

Ex-Auschwitz guard charged at 94 years old

Prosecutors in Germany have charged a 94 year old Ex-Auschwitz guard with aiding and abetting the murders of 13,335 people.

This is the latest in a series of recent convictions of SS guards, after a 2011 ruling meant charges could be lain against guards as an accessory to murder.

The unnamed guard, from northern Serbia, was 19 at the time of his work at the camp and so will be tried as a minor.