Olympics: Tokyo 2020 must be simple and safe, says IOC’s Coates
SYDNEY – Senior Olympic official John Coates has reiterated that Tokyo must stage a simplified Summer Games next year with the health and safety of athletes the most important consideration…
NSW tightens restrictions as coronavirus clusters grow
MELBOURNE – Restrictions have been reintroduced in Australia‘s most populous state of New South Wales as authorities battle to control fresh coronavirus clusters that have emerged in Sydney over the…
Federal agents’ use of force at protests faces internal US government probes
WASHINGTON – Two US federal watchdogs have launched probes into the use of force by federal law enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., during recent protests against police…
Australia, facing ‘harsh reality’ of pandemic, braces for biggest postwar deficit
SYDNEY – Australia‘s budget is set to plunge into its biggest deficit since World War Two this year as the coronavirus crisis knocks the country into its first recession in…
Australia reports highest coronavirus deaths in 3 months, infections climb
SYDNEY – Australia has reported its highest daily number of coronavirus-related deaths in three months as new infections continued to climb in its second most populous state. Victoria state said it…
Masks for Melbourne as Australia’s coronavirus tally rises by record
MELBOURNE – Residents of Australia’s second most populous city, Melbourne, must wear masks when leaving home (from Wednesday 11.59pm) as the country posted a record rise in novel coronavirus cases…
Student files first climate change lawsuit against Australian govt
SYDNEY – A 23-year-old student has filed a lawsuit against Australia‘s government alleging it has failed to disclose climate change-related risks to investors in the country’s sovereign bonds, in the…
Australia extends jobs support as new COVID-19 outbreaks threaten economy
SYDNEY – Australia will spend $16.8 billion to extend its wage subsidies for businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic, as a surge in new infections in the country’s southeast threatens…
Vietnam confirms 12 new coronavirus cases, all imported
HANOI – Vietnam‘s health ministry has reported 12 new coronavirus infections, all among citizens held in quarantine after coming back from Russia. The Southeast Asian country has not recorded any…
Victoria reports 374 new cases of coronavirus
MELBOURNE – Australia’s second most populous state of Victoria has reported three deaths from the new coronavirus and logged 374 daily cases of infections compared with 275 cases a day…