1. Qantas to cut more flights, 320 pilots sick daily
Chief executive Alan Joyce said 320 Qantas pilots either called in sick or were in isolation every day, leading the airline to scrap even more flights.

“It comes as other companies, such as Woolworths, say high levels of staff absenteeism are hurting their operations. Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci said it was struggling to meet its usual levels of customer service, but he expected this would even out in spring,” the AFR reports.

“Qantas reported a $1.9 billion underlying loss in the 2022 financial year – the total reported losses over the last three years of the COVID-19 pandemic are now over $7 billion – with the recovery from the virus ongoing before a return to profitability in 2023 despite reliability issues at the airline and questions about the strength of the brand.”

2. Ukraine nuclear plant shutdown, placed on high alert
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest plant in Europe, was temporarily cut off from the grid on Thursday, causing a blackout in the region. With the complex located in the thick of ongoing conflict between Russian and Ukraine forces, the move to turn off the power was due to fires damaging the last operating regular transmission line.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the International Atomic Energy Agency and other world bodies to move faster to force Russian troops to leave the territory. (AFR)

“Every minute that Russian troops remain at the nuclear power station there is a risk of global radiation catastrophe,” he said in a video address.

3. Labor MP likens gig economy to a “cancer”
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has lashed out at the gig economy and its main platforms such as Uber, Deliveroo and Menulog, stating its contracted labour is a “cancer” on the Australian economy. Burke is said to accuse the sector in a speech in Sydney today of dirving down wages of up to one million workers.

“Unlike traditional employees, contractors for gig companies do not have rights to minimum wages, unfair dismissal protections, employer superannuation payments, workers’ compensation for injuries or paid leave. Working conditions in the sector have been under growing scrutiny following five delivery rider deaths in three months in 2020,” The SMH reports.

4. Did you know?
Hummingbirds are the only known birds that can also fly backwards.

5. ASX to rise on Wall St push
ASX futures were down 2 points or 0.03% to 6973 near 6am AEST, with the AUD +1% to 69.76 US cents.

On Wall St: Dow +0.3% S&P 500 +0.6% Nasdaq +1.1%.

In Europe: Stoxx 50 +0.2% FTSE +0.1% DAX +0.4% CAC -0.1%.

2-year yield: US 3.36% Australia 3.01%.

10-year yield: US 3.04% Australia 3.67%.