Australia joins US ships in South China Sea amid rising tension
KUALA LUMPUR – An Australian frigate has joined three US warships in the South China Sea near an area where a Chinese vessel is suspected to be exploring for oil,…
Vietnam says over 13,000 people linked to coronavirus cluster tested negative
HANOI – More than 13,400 people linked to a COVID-19 outbreak in a village on the outskirts of the Vietnamese capital Hanoi have tested negative for the coronavirus, the government…
Australia to force Google, Facebook to pay domestic media to use content
SYDNEY – Australia will force Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google to share advertising revenue with local media firms, the country’s treasurer said, becoming one of the first countries to…
Vietnam protests Beijing’s expansion in disputed South China Sea
HANOI – Vietnam protested on Sunday at China saying it had established two administrative units on islands in the South China Sea, in Beijing’s latest move to demonstrate its assertiveness…
Australia demands coronavirus enquiry, adding to pressure on China
MELBOURNE – Australia has added to growing pressure on China over its handling of the novel coronavirus, questioning its transparency and demanding an international investigation into the origins of the…
Australia may keep coronavirus restrictions for a year, schools could adopt roster
SYDNEY – Australian public life could be constrained for another year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned, as the country’s most populous state mulled sending…
Chinese ship seen moving south near Malaysia amid rising South China Sea tensions
KUALA LUMPUR/HANOI – A Chinese government survey ship embroiled in a standoff with Vietnamese vessels has moved south near Malaysia, shipping data showed, amid accusations that China is using the pandemic…
Chinese survey ship returns to Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone
HANOI – A Chinese survey ship that was embroiled in a standoff with Vietnamese vessels last year in the disputed South China Sea has returned to waters within Vietnam‘s Exclusive Economic Zone…
Australia’s Westpac puts $900 mln price on exploitation scandal
SYDNEY – Australia‘s Westpac Banking Corp has said it expects a $900 million fine over accusations it enabled millions of illegal payments including between known child sex offenders, the first time…
Australia investigates if “illegal” medical worker dinner party behind coronavirus bump
MELBOURNE – Australian officials are investigating whether an illegal social gathering of health workers is behind a spike in coronavirus cases in the island state of Tasmania, as the government forecast…
