Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-European Football Association (UEFA) president Michel Platini have been charged with fraud over unlawfully arranging a payment of $2.94 million. 

The Office of the Attorney-General of Switzerland has said the two men were indicted following a six-year investigation into the payment Blatter authorised from FIFA to Platini in 2011.

Blatter and Patini were both banned from football in 2016 for the payment, however both men maintain their innocence as the investigation continues.

Scientists from the University of Southern Queensland are developing new technologies that will allow astronauts to grow food on the moon.

The Artificial Intelligence software will use sensors to analyse plants onboard space flights, to detect early signs of stress, allowing astronauts to repair any damage as soon as possible.

USQ Agronomist Dr Jacob Humpal says automating as much of the agricultural process is vital to astronaut performance, as they can then focus on tasks that must be conducted manually.

A COVID-19 vaccination mandate for aged care visitors in Queensland has been recommended by the peak body, Aged and Community Services Australia. 

The body is currently working with consumer groups and the country’s chief health officers on a revised industry code for visitation to residential aged care. 

Chief Executive Office of Aged and Community Services Australia Paul Sadler,  says because aged care homes contain our most vulnerable group of people in the pandemic, and everyone who visits aged care should bring the protection of a vaccine with them. 

The Federal Government is looking to halve the proposed capacity for their Pinkenba quarantine facility in Queensland, due to the ease in travel restrictions. 

This decision comes after the state suggested international arrivals could quarantine at home sooner than expected. 

Originally designed to house 1000 people, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has said the quarantine facility will evolve to suit the needs of Queenslanders, with the facility now only being built for 500. 

Plans are underway to build a zero-carbon new mine in Western Australia. 

Mining company Oz Minerals wants its next project in West Musgrave to be carbon neutral. 

Oz Minerals Chief Executive Officer Andrew Cole says this copper-nickel project will be powered by a 100% renewable on-site power plant and will feature a zero-emissions mining fleet. 

This decision is part of a plan for miners to cut carbon emissions in the lead up to COP26, and strategy that will require companies like Oz Minerals to completely rethink the designs of a mine.

Missing four year old Cleo Smith has been found alive and well in Carnarvon Western Australia, and has since been reunited with her parents.

Her discovery comes over two weeks after she was first reported missing from her parents campsite.

WA Commissioner Chris Dawson commended the work of local police in their tireless efforts to find Cleo, after a police tip off led them to the house where she was found.

A 36 year old man has been arrested and is currently in custody, however the ongoing investigation makes it difficult for police to reveal any further details.

American web service provider, Yahoo, has pulled its services from China, citing an ‘increasingly challenging business and legal ’ operating environment. 

The company is the second Western tech brand to quit the country in recent weeks, with Microsoft pulling the plug on LinkedIn last month due to similar reasons. 

Chinese companies have created alternative internet space with their own digital giants such as search engine Baidu.

More than 8% of Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service workers have failed to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination mandate, forcing staff cuts from surgical, medical and mental health beds. 

Data showed that three hundred and eighty five workers in Rockhampton, Gladstone and Emerald hospitals have provided no evidence of having two COVID-19 vaccine shots.