Texas' lieutenant governor blamed rising hospitalisation and death rates from COVID-19 on unvaccinated Black people — comments that were quickly denounced as racist.

Republican Lt. Governor Dan Patrick made the remarks on Thursday night on a Fox News segment in response to question about the latest coronavirus surge in Texas. The state is seeing its highest hospitalisation rates since January as the highly contagious delta variant spreads.

“The biggest group in most states are African Americans who have not been vaccinated,” Patrick said.

READ MORE: Victoria records 77 new COVID-19 cases

Patrick did not change course on Friday, saying “Democrat social media trolls” misstated facts and that he had used state data in his assertions. His office did not respond to a request for additional comments.

But statistics from the Texas Department of State Health Services don't back that. Black people — who make up about 12 percent of the more than 29 million people in Texas — accounted for about 15 percent of total COVID-19 cases and just more than 10 percent of deaths.

Patrick also told Fox News that Democrats were to blame for low vaccination rates among Black people, who frequently support that party, even though he believes Republicans should persuade more people to get their shots, too. But he also tiptoed around that issue, which has been sensitive for the GOP.

“But we respect the fact that if people don’t want the vaccination, we’re not going to force it on them," Patrick said. “That’s their individual right.”

City and county officials in Texas — many of whom are are in ongoing legal battles with state government over mask mandates — met Patrick with swift rebukes.

“The Lt. Governor’s statements are offensive and should not be ignored,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who is Black, said on Twitter.

Rodney Ellis, a Black commissioner for the county that encompasses Houston, tweeted that Patrick’s comments were “racist and flat out wrong.”

“It’s disappointing that the Lt. Governor would rather scapegoat Black people than do the right thing and work with local government to help control the spread of COVID-19,” Ellis wrote.

About 8 percent of the eligible Black population in Texas has been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to state data, compared with 35 percent of the white population. White people make up the largest racial group in Texas at about 40 percent of the total residents.

Overall, 44 percent of Texans are fully vaccinated, less than the national rate of about 50 percent. COVID-19 is blamed for more than 50,000 deaths in the state, and more than 600,000 across the U.S.

Failures and abuses on behalf of government — including the “Tuskegee syphilis study,” in which unsuspecting Black men were used as guinea pigs in a study of a sexually transmitted disease — have led to mistrust in public institutions for many African Americans.

Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas State NAACP Conference, said those historic disparities combined with the politicization of vaccines, misinformation and access to shots is the problem. Bledsoe said he was “shocked” by Patrick’s comments.

“I am so concerned that he is going to give field to somebody to go out there and do something outrageous because they think someone in their community got infected by Black people. That is just not true," Bledsoe said. “Reach out beyond your political base, reach out to people of all the political persuasions in Texas, all the races and religions, and say, ‘Let's come together,’ because this is a major problem."

The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths from COVID-19 in Texas has risen over the past two weeks from 50.29 deaths per day on August 4 to 115.14 deaths per day on August 18, according to data from Johns Hopkins University Centre.

This is not the first time that Patrick has been criticised for comments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an April 2020 appearance on Fox News, Patrick said the U.S. should get back to work in the face of the pandemic and that people over the age of 70, who the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says are at higher risk for severe illness from the coronavirus, will “take care of ourselves.”

Australia's latest coronavirus lockdowns will cost the country up to $25 billion, an economist has predicted, with the slow vaccine rollout seeing the nation go "backwards" as the rest of the world opens up.

"We were a bit slow in taking up the vaccine – way too slow in fact," AMP's Chief Economist Shane Oliver told Weekend Today.

"Those other countries are now opening up and learning to live with COVID.

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"But, of course, we have to wait until we get those vaccination rates up before we can do the same.

"My estimate is it will cost the Aussie economy somewhere between $20 to $25 billion. So we'll be going backwards as the rest of the world opens up."

READ MORE: Regional Victoria fears new lockdown imminent

However, he said Australia's ongoing international border closure could have actually helped the economy in some ways, as well as slowing the spread of the virus.

"The reality is that the closure of the borders has helped to protect the Australian economy and has helped protect lives," he said.

"In the meantime, our economy has spent much more time open, at least domestically anyway, than we've seen in other parts of the world.

"By and large, I think it's helped us.

"Yes, it's caused some pain in some areas, particularly the higher education sector, those Australians who want to go overseas, but I think saving lives has been worth it."

READ MORE: Sydney lockdown longer, stricter with 'final list of what we can throw' at crisis

He said the deficit under government approximates over the next four years will be around $145 billion – but more jobs and businesses would have been lost otherwise.

"If we didn't spend that money we would have seen more businesses go bust, we would have seen lots of people lose their incomes, default on their loans," he said.

"We would probably would have seen something akin to a depression.

"I think it is better to have done that, protect the economy through this and that in turn will mean a stronger economy in future years than otherwise we would have."

However, he said the predicted 80 per cent vaccinated by November is good news for the economy.

But he admitted the long-term impact of so many lockdowns will be felt for years.

"Some jobs will never come back," he said.

"We'll probably never have CBDs like we used to.

Reports have mounted of targeted killings in areas overrun by the Taliban, fuelling fears that they will return Afghanistan to the repressive rule they imposed when they were last in power, even as they urged imams to push a message of unity at Friday's prayers.

Terrified that the new de facto rulers would commit such abuses, thousands have raced to Kabul's airport and to border crossings, desperate to flee following the Taliban's stunning blitz through the country.

Others have taken to the streets to protest the takeover — acts of defiance that Taliban fighters have violently suppressed.

READ MORE: Morrison warns Kabul is 'chaotic' as first Afghan evacuees arrive home

The Taliban say they have become more moderate since they last ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s and have pledged to restore security and forgive those who fought them in the 20 years since a US-led invasion. Ahead of Friday prayers, leaders urged imams to use sermons to appeal for unity and urge people not to flee the country.

But many Afghans are skeptical, fearing that the Taliban will erase the gains, especially for women, achieved in the past two decades. Reports of abuses are growing, and an Amnesty International report provided more evidence Friday that undercut the Taliban's claims they have changed.

The rights group said that its researchers spoke to eyewitnesses in Ghazni province who recounted how the Taliban killed nine ethnic Hazara men in the village of Mundarakht on July 4-6. It said six of the men were shot, and three were tortured to death. Hazaras are Shiite Muslims who were previously persecuted by the Taliban and who made major gains in education and social status in recent years.

The brutality of the killings was "a reminder of the Taliban's past record, and a horrifying indicator of what Taliban rule may bring," said Agnes Callamard, the head of Amnesty International.

READ MORE: Biden eyes 'greater' threats than a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan

The rights group warned that many more killings may have gone unreported because the Taliban cut cellphone services in many areas they've captured to prevent images from being published.

Separately, Reporters without Borders expressed alarm at the news that Taliban fighters killed the family member of an Afghan journalist working for German broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Wednesday.

"Sadly, this confirms our worst fears," said Katja Gloger of the press freedom group's German section. "The brutal action of the Taliban show that the lives of independent media workers in Afghanistan are in acute danger."

Meanwhile, a Norway-based private intelligence group that provides information to the UN said it obtained evidence that the Taliban have rounded up Afghans on a blacklist of people they believe worked in key roles with the previous Afghan administration or with US-led forces. A report from RHIPTO Norwegian Centre for Global Analyses that was obtained by The Associated Press included a copy of one of the letters.

READ MORE: Afghans protest Taliban in emerging challenge to their rule

In an email to the AP, Christian Nellemann, the group's executive director, said the organisation knew about several threat letters sent to Afghans, including a man who was taken from his Kabul apartment this week by the Taliban.

"We had access to hard copies of concrete letters issued and stamped by the Taliban Military Commission to this effect," he said.

The AP could not independently verify the claims made by the group.

Under the Taliban's previous rule, women were largely confined to their homes, television and music were banned, and public executions were held regularly. Fearing a return to those days, thousands have tried to flee the country, braving checkpoints manned by Taliban fighters to rush to Kabul's airport.

Mohammad Naim, who has been among the crowd at the airport for four days trying to escape, said he had to put his children on the roof of a car on the first day to save them from being crushed by the mass of people. He saw other children killed who were unable to get out of the way.

Naim, who said he had been an interpreter for US forces, urged others not to the come to airport.

READ MORE: 'Horror': ADF interpreter warns Taliban will be brutal in takeover

"It is a very, very crazy situation right now and I hope the situation gets better because I saw kids dying, it is very terrible," he said.

The United States is struggling to pick up the pace of evacuations it is running from Afghanistan, where thousands of Americans and their Afghan allies may be in need of escape.

Dozens of other flights have already brought hundreds more Western nationals and Afghan workers to Europe and elsewhere.

But continued chaos at the airport has hindered flights. Spain's Defence Minister Margarita Robles said Friday that its military transport planes are leaving Kabul partly empty in the tumult.

"Nobody's in control of the situation," Robles told Spanish public radio RNE.

Getting to the facility is also a major challenge. Germany was sending two helicopters to Kabul to help bring small numbers of people from elsewhere in the city to the airport, officials said. Australia's prime minister said that his country's citizens who live outside Kabul have not been able to be evacuated.

As concerns mount about what a Taliban government will look like, the group's leaders are meeting with some officials from previous Afghan administrations.

An Afghan official familiar with those talks indicated nothing would come of them before the last US troops leave, currently planned for August 31.

The Taliban's lead negotiator, Anas Haqqani, has said the group agreed with the US to "do nothing" until after that date, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to give information to the media. The Taliban have said they want an inclusive government, but, as with their other promises, it was not clear if they would make good on that.

In addition to concerns about Taliban abuses, officials have warned that Afghanistan's already weakened economy could crumble further without the massive international aid that sustained the toppled Western-backed government. The UN says there are dire food shortages and experts said the country was severely in need of cash with much of the government's funds abroad frozen.

After the Taliban overran Kabul the market used by many in the capital to exchange money was closed down.

Underscoring the difficulties the Taliban will face in returning the country to normal life, trader Aminullah Amin said Friday that it would stay closed for the time being. There was just too much uncertainty surrounding exchange rates, how the Taliban might regulate the market, and the possibility of looting.

"We have not decided to reopen the markets yet," he said.

An intensive care nurse at the Royal Melbourne Hospital has gone above the call of duty, personally tracking down The Wiggles to help save his patient suffering from COVID-19.

Sarah Kelly, who has Down syndrome, is on track to getting out of hospital after watching the how-to message from her favourite musical group.

When the 22-year-old was admitted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital struggling to breathe with COVID-19 last month, she refused to have oxygen tubes put in.

READ MORE: Victoria records 55 new local cases of COVID-19

With her condition rapidly deteriorating, nurse Steven Moylan — who has a brother with an intellectual disability — had an idea.

"She had it on her iPad, she just wouldn't look away from The Wiggles and I thought to myself 'what if I could get The Wiggles to wear the nasal prongs? Would she copy them and do what they do?'" he told 9News.

READ MORE: String of COVID-19 cases linked to Melbourne childcare centre

When he finally made contact with the group, the stars were ready to wiggle, and together they helped save a life.

"That's what we needed for her to stay alive," he said.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan has announced that as of next Thursday, New South Wales will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to be classified as "extreme risk".

Western Australia introduced the new COVID-19 border category last Friday.

"We had hoped to not have to use it for some time," Mr McGowan said today.

READ MORE: All the changes coming into force across NSW

A state or territory is classified as an "extreme risk" if it averages more than 500 coronavirus cases a day.

Under the rules of the "extreme risk" border closures, travel exemptions into WA from that jurisdiction are restricted to "Commonwealth, State and specialist functions only".

They will have to undergo 14 days in hotel quarantine, and be tested for COVID-19 on days one, five and 12.

READ MORE: Sydney lockdown extended amid 644 new local COVID-19 cases

Mr McGowan warned Western Australians who were still in NSW that the "window was closing".

NSW will enter the new category of border restrictions at 12.01am on August 26.

WA residents looking to return home before then will need to have had at least one vaccination, if eligible, and return a negative COVID-19 test.

More information is available on the WA government's controlled border website.

A mother and her two children have tragically died after their car burst into flames in Melbourne's inner-north.

Police confirmed the 35-year-old Cheltenham mother and her two children, an eight-year-old girl and a 20-month-old boy, were killed when their car exploded in Parkville just before 10am today.

The mother was driving a Ford Territory south along Flemington Road near Grattan Street, when she lost control of the car, hitting a curb and crashing into a pole.

READ MORE: Victoria records 55 new coronavirus cases

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The woman had rammed a small car at the intersection of Gatehouse Street in the moments before the deadly crash occurred, police said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Gerard Clanchy said police believe the mother was on her way home after going to the pharmacy at the Royal Children's Hospital.

"(The car) has lost control and collided into a tramways pole," he said.

"Subsequently (it) burst into flames and unfortunately the occupants of the vehicle died as a result of the collision.

"It happened very quickly. The vehicle was engulfed in flames very quickly as well."

The explosion unfolded in front of dozens of onlookers and motorists who could do nothing to save the trio inside.

READ MORE: Cases linked to Melbourne childcare centre

Witnesses ran towards the fireball, desperately trying to help the family.

"Someone said they heard a kid cry in there, screaming," one witness told 9News.

"There was nothing you could do, there was so much smoke and flames."

Detective Senior Sergeant Clanchy said he was at a "loss for words" over the tragedy.

"It would have been a very tragic event for people to have witnessed," he said.

"When it involves a mother and her two children – this is tragic. It's hard to find words to describe what's happened here today."

The car was on fire and destroyed when emergency services arrived outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital about 10am.

The exact cause of the crash is yet to be determined, but police have ruled out the explosion being a "terrorism incident".

"We haven't been able to establish what made her lose control of that vehicle," Detective Senior Sergeant Clanchy said.

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Wallabies star Toutai Kefu and his children have returned to their Brisbane family home four days after a terrifying and allegedly violent home invasion.

Kefu, 47, his wife Rachel and two of his adult children were injured when a group of teens allegedly broke into the Coorparoo home in the early hours of Monday morning.

Four teenage boys have since been charged with a total 44 offences including attempted murder and grievous bodily harm.

READ MORE: Australian evacuation flight from Kabul arrives in Perth

The family's recovery will be a "slow process", Kefu said outside his home today.

"I'm just grateful that we all got out, we're alive," Kefu said.

"There might be a little bit of damage moving forward, but we're still breathing."

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The Rugby Union legend hailed his neighbour an "absolute hero" for coming to his family's aid after hearing screaming coming from the home.

"He's an absolute hero, unbelievable, he turned up at the right time on Monday morning and apprehended one of the intruders," he said.

Today, Kefu's mates, brothers and neighbours rallied around the family helping out with cleaning and landscaping, while others delivered flowers and letters of support.

"The outpouring of love and well wishes from everyone's been unbelievable," he said.

Three boys aged 15 and one aged 13 have been arrested and charged with a total of 44 offences including four counts of attempted murder, three of grievous bodily harm and one count each of deprivation of liberty, burglary, enter dwelling with intent whilst armed and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

All four were denied police bail and are due to face Brisbane Children's Court.

A Melbourne mum was eight months pregnant when she put on gloves and killed her aunt, prominent greyhound trainer Karen Leek, with a hammer, a court has heard.

Jessie Moore fronted the Supreme Court today, pleading guilty to killing her 69-year-old aunt in May 2020 in Melbourne's outer south east.

Moore, who was eight months pregnant, and her five-year-old daughter were living at Ms Leek's Devon Meadows home at the time.

READ MORE: Speeding P-plater jailed for causing young man's death after drinking

The court heard Ms Leek, a respected leader of Victoria's greyhound racing industry, was taking care of the child while Moore was a drug-user.

Ms Leek had repeatedly asked her niece to leave the property because of of her lying, stealing and drug use.

On the night of the attack the pair had an argument about Moore's boyfriend.

Moore then put on rubber gloves and grabbed a hammer and attacked Ms Leek as she sat in her armchair.

The prosecution told the court the 26-year-old had an intention to kill, striking the victim 12 times in the face, then putting a plastic bag over her head.

READ MORE: Girl, toddler among three people dead after Melbourne car explosion

Moore then left the house with her daughter and had KFC for dinner.

The next day she returned and made a panicked 000 call pretending she'd found her aunt's body.

The court heard Moore was a suspect from day one, and her DNA was later found to be a match.

Psychiatrists said the mother of two had borderline personality disorder that impaired her functioning.

Moore's lawyer said her client both loved and resented Karen Leek.

The court heard Moore continued to blame her victim, saying she felt like her aunt was controlling her, and also claiming that Karen pushed her first, which was why she grabbed the hammer.

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