Australia lifts minimum wage as families grapple with higher living costs
SYDNEY - Australia's independent wage-setting body on Monday raised the national minimum wage by 3.75%, largely in line with inflation, as families tackle soaring living costs.
The...
New Zealand to push for tariff-free trade of COVID-19 essentials at APEC
WELLINGTON — New Zealand will use its platform as host of an Asia-Pacific trade group in the coming months to seek a global approach to coronavirus vaccinations that would eliminate tariffs on goods needed to fight coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
US-led Pacific group to focus on climate, connectivity amid China concerns
WASHINGTON — China’s ambitions in the Pacific are a concern for some Pacific Island leaders, White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said on Thursday,...
Argentina plans $1 billion bond that pays out in pesos, hoping to lure foreign...
BUENOS AIRES - Argentina announced on Monday a $1 billion five-year bond aimed at international investors who will pay U.S. dollars and receive Argentine...
Investments in renewable energies must quadruple to meet climate target — IRENA
BERLIN — Global investments in energy transition technologies must more than quadruple annually to stay in line with commitments made under the Paris climate...
Quad foreign ministers decry dangerous South China Sea actions
TOKYO — Foreign ministers from Australia, India, Japan and the United States said on Monday they were seriously concerned about intimidating and dangerous maneuvers...
Israel and Hamas agree to extend temporary ceasefire
GAZA/JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas struck a last-minute agreement on Thursday to extend their six-day ceasefire by at least one more day to allow...
Catalonia delays raising tourist tax until after summer
BARCELONA/MADRID — Catalonia, Spain’s most popular region for visitors, has postponed a plan to charge a maximum €15 ($17) daily tourist tax starting in...
South Korea police launch probe into Telegram over online sex crimes, Yonhap reports
SEOUL — South Korean police have launched an investigation into the messaging platform Telegram over deepfake online sex crimes, Yonhap news agency reported on...
Singapore downgrades Q2 GDP, outlook as risks grow
SINGAPORE — Singapore’s economy expanded less than initially estimated in the second quarter (Q2) and the government revised its growth projections for 2022 lower, flagging risks to the global outlook from the Ukraine war and inflation.
Monkeypox presents moderate risk to global public health, WHO says
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday that monkeypox constitutes a “moderate risk” to overall public health at global level after cases were...
World leaders to send videos instead of traveling to U.N. in September
UNITED NATIONS - World leaders will send videos instead of physically gathering at the United Nations in September due to the coronavirus pandemic, the General Assembly decided on Wednesday, a move that paves the way for people wary of traveling to the United States - like North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un - to participate.