Good morning. Health authorities are warning of yet another wave of infections after Australia surpassed 10,000 Covid deaths at the weekend. And heavy rain continues to hammer Sydney, with flooding expected to worsen today.
Anthony Albanese has been shocked by what he has seen in Ukraine and pledged more military aid for the country after visiting the sites of some of the most infamous atrocities of Russia’s war during the final leg of his European tour. Albanese said Australia would give Ukraine 14 more armoured personnel carriers and 20 Bushmaster vehicles. He also announced a ban on Russian gold imports, as well as sanctions and travel bans on 16 more Russian ministers and oligarchs. Ukraine’s defence ministry has denied Russia’s claims it has taken full control of Lysychansk. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Lysychansk was the “the most difficult and most dangerous situation” for Ukraine.
