In this bulletin, talks between Vietnam's president and Anthony Albanese, rollout begins for the first vaccines to protect birds against the H5 bird flu. And in cricket, the first test between Australia and Bangladesh is underway this week.
Key Points
- Protesters rally against state visit by Vietnamese leader
- Bird flu vaccines to prioritise native birds in imminent rollout
- Australia to play Bangladesh in test cricket this week
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TRANSCRIPT
Vietnamese President To Lam has met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra today after being greeted by the Governor General of Australia in a formal ceremony this morning.
This first state visit by Vietnam's leader comes two years after Australia and Vietnam elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
President Lam addressed Governor General Sam Mostyn and other delegates via a translator.
"My sincere thanks to you and to the people of Australia for the very special affection and friendship extended to the people of Vietnam and for the warm and gracious hospitality extended to myself and the delegation."
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The visit by Vietnam's President has been met with a protest in front of parliament house.
Human Rights Watch is calling on the Australian government to raise the issue of Vietnam's human rights record.
Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, John Sifton, says the incarceration of more than 170 political prisoners under laws restricting free expression and peaceful activism is of particular concern.
"So if you are a Vietnamese labour organiser or a political dissident, you have no avenue to complain or criticise the Vietnamese government. There are various vague and overbroad provisions in the penal code that basically allow the Vietnamese government to prosecute anybody who criticises the government.”
The Vietnamese government dismisses complaints as 'biased' and maintains that it protects fundamental freedoms under its constitution while prioritizing social stability, economic development, and poverty reduction.
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The first vaccines to protect birds against the H5 bird flu will roll out in this week, after 18 months of trials as part of a federal plan.
The first vaccines will be prioritised for native bird species in captivity, with some identified as vulnerable to the potentially fatal virus.
$2 million has been earmarked for vaccines, as part of the $130 million package in response to the H5 bird flu.
Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins says the public should still expect to see more mass mortality events and dead birds as a result of the virus, which has already been detected in 231 birds nationwide.
"For some threatened species, the response might not include vaccines, it might be much more about biosecurity. It might be much more about resilience of that species."
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The United States has announced it will send A$22 million [[US$15.5 million]] in aid to assist Colombia, after a powerful earthquake struck the country's west, killing more than 110 people.
In a statement on social media, the US State Department says the money will contribute to shelter, food, protection and earthquake assessments.
Rescue teams and emergency personnel continue to search for survivors stuck under rubble, after the 7.4-magnitude quake left more than 1,600 buildings across several cities damaged or collapsed.
The earthquake’s heaviest casualties appear to be concentrated in Risaralda, part of Colombia’s coffee-growing region.
World Vision Colombia spokesperson Bárbara Melo says people in this region are particularly vulnerable, due to high levels of poverty.
"Right now, the main needs is to know what's happening, how can we help, and how to protect the families, especially the children that are the most needed right now and the ones that lost their parents or they are looking for them. Right now, the news show us, the images are very shocking. Buildings collapsing. The airports are closed. So it's very hard to see this. And the epicentre that was Chocó is very known for its poverty. So a lot of people are in need right now."
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A new study has revealed dogs can discern between a human's facial expressions, with the information gathered through brain scans.
A scientific paper, published in the peer-reviewed journal iScience, outlined findings including that dogs process smiles in a unique brain region.
For the first time, University of Vienna researchers provided evidence dogs can distinguish between negative facial expressions, including anger, sadness, and fear.
The study pinpointed the spots in the brain where that processing takes place, by scanning the brains of dogs using FMRI.
Study co-author Dr Laura Cuaya says previous behavioural studies had shown dogs could distinguish between some human facial expressions, but this is the first evidence gathered that the pets can identify different types of happy or unhappy faces.
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Test cricket returns to Darwin on Thursday, with Australia taking on Bangladesh in the first match of the series.
The contest begins a demanding stretch of international cricket for the hosts.
Darwin-born opener Jake Weatherald is under pressure to secure his place after averaging just over 22 in his first five Tests.
Opening batter Travis Head says the squad is refreshed and ready to play.
"Looking forward to it, the boys seem refreshed and in a good space we've had a really good week in Brissy, training was good it was challenging we had really good centre wicket scenario stuff so yeah we're ready to play now."
