About: Australia
Austria sells its first ever green bond
Austria became the latest government to enter the green bond market with a €4-billion debt sale on Tuesday (24 May).
Quad leaders vow free and open Indo-Pacific, action on climate
The leaders of the "Quad" group vowed on 24 May to work together for a free and open Indo-Pacific region and to fight climate change, as they met for talks aimed at standing up to an increasingly assertive China.
In Tokyo, Biden endorses Japan’s plan to beef up its defences
US President Joe Biden on Monday (23 May) endorsed Japan's plan to beef up its defence capabilities as he and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida committed to working closely to counter China's growing influence in Asia.
Australia’s new PM Albanese sworn in, ahead of Quad meet
Australia's Labor Party leader, Anthony Albanese, was sworn in as the country's 31st prime minister on Monday (23 May), promising to bring the country together after a fractious election campaign as he vowed to tackle climate change and inequality.
Biden calls India ‘shaky’ in Russia confrontation
US President Joe Biden said Monday (21 March) that India was an exception among Washington's allies with its "shaky" response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russian sanctions over Ukraine grow, Biden to talk to Xi
Japan and Australia on Friday (18 March) imposed new sanctions on Russian entities as punishment for the invasion of Ukraine, which the West says has been stalled by staunch resistance but continues to take a devastating toll on civilians.
Lithuania urges countries to resist Chinese ‘coercion’
China will target more countries with "economic coercion" unless "like-minded" nations push back, Lithuania's foreign minister warned Wednesday during a trip to Canberra to open the country's first embassy in Australia.
Assange gets chance to take extradition case to UK’s top court
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday (24 January) was given the chance to challenge at Britain's highest court a decision allowing him to be extradited to the United States to face 18 criminal charges including breaking a spying law.
UK to warn Russia of Ukraine ‘quagmire’
Russia risks becoming embroiled in a "terrible quagmire" if it invades Ukraine, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will warn Friday (21 January) in a speech in Sydney.
Belgrade to receive Djokovic as a hero after deportation from Australia
Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic flew out of Australia on Sunday (16 January) after a court upheld the government's decision to cancel his visa, capping days of drama over the country's COVID-19 entry rules and his unvaccinated status.
Australia cancels tennis star Djokovic’s visa citing health risk
Australia cancelled Novak Djokovic's visa for a second time on Friday, saying the world tennis number one who has not been vaccinated for COVID-19 may pose a health risk, effectively ending his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title.
World nations try to balance Omicron restrictions while keeping economies open
Global COVID-19 infections hit a record high over the past seven-day period, Reuters data showed on Wednesday (29 December), as the Omicron variant raced out of control and governments tried to contain its spread without paralysing fragile economies.
Western diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics widens
Britain, Canada and Australia on Wednesday (8 December) joined the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics in February, prompted by what the Western allies argue are widespread rights abuses by China.
Australia joins US diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Games
Australia will join the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday (8 December), as other allies weighed similar moves to protest China's human rights record.
Macron says Australia PM lied over submarine deal
French President Emmanuel Macron said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lied to him over the cancellation of a submarine building contract in September, and indicated more efforts were required to rebuild trust between the two allies.
Australia submarines: How the ‘contract of the century’ fell apart
Australia's scrapping of a massive multi-billion-euro contract for the purchase of French submarines has led to a diplomatic crisis between France and its erstwhile allies in Canberra and Washington. Here is a timeline of the spat:
Denmark sides with Biden in submarine row
Denmark, one of Washington's closest allies in Europe, disagrees with French and EU criticism of the United States over a submarine deal with Australia, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Wednesday (22 September).
France builds EU support in sub row, but some warn against US rift
European allies rallied cautiously around France on Tuesday (21 September) after the US and Australian decision to strip Paris of a submarine supply contract, but some warned the dispute should not torpedo trade talks.
EU’s Breton: AUKUS sub snub fuels ‘growing feeling of broken relationship’
As EU diplomats discuss whether to cancel or postpone an upcoming EU-US summit meant to focus on technology and trade over the AUKUS deal, French officials insist this is not about a lost bilateral arms contract, but about a 'broken' relationship between allies.
Factbox: An intensifying arms race in Asia
Analysts warn that Asia may be sliding into an accelerating arms race as countries react to China's military growth. Here is a list of defence systems several Asian countries are looking to acquire.
EU backs France in submarine dispute, asking: Is America back?
European Union foreign ministers expressed support and solidarity with France on Monday (20 September) during a meeting in New York to discuss Australia's scrapping of a $40 billion submarine order with Paris in favor of a US and British deal.
EU chief Michel denounces ‘lack of loyalty’ by US
EU chief Charles Michel on Monday (20 September) accused the United States of a lack of loyalty after Australia canceled a mega-contract with France to buy US nuclear submarines.
Australia defends scrapping of French submarine deal, Macron and Biden to talk
Australia on Sunday (19 September) defended its decision to ditch a multi-billion-dollar order for French submarines and opt instead for an alternative deal with the United States and Britain, saying it had flagged its concerns to Paris months ago.