‘Code red’: Melbourne businesses say Omicron wave more damaging than lockdown

Staff shortages and drop in consumer confidence leave Australian businesses asking for urgent government support Hash Tayeh has been back behind the counter at the burger chain he founded, Burgertory, for the first time in three years as he struggles to keep the business going in the face of the Omicron wave. He has been

COP26: Protesters worldwide demand action on climate crisis

Amid COP26 talks, more than 200 events worldwide demand action for communities already affected by climate change. Protests are under way for a second day in cities around the world as part of a global mobilisation against what campaigners say is a lack of urgency to address global warming at a crunch United Nations climate summit in

Police arrest 94 anti-lockdown protesters in St Kilda and Melbourne CBD

Police have arrested 94 people, mainly in St Kilda and the Melbourne CBD, after small groups of protesters gathered around the city for another day of anti-lockdown rallies.   The majority of the arrests were made after about 50 protesters congregated on St Kilda Esplanade in inner Melbourne early on Saturday afternoon.  By the time a few

Australian police clash with anti-lockdown protesters, arrest nearly 270

Australia’s police arrested 235 people in Melbourne and 32 in Sydney on Saturday at unsanctioned anti-lockdown rallies and several police officers were injured in clashes with protesters. Victoria police said six officers required hospitalisation. Several officers were knocked to the ground and trampled, the police said and television footage showed. About 700 people managed to

Ivermectin: Australian regulator bans drug as Covid treatment after sharp rise in prescriptions

Therapeutic Goods Administration concerned people taking controversial medication instead of seeking proper treatment or vaccine Australia’s drug regulator has banned medical practitioners from prescribing the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin for “off-label” uses, such as for treating Covid-19. The move comes after prescriptions for the drug increased between three and four times in Australia in recent months.

Covid: Australian police clash with anti-lockdown protesters

Police in the Australian cities of Melbourne and Sydney have clashed with thousands of people protesting against Covid lockdowns. In Melbourne, mounted officers used pepper spray when elements of a 4,000-strong rally broke through police lines. Police arrested 218 people, and at least seven officers were injured. In Sydney, where lockdown measures have been extended