Fossils of an early relative of the wombat with a powerful bite and a possum with unusually large fangs have been discovered in the Northern Territory by palaeontologists from Flinders University that have helped solve a long-standing evolutionary puzzle.
Today’s national news includes Australian fisheries yield to drop due to climate change, Western Australia being dubbed as the ‘rough sleeping capital of Australia, and United States Marines arriving in the Northern Territory for combined military exercises. Also in the news are social media influencers facing uncertainty as TikTok faces a ban threat in Australia, and singer Lizzo drops a bombshell regarding her performance tour in Australia.
A 40-year-old man is facing deprivation of liberty charges after he allegedly abducted a 65-year-old man in his car and assaulted him multiple times while the vehicle drove around the Alice Springs CBD, NT Police said.
The Royal Darwin and Palmerston hospitals have enacted ‘code yellow’ protocols after a spike in demand over the last week, the government said.
Today’s national news includes 100,000 individuals who are currently seeking asylum in Australia and Labor MPs rumoured to be breaking ranks on the AUKUS submarine deal. Also in today’s news are Australian businesses being hit by worsening labour shortages, the Queensland government being urged to place a cap on rent increases, and Australia being named the 12th happiest country in the world.
The NT Government’s move to set up a new 60-bed aged care facility and 12 dementia care places in and around Darwin will only go a small way in addressing the overburdened aged care system which is now at a tipping point, the peak body representing seniors has said.
UPDATED: The 19-year-old man arrested yesterday for allegedly stabbing a 20-year-old bottle shop employee to death has been charged with murder and breach of bail, with the court hearing he was on bail following an alleged assault with a “bladed weapon” last year.
The NT Independent is providing an update of resource news from across the Northern Territory. Highlights this week include Rio Tinto assuring Mirarr traditional owners that the Jabiluka uranium deposit adjacent to the Ranger uranium mine will not be developed, DevEx Resources finding high-grade uranium in its Nabarlek project and billionaires Andrew Forrest and Mike Cannon-Brookes bidding for full control over Sun Cable’s AAPowerlink project, plus more.
Today’s national news includes the Australian dollar cutting its rally over the lingering banking crisis, migrant workers feeling unsafe at work in Australia, property prices still strong despite the market downturn, and the iconic Caruso’s Italian Restaurant in Sydney shutting down due to inflationary pressures on doing business.
NT Police are continuing their investigation into the stabbing death of 20-year-old Airport Tavern BWS employee Declan Laverty and say the stabbing may be linked to another violent assault on Sunday night at the Beachfront Hotel bottle shop, with two other teens currently in custody along with the 19-year-old man police suspect killed Mr Laverty.
Today’s national news includes Australia seeking a new ambassador to Ukraine; Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Marles clarifying that Australia will not join the US in the event of war over Taiwan; Neo-Nazi crackdown in Melbourne; Public transport use in Australia’s capital has rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels; and, new super strength beer will not be sold in NT due to alcohol-fueled violence.
Property crimes in Alice Springs reached all-time highs with 1,135 properties – or roughly one in 10 houses – having been broken into, stolen from or damaged per day in January alone, according to police figures, that come as the man behind Action for Alice calls for the government to “wake up” and address the ongoing crime problem.
