Popular Brisbane cafe under criticism after racist photo
Shay Hayston, the owner of Cafe Froth on Brunswick, a popular cafe in Brisbane has apologised after he posted a photo to his public snapchat online calling customers “two very annoying Asians”. The image was taken in the kitchen at the cafe with the caption “Omg I love my staff” over it. Mr Hayston has since said he is deeply disappointed and embarrassed by his actions. The apology comes after many community members saw the image and began sharing it saying it was unacceptable and absolutely appalling.
Queensland Primary producers receive rent reprieve
More than 1500 Queensland primary producers will be given a rent reprieve until September first. Resources Minister Scott Stewart says the deferral of more than $200,000 of land rent is in response to a series of successive hardships for farmers including COVID-19 and Tropical Cyclone Niran. Queensland’s food and fibre industry is worth $60 billion and accounts for more than a tenth of the state’s exports each year.
Queensland Tourism operators face cancellations
Queensland tourism operators continue to have bad luck with last week's lockdown and now dangerous weather conditions continuing. The 3 day Lockdown and severe weather warnings caused cancellations and loss of business over the Easter weekend. As 2 weeks of school holidays started this week, the industry hopes the weather will improve for the remainder of the holidays. The Bureau Of Meteorology predicted rain from a trough off the Coral Sea could hit a large area of the state from the central coast to the New South Wales Border.
Federal government faces criticism over slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout
As the federal government continues to face criticism over the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, acting chief medical officer Michael Kidd says in the coming weeks both administration and supply will increase. Mr Kidd says mega-vaccination sites seen in the US such as stadiums and sporting grounds are unnecessary in Australia as our system is effective. The number of GP’s administering the vaccine will double by the end of this week and by phase 2, pharmacies will be involved. According to the government, by October all willing Australians are to have the vaccine.
Turkish President accuses top naval officials of attempted coup
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is accusing several top naval officials of an attempted coup after they signed a document voicing concerns that government plans for a new canal may be in violation of an international treaty. 10 retired admirals are now in detention and four others have been ordered to turn themselves in amid Erdogan’s latest crackdown on critics. The canal, which would resemble the Suez and Panama Canals, is planned to connect the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and remain under strict Turkish military control, which critics warn risks angering Russia and eroding Turk
Israeli Prime Minister's corruption trial resumed
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial resumed yesterday on the same day President Reuven Rivlin began coalition talks to form a new government. Netanyahu is up on 3 charges of corruption and the trial’s first witness, the editor of Israeli news agency Walla, has already testified that he was ordered to make negative coverage of Netanyahu disappear. The trial risks Netanyahu’s position in government as the Israeli Parliament seeks a coalition following inconclusive elections 2 weeks ago.
Various Artists: Loud As Ever
<p><span><span><em>- Sound As Ever </em>is a Facebook group dedicated to remembering Australian indie music from the 1990s. Formed a year ago by former <em>Recovery</em> television host <strong>Jane Gazzo</strong> and presumably boosted by the COVID lockdown nostalgia boom, the group now has over seventeen-thousand members - including personnel from many bands of the era.</span></span></p>
Xiu Xiu: OH NO
<p><span><span>- To begin to describe the elements that make up a Xiu Xiu record feels contradictory at heart. Over their past eleven studio albums, they’ve embraced disturbing post-rock, irresistible industrial dance, melancholic singer-songwriter, and in the case of last album <em>Girl With Basket Of Fruit</em>, the harrowing hybrid of doom folk and noise music.
Mess Esque - 'Private Eyes'
Cameron Bower: Iceberg
<p><span><span>- Cameron Bower has been around for a minute in music. He’s done time in rock bands like <strong>Milk Buttons</strong>, <strong>Cowbird </strong>and -perhaps his best known- <strong>Big Dead</strong>. All of those outfits have fused together sounds from the arty, serious end of the spectrum: from prog-rock through to jazz and often making a significant amount of noise in the process.