Crackdown on fake indigenous art in souvenir shops
Almost a dozen Brisbane souvenir shops are set to be investigated following an Office of Fair Trading operation targeting fake indigenous art.
Spot-checks conducted in February and March this year resulted in 11 stores across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast requiring further investigation following questions on the fidelity of their Indigenous art.
The crackdown comes after The Arts Law Centre of Australia estimated 80 percent of Indigenous art is fake in souvenir shops, with the imitation industry worth $200 million a year.
Verge Collection: Flaneur
- WA boys Verge Collection have been around for a few years now, dropping a fair few singles and an EP along the way, while also regularly touring all over the country. After selling out every show they played touring their debut LP’s lead single, For The Story, they kept the momentum rolling with the singles So Vain, and one of their strongest tracks to date, Feelin’ Old. Complemented by an upcoming national tour, the band’s debut album, Flaneur, is now here.
Dami Im: I Hear A Song
- You can always tell when there is a marketing event. Christmas is the big one, and Logan’s own Dami Im has just about cornered the market on “Mother’s Day” appropriate releases and concert tours. And so it is with her fourth album, I Hear A Song, which despite the obvious cashing in Sony is doing, does have a glimmer of interest to the more serious music consumer.
9am Zedlines
This is Lucy and Justin with your 9am Zedlines.
Image: Pixabay
Julian Assange has internet cut at Ecuadorian embassy in London
Ecuador has cut Julian Assange’s internet connection at its embassy in London, in an attempt to prevent the WikiLeaks founder from interfering in other countries' affairs.
The move comes after Mr Assange took to twitter to question accusations that Moscow was responsible for the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy and his daughter in the UK on March 4.
Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno said they will maintain Mr Assange's asylum although this is not the first time they have suspended his internet for hacking or publicly expressing his opinion.
UK man catches “worst ever” super-gonorrhea
A man in the United Kingdom has caught the world's "worst-ever" case of super-gonorrhoea after a sexual encounter with a woman in south-east Asia.
Dr Gwenda Hughes, from Public Health England said this is the first time a case has displayed such high-level resistance to main antibiotic treatment.
The World Health Organization and the European Centres for Disease Control agree this is a world first and fear the superbug could eventually become untreatable by any antibiotic.
Rio Tinto sells remaining coal asset
Rio Tinto has sold its remaining coal asset, a stake in the Kestrel underground coal mine in central Queensland.
According to Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques, this leaves Rio Tinto’s portfolio stronger and more focused, now consisting of operations in iron ore, aluminium, copper and bauxite.
Chief executive of the Responsible Investment Association Australasia Simon O'Connor said the miner is now cleaner and greener which pivots Rio Tinto into a position where some investors may consider investing in Rio Tinto again.
Royal Flying Doctor Service to receive $372M funding boost
The Royal Flying Doctor Service is set to receive a 372 million dollar funding boost in the May Budget after the charity was forced to cut back it’s services due to a lack of funding this year.
The Federal Government announced the Service would receive extra funding over the next four years to allow for the Charity to expand their services and continue to aid rural communities.
Bongo drums banned at Gold Coast Park
Bongo drums and fire-twirling have been banned from Justin’s Park in Burleigh Heads this week despite a local entertainment group using these items in the space every Sunday night for the past 17 years.
Local and Drum store owner Jason Ure said the council had argued the event was banned because of anti-social behaviour, but he says participants were not responsible for any drug and alcohol problems.
Prawns in full supply following white spot disease
Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association vice president, Michael Wood said there is no shortage of prawns this Easter, despite a white spot break out which began in November 2016 causing several Queensland prawn farms to shut down.
It is estimated the affected prawn farmers’ financial loss is $22.3 million, and commercial fishing impacts are estimated at $20 million.
Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said there will be a two-year review conducted in May to assess the potential reopening of the prawn farms that were affected.