Canberra
A tourist snaps pictures of Uyghur performers at the front gate of the remodeled city center of Kashgar in China's far west Xinjiang region, during the welcome ceremony of a state tour for foreign media on April 19, 2021. Four years after Beijing's brutal crackdown on largely Muslim minorities native to Xinjiang, Chinese authorities are dialing back the region's high-tech police state and stepping up tourism. But even as a sense of normality returns, fear remains, hidden but pervasive. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
IOC VP: Chinese human rights not a concern before 2022 Games

Oct. 14, 2021 03:07 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

A woman receives a COVID-19 test at a testing station in Nelson Bay, Australia, Monday, June 28, 2021. Australia was battling to contain several COVID-19 clusters around the country on Monday in what some experts have described as the nation’s most dangerous stage of the pandemic since the earliest days. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia battles several clusters in new pandemic phase

By Rod Mcguirk Jun. 27, 2021 11:59 PM EDT

Children watch as veterans march in the Anzac Day parade in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, April 25, 2021. Australians and New Zealanders paid tribute to their war dead Sunday as both nations prepared to withdraw from their longest war in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia and New Zealand commemorate war dead on Anzac Day

By Rod Mcguirk Apr. 24, 2021 07:41 PM EDT

People sit at outdoor tables setup today for drinks to be served in the Soho area of central London, on the day some of England's third coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased by the British government, Monday, April 12, 2021. People across England can get their hair cut, eat and drink outside at restaurants and browse for clothes, books and other "non-essential" items as shops and gyms reopened Monday after months of lockdown. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The Latest: Australia has 2nd likely Astra-Zeneca clot case

By The Associated Press Apr. 12, 2021 01:56 AM EDT

A photo of Britain's Prince Philip is among flowers left by the public outside the gates of Windsor Castle, a day after the death of Britain's Prince Philip, in Windsor, England, Saturday, April 10, 2021. Britain's Prince Philip, the irascible and tough-minded husband of Queen Elizabeth II who spent more than seven decades supporting his wife in a role that mostly defined his life, died on Friday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Latest: Tweet recalls queen's loving anniversary speech

By The Associated Press Apr. 10, 2021 03:59 AM EDT

Flags fly at half-staff on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney as a tribute to Prince Philip, Saturday, April 10, 2021. Buckingham Palace officials say Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died. He was 99. Philip spent a month in hospital earlier this year before being released on March 16 to return to Windsor Castle. (AP Photo/Mark Baker))
The Latest: Australia mourns Prince Philip

By The Associated Press Apr. 09, 2021 03:30 PM EDT

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison sits in the House of Representatives during question time at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. Morrison said there could be more targeted economic relief for businesses struggling with pandemic restrictions after Parliament resumed for the first time in 2021. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP)
Virus financial relief sought as Australia opens Parliament

By Rod Mcguirk Feb. 02, 2021 02:50 AM EST

Russell Dawson of the Koomurri Aboriginal Dancers participates in a smoking ceremony during Australia Day ceremonies in Sydney, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Australia marks national day with protests, calming words

Jan. 25, 2021 11:04 PM EST

FILE - In this March 8, 2020, file photo, Australian players celebrate their win over India in the Women's T20 World Cup cricket final match in Melbourne. A three-match one-day international series between the Australia and India women's cricket teams has been postponed indefinitely and likely won't be played until 2022. (AP Photo/Asanka Ratnayake, File)
3-match Australia-India women's ODI cricket series postponed

Dec. 30, 2020 08:44 PM EST

Australia's Joe Burns plays a shot against India on the third day of their cricket test match at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/David Mariuz)
Cricket Australia mulls 3rd, 4th test swap after COVID spike

Dec. 19, 2020 09:35 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2020, file photo, pedestrians walk past Pfizer world headquarters in New York. A U.S. government advisory panel convened on Thursday, Dec. 10, to decide whether to endorse mass use of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to help conquer the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
Australia won't rush Pfizer after homegrown vaccine canned

By Rod Mcguirk Dec. 11, 2020 12:22 AM EST

A government health worker in protective suit waits to sanitise a street shut down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Dharmsala, India, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
The Latest: Australia leader to go slow on Pfizer vaccine

The Associated Press Dec. 10, 2020 01:25 AM EST

In this frame grab from Iranian state television video aired Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, center inside van, is seen in Tehran, Iran. Iran has freed Moore-Gilbert, who has been detained in Iran for more than two years, in exchange for three Iranians held abroad, state TV reported Wednesday. (Iranian State Television via AP)
Academic detained in Iran for 2 years returns to Australia

Nov. 27, 2020 03:24 AM EST

In this Nov. 17, 2020, photo, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during signing ceremony in Tokyo. On Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, China's foreign ministry has called on Australia to take action to stem worsening relations between the sides. (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool Photo via AP)
China calls for action from Australia amid worsening ties

Nov. 18, 2020 08:32 AM EST

Australia's captain Aaron Finch poses with the winners trophy after their win in the third ODI cricket match between England and Australia, at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. (Shaun Botterill/Pool via AP)
Dates locked in for India's cricket tour to Australia

Oct. 27, 2020 08:44 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2020, file photo, Pope Francis puts on his face mask as he attends an inter-religious ceremony for peace in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, in Rome. Pope Francis has been warned of potential exposure to COVID-19 after a Vatican diplomat was infected, Australian media reported on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, the Holy See’s ambassador to Australia, had a face-to-face meeting with Francis at the Vatican on Oct. 6, less than two weeks before testing positive to COVID-19 in Australia, Nine News reported. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Media report pope met COVID-19 infected bishop at Vatican

By Rod Mcguirk Oct. 23, 2020 07:23 AM EDT

A health worker takes a nasal swab sample to test for COVID-19 in Gauhati, India, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. India’s coronavirus cases jumped by another 96,424 in the past 24 hours, showing little sign of leveling. India is expected to have the highest number of confirmed cases within weeks, surpassing the United States, where more than 6.67 million people have been infected. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Asia Today: India's coronavirus cases jump by another 96K

Sep. 17, 2020 10:30 PM EDT

Queensland state Chief Health officer Dr. Jeannette Young speaks during a press conference at Parliament House in Brisbane, Australia, on July 24, 2020. The Australian health official revealed Monday, Sept. 14, that she has been under police guard because of death threats and growing public anger over pandemic border restrictions. (Dan Peled/AAP Image via AP)
Australian official under police guard over virus measures

By Rod Mcguirk Sep. 14, 2020 01:30 AM EDT

Family and friends of Bernard Prendergast attend his funeral in Brisbane, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020. Prendergast's daughter, Sarah Caisip was refused permission to go to the funeral because she was forced to spend 14 days in hotel quarantine. (Darren England/AAP Image via AP)
Family heartache spotlights Australia virus restrictions

By Rod Mcguirk Sep. 10, 2020 05:01 AM EDT