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☆ Quad foreign ministers meet in Tokyo for talks on maritime security, cyber
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) prepares to pose for a group photo with Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong (2nd R), Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (2nd L) and India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (L) at the start of their Quad Ministerial Meeting at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on July 29, 2024. Foreign ministers from Australia, India, Japan and the United States — a grouping known as the "Quad" — met in Tokyo on Monday for talks expected to focus on maritime security and initiatives to build up cyber defenses. The talks attended by Australia's Penny Wong, India's Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japan's Yoko Kamikawa and Antony Blinken from the U.S., follow security discussions between Tokyo and Washington on Sunday where the allies labelled China the "greatest strategic challenge" facing the region. We all understand we face the most confronting circumstances in our region in decades," Wong said in opening remarks at the start of the Quad talks on Monday. In her opening remarks, Kamikawa highlighted the need to build up cybersecurity capability and provide training opportunities in maritime security to protect and develop prosperity in Indo-Pacific.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Penny Wong, Yoko Kamikawa, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Australia's Penny Wong, India's Subrahmanyam, Japan's Yoko Kamikawa, Wong, Kamikawa Organizations: Australia's Foreign, Japan's, India's, United Locations: Tokyo, Australia, India, Japan, United States, U.S, Washington, China

CNN —China will provide a new pair of giant pandas to Australia, Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday, in the latest sign of warming relations between the two countries. He said China will send a new pair of giant pandas to the zoo in Southern Australia after its current pair return to China later this year, according to Chinese state media. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong (left) shakes hands with China's Premier Li Qiang as South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas looks on at Adelaide Zoo on June 16, 2024. Giant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni, the only pandas in the southern hemisphere, have been on loan to Adelaide Zoo since November 2009. “They have become envoys of friendship between China and Australia, and a symbol of the profound friendship between the two peoples,” Li said in the statement.

Persons: Premier Li Qiang, Li, Scott Morrison’s, Penny Wong, Peter Malinauskas, Asanka, Wang Wang, Fu Ni, China’s, ” Li Organizations: CNN, Premier, Adelaide Zoo, ABC, Labor, Australia's, South Australian, Beijing –, Xinhua, China’s Foreign Ministry, “ Locations: China, Australia, Southern Australia, Beijing

☆ Australia orders Chinese investors to sell down stake in rare earths miner
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has ordered several China-linked investors to dispose of shares in rare earths miner Northern Minerals on national interest grounds, a spokesperson said on Monday. Northern Minerals is developing the Browns Range heavy rare earths project in Western Australia, at a time when the sector has become increasingly strategic for its uses in green energy and defence. Yuxiao Fund is the Singapore-registered private investment vehicle of Chinese national Wu Yuxiao, Reuters has previously reported. "The decision, based on advice from the Foreign Investment Review Board, is designed to protect our national interest and ensure compliance with our foreign investment framework." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on a visit in March that he hoped Australia would ensure its market environment did not discriminate against Chinese business.

Persons: Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Yuxiao, Wu Yuxiao, Adam Handley, Wu Tao, Ximei Liu, Xi Wang, Nick Curtis, Curtis, Premier Li Qiang, Wang Yi Organizations: Minerals, Northern Minerals, Browns, Sunday, Reuters, Investment, Board, Jinan Yuxiao Group, Stone Resources, Foreign Investment, China, Northern, Premier Locations: China, Western Australia, Yuxiao, Singapore, Jinan, Northern, Australia, Canberra, Beijing

☆ Asia stocks track Wall Street gains as softer-than-expected U.S. jobs data fuels rate cut hopes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China's and Australia's flags are seen on the tables where China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong held their bilateral meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on March 20, 2024. Asia-Pacific markets tracked Wall Street gains on Monday as a softer-than-expected U.S. jobs report fueled hopes that the Federal Reserve could start cutting rates soon. Investors, meanwhile, awaited the Reserve Bank of Australia's rate decision on Tuesday and China's April trade data on Thursday. ING said in a note last week that the RBA meeting was "worth watching closely," adding that recent inflation data from Australia showed growth in prices was starting to accelerate. However, the analysts said Australia's inflation data was better than they had expected, and compared to the US, the country's economy had slowed more with the labor market softening substantially.

Persons: Wang Yi, Penny Wong Organizations: House, Wall, Federal Reserve, Investors, Reserve Bank, ING, Global Locations: Canberra, Asia, Pacific, Australia, Hong Kong, China, India, Japan, South

☆ Australian Foreign Minister Calls for 'Sustainable Ceasefire' at Start of Middle East Tour
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Lewis JacksonSYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's foreign minister called on Monday for a "sustainable ceasefire" in Gaza as she left for a Middle East tour that includes a visit to the occupied West Bank and meetings with the families of Israeli hostages. "Our position is that we want to see a sustainable ceasefire and that we see an international humanitarian, immediate humanitarian ceasefire as a step towards that," Wong said at a news conference ahead of her departure. "No ceasefire can be one sided and no ceasefire can be unconditional." Wong will then travel to Jordan before visiting the West Bank, where she will meet representatives of communities affected by violence from Israeli settlers. "I will make clear Australia’s support for Palestinians’ right to self-determination and commitment to meeting humanitarian needs in Gaza and the West Bank," she said.

Persons: Lewis Jackson SYDNEY, Penny Wong, Wong, Israel, Lewis Jackson, Neil Fullick Organizations: West Bank, United, UN Locations: Gaza, Jordan, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Australia, U.S

☆ Australia foreign minister touts Tuvalu security, migration pact
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2023. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Sunday that a security and migration pact signed with Tuvalu showed Australia was a "genuine, reliable" regional partner, as it seeks to counter China's influence in the Pacific. Australia announced on Friday the security guarantee to the tiny Pacific Islands nation to respond to military aggression, protect it from climate change and boost migration. Australia, a United States ally, has been working to shore up its Pacific standing amid a rising China, which recently upgraded a security pact with Solomon Islands. Under the treaty, announced in the Cook Islands by Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Tuvalu counterpart Kausea Natano, Australia will also vet Tuvalu's security arrangements with other nations.

Persons: Penny Wong, Eduardo Munoz, Wong, Anthony Albanese, Kausea Natano, Albanese, Sam McKeith, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Australia's, General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Tuvalu, Pacific ., Australian Broadcasting Corp, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Australia, Pacific, Pacific . Australia, United States, China, Solomon, Tuvalu, Cook, Taiwan, Beijing, Hawaii, Sydney

☆ Australia Foreign Minister Touts Tuvalu Security, Migration Pact
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Sunday that a security and migration pact signed with Tuvalu showed Australia was a "genuine, reliable" regional partner, as it seeks to counter China's influence in the Pacific. Australia announced on Friday the security guarantee to the tiny Pacific Islands nation to respond to military aggression, protect it from climate change and boost migration. Australia, a United States ally, has been working to shore up its Pacific standing amid a rising China, which recently upgraded a security pact with Solomon Islands. Under the treaty, announced in the Cook Islands by Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Tuvalu counterpart Kausea Natano, Australia will also vet Tuvalu's security arrangements with other nations. Albanese has called the pact Australia's most significant agreement with a Pacific Island nation, giving "a guarantee that upon a request from Tuvalu for any military assistance based upon security issues, Australia will be there."

Persons: Penny Wong, Wong, Anthony Albanese, Kausea Natano, Albanese, Sam McKeith, David Gregorio Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia's, Tuvalu, Pacific ., Australian Broadcasting Corp Locations: Australia, Pacific, Pacific . Australia, United States, China, Solomon, Tuvalu, Cook, Taiwan, Beijing, Hawaii, Sydney

The collaboration, which also involves the United Kingdom, is known as AUKUS, an acronym for the three countries' names. “State visits are a big deal," said Charles Edel, a senior adviser and Australia chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The day's events end with a state dinner in a pavilion erected on the South Lawn of the White House. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there's “no more important time than now” to hold the state visit to demonstrate the strength of the U.S. relationship with Australia. Biden wants $3.4 billion to expand naval production facilities to help provide Australia with the nuclear-powered submarines.

Persons: Joe Biden, Anthony Albanese, Biden, Albanese, they're, Charles Edel, “ They’re, ” Biden, they've, Jill Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, there's, Bidens, Jodie Haydon, Xi Jinping, “, ” Albanese, Xi, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, —, ”, John Lee, Sullivan, Lee Organizations: WASHINGTON, Australian, Hamas, Microsoft, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Office, White, Israel, Australia, House Republicans, Arlington National Cemetery, Australians, Economic Cooperation, APEC, U.S, Capitol, Hudson Institute Locations: U.S, Pacific, Israel, East, Europe, Ukraine, The U.S, Australia, United Kingdom, Washington, Gaza, White, France, South Korea, India, Japan, Papa New Guinea, Arlington, China, San Francisco, Beijing, Asia, Sydney

☆ Australian journalist Cheng Lei back home after China release
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Australian journalist Cheng Lei poses for a selfie at an unknown location in this undated picture obtained by Reuters on August 11, 2023. Nicholas Coyle/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who had been detained in China on national security charges for more than three years, returned home on Wednesday after being released, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. Cheng, who was tried in secret in March 2022, arrived in Melbourne and has been reunited with her two children and family, Albanese told a press conference. Albanese said he expected to visit China this year and told reporters dialogue with China was "a good thing". Albanese said Australia "continued to advocate" for another detained Australian journalist, Yang Hengjun, who has been held since January 2019.

Persons: Cheng Lei, Nicholas Coyle, Handout, Anthony Albanese, Cheng, Albanese, Penny Wong, I've, Xi Jinping, Ryan Neelam, " Albanese, Yang Hengjun, Yang, Adam Ni, Kirsty Needham, Laurie Chen, Alasdair Pal, Clarence Fernandez, Miral Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Australia's, Lowy Institute, Independent, Thomson Locations: Australian, China, Melbourne, Australia, Beijing, Independent China, Canberra, Sydney

☆ Newmont clears regulatory hurdle for Newcrest deal, awaits shareholder vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The world's largest gold producer had in August received a clearance from Australia's competition regulator. Newmont also received a clearance from Japan's Fair Trade Commission last week, allowing the transaction to be closed anytime post September-end. If the deal goes through, Newcrest shareholders would receive 0.400 Newmont share for each share, with an implied value of A$29.27 a share. The deal still awaits the crucial Newcrest shareholder vote, scheduled for Oct. 13, as well as nods from regulators in the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Australia's largest gold miner, Newcrest, had in May backed the takeover offer from Newmont, in what would be the third-largest deal ever involving an Australian company.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Newmont, Newcrest, Rishav Chatterjee, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: REUTERS, Newmont Corp, Foreign Investment, Board, Fair Trade, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Newmont, Bengaluru

☆ Newmont gets Aussie regulatory nod for $16.8 bln Newcrest deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO-A small toy figure and gold imitation are seen in front of the Newmont logo in this illustration taken November 19, 2021. If the deal goes through, Newcrest shareholders would receive 0.400 Newmont share for each share held, with an implied value of A$29.27 a share. Newcrest in mid-May said it would back the takeover offer in what would be the third-largest deal ever involving an Australian company. Newmont continues advancing other regulatory approvals and expects to close the transaction in the fourth quarter of this year, it said. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Newcrest did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Newmont, Newcrest, Harish Sridharan, Shailesh Organizations: REUTERS, Newmont Corp, Newcrest, Foreign Investment, Board, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Thomson Locations: Japan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Bengaluru

☆ Australia urges China to remove all trade restrictions after barley tariffs lifted
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Don Farrell Australian trade minister"We always saw the barley application and the suspension of the barley application before the [World Trade Organisation] as a template for dealing with the wine issue," he said. "And of course, we're extremely confident that the 220% tariffs that were applied to Australian wine will be removed." Thawing tensionsIn April, Australia agreed to "temporarily suspend" its World Trade Organization complaint against China for its 2020 decision to impose 80.5% duties on Australian barley trade that was once worth about 1.5 billion Australian dollars ($988.1 million). Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesOn Monday, Farrell said a "range of factors" were at play, with Chinese beer consumers and barley importers "very strongly in favor" of reintroducing Australian barley. Since then, Australia's foreign minister Penny Wong and trade minister Farrell have visited Beijing and have had direct meetings with their direct counterparts.

Persons: Don Farrell, Farrell, Xi Jinping, Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong Organizations: World Trade, World Trade Organization, Chinese Commerce Ministry, Nantong, Trade Zone, Visual China, Australian Locations: Australia, China, Beijing, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, Bali

☆ Julian Assange case has 'dragged on for too long', Australia's Wong says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 29 (Reuters) - Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Saturday the long-running case of imprisoned Wikileaks founder Julian Assange had gone on too long and needs to be completed. Assange, an Australian citizen being held in Britain, is battling extradition to the United States, where he is wanted on 18 charges over the release of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables in 2010. At a press conference in Brisbane after an Australia-U.S. meeting, Wong said Canberra had made it clear that "Mr Assange's case has dragged for too long, and our desire that it be brought to a conclusion". "I understand that Mr Assange has filed a renewal of appeal application in the UK. Blinken confirmed that Assange's case had been raised in the bilateral talks, saying he understood the views of Australians on the sensitive issue.

Persons: Penny Wong, Julian Assange, Assange, Wong, Richard Marles, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Blinken, Mr Assange, Anthony Albanese, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia's, Defence, ., Thomson Locations: Britain, United States, Brisbane, Australia, Canberra, U.S, Sydney

☆ Solomon Islands says Chinese police to assist cyber and community security
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Solomon Islands has denied suggestions by Australia and others its policing deal with Beijing is "a threat to the Pacific region peace" and says China will enhance the capability of its 1,500 police officers in cyber security and community policing. Chinese and Solomon Islands police ministers met on Tuesday, pledging to "promote China's police and law enforcement co-operation to a new level," Chinese media reported. In a statement on Friday, Sogavare's office said the Pacific Islands nation was broadening its security partnerships, and the Chinese police will add to the existing Australia and New Zealand policing support. Solomon Islands cooperation with China and all partners are based on the principles of equality and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity," it said. Australia and New Zealand say Pacific security needs should be met within the region.

Persons: Manasseh Sogavare, Li Qiang, Solomon Islands, Sogavare's, Solomon, Penny Wong, Wang Yi Organizations: of, People, Solomon Islands, Australia's Locations: Solomon, Beijing, Australia, Pacific, China, U.S, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Jakarta

☆ Divisive China, Taiwan bids to join Pacific trade pact in focus at meet
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Britain will become the 12th member to join the pact that cuts trade barriers, as it looks to deepen ties in the Pacific. In support of its application, Britain has said that CPTPP countries will have a combined GDP of 11 trillion pounds ($13.6 trillion) once Britain joins, or 15% of global GDP. "There’s a large gap between the high standards and binding commitments that are demanded of CPTPP members, and where China is currently at," he added. The other countries' applications also provide opportunities. "After modernising the Canada-Ukraine FTA this year, Canada knows that Ukraine is capable of meeting the high standards of the CPTPP," she said.

Persons: Charles Finny, CPTPP, Chris Hipkins, Shu Jueting, Penny Wong, Aidan Arasasingham, Joanne Ou, Roy Lee, Mary Ng, Lucy Craymer, Ben Blanchard, Joe Cash, Praveen Menon, Muralikumar Organizations: WELLINGTON, Trans, Pacific, New Zealand, Reuters, Centre, Strategic, International Studies, Washington DC, Thomson Locations: Pacific, Auckland, China, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, Britain, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Ecuador, Ukraine, New, Beijing, Zealand, Jakarta, Taipei, CPTPP, Wellington

☆ Solomon Islands says Chinese police to assist cyber, community security
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In a statement on Friday, Sogavare's office said the Pacific Islands nation was broadening its security partnerships, and the Chinese police will add to the existing Australia and New Zealand policing support. Riots in the capital Honiara in 2021 exposed gaps in the islands' policing, it said. Opposition leader Matthew Wale said in a statement "policing is different in democracies than in communist countries and democracies must uphold human rights and due process". The issue was not China's supply of security equipment, but the compatibility of Chinese and Pacific policing, said Meg Keen, director of the Lowy Institute's Pacific Islands programme. Solomon Islands has a population of 700,000, across an archipelago that occupies a strategic position in the Pacific Islands, and was pivotal to the U.S. move west across the Pacific to liberate the Philippines in World War Two.

Persons: Manasseh Sogavare, Sogavare's, Penny Wong, Wang Yi, Sogavare, Matthew Wale, Meg Keen, Lowy, Wale, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln Organizations: SYDNEY, Solomon Islands, Australia's, Islands Government, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, New Zealand, China's Global, Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Thomson Locations: Solomon, Australia, Beijing, Pacific, China, U.S, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Jakarta, Islands, Honiara, Philippines, Taiwan, Washington, Canberra

☆ Lawyer wanted by Hong Kong says he was exercising his rights in Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Hong Kong police and security bureau did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hong Kong says 260 people have been arrested under the law, 79 of them convicted for offences including subversion and terrorism. China and Hong Kong say it was necessary to restore stability in the financial hub. Yam said he started speaking out about the rule of law in Hong Kong and the crackdown because his friends were in jail. Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Additional reporting by James Pomfret and Jessie Pang in Hong Kong; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin Yam, Yam, Mao Ning, Anthony Albanese, Hong, Ted Hui, Richard McGregor, Kirsty Needham, James Pomfret, Jessie Pang, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Hong, HK, Hong Kong, of Australia, Law Society of Hong, Lowy Institute, Thomson Locations: Australian, Hong Kong, Hong, Australia, China, Beijing, British, Law Society of Hong Kong, Sydney

☆ Australia's United Malt agrees $1 billion takeover offer from France's InVivo
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 3 (Reuters) - Australian malt producer United Malt Group Ltd (UMG.AX) said on Monday it had agreed to a A$1.5 billion ($999 million) takeover offer from Malteries Soufflet, a branch of French agribusiness InVivo. The A$5 per share offer represents a 45.3% premium to United Malt's closing price of A$3.44 on March 24, before the offer was first disclosed. United Malt is the world's fourth-largest commercial maltster, producing bulk malt for brewers, craft brewers, distillers and food companies. The deal requires approval from Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) as well as United Malt's shareholders to vote in support the transaction, among other regulatory requirements. United Malt's board has unanimously recommended that its shareholders vote in favor of the proposal.

Persons: Malteries, Thierry Blandinieres, Graham Bradley, InVivo, Harish Sridharan, Lisa Shumaker, Nick Zieminski, Jamie Freed Organizations: United Malt Group, Reuters, distillers, Foreign Investment, Board, United, United Malt, Thomson Locations: Australia, Canada, United States, Britain, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, Bengaluru

[1/2] A small toy figure and imitation gold are seen in front of the Newcrest logo in this illustration taken November 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationMay 15 (Reuters) - Australian gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd said on Monday it would back Newmont Corp's (NEM.N) A$26.2 billion ($17.8 billion) takeover offer in one of the world's largest buyouts so far this year. Newcrest shareholders would receive 0.400 Newmont share for each share held, with an implied value of A$29.27 a share, higher than a previous exchange ratio of 0.380 that Newcrest's board rejected in February. "This transaction will combine two of the world's leading gold producers, bringing forward significant value to Newcrest shareholders through the recognition of our outstanding growth pipeline," said Newcrest Chairman Peter Tomsett. Newcrest shareholders will be able to choose to receive New York Stock Exchange-listed Newmont shares or Australian-listed CHESS Depository Instruments (CDIs) as payment.

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationMay 15 (Reuters) - Australian gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd said on Monday it would back Newmont Corp's (NEM.N) A$26.2 billion ($17.8 billion) takeover offer in one of the world's largest buyouts so far this year. If the deal gets Newcrest shareholders' approval and other regulatory approvals, it would lift Newmont's gold output to nearly double its nearest rival, Barrick Gold Corp (ABX.TO), further solidifying Newmont's position as the world's biggest gold producer. Newcrest shareholders will be able to choose to receive New York Stock Exchange-listed Newmont shares or Australian listed CHESS Depository Instruments (CDIs) as payment. Newcrest said it recommended its shareholders vote in favour of the deal at a meeting expected to be held in September or October. The deal requires Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) sign off as well as Newcrest and Newmont shareholders to vote in support the transaction among other regulatory approvals.

☆ Analysis: Australia prepares more assertive military stance to deter conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The review examined how Australia could better integrate with its AUKUS partners the United States and Britain, as well as other allies, the government has said. Changing that equation is crucial to the future of Australia's military, they said. Campbell said Australia's defence forces would enhance how they could operate alongside partners, but has ruled out foreign bases on its soil and will always retain control of its forces. Even as it beefs up its military, Australia says China will remain an important trade partner. One of the world's top LNG exporters, Australia's top gas customers last year were Japan, China and South Korea.

SYDNEY, April 17 (Reuters) - The lawyer for an Australian charged with foreign interference said his client had become "very worried" about two alleged foreign intelligence agents while living in Shanghai and returned to Australia after a decade-long career in China. Csergo is alleged to have accepted cash for writing reports, which Australian federal police say contained information about Australian defence, economic and national security arrangements. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation had searched Csergo's laptop and WeChat accounts upon his return from Shanghai, the court was told. "The Chinese did not want it to be known they were making these inquiries and receiving these reports," Barko commented. Csergo, 55, appeared in court via video link from Parklea Prison where he is being held as a high security prisoner.

SYDNEY, April 15 (Reuters) - The second person ever charged with violating Australia's foreign interference laws appeared in a local court on Saturday following his arrest a day earlier. Court documents reviewed by Reuters on Saturday listed a charge of reckless foreign interference against Csergo, with the offence occurring between February 2021 and April 2023 in the Australian state of New South Wales and Shanghai. Csergo had recently returned from China and was arrested on Friday at a residence in the Sydney beachside suburb of Bondi, according to neighbours. The court document also named "Ken" and "Evelyn" as engaging with Csergo. The AFP will allege "Ken" and "Evelyn" work for a foreign intelligence service and are undertaking intelligence collection activities, the statement said.

☆ Australia concerned by delays in trial of journalist detained in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

2 Intermediate People's Court, where Australian journalist Cheng Lei is expected to face trial on state secrets charges, in Beijing, China March 31, 2022. REUTERS/Florence LoSYDNEY, March 31 (Reuters) - Australia said it has "deep concerns" about delays in the case of Australian journalist Cheng Lei who faced a closed door trial in Beijing on national security charges a year ago. "We share the deep concerns of Ms. Cheng's family and friends about the ongoing delays in her case," Wong said. Cheng, who has been detained in Beijing since her arrest in 2020, has two young children living in Australia. She was born in China and moved with her parents to Australia as a child.

Origin, Australia's top energy retailer, on Monday agreed to the long-running takeover offer from the consortium, nearing the conclusion of one of the country's biggest private equity-backed buyouts. Once the deal is completed, EIG's MidOcean Energy will take control of Origin's integrated gas business. Thomas said government policy swings world over are a by-product of the volatility associated with the tension between energy security and the transition to cleaner energy. Origin, Australia's No. Brookfield said it plans to invest a further A$20 billion of capital to fully replace Origin's power generation and its power purchases with green power over a decade.

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