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Melbourne's 9pm curfew will finally be lifted tomorrow night after the state recorded just 16 new cases and far fewer in past weeks than expected.  Premier Daniel Andrews announced major changes to the roadmap out of lockdown at his daily press conference on Sunday. How fast the state reopens will be determined by how many cases there are, instead of dates set ahead of time - as progress is faster than expected. 'It means that getting back to the things we love - seeing more of the people we love - not only is achievable, it's in our hands,' Mr Andrews said. However, Mr Andrews also enormously increased the fine for breaking any coronavirus rules to $5,000 - well up from $1,600.  Rules on face masks are also more restrictive with scarves, bandannas and similar banned and face shields must also be worn in conjunction with a mask. Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to tweak lockdown restrictions on Sunday following better-than-expected progress in fighting the spread of c

The head of the NHS in England has hit out at drugs firms which try to ‘price-gouge’ taxpayers. Sir Simon Stevens claimed one company was attempting to raise the cost of a medicine for mental health disorders by 2,600 per cent. The firm, Essential Pharma, raised the costs of lithium carbonate tablets from £3 to £87 in 2016. They have since withdrawn one of their other products which means the NHS may be forced to switch to this more expensive version. Sir Simon called for it to be made illegal for ‘bad apple’ companies to hike their prices arbitrarily.  Sir Simon Stevens claimed Essential Pharma was attempting to raise the cost of a medicine for mental health disorders by 2,600 per cent He also claimed up to 50,000 patients could be affected by the move. Essential Pharma owns the rights to two other brands of lithium carbonate and the costs to the NHS for the drug are now likely to rise from £2million to £17million. The tablets are used to treat bipolar disorder and depression and the

Tory rebels have won a vote on the 'rule of six' after 40 MPs wrote to Boris Johnson as PM signals climbdown in row over imposing Covid restrictions without Parliament's consent. The backbenchers yesterday urged Mr Johnson to be 'smart' and give into their demands for a vote on new lockdown rules as he was told 'controlling the lives of 65million people by fiat is not sustainable'. The vote is scheduled for October 6 and if it fails to pass Parliament the rule will be abolished. Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, had tabled an amendment which would require a vote to be held on any new restrictions 'as soon as reasonably practicable'. Sir Graham has the public backing of at least 40 of his fellow Tory MPs with the rebels hoping the amendment will be put to a vote next Wednesday. However, they are urging the Government to back down before that point and to accept that MPs should be given a say on whether

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stood firm on his calls for China to be investigated over the origins of COVID-19, while also urging all nations to share a vaccine once it is found. Mr Morrison took to a virtual stage on Saturday morning to address the 75th United Nations general assembly, praising the World Health Organisation for establishing an inquiry into the global response to coronavirus. 'There is also a clear mandate to identify the zoonotic source of the COVID-19 virus and how it was transmitted to humans,' he said in the pre-recorded speech. 'This virus has inflicted a calamity on our world and its peoples. We must do all we can to understand what happened for no other purpose than to prevent it from happening again.' Scott Morrison said whoever finds the vaccine first should share it with the rest of the world (Pictured: University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine trial)  The inquiry resolution backed by 145 countries in May does not mention China, instead com

Pupils will be taught that 'cancel culture' is a form of bullying and 'no platforming' an attack on our freedoms. As part of the Government's drive to protect freedom of speech, secondary school students will learn that people with controversial opinions should be respected. In Department for Education training manuals, teachers are instructed to tell pupils that the 'cancel culture' which has taken root at many universities – where individuals call for a boycott of a person or company whose views they don't agree with, in the hope they lose their job or clients – is not part of a 'tolerant and free society'. Pupils will be taught that 'cancel culture' is a form of bullying and 'no platforming' an attack on our freedoms File The move appears to be a direct response to incidents where mainstream speakers, including former home secretary Amber Rudd, have been blocked from speaking at universities by political opponents. The comments

Britain will hold back part of its contribution to the World Health Organisation until the international body gets to the bottom of the origins of the coronavirus in China. The Prime Minister will today announce a 30 per cent increase in its support for the WHO over the next four years, costing £340million and making the UK one of the largest donors in the world. However, it is understood that part of the funding earmarked for the previous period will be conditional on cracking down on China and the UK is understood to have demanded the body determine where the virus came from.  The WHO has been criticised for being too soft on China and US President Donald Trump has said he will withdraw funding over the claims. Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured in his Uxbridge constituency on Friday) will announce that Britain will hold back part of its contribution to the World Health Organisation until the international body gets to the bottom of the origins of the coronavirus in China The WHO

Britain will wake up to 'dry and sunny conditions' after a washout week saw the country hit by two inches of rain, 65mph winds and even snow flurries in the North.   The topsy-turvy British weather lived up to its reputation Thursday night as some areas were left looking decidedly wintery following hail and snow showers less than 48 hours after the end of a September heatwave. But calmer weather is expected to make a comeback this morning with temperatures staying around 50F but 'dry and sunny conditions' continuing throughout the day. A Meteogroup forecast revealed the country would have 'a clear and cold start with early pacts of frost which will soon clear'.  It added: 'It will then be a fine day as it will be dry and bright with plenty of sunshine but patchy cloud will build bringing a chance of showers, mostly across eastern areas.' There will be more 'outbreaks of rain for south-east England during the evening', it continued. Severe weather

President Donald Trump said Friday that the winner of the presidential race will not be known on Election Day – predicting a long 'dispute' between the two parties during a week when he caused an uproar when he refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. Trump's comment about a contested election, made during a speech in Atlanta, comports with what many political observers have been warning might occur. It also follows his own repeated attacks on mail-in voting and a claim Thursday the election won't be 'honest.'    'Now I don’t know with this ballot situation,' he said during a speech on black economic empowerment.  U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on Black Economic Empowerment during an event at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., September 25, 2020, where he predicted the winner of the presidential election would not be known on Nov. 3 'You’re not going to see it November 3. Democrats are playing games. You see t