Latest Australia News

Wildfires can make your California red taste like an ashtray. These scientists want to stop that

Sep. 28, 2023 01:03 AM 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 wine industry in 2020 and one that scientists are scrambling to neutralize. Sample a good wine and you...

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...

Labor unions say they will end strike actions at Chevron's three LNG plants in Australia

Sep. 21, 2023 23:30 PM EDT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Labor unions said Friday they will end disruptive strike actions at Chevron Corp.'s three liquefied natural gas plants in Australia that provide more than 5% of global LNG supplies. Chevron Australia and the Offshore Alliance said they had accepted an...

Australia's government posts $14.2 billion budget surplus after 15 years in the red

Sep. 21, 2023 21:38 PM EDT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s government reported Friday that it had a budget surplus of 22.1 billion Australian dollars ($14.2 billion) in the last fiscal year, the first time the nation’s books have been balanced in 15 years. The government cited low unemployment and...

Taking it to the streets: NHL tries to grow its game with an 'ice' hockey push Down Under

Sep. 21, 2023 17:20 PM EDT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — It’s a frequent — and most often frantic — high-pitched yell when kids playing street hockey in North America know their game is about to be interrupted. “Car!” screams one of the players, and the nets at either end of the makeshift asphalt or...