Yahoo News Morning mail: 'encouraging signs' in Europe, why ventilators save lives, 400K erroneous robodebts
Good morning, this is Richard Parkin bringing you the main stories and must-reads on Friday 27 March.
Coronavirus
The World Health Organization has said there are “encouraging signs” in Europe, with its regional director Hans Kluge citing a lowering rate of new infections in Italy for four consecutive days as grounds for optimism. A grim milestone was reached overnight as the global tally for people confirming positive for the virus hit 500,000, with Spain passing 4,000 deaths and the US 1,000. China has closed its borders to foreign nationals while Kosovo’s government has collapsed amid a row over how best to fight the pandemic. The former UK prime minister Gordon Brown has called for the creation of a temporary form of global government to tackle the twin challenges of the pandemic and associated economic crises.
In Australia, Scott Morrison has urged G20 leaders to fund rapid research into a vaccine, and used a teleconference of world leaders on Thursday night to call on rich countries to support the developing world to help lower fatalities in countries with poor health systems. Victoria has now confirmed three deaths and Western Australia two, bringing Australia’s toll to 13, as Sydney airport introduced temperature checks, and the Queensland-NSW border closed for the first time in more than a century. Asic is poised to issue a public warning notice over an investment fund with up to 60 outstanding property settlements over its use of coronavirus-related marketing material to spruik new investment products.
Car manufacturers are offering to build more ventilators as health authorities around the world look to increase their stocks of the potentially lifesaving machines. Graham Readfearn has an explainer on what they are, how they work, and how long patients need them. New York’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, has said the city alone needs 15,000 more ventilators, as the state’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, slammed Congress, despite its passing of a $2tn stimulus package, for failing to adequately aid the state as it battles rising fatalities.
Australia
More than 400,000 Australians have been wrongly issued debts worth $550m under the bungled robodebt scheme, confidential documents seen by Guardian Australia have revealed, with the federal government privately admitting it will need to issue refunds to those affected. The documents also reveal that the government expects to lose an upcoming class action over the program.
The marine park authority has confirmed a third mass coral bleaching across the Great Barrier Reef, describing the damage as “very widespread”. The authority reiterated that the climate emergency was the “single greatest challenge” facing the reef.
The NSW Port Authority issued warnings over the need for tighter biosecurity screenings 50 days before the Ruby Princess was allowed to offload sick passengers in Sydney, emails have revealed.
The world
Israel’s main opposition leader, Benny Gantz, has been elected speaker, in a stunning twist in the nation’s year-long political crisis that analysts say indicates a power-sharing agreement with his bitter rival Benjamin Netanyahu. Gantz’s party has split, with former supporters confessing themselves “overwhelmed by the depth of the deceit and disgrace” entailed in such a deal.
The US has charged Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and 14 of his close associates with “narco-terrorism”, offering a $15m reward for information leading to his capture and prosecution.
The low-cost airline Ryanair has been accused of charging passengers a surcharge of up to £80 for rebooking cancelled flights, according to a consumer group which also claims the Irish company’s customer services lines are impossible to contact.
A Guardian journalist has been forced to leave Egypt after reporting a Canadian study that challenged the nation’s official tally of Covid-19 infections. Diplomats advised Ruth Michaelson, who had lived and reported since 2014 in Egypt, she was “at high risk of arrest” unless she left immediately.
Recommended reads
In tough times people turn to the arts for comfort. But with the coronavirus devastating cultural institutions, Australia’s artistic community are being stung to the tune of an estimated $280m of lost income, with over 250,000 events across Australia already cancelled. “In our most dire hours, art keeps us sane, lights the dark and ensures we stay human,” writes Benjamin Law.
It’s a discussion that’s divided many across Australia: should schools be closed or remain open during the Covid-19 pandemic? Two epidemiologists debate the pros and cons – on the one hand, there’s little evidence that children or schools are significant locations for infection outbreaks, on the other hand, major institutions remaining open could have a dangerous effect on muddying vitally important messaging on social distancing.
As more Australians battle loneliness during self-isolation, and animal shelters expect more surrendered animals, is there an obvious solution? “What better time to bring home an animal than during a global pandemic … All those days at home, all the soothing chin scratches at a time of profound anxiety,” writes Kate Leaver. Meet Max, the cat who desperately needed a home, and Andrew, the man who always dreamed of having a pet.
Listen
Talking to your parents about coronavirus: In this episode of Full Story the associate news editor Gabrielle Jackson breaks down the biggest coronavirus stories we’re covering right now, and the ones we’re expecting to cover in the coming days. Then we take a look at what to do if the person who raised you won’t stay at home.
Full Story is Guardian Australia’s news podcast. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcasting app.
Sport
They’re the troika of Russian teens revolutionising women’s figure skating – but why is the sport up in arms about Alena Kostornaia, Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova all of a sudden? Eoin O’Callaghan speaks with an Olympian skater who’s now a children’s rights activist.
The coronavirus has already wreaked havoc on the world’s sporting events but what will it mean for player contracts? With football leagues mothballed around the world, Fifa’s working group could decide changes to the transfer windows are needed.
And, it wouldn’t be Friday without David Squires … on the absence of the A-League for the foreseeable future.
Media roundup
Scott Morrison is contemplating a small business emergency stimulus package including rent, rates and tax freezes, writes the Australian, as 90% of Australian companies face significant financial fallout. The Foreign Investment Review Board is bracing for a run on distressed Australian businesses from overseas, particularly China, the Age reports, with calls to balance any investment against risks to national security. And Woolworths is looking for some 20,000 new staff, according to the Courier-Mail, as the supermarket giants look to add workers on casual and short-term contracts.
Coming up
The national cabinet meets today to discuss rents, small business support and stricter lockdown measures.
And if you’ve read this far …
It was met with ridicule, critics questioned its bizarre eroticism, and some of its stars disowned the film but the director of the much-maligned filmic reboot of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved Cats has revealed the reasoning behind some of his more curious creative choices.
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