ONEFOUR: Against All Odds

<p><span>- It’s hard to name a more highly anticipated Australian debut release than <strong>ONEFOUR</strong>’s <em>Against All Odds</em>. It’s only three years since the formation of the hip hop group from Mt Druitt in&nbsp; Western Sydney, and in that time they have racked up tens of millions of youtube views, been the main focus of a police street gang taskforce, had an international tour cancelled by the New Zealand government, and now have more than half the members serving lengthy prison terms for violent crimes.</span></p>

Orcha: Reflections

<p><span><span>- The violin-toting producer thing doesn’t seem to be as prevlaent as it used to be. Notable examples like <strong>Lupa J </strong>or <strong>LUCIANBLOMKAMP</strong> have forsworn the fiddle for the largest part, focusing on the synths and beats exclusively. That being said, <strong>Matt Shears</strong>, for his Orcha project, is holding on to his, although it can be a little difficult to tell.

AstraZeneca, Oxford University reveals positive results from their vaccine

AstraZeneca became the latest pharmaceutical company to unveil positive data in the global race for a coronavirus vaccine.

More than 23,000 adults are currently being assessed in the trials in the US, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Kenya and Latin America. 

Oxford professor Andrew Pollard says their dosing regimens may be around 90 per cent effective and so more people could be vaccinated with a planned vaccine supply. 

AstraZeneca say they are looking at producing three billion doses of the vaccine in 2021.

Food delivery driver safety crisis after more deaths

Another food delivery worker was killed in Australia, bringing the death toll to five in just two months.

The cyclist was hit by a truck in Sydney just days after an Uber Eats rider was hit by a car in Sydney. 

The Transport Workers’ Union has called for food delivery riders to be better protected, saying Australia is facing “a crisis of national importance”.

Tasmania announces new commission of inquiry into institutional child abuse

Tasmania will conduct a commission of inquiry into child sex abuse in public institutions like schools and youth detention centres. 

The inquiry will begin in 2021 and last 12 months. 

Premier Peter Gutwein says survivors will be able to come forward because of the new inquiry. 

He believes it will ensure the safety of Tasmanian children in the future.

 

Queensland braces for heatwave and cyclones

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast severe thunderstorms today and a low-intensity heatwave later this week.

The Bureau also said Queensland could face up to six cyclones this summer due to a climate phenomenon called La Nina. 

This system brought on Cyclone Yasi and the 2011 floods in the Sunshine state causing catastrophic damage.

Brisbane City Council request rewrite of critical petition

The Brisbane City Council has requested a local man rewrite a petition he wrote last week regarding lord mayor Adrian Schrinner.

Coorparoo man Kierian Wilson criticised the council’s rejection of Labor councillor Kara Cook’s request to work remotely, including attending conferences via video call, after giving birth.

The Council are insisting that Ms Cook was never told that she could not attend meetings remotely, but that it was not yet possible with the council’s existing technology

The Stress Of Leisure - 'Faux Wave'

From their latest album Faux Wave, out in November, they open the cheque book with inaugural transaction Banker on TV. The band has totally blown their chances of ever being on Channel Nine with this pointed stream of consciousness. Instrumentally, things are going in four different directions, but what you get is decidedly focused on the main prize - the banker on TV, whoever that is. Mark Mothersbaugh does not cameo on this track. Faux Wave was recorded at Phaedra Studios (Melbourne) in February 2020 by John Lee (Bananagun / Gordon Koang / Laura Jeanne), with the pre-lockdown tension of faux-everything captured over ten tracks. Subjects never range too far from the brave new world. Not punk, not no wave, not even new wave, but faux wave.