NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (June 30, 2022) — Mr. Devon Liburd has been confirmed to the position of Chief Executive Officer at the Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA). The appointment in his new role takes effect from July 01, 2022. The announcement was made by Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis, at his monthly press conference in the Cabinet […]
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By Isabel Woodford 3 minute read IZUCAR DE MATAMOROS, Mexico, June 30 (Reuters) – In the small, sleepy town of Izucar de Matamoros in central Mexico, vendors sell pastries, sunglasses, and shoe polish under the hot sun for a few dollars a day. Those who want to earn more soon dream of the United […]
The post “It’s Tough Here”: Mexican Migrant Town Faces Lure and Lore of the American Dream appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
Victorian drivers will be offered a discount on their licence renewal and new licences will become free under a new VicRoads deal that is expected to make almost $8 billion for the state.
The government will privatise parts of VicRoads as it partners with Aware Super, Australian Retirement Trust, and Macquarie Asset Management in a 40-year deal called the 'VicRoads Modernisation process'.
The partnership is said to bring $7.9 billion in upfront proceeds for the state, which the government has said will be invested in the new Victorian Future Fund to help tackle debt from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Drivers who have not incurred demerit points or committed road offences in the three years prior to their licence expiring will receive a 25 per cent discount on their licence renewal fee.
Roads Minister Ben Carroll said the move was "embedding road safety" in the deal.
Learners and probationary licences will also become free.
Victorians wanting to get their L-plates will save up to $51.40 in testing fees, while those going for their Ps will save up to $133.30.
The deal will also create 80 new jobs within VicRoads.
READ MORE: One-off $250 payment in Victoria to help with cost of living
Trinidad and Tobago Removes COVID-19 Testing entry requirement; prepares for monkeypox Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Travellers to Trinidad and Tobago will not require a negative COVID-19 test to enter the twin-island republic as of Friday (July 1). Health Minister, Terrence Deyalsingh, announced at Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing that he had […]
The post T&T Drops Covid Entry Rules & Declares Monkeypox Dangerous Disease, Omicron Boosters Needed, Pfizer Seeks Approval for Covid Pill, World Covid Stats appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.
Queensland is expanding its ban on single-use plastics, announcing that from September 2023 plastic microbeads, polystyrene packing peanuts and plastic-stemmed cotton buds will no longer be available for sale.
While not part of the 2023 phase, the government has also tabled plans to phase out single-use coffee cups within the next five years.
The mass release of "lighter than air balloons", commonly done at events such as weddings, parties and fundraisers, will also be banned.
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"Single-use plastics are problematic, and Queenslanders have made it clear they want to give more of them the punt," Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said.
"They don't breakdown, they fill up our dumps and they kill wildlife."
Scanlon also signalled that the government plans on phasing out other popular plastics such as coffee cups by 2027.
"It's great to see so many businesses already taking voluntary measures and going beyond our bans, and it is time to support those voluntary commitments and strengthen our actions in the fight against plastic pollution," she said.
"Our roadmap will phase out other problematic single-use plastics over the next five years, including the aim to phase out disposable coffee cups and lids following work with other states and territories.
"Of course, we will continue to work with retailers, community groups and suppliers so they have the alternative products in place."
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The Palaszczuk government phased out single-use lightweight shopping bags in 2018 and last year banned a number of single-use plastics food products like straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, unenclosed bowls, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) takeaway containers and EPS cups.
The full roadmap can be seen online here.
END OF FINANCIAL YEAR: All the changes happening on July 1
As cases of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fill our hospital wards, the chance of catching COVID-19 is still a threat.
With coronavirus sub-variants multiplying and infection rates still on the rise, studies show catching the virus for a second or even third time could be worse for you than first thought.
Epidemiologist Professor Nancy Baxter said "each time you catch it, you have additional risks".
READ MORE: Desperate pleas of women with long COVID
"It is not a one and done scenario. If you have COVID-19 once, you don't want to get it again," Baxter told Today.
"Each time you get COVID-19, you have some risk of getting quite ill from it and you have risk of getting long-term symptoms, as well as long COVID."
Baxter said while catching COVID-19 does give you some protection and immunity, "it is not something that you want to get repeatedly".
READ MORE: Firefighting deemed to be 'cancer causing'
With COVID-19 restrictions now almost completely gone across Australia, Baxter warned that "acting like COVID-19 doesn't exist" is a big driver in people getting sick a second and third time.
"We have these new sub-variants, BA-4 and BA5 are the newest kids on the block and they are starting to really take off in Australia," she said.
"They are able to get around immunity from BA1 and from that Christmas Omicron better than previous sub-variants, so it is a triple whammy and then we are all indoors."
READ MORE: Review into COVID-19 vaccine and treatment supply launched by federal government
Sydney residents have been warned tomorrow's deluge could cause flash flooding as a month's worth of rain falls in just one day.
Meteorologist Jane Golding warned from the north at Port Stephens to the south at Bateman's Bay will experience heavy rainfall on Saturday with the weather event escalating until Tuesday.
"We're seeing the formation of a coastal trough off the NSW coast," she said.
READ MORE: 'Feel like I've died': Desperate pleas of women with long COVID
"We know these are quite dangerous systems and they've been known to create widespread flooding in the past and that's certainly on the cards for the next few days."
On Saturday, Sydney and the Illawarra will be in the firing line for the sudden downpour.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned flash flooding is likely over the next five days in Sydney suburbs.
"With catchments already saturated and dams at or near capacity, there is a heightened risk of riverine and flash flooding as well as landslips along central parts of the NSW coast from Saturday," the bureau said in a statement.
"River levels are expected to rise from Saturday, with the largest impacts starting Monday or Tuesday next week.
"Wind and waves will also increase along parts of the coast from Saturday, with a risk of coastal erosion for some areas."
The Hawkesbury and Nepean, a region that has been devastated by flooding four times in the past two years, is now preparing for the possibility of yet another flooding event this weekend.
Flooding is also expected on the Cooks River, Georges River, Woronora, and Shoalhaven.
https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1542352595871842305
With the school holidays beginning today in the state, State Emergency Service (SES) Commissioner Carlene York warned families to be cautious when travelling to low-lying areas.
Heavy rain started to fall over Sydney last night and BoM has warned this is "increasing", with up to 20mm falling today.
The Warragamba Dam is currently 97 per cent full.
Weatherzone said within the deepening trough "several small-scale low pressure systems could develop" bringing powerful winds alongside heavy rain.
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Weatherzone has urged residents across NSW and Queensland to stay on top of alerts amid the "dynamic" weather event.
"Accumulated totals in excess of 100mm are likely in some eastern districts of NSW and QLD from this weekend into early next week. Isolated multi-day totals of 200 to 300mm are possible, particularly near and to the south of any low pressure systems that develop close to the coast," it said, adding these totals will "shift a lot" over the coming days.
"Be sure to check the latest forecasts and warnings for the most up-to-date information."
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NSW warnings will be published here, while Queenslanders can keep across updates here.
By Leo Sands BBC New Indigenous leaders in Ecuador have signed an agreement with the government to end more than two weeks of tense protests. Demonstrators had been blocking roads and staging rallies to demand action on soaring fuel and food prices. Some of the protests turned violent and at least six people are thought […]
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A western Sydney man has been charged after Border Force officers found a gun hidden inside a gaming console imported from the United States.
The 20-year-old Yagoona man allegedly coordinated the importation of the fully operational Glock-style pistol, which was discovered in the mail in Sydney in October.
The gun and its part were wrapped in foil inside the machine.
READ MORE: Sydney's north-west prepares for fourth flooding event in two years
Police also allegedly linked him to 500g of cannabis that were imported in August and seven grams of cocaine imported in September.
His home was raided in November, with police seizing multiple fake IDs, cannabis and several phone.
Detective Sergeant Matthew Veraguth said police had protected the community "from the far-reaching consequences that may have occurred if the gun had made its way" through border control.
The man was charged yesterday with multiple offences relating to the alleged importation of firearms and drugs.
A woman who lived on Lake Hawea Station with owners Geoff and Justine Ross has labelled critics of their recent appearance on TV show Country Calendar “disgusting” and “embarrassing”.And Chanelle O’Sullivan has backed her friends’…
