Australia deploys police, army to enforce border closure amid COVID-19 outbreak
SYDNEY/MELBOURNE – Hundreds of police officers and army troops are being deployed to enforce the closure of the busy border between Australia’s two most populous states as officials grapple to…
Victoria considering 4-wk lockdown after COVID-19 surge: The Australian
SYDNEY – Australia‘s second-most populated state Victoria is considering a four-week lockdown after recording the biggest one-day surge in new COVID-19 cases, The Australian newspaper reports. The number of COVID-19 cases in the Victorian capital…
Australia closes state border for first time in 100 years after COVID-19 spike
SYDNEY – The border between Australia‘s two most populous states will close from Tuesday for an indefinite period as authorities scramble to contain an outbreak of the coronavirus in the city…
Australia to lock down 300,000 in Melbourne suburbs after coronavirus spike
MELBOURNE – Authorities will lock down more than 300,000 people in suburbs north of Melbourne for a month from late tonight to contain the risk of infection after two weeks…
Australia to sharply increase defence spending with focus on Indo-Pacific
SYDNEY – Australia will boost defence spending by 40% over the next 10 years, buying long-range military assets that will be focused on the Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister Scott Morrison…
Koalas may be extinct in Australia’s New South Wales by 2050
SYDNEY – Koalas in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) could become extinct by 2050 unless the government immediately intervenes to protect them and their habitat, a parliamentary…
Australia’s Victoria state introduces suburban lockdowns to curb new outbreaks
The state of Victoria has introduced the country’s first lockdown measures specifically targeted at local suburban areas after a spike in coronavirus cases in Melbourne. The new curbs come even…
Australia to spend nearly $1.35 bln to boost cyber security
SYDNEY – Australia will spend $1.35 billion over the next 10 years to boost its cyber security defences, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says, as Canberra seeks to combat a wave of attacks. The announcement…
South Australia state cancels border reopening after virus spike
SYDNEY – South Australia, one of several states in the country to close domestic borders, has cancelled its scheduled reopening to other parts of the nation, citing a spike in coronavirus…
Australia sees biggest daily rise in COVID-19 cases in two months
SYDNEY – Australia‘s second most populous state says its considering reimposing social distancing restrictions after the country reported its biggest one-day rise in new coronavirus infections in more than two months.…
