Amnesty International is preparing to leave its local office in Hong Kong by the end of the month, while its regional headquarters will close by the end of the year, as China’s national security laws escalate. 

Amnesty says the laws have been used as a “pretext to restrict rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, as well as to repress dissent and political opposition especially from human rights groups.” 

Authorities are considering whether to ban politicians, staff and visitors who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 from the Queensland Parliament when new rules come into effect next month. 

More than 1000 people marched through the Brisbane CBD on Wednesday to William Street in protest against mandatory COVID-19 vaccines and rules. 

Protesters were met with a heavy police presence outside the Queensland government’s headquarters, including mounted officers, 4WDs and both uniformed and specially-equipped tactical police. 

With federal parliament returning next week, First Nations advocates are lobbying the senate to block controversial legislation that would require voters to show ID at the polling booth.

Under the proposed legislation, identification includes things like a drivers license, passport or medicare card. 

Schools in Delhi are closing indefinitely as the Indian capital grapples with a toxic smog. 

Diwali celebrations, along with seasonal crop burnings, have seen levels of the dangerous PM2.5 particles exceed the World Health Organisation’s safety guidelines.

Maps sent to north Brisbane residents have confirmed the development of an alternative highway west to the Bruce Highway. 

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has told residents most likely affected by the development that the future 55 kilometre highway would set a 90-metre wide corridor between Petrie and Beerburrum. 

A Queensland Police taskforce investigating how women are treated in the criminal justice system has found victims of sexual assault often have to wait days for forensic testing.

Senior Sergeant Simon Kinbacher outlined issues with the criminal code, saying that it fails to uphold the human rights of survivors, in a letter to the Women’s safety and Justice taskforce.

State-attorney’s general decision to support the raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 has been met with criticism from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and legal rights groups. 

Indigenous communities and organisations have commented that the move is disappointing and will not fix the problem, arguing the age of criminal responsibility should be aged to 14, in line with the UN standards.