Aung San Suu Kyi Appears in Court

Myanmar’s democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi has appeared in court for the first time to face charges ranging from illegally possessing walkie-talkies to violating state secrets laws which could result in up to 14 years in prison. 

 

This is the first time Suu Kyi has been seen since she was arrested on February 1st during a military coup which overthrew her National League for Democracy party.

 

She remained defiant throughout the hearing and said her party would exist as long as people continue to support it.

 

Mass Vaccination Set for Year's End

The Queensland government says they will open community-based mass vaccination hubs in the last quarter of the year when more Pfizer vaccines become available.

It comes after the government announced yesterday they would be delaying opening mass vaccination centres because of a shortage of vaccine doses.

Health minister Yvette D’Ath says the government will begin opening further hubs in October, after they’re expected to receive more Pfizer vaccines

 

Fire Services Suspends Staff Over Corruption Claims

Queensland’s firefighting service says it has stood down six staff and contacted the state corruption watchdog over allegations they failed to adhere to proper procurement practices.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services stressed their decision did not mean the allegations were substantiated, but the Crime and Corruption Commission was investigating them.

The six staff have been stood down with pay pending the result of the investigation.

 

New Pedestrian Underpass for Kangaroo Point

A new underpass is set to be built beneath the Story Bridge in Kangaroo Point so pedestrians and cyclists can access a future green bridge. 

 

New designs show the underpass will run between Main Street and the eastern side of the Kangaroo Point Peninsula. 

 

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the contract to design the bridge is set to be awarded in the coming months with construction due to start later in the year. 

Requin - 'Shark'

Requin found their name in the malfunctioning television of a local fish and chip shop. The screen was caught uncontrollably switching between Australian TV quiz ‘Deal or no Deal’ and a French news channel reporting a shark attack (un attaque de requin). In an odd way, the same tension and release between different worlds can be seen in Requin’s creation of intricate, art-focused pop music. As well as a home tour of Australia celebrating their debut EP ‘The Noisy Miners Swoop Him’, the band has been lucky enough to perform in Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand. 'Shark’ is an album about the complexities of navigating a social environment and the painful ways human connection can degrade and unwind. The push and pull of different sounds and angles underscores this struggle and ultimate hope for consonance. We released the single ‘Rules That Won’t Be Broken’ last March to community radio delight right before the world changed. A second single ‘Sober’ was slated to be released but plans were dashed and the group went into hibernation and ultimately disbanded. Any of the album recordings would sit nicely in a playlist alongside the likes of Black Country, New Road, Dirty Three, Black Midi, Big Thief, Mothers, Palm, Women or Radiohead.

AFP Say Dutton Knew About Brittney Higgins in 2018

The AFP have revealed the office of a federal politician was tipped off about Brittney Higgins’ sexual assault allegations years earlier than previously disclosed. 

 

However, a new timeline provided by the federal police suggests then Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s office learned of the sexual assault allegation in October 2019. 

 

Mr. Dutton maintains he personally learned of the allegations in February of 2021.


 

Samoan PM Locked Out of Parliament

New Samoan prime minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has been sworn into office in a marquee outside Parliament House after her political rival locked her out of parliament house.

 

Police barred Mata’afa from entering the legislative hall on her arrival and the parliament clerk announced he would only allow parliament to sit on the orders of outgoing Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

 

Mata’afa's FAST party won federal elections in April inflicting a shock defeat on Malielegaoi, who had previously served as prime minister for 22 years.

 

Malian Interim Leaders Arrested

Mali’s interim president and prime minister have been arrested and taken to a military base outside the capital Bamako following a controversial reshuffle announced yesterday.

 

Reports say interim vice president Colonel Assimi Goita, who engineered the coup last year which installed the interim government, ordered the arrests.

 

A new government of 25 ministers was announced yesterday following widespread criticism of the military’s control over the democratic transition process.