What we learned: Monday, 11 July
With that, we will wrap up the blog for the evening.
Here were today’s major developments, starting with Dinesh Chandimal in Sri Lanka, who remained unbeaten on 206 tonight against Australia in the second cricket test – a special moment for fans across the nation. Closer to shore:
- Prime minister Anthony Albanese has announced a jobs and skills summit to be held 1 and 2 September - a promise foreshadowed prior to the federal election. Around 100 people from business, unions, civil society groups and other levels of government will be represented, including ACTU secretary Sally McManus who has welcomed it as a step forward emerging from Covid lockdowns.
- On Covid, Australia has recorded 13 deaths to the virus today. The ACT and Western Australia has reduced the infectious period from 12 weeks down to 28 days as BA.4/BA.5 continues to spread.
- In a throwback to the early days of the pandemic, an outbreak of Covid-19 has been confirmed on a cruise ship docked in Brisbane.
- In other disease news, Queensland has detected its first monkeypox case, citing minimal risk to the community. New South Wales has detected 11 cases of the illness so far including two cases of possible community transmission.
- And still in NSW, Jenny West, who was originally offered the New York City trade job that eventually went to former New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro, has told an inquiry examining the appointment that she was told the job would be “a present for someone”.
Updated
Japan’s ambassador to Australia ‘deeply touched’
Yamagami Shingo says he is “deeply touched” by the prime minister and foreign minister’s messages of support in the wake of Shinzo Abe’s death.
Deeply touched by today’s visit by 🇦🇺 PM @AlboMP and FM @SenatorWong. Their kind messages are a great solace at this sad time & show just how close the friendship is between 🇯🇵 and 🇦🇺. Thank you so much #BestMates #NICHIGOU pic.twitter.com/DXJsWEFgVb
— Ambassador YAMAGAMI Shingo (@YamagamiShingo) July 11, 2022
Updated
