Latest Australia News

Early voting begins in New Zealand's general election and in Australia for Indigenous 'Voice'

Oct. 02, 2023 18:01 PM EDT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Early voting began on Monday in New Zealand for the nation's Oct. 14 general election, with conservative contender Christopher Luxon casting his ballot. Early voting also began in some parts of Australia in a referendum that would enshrine in...

Australian defense minister says army will stop flying European-designed Taipan helicopters

Sep. 28, 2023 22:44 PM EDT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian army will never again fly its fleet of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters following a crash in July that killed four soldiers, the defense minister said Friday. Australia’s fleet of more than 40 European-designed Taipans has been grounded since...

Inside scientists' mission to save America’s wine industry from climate change

Sep. 28, 2023 17:15 PM EDT

ALPINE, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. West Coast produces over 90% of America's wine, but the region is also prone to wildfires — a combustible combination that spelled disaster for the industry in 2020 and one that scientists are scrambling to neutralize. Sample a good wine and you might...

Chinese ambassador says Australian lawmakers who visit Taiwan are being utilized by separatists

Sep. 28, 2023 04:24 AM EDT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — China’s ambassador to Australia on Thursday criticized Australian politicians who visit Taiwan, saying they are being utilized by separatists on the self-governing island. Ambassador Xiao Qian was commenting in Sydney after an Australian parliamentary...

Fire rips through Iraqi wedding hall, killing around 100 in shock to Christian community

Sep. 27, 2023 12:27 PM EDT

MOSUL, Iraq (AP) — As they watched the bride and groom start their slow dance, Faten Youssef imagined the future wedding of her son, seated next to her at a reception table. Within moments, however, disaster struck when an inferno erupted that would leave nearly 100 dead in the northern Iraqi...

Qatar Airways executive says invasive gynecological examinations of passengers won't be repeated

Sep. 27, 2023 05:07 AM EDT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A senior Qatar Airways executive told an Australian Senate inquiry on Wednesday there would be no repeat of an incident at Doha’s international airport in 2020 in which female passengers were subjected to invasive gynecological examinations. Australian...

Australian prime minister says he's confident Indigenous people back having their Parliament 'Voice'

Sep. 26, 2023 06:26 AM EDT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s prime minister said Tuesday he was confident that Indigenous Australians overwhelmingly support a proposal to create their own representative body to advise Parliament and have it enshrined in the constitution. Prime Minister Anthony...

On a visit to Taiwan, Australian lawmakers call for warmer relations with self-ruled island

Sep. 26, 2023 01:47 AM EDT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — On a visit to Taiwan, a delegation of six Australian lawmakers called Tuesday for warmer relations with the self-ruled island increasingly threatened by Beijing. The visit comes as Australia has been working at recalibrating its relationship with China, which...

Meet Lachlan Murdoch, soon to be the new power behind Fox News and the Murdoch empire

Sep. 23, 2023 12:44 PM EDT

For Lachlan Murdoch, this moment has been a long time coming. Assuming, of course, that his moment has actually arrived. On Thursday, his father Rupert Murdoch announced that in November he'll step down as the head of his two media companies: News Corp. and Fox Corp. Lachlan will...

Taliban send all-male team to Asian Games but Afghan women come from outside

Sep. 22, 2023 13:08 PM EDT

HANGZHOU, China (AP) — In the first Asian Games since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, two teams of athletes are arriving in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, looking very different. One, sent from Afghanistan where women are now banned by the Taliban from participating in...