ABC新闻:墨尔本升级封锁措施 黎巴嫩首都发生大爆炸

Thousands of businesses across metropolitan Melbourne are beginning their final day of trading before the strict lockdown begins at midnight tonight. Services, including retail, hairdressing and household cleaning, as well as lawn mowing, will be shut down for six weeks and construction will also be limited. Overnight, details have been released of new permits required for workers in essential jobs to be allowed to move around the city.
At least 50 people are dead and thousands more injured after a massive explosion at the port area of Lebanon's capital, Beirut. The blast destroyed homes and offices as a large mushroom cloud erupted, shattering windows right across the city. The cause is not yet known, but the Lebanese government says it occurred in an area housing highly explosive materials. Hospitals have been overwhelmed with casualties, while Lebanon's Red Cross says many people are still trapped in their homes.

The federal government is expected to announce a package to help Melbourne childcare centres through the latest phase of coronavirus restrictions. The city's childcare centres are being closed for six weeks as part of stage 4 COVID measures, except for vulnerable children and those deemed to be essential workers. The federal government has been in talks with the Victorian government after withdrawing its introduction of free childcare nationwide.