Australia
Australia defence chief vows changes after Afghanistan report
Australia’s top military official said on Sunday the country’s defence force must ‘own’ a recent report on soldiers committing crimes in Afghanistan and pledged changes to ensure that atrocities do not happen again. The report, published on Thursday after an inquiry into t
Melbourne lockdown lifted after zero new coronavirus cases recorded
Australia’s second-biggest city will exit its coronavirus lockdown after nearly four months under onerous restrictions, authorities announced Monday, with no new daily cases or deaths recorded.Stay-at-home orders for Melbourne’s five million residents will be lifted from midnight
Melbourne holds off on easing amid new coronavirus outbreak
A COVID-19 outbreak in the north of Melbourne has led health authorities in Australia’s Victoria state to hold off on any further easing of restrictions in the beleaguered city.Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews withheld any announcement on an easing on Sunday as the state awaits results
Melbourne eases lockdown as coronavirus cases decline
Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, has loosened lockdown restrictions as new and active COVID-19 continue to decline.From midnight Sunday, Melbourne residents will no longer face limits on the time they can spend away from their homes for education or recreation. Previous restrictio
Melbourne closer to easing coronavirus restrictions
Australia’s Victoria state has reported just one new case of COVID-19 and no deaths as the city of Melbourne moves closer toward the easing of some lifestyle restrictions.The state’s coronavirus death toll remains at 816 and the Australian total is 904.Melbourne residents are exp
Australia’s Victoria state warns public not complying with pandemic rules
The premier of Australia’s Victoria state is stepping up his fight with members of the public who don’t comply with pandemic regulations, saying close contacts of those infected who refuse a test will have to spend 21 days in quarantine.The state government has announced mandatory quar
Australia reports 13 new COVID-19 cases, 4 deaths
Australia reported 13 new cases and four more deaths from the novel coronavirus Wednesday in Victoria state. The number of infections in the country climbed to 27,076, Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews said at a news conference in Melbourne. The number of fatalities in Victoria reached 798
Australia attempts to rescue hundreds of stranded pilot whales
Rescuers were trying to refloat hundreds of whales stranded on a sandbar off the remote west coast of the Australian island of Tasmania on Tuesday, hoping to end one of the country’s worst beaching events. Government scientists estimated about 90 of around 270 pilot whales trapped in shallo
Australia's COVID-19 Epicenter Extends Hard Lockdown Till Late September
Australia's coronavirus hot spot state of Victoria on Sunday extended a hard lockdown in its capital Melbourne until Sept. 28, as the infection rate has declined more slowly than hoped. "We cannot open up at this time. If we were to we would lose control very quickly," State Premier Daniel Andrews
Three dead as storms lash Australia’s southeast
A fierce storm in Australia’s southeast killed three people, including a four-year-old boy and left emergency crews working to restore power and drinking water to thousands of homes Friday.High winds sent trees crashing into homes and crushing cars near Melbourne, state premier Daniel Andrew
Australia rules out mandatory immunisations
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has back-tracked after suggesting vaccinations against the coronavirus could become mandatory. Announcing a deal that could provide free doses to Australia's entire population, Mr Morrison had said there should only be medical exemptions. But after concer
Victoria Covid-19: Almost all cases linked to quarantine hotels
Almost all current cases of Covid-19 in Victoria, Australia, can be linked to returned travellers quarantined in the state, an inquiry has heard. The inquiry also heard guards at quarantine hotels were given "inappropriate" training advice. Australian media report that guards were told masks and
'Serious mistakes' made over Ruby Princess outbreak
Health authorities in Australia have been heavily criticised in an official inquiry into the Ruby Princess cruise ship coronavirus outbreak. The inquiry found "serious errors" by New South Wales Health in its handling of suspected cases on board. All 2,700 passengers were allowed to disembark in
Australia records deadliest day but fewer new infections
Australia has recorded its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic amid a second wave of infections in Melbourne. Victoria state - of which Melbourne is the capital - reported 19 deaths on Monday. Victoria has now seen about two-thirds of Australia's total 314 deaths and approximately 21,400 c
Ningaloo Reef: Second woman injured by whale at Australia tourist hotspot
A woman has been injured by a humpback whale in Western Australia in the second such incident in less than a week. The woman was on a snorkeling tour at the popular Ningaloo Reef when she was struck on Thursday. It came just days after another Australian woman suffered fractured ribs and interna
Mandatory hotel quarantine for NSW arrivals from Victoria
People who enter the Australian state of New South Wales from neighbouring Victoria will have to go into mandatory hotel quarantine from Friday. The new measures have been introduced due to rising coronavirus infections being reported in Victoria. Visitors will need to remain at a hotel for 14 d
Australia's ambassador to Iran visits jailed academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert in new prison
Australia's ambassador to Iran has visited in prison an Australian academic convicted of espionage, saying she is "well". Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a Melbourne University lecturer on Middle Eastern studies who was sentenced to 10 years' jail, has already served two years in Tehran's Evin prison since
Australian government to reopen Christmas Island detention centre during Covid-19 crisis
Coalition plans to transfer refugees and asylum seekers currently detained in Melbourne and Sydney. The Australian government will reopen the detention facility on the remote territory of Christmas Island to house people currently in immigration detention on the Australian mainland. The Australi
