Australia government
Canada joins US and allies in Beijing Olympics boycott

By Rob Gillies Dec. 08, 2021 12:52 PM EST
TORONTO (AP) — Canada will join the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights concerns...

In this grab taken from video, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Johnson says no U.K. government minister will attend the Beijing Olympics. Johnson on Wednesday called it “effectively” a diplomatic boycott. Johnson was asked in the House of Commons whether the U.K. will join the United States, Australia and Lithuania in a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Games. (House of Commons/PA via AP)
UK joins US, Australia in Beijing Winter Olympics boycott

By Sylvia Hui Dec. 08, 2021 07:51 AM EST

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison holds a ball during a visit to a school in Sydney, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Morrison said Wednesday it will join the U.S. in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Games over human rights concerns. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)
Australia joins US in diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics

By Nick Perry Dec. 07, 2021 10:32 PM EST

President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach announces Brisbane as the 2032 Summer Olympics host city during the 138th IOC Session at Hotel Okura in Tokyo, Wednesday, July 21, 2021. (Toru Hanai/Pool Photo via AP)
Brisbane picked to host 2032 Olympics without a rival bid

By Graham Dunbar Jul. 21, 2021 04:34 AM EDT

FILE - In this file photo dated Thursday June 24, 2021, European Council President Charles Michel, left, greets Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel during an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels. The government of Luxembourg said Monday June 28, 2021, that Prime Minister Xavier Bettel has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in isolation for 10 days. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys, FILE)
The Latest: Hong Kong to ban flights from UK to curb virus

By The Associated Press Jun. 28, 2021 06:35 AM EDT

Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speaks to journalists after touring Ben Gurion Airport, with the Minister of Health Nitzan Horowitz and the Minister of Transportation Merav Michaeli, Tuesday, June 22, 2021.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
The Latest: COVID-19 cluster worsens in Australian city

By The Associated Press Jun. 23, 2021 06:01 AM EDT

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the Perth US Asia Centre in Perth, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The World Trade Organization should penalize "bad behavior when it occurs," Morrison said ahead of a Group of Seven leaders' meeting in Britain where he hopes to garner international support in a trade dispute with China. (Stefan Gosatti/AAP Image via AP)
Australia says WTO should punish Chinese economic coercion

By Rod Mcguirk Jun. 09, 2021 06:11 AM EDT

FILE - In this May 6, 2021, file photo, Andrew Cooper, founder and president of libertarian group LibertyWorks, arrives at Federal Court in Sydney. An Australian court on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, has rejected a challenge to the federal government's draconian power to prevent most citizens from leaving the country so that they don't bring COVID-19 home. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)
Australian court upholds ban on most international travel

By Rod Mcguirk May. 31, 2021 10:58 PM EDT

A health worker conducts a COVID-19 swab test on a resident as they monitor cases at a village in Quezon City, Philippines on Monday, May 31, 2021. The president of the Philippines recently warned he will jail village leaders and police officers who don't enforce pandemic lockdown restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
The Latest: Australia court upholds ban on pandemic travel

By The Associated Press May. 31, 2021 01:13 AM EDT

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, center, attends a Powhiri (welcome ceremony) at a hotel in Queenstown, New Zealand, Sunday, May 30, 2021. Growing friction with China and how to reopen borders after the pandemic will likely be among the topics discussed by the leaders of Australia and New Zealand in their first face-to-face meeting since the coronavirus outbreak began. (George Heard/NZ Herald via AP)
New Zealand hosts Australia PM in 1st meeting since outbreak

By Nick Perry May. 30, 2021 01:49 AM EDT

FILE - In this May 13, 2021, file photo, Australian Foreign Minister and Minister for Women Marise Payne, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, not shown, holds a joint news conference at the State Department, in Washington. Australian Foreign Minister Payne has labeled the incarceration of Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who has been tried in Beijing for alleged espionage a case of arbitrary detention. Yang faced a closed trial Thursday, May 27. The court deferred its verdict to a later date.(Leah Millis/Pool via AP, File)
Australia says citizen is in arbitrary detention in China

By Rod Mcguirk May. 28, 2021 06:42 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2021, file photo, an empty Swanston Street is seen at night in the Central Business District as lockdown due to the continuing spread of COVID-19 prepares to start in Melbourne. Melbourne, the city that was once Australia’s worst COVID-19 hot spot has announced a seven-day lockdown, its fourth since the pandemic began. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File)
Melbourne, Australia, set for 4th lockdown as cluster grows

By Rod Mcguirk May. 27, 2021 03:22 AM EDT

Australian ambassador to China Graham Fletcher, left, is checked by policemen outside the No. 2 Intermediate People's Court as he arrives to attend the espionage charges case for Yang Hengjun, in Beijing, Thursday, May 27, 2021. Fletcher said it was “regrettable” that the embassy was denied access Thursday as a trial was due to start for Yang, a Chinese Australian man charged with espionage. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
China tries Chinese Australian writer on espionage charge

May. 26, 2021 11:14 PM EDT

Former NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell joins a CEDA panel discussing Australia's economic strategy in India in Sydney on Aug. 2, 2018. Around half the passengers due to fly from India to Australia on Saturday after a two-week travel ban have been grounded because they either have COVID-19 or are considered a close contact of someone who does. Now Australian High Commissioner to India O’Farrell said “a number” of passengers booked to fly would not board the flight at New Delhi on Friday, May 14, 2021 because they had tested positive to COVID-19. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image)
Passengers miss India-Australia flight because of COVID-19

By Rod Mcguirk May. 14, 2021 05:04 AM EDT

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at a news conference to announce the annual International Religious Freedom Report at the State Department in Washington, Wednesday, May 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)
US vows to stand by ally Australia against China

By Matthew Lee May. 13, 2021 05:39 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 2, 2021, patrons at a sidewalk cafe are seated without masks in Boston. COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have tumbled to an average of just over 600 per day — the lowest level in 10 months — with the number of lives lost dropping to single digits in well over half the states and hitting zero on some days. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
The Latest: Louisiana kids can start vaccinations Thursday

By The Associated Press May. 12, 2021 01:36 AM EDT

Heavy machinery work on a major road project in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. The Australian government will release its big-spending economic plan for the next fiscal year on Tuesday designed to create jobs and repair pandemic damage and with an eye toward winning votes at looming general elections. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia plans big defense and security investments

By Rod Mcguirk May. 11, 2021 06:02 AM EDT

Workers prepare to attach slings to a load of construction materials at a building site in Sydney, Tuesday, May 11, 2021, as the government prepares to release its big-spending economic plan for the next fiscal year designed to create jobs and repair pandemic damage and with an eye toward winning votes at looming general elections. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the economy was already recovering from the pandemic and his economic blueprint for the fiscal year starting on July 1 would create more economic strength. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Australia to reveal big-spending plan for next fiscal year

By Rod Mcguirk May. 10, 2021 07:20 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 19, 2021 file photo, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla speaks at a Pfizer manufacturing site, in Portage, Mich. Bourla is participating along with Dr. Anthony Fauci, soprano Renee Fleming, the CEO of Moderna and the lead guitarist of Aerosmith among others in a unique three-day Vatican conference starting Thursday, May 6, 2021, on COVID-19, other global health threats and how science, solidarity and spirituality can address them. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The Latest: LA, San Fran opening business despite infections

By The Associated Press May. 06, 2021 02:14 AM EDT

Australia faces court challenge to its Indian travel ban

By Rod Mcguirk May. 05, 2021 03:38 AM EDT
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government on Wednesday faced a court challenge to its temporary Indian travel ban brought by a 73-year-old citizen...