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.
Australia's religious leaders have called for the release of asylum seekers in detention following the Novak Djokovic controversy.The star tennis player, who arrived to compete in the Australian Open, was detained by immigration authorities in Melbourne's Park Hotel and deported a fortnight ago after failing to meet the country's vaccination requirements for international visitors.
Emergency measures have been activated in South Australia as the state braces for more inland flooding after recent rains cut food supply lines to the Northern Territory and Western Australia.Roads and rail lines to both states remain underwater in parts leading to diminishing stocks of fresh food and meat in the NT and some processed foods in WA.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has "not raised any issue" about his awkward encounter with former Australian of the Year Grace Tame at The Lodge earlier this week.Ms Tame stood stony faced during a photograph with the prime minister and appeared reluctant to shake his hand at a morning tea for Australian of the Year finalists.
The United Nations' human rights chief is talking with China for a potentially imminent trip to the Xinjiang region, her office says, in what could provide rare close-up foreign scrutiny of accusations of abuses against ethnic Uighurs.Michelle Bachelet has long sought access to investigate an issue that has soured relations between China and the US, bringing genocide accusations and a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Games.
Richard Jacobson, an avid hiker, was camping with a friend in the Superstition Mountains when he plummeted 213 metres off a cliff. Read more about this tragic accident.
Russia has sent its strongest signal so far that it is willing to engage with US security proposals and reiterated it does not want war over Ukraine."If it depends on Russia, then there will be no war.
A man who sexually offended against a teenage girl won't have his prison sentence increased after an appeal by prosecutors failed.They had argued the judge who sentenced Harry Smith to 18 months behind bars made a mistake in describing his 15-year-old victim as a "willing participant".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he cannot not rule out a full-blown war with Russia but has accused the United States and media of fuelling panic that weighed on the economy while there are "no tanks in the streets".He spoke after Russian President Vladimir Putin said the United States and NATO had not addressed Russia's main security demands in the stand-off over Ukraine but that he was ready to keep talking.
Australia's federal budget outcome for the first half of the financial year has come in $24.5 billion better than predicted in May.
A Queensland detective accused of passing on information about a suspect in parallel homicide and counter-terrorism investigations has been committed to stand trial.Detective Bryan Anthony Swift is accused of providing the name and address of the suspect to the media, as well as information about a forthcoming counter-terrorism raid.
ShutterstockMany parents across Australia will be COVID testing their kids at home using rapid antigen tests (RATs), as school returns across many states next week. The Victorian and New South Wales governments strongly recommend twice-weekly testing of school students and staff. This may be challenging for many parents, especially if their child has developmental or behavioural difficulties. So, how can you safely perform a RAT on your child at home and help them to engage in the process? Prepa
At least half a dozen lizards are believed to have been shot with projectiles.
Victorian health authorities have detected "a handful" of Omicron sub-variant cases, as the state posts 12,250 new COVID-19 infections and 31 deaths.The total number of active cases in the state is 79,836, down from 101,605 reported on Friday.
Melanie Ham, who amassed 815,000 YouTube subscribers, passed away from cancer. She was only 36.
A NSW woman convicted three times for homicide is back behind bars after being arrested for an alleged sexual crime.Regina Kaye Arthurell, 75, was arrested on Friday by police in Campbelltown after a younger man reported several incidents of sexual touching last week.
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.
The last surviving member of iconic pop band the Bee Gees has been honoured along with five other non-citizens who have received medals for bettering the nation.Barry Gibb, 75, was named an honorary Companion of the Order of Australia on Thursday.
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.
Plagued by sexual abuse allegations last year, Parliament House was the main target of the opinion piece published by Chinese state-run media. Read more.
