NewsAustralian Associated PressCOVID-19 boosters approved for teenagers
Teenagers will soon be able to get a COVID-19 booster shot after the medical regulator granted provisional approval for the Pfizer vaccine.Previously, only people 18 years and older had been able to get a booster shot.
NewsAustralian Associated PressUK's Johnson waits on 'Partygate' report
Boris Johnson's wait for the findings of an official inquiry into lockdown-busting parties in No 10 and Whitehall continues, with the British prime minister insisting he was not responsible for any delay to the report.The highly anticipated document from senior civil servant Sue Gray could be pivotal for Johnson's future but it has yet to be submitted to No 10, with legal and human resources officials scrutinising it before it can be sent to Downing Street for publication.
NewsAustralian Associated PressBodies found after Florida boat capsize
The US Coast Guard has found four more bodies off Florida's Atlantic Coast from a boat that capsized over the weekend while engaged in what officials believe was an attempt to smuggle migrants into the United States.The Coast Guard said it would suspend its search operations by sunset on Thursday unless new information came to light before then.
NewsAustralian Associated PressUN urges G20 to lead on nature protection
The world's 20 richest countries should more than double their annual spending to protect and restore nature to $US285 billion ($A404 billion) by 2050, the United Nations and donors say, calling for private and overseas investments to be ramped up too.In a first joint report on finance for nature in the G20 countries, they estimated that spending by the bloc - which includes large emerging economies - was $US120 billion in 2020.
NewsAustralian Associated PressSweden to bury nuke fuel for 100,000 years
Sweden's government has given the go-ahead for the building of a storage facility to keep the country's spent nuclear fuel safe for the next 100,000 years.What to do with nuclear waste has been a major headache since the world's first nuclear plants came on line in the 1950s and 1960s.
BusinessAustralian Associated PressChina, Australia curbs dent Maccas sales
McDonald's ended 2021 on a high note with US customers spending more and fewer restaurant closures in Europe from coronavirus restrictions.But higher costs for food and labour weighed on profits and the company said it expects that pressure to continue this year.
NewsAustralian Associated PressGlobal cases rise as UK, Greece ease curbs
Global COVID-19 cases have hit a new daily high as Poland reported a surge in infections while authorities in Greece and the United Kingdom eased restrictions.The World Health Organisation said on Thursday that 3.
SportAustralian Associated PressDjokovic will return to action in Dubai
Novak Djokovic may have been deported and missed the chance to defend his Australian Open crown - but the world No.1 can expect a much warmer reception when he makes his return to action in Dubai next month.
NewsAustralian Associated PressItaly fails to elect president once more
Italy's parliament has failed to elect a new president for a fourth day running, with the main political blocs floundering in their efforts to find a mutually acceptable candidate for the powerful role.Neither the centre-right nor centre-left put forward any names for Thursday's ballot after various parties had shot down a raft of possible contenders, opening the way for intense behind-the-scenes haggling in the hours ahead.
NewsAustralian Associated PressGuards clash again on Kyrgyz-Tajik border
Kyrgyz and Tajik border guards have exchanged fire amid a stand-off over a blocked road in the latest clash between the former Soviet neighbours following a similar violent incident last year that killed dozens.The border between the two countries, both of which host Russian military bases, is poorly demarcated.
PoliticsAustralian Associated PressBiden vows to name black woman to US court
US President Joe Biden says he plans to name a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer by the end of February and reiterated his intention to nominate a black woman for the first time to serve on the country's highest judicial body."This is a bittersweet day for me," Biden said during an appearance with the justice at the White House, noting that he has known Breyer since the 1970s.
SportAustralian Associated PressAdam Scott makes solid start in Dubai
Adam Scott's hopes of a strong finish to last week's Abu Dhabi Championship may have evaporated in the final round but the Australian has bounced back with a solid start to the Dubai Desert Classic.The 2013 Masters champ had looked set to challenge for the Abu Dhabi title on Sunday until his hopes were sunk over the space of three holes but his impressive form was obvious again on Thursday as he opened up with a three-under par 69 to lie four shots off the lead.
NewsAustralian Associated PressPapua attack kills three troops: Indonesia
Separatist gunmen have opened fire on a military post in Indonesia's restive easternmost province of Papua, killing three soldiers and critically wounding another, according to the the army and the rebels.Attackers from the West Papua Liberation Army, the military wing of the Free Papua Organisation, carried out the assault at dawn during a change of guard in the hilly district of Puncak, a stronghold of separatists who have battled Indonesian rule in the mineral-rich but impoverished region sin
- BusinessAustralian Associated Press
Wall St gains on boost from tech stocks
US stock indexes have opened higher on a boost from tech-focused megacap firms a day after hawkish comments from the Federal Reserve weighed on markets.Leading gains on the benchmark S&P; 500 was a 18.
SportAustralian Associated PressCoach Tyzzer instrumental in Ash's success
Coach Craig Tyzzer is being hailed as the "unsung hero" of Ash Barty's incredible rise from disillusioned tennis talent to all-conquering world No.Barty is on the cusp of ending the country's 44-year wait for another home-bred Australian Open singles champion after marching into Saturday night's final without dropping a set.
SportAustralian Associated PressCollins aims to join shock slam champions
American Danielle Collins hopes she'll become the latest surprise grand slam champion when she takes on home favourite Ash Barty in the Australian Open final on Saturday.Collins powered her way into the decider with a 6-4 6-1 demolition of world No.
SportAustralian Associated PressRoos prepared if Arnold misses Oman WCQ
After the Socceroos successfully used a digital line to contact isolating Graham Arnold during their win over Vietnam, assistant Rene Meulensteen is confident it can again prove a winning move, if required, for their crunch World Cup qualifier against Oman.Arnold tested positive to COVID-19 last week and was due to come out of quarantine on Thursday but didn't clear the required protocols to coach from the sidelines at AAMI Park.
SportAustralian Associated PressPearce driven by new French challenge
Australian playmaker Mitchell Pearce says the prospect of a new challenge in a new environment lay behind his move to Super League in the south of France.The 32-year-old scrum-half, who played over 300 NRL games and made 19 State of Origin appearances, has been signed by Catalans Dragons to plug the gap created by the retirement of fellow Aussie James Maloney.
SportAustralian Associated PressNo WBBL gave Haynes Test patience
Rachael Haynes' time out of the WBBL has proved a blessing in disguise for Australia, shaping the left-hander's game-changing Ashes knock.Haynes made a patient 86 to help steady the ship for Australia in Canberra, after they slumped to 3-43 before going to stumps at 7-327.
NewsAustralian Associated PressCOVID cases set to spike as schools return
Federal, state and territory leaders expect COVID-19 infections to spike as schools return for the year.No decision has been made about whether to change the definition of full vaccination to require a third dose as Australia's immunisation advisory group continues to consider the issue.
NewsAustralian Associated Press100k booster shots go begging in NSW
NSW's health minister has criticised people for failing to take up booster shots in droves, just weeks after the premier called the Omicron variant "much less severe"."It simply should be one message alone - go and get the booster," Brad Hazzard said on Thursday.
NewsAustralian Associated PressQld crossbenchers back integrity probe
Queensland crossbenchers have joined calls for an inquiry into how and why the contents of a laptop seized from the integrity commissioner's office were deleted.Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov says the Public Service Commission seized a laptop from her office and wiped its contents without her "knowledge or consent" last year.
NewsAustralian Associated PressReef protection gets another $1 billion
The Morrison government is spending another $1 billion to protect the Great Barrier Reef after successfully lobbying UNESCO to delay a decision about listing the World Heritage site as "in danger".Of the funding over nine years, $579.
SportAustralian Associated PressKerr on target again in Matildas' victory
The Matildas were left furious with themselves after giving away a late goal in their 2-1 Women's Asian Cup victory over Thailand - but their anger has delighted coach Tony Gustavsson.His much-changed side made hard work of their win over a limited and unambitious Thai outfit in Mumbai, with goals from the prolific duo of Emily van Egmond and, inevitably, Sam Kerr assuring them of a clean sweep of group stage victories on Thursday (Friday morning AEDT).
HealthAustralian Associated PressSweden won't back jabs for kids five to 11
Sweden has decided against recommending COVID-19 vaccines for kids aged five to 11, the Health Agency says, arguing that the benefits do not outweigh the risks."With the knowledge we have today, with a low risk for serious disease for kids, we don't see any clear benefit with vaccinating them," Health Agency official Britta Bjorkholm told a news conference on Thursday.
