Maricar Virata came to Australia to start a new life, but she says she soon found herself working up to 18 hours a day, was on call 24 hours a day, and was paid as little as $3 an hour for her troubles. Then she was sacked by email.
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The Fair Work Ombudsman has launched court action to prosecute her employer – who co-owns the Quality Inn Country Plaza in Queanbeyan and the Comfort Inn in Halls Gap.
- Making headlines around the world, music superstar Prince has died at the age of 57.
- Closer to home, the number of jobs in Canberra has risen to levels unseen since swingeing cuts to the public service, but there was a warning issued for the ACT's economic outlook too.
- Channel Nine directly transferred almost $70,000 to the child abduction firm engaged to retrieve Sally Faulkner's two children from Lebanon, documents have shown.
- A man who crashed a drone at the Australian War Memorial during a "last post" ceremony has been fined $900 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
- Charles McCulloch's family were expecting a celebration on the 94-year-old's second day at a nursing home in Canberra. Instead, they were left identifying his body.
- A Canberra woman who kept starved and dehydrated dogs has been ordered to complete 300 hours of community service after a magistrate condemned the "distressing" appearance of the animals.
- Meanwhile in sport, ACT Brumbies chairman Robert Kennedy remains hopeful of an "amicable" end to the club's ugly drama, despite rival meetings on Thursday night leaving Canberra's rugby community divided.
- Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has demanded his team "man up and take accountability" and avoid another insipid display for a third straight game.
9.38am: Police say they haven't had any reports of a two-car crash on Coulter Drive in Belconnen however still be mindful if you're headed that way.
9.29am: There are reports of a two-car crash on Coulter Drive in Belconnen.
8am: A taxi break down is reportedly causing issues on Anthony Rolfe Drive in Gungahlin.
7.46am: The cars involved in that crash on Cooying Street and Scotts Crossing have been moved off the road. All lanes are now open but please take care.
7.27am: The intersection of Cooying Street and Scotts Crossing is blocked after a crash. One westbound is open and eastbound traffic is moving.
7.05am: Looks like there's been a crash on Cooyong St in Civic. We'll find out more.
There will be some road closures over Thursday and Friday for the Majura Parkway opening event, the ACT government has announced.
From midday to 3pm Thursday, the southbound on ramp from Fairbairn Avenue onto the Majura Parkway will be closed and traffic will be merged to one lane just before the southbound bridge over the Molonglo River.
From 9.30am to 2pm Friday, the southbound lanes of the Majura Parkway will be closed from Tambreet Street to south of the bridge over the Molonglo River. Detours will be in place with southbound traffic to be directed along Majura Road.
If you see any accidents or have any info on the morning commute, let us know whenever it is safe to do so. Email morningblog@canberratimes.com.au or tweet us @canberratimes.
The Australian Institute of Sport's school holiday program finishes today.
It's also the last day for children to design, make or draw their very own museum, using the National Museum of Australia's architecture for inspiration.
Gather round the telly and bask in the glow of vintage ABC. From Play School to raunchy romps, see Australian life reflected on screen in Tuning IN: ABC TV 1964-76 at the National Archives of Australia. Free. Until May 15.
Celestial Empire: Life in China 1644-1911 is on at the National Library of Australia brings together culture and tradition from two of the world's great libraries. Until May 22. Free.
See 2015's best political cartoons at the Behind the Lines exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.
Bush Capital: The natural history of the ACT at the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) shows the natural history of the Territory with specimens, illustrations, photographs, works of art and sound. From March 12 to June 26. Free.
Touch or click through for more David Pope
Today: Cloudy. Medium (60%) chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the afternoon and evening. Min 11, max 26.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. Light winds. Min 8, max 21.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 6, max 21.
