More than one-and-a-half million people are currently getting by on COVID disaster payments, as Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT remain in lockdown. All up, it’s costing the Commonwealth about $1 billion a week, and is keeping households — and the broader economy — afloat. In NSW and the ACT, for example, more than one in five people of working age …

Coronavirus news including the the most up to date coverage 25.9.21 : New South Wales has recorded 1,007 new COVID-19 cases and more people have died at home without knowing they had the virus. Of the 11 people who died from the virus yesterday none were fully vaccinated. Two people had received one dose and NSW Health says at least …

24.9.21 update : NSW recorded 1,043 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. One new case was acquired overseas, and 18 previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 56,799. Sadly, NSW Health is today reporting the deaths …

Australia’s global strategic partnerships have been the focus of a speech by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the fourth day of the United Nations General Assembly. In a pre-taped video statement, Mr Morrison touted Australia’s $100 million contribution to the Quad Vaccine Partnership “with our good friends the United States, India and Japan”. “This will support a boost in production …

Lebanon’s parliament began a session on Monday that is scheduled to discuss the new cabinet’s policy program and hold a vote of confidence, after a nearly one-hour delay caused by a power cut. Lebanon is battling a deep depression, with worsening fuel shortages translating into few or any hours of state-backed power a day and most Lebanese relying on private …

NSW has confirmed another 1022 local virus cases and 10 more deaths as three more regional local government areas are ordered into lockdowns. The toll from the state’s Delta outbreak has risen to 255, with the deaths of eight more men and two women aged from their 50s to their 90s confirmed on Tuesday. Infections in the latest 24-hour period …

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has landed in the US for meetings ahead of the first face-to-face Quad leaders’ summit. Mr Morrison’s RAAF jet touched down at John F Kennedy international airport in New York about 8am Australian time on Tuesday, after travelling from Sydney via Hawaii on Monday. “I’m very pleased to be here in the United States,” he said …

The Byron, Kempsey and Tweed LGAs will go back into lockdown from 5:00pm today after a COVID-19 case from Sydney was infectious in several communities on the NSW north coast. The lockdown will last for seven days. Push beyond 80 per cent vax rates needed: Report Vaccinating 80 per cent of adults against coronavirus won’t be enough to end lockdowns, …

Australia’s two most populous states have their focus on reopening their economies even as infection rates remain relatively high and death tolls continue to climb. But the nation’s doctors are calling for caution when easing restrictions on reaching vaccination rates of 70 and 80 per cent under the national recovery plan. Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid says the …

Here’s why the news about Australia getting nuclear submarines with the help of the US and UK is a big deal If you haven’t noticed, there’s been a lot of hype around about a deal to make Australia one of the few countries in the world equipped with nuclear submarines. After all, it’s not every day the UK Prime Minister …