Uncle Bevan Costello Suffers a Fatal Heart Attack
Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council member Uncle Bevan Costello has died after suffering a heart attack.
The Cherbourg elder was known for his position on the local Murri court, helping magistrates better understand the cultural background of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people before the court.
The Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council has extended their condolences, remembering his tireless devotion and dedication to the community.
Nigerian Twitter Ban Lifts
The Nigerian Government is set to reverse its three month ban of social media platform Twitter in the next few days.
The ban, implemented in June, was immediately met with backlash from Nigerian human rights groups, claiming the move was attempting to silence criticism of President Muhamaddu Buhari.
Local businesses are relieved to once again use the platform for marketing and communication.
THURSDAY 16/09/2021 10am
With Dan and Bell
Image Credit: ABC
Tensions Rise in Korean Peninsula
Both North and South Korea have conducted missile tests only hours apart as tensions continue to rise in the Korean peninsula.
The advance in South Korean military assets comes in response to efforts to strip North Korea of their nuclear weapons
President Moon-Jae cited “asymmetric capabilities” between North and South Korea as the primary reason for South Korea to bolster their military defences.
New Sustainable Mining Tech on Trial
Researchers at the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute are trialing a new technology at 2 Queensland mining sites.
Professor Longbin Huang says the process aims to convert Bauxite residue, a common mining waste, into useable farming soil.
There are currently more than 4 billion tonnes of Bauxite residue stored in dams globally, with Australia being the 2nd largest producer of the waste.
Palaszczuk to Introduce Child Protection Bill
Anastasia Palaszczuk is introducing amendments to the 1999 Child Protection Bill to empower and involve children in the decision making process.
The amended bill will include children being taught their legal rights and clarifying and improving the regulation of care.
The Premier acknowledges these changes will make Queensland the first jurisdiction in the country to have the importance of children’s voices written in law.
Brisbane-based COVID-19 Tests Approved for European Use
Brisbane based biotech company Microbio’s new COVID-19 tests have been approved for use in Europe.
The 2 tests will aim to detect how infectious a person is, and how the virus is replicated in the body.
Microbio chief scientific officer Dr. Flavia Huygens believes the new test will change the way authorities deal with the virus and can produce more accurate results regarding the infectious period of COVID patients.
Ballarat Lockdown Tonight
Ballarat will be entering lockdown tonight after recording 4 new cases this week, and multiple detections of the virus in wastewater.
The 7 day lockdown will see the regional city follow similar restrictions currently implemented in Melbourne metropolitan areas.
The state recorded 514 cases overnight, with almost 70% of the population covered by their first vaccine dosage.
UN Raises Concern Over AI
The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet is calling for a moratorium on the sale and use of Artificial Intelligence.
The Human Rights office released a report yesterday detailing the potential risks of AI being irresponsibly used at a government and commercial level.
To quote Miss Bachelet, “We cannot afford to keep playing catch-up.”
Qatar Resumes Financial Aid to Gaza
Qatar has resumed delivering financial aid to the Gaza strip for the first time since conflict between Israel and Palestine escalated in May.
The United Nations estimates the funding amounts to forty million dollars, which will be distributed through retail stores in amounts of 320 shekels, or roughly $100.
Since Israel’s initial assault on Gaza in 2014, Qatari diplomats have donated hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinian run territory.