About: Australia
Half of EU vaccinated as Covid returns to China’s Wuhan
Half of the European Union's population has now been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, an AFP tally showed Tuesday, as China's Wuhan said it would test all 11 million residents after the virus returned to where it first emerged.
Russia COVID-19 deaths hit new record as EU eyes tourism reboot
Russia's Covid-19 death toll reached a record on Wednesday (30 June) as the country battled the highly infectious Delta variant, even as Europe prepared to launch an EU-wide Covid certificate to boost its devastated tourism industry.
Delta variant spread upsets EU plans for return to relative normality
Moscow and Indonesia recorded their worst daily coronavirus death toll due to the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant, while various EU countries envisaged new restrictions, likely to upset their plans for a return to relative normality this summer.
Global crackdown on organised crime after high-tech US-Australia sting
US and Australian authorities hacked into an app used by criminals to read millions of encrypted messages, leading to hundreds of arrests of suspected organised crime figures in 18 countries, Australian officials said on Tuesday (8 June).
UK set to offer unfettered access to meat imports in Australia trade pact
The United Kingdom is expected to sign an ambitious liberalising trade pact with Australia, its first major new trade deal since leaving the EU, following a row between cabinet ministers on whether to open up the UK market to meat imports.
Blinken in UK as G7 foreign ministers discuss in-person Russia, China
Britain this week hosts the first face-to-face meeting of G7 foreign ministers in two years, joined by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as world powers tackle pandemic recovery plus growing tensions with Russia and China.
Australia says it cancelled state deals on China’s Belt and Road over ‘national interest’
Australia said a decision to cancel two accords between Victoria state and China on the Belt and Road Initiative was taken to ensure consistency in foreign relations and was not aimed at any country.
Australia blames EU supply issues for slow vaccine rollout
Australia's prime minister on Wednesday (7 April) blamed restricted vaccine supply from Europe for his country's halting coronavirus inoculation efforts, as he faced down growing public frustration over the sluggish rollout.
Australia urges EU to send 1 million COVID vaccines for Papua New Guinea
Australia said it will ask the European Union to release 1 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to help Papua New Guinea (PNG) battle a dangerous outbreak that authorities fear could spread to other parts of the region.
Australia’s Cormann to lead OECD, climate activists dismayed
Australia’s former finance minister Mathias Cormann on Friday (12 March) announced he won the race to lead the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), disappointing climate activists who said he has blocked efforts to reduce emissions.
Australia asks European Commission to review Italy’s vaccine block
Australia has asked the European Commission to review a decision by Italy to block a shipment of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, while stressing on Friday (5 March) the missing doses would not affect the rollout of Australia's inoculation programme.
Assange ‘free to return home’ once legal challenges over, Australia PM says
Julian Assange is “free to return home” to Australia once legal challenges against him are dealt with, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, after a UK court denied a request to extradite the Wikileaks founder to the United States.
Hydrogen trade hopes boosted by Australia-Germany deal
A bilateral agreement aimed at increasing German imports of hydrogen produced from solar power plants in Australia could set a milestone in efforts to establish a global hydrogen market.
Moscow withdraws from MH17 talks with Netherlands, Australia
Russia said Thursday (15 October) it would withdraw from consultations with the Netherlands and Australia over the MH17 flight shot down over Ukraine in 2014, complaining of "vicious" attempts to pin blame on Moscow.
Dutch may take Russia to court over MH17
The Netherlands is considering dragging Russia to an international court over the downing of flight MH17 after talks over responsibility ground to an impasse, the Dutch foreign minister said Thursday (20 December).
Destination COP24: Take us to your climate leader
Europe has been one of the driving forces behind the quest to make the Paris Agreement on climate change a reality. But how serious is the EU about the landmark deal and what is Brussels doing in its own backyard to keep global temperature increase ‘well below 2 degrees Celsius’?
Australia’s new PM risks climate trade-off with EU
Australia’s new prime minister will not walk away from the Paris climate agreement, although his new policies now make it unlikely the country will meet its emissions reduction goal. Ongoing trade talks with the EU could also hinge on how climate policy continues to develop.
Raising the bar to protect wildlife through trade policy with Australia, New Zealand
The opening of EU trade negotiations with both Australia and New Zealand presents an opportunity for the parties to strengthen their commitments to protect wildlife, natural habitats and the welfare of animals. The EU should look to TPP-11’s environmental provisions for inspiration, argue Joanna Swabe and Nicola Beynon.
Europe moves to pick up free trade scraps as Trump ditches TPP
President Donald Trump signed an executive order formally withdrawing the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal yesterday (23 January) as Europe sniffed a chance to pick up the free trade the US is turning its back on.
APEC leaders vow to fight protectionism, look to China on trade
Pacific Rim leaders vowed yesterday (20 November) to fight protectionism and Chinese officials said more countries are looking to join a China-led trading bloc after Donald Trump's election victory raised fears the United States would scrap free trade deals.
Court may help EU sidestep lone wolf resistance to trade deals
A court ruling early next year may help the European Union out of the kind of embarrassing situation it finds itself in now, with a regional assembly in Belgium locking a major trade agreement between Canada and the 28 sovereign states of the EU.
EU and New Zealand: Partnership powers in the Pacific
Small developing states in the Pacific have traditionally relied on imports of fossil fuels. The cost of the fuel, combined with its price volatility, and the islands' geographic remoteness, are all significant strains on these small economies, write Andrew Jacobs and Michalis Rokas.
‘Forget Commonwealth, target US & China’, economist warns Brexit trade team
Theresa May’s new Brexit team of trade ministers should ignore the former Commonwealth and concentrate on the US and China, according to a new report from a former Bank of England economist.