New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday made a shock announcement she had “no more in the tank” to continue leading the country and would step down no later than early February and not seek re-election. Ardern, holding back tears, said that it had been a tough five and a half years as prime… Read More New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern announces resignation
Australian Cardinal George Pell, a leading Roman Catholic conservative and former top Vatican official who was acquitted in 2020 of sexual abuse accusations, died on Tuesday at the age of 81, his private secretary said. Fr. Joseph Hamilton said Pell died in a Rome hospital on Tuesday night. Archbishop Peter Comensoli of Melbourne said Pell… Read More Australian Cardinal George Pell dies at 81
Australia’s foreign minister said on Saturday the government would place targeted sanctions on Russia and Iran in response to what it called “egregious” human rights violations. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement Australia was imposing Magnitsky-style sanctions on 13 individuals and two entities, including Iran’s Morality Police and Basij Resistance Force, and six… Read More Australia imposes sanctions on Iran and Russia over human rights violations
An Australian court fined Uber Technologies Inc A$21 million (an equivalent of $14 million) on Wednesday for threatening cancellation fees it never charged and overstating fare estimates on some rides. The penalty was less than a regulator wanted. The Australian arm of the U.S. ride-sharing app broke consumer law by misleading customers with warnings they… Read More Australia imposes $14million fine on Uber over misleading fares and cancellation fees
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 former world No. 1 was originally barred… Read More Australia grants tennis star Novak Djokovic visa to play in 2023 Australian Open
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida agreed on Saturday to strengthen security ties between the two U.S. allies amid China’s push for greater influence in the Asia-Pacific region. At the annual Australia-Japan Leaders’ Meeting, held in the Western Australia capital Perth, the two signed a security cooperation agreement updating a… Read More Australia, Japan agree to strengthen security ties
OPEC+ agreed its deepest cuts to oil production since the 2020 COVID pandemic at a Vienna meeting on Wednesday, curbing supply in an already tight market despite pressure from the United States and others to pump more. The cut could spur a recovery in oil prices that have dropped to about $90 from $120 three… Read More OPEC+ agrees to slash oil output by two million barrels per day
Australia on Sunday imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on 28 Russian-appointed separatists, ministers and senior officials after President Vladimir Putin proclaimed the annexation of four regions of Ukraine. The new sanctions targeted individuals who the Australian government said were flouting international law to legitimise Russia’s actions in Ukraine through “sham referenda, disinformation and… Read More Australia imposes new sanctions on Russia over annexation of Ukrainian regions
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