A high volume of human waste has been dumped into the South China Sea over the past five years by at least 270 Chinese vessels and has caused damage to the areas’ reefs and fish populations, says Liz Derr, who heads US artificial intelligence company, Similarity Incorporated. 

By using satellite imagery analysis, Derr claims that the company’s study of the South China Sea region has identified at least 236 Chinese ships which have amassed in the disputed-region, causing algae blooms and large decline in migratory tuna in the area. 

The Caloundra community banded together to oppose the repurposing of a local watchhouse into a youth remand centre. 

Members of the community, business associations and a local school rallied outside the watchhouse entrance to launch a petition against the move. The proposed facility is set to cost $16.4 million and will house remanded young people as well as acting as an overflow for similar facilities across the state.

The Logan Live sessions return to help the local music industry for 2021.

Commencing July 20, the Boost sessions will take place at the Logan Art Gallery and Logan West Community Centre until August 31. These six free interactive sessions are open to all artists who live in Logan or have a connection to the area, and participants can network with those involved in the music industry.

Logan Live is supported by the state government through Arts Queensland, and registrations can be made at loganlive.com

The Ignite Brisbane Outdoor mini festival is back this Friday night on July 16th.

The festival which began in March 2018 is all about hard dance, rave music and hosting a wide variety of performers.

The event is held at The Brightside Outdoors in Fortitude Valley with tickets still being available on Eventbrite.com, though they are going out fast.

Students in Greater Sydney will resume school for Term 3 via online learning. 

New South Wales Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell said a decision to extend the home learning will be made in a day or two which last as long as a week. 

Due to concerns of the Delta strain transmissions, the New South Wales state government is relying on latest updates from state health authorities to make a decision.

Tasmanian businesses are urged to introduce menstrual, menopause leave to help remove stigma.

According to the Australian Medical Association, a menstrual leave policy could start to normalise menstruation and menopause, allowing women to operate more effectively.

Tasmania’s AMA spokeswoman Annette Barratt says there’s still a barrier from women who are reluctant to tell their employer they can’t come into work because their periods are awful or because they suffer from endometriosis, a condition that affects one in nine women in Australia.

Small businesses and market vendors of the Cotters Market in Townsville were hit hard by the recent lockdowns causing an estimated 2 week of lost trading after a woman in the regional town tested positive for Covid-19.  

Local fruit growers such as Matthias Fehrenbacher said that his status as a potential ‘close contact’ with the woman caused a ‘truckload of fresh produce to be dumped after being picked, as he was unable to sell due to needing quarantine for 2 weeks. 

The deadline looms for Brisbane’s Polish Club to repay a $150,000 loan by August 5. Due to community support, the struggling Milton Club has reached $90,000 in fundraising.

Club President Waldemar Duda said if the loan is not paid by the deadline then the clubhouse and land must be auctioned off to recoup costs. 

A further $50,000 is needed as the club calls for the community to help it survive.