The Opera House, ferry terminals, parks and squares – all the city's most popular spaces have been nearly cleared of people. Central Sydney experienced a dramatic drop in workers and shoppers as the government ordered pubs and restaurants to close, and businesses asked their staff to work from home as part of efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19
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Eastern Freeway crash: police arrest Porsche driver who fled scene after four Victoria police officers killed
Porsche driver allegedly posted images to social media and fled after truck ploughed into four officers who had intercepted him
Police have arrested the Porsche driver who allegedly fled the scene of the accident that killed four Victoria police officers in Melbourne.
The crash happened on the Eastern Freeway at Kew about 5.40pm on Wednesday and is the biggest loss of police officer life in Victoria’s history.
Continue reading...Australia coronavirus update live: Two more deaths reported in NSW as national death toll reaches 74 – latest news
New South Wales chief medical officer says 231 people are now being treated for Covid-19, with 20 in intensive care. Follow live
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It has been floating around again for a while, but this morning Josh Frydenberg put company tax cuts firmly back on the table.
Business Council of Australia chief executive, Jennifer Westacott told Sky News’s Laura Jayes they were absolutely needed (but she would say that, wouldn’t she).
We’re trying to solve business investment, which was low before this terrible crisis. It’s business investment that drives productivity which drives higher wages. So that’s the problem, let’s frame that up first. Look I think it is important for us to put it back on the table but along with other tax reform. It’s not the only thing that needs to be done. It’s important that we look at the state taxes, the productivity sapping stamp duty taxes, payroll tax. It is interesting how much payroll tax has been deferred.
The whole question of the right configuration of the state taxes. Whether or not we bring forward those other income tax cuts. So it’s not just company taxes but it is important we have a competitive company tax rate. To the treasurer’s point, we’re not asking, in the Business Council, for us to have the lowest rate, we’re simply asking for a competitive rate, so that we can be a magnet for investment in this country.
In case you haven’t seen this as yet, or cried today, I am giving this another run, because we all need a bit of heartbreakingly lovely in our lives.
After noticing that Ken slept with a photo of his late wife every night, one of the carers at Thistleton Lodge presented him with this incredible gift... pic.twitter.com/Q1v8V8HUFS
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: UN warns of ‘biblical’ famine; first case seen in Palestinian refugees in Lebanon
Trump to halt immigration for 60 days initially; 256m people could starve, says UN; cases worldwide pass 2.5 million
- Coronavirus latest: at a glance
- Ramadan in a time of plague: ‘The best thing is to stay home, stay quiet’
- UK coronavirus updates – live
- US coronavirus updates – live
- See all our coronavirus coverage
A Chinese citizen journalist who was missing for almost two months after posting videos from Wuhan during the coronavirus outbreak has re-appeared, claiming that he was detained by police and forcibly quarantined, Lily Kuo reports from Beijing.
Li Zehua was one of three Chinese journalists who had been reporting in Wuhan during some of the worst weeks of the epidemic. He was last seen on 26 February after posting a video in which he was chased by a white SUV and an hours-long livestream that ended when several agents entered his apartment.
我是李泽华Kcriss，这是2月26日至今关于我的一些情况。I'm Kcriss, here is something about me si... https://t.co/ETjY7QaacY via @YouTube
Related: Missing Wuhan citizen journalist reappears after two months
Airlines in Europe have applied for €12.8bn (£11.3bn) in government support since the start of the coronavirus pandemic with no binding environmental conditions attached, according to an analysis of the sector’s bailout pleas, Sandra Laville reports.
By Tuesday this week, airlines including easyJet, Scandinavian Airlines and Tui had secured loans and other financial support amounting to €3.36bn. A further €9.47bn is being sought by other airlines, data tracking by Transport & Environment, Greenpeace and Carbon Watch reveals.
Related: Coronavirus: airlines seek €12.8bn in bailouts without environmental conditions attached
Continue reading...Ruby Princess crew finally disembark in Australia after Covid-19 quarantine – video
Ruby Princess crew members clapped and cheered from their balconies as the first of their workmates finally began to disembark the troubled cruise ship in New South Wales to fly home.
At least 49 crew members from six countries disembarked from the ship, which has been docked at Port Kembla for more than two weeks following a Covid-19 outbreak. NSW Police has said more crew members will disembark in coming days, but hundreds will remain on board and return with the ship to its port of origin.
The Ruby Princess initially docked in Sydney in March, when the ship's passengers and some crew disembarked.It has since been linked to at least 21 deaths and hundreds of coronavirus cases across Australia
Continue reading...Victoria police respond to family violence risk during ‘very stressful time’ of coronavirus
A new taskforce called Operation Ribbon will keep police in contact with high-risk perpetrators and their victims
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Of the approximately 7,000 calls relating to family violence made to Victoria police in the past month, 14% have related to Covid-19, the state’s deputy police commissioner, Shane Patton, said on Tuesday.
When police attended those incidents they were told by the alleged victim or alleged perpetrator that having to stay at home together had exacerbated animosity. Patton said that while there had not been an increase recorded in the number of assaults, police were preparing for such an outcome, and had already experienced an increase in reporting by third parties.
Continue reading...Global confirmed Covid-19 cases pass 2.5m but Italy sees first significant fall in infections – as it happened
This blog is now closed.
We’ve launched a new live blog at the link below where we’ll be bringing you the latest developments in the coronavirus pandemic:
Related: Coronavirus live news: UN warns of 'biblical' famine as White House prepares immigration halt
In today’s White House press briefing Trump said the US has “tested more than any country in the world, even put together.”
This is false.
Continue reading...Tony Abbott’s anti-Muslim rhetoric while PM ‘profoundly dangerous’, Malcolm Turnbull says
Turnbull says it was a threat to national security and Abbott’s style of government was ‘erratic and flaky’
Malcolm Turnbull has accused Tony Abbott of the “profoundly dangerous” decision to inflame animosity against Muslims while terrorism was the greatest security threat to Australia during his prime ministership.
In a wide-ranging interview on ABC TV’s 7.30, the former Liberal prime minister took aim at his predecessor for running an “erratic” and “flaky” government and his conservative ally turned challenger, Peter Dutton, for destroying his leadership in pursuit of the “absurd proposition” he could lead the Coalition to victory.
Continue reading...Facebook and Google to be forced to share advertising revenue with Australian media companies
Mandatory code being developed by ACCC will create ‘level playing field’ in media landscape, Josh Frydenberg says
Facebook and Google will be forced to share advertising revenue with Australian media companies after the treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, instructed the competition watchdog to develop a mandatory code of conduct for the digital giants amid a steep decline in advertising brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
In its response to the landmark digital platforms inquiry in December, the federal government asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to develop a code between media companies and digital platforms including Google and Facebook.
Continue reading...Australia coronavirus live: health minister backs calls for global investigation into Covid-19 spread – latest updates
Greg Hunt supports foreign affairs minister Marise Payne’s call for an independent review that must not be run by WHO as fresh privacy concerns raised over government’s contact-tracing app. Follow the latest news live
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Hazzard has announced the $5,000 on-the-spot fine for people who spit or cough at healthcare workers has been extended now to include all workers.
Assistant police minister Karen Webb says that overnight, a 25-year-old man from Nowra was arrested for a number of offences including allegedly spitting at police officers.
Just in the last last week, I’ve had four matters raised with me by members across the state from people deliberately coughing or spitting on people ... It is vile and it is disgusting and unacceptable.
New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard is providing an update on new cases in the state.
He says to 8pm last night there were 21 new cases of Covid-19, taking the state’s total number of confirmed cases to 2,957. There are 245 people being treated in hospital, including 21 in intensive care and 17 on ventilators.
“We’re doing much better than we could have expected at this point but I also want to remind the community this is a long game. It’s a team game. Probably at this point we aren’t very far into the game.
She looked at me and said minister probably if we’re lucky we’re 10 minutes into the first quarter. There is no room here for us to forget this is a long game and a game with a lot more to go.
Continue reading...The exit strategy: how countries around the world are preparing for life after Covid-19
As Australia makes plans to gradually lift its coronavirus lockdown, we look at what the rest of the world is doing
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- Coronavirus Australia maps and cases: live numbers and statistics
Australia has a road out of its coronavirus lockdown, long and winding though it may be.
Having warned repeatedly that this pandemic response was taking Australia into “uncharted territory”, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, has leaned again on a navigational metaphor for our subsequent recovery.
Continue reading...‘Relief’: appeal win means Biloela family can put claim Sri Lanka is not safe, says supporter
‘We are moving in the right direction,’ friend says after verdict that asylum seeker family was denied procedural fairness
The Tamil asylum seeker family from Biloela say a reprieve from the federal court on Friday has given them their first “real win” in two years in their fight to stay in Australia.
The federal court ruled that the family was denied procedural fairness in the decision on whether to process their visa claim in 2019 and their deportation must remain on hold.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: nearly 100,000 EU citizens remain stranded overseas due to pandemic
China denies cover-up as Wuhan death toll revised up by 50%; Brazil’s president fires health minister
- Virus ‘under control’ in Germany, as some countries plan to relax lockdown
- Coronavirus latest: at a glance
- UK coronavirus updates – live
- US coronavirus updates – live
- See all of our coronavirus coverage
WHO’s daily briefing on the coronavirus outbreak has just begun. WHO director Tarik Jasarevic said the coronavirus solidarity fund has generated $150 million from more than 245,000 individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Deaths from the coronavirus epidemic in Italy rose by 575 on Friday, up from 525 the day before, while the number of new cases declined slightly to 3,493 from a previous 3,786.
The daily death toll is down considerably from peaks reached around the end of March, Reuters reports.
Continue reading...Nearly 100,000 EU citizens remain stranded overseas due to pandemic – as it happened
China denies cover-up as Wuhan death toll revised up by 50%; Brazil’s president fires health minister
We are closing this live global blog now, but you can pick up all of our continuing coverage on our new global blog here.
You can also see our latest summary of events at Coronavirus latest developments: at a glance.
Oliver Milman, an environment reporter for Guardian in New York, has some analysis on the progression of the coronavirus pandemic in the US.
A model relied upon by the White House, from the University of Washington, estimates that the virus will “peter out” in May and then essentially grind to a halt by the summer. This is based on the experiences of China and Italy, previous coronavirus hotspots.
Australia’s landlords and tenants: what support is available in the coronavirus crisis?
With a six-month eviction moratorium agreed nationally, we look at what else is on offer from states and territories
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Although the national cabinet has agreed to a six-month moratorium on evictions, it has abandoned attempts to achieve a nationally consistent approach to financial support for residential landlords and tenants through the Covid-19 crisis.
Since Scott Morrison announced residential tenancies would be a matter for the states and territories on 7 April, many have offered land tax cuts in a bid to incentivise rent reductions.
Continue reading...Scientists trial cloud brightening equipment to shade and cool Great Barrier Reef
Exclusive: experiment uses a modified turbine to spray trillions of nano-sized salt crystals into the air from a barge
Scientists have carried out a trial of prototype cloud brightening equipment on the Great Barrier Reef they hope could be scaled up to shade and cool corals and protect them from bleaching caused by rising global temperatures.
The experiment used a modified turbine with 100 high-pressure nozzles to spray trillions of nano-sized ocean salt crystals into the air from the back of a barge.
Continue reading...Dating during the coronavirus lockdown
In this episode of Full Story, producer Ellen Leabeater sets out to find how Australia’s singles are adapting to dating during the lockdown and discovers some creative measures being taken
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: 1m tests to be rolled out across Africa, as WHO warns over Europe situation
Trump casts doubt on China death toll; WHO chief hopes US will remain a ‘friend’; almost 700 test positive on French aircraft carrier
- Coronavirus latest: at a glance
- Trump fans flames of Chinese lab theory during daily briefing
- Australia coronavirus updates – live
- See all of our coronavirus coverage
Households across the UK are now taking to their gardens, doorsteps, balconies and windows to applaud for the frontline workers fighting the coronavirus.
It will be the fourth “clap for carers” event in the UK, becoming a staple for Thursday nights in lockdown.
Leaders of the G7 group of major industrialised nations have agreed the rapid development of a coronavirus vaccine is crucial in dealing with the outbreak.
First Secretary of State Dominic Raab deputised for the UK’s prime minister Boris Johnson at the virtual summit, which also discussed the particular risk coronavirus poses for developing countries.
Continue reading...Coronavirus live news: Trump casts doubt on China death toll as cases worldwide top 2 million
US reports 25,000 new infections; WHO chief hopes US will remain a ‘friend’; almost 700 test positive on French aircraft carrier. Follow the latest updates
- Coronavirus latest: at a glance
- New York nurses hold vigil for colleagues who have died amid pandemic
- Australia coronavirus updates – live
- See all of our coronavirus coverage
The New York Times is reporting that a pork factory in Smithfield, South Dakota is the new centre of the coronavirus pandemic in the US. This week, the paper reports:
The Smithfield plant became the nation’s largest single-source coronavirus hot spot. Its employees now make up about 44 percent of the diagnoses in South Dakota, and a team of researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has traveled there to assess how the outbreak spiraled out of control. Smithfield is the latest meat processing facility to close in the face of the coronavirus.
A Japanese MP has been expelled from his party after it was revealed he had visited a club in a Tokyo red light district, two days after the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, declared a state of emergency in an attempt to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
Takashi Takai, a 50-year-old lower house member for the Constitutional Democratic party of Japan, admitted he had visited Sexy Cabaret Club in Tokyo’s Kabukicho district on 9 April, media reports said, despite government requests that people refrain from visiting bars, restaurants and clubs as part of efforts to reduce personal contact by 70-80%.
Takai submitted a letter of resignation after media reported his visit to the club, but the party rejected it and expelled him instead, Kyodo news agency said.
Are schools open or closed for term 2 amid coronavirus in Australia? State-by-state guide
Many parents have been left confused about whether students can or should return to school after the Easter holidays
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The position of the federal and state governments on whether to send children to school in term two while coronavirus social distancing rules are in force have many parents confused.
Throughout March the Morrison government opposed school closures on the basis of medical advice, but the issue was forced by Victoria bringing forward its school holidays, and other states and territories introducing pupil-free days to prepare for online learning.
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