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☆ Tuvalu: Climate-threatened Pacific nation holds election closely watched by China and Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Voting began on Friday in the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu in a national election that is being closely watched by China, Taiwan, the United States and its ally Australia, amid a tussle for influence in the region. Most of Tuvalu is forecast to be flooded by high tides by 2100, says the United Nations Development Programme, which is working with Tuvalu to bolster its coastline. Tuvalu is one of three remaining Pacific allies of Taiwan, after Nauru cut ties this month and switched to Beijing, which pledged more development support. The new government should decide whether Taiwan or China can best respond to Tuvalu’s development needs, he said. Prime Minister Kausea Natano has told Taiwan he continues to support ties, Taiwan said.

Persons: “, ”, Seve Paeniu, Kausea Natano, Enele Sopoaga, Natano, Simon Kofe, Sopoaga, Kofe Organizations: CNN, United Nations Development, Washington, Tuvalu’s Finance, Reuters, Australia Locations: Tuvalu, China, Taiwan, United States, Australia, Funafuti, Pacific, Nauru, Beijing, Nukulaelae, Kofe, United Nations, Canberra

☆ Climate Threatened Tuvalu Holds Election Watched by Taiwan, China
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Kirsty NeedhamSYDNEY (Reuters) -Voting began on Friday in the tiny Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu in a national election that is being closely watched by China, Taiwan, the US and its ally Australia, amid a tussle for influence in the region. Most of Tuvalu is forecast to be flooded by high tides by 2100, says the United Nations Development Programme, which is working with Tuvalu to bolster its coastline. Taiwan on Thursday said China was trying to influence the Tuvalu election and "seize our diplomatic allies". The new government should decide whether Taiwan or China can best respond to Tuvalu's development needs, he said. Prime Minister Kausea Natano has told Taiwan he continues to support ties, Taiwan said.

Persons: Kirsty Needham SYDNEY, Seve Paeniu, Kausea Natano, Enele Sopoaga, Natano, Simon Kofe, Sopoaga, Kofe, Kirsty Needham, Ben Blanchard, Michael Perry Organizations: United Nations Development, Washington, Tuvalu's Finance, Reuters, Australia Locations: Tuvalu, China, Taiwan, Australia, Funafuti, Pacific, United States, Nauru, Beijing, Nukulaelae, Kofe, United Nations, Canberra, Sydney, Taipei

☆ Thousands Protest Australia Day Holiday With 'Invasion Day' Rallies
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Thousand's marked Australia's national day on Friday with "Invasion Day" rallies in support of the country's Indigenous community, many of whom oppose celebrating the day a British fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour in 1788. Australia Day commemorates the day Britain established the state of New South Wales a penal colony, arriving in what is now the state capital Sydney with a "First Fleet" bringing colonists and convicts. Many people celebrate the holiday with barbecues and trips to the beach, and it is also a popular date for immigrants to receive their Australian citizenship. In Sydney, thousands of protesters, many waving Indigenous flags, gathered in the city centre at an "Invasion Day" rally before a march that closed nearby city streets. Two statues of colonial figures were vandalised in Melbourne earlier this week ahead of the contentious national holiday.

Persons: Browne, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Sam McKeith, Lincoln Organizations: SYDNEY, Sydney Harbour, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Labor Party Locations: British, Sydney, Britain, New South Wales, Victoria's Melbourne, Canberra, Melbourne

☆ My great-uncle was 70 years older than me. We built a friendship by sending letters to each other.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Rosalind Moran | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Despite being separated by oceans and years, my great-uncle became a dear friendMy great-uncle was born in 1921, meaning we had an age gap of over 70 years. As someone who also loves languages, writing, and talking to many different people, his undimmed intellectual curiosity proved inspiring to me. An additional ongoing gift from my friendship with my great-uncle is that of writing letters. Since writing to him and realizing how differently — and beautifully — people sometimes express themselves in long-form handwriting, I began writing letters to friends and receiving letters in turn. Some of my friendships now have a precious quality they potentially wouldn't otherwise have were it not for letters.

Persons: —, hadn't, Tolstoy Locations: Cornwall, England, Canberra, Australia, Italy, Europe, Cambridge

☆ Papua New Guinea to recruit Australia police in security deal - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape will travel to Canberra on Thursday to sign the security agreement, his office said. "The security arrangement is in the best interest of Papua New Guinea and also for Australia and its regional security interests," Marape said in a statement on Tuesday. The Australian Federal Police and the defence minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the security agreement. "Its a big issue and Australia can help us out considerably," said Tkatchenko, who began negotiations with Australia on the deal last year. They will be contracted officers reporting directly to the police commissioner of Papua New Guinea and they will be under all the laws of PNG.

Persons: James Marape, Lillian Suwanrumpha, Marape, Justin Tkatchenko, Tkatchenko, Kirsty Needham, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Guinea's, APEC, APEC Business, Economic Cooperation, Rights, Papua New Guinea, Australia, U.S, Reuters, Defence, Australian Federal Police, PNG Royal Constabulary, CID, Australian, Thomson Locations: Papua, Asia, Bangkok, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, biosecurity, Papua New, Canberra, United States, China, Solomon Islands, Australia, France

☆ Brookfield’s energy M&A loss is teachable moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, Dec 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Brookfield Asset Management (BAM.TO), has some wounds to lick. On Monday the Canadian investment firm’s joint $13 billion offer with MidOcean Energy for Australian power generator and retailer Origin Energy (ORG.AX)failed after the bidders secured backing from 69% of voted shares, below the required 75% threshold. It could target smaller local energy firms, like Alinta Energy and EnergyAustralia, owned by Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and CLP (0002.HK) respectively. Brookfield has made other investments from its $15 billion global transition fund, including to co-buy Westinghouse Electric. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Bruce Flatt, Chow, Brookfield, Antony Currie, Neiman Marcus, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Brookfield Asset Management, MidOcean Energy, Origin Energy, Alinta, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, CLP, HK, Westinghouse, X, Saks, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, Hong Kong

A fence is seen in front of wind turbines that are part of the Infigen Energy Capital Wind Farm located on the hills surrounding Lake George, near the Australian capital city of Canberra, Australia February 21, 2018. Australia's electricity transmission network, batteries and sustainable aviation fuel are three areas where simplified planning, subsidised finance and other regulatory changes could catalyse investment, according to a report released by eight major pension funds. Changes could quickly unlock A$4 billion ($2.7 billion) worth of investment in batteries, the report said. Once passive managers who predominantly invested at home, Australian pension funds have become international heavyweights, managing A$2.4 trillion - the fourth largest pool of retirement savings by country globally. Australian pension fund Aware Super committed A$10 billion.

Persons: David Gray, Paul Schroder, David Neal, Lewis Jackson, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Infigen, REUTERS, Rights, Labor, Thomson Locations: Lake George, Canberra, Australia, U.S, EU, Korea, Canada

☆ French ministers head to Indo-Pacific, Australia in diplomatic push
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( John Irish | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] French Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna and French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu leave following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 22, 2023. France, with overseas territories in the Pacific and Indian Ocean and 7,000 troops stationed there, considers itself an Indo-Pacific power. The loss of a major submarine deal with Australia in 2021 forced it rethink its strategy amid ongoing regional tensions with China in the disputed South China Sea. Underscoring those efforts, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu will host in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia between Dec. 4-8 the South Pacific Defence Ministers Meeting, the first time it has hosted the format since it was created in 2013. While it has diversified its ties across the Pacific, France has also worked on rebuilding its partnership with Australia.

Persons: Catherine Colonna, Sebastien Lecornu, Sarah Meyssonnier, Ferdinand Marcos, Karen Lerna, Sandra Maler Organizations: Foreign, French Defence, REUTERS, South Pacific, South Pacific Defence Ministers, South, Australia, Canberra, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, PARIS, Pacific, Ocean, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, Britain, United States, South Korea, Spain, Manila, South China, Kuala Lumpur

☆ Australia walks a tight rope on trade with China as security concerns mount
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 6, 2023. While trade compulsions have forced the Asia-Pacific nation to reach out to China, security concerns over Beijing's South China Sea claims have prevented a reset in ties. Trade talksPart of Beijing's calculus is rooted in Australia economic dependence on China. According to the Australian government, China is its largest trading partner, accounting for nearly a third of the country's total trade with the world. Australia is already closely watching potential flashpoints in the South China Sea, and in regard to Taiwan," Economist Intelligence Unit analysts said in a note.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Anthony Albanese, Ding Haitao, coronavirus, Darren Lim, Lee McLean, McLean, we've, Albanese, We've Organizations: Australian, of, People, Getty Images, Xinhua, Agency, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Australian National University, Labor, Australia, U.S ., China Hub . Trade, CNBC, Sky News Australia, Economist Intelligence, U.S Locations: Beijing, China, Xinhua, Australia, Asia, Pacific, Canberra, U.S, South China, Taiwan, The Hague, Philippines

Thirty-three Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrived early Tuesday in east Jerusalem and the West Bank town of Ramallah. Political Cartoons View All 1267 ImagesCurrently:— Israel and Hamas extend their truce, but it seems only a matter of time before the war resumes. So far, Hamas has released 69 hostages, including 51 Israelis, and Israel has released 150 Palestinian prisoners. Fifty Israeli hostages have been freed under the terms of an initial four-day truce, which has been extended to Wednesday. Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released.

Persons: Israel, — Israel, — Freed, — Blinken, Israel —, “, Israel — Kfir Bibas, Ariel, Eylon, Kfir’s, ”, William Burns, David Barnea, Burns, Barnea, Isabel Debre, Jon Gambrell, Eli Cohen, Parnpree, Thais, ” Parnpree, Cohen, GAZA WASHINGTON —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Constantinos Letymbiotis, Nikos Christodoulides, Christodoulides, Qatar’s, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Catherine Colonna, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, ” Israel, ” Elad Levy, Levy’s, Roni Eshel, ” Levy, Antony Blinken, John Kirby, Jason J, Eaton, General Merrick Garland Organizations: Hamas, West Bank, Health Ministry, —, TEL, CIA, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Officials, U.S, The Washington Post, Shamir, Thais, GERMANY BERLIN, White, Israeli Defense Forces, Cyprus ’, Cypriot, AP, UNIT, Gaza Health Ministry, Shifa, World Health Organization, PARIS, Foreign, RTL, UN, UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Palestinian, of Solidarity, AS US, FIRE BRUSSELS, State Department, NATO, Organization for Peace, Security, National Security, MEN, UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT, BURLINGTON , Vermont —, University of Vermont, U.S . Department of Justice Locations: Israel, Gaza, Jerusalem, Ramallah, East, israel, ISRAEL, TEL AVIV, Israeli, Tel Aviv, QATAR, United Arab, Qatar, Egypt, ___, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, JERUSALEM, GERMANY, Germany, Berlin, GAZA WASHINGTON, CYPRUS, GAZA NICOSIA, Cyprus, CAIRO, Shifa, Europe, France, CANBERRA, Australia, Australia’s, Canberra, Ukraine, Brussels, Skopje, North Macedonia, UNIVERSITY, BURLINGTON , Vermont, Vermont, Burlington

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Survivors of the harmful morning sickness drug thalidomide were in the public gallery Wednesday when Australia’s Parliament made a national apology to them on the 62nd anniversary of the drug being withdrawn from sale in the country. “Today, on behalf of the people of Australia, our government and this Parliament offers a full unreserved and overdue apology to all thalidomide survivors, their families, loved ones, and carers,” Albanese said. The apology was recommended in 2019 by a Senate inquiry into the support that was available to aging thalidomide survivors. The government will fulfill another recommendation Thursday by opening a memorial in Canberra in recognition of thalidomide survivors and their families. Australia established a support program in 2020 that is providing lifelong assistance to 148 survivors, and Albanese said his government was reopening the program to survivors who had yet to register.

Persons: thalidomide, Anthony Albanese’s, “, ” Albanese, Trish Jackson, ” Jackson, Albanese, Jackson, “ It’s Organizations: —, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Diageo Scotland Ltd Locations: CANBERRA, Australia, Canberra, Zealand, British

China's imports are being driven by increased arrivals from Indonesia, the world's largest exporter of thermal coal, with Kpler estimating 18.03 million metric tons will arrive this month. This is up from imports from Indonesia of 16.70 million metric tons in October, according to Kpler data. Imports from Indonesia are expected to decline to 10.92 million metric tons in November from 12.19 million in October. Thermal coal arrivals from Australia are forecast to be 1.11 million metric tons in November, up slightly from the 1.02 million in October. Overall, its possible that China's increased appetite for imported thermal coal ahead of the northern winter is crowding out some demand in India, which tends to be a more price-sensitive buyer.

Persons: Stephen Coates Organizations: Argus, CHINA, Atlantic, Indonesian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Indonesia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Beijing, Canberra, South Africa, Asia, Europe

☆ Australia Says AUKUS a Response to Arms Race, Not Fuel for It
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Indo Pacific region is in the midst of a substantial arms race that Australia is responding to, not fuelling, with its planned acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said on Tuesday. The $245 billion AUKUS project with Britain and the United States to build a new class of nuclear-powered and conventionally armed submarine has been criticised by China as having the potential to spark an arms race. "The arms race is the greatest its been since 1945, and that is why I reject assertions... that Australia is somehow fuelling that arms race. "Conflict is far from inevitable," he said, adding that Australia cannot afford to under-invest in defence. Australia's nuclear-powered submarine fleet will be used for intelligence gathering in peacetime and to strike enemy targets during a war, Conroy said.

Persons: Defence Industry Pat Conroy, Conroy, AUKUS, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: SYDNEY, Defence Industry, National Press Club Locations: Australia, Britain, United States, China, Canberra, Southeast Asia, Philippines, South, Darwin

☆ Every country needs an Inflation Reduction Act
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMELBOURNE, Nov 23 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Lawmakers in South Korea blasted the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act as a betrayal. Yet concerns about market distortion from the policy intended to stimulate investment in the energy transition and signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022 are easing. The Biden administration’s willingness to negotiate on its package of $370 billion of tax breaks and other measures has helped. Reuters GraphicsTrouble is, governments also need to show that they will be fiscally responsible stewards of the energy transition in the short term – especially with inflation still a threat and budgets under pressure. In a speech on Nov. 2 about enabling Australia’s energy transition, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said that “incentives like the type we’ve seen in the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States can be part of an answer but they’re not the whole answer”.

Persons: David Brockwell, David Gray, Australia’s Fortescue, FMG.AX, Joe Biden, Biden, –, Goldman Sachs reckons, ’, Uncle Sam, Fumio, Jim Chalmers, they’re, Chalmers, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: REUTERS, Rights MELBOURNE, Reuters, Australia, Washington, European, of America, Labor Energy Partnership, U.S, Canberra, Climate Energy Finance, Climate Capital Forum, Deloitte, National Australia Bank, quicken, Thomson Locations: Lake George, Canberra, South Korea, United States, Seoul, European Union, U.S, Japan, Washington, EU, Australia

☆ Taiwan says Australian warship sailed through Taiwan Strait
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TAIPEI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said on Friday that an Australian warship had sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the sensitive and narrow waterway that separates the democratically governed island from China. The ship, which it did not name, entered the strait on Thursday and sailed in a southerly direction, the ministry added. Last week, Canberra complained of an incident involving a Chinese warship and an Australian navy vessel in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in which an Australian military diver was injured. The U.S. Navy sends ships through the strait around once a month in what it calls "routine" transits. Taiwan has over the past four years complained of repeated Chinese military activity around the island, especially in the strait.

Persons: Ben Blanchard, Kirsty Needham, Diane Craft, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S . Navy, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Australian, Taiwan Strait, China, Australia, Canberra, Taiwan, Sydney

☆ Cricket World Cup 2023: Polluted air the common opponent
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Air quality during 2023 Cricket World Cup matchesChart categorises the 2023 cricket World Cup matches held in 10 Indian cities by the air quality observed during the matches they hosted. Twenty matches were held in ‘unhealthy’ air quality, 11 in air that was ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 12 in ‘moderate’ air quality and only two in ‘good’ air quality. Average 24-hour PM 2.5 levels on all cricket World Cup match days between 1983 and 2019Chart shows average PM 2.5 concentration on match days at places that hosted a cricket World Cup match between 1983 and 2019. Of all the regions that have ever hosted a cricket World Cup match, the Indian subcontinent has seen the most polluted air. Map shows average annual PM 2.5 levels in 2019 across the world and locations that have ever hosted a cricket World Cup match.

Persons: Delhi’s Arun, Arun Jaitley, ITO, Chandika Hathurusinghe, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Suranga Lakmal, Mohammad Shami vomited Organizations: Sri Lankan, teams, Arun, ITO, Labs Inc, . Environmental Protection Agency, Delhi, United States Environment Protection Agency, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, World Health Organization, Indian, Matches, Daily, International Cricket Council, Endurance Locations: New Delhi, Delhi, Lahore, Pakistan, Australia, Netherlands, India, ITO, Sri Lanka, England, Indian, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Sri Lankan, U.S, Canberra, United States, China, Bangladesh

☆ Safety of Defence Personnel 'Utmost Priority', Australia Says After China Warship Incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The safety and wellbeing of Australian defence personnel is Canberra's "utmost priority" and Australia expects all countries to operate militaries in a safe and professional manner, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Tuesday. Wong's comments came a week after an incident involving a Chinese warship and an Australian navy vessel in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in which an Australian military diver was injured. HMAS Toowoomba - a long-range frigate - was conducting a diving operation on Nov. 14 to clear fishing nets from its propellers when the Chinese warship acted in a dangerous manner, Australia has said. India's relations with China have deteriorated since a 2020 border clash between their militaries in which 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed. Australia, she added, "will cooperate where we can, we will disagree where we must, and we will engage in our national interest".

Persons: Penny Wong, Wong's, Anthony Albanese's, Wong, Subrahmanyam, Richard Marles, YP Rajesh, Krishn Kaushik, Sharon Singleton Organizations: PLA Navy, Liberation Army Navy, PLA, Defence, Indian, YP Locations: DELHI, Australian, Japan's, New Delhi, Toowoomba, Australia, Beijing, Canberra, Ningbo, China, India

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The eruption of Papua New Guinea’s tallest volcano subsided Tuesday, but thick ash still billowed into the sky and coated roofs and palm trees nearby. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Darwin, Australia, reported volcanic smoke rising as high as 15,000 meters (50,000 feet) on Monday. The nearest large town is Bialla, which is established among palm oil plantations on Ulawun’s slopes 47 kilometers (29 miles) to the southwest, the division said. Hargy Oil Palm Ltd., a company based in Bialla, did not immediately respond to an email request for comment. The division said heavy coatings of black ash were causing leaves to droop in palm oil plantations near the volcano and were accumulating on roofs.

Persons: Ulawun, Mount Ulawun Organizations: Pacific, Guinea’s Geohazards Management, Ash Advisory, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Ltd, World Bank, Papua New, ” Locations: CANBERRA, Australia, Papua, New Britain, Darwin, Papua New Guinea, Mount, Port Moresby, Honiara, Solomon, Bialla, Japan, ” Papua New Guinea

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

☆ Australia plans to boost AUKUS tech-sharing, restrict 'foreign' access
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The law is meant to replicate U.S. export controls to defence technology, seen as a key step to beginning the AUKUS plan to build a new class of nuclear-powered submarine in Australia and Britain. The proposed law creates three criminal offences, further restricts sharing of defence technology to foreign persons inside and outside Australia, while allowing licence-free sharing among the AUKUS partners. "This is pivotal legislation which is critical for establishing a seamless industrial base with our AUKUS partners," Defence Minister Richard Marles said in a statement on Tuesday. Australia needs to reform its defence industry to remove "burdensome red tape" with Britain and the U.S., he added. Australia's science academy said on Tuesday it was concerned at the impact on scientific collaboration with other nations, including China.

Persons: Richard Marles, Leon Neal, Chennupati Jagadish, Jagadish, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: UK Artificial Intelligence, Rights, U.S . State Department of, U.S . Congress, Australian Academy of Science, Thomson Locations: Bletchley, Britain, United States, Australia, Virginia, U.S, China, Canberra

Hadri and Umar on Thursday began their defence after being accused of murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Sirul was arrested on an Interpol notice and has been held in an Australian immigration detention centre since January 2015, after fleeing Malaysia shortly before the verdict was handed down. His release comes just days after a landmark ruling by Australia's High Court that outlawed indefinite immigration detention, leading to the release of dozens of asylum seekers. Malaysia's top police official Razarudin Husain confirmed news of Sirul's release from Australian detention and said police would discuss with the Attorney-General and the courts the possibility of seeking extradition. Sirul was serving as a member of Najib’s personal security detail at the time of the murder.

Persons: Azilah Hadri, Sirul Azhar Umar, Hadri, Umar, Bazuki Muhammad, Najib Razak, Sirul, Razarudin Husain, Sirul’s, Najib, Praveen Menon, Rozanna, Lincoln Organizations: Thursday, Mongolian, REUTERS, Rights, Australia's, Attorney, Thomson Locations: Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur, KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysian, Australia, Malaysia, Canberra, Malaysia’s, Sydney

☆ Australia Plans to Boost AUKUS Tech-Sharing, Restrict 'Foreign' Access
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Persons: Kirsty Needham SYDNEY, Richard Marles, Chennupati Jagadish, Jagadish, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: U.S . State Department of, U.S . Congress, Australian Academy of Science Locations: United States, Australia, Britain, Virginia, U.S, China, Canberra

☆ Australia signs security, migration pact with Pacific's Tuvalu
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A man riding a motorbike is seen reflected in a puddle of water in Funafuti, Tuvalu, August 13, 2019. Under the treaty announced by Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Tuvalu counterpart Kausea Natano, Australia will also vet Tuvalu's security arrangements with other nations. An Australian government official said this requirement covered any defence, police, port, telecommunications, energy or cyber security arrangements by Tuvalu. Although Australia has defence agreements with other Pacific Islands nations, in a region where China recently struck a security pact with Solomon Islands and is seeking to expand its policing ties and infrastructure projects, the Tuvalu treaty goes much further in positioning Australia as its primary security partner. Australia sees deeper economic and social integration with the Pacific Islands as a way to ensure the security of the region, a government official said.

Persons: Mick Tsikasvia, Anthony Albanese, Kausea Natano, Albanese, Natano, " Albanese, Kirsty Needham, Alasdair Pal, Lewis Jackson, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing, Lincoln, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Australia's, Tuvalu, Pacific, Tuvalu Falepili, Australia, Canberra, Thomson Locations: Funafuti, Tuvalu, Australia, Taiwan, Beijing, Cook, China, Solomon Islands, Hawaii, Washington, Sydney

☆ Australia records driest October since 2002 due to El Nino
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

In its regular drought report, the Bureau of Meteorology said last month was Australia's driest October since 2002, with rainfall 65% below the 1961–1990 average. It said every part of Australia except the state of Victoria had below-average rainfall and Western Australia state -- by far the biggest grain-exporting region -- saw its driest October on record. After three years of plentiful rain, the El Nino weather phenomenon has brought hot and dry weather to Australia, with September the driest since records began in 1900. "Areas of (rainfall) deficiency have generally expanded and become more severe in south-west Western Australia, south-eastern Queensland, and parts of the Top End in the Northern Territory and far north Queensland. Its long range forecast predicts below-median rainfall through to at least January in northern, western and southern Australia.

Persons: Jill Gralow, Peter Hobson, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Meteorology, El, Thomson Locations: Moree, Australia, El Nino, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, Tasmania

Asia's imports of seaborne thermal coal climbed to 75.77 million metric tons in October from 70.29 million in September, according to data compiled by commodity analysts Kpler. The October volume was also above the 69.63 million metric tons imported in the same month last year. While physical demand for seaborne thermal coal is solid in Asia, the same can't be said for prices. China mainly buys thermal coal from the two biggest exporters, Indonesia and Australia. Overall, the combination of weaker Chinese domestic prices and waning European demand may prove sufficient to keep pressure on seaborne thermal coal prices in Asia, even if volumes remain solid.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Rights, Argus, Newcastle, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Owen, Ravensworth, Australia, Rights LAUNCESTON, Asia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Beijing, Canberra, Europe, Ukraine, Turkey, South Africa, U.S

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