US defense secretary says Washington won’t stand for ‘coercion and bullying’ from China
June 3, 2023 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin vowed Saturday that Washington would not stand for any “coercion and bullying” of its allies and partners by China, while assuring Beijing that the United States remains committed to maintaining the status quo on Taiwan and would prefer dialogue over conflict.
Australian PM Albanese stresses need for diplomacy, guardrails in dealing with China
June 2, 2023 GMTSINGAPORE (AP) — As tensions grow between the United States and China in the Asia-Pacific, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a gathering of top defense officials Friday that open channels of communication are critical for preserving peace, while also advocating effective deterrence.
Australian Parliament takes step toward holding a referendum on Indigenous Voice this year
May 31, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s House of Representatives voted overwhelming Wednesday for a referendum to be held this year on creating an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, an advocate aiming to give the nation’s most disadvantaged ethnic minority more say on government policy.
Papua New Guinea says security treaty with Australia has been delayed over certain provisions
May 30, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape said a proposed security treaty with Australia has been delayed over “certain wordings and provisions,” a week after the strategically important South Pacific Island nation signed a new security pact with the United States that sparked protests.
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian branch of the PricewaterhouseCoopers consultancy network said Monday that nine of its partners were ordered to take leave during an inquiry into the leaking of confidential Australian tax avoidance policy changes to corporate clients who could benefit from the information.
US Park Police investigate attack on Australian journalists
May 25, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Park Police said it has placed two officers on administrative leave after video showed two Australian journalists being attacked during Monday night’s protest in Washington, D.C.
Indian Prime Minister Modi strikes new agreements on migration and green hydrogen in Australia
May 24, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck new agreements Wednesday with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on migration and green hydrogen, while raising concerns about attacks on Hindu temples in Sydney.
SYDNEY (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed by around 20,000 cheering fans, many chanting “Modi,” at a Sydney stadium on Tuesday during his second visit to Australia as his country's leader.
CANBERRA, Australia: (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was working in the “most effective way possible” to secure the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, but declined an invitation Monday to meet the Australian citizen’s wife.
88-year-old Australian doctor freed 7 years after kidnapping by Islamic extremists in West Africa
May 19, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An 88-year-old Australian doctor held captive by Islamic extremists in West Africa for more than seven years has been freed and has returned to Australia.
Ken Elliott was safe and well and was reunited with his wife and their children on Thursday night, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
China lifts ban on Australian timber imports in another sign of improving bilateral relations
May 18, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — China opened its doors on Thursday to Australian timber imports for the first time in more than two years, in another sign that the tattered bilateral relationship is being repaired.
Australia rules out Quad summit going ahead in Sydney without Biden, but Modi still plans visit
May 17, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out a Quad summit taking place in Sydney without President Joe Biden, saying the four leaders will talk at the Group of Seven meeting this weekend in Japan.
Ambitious agenda for Biden on upcoming three-nation Indo-Pacific trip as debt default looms at home
May 14, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has an ambitious agenda when he sets off this week on an eight-day trip to the Indo-Pacific.
He’s looking to tighten bonds with longtime allies, make history as the first sitting U.S.
Australia trade minister seeks to mend ties on visit to China
May 12, 2023 GMTBEIJING (AP) — Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell held meetings and visited businesses in Beijing on Friday, in a sign of progress in restoring a nearly decade-long rift in relations with China.
BEIJING (AP) — Australian Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell visited China on Thursday as part of a joint effort to repair ties scarred by political rifts over the past decade.
Australia forecasts first annual budget surplus in 15 years
May 9, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government forecast the nation’s first balanced annual budget in 15 years but warned Tuesday that economic pressures such as persistent inflation, elevated interest rates, rising unemployment and slowing growth would sink the country into deeper debt.
In London, Brazil’s Lula calls for efforts to free Assange
May 6, 2023 GMTRIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — After attending the coronation of King Charles III in London, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva denounced the lack of concerted efforts to free WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has spent four years in Britain’s Belmarsh Prison.
Australia PM to give allegiance to king but wants president
May 5, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday he would declare his allegiance to King Charles III at the monarch’s coronation despite believing that Australia should have its own head of state.
Australia PM: US effort to extradite Assange not worth it
May 5, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed frustration at the United States’ continuing efforts to extradite WikiLeaks founder and Australian citizen Julian Assange, saying: “There is nothing to be served by his ongoing incarceration.”
Australian leader to host Biden, Kishida, Modi at May summit
April 26, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday he will host President Joe Biden and the leaders of India and Japan for a security summit next month.
The meeting at the Sydney Opera House on May 24 will be Australia’s first time hosting the Quad Leaders’ Summit.
Biden to visit Japan, Australia for meetings with allies
April 26, 2023 GMTPresident Joe Biden will visit Japan and Australia next month to huddle with allies on their continued response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as well as ways to confront China's assertive economic and military moves in the Indo-Pacific region, the White House announced Tuesday.
Australia plans major overhaul of defenses as China rises
April 24, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia needs to spend more money on defense, make its own munitions and develop the ability to strike longer-range targets as China's military buildup challenges regional security, according to a government-commissioned report released Monday.
Explorers find WWII ship sunk with over 1,000 Allied POWs
April 22, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — A team of explorers announced it found a sunken Japanese ship that was transporting Allied prisoners of war when it was torpedoed off the coast of the Philippines in 1942, resulting in Australia's largest maritime wartime loss with a total of 1,080 lives.
Australia says Chinese relations won’t improve to past highs
April 17, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia is working to stabilize relations with China but could not return to the thriving economic relationship with its biggest trading partner that existed 15 years ago, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Monday.
Australia suspends WTO case against China on barley tariffs
April 11, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia suspended a complaint to the World Trade Organization in a bid to reopen the Chinese market to Australian barley for the first time in three years in the new government’s latest step toward repairing relations with Beijing.
Australian lawmaker breaks ranks to support Indigenous Voice
April 11, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A senior lawmaker split from Australia’s opposition party leadership Tuesday by supporting the government’s proposal to create a so-called Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Australian opposition against Indigenous Voice in Parliament
April 5, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s main opposition party on Wednesday decided to oppose the government’s model for constitutional recognition of Indigenous people in a development that appears to doom the prospects of a successful referendum this year.
Australia concerned by journalist’s delayed verdict in China
March 31, 2023 GMTSYDNEY (AP) — Australia remains deeply concerned that Australian journalist Cheng Lei has not learned of a verdict a year after standing trial in China on national security charges, the foreign minister said Friday.
Australia makes biggest carbon polluters curb emissions
March 30, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian Parliament created landmark new laws Thursday that will make the nation’s biggest greenhouse gas polluters reduce their emissions or pay for carbon credits.
Australia steps toward making big polluters reduce emissions
March 27, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government took a major step toward implementing a key climate policy that would force chief greenhouse gas polluters to reduce emissions, with the minor Greens party pledging their support Monday.
Australia sets wording of Indigenous Voice referendum
March 23, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government on Thursday released the wording of a referendum question that promises the nation’s Indigenous population a greater say on policies that affect their lives.
Australia won’t promise to side with US in Taiwan conflict
March 20, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian defense minister says his country has made no promises to the United States that Australia would support its ally in any future conflict over Taiwan in exchange for American nuclear-powered submarines.
Watchdog pledges ‘demanding’ oversight of nuclear sub deal
March 15, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the global nuclear regulatory agency pledged Wednesday to be “very demanding” in overseeing the United States' planned transfer of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, amid complaints that the U.S.
Brazil reintroduces visa requirement for US tourists, others
March 15, 2023 GMTRIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil is reintroducing the requirement to obtain tourist visas for citizens of the U.S., Australia, Canada, and Japan starting Oct. 1, the foreign ministry said.
Former president Jair Bolsonaro had scrapped the visa requirements in 2019 to bolster the country’s tourism industry, but the four countries continued to demand visas from Brazilians.
China says AUKUS on ‘dangerous path’ with nuclear subs deal
March 14, 2023 GMTBEIJING (AP) — The United States, Australia and the United Kingdom are traveling “further down the wrong and dangerous path for their own geopolitical self-interest,” China's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday, responding to an agreement under which Australia will purchase nuclear-powered attack submarines from the U.S.
Australia says US nuclear subs needed to counter Chinese militarization
March 14, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's defense minister said Tuesday a deal to buy nuclear-powered attack submarines from the United States was necessary to counter the biggest conventional military buildup in the region since World War II.
Biden announces nuclear-powered submarines for Australia
March 13, 2023 GMTSAN DIEGO (AP) — President Joe Biden and the leaders of Australia and the United Kingdom on Monday announced that Australia will purchase nuclear-powered attack submarines from the U.S.
UK boosts defense spending in response to Russia and China
March 13, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged Monday to increase military funding by 5 billion pounds ($6 billion) over the next two years in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the “epoch-defining challenge” posed by China.
Australia aims to bolster security, economic ties with India
March 10, 2023 GMTNEW DELHI (AP) — The prime ministers of India and Australia on Friday expressed concern over an “increasingly uncertain global security environment" and committed themselves to strengthening their defense and security partnership to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Australia to buy nuclear-powered submarines made in the US
March 9, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Australia will purchase U.S.-manufactured, nuclear-powered attack submarines to modernize its fleet, a European official and two people familiar with the matter said Thursday, amid growing concerns about China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Australian leader plans meeting with Biden after India trip
March 9, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday he plans to meet with President Joe Biden in the United States following a trip to India this week, amid speculation the leaders will make an announcement about Australia's plans to build nuclear-powered submarines.
Albanese says Australian nuclear subs benefit US, UK
February 22, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a deal to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines will be the nation’s biggest leap in defense capability in its history, adding the United States and Britain also plan to benefit from the partnership.
Australian spy boss details unprecedented espionage danger
February 21, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia faces an unprecedented threat of espionage and foreign interference with more Australians being targeted by agents than ever before, the head of the nation’s main domestic spy agency said on Tuesday.
Australian governments agree funding split for 2032 Olympics
February 17, 2023 GMTBRISBANE, Australia (AP) — The federal and the Queensland state government have agreed on an almost 50-50 funding split to build or remodel venues for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the Queensland state capital Friday to make the formal announcement about a deal worth an estimated 7 billion Australian dollars ($4.8 billion).
Ex-PMs of UK, Australia, Belgium urge tough action on China
February 17, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Former leaders from Australia, Britain and Belgium called Friday for a tougher international approach to China to reduce the possibility of war over Taiwan and respond to human rights violations.
Australia adds $300 million in funding for Indigenous pledge
February 13, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Fifteen years after the Australian Parliament’s historic apology to its Indigenous people for past wrongs, the government on Monday announced 424 million Australian dollars ($293 million) in new funding to improve the lives of Australia’s original inhabitants.
Australia rejects open-pit coal mine near Great Barrier Reef
February 10, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia for the first time has rejected a coal mining application based on environmental law, with the government minister citing the open-pit mine's potential harm to the nearby Great Barrier Reef.
Australian Defense Department to remove Chinese-made cameras
February 9, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s Defense Department will remove surveillance cameras made by Chinese Communist Party-linked companies from its buildings, the government said Thursday after the U.S.
MH17 inquiry: ‘Strong indications’ Putin OK’d missile supply
February 9, 2023 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An international team of investigators said Wednesday it found “strong indications” that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of heavy anti-aircraft weapons to Ukrainian separatists who shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014 with a Russian missile.
Australian, New Zealand leaders’ talk focuses on China
February 7, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian and New Zealand prime ministers met Tuesday to talk about China’s importance to their national economies, resolving to voice their disagreements with their most important trading partner that is becoming more assertive in their region.
China-Australia trade ministers hold 1st meeting since 2019
February 6, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian and Chinese trade ministers held their first bilateral meeting in three years Monday as Australia urges China to lift official and unofficial barriers that are costing exporters 20 billion Australian dollars ($14 billion) a year.
Indigenous senator quits party over Australian referendum
February 6, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia: (AP) — An Indigenous senator in Australia quit the minor Greens party on Monday in a disagreement over a referendum to be held this year that would create an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Ex-UK leader Truss to urge tougher China stance in Tokyo
February 3, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss will join the former leaders of Australia and Belgium at a conference in Tokyo later this month to call for a tougher international approach to China.
Australia is removing British monarchy from its bank notes
February 3, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia is removing the British monarchy from its bank notes.
The nation's central bank said Thursday its new $5 bill would feature an Indigenous design rather than an image of King Charles III.
Australia targets Myanmar, Iran with economic sanctions
February 1, 2023 GMTAustralia on Wednesday announced targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against “individuals responsible for egregious human rights abuses” in Myanmar two years after a military junta seized power in the Southeast Asian country.
Australia Day focuses on Black recognition in constitution
January 26, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australians marked the 235th anniversary of British colonization Thursday with a public holiday that evokes anger at Indigenous injustice, focusing national attention on a new government push to acknowledge Australia's first inhabitants in the constitution.
EXPLAINER: What is an Australian Black Voice to Parliament?
January 26, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australians expect to vote this year in a referendum that would enshrine in the nation’s constitution a mechanism for Indigenous people to advise Parliament on policies that effect their lives known as the Voice.
Australia ‘deeply troubled’ by Chinese espionage case
January 19, 2023 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s foreign minister said on Thursday her government was “deeply troubled” by the delays in China resolving espionage allegations against Chinese-Australian Yang Hengjun, while a supporter said the Chinese-born writer and blogger would remain detained until at least April.
New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern, an icon to many, to step down
January 19, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, whose empathetic handling of the nation's worst mass-shooting and health-driven response to the coronavirus pandemic led her to become an international icon but who faced mounting criticism at home, said Thursday she was leaving office.
Australia finalizing new security pact with Pacific neighbor
January 12, 2023 GMTWELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The leaders of Australia and neighboring Papua New Guinea said Thursday they are finalizing a new security treaty — a move that comes as a challenge to China's growing assertiveness in the region.