3ZZZ

World Radio Day 2025 is an occasion to celebrate one of the most powerful mediums of communication that has stood the test of time—radio. From connecting remote communities to providing real-time information, radio continues to be a vital tool for education, entertainment, and awareness. This day emphasizes the role of radio in fostering dialogue, sharing stories, and creating a bridge between diverse cultures.

The decision by the incoming Trump administration to freeze all activities of USAID for 90 days and then to eliminate most of its programs is going to have catastrophic impact on food security, health and education, with the international donor and aid community reeling from the chainsaw approach take by the new government.

The Forestry Corporation of New South Wales has come under fire from the Greens and environmental groups, after admitting to misreporting its native timber yields since 2021. The state-owned corporation adjusted its biomaterial reports after it was discovered that it had overstated its data by 30 percent. According to the Corporation, this was due to a data error in the sales database, and the financial statements in the annual reports for those years was not affected.

A report has found increasing risks of poverty and homelessness for Australian retirees who rent. The report found most older working Australians who rent do not have sufficient savings to keep paying rent in retirement, and that Commonwealth Rent Assistance to support pensioners is far too low.

There’s a major risk for pets and pet owners around Australia who are registered with the company HomeSafe ID who served RSPCA Queensland microchips for pets. The company announced last week it is ceasing trading and shutting down their website. This means that any pet that has a microchip with this HomeSafe ID could become functionally useless and the details about your pet could be wiped. What does this mean for hundreds and thousands of pets across Australia?

A University of Queensland led team has made a scientific breakthrough in producing the first ever kangaroo embryo through IVF. Researchers were able to produce these kangaroo embryos via a technique known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) – injecting a single sperm directly into a mature egg. Lead researcher Dr Andres Gambini highlighted the importance of the achievement for its potential to save endangered Australian species such as Koalas and Tasmanian devils.

The Invictus Games this year are celebrated in Vancouver, Canada, celebrating servicemen and women who became injured and now are high performance athletes. This year, Australia is well represented by former Navy Engineer Alex Hale, who will compete in Biathlon, indoor rowing and wheelchair basketball. The Wire’s contributor from 2NUR FM Peter Hyslop started asking Alex Hale which sport he’s more focused on.

A new survey showed there’s more work to be done in the ACT before decriminalising cannabis for personal use. Legislative reform was enacted in the ACT in 2020, allowing the growth of up to FOUR cannabis plants per household and the possession of up to 50 grams of dried cannabis. In its latest survey of more than three hundred cultivators, the Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney found the majority are growing for medical and recreational purposes.

Federal crossbenchers are calling for gambling applications to include a live display of wins and losses to better inform users. However, as the major political parties turn their attention to the upcoming election campaign it looks like the time to support problem-gamblers has passed. Produced By: Noah Secomb Featured In Story: Rebekha Sharkie – Independent member First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 11 February 2025

A new outbreak of H7N8 avian influenza has been detected at an egg farm in northern Victoria, just weeks after quarantine restrictions were lifted on the last property affected by the state’s 2024 bird flu outbreak. This comes amid ongoing egg shortages and price increases, partly driven by similar outbreaks in the US, although caused by the different H5N1 strain. While H7N8 is not widely associated has raised biosecurity measures.