News

Australia’s COVID crisis worsens

Published

4 years ago

August 16, 2021

Ticker

Australia’s battle with an outbreak of the COVID delta strain is getting more intense, as lockdowns extend in Melbourne and Sydney records its deadliest day

Australia’s biggest CBD’s are in lockdown. Sydney and the state of New South Wales has been rocked by a further eight deaths and a staggering 478 new cases of COVID today — with at least 91 of them circulating in the community for all or part of their infectious period.

As the largest state in Australia by population, all of New South Wales is now in lockdown – including rural and regional areas.

The state will continue a grim lockdown, which was hoped to end at the end of the month.

A man wearing a protective face mask waits on a Circular Quay train platform in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as the state of New South Wales experiences an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Sydney, Australia, June 22, 2021. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

Melbourne lockdown extended with rules tightened

Melbourne’s lockdown has been extended for two weeks and residents of metropolitan areas will be subject to a new 9pm to 5am curfew.

The harsher restrictions come as Melbourne recorded 22 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the lockdown would now end on September 2, meaning the state would have by then faced one month in lockdown six.

The curfew will take effect at 11.59pm on tonight, Monday 16th August.

From 9pm to 5am, residents of metropolitan Melbourne will not be allowed to leave their homes unless they have a permit to conduct essential work, among other limited reasons.

Masks will also no longer be able to be removed to consume alcohol outdoors. The strict new move comes as people were seen ordering takeaway alcohol outside inner-city pubs in an attempt to dodge restrictions at the weekend.

Darwin and Katherine plunged into three-day snap lockdown from midday today

Parts of the Northern Territory have gone into a snap lockdown from 12 noon (ACST) today.Darwin, and the town of Katherine will be in a three-day lockdown, after a new case of COVID-19 was detected.

The positive case is from a man understood to be in his 30s and it is assumed the man has the Delta variant.

Australia’s Capital of Canberra remains in lockdown

The ACT’s lockdown has been extended to September 2, after the territory recorded 19 new cases on Monday.

Among the new cases included an aged care worker and a high school student.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said this was a “serious situation.”

“Lockdowns are a proven measure to suppress chains of transmission of the virus.”
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr

The lockdown was originally due to lift at 5pm this coming Thursday.

News

How Gen Alpha are positioned to shape the future of education

Future of education: how Generation Alpha and engaged parents are shaping schools amid challenges and rapid change

Published

3 hours ago

November 1, 2025

Nathan Langridge

Future of education: how Generation Alpha and engaged parents are shaping schools amid challenges and rapid change

In Short:
– Future education involves increased parental engagement and adapting to technological changes for younger generations.
– Barriers to involvement include time constraints and poor communication from schools, impacting family-school relationships.

What does the future of education look like for parents and students?

On this episode of Beyond Education, Enquiry Tracker founder Greg Campitelli explores the evolving landscape of schooling with insights from Mark McCrindle, founder of McCrindle Research. McCrindle, a notable social analyst.

In the conversation, he noted significant shifts in education accessibility and the increasing need for parental involvement.

A recent study indicated that 83% of parents prioritise engagement in their children’s schooling, seeking to actively participate despite busy schedules. Parents are investing in education, valuing it highly while wanting to play a hands-on role.

News

Trump orders Pentagon to resume nuclear testing immediately

Trump orders Pentagon to resume nuclear testing, raising concerns over arms race and global safety

Published

23 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Ticker

Trump orders Pentagon to resume nuclear testing, raising concerns over arms race and global safety

In Short:
– Trump ordered the Pentagon to resume nuclear testing, risking global tensions and retaliation from other nations.
– Proliferation concerns are rising as nuclear states modernise arsenals and the New START Treaty nears expiration.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing immediately, aiming to align with testing programs from other countries according to the conversation.Resuming explosive nuclear tests would likely trigger retaliatory responses from nuclear-armed nations like Russia and China, worsening the arms race and increasing global risks.

The potential for worldwide radioactive fallout remains high, even for underground tests. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, signed by 187 states, prohibits such testing, yet the US remains a signatory without ratification, bound not to violate the treaty’s intent.

Nuclear weapon testing, once crucial for understanding weapon effects and military planning, has diminished. Since World War II, nuclear tests have largely focused on developing new designs. Significant environmental and health concerns led to a moratorium on atmospheric testing in the early 1960s and the Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963.

Many countries, including the US, stopped explosive testing in the 1990s. Technological advancements allowed nations to develop nuclear weapons without the need for actual explosions.

Proliferation Risks

Nuclear proliferation continues, with all nine nuclear-armed states investing heavily in modernising their arsenals. This raises concerns about lowered thresholds for using such weapons.

Recent conflicts involving nuclear threats have escalated, and the number of nuclear weapons operationally available has begun to rise again. Russia has tested advanced nuclear weapons, while China is rapidly expanding its military capabilities.

The New START Treaty, which confines the nuclear capabilities of the US and Russia, is set to expire soon, with no successor treaty negotiations underway.

The Doomsday Clock has moved closer to midnight this year, highlighting the heightened dangers facing the world today.

Author: Tilman Ruff

Honorary Principal Fellow, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne