Libya approves government of PM-designate Dbeibah
Libya’s parliament has voted in support of an interim unitary government to lead the country until it’s December elections.
The country’s two rival political groups agreed to select Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh as interim Prime Minister, at last month’s UN-sponsored talks in Geneva.
Libya has been divided between the east and west after a NATO-backed uprising overthrew and killed ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Government to slash domestic airfares
The federal government has announced they will halve eight-hundred-thousand airline tickets in an effort to encourage domestic holidays.
The $1.2 billion packages will see a 50 per cent discount on tickets between April and July.
The package aims to target locations with the highest dependence on JobKeeper and tourism, such as the Gold Coast, the Whitsundays region, and the Lasseter region.
"This package will take more tourists to our hotels and cafes, taking tours and exploring our backyard," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
Telstra opens first Indigenous call centre
Telstra has established its first Indigenous call centre in Darwin.
The Telstra First Nations Connect contact centre is manned by eight First Nations staff members who can speak 14 languages and will help remote customers.
The move comes after Telstra admitted to exploitative conduct with more than 100 Indigenous customers, who signed contracts they did not understand and could not afford.
Cairns Hospital declares 'code yellow' emergency after influx of COVID-19 patients
A Cairns hospital has declared a code yellow after an influx in COVID-19 patients.
The declaration came after six fly-in-fly-out mine workers returning from Papua New Guinea tested positive for the virus.
Cairns health service executive director Dr Don Mackie says hospital staff are under extraordinary pressure.
Wivenhoe Dam hits its lowest level in a decade
South-east Queensland's largest dam has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade.
Wivenhoe Dam, west of Brisbane, is the region’s largest drinking water storage and is at a low 36 per cent capacity.
Water authority Seqwater spokesperson Mike Foster says low rainfall over large central dams, and excessive water consumption is to blame.
Based on the current rate of usage, the region's dams could hit 50 per cent capacity by September, which may prompt water restrictions.
Queensland to review how women are treated in the criminal justice system
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a review of the experiences of women across the criminal justice system.
Former President of the Queensland Court of Appeal, Justice Margaret McMurdo will lead the investigation as part of her new, independent Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce.
In a tweet announcing the review this morning, Palaszcuzuk says she wants to make sure violent crime against women is being reported and justice is being done.
UQ Chancellor warns China could take more action against universities
The University of Queensland Chancellor warns China could take more action against universities.
Mr Varghese says reports stating Chinese authorities are advising recruitment agents not to promote Australia as a study option are likely true.
This follows three warnings published by Chinese education outlets and state media in February, urging students reconsider studying in Australia, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, frequent racial discrimination and questionable education quality.
SLOMO: L-DOPA
<p><span><span>- SLOMO never stop moving: <strong>Jem King</strong>’s axe-work really owns the idea of a chugging guitar riff and -without some real effort on the part of the band- it’s like the songs get uncontrollably louder, more rambunctious and out of hand. However, there's a dual quality to the Melbourne rockers. There’s a mesmerising effect that only grows with the noise. It cuts you, the listener, loose from the rhythm and everything else for that matter.
White Suns: The Lower Way
<p><span><span>- Hailing from the bustling New York art scene, <strong>White Suns</strong> call themselves an “antirock band”. This stylistic choice, to reject the conventions of rock music has restricted them to a cult underground following, but has borne a back-catalogue of substantial music that finds itself somewhere between harsh noise and experimental rock and warrants more attention. Unsurprisingly, this approach has kept the uncompromising noise trio exceedingly unpredictable, since their formation around the beginning of the last decade.
Curiocity festival launch on Friday
The Curiocity festival, a celebration of science, art and technology, will launch this Friday in Brisbane.
The 17-day festival will include World Science Festival Brisbane events and interactive installations in various locations across the city.
National and International artists have created more than 60 installations, which can be interacted with both physically and digitally.