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☆ Australia recommends against fifth vaccine dose as fresh COVID wave builds
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Australian health authorities have recommended against getting a fifth COVID-19 vaccine shot, even as they urged those eligible to sign up for their remaining booster doses as the country's latest COVID wave grows rapidly. "ATAGI has considered international evidence as well as the local data around vaccination numbers, as well as case numbers in the pandemic and decided not to recommend a fifth dose," said Butler. "They noted that severe disease and death during that wave in Singapore was very rare for people who had had at least two doses of vaccine for COVID." New booster recommendations will be made early next year ahead of the southern-hemisphere winter. The company's vaccine for children aged six months to five years will also be approved for use on the severely immunocompromised.

☆ Australia recommends against fifth vaccine dose as fresh Covid wave builds
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic has been granted a visa to play in the Australian Open in January, Guardian Australia and state broadcaster ABC reported on Tuesday. Djokovic, who is Serbian, was deported from Australia in the leadup to the Grand Slam in January after he declined to be vaccinated. The ABC said it had confirmed Immigration Minister Andrew Giles had overturned that ban, allowing Djokovic to compete. A spokesperson for Australia's immigration ministry declined to comment on the reports. Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said this month that Djokovic would be welcome in January if he could get a visa, but that Tennis Australia was unable to lobby on his behalf.

☆ Michael Cohen blasts ruling tossing his lawsuit alleging Trump weaponized the Justice Department to lock him up as he weighs appeal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A judge dismissed Michael Cohen's lawsuit against Donald Trump and the DOJ for locking him up. Cohen, once a fixer and personal lawyer for Trump, as well as an executive at the Trump Organization, has turned into a fiery Trump critic. "President Donald J. Trump will continue to fight for the truth and against innumerable falsehoods being perpetrated by his enemies." Cohen followed up the book in question, "Disloyal," in October with the book "Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized the US Department of Justice Against His Critics." Michael Cohen, former personal attorney for U.S. President Donald Trump, exits the Loews Regency hotel and walks toward a taxi cab, July 27, 2018 in New York City.

Nov 15 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he discussed trade, consular and human rights issues in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit on Tuesday, the first meeting between leaders of the two countries since 2016. The meeting takes place as both countries work to improve relations overshadowed by disputes over trade, Taiwan, human rights and the origins of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. "Australia seeks a stable relationship with China. Two Australian journalists, Cheng Lei and Yang Hengjun, are also in jail in China awaiting sentences after closed-door national security trials. Albanese said China acknowledged that Australia had raised the issue of the imprisoned journalists, but he gave no further details.

☆ Australian police blame Russia-based hackers for attack on Medibank
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Russia-based hackers were behind the cyberattack on insurer Medibank Private Ltd (MPL.AX), which compromised the details of just under 10 million current and former customers, Australian Federal Police said on Friday. Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Reece Kershaw blamed a loosely-affiliated group of cyber criminals likely responsible for other big breaches around the world for the attack on Medibank. Kershaw said the AFP knows which individuals are responsible but will not be naming them at this moment. Russia's embassy did not immediately respond to questions asking whether it had been in communication with the Australian government over the hack. Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Vanguard launches Australian pension fund in bid for $2 trillion savings pool
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Nov 11 (Reuters) - The world's second-largest fund manager Vanguard launched a pension fund in Australia on Friday, the first new fund licence approved in six years as it bets a reputation for low fees will help break into the country's trillions of retirement savings. Twenty-four years after the launch of Vanguard's first Australian fund, Vanguard Super opens with 12 products, including a default "Lifecycle" fund that gradually shifts a member's holdings into more conservative investments as they age. Fees for the default option will be the lowest in the Australian pension market for younger members and those with balances under A$50,000 ($33,080), according to analysis from accounting firm Deloitte commissioned by Vanguard. "We want to deliver members a low-cost, high-quality super fund that includes a default offer designed to move with them right through life," said Vanguard Australia Managing Director Daniel Shrimski in a statement. ($1 = 1.5115 Australian dollars)Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The banks are now less conservative in counting expected rental income when assessing loan applications, said the four sources. In September, about a third of new bank mortgage lending was for investment. On Nov. 12, NAB will also halve its discount on rental income to 10%, including for Airbnb-like short-term rentals, the sources said. NAB, Westpac and ANZ trail market leader Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX), which has a quarter of the mortgage market. Commonwealth continues to apply a rental income discount of 20% on mortgage applications, a sixth source said.

☆ Australia launches review into former pilots training Chinese military
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Australia will launch a review into the obligations former Defence Force personnel have to protect state secrets, following reports that Australians were among the Western military pilots who had been approached to help train the Chinese military. Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday the intelligence agencies and Australian Federal Police were "investigating a number of cases" in Australia, and announced a review into the policies and procedures governing Australian Defence Force personnel. "It's important that we have the most robust framework possible that is in place to protect Australia's information and protect our secrets." Britain has said it would change its national security laws to stop former military pilots being recruited by third-party agencies to work in China, after reports up to 30 pilots had trained the Chinese military. An Australian citizen, Daniel Edmund Duggan, was arrested in New South Wales state in the same week that Britain announced the crackdown on former military pilots.

☆ Residents told to evacuate as flood waters rise in regional Australia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Authorities are urging residents to evacuate from parts of the New South Wales regional towns of Wagga Wagga, Gunnedah, and Forbes, collectively home to roughly 90,000. Across Australia's most populous state, emergency services conducted 15 flood rescues in the 24 hours to Thursday morning. "We are expecting major flooding in the next couple of days equivalent to probably the 1952 flooding in that area." Blue skies have replaced rain across most of New South Wales and Victoria with little rain forecast for the weekend. But emergency services warn rivers will keep rising for days as water seeps into already swollen floodwaters moving slowly downstream.

☆ Australia sees spike in cyber attacks from criminals and states
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Cyber attacks against Australia from criminals and state-sponsored groups jumped last financial year, with a government report released on Friday equating the assault to one attack every seven minutes. The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) received 76,000 cybercrime reports last financial year, up 13% from the previous period, according to its latest annual cyber threat report. The ACSC, part of the intelligence-collecting Signals Directorate, reported 95 cyber incidents impacting critical infrastructure last fiscal year. Business losses attributable to cyber crime rose on average 14% over the period, with the average crime costing a small business A$39,000 ($24,540). The jump in attacks and damages is making insurers wary and premiums in Australia jumped 56% year-on-year in the second quarter, according to Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc (MMC.N).

☆ U.S. cautioned Germany against a Chinese controlling stake in Hamburg port
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Cargo ship 'Cosco Shipping Gemini' of Chinese shipping company 'Cosco' is loaded at the container terminal 'Tollerort' in the port in Hamburg, Germany, October 25, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian BimmerMUNSTER, Germany, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The United States cautioned Germany against allowing China to obtain a controlling stake in a Hamburg port terminal, a senior U.S. State Department official said on Wednesday, in a deal that has been seen as a gauge of how far Germany is willing to toughen its stance on its top trading partner. By pushing the stake under 25%, the deal no longer officially requires Cabinet approval, which would have been hard to muster from the Greens and liberal-run ministries. The document points to "considerable risks that arise when elements of the European transport infrastructure are influenced and controlled by China - while China itself does not allow Germany to participate in Chinese ports." Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Munster, Germany; writing by Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Lions back in Sydney zoo enclosure after escape
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Five lions have been returned to their enclosures at Taronga Zoo in Sydney after escaping early on Wednesday before opening hours, according to a statement from the zoo. The zoo declared a "code one" alert early on Monday morning after video footage showed four cubs and one adult lion outside their enclosure at 6.30 a.m. (1930 GMT) on Monday, Taronga Zoo Executive Director Simon Duffy told a press conference. The lions escaped into a small area adjacent to the main exhibit but were still separated from the rest of the zoo by a six-foot fence. Zoo keepers tranquilised and returned one cub while the remaining four made their way back of their own accord. The zoo does not yet know how the animals escaped and has launched a formal review.

[1/2] A woman uses her mobile phone as she walks past in front of an Optus shop in Sydney, Australia, February 8, 2018. This week 37 countries, including Australia, will meet at the White House with the goal of tackling ransomware and other cyber crime. Australian cybersecurity insurance premiums rose by an average of 56% year-on-year in the second quarter, said insurer Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc (MMC.N). The average Australian cybersecurity base salary is A$105,000, according to jobs website Glassdoor. Neil Curtis, an Australian cybersecurity executive of U.S. technology contractor DXC Technology Co (DXC.N), who runs a programme retraining military veterans in cybersecurity, said he had requests for about 300 trained personnel in the next six months.

☆ Apple workers in Australia gear up for more strike action
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Results released on Monday show 68% of Apple workers rejected a workplace agreement proposed by management with 87% of Apple's almost 4,000 Australian workers participating. Members of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU), one of three involved in negotiations and representing around 200 workers, will meet on Monday night and union representatives say more strikes will "absolutely" be discussed. Our members have been engaged in pretty serious work bans and strikes," RAFFWU secretary Josh Cullinan told Reuters by phone. Negotiations began in August when Apple proposed a new set of locked-in wage rises and conditions that unions say mean real wage cuts and poor work-life balance. Apple says its minimum pay rates are 17% above the industry minimum and that full-time workers get guaranteed weekends.

SYDNEY, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The United States is planning to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to an air base in northern Australia, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday, amid heightened tensions with Beijing. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia engages with the United States on defence alliances "from time to time." Australia's Northern Territory is already host to frequent military collaborations with the United States. Last year, the United States, Britain and Australia created a security deal that will provide Australia with the technology to deploy nuclear-powered submarines, riling China. This year, the U.S. deployed four B-52s to its Andersen Air Force base in Guam.

☆ U.S. plans to deploy B-52 bombers to Australia's north, ABC reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The United States is planning to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to an air base in northern Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) reported on Monday, amid heightened tensions with Beijing. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia engages with the United States on defence alliances "from time to time." Australia's Northern Territory is already host to frequent military collaborations with the United States. Last year, the United States, Britain and Australia created a security deal that will provide Australia with the technology to deploy nuclear-powered submarines, riling China. This year, the U.S. deployed four B-52s to its Andersen Air Force base in Guam.

☆ Australia to spend $500 million to move or flood-proof homes in inundated areas
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Australia will spend A$800 million ($516 million) to repair, retrofit and buy back homes in the flood-prone northwest of the country's largest state as the region recovers from its third inundation this year. Clean-up efforts are underway across Australia's southeast as swollen rivers recede after the country's third bout of flooding this year. Others will be offered up to A$100,000 to raise homes off the ground or retrofit them against flooding. Albanese said he would work closely with New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet to also push changes to floodplain building planning laws in Australia. "We know that disasters are expected to become more frequent, and more severe due to climate change, and that's why we're working with the New South Wales Government to develop practical solutions to protect lives and livelihoods."

☆ Australian players call out Qatar's human rights record ahead of World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Australia's national soccer team spoke out against World Cup host Qatar's record on human rights and same-sex relationships in a video released on Thursday, adding to criticism of the country in the weeks ahead of the tournament. Qatar, the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup, has come under intense international pressure for its treatment of foreign workers and restrictive social laws. A separate statement from Football Australia, the peak soccer body, on Thursday acknowledged reforms but said the games had been associated "with suffering for some migrant workers and their families." Disquiet over the country's human rights record has led to calls for teams and officials to boycott the games. Australia will play against France, Denmark and Tunisia after the World Cup kicks off on Nov. 20.

☆ Paying off hackers is common, says top Australian govt cybersecurity firm
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Corporate insurers routinely pay hackers a ransom for the return of stolen customer data, a top Australian government cybersecurity provider said on Tuesday, as the country's biggest health insurer revealed the growing scale of a recent breach. "In what other sphere of life do you see reputable corporates pay millions of dollars to criminals and somehow it's all okay?" On Tuesday, Medibank said the criminal had shown data of another 1,000 customers and added that the number was likely to grow. 2 telco, Singapore Telecommunciations Ltd-owned (STEL.SI) Optus, said last month about 10 million customer accounts, equivalent to 40% of the Australian population, had data taken by a hacker demanding payment. The federal government has meanwhile said it would introduce fines of up to A$50 million for companies on the receiving end of data breaches.

☆ Bad weather thwarts New Zealand PM Ardern's Antarctica trip
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's visit to her country's research station in Antarctica was upended by bad weather that forced the plane she was travelling in to turn back midflight on Tuesday. The C130 Hercules military aircraft carrying Ardern encountered poor weather at McMurdo Sound in Antarctica, the location of several international research stations, according to a government statement. The spokesperson did not say whether the trip would be attempted again once the weather clears. New Zealand is one of seven countries, including Australia, France and Chile, with a territorial claim to Antarctica. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

It said on Wednesday that all personal and significant amounts of health claims data of all its customers were compromised in the breach reported this month, a day after it warned the number of customers affected would grow. Medibank, which covers one-sixth of Australians, said the estimated cost did not include further potential remediation or regulatory expenses. "Our investigation has now established that this criminal has accessed all our private health insurance customers' personal data and significant amounts of their health claims data," chief executive David Koczkar said in a statement. Medibank, which also withdrew its fiscal 2023 policyholder growth forecast, reported an after-tax profit of about A$394 million for fiscal 2022 in August. A person claiming to be behind the Optus hack later withdrew the demand over concerns about publicity.

☆ Southeast Australia braces for more rain, residents told to evacuate
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Australian authorities warned on Tuesday that flood-affected areas in the country's southeast were set for more rain, as emergency services issued a fresh batch of evacuation orders. Authorities overnight told hundreds of residents to evacuate from the New South Wales (NSW) town of Narrabri, home to 12,000 and about 550km northwest of Sydney, as water released from a full dam nearby worsened flooding. "Clearly the flood risk and the threat remains across NSW today and will do so for some days to come. "Even the smallest amount of rain falling can cause an elevated risk of flash flooding and riverine flooding." Flooding is also expected on several river systems in the adjacent states of Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

☆ Australia to cut economic growth forecasts on lower consumer spending
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Australia's economic growth is expected to slow sharply next financial year as rising inflation curbs household consumption, according to new forecasts to be unveiled by Treasurer Jim Chalmers in Tuesday's budget. GDP is also due to be downgraded to 3.25% from 3.5% for 2022-2023, according to draft figures from the Treasury. The drop-off is blamed on a slump in consumer spending as rising prices and the biggest jump in interest rates in decades cut into household budgets. "These headwinds will inevitably impact our growth outlook, and Australians are already feeling the pinch from higher prices and rising interest rates." "The best defence against these economic headwinds is a responsible budget ... along with responsible cost-of-living relief that won't make the job of the Reserve Bank more difficult," Chalmers told the Australian Financial Review.

☆ Australia flood crisis enters third week as heavy rains lash east
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Already-flooded towns across Australia's east were on high alert on Monday after a weekend of heavy rains, with authorities warning a wild weather system could persist until later this week and trigger renewed riverbank bursts. About 200 flood warnings remained in place in both states as of Monday morning, with 132 of those in New South Wales. A severe weather warning was cancelled on Monday, but the region is still on flood alert. Many agricultural regions have been severely impacted, including Moree where the local river peaked near historic flooding levels. In neighbouring Victoria state, residents of Echuca remain sheltered behind a dirt levee erected last week as the Murray, Australia's longest river, broached a near 30-year high.

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