By , (This July 7 story corrects to remove quote on commuting delay that was erroneously attributed)SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne, went back into lockdown at midnight on Wednesday, forcing five million Australians to stay home for all but essential business for the next six weeks to contain a flare-up of coronavirus cases.State police were patrolling the city and setting up checkpoints on major roads to stop people heading out to regional areas and spreading the virus from what is now Australia’s pandemic epicentre, with 860 active cases.“The window for...…By , (This July 7 story corrects to remove quote on commuting delay that was erroneously attributed)SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne, went back into lockdown at midnight on Wednesday, forcing five million Australians to stay home for all but essential business for the next six weeks to contain a flare-up of coronavirus cases.State police were patrolling the city and setting up checkpoints on major roads to stop people heading out to regional areas and spreading the virus from what is now Australia’s pandemic epicentre, with 860 active cases.“The window for...WW…

By , SYDNEY (Reuters) - South Australia reported 14 new coronavirus cases on Monday, a rapid spike in the state’s first outbreak since April, prompting officials to impose social distancing restrictions.The cluster also prompted some other Australian states to reimpose strict quarantine measures on anybody arriving from South Australia - just days after Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he expected all internal borders to be open by Christmas.South Australia authorities first reported three locally-acquired COVID-19 cases on Sunday, saying the outbreak was caused by a worker from a...…By , SYDNEY (Reuters) - South Australia reported 14 new coronavirus cases on Monday, a rapid spike in the state’s first outbreak since April, prompting officials to impose social distancing restrictions.The cluster also prompted some other Australian states to reimpose strict quarantine measures on anybody arriving from South Australia - just days after Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he expected all internal borders to be open by Christmas.South Australia authorities first reported three locally-acquired COVID-19 cases on Sunday, saying the outbreak was caused by a worker from a...WW…

By , (This July 7 story corrects to remove quote on commuting delay that was erroneously attributed)SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne, went back into lockdown at midnight on Wednesday, forcing five million Australians to stay home for all but essential business for the next six weeks to contain a flare-up of coronavirus cases.State police were patrolling the city and setting up checkpoints on major roads to stop people heading out to regional areas and spreading the virus from what is now Australia’s pandemic epicentre, with 860 active cases.“The window for...…By , (This July 7 story corrects to remove quote on commuting delay that was erroneously attributed)SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne, went back into lockdown at midnight on Wednesday, forcing five million Australians to stay home for all but essential business for the next six weeks to contain a flare-up of coronavirus cases.State police were patrolling the city and setting up checkpoints on major roads to stop people heading out to regional areas and spreading the virus from what is now Australia’s pandemic epicentre, with 860 active cases.“The window for...WW…

By , SYDNEY (Reuters) - Blackstone Group Inc proposed a buyout of Australia’s Crown Resorts Ltd in a deal valuing the casino operator at $6.2 billion, a markdown from the troubled company’s value a year ago but a possible reprieve from regulatory pressure.Crown shares leapt more than 20% after it disclosed the informal offer on Monday, passing Blackstone’s indicative price of A$11.85 as investors wagered a bigger payment could be in the offing from the world’s No. 1 private equity firm or another suitor.“It’s nice to get a bid, and now it’s about price discovery,” said John Ayoub, a...…By , SYDNEY (Reuters) - Blackstone Group Inc proposed a buyout of Australia’s Crown Resorts Ltd in a deal valuing the casino operator at $6.2 billion, a markdown from the troubled company’s value a year ago but a possible reprieve from regulatory pressure.Crown shares leapt more than 20% after it disclosed the informal offer on Monday, passing Blackstone’s indicative price of A$11.85 as investors wagered a bigger payment could be in the offing from the world’s No. 1 private equity firm or another suitor.“It’s nice to get a bid, and now it’s about price discovery,” said John Ayoub, a...WW…

By SYDNEY (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp reached a content-supply deal with Facebook Inc in Australia, the companies said on Tuesday, a step toward settling a dispute that saw the social media giant briefly shut down thousands of pages in the country.The agreement, terms of which were not disclosed, makes News Corp the first major media outlet to strike a Facebook deal under controversial new laws that let an Australian government-appointed arbitrator set fees if companies fail to do so.Facebook’s shutting out all media content in the country for a week last month angered world...…By SYDNEY (Reuters) - Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp reached a content-supply deal with Facebook Inc in Australia, the companies said on Tuesday, a step toward settling a dispute that saw the social media giant briefly shut down thousands of pages in the country.The agreement, terms of which were not disclosed, makes News Corp the first major media outlet to strike a Facebook deal under controversial new laws that let an Australian government-appointed arbitrator set fees if companies fail to do so.Facebook’s shutting out all media content in the country for a week last month angered world...WW…

By , CANBERRA (Reuters) - The architect of Australia’s laws forcing Google and Facebook to pay media companies for content claimed victory on Wednesday, though critics said last-minute changes to appease Facebook favoured Big Tech over smaller news outlets.After tense negotiations prompted Facebook to cut off news in the country last week, Australia offered a host of technical concessions and the social media giant said it would restore news as the revamped bill looked set to become law this week.While Facebook said its concerns had been met and opposition lawmakers warned that smaller...…By , CANBERRA (Reuters) - The architect of Australia’s laws forcing Google and Facebook to pay media companies for content claimed victory on Wednesday, though critics said last-minute changes to appease Facebook favoured Big Tech over smaller news outlets.After tense negotiations prompted Facebook to cut off news in the country last week, Australia offered a host of technical concessions and the social media giant said it would restore news as the revamped bill looked set to become law this week.While Facebook said its concerns had been met and opposition lawmakers warned that smaller...WW…

By , CANBERRA (Reuters) - Facebook will restore Australian news pages, ending an unprecedented week-long blackout after wringing concessions from the government over a proposed law that will require tech giants to pay traditional media companies for their content.Both sides claimed victory in the clash, which has drawn global attention as countries including Canada and Britain consider similar steps to rein in the dominant tech platforms and preserve media diversity.While some analysts said Facebook had defended its lucrative model of collecting ad money for clicks on news it shows, others...…By , CANBERRA (Reuters) - Facebook will restore Australian news pages, ending an unprecedented week-long blackout after wringing concessions from the government over a proposed law that will require tech giants to pay traditional media companies for their content.Both sides claimed victory in the clash, which has drawn global attention as countries including Canada and Britain consider similar steps to rein in the dominant tech platforms and preserve media diversity.While some analysts said Facebook had defended its lucrative model of collecting ad money for clicks on news it shows, others...WW…

By SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia’s government pledged a publicity campaign for its rollout of COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday - but not in Facebook advertisements, as a feud continues over the social media giant blocking news content from its platform in the country.Slideshow Facebook Inc’s abrupt decision on Thursday to stop Australians from sharing news on its platform and strip the pages of domestic and foreign media outlets also blacked out several state government and emergency department accounts, drawing furious responses from lawmakers around the world.Hours before Australia began...…By SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia’s government pledged a publicity campaign for its rollout of COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday - but not in Facebook advertisements, as a feud continues over the social media giant blocking news content from its platform in the country.Slideshow Facebook Inc’s abrupt decision on Thursday to stop Australians from sharing news on its platform and strip the pages of domestic and foreign media outlets also blacked out several state government and emergency department accounts, drawing furious responses from lawmakers around the world.Hours before Australia began...WW…

By SYDNEY (Reuters) - Facebook faced backlash from publishers and politicians on Thursday after blocking news feeds in Australia in a surprise escalation of a dispute with the government over a law to require it to share revenue from news.Facebook wiped out pages from Australian state governments and charities as well as from domestic and international news organisations, three days before the launch of a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme.Though the measure was limited to Australia, European publishers along with British and Canadian politicians described it as an attempt to put...…By SYDNEY (Reuters) - Facebook faced backlash from publishers and politicians on Thursday after blocking news feeds in Australia in a surprise escalation of a dispute with the government over a law to require it to share revenue from news.Facebook wiped out pages from Australian state governments and charities as well as from domestic and international news organisations, three days before the launch of a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme.Though the measure was limited to Australia, European publishers along with British and Canadian politicians described it as an attempt to put...WW…

By , SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian authorities moved on Friday to scupper protests inspired by the death of black American man George Floyd, saying large gatherings risk new coronavirus infections and banning the biggest rally planned for Sydney.Around 50,000 Australians had been expected at nationwide events on Saturday as anger over Floyd’s death in Minneapolis - where a white policeman knelt on his neck - also focuses attention on mistreatment of indigenous Australians.Health Minister Greg Hunt said people had the right to express themselves, but should the COVID-19 disease spread at...…By , SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian authorities moved on Friday to scupper protests inspired by the death of black American man George Floyd, saying large gatherings risk new coronavirus infections and banning the biggest rally planned for Sydney.Around 50,000 Australians had been expected at nationwide events on Saturday as anger over Floyd’s death in Minneapolis - where a white policeman knelt on his neck - also focuses attention on mistreatment of indigenous Australians.Health Minister Greg Hunt said people had the right to express themselves, but should the COVID-19 disease spread at...WW…