By , MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday urged schools to reopen after Easter holidays so students did not lose a year of education and parents could work, as health authorities reiterated that schools were safe for children.And as the government confirmed it wanted to introduce a mobile phone app that would help trace contacts of people who caught the coronavirus, a man was jailed for one month for repeatedly leaving hotel quarantine to visit his girlfriend.Australia’s rate of new COVID-19 infections has held at levels much lower than other...…By , MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday urged schools to reopen after Easter holidays so students did not lose a year of education and parents could work, as health authorities reiterated that schools were safe for children.And as the government confirmed it wanted to introduce a mobile phone app that would help trace contacts of people who caught the coronavirus, a man was jailed for one month for repeatedly leaving hotel quarantine to visit his girlfriend.Australia’s rate of new COVID-19 infections has held at levels much lower than other...WW…

By , MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Coal deliveries to Australia’s Port of Newcastle, the world’s biggest coal export port, have been halted because flooding in the Hunter Valley region has shut rail lines, with heavy rains also slowing ship movements at the port.Heavy rains along Australia’s east coast over several days have caused the worst flooding in half a century, with thousands of people being forced to evacuate their homes. The downpour is expected to continue over the next few days, the weather bureau warned on Monday.The Australian Rail Track Corp (ARTC), which runs the Hunter Valley...…By , MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Coal deliveries to Australia’s Port of Newcastle, the world’s biggest coal export port, have been halted because flooding in the Hunter Valley region has shut rail lines, with heavy rains also slowing ship movements at the port.Heavy rains along Australia’s east coast over several days have caused the worst flooding in half a century, with thousands of people being forced to evacuate their homes. The downpour is expected to continue over the next few days, the weather bureau warned on Monday.The Australian Rail Track Corp (ARTC), which runs the Hunter Valley...WW…

By MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd should pay restitution to Indigenous Australians affected by its destruction of two ancient rock shelters to expand an iron ore mine, an inquiry panel said on Wednesday.The panel released an interim report in which it also recommended Rio Tinto should fully reconstruct the rock shelters in Western Australia’s Pilbara region at its own expense, and laid out broader industry guidance that included reviewing consent practices and a moratorium on mining in the affected places.The inquiry did not spell out what, if any, financial compensation...…By MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd should pay restitution to Indigenous Australians affected by its destruction of two ancient rock shelters to expand an iron ore mine, an inquiry panel said on Wednesday.The panel released an interim report in which it also recommended Rio Tinto should fully reconstruct the rock shelters in Western Australia’s Pilbara region at its own expense, and laid out broader industry guidance that included reviewing consent practices and a moratorium on mining in the affected places.The inquiry did not spell out what, if any, financial compensation...WW…

By The world’s biggest listed miner will focus on using cleaner forms of power supply as well a taking steps to electrify its diesel-powered truck fleet as part of steps that will eventually see it reach net zero operational emissions by 2050.“We are ... realistic about the magnitude of the task that the world faces in meeting the Paris goals,” Mike Henry said.“Unfortunately, today the world is not currently on track ... The world will need to increase action if it is to achieve the ambitions of Paris.”BHP said it will work with the steel and maritime industries, both among the world’s most...…By The world’s biggest listed miner will focus on using cleaner forms of power supply as well a taking steps to electrify its diesel-powered truck fleet as part of steps that will eventually see it reach net zero operational emissions by 2050.“We are ... realistic about the magnitude of the task that the world faces in meeting the Paris goals,” Mike Henry said.“Unfortunately, today the world is not currently on track ... The world will need to increase action if it is to achieve the ambitions of Paris.”BHP said it will work with the steel and maritime industries, both among the world’s most...WW…

By MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Authorities will lock down more than 300,000 people in suburbs north of Melbourne for a month from late on Wednesday to contain the risk of infection after two weeks of double-digit rises in new coronavirus cases in Australia’s second most populous state.Australia has fared better than many countries in the pandemic, with around 7,920 cases, 104 deaths and fewer than 400 active cases, but the recent jump has stoked fears of a second wave of COVID-19, echoing concerns expressed in other countries.Globally, coronavirus cases exceeded 10 million on Sunday, a major...…By MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Authorities will lock down more than 300,000 people in suburbs north of Melbourne for a month from late on Wednesday to contain the risk of infection after two weeks of double-digit rises in new coronavirus cases in Australia’s second most populous state.Australia has fared better than many countries in the pandemic, with around 7,920 cases, 104 deaths and fewer than 400 active cases, but the recent jump has stoked fears of a second wave of COVID-19, echoing concerns expressed in other countries.Globally, coronavirus cases exceeded 10 million on Sunday, a major...WW…

By MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia’s jobless rate is forecast to spike to the highest level in a quarter of a century because of the coronavirus pandemic, but officials said on Tuesday it was still too soon to let up on social restrictions that are curbing economic growth.Australia has reported a sustained decrease in the rate of new daily coronavirus cases in recent weeks, effectively “flattening the curve” on infections and spurring hope that some of the blocks on public movement might be lifted.However, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said officials were still looking at a six...…By MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia’s jobless rate is forecast to spike to the highest level in a quarter of a century because of the coronavirus pandemic, but officials said on Tuesday it was still too soon to let up on social restrictions that are curbing economic growth.Australia has reported a sustained decrease in the rate of new daily coronavirus cases in recent weeks, effectively “flattening the curve” on infections and spurring hope that some of the blocks on public movement might be lifted.However, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said officials were still looking at a six...WW…

By , MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian officials announced a raft of plans on Wednesday to speed up the resumption of public life to boost the ailing economy amid a diplomatic spat with major trading partner China.The government is also talking with Australian universities about allowing the return of some international students, a sector that contributes more than A$30 billion ($19.6 billion) to domestic coffers.New South Wales, the country’s most populous state, will allow people to resume recreational travel from next month, effectively reopening tourist regions on its southern...…By , MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian officials announced a raft of plans on Wednesday to speed up the resumption of public life to boost the ailing economy amid a diplomatic spat with major trading partner China.The government is also talking with Australian universities about allowing the return of some international students, a sector that contributes more than A$30 billion ($19.6 billion) to domestic coffers.New South Wales, the country’s most populous state, will allow people to resume recreational travel from next month, effectively reopening tourist regions on its southern...WW…