MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Australians were warned Monday to avoid travelling to Melbourne, as the country’s second biggest city tightened coronavirus restrictions amid fears of a second wave of the epidemic. Victoria state has recorded more than 110 cases in the past week — many of them in Melbourne — prompting leaders of other regions to warn against visiting the city’s six designated virus “hot spots”. The premier of neighbouring New South Wales state, Gladys […]
Tag: Australia
Australia set to allow 10,000-strong sporting crowds
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Crowds of up 10,000 people will be allowed into Australian sports stadiums from next month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday, as COVID-19 restrictions are further relaxed. The announcement comes a day before New Zealand prepares to welcome back fans at its Super Rugby Aotearoa tournament, which kicks off on Saturday. Morrison said it would only apply to stadiums with a capacity of 40,000 or under, ruling out the likes […]
Aussie scientists turn to drones to protect sea turtles
BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) — Australian researchers have discovered they were underestimating numbers at the world’s largest sea turtle nesting site after turning to drone technology for the first time. Raine Island, off the northern tip of Australia, plays host to around 60,000 female green turtles who migrate hundreds of kilometers from the Great Barrier Reef to lay their eggs each year. Scientists working to protect the endangered species had struggled with how best to keep […]
Football pitch of rainforest destroyed every six seconds
by Marlowe HOOD Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Vast tracts of pristine rainforest on three continents went up in smoke last year, with an area roughly the size of Switzerland cut down or burned to make way for cattle and commercial crops, researchers said Tuesday. Brazil accounted for more than a third of the loss, with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia a distant second and third, Global Forest Watch said in its […]
Bushfire-hit Australians still in tents as virus slows recovery
by Andrew LEESON Agence France-Presse COBARGO, Australia (AFP) — Victims of Australia’s catastrophic bushfires are still living in tents, garages and makeshift shelters months after the blazes ended, with efforts to rebuild their lives hampered by the coronavirus pandemic. Inside a small tin shed on Australia’s southeast coast, a family of six takes refuge from the cold as the southern hemisphere winter begins to bite. The structure — chock-full of toys and beds — has […]
French surfer punches shark, survives attack in Australia
SYDNEY, Asutralia (AFP) — A French surfer has survived a shark attack in Australia with only minor leg injuries by punching it twice, local media reported. Dylan Nacass, 23, was surfing at Bells Beach, about 1.5 hours from Melbourne, when the shark attacked on Friday, Nine News said. Video footage shows a shark swimming up behind two men as they paddle desperately to get away. Nacass told Nine the shark latched onto his leg until […]
Australia plans to lift most virus restrictions by July
by David MILLIKIN Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s government on Friday unveiled a three-stage plan to get the economy back to a new “COVID-safe” normal by the end of July. Federal authorities have left details of the plan’s implementation up to the country’s diverse states and territories, meaning coronavirus restrictions will remain in place for weeks or months longer in areas hardest hit by the disease. Australia has been one of […]
Cardinal Pell knew of Catholic clergy abuse in Australia for decades: inquiry
by Holly ROBERTSON Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Cardinal George Pell was aware of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Australia as far back as the 1970s and failed to seek the removal of accused priests, according to findings of a top-level inquiry released Thursday. The Royal Commission report was handed down in 2017 but pages relating to Pell’s conduct were heavily redacted to prevent jurors in his trials on child […]
Australia eyes early end to virus restrictions
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia will consider early easing of coronavirus restrictions next week, officials announced Friday, as the number of local cases dwindled and the economic impact of the crisis fell into painful relief. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the national cabinet would meet on May 8 — a week earlier than expected — to weigh loosening social distancing measures that have kept millions of Australians at home, barred almost all travel and slowed […]
COVIDSafe App speeds up contact tracing of people exposed to COVID-19
Eagle News — The coronavirus 2019 or COVID-19, is one of the most unpredictable pandemics in recent history. Due to the fact that the world has never seen this type of coronavirus strain. As scientists and health officials, are learning more about the virus as it continues to spread around the world, tracing the spread of the virus, is crucial for vaccine development. Modern technology helps expedites the tracing process. However, there are many counties […]
DFA repatriates over 800 OFWs from UK, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Australia
(Eagle News)–The Department of Foreign Affairs has recently repatriated over 800 Overseas Filipino Workers. In a statement, the DFA said 818 OFWs from the UK, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo and Australia arrived on three separate chartered flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Thursday afternoon and early morning Friday. The DFA said the repatriates underwent a rapid testing upon their arrival. They were also briefed on quarantine protocols before they were transported […]
Australia pounces on oil glut to build strategic reserve
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia said Wednesday it will take advantage of record low oil prices to develop a long-needed strategic oil reserve, which will be located in the United States. With global demand for oil slowing to a trickle owing to worldwide virus lockdowns, crude prices turning negative and storage facilities bursting at the seams, Energy Minister Angus Taylor said it was time to act. Australia has long had one of the lowest levels […]





