Queensland have picked 18-year-old sensation Reece Walsh to play fullback against New South Wales in State of Origin II at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday. With Kalyn Ponga (groin) out, the Maroons have shifted Valentine Holmes from fullback to wing and installed Warriors wonderkid Walsh in the No.1 jersey. Walsh has played just seven NRL games and is the least experienced player to debut since Ben Ikin in 1995 during the Super League war, but drastic action was required after the Maroons were thrashed 50-6 in game one. Winger Xavier Coates and forwards Jaydn Su’A and Joe Ofahengaue have all been...
June 21, 2021June 21, 2021
Barnaby Joyce is the new leader of Nationals after defeating Michael McCormack in spill
June 18, 2021June 18, 2021
Australian farmers back UK trade agreement
June 14, 2021June 14, 2021
Friendlyjordies producer charged with stalking NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro
June 10, 2021June 10, 2021
China’s war of words against Australia intensifies with new threat to reduce iron ore imports
This Week in Sports
Health
Queensland’s latest community COVID case transmitted in hotel quarantine, says CHO
A young woman who tested positive for COVID-19 after she was released from Brisbane hotel quarantine is likely to have contracted the virus from a fellow guest. But authorities do not know how the transmission occurred, in a situation set to cast a further shadow over Australia’s quarantine system for international arrivals. The woman, aged in her 30s, arrived on a flight from Portugal on June 5 before being isolated in the Four Points Hotel in Brisbane CBD. On the weekend, she returned a positive after she was released into the community, visiting a number of sites including a shopping...
Business
Asian Renewable Energy Hub plan for WA rejected by federal government on environmental grounds
Proponents of the world’s largest renewable energy project are facing a significant hurdle, with the federal Environment Minister rejecting plans for a WA hub. The federal government-backed plans for the Asian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH) in the Pilbara last year, granting the venture major project status. However, new environmental approvals were needed after the group of companies behind the project — the AREH consortium — amended its plans, opting to renewably produce ammonia for export to Asia, rather than electricity. The plans included clearing land for wind and solar infrastructure, developing pipelines to transport ammonia, and building a new town...
Technology
TikTok owner ByteDance sees its earnings double in 2020
ByteDance, the Chinese company behind the smash-hit video app TikTok, saw its earnings double last year. An internal memo released to staff showed that the firm’s total revenue jumped by 111% to $34.3bn (£24.7bn) for 2020. The figures underscore TikTok’s continued global popularity. It comes as ByteDance and several other Chinese technology giants have come under increasing pressure from governments around the world. ByteDance also saw its annual gross profit rise by 93% to to $19bn, while it recorded a net loss of $45bn for the same period. The net loss was attributed to a one-off accounting adjustment and not...