Black Lives Matter protests return as trial begins

Just a warning, the following story refers to death.

Black Lives Matter activists return to streets as a trial over George Floyd’s murder begins in Minneapolis today.

Jury selection is beginning in the case against Derek Chauvin, who was filmed with his knee on Floyds neck for nearly 9 minutes causing him to struggle to breathe.

4ZZZ Top 20

1. Full Flower Moon Band - Death Or Hell (Album Of The Week)

2. Nice Biscuit - Create Simulate

3. TIa Gostelow - CHRYSALIS

4. Local Authority - Forever, For Now (Single)

5. Sycco - My Ways (Single)

6. Asha Jefferies - Break (Single)

7. A Country Practice - Summer Haze EP

8. The Glycereens - Neon City Lights (Single)

9. June Jones - Leafcutter

10. Dry Cleaning - Strong Feelings (Single)

11. LALKA - Angel/Jezebel (Single)

12. Your Familiar - Lavender Gold (Single)

Plans for green bridges halt superyachts

Plans for a new green bridge brought to the Brisbane City Council this week have derailed plans for a superyacht mooring site under Kangaroo Point Cliffs.

The state government announced a 12-month trial allowing superyachts to dock opposite the City Botanic Gardens In March last year.

The new bridge is set to be suspended 12.7 metres, blocking 37 metre high super yachts from mooring along the cliffs.

All female teams patrol east coast beaches

Beaches from Rainbow Bay to Tallebudgera were patrolled by all-female teams on Sunday, 7 March, in Surf Lifesaving Queensland’s effort to raise awareness on International Women’s Day. 

Each member of the team, from First Aid Officers to Inflatable Rescue Boat Drivers to Operation Support Roles, were women. 

The initiative was led by Claudia Fien, an entrant in Surf Life Saving Queensland’s 2021 Surf Woman of the Year program.

New report details continuing pay gaps for women

International Women’s Day has seen the Australian Council of Trade Unions release a report detailing increasing job insecurity and pay gaps for women, today.

The report finds women in Australia face a gender pay gap of 13.4 per cent and shows that 21 per cent of the female workforce lost work or are experiencing pressure on their capacity to retain paid work due to the pandemic, amongst other key findings.

Australia currently has the 44th highest gender pay disparity of any country.

Australia suspending military operations with Myanmar

Australia will suspend its limited bilateral Defence Cooperation Program with Myanmar's military, due to  its exercising violence against protesters. 

Australia is one of a small number of nations that maintained cooperation with Myanmar's armed forces in the wake of a brutal 2017 campaign of ethnic cleansing waged against the Rohingya minority.

Switzerland to ban face coverings

In Switzerland today, voters have approved a proposal to ban face coverings, both the niqabs and burqas worn by Muslim women in the country and ski masks worn by protesters. 

The proposal foresees exceptions at religious sites and for security or health reasons, such as face masks, as well as for traditional carnival celebrations.

In the end, 51.2 per cent of voters supported the plan.