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Coronavirus live news: US health secretary Azar to visit Taiwan as Europe faces second wave Coronavirus live news: US health secretary Azar to visit Taiwan as Europe faces second wave
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US president flounders in media briefing and TV interview; France could lose control any time; Nadal withdraws from US Open. Follow all the developmentsUS president flounders in media briefing and TV interview; France could lose control any time; Nadal withdraws from US Open. Follow all the developments
Gold has soared to a record high price of $2,030.72 per ounce as financial markets move money into ultra-safe assets that they think are less likely to lose value if the world slumps into a prolonged recession thanks to Covid-19.
It’s likely that US legislatords will agree more stimulus spending to help the country’s economy, which will in turn put more downward pressure on bond yields and the US dollar, shifting more cash into other assets.
“Failure to agree to another round of stimulus would hit the U.S. economy hard at a time when high-frequency data suggests it is losing some momentum,” said Tapas Strickland, analyst at Melbourne-based National Australia Bank told Reuters.
Here’s another quirky virus-related story about the obscure Hutt River micronation in Australia that has decided to rejoin the country because of the ravages of coronavirus.Here’s another quirky virus-related story about the obscure Hutt River micronation in Australia that has decided to rejoin the country because of the ravages of coronavirus.
The “nation” several hundred kilometres north of Perth in Western Australia was declared sovereign in 1970 in a dispute over wheat and even declared war on its rather bigger neighbour in 1977.The “nation” several hundred kilometres north of Perth in Western Australia was declared sovereign in 1970 in a dispute over wheat and even declared war on its rather bigger neighbour in 1977.
But the virus has forced Hutt River to close its borders to tourists and it is being starved of income, despite Weatern Australia being free of Covid-19.But the virus has forced Hutt River to close its borders to tourists and it is being starved of income, despite Weatern Australia being free of Covid-19.
Read more on this weird and wonderful tale here:Read more on this weird and wonderful tale here:
Sri Lankans have started voting in an election twice delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. The country has not had a parliament since March when president Gotabaya Rajapaksa sacked the body in March but he is still expected to cement his family’s controversial grip on power.Sri Lankans have started voting in an election twice delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. The country has not had a parliament since March when president Gotabaya Rajapaksa sacked the body in March but he is still expected to cement his family’s controversial grip on power.
Voters have been asked to observe social distancing and bring their own pens to the polls – with special booths set up for those who are quarantining. Sri Lanka appears to have contained the virus, recording 2,823 cases including 11 deaths.Voters have been asked to observe social distancing and bring their own pens to the polls – with special booths set up for those who are quarantining. Sri Lanka appears to have contained the virus, recording 2,823 cases including 11 deaths.
Our full report is here:Our full report is here:
I mentioned earlier that we’ve been speaking to people around the world about they are coping with the virus six months after it was declared an urgent threat to the world. Our world correspondent Michael Safi explains what he found in today’s Todaay in Focus podcastI mentioned earlier that we’ve been speaking to people around the world about they are coping with the virus six months after it was declared an urgent threat to the world. Our world correspondent Michael Safi explains what he found in today’s Todaay in Focus podcast
Donald Trump has come under fire for his claims about the death rate in the US despite them being over 1,000 a day.Donald Trump has come under fire for his claims about the death rate in the US despite them being over 1,000 a day.
However, as interviewer Jonathan Swan realised during the discussion, what Trump meant was that the ratio of deaths to new cases has fallen from a high of more than 7% earlier in April to more like 1.5%, as illustrated by this charted tweeted out by Australian economist Shane Oliver.However, as interviewer Jonathan Swan realised during the discussion, what Trump meant was that the ratio of deaths to new cases has fallen from a high of more than 7% earlier in April to more like 1.5%, as illustrated by this charted tweeted out by Australian economist Shane Oliver.
We have two contrasting pieces about how the pandemic is affecting Australia.We have two contrasting pieces about how the pandemic is affecting Australia.
First, some readers share their struggles about trying to find a job as unemployment rises to nearly 1 million in the country. One of them says: “I go to sleep every night with an aching lump in my stomach longing to just catch a break.First, some readers share their struggles about trying to find a job as unemployment rises to nearly 1 million in the country. One of them says: “I go to sleep every night with an aching lump in my stomach longing to just catch a break.
On a lighter note, Hannah Ryan reports on the boom in sales of cask wine. The often-derided product, nicknamed cardboardeaux, has gone out of fashion in recent years but convenience and pricing has helped lift sales since the crisis began.On a lighter note, Hannah Ryan reports on the boom in sales of cask wine. The often-derided product, nicknamed cardboardeaux, has gone out of fashion in recent years but convenience and pricing has helped lift sales since the crisis began.
The Australian state of Victoria has confirmed that it recorded 725 new cases of coronavirus and 15 deaths in the past 24 hours.The Australian state of Victoria has confirmed that it recorded 725 new cases of coronavirus and 15 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Twelve of the 15 fatalities were linked to aged care although one of the deaths was a man in his 30s, premier Daniel Andrews has just announced.Twelve of the 15 fatalities were linked to aged care although one of the deaths was a man in his 30s, premier Daniel Andrews has just announced.
It’s not linked to the virus but I must cross-refer here to our coverage of the devastating explosion in Beirut. Your usual Covid blogger, Helen Sullivan, is collating all the latest updates on the blast that has so far left 78 people dead and thousands injured.It’s not linked to the virus but I must cross-refer here to our coverage of the devastating explosion in Beirut. Your usual Covid blogger, Helen Sullivan, is collating all the latest updates on the blast that has so far left 78 people dead and thousands injured.
We also have a full report from our correspeondent in Beirut, Martin Chulov, a picture gallery and an explainer about how it happened.We also have a full report from our correspeondent in Beirut, Martin Chulov, a picture gallery and an explainer about how it happened.
US health secretary Alex Azar has confirmed that WSJ report that he is going to Taiwan.US health secretary Alex Azar has confirmed that WSJ report that he is going to Taiwan.
He said that Taiwan, which Beijing considers to be part of China, had been a “model of transparency and cooperation” over its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. No prizes for guessing who the trump administration thinks has not been such a paragon.He said that Taiwan, which Beijing considers to be part of China, had been a “model of transparency and cooperation” over its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. No prizes for guessing who the trump administration thinks has not been such a paragon.
The statement adds that he will use the visit to congratulate Taiwan on behalf of president Donald Trump for its “global health ledership”.The statement adds that he will use the visit to congratulate Taiwan on behalf of president Donald Trump for its “global health ledership”.
Here’s another choice quote:Here’s another choice quote:
Washington is reported to be sending its most senior representative to Taiwan for more than 40 years in what appears to be a calculated affront to Beijing as US-China relations continue to head downhill in the wake of the argument over the pandemic.Washington is reported to be sending its most senior representative to Taiwan for more than 40 years in what appears to be a calculated affront to Beijing as US-China relations continue to head downhill in the wake of the argument over the pandemic.
US health secretary Alex Azar will travel to Taiwan in coming days, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.US health secretary Alex Azar will travel to Taiwan in coming days, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
Taiwan’s official Central News Agency said it would be the highest level visit made by a US cabinet official since Washington broke formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979.Taiwan’s official Central News Agency said it would be the highest level visit made by a US cabinet official since Washington broke formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979.
We’ll have more on this story as it breaks.We’ll have more on this story as it breaks.
Here’s our newly minted full report on the decision by Queensland to close its border with New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.Here’s our newly minted full report on the decision by Queensland to close its border with New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
We’ve also just learned that NSW recorded 12 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours. All but one of them has been traced to a known outbreak.We’ve also just learned that NSW recorded 12 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours. All but one of them has been traced to a known outbreak.
We’re expecting the Victorian government to announce that it has another 725 new cases but that is not a confirmed number, just what’s been leaked to reporters this morning.We’re expecting the Victorian government to announce that it has another 725 new cases but that is not a confirmed number, just what’s been leaked to reporters this morning.
Stock markets in Asia Pacific are racking up some fairly hefty losses so far today because of concerns about the direction of the world economy.Stock markets in Asia Pacific are racking up some fairly hefty losses so far today because of concerns about the direction of the world economy.
You’d think those concerns might have sent the markets much lower in the past few months but massive government and central bank stimulus has so far acted as a backstop.You’d think those concerns might have sent the markets much lower in the past few months but massive government and central bank stimulus has so far acted as a backstop.
Some reality could be starting to bite. The ASX200 is off 0.86% in Sydney and the Nikkei in Japan is down by around the same. Gold, which acts as a barometer of anxiety about less tangible assets, has soared above $2,000 per ounce. US 10-year bonds climbed to record highs.Some reality could be starting to bite. The ASX200 is off 0.86% in Sydney and the Nikkei in Japan is down by around the same. Gold, which acts as a barometer of anxiety about less tangible assets, has soared above $2,000 per ounce. US 10-year bonds climbed to record highs.
Michael McCarthy of CMC Markets in Sydney said:Michael McCarthy of CMC Markets in Sydney said: