High numbers of wild lorikeets in South East QLD and Northern NSW have fallen victim to the seasonal Lorikeet Paralysis Syndrome in recent summers. 

Affected birds are unable to fly and in severe cases unable to blink or swallow. 

There is an investigation underway by wildlife disease experts to find the cause of the syndrome, however, so far there has been no evidence of an infectious disease being the cause and is likely an unknown plant toxin.

China dispatched a veteran diplomat known for pushing back against Western criticism to serve as its next ambassador to the U.S., an appointment that suggests Beijing is bracing for a period of prolonged tension with Washington.

Qin Gang, who most recently served as vice foreign minister, arrived in the U.S. Wednesday to fill the post vacated last month by long-time ambassador, Cui Tiankai, according to a statement from the Chinese Embassy.

Ethiopia's war-torn Tigray risks running out of food within days if the critical aid routes are not reopened. 

The only access route into the region was cut off last week after an attack on a World Food Programme convoy.

One hundred and fifty trucks with food and supplies are held up in Semera allegedly “pending security clearances". 

The United Nations has called for the reopening of the route as the region which is already threatened with famine could run out of rations completely.

Ben Pennings will be able to see the confidential information that underpins Adani’s allegations against him, as the Supreme Court has formalised orders agreed out of court by both Adani and Ben Pennings in relation to the decision handed down on June 25.

Pennings after fighting hard to receive this outcome stated Adani wanted him to defend himself in the Supreme Court without seeing specific allegations against him. He says he is happy he can now defend the case knowing exactly what Adani alleges.

Brisbane is running out of land for new homes according to documents released during the Queensland state budget hearings.

Under current state government rules, all local government areas should have 4 years’ worth of approved lots.

However, Brisbane has less than three years and Noosa has less than 1 year.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles says the reason for the housing crisis is due to, quote, “the interstate migration which has put pressure on land supply across the state [during the pandemic]”.

Three new magistrates Mr Shane Elliott, Ms Stephanie Gallagher and Ms Megan Power have as of Thursday been appointed to courts in Brisbane, Charleville and Innisfail with one also to undertake the role of Brisbane Coroner.

A welcome sight is the fact that these 3 newly appointed magistrates have a collective 100 years of legal aid experience behind them with Magistrate Power having “20 years’ legal experience primarily in areas of appeals, serious crime practice, environmental law, Childrens Court cases and Mental Health Court matters.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has stated whether the Australian economy can avoid a second recession in as many years will depend on the success of the lengthy NSW lockdown.

NSW, which has been experiencing a failed easy lockdown in order to avoid extreme damage to the economy is now experiencing the worst resurgence of Covid in recent months. New cases soared to a record 239 on Thursday and the death toll in the current outbreak is 13.

Experts have said although international trade is strong and holding it all depends on what happens with the December quarter.

NSW police will be cracking down even harder on those who choose to break COVID-19 rules as the state struggles with a record high number of infections.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller on Thursday said police were clamping down to "get us out of lockdown sooner" and made a formal request to the Federal Government for assistance from the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Last week astronomers caught a glimpse of light being reflected by a black hole 800 million light years from Earth. 

This first time sighting confirms Albert Einstein’s prediction that black holes can bend light around them if their gravitational pull is strong enough.