G'day!
Here's what's been happening today:
- NSW has recorded its largest number of new COVID-19 cases, but the Premier says the hospitalisation rate shows vaccines are working
- WA has opened up to some states, but put up another hard border
- And Australia's already topping the leader board at the Paralympics
Strap yourselves in, we're going to power through some updates!
NSW reported 919 new local cases of COVID-19 — but the hospitalisation rate is 'relatively low'
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the case numbers would have some people "alarmed" — 919 is the highest daily total we've seen in the entire pandemic, so that's fair enough — but the "relatively low" number of hospitalised COVID patients showed vaccines were working.
"Last year when there was the outbreak in Victoria, even though they had fewer cases, the death rate was much higher.
"The measure of how we are doing is keeping people out of hospital, stopping people dying.
"That is the most important measure but what is also really important is when you have those high rates of vaccination, that adds protection and allows us to live more freely and gives us the confidence to move forward."
Two deaths were officially record in today's statistics.
NSW currently has 645 COVID-19 cases in hospital, with 113 cases in intensive care.
Read the storyThere were 45 new cases in Victoria
It was the second day in a row that Victoria's new local case numbers dropped from the high of 71 recorded on Sunday.
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said while it was "heartening" to see the reduction in cases in recent days, "we know that numbers bounce around".
The state is really focusing on vaccinations right now, with a push to vaccinate all year 12 students before their major exams in October.
Read the storyThe ACT said its lockdown wouldn't end before September 2 after nine cases were recorded
The territory's outbreak is now sitting at 176 cases.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said he'd inform Canberrans before the weekend about how next week would look:
"Now is not the time to be significantly easing restrictions, but some changes are being considered and these changes will seek to balance risk across the community."
He said some restrictions would remain after the lockdown, hinting any travel between the ACT and Sydney was still months away:
Read the story"Put it this way, I would not be planning a trip to Sydney in the next few months."
WA will be opening its border to some and closing it to others
Travellers from South Australia will be allowed in without having to quarantine.
And WA has decided people travelling from Queensland are now less risky, but they'll still have to spend 14 days in quarantine — that can be at home, a suitable premises or at a government-approved quarantine facility which they'll have to pay for.
But it's bad news for people travelling from New Zealand, with a hard border going up against the nation from midnight tonight.
Read the storyAnd we heard that Perth miiiiight be hosting the AFL grand final this year
But we won't have confirmation on that until next week.
Today AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said WA was on standby to host the match "in the event that it is not able to happen at the MCG".
"I just want to be clear about that — we are still talking to Victorian government," he said.
Read the storyNew Zealand clocked up another 62 new local cases
That bring NZ's current cluster to 210 cases.
While it's the biggest daily number in this current outbreak, Health Department director-general Ashley Bloomfield said the increase wasn't "exponential".
“The vast majority of cases, we have been able to identify the link."
He said the majority of the links between cases were "within households or workplaces".
Read the storyOur journalist in Afghanistan has an Australian visa, but he can't get into Kabul airport
An Afghan journalist who has been crucial to ABC Investigations' stories on alleged war crimes has been unable to get on an evacuation flight.
Mark Willacy has written about our fixer's attempts to get out of Afghanistan, referring to him as Nasim, but that's not his real name:
Read the story"Like many others, the problem with getting Nasim out was not getting him a visa.
"That was issued speedily and without drama.
"The dilemma was getting him through the Taliban checkpoints surrounding the airport, through the tide of human misery clogging the airport gates, and to the Australian officials looking out for Australian citizens and visa holders."
The US Vice-President went to Vietnam, but not for a holiday
The ABC's China correspondent Bill Birtles explains why it's a big deal:
"Kamala Harris's visit to Vietnam is part of a step-up in US engagement in the region, and it's all about China.
"After using a speech in Singapore to say Beijing is coercing its neighbours, she again accused China of bullying and intimidation over territorial claims during her visit to Hanoi.
"But China believes the US is the one doing the coercing, and is seeking to drive a wedge between South East Asian nations and Beijing.
"Ms Harris has offered more US naval visits to Vietnam, along with a million vaccines.
"Earlier, China promised to give 2 million."
Her trip was delayed by three hours, after reports about possible cases of the mysterious Havana syndrome among US personnel in Hanoi.
The mystery illness has no definitive cause, but reports have suggested attacks using microwave or radio wave weapons could be behind the illness.
Read the storySpencer Elden, the baby from Nirvana's Nevermind album cover, is suing over the picture
He's alleging he was "sexually exploited" by the nude picture.
While interpreted by most as a nonsexual image of a child, a filing on behalf of Mr Elden in the California Central District Court alleges it amounted to "commercial child sexual exploitation".
The lawsuit names the band's surviving members, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, along with the estate of Kurt Cobain, production companies and photographer Kirk Weddle.
In a 2016 interview with GQ Australia on the 25th anniversary of the album's release, Mr Elden said his views about the album cover had changed over time:
Read the story"I've recently been thinking, 'What if I wasn't OK with my freaking penis being shown to everybody?'
"I didn't really have a choice."
Australia's already snagged four gold medals in the Tokyo Paralympics
Cyclist Paige Greco won us our first gold in the C1-3 individual pursuit this afternoon, with Emily Petricola winning our second gold a few minutes later in the C4 individual pursuit.
William Martin won gold in the men's 400m freestyle S9, with Alexander Tuckfield taking home a bronze medal.
Our fourth gold was won by Lakeisha Patterson in the women's 400m freestyle - S9.
Their efforts gave Australia an early lead in the medal tally.
You can keep up with all the Paralympic action in our live blog.
Nighty night!
You've made it to the end :-)
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