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☆ Cyberattacks: New Zealand joins UK, US in accusing China of espionage hacks as coordinated pressure on Beijing grows
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —New Zealand has joined the United States and the United Kingdom in accusing China of launching “malicious” cyberattacks through state-backed hackers, as Beijing comes under growing scrutiny in a big election year for democracies around the world. The Chinese embassy in London dismissed the claims as “completely unfounded” and “malicious slander,” calling the sanctions “outright political manipulation.”“China is a major victim of cyberattacks. We have firmly fought and stopped all kinds of malicious cyber activities in accordance with the law, and have never encouraged, supported or condoned cyberattacks,” the embassy said, reiterating Beijing’s long-held stance on the matter. Australia and the European Union has also expressed solidarity with the UK and voiced concerns over China’s alleged malicious cyber activities. Without naming China, the EU said it would continue to monitor and address malicious cyber activities and stand ready to take further action when necessary.

Persons: Judith Collins, “, Zealand’s, ” Collins, Wang Xiaolong, Winston Peters, ” Peters, Penny Wong, Clare O’Neil Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, United, New, UK, Parliamentary, Office, Parliamentary Service, New Zealand, Wellington, European Union, Australia’s Foreign, Home Affairs, Inter, Parliamentary Alliance Locations: Hong Kong, Zealand, United States, United Kingdom, China, Beijing, New Zealand, London, PRC, Australia, EU, Canada

☆ Strong Winds Cause Power Outages, Fan Bushfires in Australia's Southeast
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of residents across Australia's Victoria state remained without power on Wednesday after wild weather knocked down transmission lines, forcing a major power plant to disconnect from the grid, while strong winds fanned bushfires. AGL's Loy Yang A power station, responsible for about a third of the state's power, had to shut down on Tuesday afternoon impacting half a million properties, which officials said was one of the largest outages in Victoria's history. Some properties were completely destroyed by fire with the exact number to be confirmed after fire crews finish their rescue efforts. Firefighters are battling to contain three bushfires, but better weather conditions could help crews to contain the fires quickly, Heffernan said. Australia's weather bureau forecast milder conditions on Wednesday with temperatures in the low to mid-20 degree Celsius (68°F) and moderate winds, but warned the risk was not over yet.

Persons: AGL's Loy Yang, Clare O'Neil, We've, O'Neil, Jason Heffernan, Heffernan, Renju Jose, Bill Berkrot Organizations: SYDNEY, Mobile, Federal Home Affairs, ABC, Firefighters Locations: Australia's Victoria, Melbourne, Hotham, Victoria's, Victoria, Sydney

☆ Australia's Labor Government Defends Shift in Personal Tax Policy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The government has reached a "different view" about the already-legislated tax cuts, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, as the conservative opposition coalition criticised the government for breaking an election pledge of retaining the tax cuts. Chalmers said the tax policy shift would help build trust as it was designed to provide more cost-of-living relief for more people without stoking inflation. Under the new policy, people earning up to A$140,000 ($92,050) will enjoy lower taxes from July 1, Australian media reported. A 37% tax band would be retained for some high earners, with the savings redirected to those on low incomes. That has dented Albanese's ratings since his 2022 election win.

Persons: Renju Jose SYDNEY, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, reneging, James Paterson, Renju Jose, Richard Chang Organizations: Labor, Channel, National Press, Labor Party, Home Affairs, Sky News Locations: Sydney

☆ Australia Imposes Sanctions on Russian Hacker Over Medibank Breach
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Renju JoseSYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia on Tuesday imposed cyber sanctions on a Russian man for his role in the breach at insurer Medibank, one of the country's biggest data thefts which impacted about 10 million customers. Targeted financial sanctions and a travel ban have been imposed on Russian citizen Aleksandr Ermakov after Australian authorities linked him to the breach at Medibank, Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said during a press briefing. This is the first time Australia has used its cyber sanctions framework since legislating it in 2021. Medibank in 2022 disclosed that a hacker stole the personal information of 9.7 million current and former customers, and released the data on the dark web. Hackers in November hit DP World Australia, one of the country's largest ports operators, forcing it to suspend operations for three days.

Persons: Renju Jose SYDNEY, Aleksandr Ermakov, Clare O'Neil, they're scumbags, we'll, O'Neil, Renju Jose, Jonathan Oatis, Stephen Coates Organizations: Medibank, cybercrime, Home Affairs Locations: Australia, Victoria, Sydney

☆ Malaysia to Review Migrant Labour Deals to Stamp Out Exploitation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia will review bilateral agreements with 15 nations from which it sources labourers in a bid to address exploitative practices and manpower imbalances that have left thousands of migrant workers stranded without jobs, officials said. The plight of the migrants coincided with concerns over workplace abuses in Malaysia, with several companies facing U.S. bans over the use of forced labour in recent years. They said Malaysia still had a shortage of workers in the agriculture and plantations sector, while quotas have been exceeded in other industries. Workers from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal account for over 70% of Malaysia's migrant labour, with the remainder coming from countries including India, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Thailand. Sim said 751 Bangladesh migrant workers had filed cases with the labour department to claim unpaid wages, involving a total of 2.2 million ringgit ($467,687).

Persons: Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Steven Sim, Sim, Rozanna, Miral Fahmy Organizations: Reuters, Workers, Human Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand

SYDNEY, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Australia's top civil servant in its interior ministry was sacked on Monday after an inquiry found he breached impartiality rules. Michael Pezzullo, the powerful head of the department responsible for internal security, stepped aside in September while the investigation was conducted. It was not immediately possible to reach Pezzullo for comment. The inquiry followed a joint investigation by two Australian newspapers and a TV programme that alleged Pezzullo had intervened in politics to promote favoured politicians, attack opponents and push for media censorship. Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Michael Pezzullo, Anthony Albanese, Pezzullo, Alasdair Pal, Lincoln Organizations: SYDNEY, Australian Public Service, Liberal Party, Thomson Locations: Sydney

☆ Australia PM Fires a Top Bureaucrat Over Influence Probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Alasdair PalSYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's top civil servant in its interior ministry was sacked on Monday after an inquiry found he breached impartiality rules. Michael Pezzullo, the powerful head of the department responsible for internal security, stepped aside in September while the investigation was conducted. It was not immediately possible to reach Pezzullo for comment. The inquiry followed a joint investigation by two Australian newspapers and a TV programme that alleged Pezzullo had intervened in politics to promote favoured politicians, attack opponents and push for media censorship. (Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

Persons: Alasdair Pal SYDNEY, Michael Pezzullo, Anthony Albanese, Pezzullo, Alasdair Pal, Lincoln Organizations: Australian Public Service, Liberal Party Locations: Sydney

☆ Australia goes on cyber offensive with sweeping resilience plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Broken Ethernet cable is seen in front of binary code and words "cyber security" in this illustration taken March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Australia will give cyber health checks for small businesses, increase cyber law enforcement funding and introduce mandatory reporting of ransomware attacks under a security overhaul announced on Wednesday after a spate of attacks. "We cannot continue as we have," Cyber Security and Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil told reporters in Sydney. Unveiling the seven-year strategy, O'Neil said that while large businesses received some of the biggest cyber attacks, they typically recovered, but attacks on small and medium-size businesses could be terminal. "Minister O'Neil's Strategy establishes cyber security as a unifying nationwide endeavour," he added.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Clare O'Neil, O'Neil, Aidan Tudehope, O'Neil's, telco, Byron Kaye, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Labor, Security, Home Affairs, Australian Cyber Security, U.S, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Macquarie Technology, telco Optus, Singapore Telecommunications, Medibank, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney, Britain

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Three murderers are among 81 foreigners recently released in Australia after the High Court ruled their indefinite detention in migrant centers was unconstitutional, the immigration minister said on Tuesday. The court hasn't released the reasons behind its ruling last week that overturned a 2004 precedent that stateless people could be detained indefinitely. Political Cartoons View All 1244 ImagesImmigration Minister Andrew Giles said the released foreigners included three murderers and several sex offenders. “The decision of the High Court which requires release effects very, very serious offenders,” Giles told Parliament. The 50-year-old had fled to Australia before he was sentenced in absentia and had been held in detention for nine years until the High Court decision last week.

Persons: hasn't, ”, Andrew Giles, Sussan Ley, ” Giles, Sirul Azhar Umar, Ley, Aliyawar Yawari, Clare O’Neil, ” O’Neil Organizations: Court, Rights Law, Australian, Home Affairs Locations: CANBERRA, Australia, Melbourne, Malaysian, Mongolian, Perth, Sydney

☆ Police investigate 'cyber incident' at Australia ports operator
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 12 (Reuters) - The Australian Federal Police said on Sunday they were investigating a cybersecurity incident that forced ports operator DP World Australia to suspend operations at ports in several states. DP World Australia told Reuters on Saturday that operations at impacted ports were not yet restored. DP World Australia, part of Dubai's state-owned ports giant DP World, operates four container terminals in Australia in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Western Australia's Fremantle. Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said on Saturday that the government was coordinating a response to the "cyber incident". According to DP World, in the Asia Pacific region it employs more than 7,000 people and has ports and terminals in 18 locations.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, We've, we're, Darren Goldie, Goldie, Clare O'Neil, Sam McKeith, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Australian Federal Police, Australia, DP, Reuters, Fremantle, Cyber, Twitter, Home Affairs, Thomson Locations: Dubai's, Australia, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Western, Sydney , Melbourne, Asia

☆ Australia ports operator suffers 'cybersecurity incident', suspends operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Nov 11 (Reuters) - The Australian government said on Saturday that it was coordinating a response to a cybersecurity incident that forced ports operator DP World Australia to suspend operations at ports in several states. A DP World Australia spokesperson told Reuters on Saturday that operations at impacted ports were not yet restored. Australia's National Cyber Security Coordinator, appointed earlier this year in response to several major data breaches, was managing the official response to the incident, O'Neil said. DP World Australia, part of Dubai's state-owned ports giant DP World, operates four container terminals in Australia in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Western Australia's Fremantle. According to DP World, in the Asia Pacific region it employs more than 7,000 people and has ports and terminals in 18 locations.

Persons: Clare O'Neil, O'Neil, Sam McKeith, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia, Home Affairs, Cyber Security, DP, Thomson Locations: Dubai's, Australia, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Western, Fremantle, Asia

☆ Migrant’s drowning in Mediterranean prompts criticism of Malta's rescue policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Reade Levinson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +13 min

Details of the incident, described to Reuters by humanitarian groups MSF, Sea-Watch and Alarm Phone, haven’t previously been reported. By the next morning, June 23, survivors told MSF, they had run out of food and water. [1/5]Handout image obtained by Reuters, October 12, 2023 shows a Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF) rescue boat near a rubber boat carrying migrants from the Middle East and Africa, in the Mediterranean Sea, June 24, 2023. At 12:46 p.m., Alarm Phone called the Malta Search and Rescue Coordination Centre to report that one person was in the water. The passengers told the men they were scared and didn’t want to remain on the boat, survivors told MSF.

Persons: Africa –, ’, Ainhoa Campàs Velasco, Sabrina Borg, “, ”, Tommaso Foti, Foti, Oliver Kulikowski, Neil Azzopardi Ferriggi, Skye McKee, Handout, Kulikowski, Byron Camilleri, Camilleri, Jean, Pierre Gauci, Reade Levinson, Janet Roberts Organizations: Reuters, Sea, MSF, Geo, University of Southampton, “, EU, REUTERS Acquire, Passengers, Coordination, Watch, Reuters ., Maltese, Armed Forces of, Armed Forces, -, United Nations, Refugees, Amnesty International, European, of Human Rights, Home Affairs, European Union, British Institute of International, Comparative, La Spezia, Thomson Locations: East, Africa, Malta, Maltese, Italy, Europe, Italian, “ Malta, Sirte, Libya, Syria, South Sudan, Sea, Armed Forces of Malta, Malta's, Laconia, Gabon, ”, London

He lost his case in October 2020 and, the following March, was issued an order to leave Belgium. With at least three EU countries involved, the case points up the challenges the EU faces tracking people across the bloc's Schengen open-travel zone that is mostly free of border checks. Proponents of the EU's new migration pact - which has been tentatively agreed by most EU countries and is now being further negotiated with the European Parliament - say it would support returns by shortening time for migration and asylum procedures. "Those who are not allowed to stay in the EU must leave Europe. "This is a wake-up call for those who are not ready to accept ... the migration pact."

Persons: Alexander de Croo, Vincent Van Quickenborne, Manfred Weber, Marine Strauss, Bart Meijer, Angelo Amante, Gabriela Baczynska, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Belgium Case, EU, Immigration, Belgian, Frontex, Eurostat, Reuters, European People's Party, Thomson Locations: Italy, Sweden, Belgium, BRUSSELS, ROME, Tunisia, Europe, Israel, Germany, Brussels, Tunis, ITALY, SWEDEN, BELGIUM, Lampedusa, Poland, Hungary, East, Africa, Rome

☆ Australia's Energy One says no proof of malicious activity after cyber incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 29 (Reuters) - Australian software supplier Energy One (EOL.AX) said on Friday it had not uncovered any evidence of malicious activity on their customer systems after a cyber incident was first identified last month. The company had previously said some personal information of its current and former employees had been compromised, for which the notification process is underway. "Our investigations have not revealed any evidence that customer systems have been impacted and the company continues to securely trade," Energy One said in a statement on Friday. Australian firms have suffered many cyber attacks since September 2022, putting the spotlight on the country's understaffed cybersecurity industry. Recently, Shell Plc (SHEL.L) identified a cybersecurity incident involving some employees at BG Group in Australia, the latest company to be hit by the MOVEit hack.

Persons: Clare O'Neil, Ayushman Ojha, Rashmi Aich, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Energy, Shell Plc, BG Group, Home Affairs, Thomson Locations: Australian, Australia

☆ Australia: Mute Iranian asylum seeker detained for 10 years takes his case to High Court -- but even victory won't free him
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Emeralds was in court to seek a protection order against an immigration detention center supervisor who he accused of bullying. “Ned’s case is kind of like an exploration of all of the Kafkaesque aspects of Australia’s immigration detention and asylum regimes,” Verma said. Escape from IranThe man who adopted the name Ned Kelly Emeralds, in homage to the famous Australian bushranger, fled Iran in July 2013. Iranian asylum seeker Ned Kelly Emeralds has been mute for almost a decade and writes or texts to communicate. Gemma Baseley is among a group of supporters who regularly visit Ned Kelly Emeralds in detention.

Persons: Australia CNN —, cuffed, Ned Kelly Emeralds, he’s, Emeralds, ”, Sanmati Verma, Verma, “, ” Verma, Ned, he’d, Hilary Whiteman, mutism, ” Emeralds, “ Ned, Darryl Rangiah, Annette, Miguel Castillo, ” Annette Castillo, Annette Castillo, wouldn’t, Karen Andrews, didn’t, Andrews, ” Weeks, Perth Annette Castillo, doesn’t, Dawn Barrington, ” Barrington, Fran Hamilton, they’re, ” Hamilton, Gemma Baseley, Rev, –, Guy Coffey, Coffey, who’s Organizations: Australia CNN, Federal Court, Human Rights Law, Home Affairs, CNN, Australia’s Home Affairs, ”, Authority, IAA, Perth Immigration Detention, Perth, ” CNN, Federal, of, Emeralds, Immigration Detention, Labor, – Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Western Australia, Iran, Darwin, Christmas, Nauru, Perth, St, Paul’s, Paul's, ”

☆ Singapore's prime minister pledges 'zero tolerance' after recent wave of political scandals
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Singapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong vowed Wednesday to uphold "zero tolerance" toward any wrongdoing by government officials. His comments came after a wave of political scandals rocked the Southeast Asian nation in recent weeks, tarnishing the pristine image that underpins its standing as a global financial center. "The founding generation built up Singapore and entrusted it to our generation in good shape," Lee said in a parliamentary address Wednesday. Lee said actions taken after these scandals showed two aspects of how his PAP government works. "One, when there is a suspicion or allegation of wrongdoing in the discharge of official duties, especially possible corruption, there is zero tolerance," he said in the first parliamentary session after these events,.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Lee, Iswaran, Ong Beng Seng, Tan Chuan, Jin, Cheng Li Hui, Shanmugam, Vivian Balakrishnan Organizations: Central Business District, Party, Home Affairs Minister, Foreign Locations: Bay, Singapore

☆ Singapore is facing a wave of political scandals. Here's what we know so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Here's what we know so far:The news has involved the private lives of some of its leaders and highly paid ministers. SINGAPORE — A series of revelations has rocked Singapore's political scene in the past few weeks. Those dealings involved the Singapore Land Authority, a government agency under the charge of Shanmugam in the Law Ministry. The outcome of the review was debated in the Singapore Parliament. I think it's quite clear to me."

Persons: Tan Chuan, Jin, Vivian Balakrishnan, Shanmugam, Lee Hsien Loong, Pritam Singh Organizations: SINGAPORE, Law, Home Affairs Minister, Singapore Land Authority, Law Ministry, Prime, Singapore's Locations: Singapore

☆ Singapore launches corruption probe involving transport minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said July 12 that he has instructed the country's transport minister S. Iswaran to go on leave after he was implicated in an anti-graft agency investigation. SINGAPORE — Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has asked the country's transport minister to go on leave after he was implicated in an anti-graft agency investigation. "I have instructed Minister Iswaran to take leave of absence until these investigations are completed," Lee said, without elaborating on the specifics of the case. Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat will be acting minister for transport, Lee added. The announcement comes weeks after a state review on allegations made against two other cabinet ministers regarding their rental of government-owned colonial bungalows.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Iswaran, Lee, State Chee Hong, Shanmugam, Vivian Balakrishnan Organizations: Singapore's, SINGAPORE — Singapore's, State, Law, Home Affairs Minister, Singapore Locations: SINGAPORE

Change is afoot in the conservative city state with a softening of attitudes and growing tolerance of gay issues, which some members of the LGBT community and academics attribute to the November lifting of a ban on sex between men. But the historic lifting of the ban was not all welcomed by LGBT people. The repeal of the gay sex ban was not universally welcomed. LGBT issues are appearing in the typically conservative domestic media, known for toeing the government line. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore this month advised teachers to "address socio-religious issues, including LGBT issues, with wisdom, kindness, compassion and mercy".

Persons: Yeo Sam Jo, Yeo, JoJo Sam Clair, Laavanya Kathiravelu, Carol, Dot, Nishanthiy Balasamy, Corinna Lim, Lim, Cally Chia, Ching Chia, Ching, Clement Tan, Pink Dot, We're, Tan, Xinghui Kok, Chen Lin, Robert Birsel, William Mallard Organizations: Nanyang Technological University, Institute of Policy, Islamic, Council of, Pink, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Council of Singapore, Instagram

☆ Australia names air force veteran as cybersecurity chief amid rise in data breaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 23 (Reuters) - Australia on Friday named a senior air force commander as its first cybersecurity boss to help lead the government's response to major data breaches and boost the nation's security capabilities amid a recent spike in network intrusions. Air Marshal Darren Goldie, a 30-year veteran, will become the national cybersecurity coordinator, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. He will be supported by a national office within the department of home affairs and begin his term on July 3. HWL Ebsworth has flagged ransomware group BlackCat, also known as ALPHV, may have published some stolen data on the dark web. Major breaches were reported by health insurer Medibank Private (MPL.AX) and telco Optus, owned by Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI).

Persons: Darren Goldie, Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, HWL Ebsworth, Goldie, Clare O'Neil, telco, Renju Jose, Jamie Freed Organizations: SYDNEY, Home Affairs, Medibank, telco Optus, Singapore Telecommunications, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney

☆ Australia Russia embassy row: Suspected Russian diplomat squatter dismissed as just "a bloke" by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Australia’s government last week terminated its lease on the grounds of national security. A man, believed to be Russian diplomat, has remained at the site in defiance of the move. Albanese was asked by journalists on Friday to comment on reports that a Russian diplomat had taken up residence in a shed. “The national security threat that was represented by a Russian Embassy on site is not the same as some bloke standing on a blade of grass on the site – that, we don’t see really as a threat to our national security,” he replied. On Friday, Australia’s home affairs minister said Moscow had told the Australian government that it would take the matter to court.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, ”, “ We’re, Clare O’Neil, Australia’s, Moscow, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Australian, Russian Embassy, Home, Russian, Reuters, Australian Federal Police, CNN, Russian Federation, Commonwealth Locations: Hong Kong, Russian, Moscow, Canberra, Yarralumla, Australia, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Australia cancels lease for new Russian embassy citing national security
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 15 (Reuters) - Australia said on Thursday it would introduce legislation to parliament to cancel Russia's lease to build a new embassy in the national capital of Canberra, citing national security. The move follows the conclusion of a long-running litigation regarding the leased site after the federal court ruled last month that an eviction order made by the National Capital Authority - a government body tasked with the planning of the national capital - was invalid. Russia bought the lease in 2008 and had plans approved in 2011 but the National Capital Authority blamed the embassy for leaving the site unused, according to Australian media. Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said the "principal problem" with the proposed second Russian embassy was its location, as the site sits directly adjacent to the parliament house. Since the conflict began, Australia has provided millions in military support to Ukraine and has sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, Clare O'Neil, Albanese, Renju Jose, Michael Perry Organizations: SYDNEY, National Capital Authority, Home Affairs, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Australia, Canberra, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Sydney

☆ EU ministers seek long-stalled migration deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A tentative deal on the table comes after years of damaging feuds between EU states since their cooperation collapsed in acrimony in 2015 as more than a million people - mostly fleeing the war in Syria - arrived across the Mediterranean. "We can only handle migration together as the whole EU." CAMPSFor nearly a decade, EU countries traded blame for handling new arrivals. On Thursday, the ministers will also discuss EU aid for Tunisia, which is a gateway for African migration to Europe and faces growing instability. Bad blood spilled over as eastern EU countries like Poland and Hungary refused to host anyone from the mainly-Muslim Middle East and North Africa.

Persons: Nancy Faeser, France's Gerald Darmanin, Benoit van Overstraeten, Bart Meijer, Alexander Ratz, Kristina, Gabriela Baczynska, Mark Potter Organizations: Home, European Union, Liberal, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Syria, Spain, Tunisia, Europe, Italy, Greece, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, East, North Africa, EU, Budapest

☆ Breakthrough on stalled EU migration deal coming this week - official
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The EU's migration chief spoke ahead of talks between home affairs ministers of the bloc's 27 member states on Thursday. "It's about having a European migration policy," EU migration commissioner, Ylva Johansson told reporters. Agreeing a joint approach has proven all but impossible for EU countries since 2015 when the sea arrivals caught them by surprise, overwhelming their reception and security capacity. Bad blood spilled over as eastern EU countries like Poland and Hungary refused to host any refugees and migrants from the mainly-Muslim Middle East and North Africa. Johansson said the tentative deal allowed for the latter, adding that it envisaged no "mandatory relocations" of people and that EU states could help differently.

Persons: Johansson, Ylva Johansson, Gabriela Baczynska, Ed Osmond Organizations: Luxembourg Deal, Oxfam, Union, EU, Thomson Locations: Luxembourg, BRUSSELS, Syria, Spain, Italy, Malta, Greece, Germany, France, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, East, North Africa, Europe

☆ Modi inaugurates controversial new parliament building in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

A cyclist rides past the construction site for the new Parliament building in January 2021. Controversial projectThe new triangular parliament building is part of a major overhaul of New Delhi’s colonial-era administrative center dubbed the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. The rush was widely thought to have resulted from hopes of opening the parliament building by the 75th anniversary of Indian independence in August 2022. Capacity is also limited — a concern magnified by growing calls to increase the number of MPs sitting in India’s parliament. A photo of the parliament's interior taken during a visit to the building by Modi earlier this year.

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