Latest Scott Morrison News

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

SYDNEY (AP) — Government leaders marked a socially distanced Australia Day with calming words Tuesday as protesters denounced celebrations of a day some dub “Invasion Day” because of historical wrongs committed against Indigenous people. The 4,000 protesters who gathered in small groups in...

Volunteers take down information as they register people to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the vaccination clinic put on by the City of Odessa, Odessa Fire Rescue and Medical Center Hospital Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas. (Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP)

The Latest: Texas COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to fall

Jan. 25, 2021 8:10 PM EST

AUSTIN, Texas — The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Texas continues to fall from record highs as the state nears the end of what has been its deadliest month of the pandemic. State health officials Monday reported fewer than 13,000 people were being treated for the virus in Texas hospitals,...

A health worker takes a blood sample from a man for a coronavirus rapid test at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium in Bekasi, Indonesia, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. Indonesia has reported more cases of the virus than any other countries in Southeast Asia. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Asia Today: Australia OKs Pfizer vaccine, to begin in Feb.

Jan. 25, 2021 10:54 AM EST

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia’s medical regulator has approved use of its first coronavirus vaccine, paving the way for inoculations to begin next month. The Therapeutic Goods Administration on Monday gave provisional approval for people aged 16 and over to use the vaccine developed by Pfizer and...

Signs direct drivers waiting for a COVID-19 testing at a pop-up testing centre at Marsden Point, New Zealand, on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. Health officials in New Zealand say genome tests indicate the country's most recent COVID-19 patient contracted the virus from another returning traveler just before leaving quarantine. (Tania Whyte/Northern Adivacate/NZME via AP)

The Latest: Hong Kong ends lockdown in Kowloon neighborhood

Jan. 24, 2021 11:13 PM EST

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s government on Monday morning ended an unprecedented lockdown after testing thousands of residents living in an area that had reported an increasing number of coronavirus cases, authorities said. The lockdown, which was implemented in the early hours of Saturday, covered 16...

Mel Silva, right, the managing director of Google Australia and New Zealand, appears via a video link during a Senate inquiry into a mandatory code of conduct proposed by the government at Parliament House in Canberra, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Google on Friday threatened to make its search engine unavailable in Australia if the government went ahead with plans to make tech giants pay for news content. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)

Google threatens to pull search engine in Australia

Jan. 22, 2021 10:24 AM EST

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Google on Friday threatened to make its search engine unavailable in Australia if the government went ahead with plans to make tech giants pay for news content. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison quickly hit back, saying “we don't respond to threats.” ...

Joe Biden's cousin Joe Blewitt speaks to the media underneath his mural painted on a wall in Ballina, Ireland, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Joe Biden's great-great grandfather Patrick Blewitt was born in Ballina, County Mayo, in 1832. He left for the US in 1850, aged 18. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

World hopes for renewed cooperation with US under Biden

Jan. 21, 2021 4:21 AM EST

MEXICO CITY (AP) — World leaders welcomed into their ranks the new U.S. President Joe Biden, noting their most pressing problems, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, require multilateral cooperation, an approach his predecessor Donald Trump ridiculed. Many expressed hope Biden would right...

FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2017, file photo a member of the Aboriginal community takes part in a traditional smoking ceremony that is performed as part of Australia Day celebration in Sydney. Cricket Australia has run afoul of the country's prime minister for refusing to refer to the national holiday in the marketing of three matches on Jan. 26 after a recommendation from its Indigenous advisory committee. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)

Australian PM rebuffs Cricket Australia over Jan 26 plans

Jan. 21, 2021 12:53 AM EST

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Cricket Australia has run afoul of the country’s prime minister for refusing to refer to the national holiday in the marketing of three matches on Jan. 26 after a recommendation from its Indigenous advisory committee. Australia Day is held annually on Jan. 26, the...

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack listens during question time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra on Dec. 7, 2020. Acting prime minister McCormack on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 defended his comments comparing the attack on the U.S. Capitol building with Black Lives Matter protests despite criticism from Indigenous and human rights groups. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)

Australia acting PM equates Capitol attack with BLM protests

Jan. 12, 2021 1:35 AM EST

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s acting prime minister on Tuesday defended his comments comparing the attack on the U.S. Capitol building with Black Lives Matter protests despite criticism from Indigenous and human rights groups. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, who is acting as the...

A woman wearing mask to help protect herself from the coronavirus stands in the sun as she walks her dogs in Beijing on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. With next month's Lunar New Year travel rush looming, the government is telling people to stay put as much as possible and not travel to or from the capital Beijing. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

The Latest: 2 Chinese cities urge people to stay at home

Jan. 9, 2021 12:33 AM EST

BEIJING — Chinese authorities are asking residents in two cities south of Beijing to stay home for seven days as they try to stamp out a coronavirus outbreak in which more than 300 people have tested positive in the past week. According to official notices on social media, the cities of Shijiazhuang and...

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk through an upscale shopping mall in Beijing, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. A city in northern China is offering rewards of 500 yuan ($77) for anyone who reports on a resident who has not taken a coronavirus test. The offer from the government of Nangong comes as millions in the city and the surrounding province of Hebei are being tested as part of efforts to control China's most serious recent outbreak of infections. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Asia Today: China city offers cash for tip on test evaders

Jan. 8, 2021 6:40 AM EST

BEIJING (AP) — A city in northern China is offering rewards of 500 yuan ($77) for anyone who reports on a resident who has not taken a recent coronavirus test. The offer from the government of Nangong comes as millions in the city and its surrounding province of Hebei are being tested as part of efforts to...

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