Leaders aren't talking and trade tensions remain, but Chinese students haven't abandoned Australia … yet. Chinese people in Australia have lodged more student visa applications in the month of January this year than in January during any previous year.
Key points: The diplomatic relationship between China and Australia is strainedLast year, the Chinese ambassador warned students may choose to go to other countriesNew figures appear to show Chinese nationals already in Australia want to stay and study during the pandemic. Anger has turned to sadness for Australia's fed-up women. Prime Minister, all you needed to hear was being said right next to you.
When the Australian of the Year Grace Tame lifted her angry, defiant voice to cry "well, hear me now" after years of being silenced by sexual abuse, Scott Morrison was standing only a few feet away. When she gave her incendiary Press Club Speech in Canberra this week urging sexual assault and abuse survivors like herself to "share your truth, it is your power", the Prime Minister, his Cabinet — with one member off on stress leave and another soon to join her — and all the staff of what might be one of the most toxic workplaces in Australia were just up the hill, in a shining stone building under a slow-waving flag.
I'm sure they must have heard her. Tame's voice was trembling slightly that night on Australia Day eve, but the time she has spent since, and also surely the last two weeks that she and the rest of us have gone through, appear to have put even more steel in her call. China looks to close the chapter on coronavirus with big targets for 2021 at its annual National People's Congress. One year after coronavirus battered the global economy, Beijing's leaders are signalling to the world it's ready to close the chapter on the pandemic.
China's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress, began meeting on Friday as part of a week-long conference to discuss, among other things, the country's ambition for 2021 and its bigger picture strategy for the next five years. But already debate is raging about the country's economic goals. Greater Shepparton Secondary College student says racist incidents left her feeling 'subhuman' Senior student Nerrissa Leitch should be concentrating on her studies, but she says she is often exposed to racism at school that makes her feel "subhuman".
Key points: Student Nerrissa Leitch says she experienced racism at Greater Shepparton Secondary College An independent report found a "high number" of racist incidents had been carried out by teachersThe teachers' union says the school's staff weren't provided with a copy of the report. The broken America that helped put Donald Trump in the White House remains today. Trumpism is alive in America.
Why? Because Donald Trump was never an aberration, never a vulgar anomaly, never a distortion of American democracy. He is a product of American democracy. Coronavirus Australia news: COVID vaccinations on track to reach 500,000 a week, Greg Hunt says — as it happened. Reopening England's schools is step towards normality, PM Boris Johnson says The reopening of England's schools to all pupils on Monday will mark the first step back towards normality, and is only possible because of the efforts of the public to bring COVID-19 infection rates down, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
Mr Johnson has announced a roadmap for lifting lockdown measures that sees schools open first, followed in later stages by the gradual easing of restrictions on mixing with other people and the re-opening of non-essential shops and other venues. In the final stage, which will take place no earlier than June 21, the government hopes to remove all remaining legal limits on contact with others. "The reopening of schools marks a truly national effort to beat this virus," Mr Johnson said. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo accused of inappropriate behaviour by another former aide. Another woman who worked for Andrew Cuomo has described conduct by the New York Governor that she felt was inappropriate for the workplace.
Key points: Ana Liss was a policy aide to Mr Cuomo between 2013 and 2015She says the Governor called her "sweetheart" and asked if she had a boyfriendA spokesman for Mr Cuomo says the type of behaviour described is "innocent" banter politicians often take part in Ana Liss, 35, said when she a policy aide to the Governor between 2013 and 2015 Mr Cuomo called her "sweetheart", once kissed her hand and asked personal questions. Ms Liss made the allegations in an article published on Saturday in The Wall Street Journal. She said she initially thought of Mr Cuomo's conduct as harmless, but it grew to bother her, including his question of whether she had a boyfriend. Independent body to handle complaints in Australian Parliament may be needed in wake of rape allegations. The Sex Discrimination Commissioner believes an independent complaints handling body may be needed to deal with staffing concerns in Parliament House.
Key points: Kate Jenkins says unique circumstances to Parliament House must be investigated in her inquiryShe said she could not foreshadow recommendations, but an independent body to handle complaints could be oneThe inquiry follows several allegations of sexual assaults in Parliament, most recently by Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins Kate Jenkins has been asked to lead an independent inquiry into the culture on Capital Hill, in the wake of an allegation by a former Liberal staffer that she was raped by a colleague in a ministerial office. Brittany Higgins's complaint, and her insistence that she was not given adequate support by colleagues and then-boss, Defence minister Linda Reynolds, has started a serious conversation about behaviour and standards in the corridors of power.
He has strenuously denied the allegation. Mohammad was placed on a temporary protection visa as a child — now he's seemingly stuck with it for life. Linda Reynolds extends her leave following Brittany Higgins allegation. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will remain on sick leave for another month, amid calls for her to resign or be dumped from her portfolio by the Prime Minister.
Key points: Defence Minister Linda Reynolds faced criticism before going on leave for her handling of Brittany Higgins's allegationSenator Reynolds has broken down in Parliament during questioning, and has apologised for calling Ms Higgins a "lying cow"Members of the Opposition are calling for Senator Reynolds to be stood down. 'Very strong' reading of coronavirus in wastewater from Adelaide's CBD during festival season.
South Australian health authorities say testing of Adelaide's wastewater has returned a "very strong" positive result for COVID–19.
Key points: A positive result for coronavirus has been found in Adelaide's wastewaterSA Health has urged people to get testedIt could be from an old case in an interstate visitor SA Health says the result is still being investigated, with the detected virus possibly coming from a medi-hotel resident or an old case who is still "shedding". But Deputy Public Health Officer Chris Lease said it was a timely reminder that people with symptoms should be tested, with numbers dropping in recent times.
Pandemic on our northern doorstep likely to get worse. Four Corners to explore Porter allegations. PoliticsNow: Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has new doctor’s certificate to miss next sitting fortnight of parliament. Western Australian’s budget outpaces rest of the world. Aussie 'quiet diplomacy' a 'foolish ploy' against 'backward and brutal' Iraq regime. Gillard, Hunt receive COVID-19 vaccine. Victorian Labor 'enshrine' anti-fracking policy into constitution. Whistleblower reveals ‘concerning’ quarantine breach before Holiday Inn outbreak.
'Woke revolution' censorship of Dr Seuss 'runs from silly to sinister' ‘Peta for Premier’: Outsiders tout Peta Credlin for Victoria's top job. 'Scant regard' is being paid to important issues amid 'saturated coverage' of allegations. PM Morrison 'actively considering' replacing Linda Reynolds with Dutton as Defence minister. Auckland emerges from a week-long coronavirus lockdown. Coronavirus restrictions in New Zealand's largest city have been relaxed following a week-long lockdown. In Auckland, a city of some 1.6 million people, schools and businesses can reopen from Sunday, people can travel between regions and can attend gatherings of up to 100 people, up from 10. The country reported just one new case of COVID-19 on Sunday, with a person in managed isolation testing positive for the virus that causes it. "While it's encouraging to see another day without any community cases, we must all remain vigilant and continue to do our bit," the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Sunday.
The relaxed restrictions will be in place for at least five days before being reassessed. 25 Jan 2020: New Zealand investigates 'probable' first COVID-19 case in months. Government denies GPs rolling out the vaccine will be left out of pocket. The federal government along with Australia's peak medical body has dismissed claims that general practices participating in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout will be left out of pocket. In recent days, general practitioners around the country have aired their concerns about what they believe to be inadequate funding from the federal government. The Australian GP Alliance said its practitioners were facing "quite a deal of stress - financial and otherwise" over the rollout.
"The Federal Department of Health's First Assistant Secretary of the COVID-19 Primary Care Response, Dr Lucas De Toca, is urging GPs to undertake the online vaccination training as soon as possible,” the Alliance said in a statement. Joe Biden hails Senate passage of 'desperately needed' $2.47 trillion coronavirus relief plan. US President Joe Biden hailed the Senate passage of a $1.9 trillion USD ($2.47 trillion AUD) relief package for the pandemic-stricken American economy, following a marathon overnight voting session.
"I promised the American people help was on the way. Today, I can say we've taken one more giant step forward in delivering on that promise," Mr Biden said after the plan was approved along strict party lines. "It obviously wasn't easy. US poet Amanda Gorman says she was followed by a security guard who said she looked 'suspicious' African-American poet Amanda Gorman, who became a star after her reading at US President Joe Biden's inauguration, has said a security guard claimed she looked "suspicious" and followed her as she walked home. "This is the reality of black girls: One day you're called an icon, the next day, a threat," she tweeted Friday. "He demanded if I lived there because 'you look suspicious.'
Julia Gillard urges Australian women to get a coronavirus vaccine. Julia Gillard has had her coronavirus jab, urging everyone - and particularly women - to get vaccinated. The former prime minister joined Health Minister Greg Hunt and Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy to be among the first to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination at a Melbourne clinic on Sunday. Two weeks ago Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly were among the first to be vaccinated with the Pfizer jab. "Me being here today is a visible representation that no matter what side of politics you barrack for, no matter whom you intend to vote for, there is a united message," Ms Gillard told reporters.
Linda Reynolds extends sick leave to early April, sparking criticism from Labor. Coronavirus: US Senate passes Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan after all-night votes. Pressure mounts on Liberal MPs amid allegations. Coronavirus: When Australia can resume international travel, according to epidemiologist. White House warns of active threat from Microsoft email hacking. Coronavirus: AstraZeneca vaccine officially launched in Australia. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds delays return to work until April 2 on medical grounds. Coronavirus: 'Strong positive' COVID-19 result found in SA wastewater. Kayleigh McEnany Makes Questionable Claims In First Interview Since Leaving White House. Insurrectionist Photographed In Nancy Pelosi's Office Says It's Unfair He Remains Jailed. Self-Proclaimed Billionaire Trump Now Begging Small-Dollar Donors For Money. The World Finally Started Cutting Climate Pollution. Now It Needs To Multiply That By 10. Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman Says She Was Racially Profiled Outside Her Home.