Asia

UK, U.S., Australia, Canada reprimand China on Hong Kong law

Jim Stein May 29, 2020

LONDON (Asia) – The United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Canada criticised China on Thursday for imposing a new security law on Hong Kong that they said would breach the 1984 Sino-British agreement on the former colony and threaten its freedoms. “Hong Kong has flourished

World

Australian court demands release of letters to Queen Elizabeth around PM’s sacking

Jim Stein May 29, 2020

SYDNEY (World) – An Australian court ruled on Friday that the country’s archives must release letters between Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and her local representative during the 1970s, a move which may shed light on the sacking of its then prime minister Gough Whitlam. The firing of Gough Whitlam by Governor-General John Kerr in 1975 remains […]

World

PM Morrison: Australian economy’s few sectors need additional support

Nia N May 29, 2020

SYDNEY (World) – Some sectors of Australia’s economy will require additional stimulus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday. To prevent a prolonged economic depression triggered by COVID-19, Australia’s government and central bank has pledged to spend A$250 billion ($166.1 billion). Much of Australia’s stimulus is expected to expire in

Sport

Ferrari establishing an Australian driver programme

Jim Stein May 29, 2020

(Sports) – The Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) will set up a new development programme in Sydney as they look to develop regional talent for the future, Motorsport Australia said on Friday. The academy at Sydney Motorsport Park will look to attract drivers from Australia, New Zealand, countries in East and Southeast Asia as well as […]

Business

Australia’s News Corp cuts newspapers, media jobs due to coronavirus

Jim Stein May 28, 2020

SYDNEY (Business) – The Australian arm of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp said on Thursday it will stop printing more than 100 regional newspapers after the coronavirus shutdown gutted advertising revenue, accelerating a downturn in the country’s media sector. From next month, the company which dominates Australia’s media and political landscape said it

World

New Zealand to begin safe travel plan with Australia starting June

Jim Stein May 27, 2020

WELLINGTON (World) – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday a draft blueprint on safely starting travel between New Zealand and Australia will be presented to both governments in early June. The neighbours have been discussing the possibility of a travel bubble between them as both have slowed the spread of the novel […]

Business

Chinese minister: Australia regularly launches trade cases

Nia N May 26, 2020

SYDNEY (Business) – China has responded to concern its decision to impose heavy tariffs on Australian barley was retaliation for a diplomatic dispute, saying Australia had launched 100-times as many trade investigations against China. China’s Commerce Minister Zhong Shan said China’s anti-dumping investigation into Australian barley that imposed tariffs

World

Australia calls on younger people to get virus tests as reopening accelerates

Nia N May 23, 2020

SYDNEY (World) – Australia’s most populous state said on Saturday it recorded just three new cases of the coronavirus the previous day and urged younger people to get tested as it prepares to further loosen restrictions on pubs and restaurants. New South Wales (NSW), which includes the city of Sydney, is home to nearly half […]

World

Australia slashes costs of COVID-19 job subsidy to $46 billion

Nia N May 22, 2020

SYDNEY (World) – Australia on Friday halved the number of people expected to be covered by its coronavirus wage subsidy scheme due to reporting errors and after swiftly controlling the outbreak, a revision that will save the government around A$60 billion ($39 billion). Australia’s conservative government said in May it would spend A$130 billion to […]

World

Australian states argue over opening borders for domestic tourism

Nia N May 21, 2020

SYDNEY (World) – Australian state and territory leaders bickered on Thursday over whether to reopen internal borders, a major step to rejuvenating the country’s A$80 billion ($50 billion) domestic tourism industry, as part of measures to ease coronavirus restrictions. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said he wants the bulk of all social distancing