~theguardian-world | Bookmarks (27)

Military funding to undergo major shake-up Albanese government says will ensure ADF can project power further from Australian shoresGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastPlans for Australia to acquire new F-35 fighter jets have been put on the back burner as part of a major funding overhaul that the government says will deliver an overall increase in defence...

Deputy ambassador says Israel may ask Albanese government to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisationFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Israeli government may push Australia to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisation, with the country’s ambassador in Canberra calling for “extreme measures” in...

Mark Binskin’s appointment is an unusual and diplomatically risky move by a government requiring a very careful approachGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastIsrael has not yet responded to Australia’s request to review its investigation into the deaths of seven international aid workers in a wrongful missile strike. But the Albanese government insists that should not be seen...

Exclusive: Dfat official said there was ‘precious nothing in the public domain’ on claims against aid agency hours before pause announcedGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAustralian officials scrambled to “understand what the allegations are” against Unrwa staff and complained of “precious nothing in the public domain” hours before the government suspended funding to the “vital” aid agency.New...

Prime minister Anthony Albanese says China’s duties on Australian bottled wine will come to an end from FridayGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastChina has dropped tariffs on Australian wine, a long-awaited decision heralded by the Albanese government as validation of its “calm and consistent approach” with the superpower on a series of controversial trade disputes.In a statement...

Parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security report says scheme set up in 2018 public register has ‘significant flaws’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAn Australian government scheme to bring foreign influence out of the shadows has “significant flaws” and enforcement has “focused almost exclusively on China with little success”,...

UK’s foreign secretary is in Australia alongside defence secretary Grant Shapps for high-level talks with Richard Marles and Penny WongGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe UK foreign secretary, David Cameron, has suggested the Aukus pact and Nato alliance must get into “the best possible shape” to increase their chances of surviving Donald Trump’s potential return to the...

This blog is now closedAs part of the latest Aukus developments, Australia will send A$4.6bn to the UK to clear bottlenecks at the Rolls-Royce nuclear reactor production line.Richard Marles was asked why it costs so much, and why this component needs to be done in the UK. He told ABC News Breakfast:We made clear a year ago that we wouldn’t be building the nuclear...

This blog is now closed.Coalition warned political point-scoring on Kevin Rudd’s US appointment not in national interestGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastExpect to hear a lot more on this today:Southern Australia could face gas shortages during “extreme peak demand days” from 2025 as Bass Strait supplies dwindle, the Australian Energy Market Operator has said. Continue reading...

Shadow home affairs spokesperson James Paterson labels social media platform a ‘bad faith actor’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe shadow home affairs spokesperson has labelled TikTok a “bad faith actor” and a “serious threat” to Australia’s national security, urging the Albanese government to follow the United States in its...

Difference between the west’s responses to human suffering in Ukraine and Palestine defies reasoning, Anwar Ibrahim saysGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Malaysian prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, says he has appealed directly to his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, to reinstate funding to UNRWA, arguing the aid agency was the most effective channel to “help the besieged civilians”...

According to Thai government Srettha Thavisin asked for new standards to be gradually implemented to protect exportsGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has denied that the Thai prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, asked him to slow the introduction of Australia’s planned fuel efficiency standard, as tensions simmer between climate advocates and car companies over...

Anthony Albanese plans to boost clean energy and infrastructure exports, and increase visas for travellers from the regionFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAustralia will set up a $2bn fund to “turbocharge” trade and investment in south-east Asia, with a focus on clean energy and infrastructure.The prime minister, Anthony Albanese,...

Tourism industry disappointed but hopeful Chinese holidaymakers could return by year’s end – but economists predict a longer waitGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastIn the two weeks either side of lunar new year, Mandy Ho, who manages a hot air balloon company in Melbourne, has many balls in the air.Most mornings before dawn, when weather permits, her...

Mike Burgess outlines activities of spy network dubbed ‘the A-team’ in annual threat assessment, without naming former politician nor the country involvedGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastA former Australian politician “sold out their country, party and former colleagues” after being recruited by spies for a foreign regime, according to Australia’s domestic intelligence agency.The head of Asio, Mike...

Albanese and cabinet ministers among those to back parliamentary motion introduced by independent Andrew WilkieGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAustralian federal MPs – including the prime minister and cabinet members – have voted overwhelmingly to urge the US and the UK to allow the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to return to Australia.The independent MP Andrew Wilkie hailed...

Greens say Israel’s actions ‘a slaughter’ and Labor says other parties trying to ‘divide our community’Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government has demanded that Israel comply with orders issued by the International Court of Justice, but rebuffed the Greens’ calls to describe the war in Gaza as “a slaughter”.In a fiery debate in parliament on...

Anthony Albanese and James Marape to meet on Thursday amid rising domestic pressures on the PNG leaderFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAustralia will roll out the red carpet to the visiting Papua New Guinea prime minister, James Marape, amid efforts to stall China’s security talks with the Pacific country.Marape...

American war planners used joint Talisman Sabre exercises to position equipment in northern VictoriaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastWhen US and Australian troops practised amphibious landings, ground combat and air operations last year, they drew headlines about the allies deepening defence cooperation to counter China’s growing military ambitions.But for...

Australian foreign minister says UNRWA is only organisation that can provide substantive support to occupied Palestinian territoriesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe foreign minister, Penny Wong, has signalled that resuming Australia’s funding to a key UN agency delivering aid to Gaza is the only realistic route “if we are serious about trying to ensure that fewer children...

Statement signed by former foreign ministers, a Nobel laureate and academics outlines anxieties about possibility of conflict in Indo-Pacific regionBob Carr and Gareth Evans: China and the US must agree to peaceFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastAustralia must step up diplomatic efforts to “avert the horror of great power...

Penny Wong says allegations are deeply concerning as UNRWA investigates several employees accused of taking part in Hamas attacksAustralia will temporarily pause its funding of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) while an investigation is under way into several employees accused of taking part in Hamas’s 7 October attacks in Israel, the foreign minister has announced.Penny Wong on Saturday said Australia will join...

Ambassador says there is ‘no room at all’ for compromise on ‘sensitive’ issue, and offers gloomy assessment on prospects for release of writer Dr Yang HengjunGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastChina has lodged diplomatic protests with Australia for congratulating the winner of Taiwan’s presidential election, with the Chinese ambassador warning there is “no room at all” for...

This blog is now closed.Albanese says Australia will not participate in ICJ case against Israel and instead focus on ‘political solution’Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastPM says $15bn reconstruction fund is ‘open for business’ despite inability to apply for itThe prime minister was asked why the $15bn national reconstruction fund is “taking so long”, having passed through...