Belarus protests continue

Belarus has undergone a nationwide strike in a strong protest to see leader Alexander Lukashenko step down from power.

A group of almost 3,000 Belarusians have taken to the streets waving red and white flags and protest signs.

US Senate fast-tracks Amy Coney Barrett nomination

The United States Senate has voted to advance the Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett towards confirmation despite objections from the Democrat party. The Republican-led Senate voted mostly united in support of President Donald Trump’s pick to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Many Democrat party representatives have said whoever wins the election next week should elect the next Supreme Court justice.

Polish protests over anti-abortion ruling

Protests have erupted in several cities in Poland on the weekend over the near-total ban on abortions. The protestors were reacting to last week’s ruling by Poland’s constitutional court that an existing law allowing abortion of non-viable fetuses was “incompatible” with their Constitution. The court’s verdict was criticized by several European human rights groups including the Council of Europe.

Industry Minister says vaccine is "nine months away"

Federal Industry Minister Karen Andrews has said she believes the rollout of a coronavirus vaccine would be at least nine months away. Appearing on the ABC political show Insiders, Andrews said it would take time before a drug could be approved, manufactured, and distributed to the population. In this month’s budget, the federal government committed $1.5 billion to medical technology and manufacturing.

Year 12 students to sit ATAR exams

More than 37,000 Queensland Year 12 students will start their external exams today for the first time in the state. This will be the first Queensland cohort to receive Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) scores instead of an OP. This comes after a school year dominated by the pandemic, which had students learning online and canceling events such as formals.