The Queensland government will introduce phonics and numeracy tests for year 1 students to boost results, and allow for earlier intervention for struggling children.The phonics check will begin this term, with numeracy testing to start from 2026.Education Minister John Paul-Langbroek.Credit: Jamila FilipponeA teacher relief scheme would be introduced to help backfill teachers who were out of the classroom delivering the checks, to ensure their workload did not increase, Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said.The mandatory phonics and numeracy checks are an action item from a bilateral agreement with the federal government, which sets out 10 actions to be delivered with additional federal funding.Latest postsLatest postsIt’s all happening at Lang Park on Saturday. The Wallabies take on the British and Irish Lions on an Australian pitch for the first time in 12 years, with activities in the precinct from 5.30pm and kick-off at 7.45pm.Brisbane Open House takes place this weekend with more than 90 usually off-limits buildings and homes opening their doors. Check the website for information on tours and panel discussions.Two films made at the University of Queensland get a premiere at New Farm Cinemas on Saturday evening. Us and the Night was shot entirely inside the university’s Duhig Tower library. Short film For Dan, about radical literature professor Dan O’Neill, precedes it.Heathcliff! It’s me! Cathy! I’ve come home! Kate Bush fans unite for their annual mass re-enactment of the video for her 1978 debut single on Saturday. If you have a red dress and no inhibitions, frock up to Frew Park for the ninth annual Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever.In the mood for a daytrip? Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail returns on Sunday across the region with food and drink showcased at venues including Elderflower Farm, Heritage Poultry, Towri Sheep Cheeses, Boxer Brewing Co and Summer Land Camels.Ten days of music, performance and ideas begin today in the Noosa Alive! festival, while 10 days of the same are wrapping this weekend in Spark Ipswich.Chilly weather will make a mulled wine at Nundah By Night Fiesta a welcome tipple, and there will be street food, stalls and live music too, 4-10pm Saturday.And the Brisbane Sculpture Festival opens its Outdoor Sculpture Trail at Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens today. See ambitious works dotting the landscape, all of them for sale.Independent MP Dai Le was on Today moments ago, where she failed to offer a concrete answer when asked if Chinese President Xi Jinping respected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese or Australia more broadly.It follows Albanese’s week-long visit to China, which included an expansive meeting with Xi and other high-ranking Chinese officials.The federal MP for Fowler, Dai Le.Credit: Alex EllinghausenAlbanese didn’t directly answer a question this week asking if he trusted Xi following his meeting on Tuesday, saying instead that “nothing that he has said to me has he not fulfilled”.Le said she hoped Xi respected Albanese, noting a “quite small” population and place in global trade might undermine Chinese esteem for Australia.“I would hope that we do have some sort of authority to say that we are Australians,” Le said.“At the end of the day, Australia, in terms of the population, we are quite small, and as a trading partner, we do trade a lot, but whether we have the upper hand.” The Queensland government will introduce phonics and numeracy tests for year 1 students to boost results, and allow for earlier intervention for struggling children.The phonics check will begin this term, with numeracy testing to start from 2026.Education Minister John Paul-Langbroek.Credit: Jamila FilipponeA teacher relief scheme would be introduced to help backfill teachers who were out of the classroom delivering the checks, to ensure their workload did not increase, Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said.The mandatory phonics and numeracy checks are an action item from a bilateral agreement with the federal government, which sets out 10 actions to be delivered with additional federal funding. Advertisement A rainy Friday is the prediction for Brisbane today, with a cool top of 22 degrees.But the wet isn’t expected to linger into the weekend, with cloudy days on the cards for Saturday and Sunday and the chance of showers dropping dramatically.Here’s how the next week is looking, according to the Bureau of Meteorology:Here’s what’s making news further afield this morning:US President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a chronic health condition after swelling in his lower legs caused alarm during a recent appearance at a major sporting event.President Donald Trump’s swollen left ankle pictured as he sits in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday.Credit: APEmployment lawyer Paul O’Halloran investigates employee misconduct in the childcare, aged care and education sectors – and has seen how evil infiltrates workplaces.A wreckage has been found in the search for a plane that went missing on a flight from Victoria to the NSW South Coast two days ago.Australia will reap economic rewards from showing respect for China, the prime minister has declared, shrugging off barbs from the Coalition that stops he made on his week-long trip to visit soccer coaches, historical landmarks and a tennis centre were self-indulgent.PNG businessman Wapu Sonk, who led the Pacific Island nation’s bid to join the National Rugby League.Credit: Nathan PerriThe chairman of the successful bid for PNG’s new rugby league franchise – who is also facing scrutiny over his use of a multimillion-dollar Brisbane property – faces corruption concerns involving a Chinese company.The NSW Liberal Party is under fire for its willingness to work with embattled upper house MP Mark Latham, who has been accused of domestic violence, engaging in “sordid” sexual trysts in his parliamentary office and exchanging offensive messages about female colleagues.Good morning, welcome to Brisbane Times’ live news coverage for Friday, July 18. Today rain is forecast, with a top temperature of 22 degrees.In this morning’s local headlines:Parents’ frustration at a Brisbane childcare centre has been laid bare, with many learning of serious abuse allegations against a staff member through journalists and now weighing up if they should permanently withdraw their children.A father charged over his infant son’s drowning has been denied bail after a court heard claims he had thrown the baby in a campsite’s lake.The chairman of the successful bid for PNG’s new rugby league franchise – who is also facing scrutiny over his use of a multimillion-dollar Brisbane property – faces corruption concerns involving a Chinese company.PNG businessman Wapu Sonk, who led the Pacific Island nation’s bid to join the National Rugby League.Credit: Nathan PerriBiotech companies, including the Brisbane-based Eclipse Health, are racing to be the first to fully replicate human breast milk – using genetically modified yeast – in the hopes of upending the multibillion-dollar infant formula market.The Dolphins have raced away with a win over the Cowboys in a Queensland NRL derby at Suncorp Stadium last night.And start the last day of the week with our fun quiz, which will test your knowledge of local, national and international news.