Over 150 people are missing following the capsize of a ferry boat in the northwestern Nigerian state of Kebbi. 

The market passengers were travelling between central Niger state and Wara when the boat went down. 

20 people were reduced alive, while the remaining 156 are feared to of drowned from the Wednesday disaster.

Australian writer Yang Hengjun’s trial is set to take place in Beijing today.

He is facing one charge of espionage and has been detained in China for over two years.

Victoria will enter a COVID-19 lockdown lasting at least seven days as cases grow in the state. 

The recent outbreak has now reached 26 cases, with 11 new cases recorded overnight. 

A press conference held at 10.30 am or 11 am today will outline if the lockdown will apply to the whole state.

Brisbane Victoria Park golf course is set to close on June 30.

The property will then be open as public parkland, as it is transformed into what is being called Brisbane’s version of New York central park.

Over one million people have been evacuated in eastern India and Bangladesh after a cyclone caused severe rain and high tides.

Cyclone Yaas has caused two deaths and damaged over 20,000 homes and shelters in the two nations, although the real figure is expected to be much higher.

Oil company Shell has lost a climate lawsuit filed by seven environmental groups, who say the company is threatening human rights due to its billion-dollar investments in fossil fuels.  

A Dutch court ordered Royal Dutch Shell to reduce its CO2 emissions by 45 percent by 2030. 

Scientists from the University of New South Wales have developed simple measures to combat the declining population of Bridled Nailtail Wallabies in Queensland. 

The method known as head-starting will see the species fenced off within their natural habitat until they’re too big to be eaten by feral cats. 

COVID-19 vaccination hubs have now opened in Hervey Bay, Maryborough, and Bundaberg. 

Both the Astrazeneca and Pfizer vaccine are being administered for people in the 1A and 2B groups, including meat packers, police officers, surf lifesavers and state emergency volunteers. 

Queensland is preparing for a very successful cotton production season, with the national crop 1.5 billion dollar already four times bigger than last season. 

The boom follows easing drought conditions and recent heavy rains and flooding.