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.

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.

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 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 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. 

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 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.

Mater Research is inviting people with intellectual disabilities and autism to participate in a program aimed at improving the way healthcare services are delivered.

Researchers from the Mater Intellectual Disability and Autism Service are seeking input to develop a new training program for doctors, nurses and allied health workers.

Mater Research is looking for more participants to join the study at its Brisbane and Wide Bay sites.

A rally in support of West Papuan political prisoner Victor Yeimo will take place in Newstead today.

Yeimo was charged with treason and incitement by an Indonesian court after his alleged involvement in anti-racist protests led to riots in 2019. 

Event organisers for 'Make West Papua Safe' aim to protest outside the Brisbane AFP offices to show their solidarity and concern for Yeimo’s health due to poor prison conditions.