The World Health Organisation's Director-General has choked back tears as he called on countries to be open and transparent during an international investigation into the coronavirus pandemic.
The World Health Organisation's Director-General has choked back tears as he called on countries to be open and transparent during an international investigation into the coronavirus pandemic.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also criticised a lack of leadership and unity as he announced the leaders of an international investigation into the pandemic, which was spearheaded by Australia. Liberia's former President and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark will co-chair the panel assessing the global response. The inquiry will examine China's handling of the virus and whether enough was done to stop its rapid spread.
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In tears, WHO chief blasts 'lack of leadership and solidarity' during pandemicThe World Health Organisation's top official also announced that former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark would lead an impending international investigation into the pandemic.
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China accuses Australia of violating international law | Sky News AustraliaChina has accused Australia of violating international law after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australia would offer visas to residents of Hong Kong.\n\nBeijing's sweeping new national security laws cracking down on subversion have attracted mounting criticism from the west. \n\nIn response to the law, the Australian government will follow in the United Kingdom's footsteps and offer a path to permanent residency for those wanting to escape Beijing's influence. \n\nThe nation's extradition agreement with Hong Kong will also be suspended.\n\nThe Chinese government lashed out in response, warning the Australian government against meddling in its domestic affairs.
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Victorian outbreak keeping Australia in a ‘limbo land of suppression’ | Sky News AustraliaAustralia must eliminate the virus in order to avoid living in a “limbo land of suppression” triggered by low levels of community transmission, according to Melbourne University epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely.\n\nVictoria has recorded another 165 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours taking the state’s total active cases to just under 900, with 41 people currently in hospital.\n\nMr Blakely said Victoria “did have low grade community transmissions so we were going to get the virus breaking out at some point”.\n\nHe said the outbreak had “been brought forward in time and with greater intensity because of the muck up with the quarantine whereby it leaked out through the security guards into the north-western suburbs”.\n\n“This is a really bad situation for Victoria which stands out like a sore thumb” while other states have successfully eliminated the virus, he told Sky News host Andrew Bolt. \n\n“We need to actually make use of this lockdown and go a lot harder and see if we can get rid of the virus, get Australia completely clear of it and then we can live in a relatively open manner until such a time as a vaccine arrives”.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia
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Australia in trouble due to ‘staggering incompetence’ of the Andrews government | Sky News AustraliaVictorian Premier Daniel Andrews is “not a tyrant” but the state government is not an accountable democratic system according to The Australian’s Greg Sheridan.\n\nMr Sheridan said state government accountability is real problem in the broader political culture in Australia.\n\n“It’s true of all states, but it's worst of all in Victoria”.\n\nHe pointed out how the Victorian parliament is currently not sitting, the premier is not answering questions with regard to the botched hotel quarantine due to an ongoing judicial inquiry, and the ABC does not provide enough scrutiny on state governments.\n\n“He’s under no pressure from the mechanism of democracy,” Mr Sheridan told Sky News host Alan Jones.\n\n“Because they’re on the centre-Left and the pro-woke side of things, they’re not really getting beaten up by the ABC on a daily basis”.\n\n“The states should be abolished if they’re not going to be accountable”.\n\nHe said Australia beat the first wave of the deadly coronavirus, but is now in trouble due to the “monumental, unbelievable, staggering incompetence of the Andrews government”.\n\nImage: Getty
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Australia 'must take' Hong Kong residents seeking to escape communist China: Bishop | Sky News AustraliaSky News host Paul Murray says “Australia is standing up for the rights of those who have been trampled in Hong Kong” as China moves to end the one country two systems framework.\n\nUnder new legislation, Hong Kong residents could be arrested for criticising the communist regime, with some protestors already charged for carrying pro-independence flags and signs. \n\nThe federal cabinet met on Wednesday to discuss potentially offering Hong Kong nationals who fear political persecution a safe haven visa, following a similar move from the United Kingdom.\n\nFormer speaker of the house Bronwyn Bishop said “we want people who are fighting for freedom, people who understand a bit about free enterprise, people who will come and invest and try hard”.\n\n“We must take them,” she said \n\nImage: AP
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Australia needs a 'national plan' to deal with Melbourne's COVID outbreak | Sky News AustraliaThe recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Victoria highlights need for a cohesive, national economic recovery plan, according to Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick.\n\nPremier Daniel Andrews has confirmed 134 new coronavirus cases in Victoria in the past 24 hours, 75 of which are from public housing towers across Melbourne.\n\nUnder the state's new lockdown measures - set to come into full force at midnight tonight - the state will remain closed for up to six weeks before the government considers easing restrictions.\n\nAs a result of the surging number of COVID cases in Melbourne, the border between New South Wales and Victoria will close at midnight on Tuesday.\n\nWith Victoria responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia's GDP, the need for national economic recovery plan plan is pressing, Mr Patrick told Sky News.\n\n“One of the problems we’ve got is that we’re not seeing an integrated plan, something that looks at all aspects including infrastructure as a mechanism for growth, having some elements of manufacturing encouraged for value add and self-reliance,' he said.\n\n“We need to look at this as a national issue and we need to focus on solutions.\n\n “We need to be looking right across the spectrum at the entire package. \n\n“We need an integrated plan.”\n\n
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