Australia probes allegations China tried to plant spy in parliament
MELBOURNE – Australia is investigating allegations that China tried to install an agent in a parliamentary seat in Canberra, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation said in a rare statement, adding…
Code Red: Australia’s bushfire crisis spreads to another state
SYDNEY – Firefighters battled nearly 200 bushfires across Australia on Thursday as authorities issued a Code Red alert for parts of Victoria state and Sydney was blanketed in hazardous smoke…
PM Scott Morrison says Westpac must consider CEO’s position after money-laundering scandal
SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the board of Westpac Banking Corp must review the position of CEO Brian Hartzer in the light of a major money laundering…
US to provide ship to Vietnam to boost South China Sea patrol
HANOI – The United States announced on Wednesday it will provide Vietnam with another coast guard cutter for its growing fleet of ships, boosting Hanoi’s ability to patrol the South…
New front opens in Australian bushfires, power cut to thousands
SYDNEY – Electricity firms have cut off power to thousands of people, more than 100 schools have been closed and residents in high risk regions have sought shelter as Australia’s…
Australia, US, to cooperate on critical minerals, rare earths
Australia and the United States will support projects to develop critical minerals and rare earths, an Australian government minister has said, signalling deeper cooperation in a market dominated by Chinese…
Hazardous bushfire smoke blankets Sydney, residents warned to stay inside
SYDNEY – Heavy winds have stirred dozens of fires across Australia’s east coast, blanketing Sydney in hazardous smoke and prompting health warnings for the country’s most populous city. Wildfires have…
Saudi journalists, who say they were outed as gay, held in Australian asylum centre
DUBAI – Two Saudi male journalists, who say the authorities revealed their romantic relationship in retaliation for contacts one of them had with foreign media, have been detained in Australia…
Qantas urges rapper will.i.am to withdraw racism accusation against staffer
MELBOURNE – Australia’s flagship airline, Qantas, says it stands ready to offer legal assistance to a member of its flight crew named in a racism accusation by Black Eyed Peas…
China says outspoken Australian lawmakers should repent
MELBOURNE – Two Australian lawmakers who were denied entry to China for a study tour because of their outspoken criticism of Beijing must “repent and redress their mistakes” if they…
