Australia to fund research on medicinal cannabis as demand grows
MELBOURNE – Australia will provide $3 million for research on the use of cannabis to help cancer patients, its health minister said, as the demand for medicinal cannabis products grows…
Australia says Iran frees couple held for months; drops charges
MELBOURNE – Iran has freed an Australian couple detained for several months and dropped its charges against them, Australia‘s Foreign Minister Marise Payne said. The couple, identified by the ministry…
Australia offered help in May for White House probe of Mueller inquiry
SYDNEY – Australia offered assistance in May for US President Donald Trump’s investigation of the origins of a damning report about Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, a…
In Vietnam, men parade but women rule at a festival called ‘Kate’
PHAN RANG – Thousands of Vietnam’s ethnic Cham people have met under rainy late September skies for their annual “Kate” festival that, according to the multi-faith community’s calendar, marks the…
Australian gov’t says prosecutors must seek approval before charging journalists
SYDNEY – Australian prosecutors need government permission before they can file charges against local journalists, Attorney General Christian Porter said today. Australian police in June raided the head office of…
Panel urges easing of Sydney alcohol laws that curbed violence but hit economy
SYDNEY – Sydney’s business district should be freed of restrictions that have successfully curbed alcohol-related violence in Australia’s largest city but hurt its economy and nightlife, a parliamentary panel has…
Amazon helps deliver crocodile-spotting drones in Australia
SYDNEY – An Australian maker of drones used to spot sharks near surf beaches has partnered with online retailer Amazon.com Inc and other firms to create a drone service that…
Australia’s most populous state revamps law on abortions
SYDNEY – Legislators in Australia’s most populous state has voted to decriminalise abortion after a fractious debate that threatened to divide the conservative government of New South Wales. The legislation…
Vietnam jails former deputy labour minister for economic mismanagement
HANOI – A court in Vietnam has sentenced a former deputy labour minister to six years in prison after finding him guilty of economic mismanagement, state media reported. Le Bach Hong,…
Vietnam state utility EVN to borrow $US278 mln to expand hydro plant
HANOI – Vietnam’s state-run utility EVN will borrow up to 6.45 trillion dong ($US278 million) to expand a hydroelectric plant near Hanoi, the government said, as the Southeast Asian country…
