An Australian citizen tried for espionage in Beijing last week has told supporters he’s “100 per cent innocent” and still isn’t sure which country he’s accused of spying for. Yang Hengjun conveyed a message to family and supporters on Friday, a day after he was tried behind closed doors in Beijing. The 56-year-old one-time employee of China’s state security agencies …

An aged care worker at a facility in Melbourne’s west has been diagnosed with COVID-19, sending the home into lockdown. The worker at Arcare Maidstone was one of five locally acquired COVID-19 cases across Victoria reported Saturday. The healthcare worker was not showing symptoms when she last worked at the home on May 27, but later tested positive, Arcare said. …

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged NSW residents to avoid unnecessary travel to Victoria as the state deals with a growing COVID-19 outbreak. The Victorian coronavirus outbreak reached 26 cases this morning — with 11 new infections recorded overnight — and the state is expected to enter lockdown for at least a week. Ms Berejiklian said she was “worried about the evolving situation” …

The Victorian government will announce a lockdown today in a bid to curb the state’s growing coronavirus outbreak, with senior government sources telling the ABC it will last for at least seven days. The state’s outbreak has now reached 26 cases, with 11 new cases recorded overnight. One additional case included in those figures was announced during Wednesday’s coronavirus briefing. …

Syrian people around the world have started to cast their votes for the presidential elections of the Syrian Arab Republic in the Syrian Embassies and Consulates. Honorary Consul Maher Dabbagh stated that the election process started at 7:30 and finished at 8:30pm, insuring that all applicable measures and procedures have been adopted to insure a safe election. He added that …

Hundreds of Toyota Hilux vehicles now on Australian roads have been placed under recall after a safety issue that could lead to spontaneous fires was discovered. Product Safety Australia says the potential electrical fault is present in 683 Hilux Rogues. But the vast majority of Hiluxes are unaffected. The model in question comes with an electric cover for its cargo tray, which closes …

Victorian health authorities have reported two “likely positive cases” of COVID-19 in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. “It’s currently understood the two individuals are connected,” the Department of Health said in a tweet. “A full investigation is underway into these results, and initial public health actions are being put in place while both individuals isolate and are urgently retested. “We will communicate …

Prime Minister Scott Morrison – Opinion – 2021 Budget This year’s Budget is a significant time in Australia’s history as the world confronts the worst pandemic in a century. We see the terrible impacts and toll of COVID-19 almost everywhere. Yet here in Australia, we are living life differently. Our economy is stronger than virtually any advanced economy. We have …

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka says Australia cannot keep its borders shut indefinitely despite the risk of COVID-19. Ms Hrdlicka made the comments at a business function hosted by the Queensland University of Technology on Monday. Ms Hrdlicka argued that Australia needed to discuss opening the borders as the vaccine rollout ramped up, according to the university’s media unit. “We can’t …

COVID has “supercharged” Australian anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theory communities online, digital experts warn, with fears a 300 per cent explosion in membership of such Facebook groups could derail the vaccine rollout. Even as social media giants crackdown on harmful misinformation, including deleting prominent pages and slapping on new warnings and fact-check labels, critics say dangerous conspiracy theories are still festering …