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☆ USS Canberra: US commissions first Navy warship in foreign port
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 22 (Reuters) - The United States commissioned a warship in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday, the first time a U.S. Navy vessel joined active service at a foreign port, as the two close allies step up their military ties in response to China's expanding regional reach. "Australians can be proud that this ship, designed in Western Australia by local industry and named after HMAS Canberra, is being commissioned here for the first time in the history of the United States Navy," Australian Defence Minister Marles said in a statement. The commissioning of the U.S. ship in Australian waters reflected "our shared commitment to upholding the rules-based order", he added. Under the AUKUS project announced in March, the United States and Britain have agreed to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. Before that, in the early 2030s, the United States is supposed to sell Australia three U.S. Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines, with an option for Australia to buy two more.

Persons: Marles, Sam McKeith, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, United, U.S . Navy, Royal Australian Navy, U.S, Marine, Sydney Harbour, United States Navy, Australian Defence, Talisman Sabre, Australia, ., Thomson Locations: United States, Sydney, Australia, U.S, Western Australia, China, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Tonga, Britain, . Virginia

Added to valuations from December, major REITs, which build, own and operate property assets, have marked down office portfolios by roughly a tenth or less over the past year. Dexus shares have fallen 28% since 2022, while Charter Hall has nearly halved. "Buyers aren't willing to pay the price from the last valuations," said Winston Sammut, an investment manager at Sequoia Financial Group and a former executive at Charter Hall. Dexus and Charter Hall did not respond to requests for comment. "We're looking to see whether the fund managers, the Charter Halls, the Centurias, the Dexus are also getting large redemptions."

Persons: Tom Westbrook, Buyers, Winston Sammut, it's, REITs, Centuria, Grant Berry, Dexus, Ping, Blackstone, Amy Pham, Sammut, Australia's, Hostplus, that's, Pham, Lewis Jackson, Scott Murdoch, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Charter Hall, Sequoia Financial Group, Charter, Reuters, SG Hiscock, Company, Blackstone, Sydney, Pengana Capital, Thomson Locations: Epping, Sydney, Australia, SYDNEY, Canberra, United States

☆ France to fete India's Modi at Bastille Day celebration
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Michel Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, France, July 13, 2023. Modi began a two-day visit to Paris on Thursday. Much before buying Dassault Aviation's Rafale, India bought Mirage jets in 1980s and those still comprise two squadrons of the air force. Later on Friday, Macron will host Modi at the Elysee Palace for talks before a state banquet at the Louvre Museum. Macron has treated only a few global leaders to the Bastille Day military parade.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Brigitte Macron, Narendra Modi, Pascal Rossignol PARIS, Modi, Triomphe, Macron, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Michel Rose, Frances Kerry Organizations: Indian, REUTERS, Bastille Day, India, Paris, Dassault Aviation's Rafale, Mirage, Louvre Museum, Canberra, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Delhi, India's, Europe, New Delhi, India, Australia, Britain, United States

☆ 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

☆ Nearly 40% of US attack submarines in or awaiting repair as shipyards face worker shortages, supply chain issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Nearly 40% of US fast attack submarines are in repair or awaiting maintenance as shipyards face a shortage of workers and and supply chain issues, according to a new report from the Congressional Research Service. Of the 49 fast attack submarines in the Navy, a total of 18 are either in depot maintenance or awaiting maintenance, known as idle. “As planned, about one third of our fast attack submarines are currently in maintenance receiving critical repairs to sustain a mission ready force. The strain on the submarine fleet will be exacerbated by the agreement between the US, UK and Australia to provide Canberra with three to five fast attack submarines in the early 2030s. The Navy has three classes of fast attack submarines in service: older Los Angeles-class attack subs, Seawolf-class subs, and the newer Virginia-class subs.

Persons: ”, Jackie Pau Organizations: CNN, Congressional Research Service, Navy, Bloomberg, “, United Locations: United States, Australia, Canberra, China, Los Angeles, Virginia

☆ Potential Taiwan conflict will hit these 3 countries the hardest, EIU report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

EIU defines a conflict as a "full-conflict scenario, involving direct military participation by China, Taiwan and the U.S." and based on the presumption of an escalation by China. To be clear, the EIU assesses the risk of a direct Chinese military assault on Taiwan as "very unlikely." The EIU also named a few "severely exposed markets": Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as Hong Kong. In addition, both Malaysia and Vietnam would be exposed to a potential conflict with China if cross-strait hostilities spilled over and ignited a conflict in the South China Sea. The EIU said a conflict will cut off Taiwan's foundries, and at best, air and maritime links will be disrupted.

Persons: Ceng Shou Yi, Xi Jinping Organizations: Getty, Nurphoto, Economist Intelligence Unit, Nationalist, Taipei Representative, CNBC, Producers Locations: China, Taipei, Japan, Canada, India, Beijing, Taiwan, South Korea, Philippines, Taiwan Strait, U.S, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China . Hong Kong, British, South China, South, United Kingdom, United States, Canberra, Asia

☆ Australian defence minister in Solomon Islands for security talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Richard Marles, on his first visit to the Solomon Islands as defence minister, was also expected to meet members of the Solomon Islands International Assistance Force, which includes Australian police deployed in 2021 at Sogavare's request to quell anti-government riots. Marles, in comments before he arrived in the capital, Honiara, said Australia's partnership with Solomon Islands was "more important than ever". Australia is a major aid donor and has a decades-long security relationship with the Solomon Islands. Chinese police have taken an increasing role in training and equipping the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in recent months, the force has indicated in statements. Solomon officials said Marles would meet Sogavare after a meeting with Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele.

Persons: Manasseh Sogavare, Richard Marles, Sogavare, Xu Qu, Solomon, Marles, Jeremiah Manele, Kirsty Needham, Robert Birsel Organizations: SYDNEY, Pacific, Solomon, International Assistance Force, Australian, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Pacific Games, China Police, Thomson Locations: Solomon, China, Solomon Islands, Honiara, Australia, Canberra, Washington

SYDNEY, June 26 (Reuters) - The Australian government will provide a new A$110 million ($73.5 million) package to Ukraine including 70 military vehicles to defend against Russia's invasion, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday. The fresh commitments take Australia's total contribution for Ukraine to A$790 million, including A$610 million in military support, since the conflict began in February 2022. Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the West's support for Ukraine and has been supplying aid, ammunition and defence equipment including scores of Bushmaster armoured vehicles. To prop up Ukraine's economy and trade, Albanese said Australia will also extend duty-free access for goods imported from Ukraine for another 12 months. The latest military assistance package will include 28 M113 armoured vehicles, 14 special operations vehicles, 28 medium trucks and 14 trailers.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, Vladimir Putin's, Albanese, Renju Jose, Alasdair Pal, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, Australian, Ukraine, Bushmaster, Russian Federation, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Canberra, Russia, Russian, Rostov, Australia, Kremlin, Sydney

☆ Squatting Russian diplomat leaves contested site after Australian court ruling
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, June 26 (Reuters) - A Russian diplomat squatting on land set aside for a future Russian embassy in Australia has left after a court ruled that Moscow had no claim to the site near the national parliament in Canberra. A Russian diplomat subsequently moved into a temporary building on the site and police were unable to arrest him because he had diplomatic immunity, local media reported. [1/2]A demountable shack is seen on the site of the former Russian embassy site in Canberra, Australia June 26, 2023. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas via REUTERSThe High Court on Monday rejected Moscow's appeal to hold onto the site and shortly afterwards the squatter left the site, SBS News reported. Relations between Moscow and Canberra have deteriorated sharply since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Persons: Mick Tsikas, Anthony Albanese, Lewis Jackson, Gareth Jones Organizations: SYDNEY, SBS News, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Russian, Australia, Moscow, Canberra, Ukraine, Russia

☆ 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

SYDNEY, June 23 (Reuters) - Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday the contested site of a proposed Russian embassy was secure, after it emerged a Russian diplomat was squatting on the land following an Australian decision to cancel the lease. This month, Australia passed a law to prevent Russia from moving its embassy from a Canberra suburb to a prime site close to parliament and the Chinese embassy, citing national security concerns. The Australian newspaper reported on Thursday a Russian diplomat was squatting on the land under the watch of police, who were unable to arrest him as he has diplomatic immunity. "Australia will stand up for our values and we will stand up for our national security, and a bloke standing in the cold on a bit of grass in Canberra is not a threat to our national security," Albanese told a press conference on Friday. A view of an entrance to the site of the blocked new Russian embassy in Canberra, Australia, June 16, 2023.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Tracey Nearmy, Alasdair Pal, Stephen Coates, Robert Birsel Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia, Australian, REUTERS, Russia, Thomson Locations: Russian, Australia, Russia, Canberra, Sydney, Moscow

☆ Australia PM says no threat from Russian diplomat squatting on site of proposed embassy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, June 23 (Reuters) - Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday the contested site of a proposed Russian embassy was secure, after it emerged a Russian diplomat was squatting on the land following the government's decision to cancel the lease. Earlier this month Australia passed a law to prevent Russia from moving its embassy from a Canberra suburb to a prime site close to parliament and the Chinese embassy, citing national security concerns. The Australian newspaper reported on Thursday a Russian diplomat was squatting on the land under the watch of police, who are unable to arrest him as he has diplomatic immunity. "The site is secure and we are comfortable with our position." The Russian embassy in Canberra did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Alasdair Pal, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, Australia, Australian, Thomson Locations: Russian, Australia, Russia, Canberra, Moscow, Sydney

☆ Australians say they would support Taiwan if China attacked, with limits, poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A Taiwan flag can be seen at Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File PhotoSYDNEY, June 20 (Reuters) - Australians would support responding to a Chinese attack on Taiwan with economic sanctions, arms supplies or using the navy to prevent a blockade, but don't support sending troops, an opinion poll to be released Wednesday finds. Ryan Neelam, director of public opinion at the foreign policy think tank, said the poll showed Australians are "cautious about conflict", but willing to support Taiwan without becoming a ground combatant. Eighty percent support accepting Taiwanese refugees, 76% support "imposing economic and diplomatic sanctions on China", 64% support "Australia sending arms and military supplies to the Taiwanese government", and 61% support "using the Australian Navy to help prevent China from imposing a blockade around Taiwan". Only 42% supported sending "Australian military personnel to Taiwan to help defend it from China".

Persons: Ann Wang, Anthony Albanese, Asia's, Ryan Neelam, Michael Fullilove, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Liberty, REUTERS, Lowy Institute, U.S, Australian Navy, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Canberra, United States, Beijing, Australia, China, Asia, U.S, Sydney

☆ 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

☆ Australia seeks to terminate lease of new Russian embassy near Parliament House
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Alex Stambaugh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Australian government is introducing legislation to terminate a lease of a new Russian embassy near Parliament House in the capital Canberra, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday. “The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House,” Albanese told reporters in a televised press conference. The land proposed for the second Russian embassy lies directly adjacent to Parliament House, Australian Home Minister Clare O’Neil said alongside Albanese. “We’re acting quickly to ensure the leased site does not become a formal diplomatic presence,” the prime minister said. The prime minister said that coalition leadership had been briefed and would be supporting the legislation.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, “, ” Albanese, Australian Home Minister Clare O’Neil, Albanese, “ We’re, ”, Andrew Barr Organizations: CNN, Australian, House, Australian Home Minister, ”, Senate, Australian Capital Territory Locations: Russian, Canberra, Australia, Ukraine

☆ Australia security pact 'stigma' must be removed -Vanuatu PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 7 (Reuters) - Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau said his government "must remove the stigma" from a security agreement with Australia and work toward having it ratified by parliament, local media reported on Wednesday. The Pacific Islands nation signed a security treaty covering disaster relief, defence, policing and cyber security with Australia in December, but during a visit by Australia Defence Minister Richard Marles on Tuesday, Vanuatu officials said the document was still being examined. Some Vanuatu politicians who favour ties with China, a major infrastructure lender, have expressed concern over the deal. "We must remove the stigma that the agreement is one-sided and does not reflect Vanuatu’s sovereignty," Kalsakau said in a speech, the Vanuatu Daily Post reported on Wednesday. China's navy sent a ship with humanitarian supplies to Vanuatu in April after two cyclones hit in March.

Persons: Ishmael Kalsakau, Richard Marles, Kalsakau, Kirsty Needham, Editng, Gerry Doyle Organizations: SYDNEY, Vanuatu, Australia, Australia Defence, Vanuatu Daily Post, Australian Defence Force, HMAS Canberra, Thomson Locations: Australia, China, Vanuatu, Washington, United States, Papua New Guinea

☆ Molecular fossils open window on 'lost world' of primordial life
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The researchers discovered that the molecular fossils indicating the presence of these primitive eukaryotes were commonplace in rocks spanning from about 1.6 billion years ago to 800 million years ago. "It is a lost world in the sense that we had not been able to see or detect them - although there was an entire world of them. It is a lost world also because these forms are now entirely extinct, Brocks added. The oldest of the rocks bearing these fossils were unearthed in the remote Outback of northern Australia, near Darwin. Scientists long were puzzled about the seeming absence of molecular fossils from this time span indicative of primitive eukaryotes.

Persons: Jochen Brocks, geobiologist Jochen Brocks, Benjamin Nettersheim, Brocks, sapiens, Konrad Block, Will Dunham, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Australian National University, Handout, REUTERS, University of Bremen, Thomson Locations: Creek, Northern Australia, REUTERS WASHINGTON, Canberra, Germany, Australia, Darwin

☆ China is a threat but talks must continue: Germany, Canada, Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was part of the the Shangri-la Dialogue, Asia's largest security forum, over the weekend. Decoupling from China is not an option, but finding a path to de-risk and reduce dependencies is important, Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told CNBC's Sri Jegarajah at the event. Australia's Trade Minister Don Farrell told CNBC in April that he's hopeful other tariffs put in place could be removed as well. China seen as a 'disruptive power'China is an "increasingly disruptive power" to peace in the region, Anita Anand, Canada's defense minister said, told CNBC. Speaking at the event Sunday, China's defense minister addressed the issue.

Persons: Boris Pistorius, CNBC's, Pistorius, That's, Richard Marles, Marles, Don Farrell, Anita Anand, Anand, we'll, Li Organizations: Germany's, Getty, SINGAPORE, CNBC, CNBC's Sri, World Trade Organization, China, Australia's Trade Locations: Australia, Canada, Germany, Singapore, China, CNBC's Sri Jegarajah, Canberra, Beijing, Taiwan

☆ Australia's war memorial mulls changing war hero display after defamation case
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Roberts-Smith, who quit his television excutive job on Friday, has not been charged with any offences. Australian civil courts require a lower threshold to prove accusations than criminal courts do. A four-year investigation known as the Brereton report found in 2020 that Australian special forces had allegedly killed 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan. Kim Beazley, chair of the Australian War Memorial and a former defence minister, said the memorial in the national capital Canberra - where Roberts-Smith's uniform, medals and portrait are displayed - helps Australians to understand the conduct and consequences of war. Greens Senator David Shoebridge had earlier called for Roberts-Smith's uniform and medals to be removed from the memorial.

Persons: Ben Roberts, Smith, Roberts, Anthony Albanese, Brereton, Albanese, Chris Moraitis, Kim Beazley, David Shoebridge, Kirsty Needham, Byron Kaye Organizations: SYDNEY, Victoria Cross, Australian Federal Police, Special Forces, Australian, Canberra, Greens, U.S, Thomson Locations: Afghanistan, Australia, Sydney

☆ Former Australian SAS veteran loses defamation case over reports of Afghan execution
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The ruling marks a win for media outlets seeking greater accountability for Australia's military, typically bound by confidentiality. A 2020 report found credible evidence that members of Australia's Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) killed dozens of unarmed prisoners in the lengthy Afghan war. Roberts-Smith sued the papers for portraying him as someone who "broke the moral and legal rules of military engagement". The papers had reported that Roberts-Smith pressured a lower-ranking Australian soldier to execute an elderly, unarmed Afghan to "blood the rookie", said Judge Besanko, adding they proved that account true. "This case is an important reminder that we need courageous public interest journalism to help us get there."

Persons: Ben Roberts, Smith, Anthony Besanko, Roberts, Judge Besanko, James Chessell, Chessell, Arthur Moses, Besanko, inadvertentely, Fiona Nelson, Byron Kaye, Shri Navaratnam, Michael Perry Organizations: SYDNEY, SAS, Australia's Special Air Service Regiment, China, Victoria Cross, Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra Times, Nine Entertainment Co, Australian Centre for International, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Afghanistan, Afghan, Australian, Australia

☆ Australia's most decorated soldier loses multiple defamation claims against media who alleged war crimes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In some cases, he found the papers established contextual truth, which is also a defense under Australia’s Defamation Act. “Today is a day of some small justice for the Afghan victims of Ben Roberts-Smith,” said McKenzie. Ali Jan was a husband … He was kicked off a cliff by Ben Roberts-Smith, and he was murdered with Ben Roberts-Smith’s participation. Claims of violent acts committed by elite troops were echoed in the Brereton Report, a four-year investigation into the alleged war crimes in Afghanistan released in November 2020. The responsibility for these atrocities does not end with Ben Roberts-Smith,” he said.

Persons: Australia CNN —, solider, –, Anthony Besanko, Besanko, Ben Roberts, Smith, Roberts, ”, James Chessell, newsrooms, ” Chessell, Peter Bartlett, MinterEllison, “, Nick McKenzie, Chris Masters, McKenzie, “ Ali Jan, Ali Jan, …, ” Besanko, Angus Campbell, Campbell “, unreservedly ”, It’s Organizations: Australia CNN, Federal Court, Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra Times, Australia’s, Cross, SAS, Nine, CNN, Australian, Australian Defence Force Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Afghanistan, Bali , Indonesia, Sydney, “

☆ Australian home prices climb for third straight month in May
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Swati Pandey/File PhotoSYDNEY, June 1 (Reuters) - Australian home prices rose for the third consecutive month in May, with the pace of growth accelerating sharply as demand remained strong despite high mortgage rates, and the number of available homes nudged lower. Figures from property consultant CoreLogic released on Thursday showed national home prices surged 1.2% in May after rising in March and April, and finding a floor in February. The report showed the rise in prices was because of persistently low levels of available housing supply running up against rising housing demand. Advertised listings trended lower through May compared with April, with about 1,800 fewer homes listed in the state capital cities. ($1 = 1.4743 Australian dollars)Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Swati Pandey, CoreLogic, Tim Lawless, Sydney, Renju Jose, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Brisbane, Perth, Thomson Locations: SydneyÕs, Chatswood, Australia's, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney

☆ In Australian defamation court, a proxy 'war crimes trial' nears judgement
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The accusations are at the heart of Australia's costliest and second longest-running defamation lawsuit for which a judgement is scheduled on Thursday. Legal experts say that while the civil hearing focused on reputational damage brought by a series of 2018 articles, it effectively played out as the country's first war crimes trial. No soldiers were named in the redacted report but about two dozen current and former Australian soldiers were referred for potential criminal prosecution. Roberts-Smith, one of just 101 soldiers to receive the Victoria Cross, sued the newspapers in 2020, saying they falsely accused him of being complicit in war crimes. He seeks compensatory damages, aggravated damages and damages for future economic loss, although his lawyers did not give a total amount sought.

☆ Stan Grant: ABC Australia apologizes to host as he steps away due to 'sickening' racist attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

He had spoken out Friday in an ABC column, detailing his recent experience of racist attacks and accusing his employer of not offering enough support. I am writing this because I will not have people depict me as a person of hate,” Grant wrote. “No one at the ABC — whose producers invited me onto their coronation coverage as a guest — has uttered one word of public support. As a member of the Australian Aboriginal community, Grant has been vocal about the country’s record on Indigenous rights. Earlier this year, the ABC lodged a complaint with Twitter about the racist comments published about him on its platform.

RAAs create frameworks to facilitate military cooperation, such as making the entry of foreign personnel and equipment easier for the visiting force. France's Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said last monththat Paris was hoping to agree RAAs with Japan, enabling the two sides to strengthen their military operability and exchanges. Japan and France have already held numerous joint military exercises over the past few years bilaterally and also as part of a wider group. After signing defence cooperation deals with Canberra and London, Japan could next sign one with the Philippines. The agreements are expected to allow for faster deployment of armed forces in joint military exercises and in the event of natural disasters.

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