People who witnessed the incident said that the lady had rushed onto the platform seconds before the train was due to depart. In an effort to board the train she stuck her arm through the closing door – an act that is meant to make the door open again.

Her arm was too slim however and the door failed to open. Instead the train started to move off down the platform at Chatswood Train Station on Sydney’s lower north shore.

Fortunately for the unnamed women her predicament was spotted by a fellow commuter who managed to alert the platform attendant. In turn he was able to communicate with the trains guard and the 400 tonne vehicle came to a stop allowing the panicked passenger to free herself.

CEO praises his staff

Commenting on the incident Stewart Mills the Acting Chief Executive of Sydney Trains said it was never a good idea to put a hand through the door in an attempt to delay its departure.

Speaking to 7News he cautioned, ““There will be other trains coming, so don’t put yourself at risk.” He described the simple and common-place act as ‘dangerous behaviour.’

Mills went on to pay tribute to his staff whose calm and quick thinking he said, had almost certainly saved the woman’s life.

““It’s the vigilance of the guard and the platform staff that would have stopped it,” he said before going on to stress the overall safety record of Sydney Trains.

Statistics show that train travel is very safe

According to statistics on train usage, only three out of every million train passengers suffer some kind of injury. The number is very low, especially considering that approximately 400 million people use the service every year.

Meanwhile it was reported that the lucky woman who escaped with her life was unharmed. She did not need first aid treatment and was able to catch another train.  

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Hailed as an innovator in the media space, Boucher plans to implement a staff ownership model as well as a charter for editorial independence. She heralds the change in ownership as a new start and an opportunity to break new ground. 

New start

The media house was previously a subsidiary of Australian company Nine Entertainment. Boucher’s acquisition has not come as a huge industry surprise as there have long been speculation that a takeover was looming. 

“It’s no silver bullet for all the issues that media are navigating through, lay on top of that all the Covid issues that we’re all going to be navigating through,” Boucher said in an interview with the Guardian. 

“But it does give us a sense of being more in control of our own futures and that the sacrifices that people have personally made, such as salary sacrifice, are for something that we will have more control over.

“Everyone’s glad to draw a line under the uncertainty that’s been around for Stuff for a long time now,” Boucher said.

Staff ownership

Speaking in her plans for a staff ownership model, Boucher says the details have not yet been decided, but should take shape over the coming weeks. 

“I wanted an ownership structure that would give staff a direct stake in the ownership, but also leave us the ability to potentially bring in new partners or investors in future should we need it,” she said.

“Having a stake in our future I think will be really energising for all of us, to direct our own destiny and not a company that’s owned by an international parent who we’re never going to be front and centre of their strategy and their concerns.”

The post New Zealand’s Stuff media sold for NZ$1 appeared first on Australian Times News.

The Bureau of Meteorology has released a report that indicates the fire season is now several months longer, particularly in eastern Australia, compared to the 1950s. 

Speaking at the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements on Monday, the head of the Bureau of Meteorology, Karl Braganza explained the shift. He said the season starts three months earlier in Eastern Victoria and the South Coast of New South Wales. Coupled to this, the number of days with the highest recorded temperatures has increased dramatically. 

“Now we have these spike days that are more extreme,” he said in the Sydney Morning Herald. 

“Really since the Canberra 2003 fires every jurisdiction in Australia has seen this.

“[We] have seen some really significant fire events that have challenged what we do to respond to them, and have really challenged what we thought fire weather looked like preceding this period,” he said.

Climate change is the culprit

One bit of good news from the commission is the expected increase in rainfall for this year. 

“At this point what we would be saying is your chances of getting the sort of season that you saw in 2018, 2019 and 2019-2020 are reduced,” he said.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s Senior Principal Research Scientist, Helen Cleugh, cautioned that, overall droughts are expected to become more prevalent and the sea levels will rise. 

“For the next few decades, the rates of sea-level rise, both globally and here in Australia are partially locked in by our past emissions but, as we look further into the later century and to centuries beyond that, beyond 2100, those sea levels projections critically depend on the greenhouse gas emissions from now onwards,” Dr Cleugh said.

“These dangerous weather conditions for bushfires are likely to occur at least in part due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions,” Dr Cleugh said in 9News Australia.

“The risk of fire danger is both due to the long-term drying and warming, which is conditioning the landscape, but also the extreme fire weather that is observed partly due to climate change.”

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The New Zealand capital, Wellington, was struck by a quake on Monday that measured 5.8 on the Richter Scale. Not the biggest quake for sure, but certainly large enough to rattle people and cause concern. But, Arderne was unflappable calmly letting her interviewer, Ryan Bridge, know what was going on as she spoke to him from outside parliament.

“We’re just having a bit of an earthquake here, Ryan…,” she said, as all around her buildings shook and things rattled around her.

“Quite a decent shake here…if you see things moving behind me. The Beehive moves a little more than most,” she said. 

When asked by the interviewer if everything was alright, the Prime Minister looked around before commenting, ‘Nope, we are fine Ryan. I am not standing under any hanging lights.”

The quake that struck while Arderne was being interviewed was followed by another seismic shift later in the day. The second quake measured 5.2.

Experts reassure worried public

For those worried about what was happening there was an explanation at hand courtesy of geophysicist, Professor Tim Stern from Victoria University. Speaking to the New Zealand herald he said, “Every quake that happens in the down-going Pacific plate, runs up to the north-east, or down to the south-west, very efficiently.

“So you can feel one pretty strongly in Wellington, or up in the eastern North Island.”

Stern went on to say that the quakes were nothing to be alarmed about, stressing that his team were familiar with the area and saying that they had done plenty of research there.

“We did a seismic experiment in this offshore area a few years ago and we know the crustal thickness, and depth to the Pacific plate in there quite well.

“From the depth of these earthquakes, it seems it is just at below the interface between the Australian and Pacific plates. That is where we expect earthquakes to be happening.”

The post New Zealand PM wins plaudits for handling quake on live TV appeared first on Australian Times News.

Wind speeds of more than 130km per hour were registered in some areas leading Danny Mosconi, the Chief Superintendent of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to tell ABC Radio that his department had received almost 400 calls from people in distress. Most of these calls reportedly came from the Perth metropolitan area.

Aside from the damage caused by the high winds and driving rains, power lines were down in the state leaving around 50000 people without electricity.

Earlier on Sunday, the Western Australia Bureau of Meteorology had posted a warning about the severe weather saying that the severe weather would be caused by a massive low-pressure system. 

The bureau kept residents informed via Twitter as the storm unfolded, tracking wind speeds and monitoring the conditions in the area.

PM acknowledges storm and calls for calm 

The storm was also acknowledged on Social Media by the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, who wrote, “Some wild weather has affected large parts of WA, causing widespread damage and large scale power outages. Please listen to the advice of emergency services and stay safe everyone.”

And the advice from the emergency services teams was that, if at all possible, people should stay at home and off the roads. 

Peter Sewell, the Director of Metropolitan Operations for Main Roads said, “Our advice to the travellers is that if you’re in the South West still, stay there.

“Don’t travel home this afternoon. As we’ve heard, the weather is going to be fairly catastrophic, so the last thing emergency services want to do is attend traffic accidents on the freeway network.”

Other colleagues in the emergency services singled out people who wanted to seize the opportunity of big waves and wind to take to the ocean for one-in-a-lifetime surfing and kite-boarding thrills. “There could be 8-metre waves, strong winds, so definitely no-one should be in the water at the moment,” said Mosconi.

“They should not be there, it’s dangerous coastal conditions.” 

The post Massive storm cripples Western Australia appeared first on Australian Times News.

Writing in an editorial for The Guardian the respected Professor, who held the position of National Mental Health Commissioner from 2012 to 2018 said that predictions suggested that there would be a 25-50% increase in suicides over the next five years – as a direct result of fallout from the current pandemic.

The Professor said that the most vulnerable people would be those in marginalised communities and rural areas who were already struggling prior to the crisis. He wrote, “Modelling emphasises the extent to which those in rural and regional areas are at high risk, due to higher pre-existing rates of suicide, youth unemployment and lower educational achievement. 

“Unlike other national crises, such as wars (where unemployment and suicide rates go down), economic recessions preferentially hurt those who are already most vulnerable.”

While Hickie was quick to sound the warning, he did welcome the appointment of Dr Ruth Vine as new deputy chief medical officer for mental health, saying, “For the first time, COVID-19-precipitated mental ill-health has been given the same status as physical ill health.”

New appointee considers serious nature of universities modelling  

Shortly after being appointed to her new role Vine was asked to comment of Hickie’s research and modelling surrounding suicide. She was circumspect, answering, “I’m aware of it, I think it’s interesting, but I just think it’s more complicated than that.

“I’m not aware how they factored in mitigating issues like some of the improved service in reach or consideration of people, particularly high-risk groups, accessing services.

“And the whole emphasis on some of the broader community things like schools and allowing family groups to get back together and allowing some greater movement.”

The post Study suggests increased rate of suicide could be a nasty legacy of current pandemic appeared first on Australian Times News.

The warning comes in the form of an article published by, according to 7NEWS Australia, a Chinese government-controlled media house, Global Times. 

“If the Trump administration plunges the world into a “new Cold War,” forcing China to take countermeasures against the US and its allies, it would be extremely dangerous for Canberra to become a player in a diplomatic club led by the US, given Australia’s high dependence on the Chinese economy. 

“Once Australia is regarded as a supporter of the US in a “new Cold War,” China-Australia economic ties will inevitably suffer a fatal blow. This is why Canberra needs to closely watch Washington’s attacks which include placing Chinese firms on its sanctions backlist. This offers Canberra a window to observe whether there will be a “new Cold War” between China and the US and to reconsider its strategic relations with Washington,” the article states. 

‘Australia may feel more pain’

The piece expresses the Chinese government’s shock at US President, latest sentiments regarding the nations’ relationship. 

“We could never have imagined that US President Donald Trump would say something like “We could cut off the whole relationship.” At the outset, perhaps Canberra could not have anticipated to what extent Trump would allow US-China relations to deteriorate. If Australia does not want to be a victim of the US-China standoff, it should reflect on whether it wishes to continue advancing toward the conflict. 

“If Trump continues to escalate the tension to a more serious level, China may have to impose countermeasures on the US and its supporters. Australia’s economic deterrent force is much smaller than the US’, so China to some extent will enjoy more room to fight back against Australia with countermeasures if Canberra supports Washington in a possible “new Cold War.” It means Australia may feel more pain than the US,” it reads. 

The article ends with a general threat to any opposition, “On the Chinese side, we don’t want to identify each country’s circle of friends, but if some nations work with the US to smear or blackmail China, it will be normal to see China fight back.”

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The data shows that Australians living in the lower socioeconomic districts are dying far younger, a fact largely attributed to the rural area’s lack of essential services and increased rates of obesity and smoking. 

Premature deaths 

The study, published by the University of Melbourne, dives into de-identified death registration data from 2006 – 2016. “Even within major cities, there has been a widening in inequalities in death rates between lower and higher area socioeconomic deciles, but notably no slowdown in the rate of mortality decline in the highest deciles,” the study states.

The University of Melbourne’s Global Burden of Disease Group’s Dr Tim Adair, told the Guardian Australia he is particularly concerned about obesity prevalence in young women. 

“In particular it’s getting worse among younger adults, and as they grow older this will become more concerning as they will get to ages where obesity can interact with other health conditions and it may well have a detrimental impact on life expectancy.

“So there is an element of men catching up to women as this gap between men and women reduces,” he said.

Racial divide cannot be ignored

The Public Health Advocacy Institute Western Australia’s former director Dr Melissa Stoneham pointed out that remote communities are largely comprised of indigenous people. 

“A lot of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders live in remote communities, especially in the Northern Territory and Western Australia,” she said in the Guardian Australia. 

“We know that their life expectancy is a lot lower than non-Indigenous people. A lot of regional communities are also farming communities, with young people not having same opportunities on farms as they used to and leaving, creating an older age demographic [that are] more prone to diseases and with more difficulty accessing healthcare.”

“Of course, getting services into those remote communities is a very expensive to do,” she said. 

“It’s true some people choose to live in these communities but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be given the opportunity to access the same services. They are people, living in our country. Why wouldn’t you buy a ready meal of hot chips when fruit and vegetables are so expensive and a significant chunk of your income or social security payment?”

The post Study finds country-living Aussies 40% more likely to die young appeared first on Australian Times News.

Hard Seltzer’s are seen by many as ‘healthy’ alcohols. Typically they are fruit flavoured sparking waters with alcohol. The flavours set to be launched in Australia when the brand arrives in October include White Claw Mango, White Claw Natural Lime, and White Claw Ruby Grapefruit.

Announcing the partnership Lion Australia, who launched their own range of hand seltzers less than a year ago, described White Claw as, “North America’s most successful new alcohol brand in a generation.” Such has been the success of White Claw in the seltzer market that it currently enjoys a 60% share of the market in America.

Commenting on the partnership Davin Nugent, CEO of Mark Anthony Brands expressed his delight at making the foray into Australia. In an official communication from the company he said, “We are thrilled to be working with Lion and excited to take the first steps with them into the emerging seltzer category in Australia.

New partnership generates plenty of excitement

“Lion has an outstanding track record of nurturing international brands to success in Australia and we look forward to working with them to introduce local consumers to White Claw Hard Seltzer.

“Making the decision to come here was an easy one, as consumers familiar with the brand in America have made sure to have their voices heard on our social media channels, demanding we bring White Claw to Aussie shores.” 

White Claw, which even has its own craft flavours, has proven to be hugely popular in the United States. In all the Hard Seltzer segment of the alcohol market is worth approximately $2.5 billion per annum, while for those who are more interested in its potency, the average White Claw boasts around 5% alcohol.

Commenting on the deal James Brindley, Managing Director of Lion Australia told brewsnews.com.au, “The popularity of White Claw cannot be disputed. Despite the fact the product has not actually been available in Australia up until now, it has well and truly earned its place in popular culture and is the market leader globally in this exciting new category. It is the most sought-after beverage brand in the world…

“It is a natural fit for our growing portfolio of adult beverages beyond our core beer range – and taps into a number of consumer trends around lower calorie and lower sugar products. We believe the seltzer category represents a significant growth opportunity for Lion over the coming years and we are looking forward to bringing the biggest seltzer brand in the world to Australia.”

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Australians are more familiar with slow internet speeds, but the work of the computer scientists from Monash, Swinburne and RMIT has resulted in speeds so fast that it would theoretically be possible to download approximately 1000 high definition movies in a single second.

To achieve these exceptional speeds the team reportedly used something called a micro-comb, which is a single device that is able to do the work of the approximately 80 lasers that are found in existing telecoms hardware and exchanges. 

The addition of the micro-comb is the major change with already existing fibre-optics able to carry the volumes of data easily. 

Major breakthrough that will shape internet usage in the future

Commenting on the discovery Professor David Moss of Swinburne University told the BBC that the findings should be seen as “an enormous breakthrough.

“Micro-combs offer enormous promise for us to meet the world’s insatiable demand for bandwidth,” he said.

His colleague on the project, Bill Corcoran from Monash University added, “We’re currently getting a sneak peek of how the infrastructure for the internet will hold up in two to three years’ time, due to the unprecedented number of people using the internet for remote work, socialising and streaming.

“What our research demonstrates is the ability for fibres that we already have in the ground to be the backbone of communications networks now and in the future.”

“And it’s not just Netflix we’re talking about here, this data can be used for self-driving cars and future transportation, and it can help the medicine, education, finance, and e-commerce industries – as well as enable us to read with our grandchildren from kilometres away,” he said.

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They’ve become accustomed to their human companions and are reportedly missing their presence since the COVID-related travel restrictions have left the restaurant empty. 

Gifts from the deep

The highly-prized items brought as gifts for their human friends include, bottles, sea sponges and bits of coral. 

Now that restrictions are slowly being eased around the country, the dolphins should soon have their friends back. In a Facebook post, the restaurant explained: “The pod has been bringing us regular gifts, showing us how much they’re missing the public interaction and attention. Since the restrictions have eased we have been able to reopen the dolphin feeding & cafe. 

“Put a smile on someone’s face and come spend some time and feed these beautiful creatures, they are definitely missing you all.”

Speaking to 7NEWS Australia, Barry McGovern, an expert in dolphin behaviour, said it was possible the dolphins were bringing gifts because they missed humans, but not the most likely scenario.

“Nothing surprises me with dolphins and their behaviour anymore,” McGovern said. 

“They do everything – they use tools, they have culture, they have something similar to names in signature whistles.

“In all likelihood, they probably don’t miss humans per se. They probably miss a free meal and the routine.”

“They often play with bits of weed and coral and all sorts of things and just leave it on their rostrum (nose),” he said.

“They’re used to getting fed now, so they’re used to humans coming in.

“When it’s not happening, maybe it’s just out of boredom.”

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The light, which according to 7News Melbourne was seen in places as far afield as Ballarat, Kyneton and Colac reportedly lit up the night sky for close to thirty seconds – certainly long enough for many to be able to film it.

Many people who saw the light thought it was a meteor, while, almost inevitably, there were others who thought it must be some kind of alien or even a burning aeroplane.

But it was none of these and all speculation regarding its origins was quickly explained when Perry Vlahos, of the Astronomical Society of Victoria, confirmed that it was part of a Russian Soyuz rocket re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.

Speaking to the Guardian he said, “The fact it was slow-moving and at a shallow angle, and an amount of disintegration was occurring, gave it away it was not an alien spacecraft, a meteor or comet.

“It’s a late-stage Russian rocket that put up a satellite about 5.30 our time this afternoon. So that spent rocket stage has re-entered the atmosphere.”

Objects lack of speed made it easily identifiable

Vlahos’ assessment was echoed by another expert with Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland Jonti Hunter telling ABC that the object was easily identifiable as space debris because of its slow speed across the horizon.

“The slow speed, about 6 kilometres per second, is a very tell-tale sign that it is space junk,” he said.

It was also confirmed that the entire rocket would have burned up on the re-entry and that nothing would have been left to hit the earth.  

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The recently published report has suggested that gas should become a key focus for Australia with recommendations to the federal government including the underwriting of gas prices, expansion of pipe networks, the opening up new gas fields and the scrapping “green and red tape”.

Commenting on the recommendations Member of Parliament Gavin Pearce said that from a Tasmanian perspective they had noted the contents of the report and that they should be viewed in the context of being recommendations from a task-force rather than legislation from the government.

Speaking to The Advocate he said, “Now more than ever, our continued transition to renewable energy is critical to the ongoing prosperity of our region.

“My position has never wavered and I will continue to fiercely represent the state’s renewable energy goals at the federal level.”    

Tasmania will continue to play to its strengths

He said that one of Tasmania’s greatest competitive advantages was its renewable energy strategy.

Pearce’s comments were echoed by Tasmanian Minister for Energy Guy Barnett who said, “We recognise that gas supply and security is important for both industrial and domestic users in Tasmania.”

He too went on to speak about the states renewable energy policies saying, “Tasmania’s renewable energy target is globally unmatched and that is because we are already on track to be one of the few jurisdictions in the world to be 100 per cent self-sufficiency in renewables.

“There is strong nationwide need for dispatchable renewable energy, which we offer and our major energy projects, such as Battery of the Nation, Project Marinus and the Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan position Tasmania strongly for investment attraction and job creation,” he said.

He went on to suggest that energy sources like gas would always play some sort of role in the states overall energy strategy.

“The Tasmanian Government has acted to help improve the supply of gas to Tasmanian consumers at lowest cost, by influencing the national gas reform program and continues to work with Australian Government through the COAG Energy Council on a range of other national reform measures that have been undertaken, or are still underway, to support the operation of the gas market in Australia,” he said

The post Tasmanian politicians not worried about push to make gas more important appeared first on Australian Times News.

The Miss World New Zealand confirmed her death with the following Facebook post:  

“Amber absolutely turned her contestant journey around, after an early ‘wobble’ she ended up as one of the most positive and supportive contestants we had in the 7 years we held the MU licence.

“She overcame so much to join us in the first place and she won our admiration and respect from the get-go. She was a beautiful, exciting and unique person with an extraordinary energy for life.

“Amber remained a positive and supportive friend to us once the competition was over and in the next couple of years, we were very proud to call her a friend. The world has lost a young woman who had so much to offer and that is an awful and absolute tragedy.

“Rest in Peace Amber, but you’ve gone too soon and we will all miss you.”

Tributes have poured in for the Auckland beauty queen. 

‘Genuine and honest’

CEO of Miss World New Zealand, Nigel Godfrey, expressed his sadness at Friis’ passing in the New Zealand Herald. 

“We liked and respected her and were very proud to call her a friend, long after the competition had finished. Amber Lee turned her life, and indeed her experience with us around, and into an incredibly positive force for good,” Mr Godfrey said. 

“She was feisty, definitely took no prisoners, but she was a beautiful soul and you 100% knew what you were getting. She was genuine, honest and she had an energy few others possess, her heart was most definitely in the right place.”

Friis had previously spoken of the hardships she faced during her upbringing, telling Stuff New Zealand, “I remember sitting in my room one night and thinking how hard life could be. At a young age you feel the world is weighing on your shoulders. 

“I had a negative outlook on everything. I pictured myself as being an angry, fat, old lady but then I thought: This is not what I want to be like,” she said. 

The post Miss Universe NZ finalist commits suicide appeared first on Australian Times News.

Some commentators have suggested that in order to make flights safer, that the middle seat in each row should be left empty. But according to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce that is a naive notion that will deliver no real benefit at all. 

In an interview with ABC he said, “This idea of the middle seat [being kept free] isn’t social distancing, it’s a 60cm difference between two people. To get the full [1.5 metres] squared, you will end up with 22 people on an aircraft of 180 seats.”

He added that for each seat that was left open the airfare would increase, meaning that if applied properly ordinary tickets would cost nine to 10 times more than usual.

Joyce’s statement was quickly underscored by Dr Ian Hosegood, the airlines Medical Director who said that the risk of transmission while flying was low. “It’s due to a combination of factors, including the cabin air filtration system, the fact people don’t sit face-to-face and the high backs of aircraft seats acting as a physical barrier,” he said.

“As far as the virus goes, an aircraft cabin is a very different environment to other forms of public transport.

“In-flight transmission’s just not something that we’ve seen, and that was even during the peak of the pandemic. At this point and into the coming weeks the likelihood of anyone travelling domestically with Covid is extremely low, and those other factors mean that the risk is infinitesimal.”

Medical experts not as sure as airline boss

The Qantas standpoint was quickly refuted however with epidemiologist and infectious disease expert, Professor Mary-Louise McLaws telling the Guardian that aeroplanes make for ‘brilliant amplification environments’ for the virus.

“Perhaps there haven’t been confirmed cases from flights, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t be careful, and it could just mean we haven’t identified them as a risk factor yet… There are still a significant amount of cases that are under investigation,” she said.

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According to reports in the Guardian Australia, tenants in Melbourne tenants are walking away with big reductions in their rental expenses, while Sydney housing costs have not been this low since 2013. 

The industry downturn is attributed to three elements that have arisen out of the coronavirus crisis. The first being the travel restrictions and border closures have left Airbnb and holiday lets, completely empty. The second is the paused migration due to border closures and the third being the general and overwhelming economic standstill. 

A local Sydney resident, titled simply as ‘Scott’ told Guardian Australia of his current rental situation, “I was upfront with the real estate agent about the situation.

“I linked them to various apartments within the same complex in the $450-480 range before reaching an agreement of $460 on a 12-month lease. It took about four rounds of negotiation to get to that point – the owner was in denial for a few weeks about the state of the rental market in Rhodes.

“There have been a few ridiculously cheap listings on three month leases – as low as $300 – just to get a tenant in.”

Unprecedented situation 

According to industry expert and co-founder of the agency Melbourne Rental Search, Jade Costello, the wiggle room for rental negotiation is highly unusual for the market and not something she has seen before. 

“You might see somewhere for $500 but the landlord will be willing to drop it because they just don’t want places to be vacant,” she said. “It’s a tenant’s market for sure. For the time we’re seeing tenants having the power of negotiation. They are going in with the rent they want to pay and landlords and agents, who used to have so many potential tenants to choose from, are saying whatever we can get we will take it.”

The post Rental income falls as properties remain vacant appeared first on Australian Times News.

The change in regulations are being viewed in some circles as a simple exercise in efficiency, while others are viewing the change as a little more sinister.

China currently imports approximately 60 per cent of its iron ore from Australia with companies like BHP, Fortescue and Rio Tinto the main beneficiaries of an industry that is worth over 60 billion a year to the Australian economy.

On the surface the changes being made by the Chinese don’t appear too drastic but as Sydney Morning Herald columnist Elizabeth Knight speculates if the Chinese “abandon the traditional practice of having all shipments inspected by customs and move to a system whereby Chinese customers can ask for an inspection. The potential problem for Australian exporters is that their shipments could be targeted for inspection when Brazil, China’s other major iron ore supplier, may not.”

State newspaper takes strong stance

The change in policy has not been met with much reaction by Australia’s major iron ore producers or the Trade Minister, Simon Birmingham. But the shift in policy was accompanied by an apparent warning in the Chinese Daily, The Global Times who wrote, “It seems the Australian government has no intention of sowing new troubles in its trade with China, but the possibility of deteriorating tensions escalating into a trade war should not be ignored.

“Given the principles of free trade and reciprocity to which China has long adhered, there are reasons to believe that China will not take the initiative to start a trade war so long as no party deliberately escalates tensions further. However, we hope the Australian [government] can release more goodwill and take more measures to repair its relationship with [its] largest trading partner China.”

The editorial in the state-run paper comes in the wake of the newspaper describing Australia as a ‘loyal attack dog’ of the United States, a position which hardly bodes well for friendly interactions.

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The mammoth marsupial is officially the largest kangaroo of all time, says Scott Hocknull, paleontologist with the Queensland Museum and honorary faculty member at the University of Melbourne.

“While the rest of the world had giant carnivores like sabre-toothed cats, bears, and hyenas, Australia’s predators were mostly giant reptiles, including an extinct freshwater croc around seven meters long, a relation to the modern saltwater crocodile, and a land-dwelling crocodile,” he said on the university website.

“There were also two giant lizards including a six-meter-long lizard called Megalania and another giant lizard, similar in size to the Komodo dragon,” he added.

The dig is located at South Walker Creek near Mackay, Queensland, where extreme environmental changes caused the species’ downfall. 

“The megafauna at South Walker Creek were uniquely tropical, dominated by huge reptilian carnivores and mega-herbivores that went extinct around 40,000 years ago, well after humans arrived onto mainland Australia,” says Hocknull.

“We cannot place humans at this 40,000-year-old crime scene, we have no firm evidence. Therefore, we find no role for humans in the extinction of these species of megafauna.

“Instead, we do find that their extinction is coincident with major climatic and environmental deterioration both locally and regionally, including increased fire, reduction in grasslands, and loss of freshwater. Together, these sustained changes were simply too much for the largest of Australia’s animals to cope with.”

Local pride

“The Board of Directors from the Barada Barna Aboriginal Corporation are extremely excited that we have found the megafauna within our traditional country,” a Barada Barna Aboriginal Corporation spokesperson said. 

“The Barada Barna people have an immensely proud history dating back to our first encounters with Ludwig Leichhardt in 1845 on the banks of Cherwell Creek and having discovered megafauna only enriches our history within this region.

“The team that discovered these finds back in 2008 had no idea of how great a discovery it was, with the help of Queensland Museum we have discovered more and more animals from that time.”

The post Aus university team discovers nearly 300kg kangaroo fossil appeared first on Australian Times News.

One such town is Mogo in News South Wales where plans were underway to rebuild and reopen businesses as the lockdown was announced. 

Residents Lorena and Gaspar Granados, who lost their leatherwares business in the blaze, had big plans to reopen their store for the Easter holidays. They told the BBC of the effect the pandemic has had on their plans to rebuild. 

“It’s heartbreaking and soul-destroying,” Lorena Granados told the BBC. “Our motivation went from a hundred to nothing. We invested money in stock and we had every hope that we were going to have an extremely busy Easter. We weren’t expecting to be stopped in our tracks so early in our recovery process.”

“Many of us have lost homes and businesses,” she said, “but I do feel that we’ve been forgotten about”.

Disaster upon disaster

Mogo is part of Eurobodalla Shire Council where close to 500 homes were destroyed in the bushfires. The Business Council of Australia had plans to assist local businesses after the fires, but all non-essential services were ordered to close because of the lockdown. As much of the area’s revenue comes from tourism, the trade restrictions and border closures have been the second of two hard blows to the local economy. 

“This has slowed everything down and it actually increased the pain,” another local, Peter Williams, told the publication. Williams and his wife lost both their house and their pottery business for the fires. 

“Everything has been delayed. The workers had to be more careful,” said Williams. “We were really looking for a quick clean-up so we could psychologically start afresh and build our lives again.”

The post COVID hampers bushfire recovery appeared first on Australian Times News.

The drug, which has been used for many years to combat Malaria has been in the news recently following suggestions that it worked well in treating the virus behind the global pandemic. US President Donald Trump played up the hype actually suggesting that he was taking the drug – a statement that was met with widespread incredulity.

But the sudden profile lent to the drug has meant that tests need to be conducted and Australia’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research have confirmed that they will conduct double-blind testing on health workers at the forefront of combatting the pandemic.

Commenting on the trials, the Institutes Professor Ian Wicks told The New York Post, “The trial is focused on our frontline and allied healthcare workers who are at an increased risk of infection due to repeated exposure caring for sick patients.

“Our aim is to help people stay safe, well, and able to continue in their vital roles,” he said.

He said that half of the trial’s participants would be given hydroxychloroquine, while the other half would receive a placebo.

Some studies already caution against the use of supposed wonder drug

The results of the trials will be eagerly anticipated as early research by organizations like the Food and Drug Administration and The Veterans Health Administration have both suggested that there could even be dangerous side-effects for those taking the drug.

In a recent study published by the VA Health Administration it was shown that the mortality rate of patients taking Hydroxychloroquine was, in fact, higher than those who did not take it.

Following the publishing of the VA results, the FDA went on to say it, “cautions against use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial due to risk of heart rhythm problems.”

The results of the Australian trials, where the drug will be used prophylactically rather than as a treatment, will be eagerly awaited by the medical fraternity.

The post Australian health workers set to test controversial drug appeared first on Australian Times News.

Paul Kelly, Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, says we should not eliminate the potential for what he called “vaccine nationalism”.  In this potential situation, the nation that creates the vaccine is not obliged to share it globally and thus other nations, like Australia could be excluded. 

Nationalism is a possibility

A safeguard has been put in place to prevent this, namely the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), with Kelly explaining in 7News it aims to “encourage a global, collaborative effort for dealing with pandemics, and particularly and specifically in relation to vaccine development”.

“I know that CEPI has, indeed, provided funds to, nine different vaccine candidates… part of the contract for those funds is that there will not be a nationalist approach and whatever is discovered will be made available for the whole of the world. 

“I hope for that, although the history of these types of things is (nationalism) unfortunately,” he continued. 

Everyone will suffer

Even the CEPI chairperson, Jane Halton, recently expressed concerned about nationalism being a real possibility when it comes down to the crunch. 

Speaking at the  National Press Club in Canberra she said: “If we have vaccine nationalism and one country looks after itself first, and at the expense of the rest of the world, everyone is going to continue to suffer. This is difficult.”

Kelly told media he would not rule out the possibility of other nations withholding the life-saving drugs. 

“What I have seen is an enormous global effort… but you’re right, there are many other vaccine candidates that are being tested right now.

“There is a lot of collaboration, but that collaboration will rapidly become competitive, I’m sure, as candidate vaccines become more likely to be successful.

“We may not win the race, but we’re part of the race, and we will be looking to develop a vaccine here in Australia.

“If it isn’t the first vaccine that is available, we’ll be looking to join that effort to vaccinate people. It’s really important that we do that in a way that is global because infections don’t know borders,” he said in 7News.

The post Could Aus not get COVID vaccine? appeared first on Australian Times News.

Taylor made the statement despite Australia being signatories to the Paris Agreement which commits to it to hitting the net zero emissions mark in the second half of the century.

Speaking frankly in an interview on ABC that sought to address issues related to the government’s Covid-19 economic recovery plans and the opportunity to link these with climate change, Taylor was asked if a net zero target by 2050 was the federal government’s policy. His answer was a very clear and concise, “no.”

Expanding on his answer Taylor suggested that he did not think it was possible to commit to a target if there was not a plan in place to achieve it. He also said he was wary of damaging the economy by being too aggressive in the focus on emissions.

No target without a plan

“Our approach is not to have a target without a plan,” he said. “We’d love to be able to achieve net zero by 2050, but ultimately that will depend on the pathways of technology to deliver that without damaging the economy,” he added.

Taylor continued the conversation on Twitter afterwards, saying that winning the battle to zero emissions could only be achieved if it was fought on multiple fronts.

“If we want to find the best opportunities for emissions reduction we should be doing it across as broad a set of activities as we can,” he wrote, in a post that received widespread criticism. “When it comes to technologies, we should be getting a lot of horses into the race.”

Twitter explodes as Taylor takes the conversation online

Most of those who chose to respond to the Minister’s comment on Twitter followed through with his racing analogy, and very few were complimentary towards the minister or his approach to dealing with climate change.

The post Australian government draws fire on response to emissions and climate change appeared first on Australian Times News.

Coupled to this, reports also indicate no states have yet used the app to contact tract coronavirus cases – the purpose the app was created for. 

Launched at the end of April, almost 6 million Australians have downloaded the app in less than a month. 

Under evaluation

Guardian Australia reports the Digital Transformation Agency was contacted by the NSW Health department to assist with integration issues. 

The Digital Transformation Agency took the issues to the federal health department, who released a statement, stating in part, “We welcome and expect ongoing feedback and evaluation of the operation of the app as more restrictions are eased and there are potential outbreaks, enabling contacts to be more quickly notified, such as with the opening of pubs and increased use of public transport and travel.”

Speaking at a press conference, Dr Kerry Chant, NSW chief health officer said the app is under evaluation. 

“We’ve actually had quite low case numbers over the recent week which I’m very pleased [about]. And obviously, with our cases that are in hotel quarantine, they don’t actually have any contacts and that’s one of the benefits of them.

“We are evaluating the use of the COVIDSafe app … we will be using it in every new case identified where there are potential contacts and we’ll update you on the utility of that but there is a formal evaluation under way and we’re working closely with commonwealth colleagues,” she said.

Victoria’s chief health officer, Brett Sutton added that the state has not yet used the COVIDSafe app’s data. 

“No, we haven’t had any detections through the COVIDSafe app to date. 

“There’s been work in terms of the privacy and security from the Victorian department’s perspective, but as I understand it the data is being made available to the department,” he said in the Guardian Australia.

The post NSW can’t use COVIDSafe app appeared first on Australian Times News.

“The crisis is unprecedented and for Australia it’s a triple whammy of ongoing long-term effects of digital platforms, the coronavirus effect, which unfortunately may generate some irreversible changes, and the bushfires had some effect,” Public Interest Journalism Initiative chairman Allan Fels told Guardian Australia.

“Public interest journalism is an important part of our community and our political system. It keeps the public informed; it helps the community keep an eye on what governments, courts and others are doing; it’s an antidote to corruption, malpractice and incompetence in management of the public sector and whistleblowing in the private sector,” Fels said. 

Ad revenue in decline

Paul Murphy, president of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance says the pandemic may not have single handedly caused the fallout, but rather exacerbated the issues in an already struggling industry. 

“The government has finally put in place that $50m regional fund recommended by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission last year,” Murphy told Guardian Australia.

“I think most major media organisations are reporting bigger audiences and people are relying on trusted news sources – but the revenue just doesn’t follow.”

“The two biggest holes are if nothing replaces AAP and finding a way to address the growing local and regional news deserts.

“There has to be a way found to make these digital platforms pay for the content they’re carrying,” Murphy said.

“Otherwise you’re just going to continue seeing decline. I mean obviously there are other policy tools the government can use like tax concessions.”

Speaking specifically on Australian Community Media (ACM) and News Corp, Murphy added, “Years of redundancies and cost-cutting hollowed out those newspapers.

“It depends on how the advertising market rebounds. Print comes with considerable cost and if the advertising revenue is not there it may well accelerate the move to only publishing online,” Murphy said

The post COVID death knell closes 150+ Aus media houses appeared first on Australian Times News.

One of the first big initiatives was last weekend’s virtual tour offering, Live from Aus, where various homegrown celebrities host expeditions to destinations across the country. 

One of the hosts and Outback Wrangler star, Matt Wright, told CNN, “Everyone has been cooped up in units and apartments, so what we have is very appealing in terms of the wide-open spaces and beautiful landscapes”. 

Local is a lifeline

With international travel still a long way off, Tourism Australia hopes the series will help promote local travel once the restrictions have been completely lifted and it’s safe to move around again. 

Managing Director of Tourism Australia, Phillipa Harrison, told CNN, “Sixty percent of our consumers plan to take a holiday as soon travel restrictions are lifted. 

“We are a nation of travelers. Australians took 6.5 million outbound trips last year. There is a real opportunity to encourage those people, taking those trips, to discover their own backyard.

“The restart of travel is going to be gradual. We will start with a day trip to enjoy local gems or have a food and wine experience. That will then progress to overnight stays locally and then potentially inter-state. Then, hopefully in the long term, international travel.”

Making travel safe

“We are seeing overall domestication of travel. It is certainly the immediate opportunity for any travel industry around the world,” Harrison explained. 

“Tourism in Australia accounts for one in 13 jobs. The whole industry virtually shut overnight. 

“In the absence of that, regional communities especially are really suffering… Tourism is their lifeblood.”

“Once we show people it is safe to get out and travel, we think people will come back at scale. 

“The key to that will be how the industry responds, and the protocols they put in place to ensure guest safety. We, as an industry, are working very hard on that.”

The post Aus announces tourism boost plan appeared first on Australian Times News.

Now, as Australians start to return to work, the traditional call for commuters to use public transport has been replaced by serious requests from government for people to travel to work using their own cars.

In fact, so seriously are the government of New South Wales taking this call that they have even suggested that they will create short-term pop-up parking facilities to manage the additional number of vehicles flowing into Sydney.

Commenting on the situation NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told a media conference that everything possible was being done to ensure that commuters were kept safe as the gradual return to work happened.

“We normally encourage people to catch public transport, but given the constraints in the peak times and the fact we are exercising social distancing, we want people to consider different ways to get to work,” she said.

“Places in and around the CBD and in other employment hubs, will be investigated and more pop-up parking stations will be made available,” she added.

Intense cleaning of trains and busses is the new norm

And this isn’t all that the regional government are doing to encourage social distancing and safe travel practices. The Premier as also able to confirm that all public transport vehicles were being deep cleaned on a regular basis in a process that she described as “intense and ongoing cleaning.”

Meanwhile, there was also good news for those with a strong focus on the environment with the announcement that not only would the government be creating pop-up parking garages, they were also looking to create more cycle lanes and paths.

Sydney one of many international cities making big changes

In this regard Sydney is mirroring similar actions taken in major cities all over the world. Cities like Berlin, Athens, Dublin, Budapest and Paris have all liberated large tracts of space for pedestrian and cycle use.

Athens’ mayor Kostas Bakoyannis was quick to explain to The Guardian their thinking, an approach which appears very similar to that currently being tabled in Sydney. “We have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and are fast-forwarding all our public works,” he said.

“The goal is to liberate public space from cars and give it to people who want to walk and enjoy the city… Athens will be cleaner, greener and better.”  

The post COVID-19 leads to major rethink on public transport appeared first on Australian Times News.

Globally airlines have struggled to survive the chaos and disruption wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic with Virgin Australia one of many airlines that have been forced to file for bankruptcy or business protection.

But despite the ongoing uncertainty caused by the pandemic, it appears as though Virgin Australia is looking attractive to a number of investors – with several private equity firms having put their names forward on a list that initially had as many as eight companies expressing interest in purchasing the company.

According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald, the number of potential buyers has now been pared down to four. Those in bidding contention are said to be Cyrus Capital, a New York-based investment fund, American budget airline owner Indigo Partners, local fund BGH and American private equity firm Bain Capital.

Virgin’s brand equity a big plus for bidders

A quick analysis of the market suggests that potential buyers are drawn to the airline for a number of reasons. These include the enormous equity in the Virgin brand, the lack of direct competitors in the Australian domestic market and the fact that Qantas is likely to be hit by major losses due to a lack of global travellers. The reboot afforded by the Covid-19 crisis also allows the airline to get back to basics and do away with many expensive and failed ideas.

Administrators happy with calibre of potential buyers

Commenting on the list of prospective buyers Vaughan Strawbridge, the lead administrator for management-company Deloittes who are handling the proceedings said, “We are delighted by the strength of each of those on the shortlist.

“We’ve got more interest than we expected and the process is working and the parties we’ve got shortlisted are massively engaged and are keen to work with us.

“We are comfortable with who our bidders are… and we’re comfortable with their financial capacity and their experience,” he said.

The post Plenty of suitors queue for a shot to purchase Virgin Australia appeared first on Australian Times News.

Known as myrtle rust, this fungal disease may soon drive the guava plant to extinction.  This isn’t the first we’re hearing about the disease. It first appeared on Australian conversationalists’ radars in 2010 and has since spread to close to 400 host species. 

The situation is so dire, a recent study found that over a fifth of the New South Wales and Queensland native guava population is gone, with nearly two-thirds having died back to only roots. 

The study, published in the Trends in Ecology and Evolution journal, was the undertaking of Dr Rod Fensham an ecologist at the University of Queensland.  

‘Living dead’

“They are the living dead,” he said in The Guardian. “I’m shocked because I don’t like to see things going extinct.”

Myrtle rust’s arrival in Australia can be traced back to a nursery in South Wales in 2010. The fungus favours the Myrtaceae family of plants, of which Australia boasts over 2000 species. 

As a safety policy, environments have planted native Australian guava trees in Toowoomba Regional Council gardens where they will be monitored and hopefully kept safe from the disease. 

Awareness about myrtle rust is spreading fast on social media. 

Australia’s chief environmental biosecurity officer, Ian Thompson, told The Guardian of the situation, “This research has highlighted the existing and potential impact of myrtle rust on many native species and underlines the importance of working to prevent new diseases entering and establishing in Australia.”

Hard to control

Unfortunately, Dr Fensham says other recent conservation efforts have not been successful, as the myrtle rust produces microscopic spores that are easily carried on the wind, making the disease nearly impossible to contain. 

“It is particularly catastrophic for many rainforest species like the native guava, and could change the nature of some of our rainforests.

“People remember native guava being so thick that you couldn’t walk through it – it was once extremely common,” he said. 

Flammable rainforests

Fensham warns the loss of the native Australian guava plant is not just a loss for biodiversity, but could prove catastrophic for Australian rainforests. This is because the guava plant is being replaced by the invasive lantana species which he says may “render fire-retardant dry rainforest flammable”. 

“The loss of native guava and replacement by lantana will increase the flammability of rainforests,” he said. 

The post Myrtle Rust: The Aussie plant killer appeared first on Australian Times News.

There are many frustrations that go along with social distancing protocol. Most of us have been housebound for several weeks and cabin fever is already setting in. Unfortunately, it looks like international travel is still a long way off, but there are ways we can explore at least some of the beauty Australia has to offer. 

Thanks to Tourism Australia, anyone can explore from the comfort of our couch and with a few favourite Aussie celebs to boot. With their virtual travel program you could also pick up a few ideas for your next local trip. 

Still much to see

Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director of Tourism Australia, hopes the offer will engage and inspire those longing for the freedom and adventure that travel offers. 

“The With Love From Aus campaign is about providing a platform for our industry operators, tourism products and experiences to continue to connect with travel lovers and give them the ideas and inspiration to explore our incredible country when borders reopen, and people can travel again,” she said in The Star.

“The brands that continue to engage with their audiences in a crisis are the ones that tend to recover the fastest.

“While people can’t travel right now, they can certainly dream and plan for those holidays to come,” she said.

Celeb guides

Australia.com’s event page promises an experience that could well rival the real thing: “Tune in throughout the weekend for an epic program of entertainment, hosted by some of Australia’s most adored and iconic personalities. Think morning workouts with Chris Hemsworth’s team in Byron Bay, croc encounters with Matt Wright and dance parties with The Wiggles. Take a break in Phillip Island and enjoy front row seats at the Penguin Parade, be captivated by the underwater world on a virtual tour of the Great Barrier Reef, learn the best-kept secrets behind the ultimate Aussie BBQ from Hayden Quinn and soak up the serenity of an Uluru sunset, all from the comfort of your couch.”

The post Tourism Australia offers virtual travel appeared first on Australian Times News.

The package, which is designed to create shared value – the notion of solving a social need through sustainable commercial practices – will see the government commit NZ$50bn to stimulus packages, designed to create upwards of 11000 new jobs. Large parts of the package are specifically targeted towards environmental causes.

While finance minister Grant Robertson announced the overall stimulus package, conservation minister and Green party Member of Parliament Eugenie Sage explained how the portion allocated to her department would be spent, saying that projects that targeted pest and weed control operations and biodiversity projects would be prioritized.

“This investment in nature will not only support thousands of people with jobs but pay dividends for generations to come by giving nature a helping hand,” she said.

“The workers will help protect and restore indigenous biodiversity and habitat, help with revegetation of private and public conservation land and undertake riparian planting.

“There is an opportunity in these regions for people who have lost their jobs in other sectors to move into this habitat work,” she said.

Package meets with mixed reviews

Despite the scale of the package and its obvious focus on environmental issues, there has still been criticism from some quarters, with activists suggesting that there is an insufficient focus on projects that directly tackle climate change.

Greenpeace’s Norman Russell described the investment as loose change telling The Guardian, “Unfortunately there’s only loose change from Grant Robertson’s pocket to address our most pressing existential challenge – climate change.

“The finance minister talked about Covid-19 being a one in a hundred-year threat, but climate change is the threat that will decide if we have another hundred years on this planet.”

In turn Megan Hubscher a spokesperson for Forest & Bird said, “Our initial view is that there is a lack of detail to give confidence in an economic and climate reset.

“The $1bn on environmental jobs is an excellent investment and a major opportunity to save 4,000 native species heading towards extinction, but we want to see clearer direction on the climate and economy before we celebrate.”

The post Huge stimulus package set to benefit environment in New Zealand appeared first on Australian Times News.

Entitled, ‘Moist Breath Zone’, the song teaches kids the fundamentals of social distancing, even while they’re together in a learning space or on the playground. 

Inspired principal

South Island’s Lake Brunner school principal, Shirley Șerban, identified the need for child-friendly educational tools in the time of COVID and took it upon herself to get cracking. She uploaded the video to youtube and it was soon a hit, spreading like wildfire through the Twitterverse.  

“We’re back at school, it’s really cool, to all be here together. We made it through and I missed you, the country’s getting better,” the song goes.

“I’ll share my news, but my food’s for me alone. If I smell your breath, I will go sit on my own. Always wash your hands – make them soapy, full of foam.”

“And stay out of my moist breath zone!”

As many schools are reopening after the coronavirus lockdown, the education department is gearing up to welcome their students back and start making the transition back to some form of normalcy. 

New Zealand kids, along with the rest of the nation, have been on strict lockdown for nearly two months and have been practising home schooling since the restrictions were announced in March.

Restrictions ease

Earlier this week New Zealand Prime minister, Jacinda Arden announced the country would be moving to level 2 restrictions.  This move will herald the reopening of not only schools, but retail stores, offices, restaurants and public spaces such as libraries and sports grounds. 

“Kiwis from all walks of life were resolute and determined – determined that this was a war we could eventually win, but only if we acted together,” Ardern was quoted as saying in The Guardian.

“The battle is won, but the war is not over.” 

The post NZ kids return to class with new COVID song appeared first on Australian Times News.

The drug, which has been in us for a long time, initially as a prophylactic treatment for malaria, has sprung to prominence in recent weeks after it was linked with being a treatment for the coronavirus.

This move led to Palmer, one of the richest men in Australia, obtaining permission from Australia’s drugs regulator to import both the drug and the materials required to produce it.

Patients finding hydroxychloroquine hard to source Despite his bold move people who use the pharmaceutical for treatment of conditions like Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are finding it hard to obtain.

It seems as if due to its suddenly raised profile, hydroxychloroquine stocks in Australia have been severely impacted, creating a situation where people who need to use it for anything other than Corona related treatment are not able to source it.

“It is important that Australians that have been using the drug to treat malaria, lupus and autoimmune diseases over the last 40 years will not have any difficulty in acquiring the drug,” Palmer said.

In turn, infectious diseases Professor Peter Collignon told The Guardian, “If Palmer has truly donated this quantity to the stockpile, and it’s sitting there while the evidence is showing there’s not much chop for it treating Covid-19, the sensible thing to do would be to see what else can we use this supply for.”

Trump’s influence muddies the water

It would appear as though the drug is in the middle of a financial and political war, a situation not made any easier by Donald Trump’s jumping on the Hydroxychloroquine bandwagon recently.

Quite how the situation resolves itself remains to be seen, but, one thing is certain, if Palmer has indeed imported the drug in the quantities he suggests then Australians should not be having any issues accessing it. According to Palmer he has imported enough supplies to provide 33 million doses of the drug and that his stash has all been made available to the national stockpile.

The post Controversial drug should not be hard to come by says Palmer appeared first on Australian Times News.

Australia aside, Emirates also said that it would reopen the routes to London Heathrow Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Chicago and Toronto. Connections for passengers travelling to and from these destinations would also be available. 

In making their announcement the airline stressed that the resumed service would involve several changes from the old flight format to ensure that social distancing protocols and other health and safety concerns were addressed.

All possible precautions being taken

Writing on the official airline website the Chief Operating Officer Adel Al Redha said, “We are pleased to resume scheduled passenger services to these destinations, providing more options for customers to travel from the UAE to these cities, and also between the UK and Australia.

“We are working closely with the authorities to plan the resumption of operations to additional destinations. We have implemented additional measures at the airport in coordination with the relevant authorities in respect to social distancing and sanitization.

“The safety and wellbeing of our employees, customers and communities, remain our top priority.”

For those concerned by the seeming haste with which Emirates has followed its major middle-eastern rival Etihad, in re-opening flights, the airline stressed that they were working with local authorities and international guidelines to ensure the safety of their passengers.

“At Dubai International airport, customers and employees will have their temperatures checked via thermal scanners. Protective barriers have been installed at check-in counters to provide additional safety during interaction. Gloves and masks are mandatory for all customers and employees at the airport. In addition, Emirates’ cabin crew, boarding agents and ground staff who interact directly with travellers will don personal protective equipment (PPE) including a protective disposable gown and safety visor,” an official airline statement said.

Social Distancing remains important

“Social distancing protocols will also be implemented. This includes physical indicators being placed on the ground and at waiting areas in the airport to ensure travellers maintain a safe distance.”

Flights are due to commence as early as 21^st May.  

Emirates Travel Update 14/05/202

Update: 14 May 2020, 19:40 Dubai (GMT+4)

• To check which flights are currently operating into Dubai, visit our Essential Travel destinations guide which we are updating frequently.
• Current destinations for return flights from 21st May till 30th June include Chicago, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Madrid, Melbourne, Milan, Paris, Sydney and Toronto.
• Stringent entry restrictions remain in place upon arrival in Dubai which includes: a mandatory DHA test on arrival; a mandatory 14 day quarantine and a follow up test before release.
• Safety and wellbeing of customers and crew remain Emirates’ top priorities.
• All Emirates aircraft will go through enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes in Dubai, after each journey.
• COVID-19 flight and travel restrictions remain in place across many countries around the world. We are closely monitoring the situation as it evolves, and we hope to resume services as soon as conditions allow. This includes receiving government approvals, the easing of travel restrictions, and commercial demand. We will announce any service resumption when we are in a position to do so.

The post Australian cities named as destinations as Emirates Airlines restarts operations appeared first on Australian Times News.

The test, which is said to be between 99,8 and 100 percent accurate has already been approved by America’s FDA and the European Union. While it is not yet a cure, what it does mean is that people will be better able to determine their risk levels when seeking to return to work.

News of the test has been welcomed by Minister of State for Health at the Department of Health and Social Care, Edward Argar who told BBC Breakfast, ‘“We are keen to get as many [of the tests] as we can and get them out primarily to the front line on stream and out more widely, because as the prime minister says it has the potential to be a game changer.”

While the tests are now approved, the British government is not yet in a position to distribute them or to roll out a testing programme. Bungling ministers draw heavy fire despite positive announcement

When will the test be available?

Argar said he was not in a position to say when the test would be available, a comment that has drawn considerable ire from the Twittersphere as Boris Johnson and his Conservative government continue to draw heavy fire for their handling of the crisis.

Meanwhile, the credibility and veracity of the test was authenticated by Professor John Newton, the national coordinator of the UK’s coronavirus testing programme. In an interview with The Telegraph, he said, “This [the Roche test] is a very positive development because such a highly specific antibody test is a very reliable marker of past infection.

“This, in turn, may indicate some immunity to future infection, although the extent to which the presence of antibodies indicates immunity remains unclear.”

The post Breakthrough test hailed by UK government and doctors appeared first on Australian Times News.

Frost, who has been in the theatre game for almost forty years, cited social distancing as a major problem.   

Speaking to 9News.com.au Frost said, “Even if the government turn around today and say ‘okay we’re going to open The Lyric and The Capital in Sydney and Her Majesty’s in Melbourne’, what they’re going to put in place will be the social distancing.

“If the theatre seats 2,000 and my budgeting says I need 1,250 seats to break even, but by the time I do the measuring I’m only allowed to sell 500, 600 seats, it’s no good to me.”

“I can’t see us getting back up until at least July next year,” he added.

Impact is far-reaching

Frost went on to explain the impact that the lockdown was having on the theatre community at large, saying that he had never experienced anything like the current crisis before. But he said he was hopeful that the industry would bounce back as soon as it could.

“Theatre has been around since the Greeks, so it’ll survive and it’ll come back stronger, but it’s going to be a tough trek,” he said.

Explaining the impact of the crisis he pointed out the most actors and crew were not able to earn if they could not perform and that many were not eligible for aid via the government’s Job Keeper payments.

According to Frost the impact of the coronavirus on the theatre industry was enormous, especially once ticket refunds were factored into the equation.

“Each of those shows are worth millions and millions of dollars, we are talking tens and tens of millions,” he said.  

The post Theatre industry taking strain says impresario appeared first on Australian Times News.

For many reasons, bats are not popular creatures. Be it with farmers who suffer crop loss from the nocturnal feasting of these flying mammals, or with city dwellers who find them terrifying and dirty. For many, it is the supposed link between bats and Covid-19 that is a cause for concern.

But bat expert Dr Pia Lentini says that the increase of bats in Australian cities is a result of the devastating bushfires of last year which impacted massively on the natural habitats of bats.

“They are in our cities because they are starving,” Lentini told The Guardian.

She added, “There’s been conflict with flying foxes for decades – it started with fruit growers who had bats ‘raiding’ their fruit, and the economic cost of that.

“Now we have flying foxes becoming increasingly urban because they’re losing habitat. There’s now also a great diversity of trees in our cities. They are becoming more urban and the camps are becoming more prominent.”

No need to fear disease transmission

Another bat expert, ecologist Dr David Westcott said that it was important to allay fears about bats carrying disease. “We shouldn’t pretend that flying foxes are not vectors for some nasty diseases,” he said, “But getting a virus from a bat generally requires us to have intimate contact with an animal and with flying foxes, we don’t do that,” he said.

Westcott said that 2019 had been a very bad year for bats with some species suffering huge declines in numbers.

“We had extreme heat and droughts and bushfires and all kinds of misery for flying foxes,” he said, adding that the population of a species like the spectacled flying fox had declined to dangerously low levels – there are approximately 70000 of these animals left in 2020 compared to almost a quarter-million tallied in a 2005 bat census.  

The post Bats struggling to survive in hostile Australia appeared first on Australian Times News.

Minions: Rise of Gru

This 3D computer animated film is a spin off of the Despicable Me series of films with it’s release date now moved from July 2020 to July 2021.

Mulan

Easily one of the most anticipated films of the year, the live-action remake of the animated 90s Disney classic has been moved from March 2020 to July 2020.

No Time to Die

Another big release of 2020 would have been the latest and twenty fifth in the Bond franchise. It has been moved from April 2020 to November 2020.

The Personal History of David Copperfield

Starring Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire fame, the film is based on the Charles Dickens Victorian novel and is due for a revised release date which has not yet been announced. 

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

A sequel to the 2018 hit, Peter Rabbit, the film is due for release in January 2021 instead of the planned August 2020.

Scoob!

Based on the 60s classic cartoon, Scooby-Doo the latest reboot starring Mark Wahlberg has been moved from May 2020 to an as of yet undisclosed date. 

The Secret Garden

Set in the Yorkshire moors and based on the famous novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden has been delayed from April 2020 to August 2020.

Top Gun: Maverick

Another huge film for 2020, the highly anticipated follow up to the 80s classic has been moved from June 2020 to December 2020.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Another offering from the Marvel CInematic Universe, the follow up to 2018’s Venom, the Tom Hardy film has been moved from October 2020 to June 2021.

Wonder Woman 1984

The DC cinematic universe makes an appearance on our list with the sequel to the 2017 Wonder Woman origin story, which has been moved from June 2020 to August 2020.

The post Films delayed by COVID – Part 2 appeared first on Australian Times News.

Responding to calls to follow the example set by Canada and other nations Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government would do everything in the power to ensure that the valuable education sector was not affected unnecessarily.

Speaking to the media Morrison said, “We’re open to everything, pretty much, to get the Australian economy back and firing again as much as possible. We’ve just got to step through it carefully.”

Expanding on plans for allowing foreign students to enter the country he told Thepienews.com, “The issues of international students, you’ll note that it does come into the third step of the plan; that is a possibility. 

Government and institutions of learning working together 

“We are open to that, and would be working with institutions to see how that could be achieved. How that’s done and how those costs are met… there’s a lot of steps to work through,” he said.

Morrison has faced calls from members of parliament including Julian Hill who have cited Canada as the model to follow with regard to relaxation of border controls for students. “If Canada can admit students, subject to strict quarantine and health checks, then we can too,” he said.

Meanwhile, in responding to the calls from Hill and others, Universities Australia CEO Catriona Jackson was circumspect, saying, “We are keen to welcome all our students, from home and abroad, back to face-to-face teaching, but when it is safe to do so.” 

The post Foreign students could be back in Australia by July appeared first on Australian Times News.

A Quiet Place Part II

The highly anticipated sequel to John Krazinsky’s 2018 hit, A Quiet Place Part II has been moved from March 2020 to September 2020.

Black Widow

The origin story of Natasha Romanova, this latest installment from the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been moved from May 2020 to November 2020.

Candyman

A remake of the 1992 horror classic of the same name, the release date moves from June 2020 to September 2020.

The Eternals

The second of this year’s films based on Marvel Comics, The Eternals will be released in February 2021.

F9

The ninth film in the Fast and the Furious franchise, F9’s premier has been moved from May 2020 to April 2021.

Free Guy

Big screen favourite, Ryan Reynolds stars in this off-beat video game-inspired film that will now be released in December 2020 instead of July.

The French Dispatch

The hugely anticipated Wes Anderson film about a magazine team in a quaint French village has been moved from July 2020 to October 2020.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Following on from the success of the most recent Ghostbusters reboot, this latest instalment starring Paul Rudd has been moved from July 2020 to March 2021.

Greyhound

Starring Hollywood elite and recent coronavirus survivor, Tom Hanks, Greyhound has been moved from June 2020, but a new release date is yet to be announced. .

Jungle Cruise

This action-packed blockbuster starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has been moved from July  2020 to July 2021.

The Lovebirds

Following the trend of recent unconventional romantic comedies, The Lovebirds,is charmingly off-centre and though moved from a cinematic release of April 2020 it will be released on Netflix in May.

The post Films releases delayed by COVID – Part 1 appeared first on Australian Times News.

With the country still on tenterhooks as it recovers slowly from the effects of the Corona Virus, Kidd has said that getting a flu shot this year will be especially important.

Speaking at media event he said, “Vaccines are especially important this year for people at increased risk of influenza.”

Government worried the vulnerable will lose focus

Kidd suggested that the heightened fear of Covid-19 could, in turn, mean that people are more complacent than they should be when it comes to flu where he was quick to stress that vulnerable groups like the elderly, young children, those with chronic conditions and Indigenous Australians could still be badly affected by influenza.

“This is not a time to become complacent; there are very serious risks if overcrowding starts to occur.

“Vaccines are especially important this year for people at increased risk of influenza,” he added, “especially given that COVID-19 is still out there in our country.” 

The post Australians urged to get flu vaccine appeared first on Australian Times News.

Tidal turbines built at scale set to benefit coastal communities

Sydney-based Mako Energy specialise in energy production through the harnessing of tidal power. This week their Managing Director Douglas Hunt told CNN that the company had reached a stage where they were able to produce generators cost-efficiently and at scale.

“We’re developing turbines at a scale where they can be deployed easily in remote communities, coastal businesses, island communities and resorts,” he said. He went on to suggest that just one turbine operating in constantly flowing water had the capacity to produce enough electricity to power up to 20 homes – depending of course on the diameter of the turbine and the rate of flow of the water.

Mako Energy making big strides in important space

Currently, the bulk of Australia’s power comes from coal and other fossil fuels. While sustainable energy, like solar and wind power, is becoming increasingly popular it nevertheless contributes only around six per cent to the total electricity usage. One of the big negatives for wind and sun-powered electricity is their unreliability – there are inevitably times when the sun doesn’t shine or when the wind doesn’t blow. The tides however are constant and very reliable.

Hunt went on to explain, “Tidal turbines have been around, but the challenge has been to build them cost-effectively.

“It’s built at a scale where individuals are easily available to do the maintenance without expert crews,” said Hunt.

“We want to contribute to an energy mix that is less reliant on fossil fuels, by empowering local businesses and communities to generate their own power from a predictable and abundant source that is hiding in plain sight — often flowing directly past communities,” he said.

The post How Aus could harness its tides for energy appeared first on Australian Times News.

Print media, which has been battling declining circulation for years following the arrival of digital, has taken a severe beating during the COVID crisis as a result of a massive drop in advertising revenue.

Bauer, who less than a month ago, acquired Seven West Media’s magazine publishing arm Pacific Magazines for $40m, reportedly told staff via Zoom that they were either surplus to requirements or that their titles were being suspended until further notice.

Analysts say it will never be the same again

Speaking to The Guardian Australia media analyst Tim Burrowes said, “This is not a temporary situation because the magazines are not going to bounce back again.

“Things will never be the same again, there will be some magazines, mass consumer ones, but not of the size, not of the scale of staffing, certainly not of the quality the Australian market once enjoyed.”

The titles believed to be affected by the announcement include InStyle, Men’s Health and Women’s Health. More than 200 staff have reportedly lost their jobs as a result of the group’s decision.

The post Australian magazine industry suffers cruel blow appeared first on Australian Times News.

Expedition Unknown 

Part Indiana Jones, part travel show, Expedition Unknown traverses the globe in search of hidden treasures, lost cities and otherworldly curiosities. Host Josh Gates embarks on adventures where myth and legend meets real-world expedition. 

Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmerm 

If you’re easily nauseated, then this might not be for you. If, however, you have a curiosity about unusual and offbeat cuisine, then this is right up your alley. Iron-stomached host Andrew Zimmern is certainly not precious about what he eats, often chowing down on what would make most gag. 

The Kindness Diaries 

A breath of fresh air in an often cynical world, The Kindness Diaries is part social experiment, part travel show. Host Leon Logothetis is a former London broker turned philanthropist, who, disillusioned with his high-powered, fast-paced life, to travel the globe. Instead of using his wealth to find luxurious travels, Logothetis travels with only the clothes on his back, relying only on the kindness of strangers. 

The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes 

Property expert Caroline Quentin and architect Piers Taylor travel to all corners of the globe to feature the world’s most beautiful and unique homes. A visual delight, the show offers the best in design with the wonders of travel. 

A Cook’s Tour

An instant cult classic, A Cook’s Tour stars the late, great Anthony Bourdain. The author/chef goes all over the world in search of culinary oddities. From the world’s most expensive to the world’s most risky, the name of the game is extreme cuisine. 

Conan Without Borders 

Set in various locations around the world, Conan Without Borders features late-night talk show legend, Conan O’Brien. Viewers are offered a thought-provoking view of the shows various locations, mixed with O’Brien’s famous humour. The show even boasts an entire season set right here in Oz. 

The post Travel via TV – Travel shows for the Australian housebound – Part 2 appeared first on Australian Times News.

The majority of the animal inhabitants have spent most or all of their lives in captivity and have grown accustomed to the regular visitors and performing in shows or exhibitions. Zookeepers are trying to keep the routine going, putting on shows despite the lack of audience. 

Terri Irwin, Australian naturalist, conservationist, and owner of Australia Zoo on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, told  Al Jazeera, “The animals love and miss our zoo visitors. 

“They are used to large groups of people admiring them and telling them that they are beautiful and amazing.”

Hugging koalas

Irwin, who was married to the late Australian celebrity conservationist Steve Irwin, said the koalas who are accustomed to regularly being held by visitors are now following the staff around in hopes of getting some of the missed affection. .   

“It’s more important now than ever, that every animal receives extra attention,” added Irwin. 

“We make sure our birds get to fly, our rhinos get lots of back scratches while they’re in their mud baths, and we take our animals out for walks and adventures.”

Monkey see, monkey do

Elsewhere certain primate zoo residents have become accustomed to mimicking the behaviours of the visitors they encounter. Staff are now screening films to help keep then enriched. 

“For example, our two female Orang-utans, Kiani and Gabby, at Melbourne Zoo often climb up high, to a platform where they can see visitors through a glassed viewing area, and then mimic what they see visitors doing,”  chief executive of Zoos Victoria, Jenny Gray, told Al Jazeera.

“Gabby often tries to look inside visitors’ bags and Kiani copies anyone cleaning. So keepers have been playing movies on the TV screen in the visitor space that the orangutans can see, and have continued to provide the orangutans with enrichment items along with additional keeper interactions.”

The post Zoos and wildlife parks missing visitors appeared first on Australian Times News.

An Idiot Abroad 

Helmed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant – the incomparable duo behind the smash hit, The Office, An Idiot Abroad is a travel show like no other. It follows their famously small-minded curmudgeon friend Karl Pilkington as he reluctantly travels the world hating every minute of it. 

Dark Tourist 

The show explores the strange cultural phenomenon of dark tourism, where privileged travellers go in search of the macabre and even dangerous instead of ancient ruins and sandy beaches. The show’s host, David Farrier approaches the strange adventures with a skepticism and sarcastic humour that makes the show a treat to watch.

Jack Whitehall: Travels with my Father 

British comedian Jack Whitehall takes his father along on a series of international adventures. Much of the show’s humour comes from the stark contrast between the two generations and their drastically varying approaches to the challenges that travel brings. 

Amazing Race

An OG of the reality TV genre, Amazing Race is great for those looking to do some marathon viewing. Boasting 31 seasons, the show has been a firm fan favourite for nearly a decade. Watch as teams compete against each other in races held all over the world as they endeavour to win the grand prize.

Naked and Afraid 

In the same vein as other survival shows, Naked and Afraid drops contestants in the middle of the wilderness, except here, they’re completely naked the entire time. 

Street Food 

Brought to you by the creators of the cult favourite, Chef’s Table, Street Food takes the kitchen to the streets. The show takes viewers on a whirlwind journey to sample the most delicious delicacies from all around the world.

The post Travel via TV – Travel shows for the Australian housebound – Part 1 appeared first on Australian Times News.

The survey, conducted by Australian comparison research website, Finder, found that the vast majority of economists expect the border restrictions to remain in place for another year. Some even expect the travel ban to remain in place until 2022. Four expected the borders to be opened before the end of the year. 

The most likely exception to the border restriction will be with New Zealand, with both governments discussing terms and both nations having done well in coronavirus containment efforts. 

Blow to the economy

The border closure not only affects Australians seeking to explore other nations, but with $45 billion of the nation’s wealth generated from tourism, the Australian economy is greatly affected by the closure. 

“Australia has definitely put health ahead of the economy –- unlike most of the rest of the world [and] there are a number of positives that could come out of this,” Elder home loans head John Rolfe told Business Insider Australia.

“The biggest being that… Australia could be seen by future international travellers as ‘the safest’ destination from a health perspective.”

The prime minister also recently confirmed the economists’ predictions. “I can’t see international travel occurring anytime soon. I can’t see that. The risks there are obvious,” Scott Morrison told the media last week. “The only exception to that, as I have flagged, is potentially with New Zealand, and we have had some good discussions about that. But outside of that, that is unlikely.”

The post Border closures: No international travel until 2021? appeared first on Australian Times News.

Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages

This international best-seller was first published in 1992. It took a while to catch on, selling only 8500 copies in its first year of print. But by 1995 it was on the New York Times bestseller list, a place it stayed until 2015. The premise of the book is that there are five ways in which people express and receive love. It helps you discover your love language and that of your partner to ensure that your good intentions are not missing each other.

Dr Willard F Harley’s His Needs Her Needs

Written for the old-fashioned heterosexual couple, the learnings in this book are no less relevant for gay or alternative couples. Working on the simple concept of a ‘love bank’ this book discusses many universal truths and is a great way to get couples talking about what is important to them. Harley stresses that a couple can stay in love forever if they follow his guidelines and the reality is that they are quite simple and easy to follow.

Sue Johnson’s Hold Me Tight

Johnson is one of the founders of what is known as Emotional Focussed Therapy and her works draw heavily on the ideas of attachment parenting. In short, she stresses that the attachment needs that infants and children need from their parents in order to feel secure in the world are the same needs that partners require from each other if they are to thrive and feel safe. It might sound complicated but it is an easy read, far more practical than it is academic.

Alain de Botton’s The Course of Love

Unlike the other books mentioned above, this is a work of fiction by the inimitable De Botton. It is a wonderful tale that charts the course of the relationship between the everyman couple Rabih and Kirsten. It chronicles how they fall in love, marry, raise a family and survive betrayal and conflict. If you cannot find elements of your own relationship in this book then you are probably not paying attention – it’s a gem and well worth a read.      

The post Must-read books for beating lockdown conflicts appeared first on Australian Times News.

But, in case you don’t know this already, a house is also a lot of hard work and there is always maintenance and upkeep that needs to happen. So, when buying a house, it is imperative that you don’t get carried away with romantic notions and idealism. You need to make sure that the place is strong and robust and not about to fall down. You want to have weekends and evenings available for fun and memory making, if certain basics are not in order you are buying a lifetime of sweat and toil that are best avoided. So, what it is that you need to look out for? Here are a few tips.

Toxic materials

If you are buying an older property, something that might bring with it a lot of character, but which was built a long time ago, then you need to be on the alert for the presence of hazardous material. Lead in the pipes or asbestos in the roof were once common. Long-term exposure to both has been shown to be dangerous and the cost of asbestos clearance can add handsomely to the costs involved in renovating. It is also something that you don’t want to be doing yourself. It is dangerous and is an activity that is best left to the experts. 

Insects

They are very small, and it is often hard to notice them, but insects can wreak havoc with a house. Termites and borer beetles can destroy roofs and floors and furniture and foundations. In short, if there is wood in the house they can get in and do damage. And while they can be quite easily dealt with, if their presence has been left to go unchecked for a sustained period the damage cannot be sorted out without replacing the affected wood. So, in looking to purchase a property, don’t just look for signs of insects – the fumigators may have visited recently – look at the actual beams and wooden components of the house to see if there is any evidence of damage.

Water

It might be the big giver of life, but it is also a big problem in a house if there are leaks. The problems that is causes are damp and rot and mould. None of these are pleasant and they are also not easy to sort out. Make sure that the walls are properly damp-proofed, that the roof doesn’t leak and look out for signs of damp in the rooms adjacent to the bathrooms, which is where internal leaks are most likely to happen.     

Security

Don’t for a minute assume that security is easy to install. It is very expensive. Alarm systems, burglar bars, fences and security lighting are all big deterrents to stopping crime and they are things that can be installed by you, as the home owner. But, the components can be expensive. You are best off making sure that the security levels are appropriate before you move in, rather than first putting all your valuables into the property and then only dealing with security concerns.  

The post Things to look out for when buying a house during COVID appeared first on Australian Times News.

One of the nation’s largest retail chains, Coles, expect to soon be returning to some form of normalcy by extending trading hours at the majority of its stores. 

Approximately 200 supermarkets will start trading at 6am, as confirmed by the franchise spokesperson, Matt Swindells. 

Coles Chief Operations Officer, Swindells, said more stock on shelves and improved customer behaviour meant dedicated community hours could also be lifted.

Turning a corner

“We all remember the scenes of panic buying and seeing the vulnerable, whether that was the elderly or those who had disabilities, unable to access their staples and particularly unable to get toilet paper,” Mr Swindells was quoted as saying by Today.

“Now those supplies have recovered, toilet paper came off restriction last week, we watched that closely through the weekend and we can open community hour up to everybody and the vulnerable. The elderly will still be able to come in at those times and get whatever products they need in a safe way,” said Swindells.

The extended hours means that high-demand items such as toilet paper, baking supplies and cleaning goods will be more easily accessible to vulnerable shoppers. 

“This is about giving to everybody and making sure Coles is accessible for all.

“We are seeing the stores get busier as the easing of restrictions comes down the pipe. Let’s keep the calm confidence but let’s not get complacent,” Swindells said.

The post Have we seen the end of panic buying? appeared first on Australian Times News.

Australia is currently able to produce Hydrogen at a cost of approximately A$7 per kilogram, a cost that means hydrogen is not able to compete with more traditional fuel sources. Speaking at the funding announcement however Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said the goal was to get the production cost to around the A$2 mark, in order to ensure the establishment of a competitive industry.

Speaking to Reuters he said, “If we can get hydrogen produced at under A$2 a kilogram, it will be able to play a role in our domestic energy mix to bring down energy prices and keep the lights on.”

Clean Energy Finance Corporation to administer cash

His thought were underscored by CEO of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Ian Learmonth who added, “We see green hydrogen as offering the most credible pathway to decarbonisation for high emitting sectors.”

It will fall to Learmonth’s CEFC to administer the A$300 million fund which will be known as The Advancing Hydrogen Fund. The funds primary objective will be to finance initiatives that will help the government meet its carbon emission targets while at the same time building a sustainable hydrogen industry that will create jobs and add real value to the economy.

The post Australia commits 300 million towards cutting carbon emissions appeared first on Australian Times News.

The outrageous spike in toilet paper and pasta sales at the start of the crisis is well documented, but there have been several other noticeable changes in purchasing priorities according to a spokesperson for Coles.

For instance as a result of working from home, wearing masks and social distancing the sales of gum and breath mints have declined massively. With people no longer getting close to each other at work or on public transport, the need to have fresh breath is obviously less of priority.

Comfort in pampering  

The flip side of the lockdown though has been a surge in the sale of beauty products and items typically associated with pampering. According to AAP the online retailer The Iconic has seen a 200 per cent surge in slipper sales in the last two weeks while Adore Beauty has seen a major spike in the sales of exfoliation creams.

Similarly, department store, Myer, who are currently only trading online, were able to report a surge of over 600 per cent in the sale of skincare products.

Not surprisingly anyone selling face masks has seen the numbers shoot upward like never before, but that is probably the most obvious and easy to explain change in shopping habits affected by the pandemic.

Other items whose sales have shot up massively include baking paraphernalia and appliances. Mixers and coffee machines are reportedly leading the way while simple everyday ingredients for cooking are general sustenance are also spiking significantly given that restaurants are now closed.

The post Lockdown forces major changes in Aussie spending habits appeared first on Australian Times News.

Into the Wild 

The film follows the adventures of disenchanted Christopher McCandless as he makes his way hitchhiking across America after graduating from college. The biopic, directed by Sean Penn, celebrates the triumph of the human spirit as the leading character battles the solitude and harshness of the Alaskan wilderness. 

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 

Few films will ignite your travel desire quite like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Based on the novel of the same name by author James Thurber, the movie follows Ben Stiller’s character as he breaks free from the monotony of his quiet life to all embrace all the adventure and challenges, travel has to offer.  

Samsara 

Often heralded as the most aesthetically beautiful film ever made, Samsara is a unique, unusual and thrilling viewing experience. This visually resplendent film does not follow any traditional or familiar narrative, instead, it offers insights into the lives of people from all over the world through sound and picture. 

The Darjeeling Limited 

One of iconic Director Wes Anderson’s most well-loved works, The Darjeeling Limited follows the story of three brothers in the aftermath of their father’s death. They embark of a pilgrimage through India to not only find their long-estranged mother but also find themselves. Anderson ingeniously navigates the complex familial dynamics as the brothers work to rekindle their bond. 

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 

Also based in India, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel offers a very different view of the delights India has to offer. Starring, amongst others, the incomparable Dame Judy Dench, the film details the story of failing hotel proprietors and their British guests who have unwittingly committed their retirements to the declining establishment. 

To Rome with Love 

Part of what many consider Woody Allen’s comeback the late 2000s, this whimsical film was an instant classic. A typical Allen ensemble piece, the film follows the romantic escapades of travellers and locals alike, who find themselves in the magical city. 

Midnight in Paris

Woody Allen gets a second mention on our list as he definitely is the master of the establishing shot and making the city a character in his films. Midnight in Paris not only allows you to screen travel but time travel as well as you’re whisked between modern Paris, the bohemian revelry of Paris in the roaring 40s and the opulence of Paris in the Belle Epoque.

The post Films that take you around the world (when you’re stuck at home) appeared first on Australian Times News.

“It’s heartbreaking to hear another Western Australian has passed away – my heart goes out to her friends and her family,” Western Australia’s Premier Mark McGowan was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying.

“It goes to show just how serious and how deadly this virus is. It’s a reminder for all of us – we must continue to take the threat of COVID-19 seriously.”

‘Don’t be an idiot’

The woman’s death comes as Western Australia records its fourth consecutive day with no new coronavirus cases. The region has also seen social distancing restriction eased where social gathering numbers have increased from the initially-allotted two to 10. The premier warns that common sense and a sense of caution should still prevail. 

“We can’t afford to get comfortable or slacken off,” McGowan said.

“Don’t be an idiot, we’re all in this together. Follow the health advice, follow the rules, keep social distancing and keep up the good personal hygiene.

“The more we do this, the sooner we can get back to normal.”

‘We’re looking good’

Australian’s infection rate is favourable compared to many other countries with the rate of increase steadily slowing over recent days. 

‘We are looking good,’ Deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth, told Sky News on Sunday.

He attributed some of that success to extra testing and the recently-implemented COVIDSafe tracing app. 

‘All those things are designed so that if there are small flares of coronavirus, spot fires if you will, that they can be suppressed very, very quickly,’ Dr Coatsworth said.

‘That offers the best balance of getting society back on its feet, confidence back into our society and living with coronavirus until a vaccine arrives.’

The post Western Australia woman dies in her home as COVID death toll reaches 95 over the weekend appeared first on Australian Times News.

Operating around the world, the charity’s main focus in Australia is in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Staff were informed earlier this week that they plan to restructure the organisation while cutting the team by half.

Oxfam Australia Chief Executive, Lyn Morgain, told The Guardian Australia; “Oxfam Australia entered the coronavirus crisis in a weakened financial position because of multiple factors that are impacting on the sector, including the fallout from the Australian bushfires, several years of reduced fundraising income and a persistent decline in the overseas aid budget.

“Oxfam’s life-saving work is needed now more than ever to respond to the coronavirus and multiple other crises that threaten to increase the number of people living in poverty and exacerbate inequality.

“But at the same time, the economic downturn caused by the pandemic has underscored the urgent need for changes that were already underway at Oxfam.”

What does the future hold? 

Morgain said the decision was fueled by a need to reduce costs, though they are not yet clear what future roles will be as team consultation are still being conducted. 

“Incredibly tough decisions are being made and there will be job losses. We know this is an extremely difficult time for our dedicated and passionate staff – and these decisions in no way reflect their performance,” she said. 

The changes may affect the body’s eligibility for the federal government’s jobkeeper initiative. 

“Like other organisations across the sector, Oxfam is assessing its eligibility for the jobkeeper program. We welcomed clarification offered to international aid organisations last Friday and the extension of dates for applications to next Friday,” Morgain said. 

The post Oxfam Australia staff slashed by half appeared first on Australian Times News.

They are necessities that need to be worn or owned but they are not exactly items that thrill at delight. They are the adult equivalent of receiving toilet paper or a handkerchief. So how do you go about finding items that fulfil the dual role of satisfying the baby and helping the parents adapt to life with a new little person in the house? Here are a few gift ideas to help you on the way.

Teething issues

The pain of experiencing the arrival of teeth can be quite awkward. As the sharp edges cut their way through gum for the first time the pain can be very uncomfortable. Helping to alleviate this with a soothing toy like a Sophie giraffe or an equivalent chewy item is a great idea. This is a gift that is cute to look at and cuddly to hold, but which also fits well in the mouth in a choke-free manner and which can soothe irritated gums. It is a real winner.

Get mobile

Mobiles, not the telephone variety, are proven to be of great development potential for babies who would otherwise spend a lot of time lying on their backs staring at the ceiling. Mobiles are entertaining and engaging and they stimulate and delight little ones as they lie in their cots waiting to be helped or fed. The gift of a mobile is, in short, the gift of entertainment and extra IQ points. Every baby should have one, although, sadly not enough do.

Monitor teddy

One of the best dual-purpose presents is the monitor teddy. It almost goes without saying that babies and little ones love teddy bears and cuddly things. On the flipside, parents cannot stay at their children’s side forever and they need to leave them alone as they sleep so that they can get on with their adult lives. But while this is happening it is nice to know that the babies are safe and sleeping soundly. A monitor device hidden inside a teddy bear allows the parents to listen to the noises and sounds of the nursery while they chill out in their rooms or entertain friends. As the child gets older and there is no longer a need for a monitor, the bear still remains functional and retains its utility to the child.

Books

Children are never too young to be read to. And while they might not enjoy the story, or even understand it, what they do love is the one-on-one time with their parents and the sound of the soothing parental voice. Books encourage learning and they should be an integral part of any parent and child relationship. Give them with impunity. 

The post How to spoil the tiny tots in your life appeared first on Australian Times News.

Some of the events that may have been missed amidst the noise of the pandemic are the deaths of a number of musicians. If you haven’t been paying attention, here are a few of the luminaries that have thus far left the world in 2020.

Bill Withers

The man who was the punchline to the riddle, ‘How do you make a duck sing soul music?’ Put it in a microwave until its Bill Withers. Not just a good joke though, Withers was the writer and performer of such classics as Lovely Day, Aint No Sunshine and Lean on Me. A determined and somewhat eccentric individual, Withers stopped performing and composing at the height of his fame in the early 1980s, preferring to focus on his family and business interests instead. His songs remain classics though. He passed away at the age of 81 on 30^th March 2020.   

Manu Dibangu

The Cameroonian saxophonist might not be a name that is recognizable to everyone, but if you are even vaguely interested in music then you will undoubtedly have come across his influence somewhere, not least in the work of Michael Jackson who infamously ‘borrowed’ Dibangu’s “Ma ma-se, ma ma-sa, ma ma-kossa” hook on his hit track Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’. A huge influence on both African and Western music, Dibangu succumbed to Covid-19 at the age of 86 in March 2020.

Kenny Rogers

Anyone who grew up in the ’80s will remember the smash hit ‘Islands in the Stream’ that Rogers sang with Dolly Parton. But his body of work was much bigger and included a bevvy of country hits, including The Gambler, Lucille and Buy Me a Rose. With a career that spanned more than 40 years, Rogers was an institution and one of the most respected performers in eth world of Country music. He died from natural causes, aged 80.

David Roback

Founder of the band Mazzy Star along with his friend Hope Sandoval, the duo enjoyed much success in the 1990s with three critically acclaimed albums: She Hangs Brightly from 1990, So Tonight That I Might See from 1993 and the 1996 release, Among My Swan. After the end of his time with Mazzy Star Robuck went on to enjoy a successful career as a producer, working with artists like Beth Orton and Bert Jansch. Roback died from cancer in February 2020 aged just 61.

The post Musicians we have already lost in 2020 appeared first on Australian Times News.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the effect of coronavirus on migration visas was expected to be quite considerable; “On the 2018-19 year for net overseas migration, we are assuming just over a 30% fall in 2019-20, the current financial year. But now in 2020-21, an 85 per cent fall-off those 2018-19 levels as well.”

Closed borders

With international border closures expected to stay in place for at least an additional three to four months, the federal government believes net migration will decrease to just 36,000 in 2020-21. Anna Boucher, University of Sydney’s Global Migration Specialist said she assumed the “very significant” estimate was the biggest fall in net overseas migration in recent history.

In a statement, Boucher advised it would be tough to predict the accurate numbers until it is known how many people are expected to remain in the country longer than planned due to the visa extension policies put in place by the government.  

Meanwhile, approximately 300,000 temporary visa holders have already left Australia since the start of the year, Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said in a statement earlier this week. 

The post Australia’s Migration Process to fall by 85% due to Covid-19 appeared first on Australian Times News.

We should not stop dreaming or thinking about views and worlds beyond the borders of our state or country. With this in mind, maybe it is time to start thinking about some unusual destinations to visit once the world returns to normal. Here are a few, off the beaten track countries that you might want to consider visiting:

1. Lichtenstein

If you are looking for a post-Covid fairy-tale experience, then Lichtenstein could be your perfect destination. This mountainous nation is so small that it doesn’t even have an airport – to get there you need to take a train from neighbouring Switzerland or Austria. An ideal place to ski or hike, Lichtenstein is so small that it has more tourists annually that it has actual residents.

2. Suriname

In a recent poll, Suriname was named as the country that the fewest people could locate on a map. For the record, it is in South America. It is also South America’s smallest country. But that is not to say that it is not fascinating. With an eclectic mix of cultural influences that range from indigenous people through to Dutch colonization, African slaves and modern Chinese it is a veritable melting pot of architecture and adventure.

 The capital Paramaribo buzzes with a myriad of fantastic market places and open grassy plazas, while the interior of the country is dedicated to conservation, with more than 12% of the country declared a nature reserve.

 3. Lesotho

This tiny mountain kingdom is the only country in the world to be completely surrounded by just one other country- it sits in the middle of South Africa and you would have to stop in Cape Town or Johannesburg to make it to Lesotho’s capital Maseru. Once there you will feel like you are on the top of the world. Hiking, skiing, pony trekking are all part of the allure and there are also many fantastic 4×4 routes if that is your vibe.     

The post Three unusual destinations to consider when planning a post-corona holiday appeared first on Australian Times News.

The tower will form part of the AUS$2 billion Southbank project in Melbourne and will be helmed by Beulah International, a local property development company. Designed by architects UNStudio of the Netherlands, the Green Spine will be comprised of two towers supported by a cantilever structure with terracing, glass facades and a botanical garden that will be open to the public. 

The project is expected to boost the local economy by creating nearly 5000 new construction jobs and over 3000 jobs in various other sectors such as hospitality, retail and entertainment. 

Big celebration

Caroline Bos, UNStudio founder, told khl.com, “Today is a day to celebrate on many fronts with the planning approval signalling a momentous achievement for all involved.

“We are honoured that Southbank has received unanimous support for its design. From the initial concept to one that has evolved into a ground-breaking global collaborative project, the outcome is an exciting prospect.”

The post Tallest building in Aus gets go-ahead appeared first on Australian Times News.

Titles Leaving Netflix Australia on May 1st, 2020

• 27 Gone Too Soon (2017)
• A.M.I. (2019)
• Abby Sen (2015)
• American Experience: The Circus: 1 Season
• American Experience: The Island Murder: 1 Season
• Begin Again (2013)
• Bittoo Boss (2012)
• Bombay Talkies (2013)
• Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016)
• Boss 92013)
• Boys Over Flowers: 1 Season
• Budha Singh: Born to Run (2016)
• Chashme Buddoor (2013)
• Christine (1983)
• Clown (2014)
• Defying the Nazis: The Sharp’s War (2016)
• Dharam Sankat Mein (2015)
• Drishyam (2015)
• Earth to Echo (2014)
• Fed Up (2014)
• Fire in the Blood (2012)
• GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012)
• Gollu Aur Pappu (2014)
• Gotti (2018)
• Gridiron Gang (2006)
• Harry Benson: Shoot First (2016)
• How to Be a Latin Lover (2017)
• Inkaar (2013)
• Iris: 1 Season
• Laal Rang (2016)
• Le K Benzema (2017)
• Little Man (2006)
• Losing Sight of Shore (2017)
• Love Rain: 1 Season
• Mary Kom (2014)
• Maya Angelou: And I Still I Rise (2016)
• Moh Maya Money (2016)
• Mumbai Delhi Mumbai (2014)
• Mutant Busters: 2 Seasons
• My Brother… Nikhil (2005)
• Now You See Me 2 (2016)
• Oh My God (2012)
• Onaatah (2016)
• One by Two (2014)
• Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011)
• Queen (2014)
• Queens of Comedy: 1 Season
• RED 2 (2013)
• Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
• Ringan (2015)
• Saeed Mirza: The Leftist Sufi (2016)
• Shaitan (2011)
• Shanghai (2012)
• Shorgul (2016)
• Siddhant (2014)
• Special 26 (2013)
• Sunrise (2014)
• Tanu Weds Manu (2011)
• Terra (2015)
• The Best of Me (2014)
• The Dark Crystal (1982)
• The Hangover: Part 3 (2013)
• The Last Witch Hunter (2015)
• The Legend of Hercules (2014)
• The Sweetest Thing (2002)
• Two Night Stand (2014)
• What the Fish (2013)
• Winter’s Tale (2014)
• World War Two: 1941 and the Man of Steel: 1 Season
• World War Two: 1942 and Hitler’s Soft Underbelly: 1 Season
• Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (2013)

Titles Leaving Netflix Australia on May 3rd, 2020

• Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018)

Titles Leaving Netflix Australia on May 4th, 2020

• 4th Man Out (2015)
• The Good Witch’s Charm (2012)
• The Good Witch’s Destiny (2013)
• The Good Witch’s Family (2011)
• The Good Witch’s Gift (2010)
• The Good Witch’s Wonder (2014)

Titles Leaving Netflix Australia on May 14th, 2020

• Ninja Hattori: 1 Season
• Ninja Hattori Returns: 2 Seasons

Titles Leaving Netflix Australia on May 15th, 2020

• Hwarang: 1 Season
• Love in the Moonlight: 1 Season
• The Producers: 1 Season
• Uncontrollably Fond: 1 Season

Titles Leaving Netflix Australia on May 18th, 2020

• Hidden Singer: 1 Season

Titles Leaving Netflix Australia on May 21st, 2020

• 12 Years Promise: 1 Season
• Beating Again: 1 Season
• Can We Get Married?: 1 Season
• Feed the Beast: 1 Season
• Guilt: 1 Season
• Last: 1 Season
• Secret Affair: 1 Season
• This Is My Love: 1 Season

Titles Leaving Netflix Australia on May 22nd, 2020

• Dramaworld: 1 Season

Titles Leaving Netflix Australia on May 24th, 2020

• Samurai Champloo: 1 Season
• Tokyo Ghoul: 2 Seasons

This info was originally published on whats-on-netflix.com

The post Here’s what’s leaving Netflix Australia in May appeared first on Australian Times News.

“We’re continuing to do well in Australia … in one sense we’re victims of our success to an extent, because we’ve had so few people that have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and we are nowhere near that concept of herd immunity,” Professor Kelly said.

“That would be one way of guarding against a second wave.

“[But] we’re definitely not looking to do that in Australia, as some of the countries have either planned to do or have been forced to achieve very large caseloads.”

How to deal with a second wave

The concept of herd immunity is not without controversy and is not the government’s preferred method of dealing with the pandemic. 

“We’ve seen what [herd immunity] has done in other parts of the world, so we won’t be going to that,” Professor Kelly said.

“A second wave is always possible and that’s why those three precedents have been set by the Prime Minister before we lift those social distancing and socialisation rules about case finding, keeping the cases low if possible.

“If cases occur, [it’s about] finding them quickly, finding their contacts, quarantining them and decreasing the size of any outbreaks that we might have by having a very detailed and quick response.

“If a second wave does occur, we’ll deal with it quickly and we’ll respond to it.”

“We are much better prepared than we might have been [for the Spanish Flu second wave],” Professor Kelly said.

The post Experts say we’re ‘nowhere near’ herd immunity appeared first on Australian Times News.

This doesn’t mean we have to lose touch with those who are important to us. Thanks to the marvel of modern technology there are many ways to keep our bonds strong. 

Start and join chat groups

Chat groups are a great way to share the little snippets of daily news that keeps us feeling a sense of connection to our families and communities. Baked a great loaf of banana bread? Send a photo to the family group! Found an old pic from after-work drinks with your colleagues? Send it to your work squad. Sharing memories is a great conversation starter and helps us remember a time when we were all together. 

Weekly video calls 

Many of us are working from home with kids and family members that need taking care of. Days can still be hectic, even as we’re confined to our home and it’s easy to forget to check in with those close to your heart. Scheduling a weekly video and getting the whole extended family involved is a great way to ensure everyone stays connected. Make sure to include the youngest and the oldest in your family. With routines disrupted, their days may not be as fulfilling as before.  

Remember family isn’t limited to just those who share your DNA. Extend the idea to whoever you’re close to and miss during these distancing times. If that’s your Running club, Ultimate Frisbee enthusiasts club or the gang you usually eat lunch with at school or at work, foster the connections. 

Send some snail mail 

Communication is an important tool to help manage the stress and anxiety associated with social isolation. If, like many, you’re experiencing digital fatigue, try sending a loved one a note via the good old postal service. We seem to have forgotten that communication doesn’t have to be instantaneous. There are those amongst us who remember the simple joys of a postcard or a handwritten letter. 

Celebrate the special days 

Don’t let the big days go by without marking the occasion in some way. Not being able to celebrate births, birthdays, anniversaries and graduations in person as we usually would is a hard pill to swallow during social distancing.  Acknowledging and gathering for these moments is an important ritual that helps us mark the passage of time. Use what you have at your disposal to commemorate these times. Whether that’s a dinner party via screens or a collage of your times together, be sure to recognise the event.

The post 4 ways to stay connected during social distancing appeared first on Australian Times News.

Switzerland will similarly be opening up certain public spaces on 11 May. There, restaurants will be limiting table capacity to four pr table and spacing tables at least two meters apart. The government has indicated that Australia may be following suit soon. 

Getting back to normal life

“This is the ticket to ensuring that we can have eased restrictions and Australians can go back to the lifestyle and the many things that they previously were able to do, and this is important,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 7News.com. 

“I look forward to the time where (Australians) can sit down for a meal at a restaurant or a cafe or a pub again,” the PM said on Wednesday.

“I look forward to the time where they can see, whether it is the AFL, the netball, the NRL, or whatever code they support, and being able to watch that again.

“But I can’t see them going along to a game for a while, those larger mass gatherings.

“I can see, I suppose, the opportunity for those seeking private prayer in a place of worship, I can see that happening.

“I can’t necessarily, though, see the larger services occurring again.”

New NSW

Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, also told the publication that Friday, 1 May marks the day that the state’s residents will be permitted to visit between household. 

“From tomorrow, the world will be a slightly different place in New South Wales, which is a good thing,” Berejiklian said.

“We don’t want to see a huge spike in cases.

“I have confidence, if we all stick together and make these changes in May, there will be other opportunities for us in the near future to have greater freedoms and greater opportunities to get back to some of the things we were used to doing before the restrictions came into place.”

The post What will Australian dining out be like with eased distancing? appeared first on Australian Times News.

“I would liken it to the fact if you want to go outside when the sun is shining, you have to put sunscreen on. This is the same thing,” the prime minister was quoted as saying by the BBC.com. 

How does the app work? 

• Once you download the app, you will be prompted to add your name (this does not need to be your real name if privacy is a concern), your age, your mobile number and your postal code. 
• When you come within 1.5 metres of another user, the app uses wireless Bluetooth technology to exchange a ‘digital handshake’
• The app then logs this handshake and the exchange is encrypted.  
• The data is used to notify users if they have come within close contact for 15 or more minutes with another user who has tested positive for the coronavirus. 
• When a user is diagnosed with the virus, they can allow their healthcare official to view their encrypted data and use the app to gain the contact details of those they have come into close contact with and who may have been exposed as a result. 

The government aims to get at least 10 million Australians using the app, equating to approximately 40% of the population. They are pleased with the uptake thus far with Australian Health Minister, Greg Hunt, telling the Financial Review, “In terms of our distancing measures, Australians continue to do an extraordinary job in what is a difficult situation.” 

“People have come together as a single Australian nation, as one single Australian family, and I want to thank them for their continued work,” he said. 

Concerns over privacy 

Users have expressed concern over how the app data will be stored and shared. The government has stressed that the data will only be accessed by state health officials and that no other body will be granted access under any circumstances. 

The post COVID tracking app takes off in Aus appeared first on Australian Times News.

The astronomy community is abuzz ahead of the sighting of the body which is estimated to be over 2-kilometres in diameter. 

“While it won’t be bright enough, or close enough thank goodness, to be seen with the naked eye, an experienced amateur astronomer with a decent-sized (at least 8-inch) telescope will be able to find it overhead in the constellation of Hydra.” said expert Jacquie Milner of Victoria’s Mount Burnett Observatory to 7NEWS.com.au. 

“The closest approach of this particular asteroid will take place at 7:56 pm, Australian Eastern Standard Time, on the 29th of April,” Milner said.

How hazardous are most PHAs? 

While the term ‘potentially hazardous asteroid’ is enough to strike fear in the hearts of most, the experts assure us there is no immediate cause for concern. 

“There are over 2000 of these PHAs currently being monitored by space scientists, but even though they use the term ‘potentially hazardous’, happily this one is not a danger to us here on Earth.”

By definition, potentially hazardous asteroids have to be large enough to cause significant regional damage in the event of impact. They need a diameter of 100 meters or more and need to pass within 7.5 million kilometres of our planet to earn this title.  At comfortably over 2 kilometres in diameter, it’s Asteroid (52768) 1998 OR2’s sheer girth that has the astronomy buffs over the moon.

The post Huge asteroid visible from Australia appeared first on Australian Times News.

The news comes towards the end of an intensive two-week testing attack, which ends tomorrow, and has seen the deployment of more than 15 000 tests in the area. 

SA Chief Public Health Officer, Dr Nicola Spurrier, told ABC News the outcome is a “landmark” for South Australia. 

“This is a landmark for us, we have gone a whole week now without any cases of COVID-19 in South Australia.”

“That puts us in a very, very strong position, particularly with the high rates of testing.”

“A big thank you to all South Australians who have come forward … and been tested.”

According to Dr Spurrier, a meeting will soon be held with South Australian regional leaders to discuss a plan for lifting travel restrictions. 

“It is important that we engage with the mayors and the communities in those parts of South Australia because of the sensitivities of keeping all of our communities safe.

“People in my team are reaching out to put a meeting in place so that we can get that information,” Dr Spurrier said. 

Reopening local schools and businesses

Schools in the region will start opening over the next few days with Barossa Valley primary school opening its door again today. 

This comes after a month-long shut down of local schools. 

Julian Helbig, principal at St Jakobi Lutheran School, told ABC News his students were excited to get back to classes. 

“Real kick in the step, it’s been lonely here, working away and walking around the yard during the day. Even our resident magpies were like ‘where is everyone’, it’s just great to see everyone back,” he said. 

The post South Australia reports no new coronavirus cases for a week appeared first on Australian Times News.