Latest Australia government News
Belgium will ban sales of disposable e-cigarettes in a first for the EU
BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke said the inexpensive e-cigarettes had turned into a health threat...
Japan Cabinet OKs record defense budget as it pushes strike-back capability to deter regional threat
TOKYO (AP) — The Japanese Cabinet on Friday approved a record 8.7 trillion yen ($55 billion) defense budget for 2025 as Japan accelerates building up its strike-back capability with long-range cruise missiles and starts deploying Tomahawks to fortify itself against growing threats from China,...
Australia approves extradition of former US Marine over alleged training of Chinese military pilots
NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — Former U.S. Marine Corps pilot Daniel Duggan will be extradited from Australia to the United States over allegations that he illegally trained Chinese aviators. Australia’s Attorney General Mark Dreyfus approved the extradition on Monday, ending the...
Australia announces $118 million deal to enhance policing in Solomon Islands
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia announced on Friday it will pay for more police in Solomon Islands and create a police training center in the South Pacific island nation’s capital Honiara, where Chinese law enforcement instructors are already based under a bilateral security pact with...
Beshear says food company to create 925 jobs in Kentucky, adding to the state's economic momentum
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A food company has chosen Kentucky for a facility that will employ more than 900 people, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday, saying the project ranks as the fifth-largest jobs project since he took office. Kitchen Food Co., an Australia-founded premium...
7 foreign tourists hospitalized in Fiji were not poisoned by alcohol or illicit drugs, officials say
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Seven foreign tourists who were hospitalized in Fiji after drinking cocktails at a resort bar were not poisoned by alcohol or illicit drugs, officials said Wednesday following a toxicology report. The cause of the tourists' illness over the weekend...
14 dead and hundreds injured in magnitude 7.3 quake in Vanuatu. Some people are trapped in rubble
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck off Vanuatu killed at least 14 people, injured hundreds more and caused widespread damage across the South Pacific island nation, officials said early Wednesday. Frantic rescue efforts got underway after the...
Australian state proposes ban on protests at places of worship to fight rising antisemitism
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian state government on Tuesday proposed new restrictions on protesters in response to rising antisemitism, including a ban on demonstrations outside places of worship. Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan proposed the new laws after arsonists...
7 foreign tourists hospitalized in Fiji after drinking cocktails at a resort bar
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Seven foreign tourists were hospitalized in Fiji after drinking cocktails at a resort bar, Fijian authorities said on Monday. The cause of their illness was not known and officials said it was too soon to know if tainted alcohol was involved. ...
Papua New Guinea gains a team in Australian rugby league in diplomatic push aimed at curbing China
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Papua New Guinea will gain its own team in Australia’s rugby league in a soft diplomacy deal announced Thursday linked to limiting Chinese influence in the South Pacific. The Australian government will spend 600 million Australian dollars ($380...
