Fog in Dehli
The Indian capital Delhi faced a toxic smog on Monday that heavily reduced the city’s visibility.
Residents were struggling to get through the thick air, where they claimed it was impossible to see even 200 metres ahead.
Trump campaign to hold rallies
In the USA, the Trump campaign has announced the plan to hold a series of rallies to claim the election was fraudulent.
Tim Murtuagh, the campaign spokesperson for Trump, reported the party is set to join together to support the president’s unproven allegations of a forged election. The details of these rallies have not yet been announced.
The Ancient Bloods - 'Where We Stand'
Building on an anthology of First Nations musical work, The Ancient Bloods is a musical project coming together in so-called Brisbane to celebrate song lines and create new ones; bringing a contemporary response to political issues and cultural heritage. The brand new album ‘Where We Stand’, from the land on which we exist through to the place we inhabit in society, explores First Nations relationships with the ancient past, with ongoing colonization, with a modern and evolving society and how each of these impact on both the individual and on the world’s oldest living and thriving culture—all through the lens of emerging community leaders on their own personal journeys.
The Ancient Bloods current members include Nadia Morrison, Michaella Stubbs, Cormac Finn, Will Probert and Loki Liddle, working in the Digi Youth Arts mentoring program with guidance from artists including lead mentor Luke Daniel Peacock. With backgrounds including the Kabi Kabi, Bundjalung, Wiradjuri, Jabirr Jabirr, Garrwa, Butchulla, Darug the group explores a range of stories, truths and musical styles from their unique perspectives.
The project, which began in 2018, is about exploring identity for both the band and its audience, creating both learning and legacy. Agnostic to genre and an exploration of individual journeys coming together in art, the album opens with ‘ANCSTR’ exploring the rich history of First Nations culture and survival and the strength drawn from it and moves through eight tracks of strength and self-discovery, through to the closer ‘Aunties On My Timeline’, a nod to the lighter side as it covers the far more contemporary phenomenon of having elders drop in on your socials.
Japanese Prince declared heir to the throne
Prince Fumihito, the younger brother of Japan’s Emporer Naurhito has been officially declared the heir to the throne during a ceremony in Tokyo. The ceremony was postponed seven months due to the coronavirus pandemic. The current Emperor has no sons, and his only daughter is barred from inheriting the throne under Japanese law, despite calls for reforms when the Emporer took the throne.
Tropical Storm Eta hits Central America
Tropical Storm Eta has brought strong winds and torrential rain to Cuba over the weekend, cutting a destructive path though Central America and Mexico. Guatemala authorities raised the death toll to 27, and said more than 100 people were missing as a result of a landslide. The storm is now headed for the US, where Florida officials have closed beaches, ports and public transportation.
Scott Morrison refuses to commit to net-zero emissions
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said Joe Biden’s election to the United States presidency will not change Australia’s climate policies, refusing to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050. The Prime Minister’s reluctance on climate change policy has garnered criticism from Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, who says Australia has the capacity to be a ‘renewable energy superpower’.
NSW records seven COVID cases
New South Wales recorded seven new cases of COVID-19; all reported in returned travelers in hotel quarantine. Victoria has recorded its tenth day in a row with no new infections or deaths.
Plans for scaled-back ANZAC Day
With five months until April, plans are already underway for ANZAC Day, with Queensland considering a scaled-back coronavirus-safe parade at the Ekka Showgrounds. The invite-only event would mean many veterans would miss out. Returned Services League Queensland’s Tony Ferris noted the importance of having a COVID-safe event as many veterans fall in the age demographic most susceptible to the virus.
Queensland Maritime Museum closure
The Queensland Maritime Museum will close permanently at the end of the year if it does not receive urgent funding. The museum, which sits on the Brisbane River, reopened in mid-September under a COVID-safe plan, but with seventy percent of visitors hailing from overseas and interstate, the museum has seen a major reduction in revenue. The museum’s board chair Captain Kasper Kuiper said they need a big donation from either private funding or the government to stay open.