British minister defends trade role for ex-Australian PM Abbott
LONDON – Britain’s health minister has said Australian former Prime Minister Tony Abbott would bring huge expertise to a role advising the British government on trade despite his comments that men…
Australia says journalist detained in China
SYDNEY – Chinese authorities have detained an Australian citizen who worked as a high-profile television anchor in China, Australia’s foreign minister Marise Payne said in a statement. Tensions between Beijing…
China investigating Australian wine subsidies, doubling down on dumping probe
SHANGHAI/SYDNEY – China has launched an investigation into alleged government subsidies of some Australian wine imports, a widely expected follow-up to an anti-dumping probe that Australian representatives said they would…
Australia’s COVID-19 hotspot reports steady rise in cases
SYDNEY – Australia’s second most populous state – the epicentre of the country’s latest COVID-19 outbreak – says it has detected 113 new cases in the past 24 hours, unchanged…
Australian PM says proposed foreign veto powers not aimed at China
SYDNEY – A proposed Australian law that would give the federal government powers to cancel any agreements local authorities and public institutions make or have made with foreign governments is…
Qantas cutting up to 2,500 jobs as it outsources ground handling in Australia
SYDNEY – Qantas Airways Ltd has announced plans to cut up to 2,500 more jobs by outsourcing its Australian ground handling operations to lower costs as it braces for a…
Australia’s COVID-19 daily cases creep higher but below record levels
SYDNEY – The state of Victoria which is at the centre of the country’s coronavirus second wave has reported 148 new COVID-19 cases, more than the previous day but well…
Australia coronavirus hotspot state records 13 new deaths, stable infections
SYDNEY – The state of Victoria has reported 13 new coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, authorities say, while new infections in the hotspot state remain below 200 for the second…
“Strategy is working”: Virus cases dive in Australia’s hotspot state
SYDNEY/MELBOURNE – Australia’s virus hot spot state of Victoria recorded its lowest number of new infections in five weeks, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s national cabinet met to consider how…
Scientists urge more protection for platypus in Australian state
SYDNEY – Australian scientists have called for the platypus to be listed as a vulnerable species in Victoria state, after research found dwindling numbers of the semi-aquatic mammal because of…
