Michael Bloomberg drops out of presidential race
Following Super Tuesday, Michael Bloomberg has dropped out of the run for democratic leader leaving just 3 candidates for leadership: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.
Bloomberg has left the race after 101 days and putting in $750 million of his own money; he won only the seat of American Samoa in the democratic primaries.
He has endorsed Joe Biden for democratic leader, making Bloomberg the third failed democratic presidential nominee in three days to endorse Biden in the race.
EU ministers in emergency talks about refugee crisis
European Union Ministers have engaged in emergency talks in Brussels to address the twenty five thousand refugees waiting on the border of Turkey and Greece trying to cross into Europe.
The EU promised financial support to Greece to help with the situation and improve their reception capabilities.
Morrison government spends $250,000 preventing workers gaining sick leave entitlements
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has claimed the Morrison government has spent more than $250,000 to support multinational companies to keep workers from gaining their full sick leave entitlements for long shifts.
This comes as Australian workers and businesses prepare for losses of business and an increase in sick days caused by the coronavirus.
Secretary of Australian Council of Trade Unions Sally McManus says, “The Morrison government only listens to the demands of big business and their donors.”
Coronavirus claims second Australian life
Australia has recorded its second coronavirus-related death. New South Wales Health have overnight confirmed a 95 year old woman tested positive for the virus.
The woman, a resident of a Sydney aged care facility, who died on Tuesday in hospital, is New South Wales’ first coronavirus death.
Another resident also tested positive for the virus and an aged-care worker at the facility was diagnosed with the virus earlier this week, bringing the total number of infections in New South Wales to 22.
Horatio Luna: Yes Doctor
- I love the term ‘left-leaning musician’. It’s oft-repeated in Horatio Luna’s promo screed and, to my mind at least, throws up an image of Henry Hicks, the man behind all the beat-driven, jazzy excursions Horatio Luna engages in, beret perched jauntily on his head, nasty little submachine gun slung over his shoulder, bass guitar in hand and Mao’s Little Red Book burning a whole in the pocket of his combat fatigues.
Mayoral candidates ballot draw released for upcoming council election
With the council election looming, the Queensland Electoral Commission has revealed the Mayoral candidates ballot draw.
The draw includes nine candidates, with four of those running independently.
QUT professor, John Mickel, says there is research to show that the order of the draw is important, as those at the top of the draw often perform better.
The council election will be taking place on the 28 March.
Snakes found in Brisbane sewers
Despite experiencing the second warmest summer on record, Brisbane's vast rainfall is bringing in more than storm water. Routine maintenance work is uncovering snakes in Brisbane and Ipswich sewers.
Queensland Urban Utilities spokeswoman Michelle Cull said snakes have been "slithering into the sewers" since the most recent rainfall. Two pythons and three eastern brown snakes have since been removed.
She said a snake catcher had to be called to remove the snakes, as Urban Utilities teams are not skilled in snake-wrangling.
UK releases coronavirus action plan
The UK government released a ‘coronavirus action plan’ on Tuesday which outlines an approach focused on containment and delay of the peak of the disease.
The UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, described the approach as “planning for the worst, whilst working for the best”.
The plan sets out what is currently known about the virus and its causes; the UK government’s long term plan for the pandemic; and the government’s previous response to similar pandemics.
150 million euros provided for development of French offshore wind grid connection project
Italian manufacturing group, Prysmian Group, was awarded over 150 million Euros for the development of an offshore wind grid connection project in France.
The contract will secure the development of two submarine and land export power cable systems to connect the offshore wind farms to the French mainland power grid.
The offshore wind grid connection project will be able to export 500 megawatts of green and renewable energy.
Senator urges more funding for cases of domestic violence
Greens Senate Leader and spokesperson on Women, Senator Larissa Waters wrote to Minister for Women, Marise Payne, asking for additional funding and national coordination to improve police services available to people reporting domestic violence.
Ahead of tomorrow’s meeting of Women’s Safety Ministers she urged an investment of $5.3 billion for a new 10-year National Partnership Agreement on Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women between state and Federal governments.