Australia orders China-linked shareholders to sell stakes in rare earths firm
- 18-May-2026
SYDNEY: Australia on Monday ordered a string of China-linked shareholders to sell their stakes in a rare earths firm, citing the need to protect the sector from outside influences. Northern Minerals is vying to challenge China’s dominance of dysprosium production, a rare earth mineral that is used to make high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles. […]
Australia to charge Big Tech companies 2% levy unless they strike local news deals
- 28-Apr-2026
SYDNEY: The Australian government said on Tuesday that Meta, Alphabet’s Google, and TikTok could face multimillion-dollar charges if they did not negotiate deals to pay local media outlets for news on their platforms. A proposed News Bargaining Incentive would tax the three big tech companies at 2.25% of their local revenues unless they struck agreements, […]
Australian minister to raise energy security on Asia tour
- 26-Apr-2026
SYDNEY: Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Sunday she will tour Japan, China and South Korea this week to shore up trade and energy ties as an oil supply squeeze pressures the Asia-Pacific region. Iran choked off crude oil shipments through the key Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Israel launched a war […]
One killed after car swerves into group of people in Melbourne
- 18-Apr-2026
A police investigation is underway after a car struck a group of people in Melbourne, killing one pedestrian and seriously injuring another, authorities said on Saturday. Officials said in a statement that the car mounted a kerb and struck two pedestrians just before 5 p.m. local time. An arrest was made at the spot, police […]
Australia, Japan sign contracts to start $7 billion warship deal
- 18-Apr-2026
SYDNEY: Australia and Japan signed contracts on Saturday, launching their landmark A$10 billion ($7 billion) deal to supply Australia with warships, Tokyo’s most consequential military sale since ending a military export ban in 2014. Defence Ministers Richard Marles and Shinjiro Koizumi signed a memorandum “reaffirming the Australian and Japanese governments’ shared commitment to the successful […]
Australia appoints woman to lead its army for the first time
- 13-Apr-2026
SYDNEY: Australia on Monday said a woman would lead its army for the first time in history, as part of a reshuffle of the country’s defense force leadership. Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, the current chief of joint capabilities, will become chief of army in July, the government said in a statement. She will replace Lieutenant […]
Australia to play three ODIs in Zimbabwe in September
- 02-Apr-2026
Australia will tour Zimbabwe for three One-Day Internationals in September, the first time they have played in the African nation since 2014. Zimbabwe are to co-host the 2027 50-over World Cup with South Africa and Namibia, and this year’s tour provides the Australians with a chance to familiarise themselves with conditions. All three ODI fixtures […]
Australia suspends entry for Iranian tourist-visa holders
- 27-Mar-2026
Australia has, for the first time, activated its newly introduced “arrival control determination” powers, temporarily preventing nearly 6,800 Iranian nationals holding valid Visitor (subclass 600) visas from travelling to the country. The six-month order was signed by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on 25 March 2026, amid concerns that escalating unrest in Iran could leave […]
Three Iranian women soccer players to return home after seeking asylum in Australia
- 15-Mar-2026
Three members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who had sought asylum in Australia have decided to return to Iran, the government said on Sunday. Australia granted humanitarian visas to seven Iranian footballers last week after they sought asylum, saying they feared persecution if they returned home after they failed to sing the national anthem […]
Australia makes Eid-ul-Fitr 2026 day announcement
- 14-Mar-2026
The Australian Fatwa Council has announced that Ramadan 1447AH will conclude on Thursday, 19 March, with Eid Al-Fitr to be celebrated across Australia on Friday, 20 March. The decision was made following consultations with local and international Eid moon observatories. Scholars used astronomical calculations related to the new moon’s appearance, moonset times and visibility across […]