US President-elect Joe Biden has introduced his climate and energy team, saying they will lead an “ambitious plan” to combat climate change. Mr Biden has vowed to make the issue a top priority in an agenda that reverses many Trump administration policies. He said there was “no time to waste”. If confirmed by the Senate, the team will include the first black man to run the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the first Native American cabinet member. Mr Biden, who is set to be inaugurated on 20 January, has pledged to build a diverse administration that reflects the US. “We’re in a crisis,” he said. “Just like we need to be a unified nation to respond to Covid-19, we need a unified national response to climate change.”(BBC)…[+]
Nieuws volgens datum: 20 Dec, 2020
Covid in Sydney: New restrictions announced as outbreak grows
Australia’s most populous state has announced new restrictions for the Greater Sydney area in an attempt to contain a growing outbreak of Covid-19. Household gatherings will be capped at 10 people and hospitality venues at 300 until Wednesday. Residents had already been told to stay at home. The cases were found in the city’s Northern Beaches area, which entered a five-day lockdown on Saturday. Since then Sydney residents have rushed to leave the city ahead of Christmas. Thousands have travelled from the city in New South Wales (NSW) to the neighbouring state of Victoria. In response, Victoria will close its borders to residents of Greater Sydney and the NSW Central Coast from midnight. People will then face a 14-day quarantine.
South Australia state also said all arrivals from the Greater Sydney area would have to quarantine for 14 days from midnight. People who have been in the Northern Beaches area will be barred from the state entirely. The outbreak has also forced organisers of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race to cancel the event for the first time in its history.(BBC)…[+]
