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☆ Australia Foreign Minister Touts Tuvalu Security, Migration Pact
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Sunday that a security and migration pact signed with Tuvalu showed Australia was a "genuine, reliable" regional partner, as it seeks to counter China's influence in the Pacific. Australia announced on Friday the security guarantee to the tiny Pacific Islands nation to respond to military aggression, protect it from climate change and boost migration. Australia, a United States ally, has been working to shore up its Pacific standing amid a rising China, which recently upgraded a security pact with Solomon Islands. Under the treaty, announced in the Cook Islands by Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Tuvalu counterpart Kausea Natano, Australia will also vet Tuvalu's security arrangements with other nations. Albanese has called the pact Australia's most significant agreement with a Pacific Island nation, giving "a guarantee that upon a request from Tuvalu for any military assistance based upon security issues, Australia will be there."

Persons: Penny Wong, Wong, Anthony Albanese, Kausea Natano, Albanese, Sam McKeith, David Gregorio Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia's, Tuvalu, Pacific ., Australian Broadcasting Corp Locations: Australia, Pacific, Pacific . Australia, United States, China, Solomon, Tuvalu, Cook, Taiwan, Beijing, Hawaii, Sydney

☆ Australia to investigate Optus internet and phone outage
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Australia said on Thursday it would launch an investigation into a 12-hour national outage at telco Optus that cut off internet and phone connections to nearly half of its population, hitting critical services including payments, transport and hospitals. The federal government would undertake a post-incident review into the outage, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said, describing its impacts as "particularly concerning." Australia's media regulator will conduct a separate review into the outage after emergency triple zero ("000") calls went down on Optus landlines, Rowland added. Optus, owned by Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI), has not given the cause for the unprecedented outage, one of the biggest the country has witnessed. The outage happened 14 months after Optus was hit by one of Australia's biggest cyber breaches.

Persons: telco, Michelle Rowland, Rowland, Renju Jose, Jamie Freed Organizations: SYDNEY, Optus, Optus landlines, Singapore Telecommunications, Telstra, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The host of a weekend family lunch at her Australian country home was charged with murdering three guests with poisonous mushrooms and attempting to murder a fourth who was left fighting for life, police said on Thursday. Police say the symptoms the four diners suffered were consistent with poisoning by wild Amanita phalloides, known as death cap mushrooms. Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that Erin Patterson had written in a statement that she cooked a beef Wellington steak dish for the lunch using mushrooms bought from a major supermarket chain and dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery store. Ian Wilkinson, a Baptist pastor, was released from a hospital in late September and police say he continues to recover. Murder in Victoria carries a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Persons: Erin Patterson, Gail, Don Patterson, Gail Patterson’s, Heather Wilkinson, Ian Wilkinson, Simon Patterson Organizations: . Police, Police, Australian Broadcasting Corp Locations: CANBERRA, Australia, Leongatha, Victoria, Wellington

☆ Residents in rural Australia urged to evacuate as bushfires rage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Authorities on Saturday urged thousands of people in Australia's Queensland state to evacuate as bushfires that have destroyed at least 30 homes continued to threaten rural towns. Australia faces a high-risk bushfire season after the onset of an El Nino weather event, associated with extreme events such as wildfires, cyclones and droughts. Australia's last two fire seasons have been quiet compared with the catastrophic 2019-2020 "Black Summer" of bushfires that destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people. "There's a concerted effort being made by all to throw what we can at these fires," Queensland Rural Fire Service Assistant Commissioner Peter Hollier told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. The broadcaster reported more than 30 homes had been destroyed in the bushfires, sparked this week and fanned by hot, dry winds.

Persons: Tara, Peter Hollier, Hollier, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Brisbane, Queensland, Emergency Services, Queensland Rural Fire Service, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Thomson Locations: Australia's Queensland, Queensland, Tara, Australia, El Nino, Turkey, Sydney

☆ Residents in Rural Australia Urged to Evacuate as Bushfires Rage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Authorities on Saturday urged thousands of people in Australia's Queensland state to evacuate as bushfires that have destroyed at least 30 homes continued to threaten rural towns. Australia faces a high-risk bushfire season after the onset of an El Nino weather event, associated with extreme events such as wildfires, cyclones and droughts. Australia's last two fire seasons have been quiet compared with the catastrophic 2019-2020 "Black Summer" of bushfires that destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people. "There's a concerted effort being made by all to throw what we can at these fires," Queensland Rural Fire Service Assistant Commissioner Peter Hollier told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. The broadcaster reported more than 30 homes had been destroyed in the bushfires, sparked this week and fanned by hot, dry winds.

Persons: Tara, Peter Hollier, Hollier, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Brisbane, Queensland, Emergency Services, Queensland Rural Fire Service, Australian Broadcasting Corp Locations: Australia's Queensland, Queensland, Tara, Australia, El Nino, Turkey, Sydney

☆ Sam Neill has a rare cancer, but is more afraid of retirement than dying
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Sam Neill is in remission and back to doing what he loves. The 76-year-old actor shared a health update with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation regarding his non-Hodgkin blood cancer, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. “I know I’ve got it, but I’m not really interested in it,” Neill said. His doctors switched courses to try “a rare anti-cancer drug” and it’s had some success, Neill said. He said he’s “not remotely afraid” of dying and instead finds the idea “annoying” as he has so many things he wishes to do.

Persons: Sam Neill, angioimmunoblastic, I’ve, I’m, ” Neill, ‘, don’t, ”, it’s, Neill, “ I’m, he’s “, Annette Bening, Liane Moriarty’s Organizations: CNN, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, National Institutes of Health

☆ Australian Voice referendum: Australians vote No in referendum that promised change but couldn't deliver
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“It is as Australians together that we must take our country beyond this debate without forgetting why we had it in the first place. “This is a referendum we should never had had because it was built on a lie that Aboriginal people do not have a voice,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Yes campaigner Marilyn Trad told CNN that volunteers making calls to prospective voters had to break the news to some – this week – that there was indeed a referendum. The result means no constitutional change, but the referendum will have lasting consequences for the entire nation, according to experts. “So that power, to change, to modernize, to update the constitution has been put in the hands of the Australian people.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, ”, Warren Mundine, –, Martin Ollman, MC Hammer, John Farnham, “, Marilyn Trad, Kevin Argus, Argus, Mick Tsikas, Australia’s, Pat Dodson, ” “ We’ve, ” Maree Teesson, Teesson, Paula Gerber Organizations: Australia CNN —, Nations, Australian Electoral Commission, CNN, Sky News, SBS, Torres Straight Islanders, Torres Strait, ”, First Nations, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Constitutional, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, RMIT, House, National Press Club, Aboriginal, Matilda Center for Research, Mental Health, University of Sydney, Law, Monash University Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Canberra, Old

☆ Australia Voice referendum: Voters urged to 'choose love' as polls show referendum poised to fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A No campaign worker hands out leaflets outside an early voting center on October 4, in Ballina, Australia. “But it’s also about love of ourselves, whether we have the courage to love what Australia is. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty ImagesNo love for Yes campaignHowever, a leading No campaigner mocked Pearson’s speech, accusing the Yes campaign of promoting empty slogans. “The Yes campaign, it’s the vibe. If the referendum fails, Albanese said he will respect the democratic vote of the nation and won’t legislate a Voice to Parliament.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, –, James D, Morgan, Albanese, Stringer, ” Albanese, it’s, Noel Pearson, ”, Pearson, Amar Singh, Rachel Perkins, Lisa Maree Williams, they’ve …, Nyunggai Warren Mundine, Mundine, “, you’ve, ’ ”, there’ll, we’ve, ” Mundine, “ We’re Organizations: Australia CNN, Nations, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders, Voice, Australian, Getty, National Press Club, Australian Broadcasting, Indigenous Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Ballina, Uluru, AFP, Sydney

☆ Australia PM 'optimistic' of long-shot win in Indigenous rights referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I'm optimistic," Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) on Sunday morning, according to a transcript. "Whether it be Shepperton or Sydney or Brisbane, Melbourne, the places I've been, Hobart, Adelaide in the last week, have been extremely positive." Albanese's centre-left Labor government backs the referendum, while the opposition Liberal-National conservatives urge a "No" vote on Oct. 14. If the "Voice to Parliament" referendum is approved, it would constitutionally enshrine Indigenous people and set up an advisory body for their input on policies that affect them. Last month, thousands rallied in state capitals to support the yes campaign, which sees the measure as necessary to boost outcomes for the nation's Indigenous people.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, I've, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia's, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Labor, Liberal, Thomson Locations: Shepperton, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Australians, Australia's, New South Wales

☆ Australia seeks separate dialogue on China wine dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Bottles of Australian wine are seen at a store selling imported wine in Beijing, China November 27, 2020. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Australia wants a separate dialogue with China on their dispute over wine, the agriculture minister said on Sunday, rejecting Beijing's proposal to link wine with other trade issues as the two nations slowly seek to improve battered relations. China's removal of tariffs last month on Australian barley has raised hopes for an easing of wine tariffs, in place since 2021, which have hammered the country's wine exports. China on Thursday proposed a "packaged solution" that would tie the wine dispute to those about duties on Australian imports of Chinese railway wheels, wind towers and stainless steel sinks, state news agency Xinhua reported. China was Australia's top wine export market before COVID, peaking at A$1.2 billion ($770 million) for the 12 months to January 2020 when the pandemic hit.

Persons: Florence, Murray Watt, Watt, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Xinhua, Agriculture, Australian Broadcasting Corp, World Trade Organization, COVID, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Australia, COVID, Sydney

Lachlan Murdoch and his siblings attended Dalton, a private school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and other elite schools, including Trinity School. In 1999, Lachlan Murdoch assumed responsibility for print operations in the U.S. [1/3]Then Newscorp chairman Rupert Murdoch and son Lachlan Murdoch in the crowd before Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, U.S., February 5, 2017. The newly constituted Fox was reduced to a handful of assets, including the Fox broadcast network, Fox News, Fox Sports and Fox Business, with Lachlan Murdoch serving as its executive chair and chief executive officer. As chief executive of Fox Corp since 2019, Lachlan Murdoch has presided over the media properties during seismic change in the industry, as viewers cut cable subscriptions in favor of streaming services.

Persons: Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch, Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch’s, Anna, Australian Broadcasting Corp’s, Paddy Manning’s, “, Lachlan, James, Dalton, Manning, Robert Deutsch, Walt Disney, Brother James Murdoch, Chris Mitchell, ”, James Murdoch, Kathryn, Fox, Donald Trump, Dawn Chmielewski, Helen Coster, Kenneth Li, Nick Zieminski Organizations: News Corp, Fox Corp, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, Sun, Fox Sports, Fox Entertainment, Australian Broadcasting, New, New York Post, The New York Times, Daily News, Wall Street, San Antonio Express, Monopoly, Trinity School, Trinity Conservative Society, Princeton, News Ltd, U.S ., New York, Century Fox, Walt, Fox, Fox Business, Disney, New York Times, Daily, Dominion Voting Systems, Thomson Locations: Australia, United States, London, New York, U.S, Illyria, NRG, Houston , Texas, Los Angeles

☆ Rupert Murdoch's exit ends chapter for polarising figure in his native Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Even at a time when media consumption is splintering from traditional routes, particularly among younger people, Murdoch's influence is embedded in the country's information ecosystem because of its massive reach, media experts said. His local properties include Sky News Australia, a cable TV channel fashioned on the partisan style of U.S. network Fox News. "The Murdoch papers still have that key reach with working-class demographics that can still be influential," he said. "He has been in lots of ways a controversial figure, but an influential figure too, and this is an end of an era at News." Murdoch's exit cuts a native tie between News Corp and Fox Corp and Australia, where Murdoch was born.

Persons: Rupert Murdoch, Jonathan Ernst, Rupert Murdoch's, Stephen Mayne, Murdoch, Mayne, Shane Homan, Honan, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Penny Wong, Malcolm Turnbull, it's, Turnbull, Lachlan Murdoch, James Murdoch, Byron Kaye, Jamie Freed Organizations: USS, Air, Space Museum, REUTERS, Rights, Fox Corp, News Corp, Sky News Australia, Fox, Sky, Monash, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Labor, Labor Party, News, America, ABC, Google, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Adelaide, Australia, Britain, Australian, Sydney, Canada

[1/3] Then Newscorp chairman Rupert Murdoch and son Lachlan Murdoch in the crowd before Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, U.S., February 5, 2017. In 1999, Lachlan Murdoch assumed responsibility for print operations in the U.S. Lachlan Murdoch founded Illyria Pty, a private investment company, whose acquisitions included a network of Australian radio stations. The newly constituted Fox was reduced to a handful of assets, including the Fox broadcast network, Fox News, Fox Sports and Fox Business, with Lachlan Murdoch serving as its executive chair and chief executive officer. While Rupert Murdoch built his legacy pursuing the television, movie and newspaper businesses with equal abandon, Lachlan’s legacy is still taking shape.

Persons: Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, Robert Deutsch, Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch’s, Anna, Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s, Paddy Manning’s, “, Lachlan, James, Dalton, Manning, Walt Disney, Brother James Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch doesn’t, Chris Mitchell, ”, Fox, Donald Trump, Dawn Chmielewski, Helen Coster, Kenneth Li, Nick Zieminski Organizations: News Corp, Fox Corp, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, Sun, Fox Sports, Fox Entertainment, Australian Broadcasting, New, New York Post, The New York Times, Daily News, Wall Street, San Antonio Express, Monopoly, Trinity School, Trinity Conservative Society, News, New York, Century Fox, Walt, Fox, Fox Business, Disney, New York Times, Dominion Voting Systems, Thomson Locations: NRG, Houston , Texas, U.S, Australia, United States, London, New York, Princeton, Illyria, Los Angeles

☆ Thousands in Australia rally for struggling Indigenous referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A depiction of the Australian Aboriginal Flag is seen on a window sill at the home of indigenous Muruwari elder Rita Wright, a member of the "Stolen Generations", in Sydney, Australia, January 19, 2021. REUTERS/Loren Elliott Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Thousands rallied in Australia on Sunday to support recognising the country's Indigenous people in the constitution, a proposal that is struggling ahead of a referendum next month. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates. To change the constitution, the referendum, backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government, would require a national majority in favour and majorities in at least four of Australia's six states. Most Indigenous people favour the referendum, but some, like prominent No campaigner Warren Mundine, say it is a distraction from achieving practical and positive outcomes and would not fully resolve the issues affecting them.

Persons: Rita Wright, Loren Elliott, Anthony Albanese's, Warren Mundine, we've, Mundine, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: Australian, REUTERS, Rights, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Anthony Albanese's Labor, ABC, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Brisbane, Sydney , Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin, Newcastle

☆ Thousands in Australia Rally for Struggling Indigenous Referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Thousands rallied in Australia on Sunday to support recognising the country's Indigenous people in the constitution, a proposal that is struggling ahead of a referendum next month. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates. To change the constitution, the referendum, backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government, would require a national majority in favour and majorities in at least four of Australia's six states. Most Indigenous people favour the referendum, but some, like prominent No campaigner Warren Mundine, say it is a distraction from achieving practical and positive outcomes and would not fully resolve the issues affecting them. "If we can do just three things - accountability, jobs and education - then we'll resolve most of the problems we've got," Mundine told ABC.

Persons: Anthony Albanese's, Warren Mundine, we've, Mundine, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Anthony Albanese's Labor, ABC Locations: Australia, Brisbane, Sydney , Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin, Newcastle, Sydney

☆ Tennant Creek: Huge bushfire sweeps through central Australia near popular tourist town
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A huge bushfire raging for over a week in central Australia has come dangerously close to the popular tourist town of Tennant Creek, as authorities warn that changing wind conditions could pose a risk to residents. Home to about 3,000 people, Tennant Creek is a popular place for travelers to stop and rest as they drive through the outback along the Stuart Highway between Alice Springs and Darwin. Back-burning operations aimed at slowing the fire's spread have caused increased smoke within the Tennant Creek Township. Extra crews from South Australia arrived in Tennant Creek Wednesday afternoon, Fuller told ABC. Earlier this week, the Bureau of Meteorology forecast extreme fire danger for several areas within the Northern Territory.

Persons: Nicole Manison, Tennant, Tony Fuller, ” Manison, Fuller, James Gray, Spence, Gray, ”, ” Gray, “, “ We’ve, ” Fuller Organizations: CNN, Northern, Authorities, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Northern Territory, South Australia, ABC, Northern Territory Police, Emergency Services, Australian Defence Force, Alice, Australasian Fire Authorities Council, Meteorology Locations: Australia, Tennant, Alice Springs, Darwin, Barkly, Northern, South, New Zealand, Northern Territory

☆ Australia used a $528 million icebreaker to pull off a daring Antarctic rescue mission after an expeditioner fell ill at a remote research station
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Australia's Antarctic research agency rescued a sick expeditioner from a research site this month. The Nuyina, a research and supply vessel, traveled more than 1,800 miles to reach the site. Advertisement Advertisement Watch:The Casey research station, which is the closest permanent Antarctic station to Australia, is home to only about 20 people during the winter, the outlet reported. The aircraft took a nearly hour long flight to get to Casey and retrieve the sick expeditioner, according to the Australian Antarctic Program. A map shows the distance the Nuyina travelled between Hobart and Casey research center.

Persons: Casey, Robb Clifton, expeditioners, Clifton Organizations: Service, Australian Antarctic Program, Southern, Australian Antarctic Division, Australian Broadcasting Corp Locations: Wall, Silicon, Perth, Hobart, Tasmania, Antarctica, Australia, Casey

☆ Australia government to introduce bill barring 'wage theft' on Monday
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Australia's Labor government will introduce legislation to close "loopholes" in workplace law, a move opposed by employer groups fearing higher costs, when parliament returns on Monday. Workplace Minister Tony Burke said on Sunday he would introduce the bill making it a criminal offence to deliberately underpay workers, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and a maximum fine of A$7.8 million ($5.0 million). Penalties would not apply to employers who make honest mistakes, Burke said in a statement. Burke said in a speech last week that in addition to criminalising "wage theft", the bill would make it easier for casual workers to gain permanent roles, scrutinise the use of labour hire firms to undercut minimum pay rates, and introduce minimum standards for "gig economy" workers, including in food delivery and rideshare apps. ($1 = 1.5504 Australian dollars)Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tony Burke, Burke, Jennifer Westacott, Kirsty Needham, William Mallard Organizations: Australia's Labor, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Business, of Australia, Sky News, Australian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Thomson

☆ U.S. military personnel in Australia air crash, no deaths reported
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A V-22 Osprey from Marine Rotational Force Darwin comes into land to conduct a troop insertion as part of Exercise "Talisman Sabre 21" on July 27, 2021 in Townsville, Australia. An aircraft incident involving U.S. military personnel occurred mid-morning on Sunday during an exercise in Australia's Northern Territory, Australia's Defence Ministry said, while a broadcaster said there were no reports of deaths. Sky News Australia reported a v-22 Osprey helicopter with about 20 U.S. Marines on board had crashed off the coast of Darwin. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said multiple military personnel had been rescued from an aircraft crash on the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin, and that there were no reports of fatalities. "Initial reports suggest the incident involves United States defence personnel and that Australian Defence Force members were not involved," the ministry said in an emailed statement.

Persons: Force Darwin, Anthony Albanese Organizations: Force, U.S, Australia's Defence Ministry, Sky News Australia, Marines, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC, Northern Territory Police, Australian Defence Force Locations: Townsville, Australia, Northern Territory, Darwin, Melville, States

☆ Women's World Cup: Australia dares to dream of win as Matildas mania sweeps the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Sydney CNN —Two matches stand between Australia and a historic Women’s World Cup win, and the nation – perhaps prematurely – is debating the pros and cons of a national holiday should the squad defeat Spain on Sunday. Soccer mania has swept the country in a culture where rugby, cricket and the local “Aussie Rules” football usually dominates. Australia players celebrate after winning their quarterfinal match against France in Brisbane, August 12. Zara Borcak beams as she holds the jersey Sam Kerr gave her after Saturday's match against France, August 12, 2023. Maybe it’s because the last time the country came together to fight a common cause, they were desperately trying to stay apart.

Persons: Tertius Pickard, Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, Sam Kerr, “, ‘, ”, Zara Borcak, Selma Borcak, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Andrew Cornaga, Ben Crowe, Crowe, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ash Barty, it’s, ” Mackenzie Arnold of Australia, Norvik, that’s, Mackenzie Arnold, I’ve Organizations: Sydney CNN, Spain, Sunday, England, Australia, France, FIFA, Reuters Sporting, – Basketball Australia, AFL, Australian Football League, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ”, NRL, ’, Sweden, Wimbledon, Richmond AFL Locations: Australia, France, Australia’s, United States, Brisbane, Sydney, Green, Brazil, Zara, Spain, Eden, Auckland, Denmark, Melbourne

☆ Australia Women's World Cup: After Barbie, the Matildas became the new heroes in cleats
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But now, seemingly in the blink of an eye, we’re all wearing green and gold for our newest heroes, Australia’s Women’s World Cup hopefuls, the Matildas. Sam Kerr takes the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2023 round of 16 match between Australia and Denmark at Stadium Australia on August 7. “A lot of people just frankly don’t want to believe women’s sport is doing well,” Lassey told CNN. Football Australia said part of the rationale for bringing the Women’s World Cup to Australia was to use it to grow the women’s game – backed by a 357 million Australian dollar ($232 million) FIFA legacy fund. Argus says the World Cup is a turning point for women’s sport because the turnout and viewing numbers have proven that there’s an enthusiastic audience.

Persons: Barbie, Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig, Australia’s, they’ve, Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Daniela Porcelli, “, ”, Jackie Schougaard, Alfred Hotel, “ Everyone’s, It’s, Jason Lassey, –, ” Lassey, Matildas, —, “ I’m, Hannah Mckay, Bruce McAvaney, I’m, Maddie Meyer, Kevin Argus, ” Argus, we’ve, Lassey, We’re, Robbie, Gerwig, Barbie ”, ” Gerwig Organizations: Australia CNN, Neighbours, Hollywood, Chelsea, FIFA, Stadium Australia, France, Brisbane, Caxton, Footy Industry, –, AFL, Australian Football League, CNN, Denmark, Sydney, Football Australia, team, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, RMIT, Socceroos, ”, “, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Denmark, Melbourne

☆ Six dead in 'tragic' house fire in Australia's Queensland
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Five boys and their father were killed after fire ripped through a house in Australia's Queensland state early on Sunday, police said. These are young boys that could have become men into the future, and a man has lost his life as well," he said. Queensland Fire and Rescue said the house had collapsed due to the fire and some nearby residences were affected. Nine people were treated at the scene, with three taken to hospital, Queensland Ambulance Service said. Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio and William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mat Kelly, Kelly, Sam McKeith, Jonathan Oatis, David Gregorio, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Sunday, Queensland, Rescue, Queensland Ambulance Service, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Investigations, Thomson Locations: Australia's Queensland, Russell, Brisbane, Redland Bay, Queensland, Sydney

“We’re horrified that something like this could happen, not only to us, but to anyone,” Saffrine Duggan told her supporters. Former US fighter pilot Daniel Duggan is in custody in Australia pending extradition to the US on charges including that he trained Chinese military pilots. Courtesy Saffrine DugganTraining Chinese pilotsDuggan doesn’t deny training Chinese pilots, but he maintains they were civilians – plane enthusiasts seeking to improve their skills or prospective members of China’s then rapidly expanding aviation industry. And a spokesperson for New Zealand’s Defence Force confirmed to Reuters that four of its former military pilots had been recruited by the company. It’s the wrong type of approach and landing.”In its statement to CNN, TFASA denied teaching aircraft carrier approach and landing techniques to Chinese military pilots.

Persons: Daniel Duggan, Duggan, Duggan’s, “, ”, Saffrine, “ We’re, ” Saffrine Duggan, Paul Devitt, Duggan –, –, ” Duggan, Saffrine Duggan, TFASA, they’re, Duggan doesn’t, China’s, Glenn Kolomeitz, ” “ Dan, Richard Marles, It’s, Constant, Daniel Duggan's, Mike Burgess, Ben Hancock, ” Hancock, Hancock, hasn’t, Dan didn’t, “ TFASA, he’s, Xi Jinping, reunify, Joe Biden, Ng Han Guan, Xi, Donald Trump, “ Don’t Organizations: Australia CNN —, Marine Attack Squadron, Intelligence, Security, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Lithgow Correctional Centre, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ABC, US Marines, US State Department, of Defense Trade, Test Flying Academy of South, CNN, TFASA, Embassy, Former, Saffrine Duggan Training, Australian Defence Force, RAF, UK Defence Ministry, UK Armed Forces, Australia’s, New Zealand’s Defence Force, Reuters, Marles, ASIO, Buckeye, Marine Corps, US Navy, Aircraft, Training Squadron, US Department of Defense, Harrier, Getty, Pacific Locations: Brisbane, Australia, United States, Yuma , Arizona, China, Beijing, Lithgow, Sydney, Australian, Test Flying Academy of South Africa, Tasmania, South Africa, Former US, New South Wales, Persian, Asia, Townsville, Pensacola, Fla, Western, Taiwan, AFP

☆ Australia expects unemployment rate to rise as global economy slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, July 16 (Reuters) - Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Sunday that he expected the nation's jobless rate to lift from near a 48-year low on the back of higher interest rates and slowing global growth. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has said the jobless rate would need to rise to about 4.5% - still well below pre-pandemic levels - to bring the economy back into balance. Unemployment was expected to lift "a bit as the economy slows as a consequence of higher interest rates and global economic uncertainty", Chalmers said ahead of attending a meeting of Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers and central bankers in India with outgoing RBA Governor Philip Lowe. The RBA this month kept the cash rate at an 11-year high of 4.10%, having lifted rates by 400 basis points since May last year, but warned that further tightening might be needed. Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Philip Lowe, Sam McKeith, Jamie Freed Organizations: SYDNEY, Bank, Treasury, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Reserve Bank of Australia, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Thomson Locations: India, Sydney

☆ Chau Van Kham: Australian retiree accused of terrorism freed from prison in Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Acting Australian Prime Minister Richard Marles said Chau Van Kham was released on humanitarian grounds and “in the spirit of friendship” between Australia and Vietnam. The Vietnamese government declared the California-based Viet Tan, or Vietnam Reform Party, a terrorist organization in 2016, accusing it of recruiting and training armed operatives. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese traveled to Vietnam last month to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. “We share the happy news that Mr Chau Van Kham is well and has returned to his family today,” the statement said, according to Amnesty. Pearson said Kham was one of more than 150 political prisoners detained in Vietnam for peaceful acts of free expression.

Persons: Australia CNN —, Richard Marles, ” Marles, Viet Tan, Tan, it’s, Anthony Albanese, Kham’s, Dan Nguyen, Chau, “, ” Elaine Pearson, Pearson, Kham, Pham Doan Trang, Mai Phan, Dang Dinh Bach, Hoang, Hong, ” Pearson Organizations: Australia CNN, Australian, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Vietnam Reform Party, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Human Rights Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Sydney, Vietnam, California, United States, Asia

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