News in brief
Climate activists brought operations at the world’s largest coal export hub to a standstill on Sunday, as hundreds of protesters blocked access to the Port of Newcastle in Australia. According to local broadcaster ABC, the disruption led authorities to halt port activities for three hours and resulted......
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has become the first sitting leader in the country’s history to marry while in office, following a private ceremony held on Saturday in Canberra. The wedding took place at the prime minister’s official residence, with only immediate family members......
Taiwan has unveiled a historic $40 billion US dollar (1.25 trillion New Taiwan dollar) supplementary defence budget covering the next eight years, a move President Lai Ching-te described as a commitment to protecting the island’s democracy. “Investing in defence is investing in security......
An Australian digital rights organization has taken legal action against the government’s upcoming ban on social media use for people under 16, arguing that the measure infringes on young citizens’ rights and poses serious risks to online privacy. The case was lodged on Wednesday before the......
Australia is moving forward with one of the world’s most restrictive social media regulations, prompting Snapchat to introduce a mandatory age-verification system for its users in the country. The platform confirmed that, starting this week, many Australian users will be required to prove their......
Australia, Canada and India have officially launched a new trilateral initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation in cutting-edge technologies and promoting resilient supply chains. The announcement took place on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, where the three leaders introduced the......
Türkiye will host the COP31 climate summit next year in the coastal city of Antalya, following a consensus agreement reached after Australia withdrew its competing bid. The arrangement grants Canberra the presidency of the negotiations, while Türkiye will serve as host nation. Australian......
Australia announced on Thursday a new round of sanctions targeting two Russian cybercrime service providers accused of supporting ransomware attacks against Australian and international networks. Foreign Minister Penny Wong, issuing a joint statement with Defense Minister Richard Marles and......
Australia has declined Turkey’s proposal to co-host next year’s UN Climate Summit (COP31), Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Monday, citing procedural rules and ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Turkey revealed on Sunday that it had suggested a joint hosting......
Australia’s High Court has ruled against Russia in a dispute over plans to build a new embassy close to the nation’s Parliament House, confirming that the Australian government acted lawfully when it revoked Moscow’s 99-year lease. The government passed emergency legislation in 2023......
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an unprecedented agreement that would allow South Korea to build its first nuclear-powered attack submarine — a move that analysts say could reshape the balance of power in East Asia while raising fears of a new regional arms race. The deal, revealed......
Australia will ban children under 16 from accessing nine social media platforms starting December 10, 2025, expanding the list to include Reddit and the livestreaming platform Kick, in addition to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube, the country’s Online Safety Commissioner......
Australia plans to provide at least three hours of free solar electricity daily to households, including those without solar panels, under a new energy-saving initiative expected to launch in 2026. Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced the “Solar Sharer” program on Tuesday. The program will......
