Syrian violence at all time high
Residents of the eastern district of Ghouta in Syrian said they are just awaiting their turn to die, as the Syrian regime escalates their attacks.
This past week has been one of the deadliest in the country’s eight year long civil conflict, with the death toll since Sunday sitting at 310.
The UN has denounced the attacks and said the regime’s targeting of hospitals and other civilian buildings could be considered war crimes.
Sydney Airport to trial biometrics
A flash of the face could be all you’ll need to fly overseas, with a biometrics trial being announced to start in May at Sydney Airport.
This new face- recognition technology could see passengers seamlessly passing through security without a need for a passport, reducing their time in customs by around 4 minutes and 23 seconds.
The photographs and information passengers will need to provide border force if they wish to participate in the trial is yet to be revealed.
Indonesian mangoes heading to Australia
Indonesia is set to start exporting mangoes to Australia later this year after a trade deal was struck between the two nations last week.
According to Indonesian reports, the first trays of the fruit will hit our shores in October, placing them in direct competition with the Australian harvest.
Australian growers are angered by the agreement, however Australian Mango Industry Association chief executive Robert Gray said he is confident consumers will still choose Australian grown.
Ipswich to trial electric driverless shuttle buses
Ipswich is set to trial driverless electric buses next week from Monday around its Orion water theme park lagoon near John Nugent Drive at Springfield.
The driverless buses, which cost approximately $320,000 and carry up to twelve passengers, is a long-term transport option which Ipswich City Council are investigating.
Spokesman for French company EasyMile, Simon Pearce which has developed the technology, hopes the trial will give the community insight about the future of public transport.
Tennis courts at Northshore Harbour
Construction of six temporary tennis courts at Northshore Harbour near Eat Street Markets is set to begin at the end of May.
The courts are being built as part of a Five Billion Dollar urban renewal project for the Northshore Hamilton area.
Construction is expected to take three months and the Department of State Development estimates that around ten thousand people will use the facilities in the first year of operation.
Montero: Performer
- Lurid retro-pop performer Ben Montero is back. In the time since he was last on the musical radar he appears to have been living exactly the sort of champagne-sipping, yacht-skipping, slumming with famous friends in exotic, sun-drenched locales lifestyle that his first album under the Montero moniker would lead you to expect.
U.S. Girls: In A Poem Unlimited
- A good firm handshake. I was brought up on that. It’s the feeling I get from listening to U.S. Girls’ music as well. Mainly, I must admit, from having met Meg Remy post-gig once. She does have a solid handshake, but you also have the feeling she has a rock-solid constitution.
11am Zedlines
This is your 11am Zedlines with Megan and Matthew
Florida protests for assault rifle ban
Over one hundred students, parents and teachers have rallied to ban assault rifles in Florida.
Sparked by the school shooting which killed seventeen people last week, this youth lead movement has already gained national and international attention, which will roll into promotion for a planned march in Washington later next month.
In light of this, a Washington Post and ABC News opinion poll revealed seventy-seven percent of Americans now believe the US Congress are not doing enough to prevent mass shootings.
Mass amounts of rubbish trash Bali beaches
An annual and worsening tide of rubbish swamped the beaches of Bali as thousands of tons of plastic debri washed onto the island's main tourist strip.
"Garbage season" begins in December and ends in March off the coast of the popular Holiday Island, polluting the sand and destroying the natural look of the water.
Officials are responding by attempting to sweep it away before tourists are able to see it each morning, but the mess is still having a big impact on tourism.