Barnaby Joyce says LNP 'Has Final Say' Over Emissions Targets
Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has acknowledged that his party’s MPs have final say over the Coalition Federal Government’s emissions targets.
Any decision at all will need a majority of the 21 Nationals MPs to support it, and the Nationals from Queensland have been vocal about preserving coal jobs in the state.
This comes as the coalition moves towards a commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050.
US Bans use of Patrol Horses along Mexican Border after Horrific Photos Surface
The White House has said horses will no longer be used along the US border after images surfaced of a US border guard on horseback attempting to capture a Haitian migrant.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki condemned the US border patrol agents' use of reigns to intimidate migrants trying to cross the river and said an investigation is in progress.
This incident comes in the wake of the worsening situation in Haiti, which in recent weeks has been hit by a major earthquake and is still reeling from a presidential assassination.
Scott Morison Attends Quadrilateral Security Dialogue in Washington
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will meet US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in Washington today in the first in person meeting of what has been dubbed ‘the quad’
The group will meet to discuss key issues including maritime security, the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, counter-terrorism cooperation, and securing supply chains for critical goods.
The group was first formed back in 2007 but garnered strong reactions from the Chinese government and at the time was disbanded to avoid further provocation
FRIDAY 24/09/2021 8AM ZEDLINES
With David and Annan
Image Credit: ABC News
Premier to Make Interstate Christmas Travel Decision Next Week
Premier Anastacia Palaszczuck has faced repeated questioning over whether Queensland will allow interstate travel for the Christmas period.
It is expected that a decision will be made next Friday with the national cabinet meeting.
As of this morning, 43 per cent of Queenslanders have been fully vaccinated, so it remains to be seen how much that number will increase before Christmas.
Vaccine Football Ticket Giveaway Restarted
The state government’s vaccination football ticket giveaway scheme has been restarted after yesterday’s bureaucratic confusion.
Health Minister Yvette D’ath has said that the Therapeutic Goods Administration ordered the suspension of the program over a breach.
However, a TGA spokesperson has said they had nothing to do with it.
Plan to Open Two Central Queensland Mines Concerns Environmentalists
A plan to open two gas basins in central Queensland has activists concerned about environmental impacts despite the federal government’s claims it could create more than 5000 jobs for the region.
The mines opening in the Bowen and Galilee basins could also mean a reduction in power costs in central Queensland due to the influx of gas power to the area, but environmentalist groups say the federal government should be supporting new renewable energy projects instead.
One Hospitalized with COVID after Melbourne Protests
One person who attended the Melbourne anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine protests is in hospital being treated for COVID-19.
The Melbourne health department has said investigations are underway.
This comes as the Melbourne Town Hall vaccination centre was closed due to abuse faced during the protests, and has left the city with no vaccination options for Melburnians experiencing homelessness.
Particle Sized Drones Fabricated by US and Korean University Collaboration
Collaborating scientists from Universities in Korea and the US have created microchips about the size of a grain of sand which are designed to be deployed remotely to monitor severe weather and the outbreak of disease.
The cost effective microstructures could potentially be deployed thousands at a time and are modeled aerodynamically after wind-dispersed seeds like the dandelion or jacaranda.
The team has said that making the fliers environmentally friendly is a real concern and will make sure this is the case before any large scale deployment.
THURSDAY 23/09/2021 11AM ZEDLINES
With Dan and Bell
Image Credit: ABC News