World Health Organisation urges Europe to tighten restrictions
The World Health Organisation has urged Europe to tighten its restrictions in order to save lives, as this week saw the highest rate of coronavirus infections since the pandemic first started.
WHO’s European director Hans Kluge says the exponential increase in cases and deaths can also be attributed to the coming winter months.
He says if policies continue to be relaxed, daily mortality by January 2021 could be four to five times higher than what was recorded in April this year.
Pro-democracy protesters gather in Bangkok
Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters gathered again in Bangkok yesterday defying a ban on demonstrations and gatherings of five or more people.
Thailand’s Prime Minister declared a severe state of emergency in the Capital overnight. More than 20 people were arrested.
The protestors have gathered to call for democracy and a reform of the country’s monarchy, who hold great wealth and power.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics rolls out census test
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is trying to avoid another 2016 level census crash.
Around 100,000 households across Australia are set to take part in a large-scale test ahead of next year's national Census.
Andrew Henderson from the Australian Bureau of Statistics says they'll be stress testing their systems to ensure they're ready to go for August next year.
Surprise Chef: Daylight Savings
<p>- From the gentle exotica at the opening of Surprise Chef’s new long-player Daylight Savings -the birdsong and traffic noise- you can tell: something is funky in the state of Coburg.</p>
Australian Defence Force orders against destruction of records
The Australian Defence Force has ordered against the destruction of the records relating to Australia's involvement in the war in Afghanistan, more than four years after an inquiry commenced into allegations of war crimes by Australian special forces.
The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force has been conducting an inquiry into allegations that Australian special forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan from 2016.
QUT prepares to make redundancies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
Queensland University of Technology released a four-stage proposal earlier this week outlining the potential redundancies and faculty rearrangement needed to deal with the financial fallout of COVID-19.
National Tertiary Education Union’s secretary Michael McNally says universities are suffering as a direct result of zero government support during the pandemic.
He says “The redundancies will impact students in terms of the quality of education the staff can provide.”
QLD has the highest unemployment rates in the country
Queensland has the highest September unemployment rate in the country with 7.7 per cent to the nation’s 6.9 per cent average, according to job figures released yesterday.
Labor says the high statistic is because the data does not reflect the thousands of Queenslanders on JobKeeper payments.
The LNP pledged to lower this figure by 5 per cent in the next four years if elected later this month, a promise Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk has deemed ‘irresponsible’.
Howard Smith Wharves ferry terminal announcement
The government has announced a $5.5 million project to build a ferry terminal at Howard Smith Wharves to commute passengers to North Stradbroke Island.
This proposal comes as a bid to boost the tourism and construction industries post COVID, and to provide a new gateway to the Redlands Coast Islands.
However, there are some concerns from locals on the island regions as to what effects this new development may have.
By 4ZZZ Reporter Neve Ferreira
(Image credit: themostperfectview.com)
12PM ZEDLINES - OCTOBER 15
By 4ZZZ reporter Brittany Dever
Image credit: Fran Boloni
QUT hit with redundancies as Covid-19 takes its toll on universities
The Queensland University of Technology has begun to issue redundancies
in an effort to save $38 million by the end of next year as part of its COVID-19 recovery plan.
One hundred and seventy four positions will be made redundant with the majority affecting professional services and support staff, however one hundred and two new jobs will be created.
Vice-chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil issued a four-stage plan in a briefing earlier this week, notifying staff of the impending job cuts.