RAFAL NEWS UPDATE, THU 23 APR 2020

RAFAL NEWS UPDATE, THU 23 APR 2020

OTHER NEWS:

Four police officers killed on a Melbourne highway after a semi trailer truck hit them. They were stopping a speeding Porsche at the time, the driver of the Porsche fled the scene.

Community media is under attack for no apparent reason, the federal government is going to switch off Channel 31 (Melbourne, the station RMITV is on) and Channel 44 (Adelaide), saying they have to stick to online. They are the only community TV stations left in Australia. This is a real tragedy for independent media and for any creative person that wants creative freedom. We have fought for fucking decades to broadcast on air, and now they're taking it away.

Thousands of landlords in the Northern Territory sign a petition to stop tenants having the right to have pets in their rented homes.

Trump says he's told the navy to fire on any Iranian ship that "harass" US ships at sea. Last week Iranian ships came very close to US ships in the Gulf (which is in the Middle East). Iran said they're bullies.

Ben Cousins was arrested in Perth, he is famous apparently.

CORONAVIRUS NEWS:

AUSTRALIA:

6,648 cases, 75 deaths (yesterday 6,650 cases somehow, 74 deaths)

We are flattening the curve.

Federal inquiry into the way we're handling the coronavirus response is on. They're interviewing people about the Ruby Princess thing at the moment.

Labor accused the Liberal government of pushing a right wing agenda during the crisis, using the pandemic as a cover to cut taxes, reduce regulations and attack unions.

Some good journalism: "The health minister has announced a critical health resource information system will operate in all intensive care units. The government calls that CHRIS. The Guardian style guide declares I call it Chris."

Australian Traffic Network, which does traffic reports for news companies, sent out a hundred employees' private info accidentally when it was applying for jobkeeper payments.

VICTORIA:

(yesterday 1,336 cases, 15 deaths)

Our government says it will invest in various infrastructure projects to aid in our economic recovery.

QUEENSLAND:

Is gonna relax restrictions a bit so now up to 20 people can go to funerals.

WORLD:

(yesterday 2,501,156 cases, 171,810 deaths)

US:

(yesterday 788,920 cases, 42,458 deaths)

A doctor questioned the malaria drug that isn't proven yet but Trump is saying is a cure for covid-19, he was fired. The doctor worked for a federal agency helping develop a vaccine.

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The news was relatively slow today, mostly just speculation.

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I'm gonna write another long form piece, the next one will be probably about the rent strike situation, and maybe one to explain the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which confuses a lot of people. If you have any suggestions I'd be happy to hear them.

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Love, the Rafal News Team xx