POLITICS & POLICY

Australia Viewed as 'Anti-Climate', Tony Abbott Refuses to Join Green Climate Fund

Australia's reputation as a valuable force in developing an international climate policy has been trashed largely due to its poor ranking in the recent climate change performance index and its inability to send a representative for the United Nations' climate change talks in Warsaw, Poland. Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott has refused to support the green climate fund supported by the United Nations.
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Adelaide Taxi Drivers Afraid Of Recurring Night Beatings

Taxis play a major part in the urban landscape and nearly impossible to picture a city without them. Cabbies of Adelaide have something to be fearful about. There has been an increase in nighttime beatings that have taken place in recent months. Many drivers have avoided driving at night to escape the wave of violent assaults.

Following Spying Allegations, Indonesian President Hits Out at Tony Abbott on Twitter

Indonesia on Tuesday stepped up diplomatic pressure on Australia after allegations surfaced that Australian spies had tapped the phone calls of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. First Lady Kristiani Herawati and another eight government ministers and officials. Mr Yudhoyono said the action was deplorable and will lead to a review of all bilateral cooperation agreements.

Australian Taking Indonesian Spy Concerns ‘Exceedingly Seriously,’ Says Juile Bishop

Attempting to douse Indonesia’s anger at the phone tapping scandal that threatens to mar relations between the two countries, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Tuesday said her government took "exceedingly seriously" Indonesia’s concerns about allegations that Australia tapped the phone of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and other senior figures in the country.

Iran Unveils ‘Biggest’ Missile-Equipped Drone ‘Fotros’

Iran on Monday unveiled a new aircraft which it claimed is the biggest drone capable of staying afloat for up to 30 hours. Iran’s Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan said the reconnaissance and combat drone named Fotros has a range of 1,250 miles (2,000km) and could cover much of the Middle East including Israel. Iran said the Fotros is the biggest missile-equipped drone to be developed in the Islamic republic.

Julie Bishop and David Johnston Head to U.S. for AUSMIN Meet

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop and the country’s Defence Minister Senator David Johnston will be travelling to the United States to attend the 2013 Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) to be held in Washington on Nov 20. The ministerial consultation will be hosted by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel. Through the discussions, both sides are seeking to bring about renewed focus on their shared strategic concerns in the...

Snowden Claims Australia Spied on Indonesian President

National Security Administration whistle blower Edward Snowden claimed that Australia's intelligence agency had tried to spy for 15 days in August 2009 on the personal phone calls of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Australia, Sri Lanka Agree to Jointly Tackle People Smuggling; Greens Oppose, Labor Supports

Australia and Sri Lanka agreed to expand cooperation between their naval forces in an effort to crack down on the people smuggling trade. A deal to this effect was reached after talks between Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse when they met on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo.

65 Australians Arrested Following Worldwide Child Exploitation Investigation

In one of the largest global investigation of its kind, 65 Australian nationals among 339 other suspects have been arrested worldwide by law enforcement agencies as they cracked down on an international child exploitation Web site operating from Canada. The three-year long investigation saved 6 Australian children among 386 others worldwide from exploitation.

Australia Backs Sri Lanka’s Record at Commonwealth Meet

Australia appeared sympathetic towards Sri Lanka, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott praising the Sri Lankan government’s effort to bring about reconciliation after the country’s three decade-long civil war against separatist Tamils. The Australian prime minister was speaking as he handed over the chairmanship of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to Sri Lanka.

Climate Change Action Day: Australians Protest Coalition's Carbon Tax Repeal (VIDEO)

Despite the rain, tens of thousands of Australians attended climate change rallies across the country to urge Prime Minister Tony Abbott to retain the carbon tax. The Australian Labour Party and Greens politicians, together with environmental groups and volunteer firefighters took turns to criticise the Coalition government at the Climate Action Day, one of the largest rallies in support of climate change action.

Australian Advertising Executive Shot Dead in Nairobi, House Raided

An Australian man was shot dead on Sunday, by suspected robbers, some of them in police uniform, in the upmarket Runda estate of Nairobi, Kenya. The man identified as Patrick John Richer, 39, was the creative director of an international advertising agency and had been working in Africa for about a decade. He along with his Kenyan wife, Lesili Richer had moved into the house only two months back.

Bloomberg Sacrifices Journalist and Kills Stories to Continue Business in China

Global news organisation, Bloomberg, suspended a journalist, Michael Forsthye allegedly for having leaked a controversial investigative story about connections between Chinese billionaires and powerful government officials, after it was known that he leaked the news story to other outlets. Bloomberg editors were attempting to kill the story, written after a year-long investigation following fears that it would put the company's profitable monitor business at risk of being kicked out, by Chine...

Typhoon Haiyan: 4,000 Now Current Death Toll, Banks to Fly in ATMs

The death toll from the Category 5 super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) has breached the 2,500 maximum head count estimated by Philippine President Benigno Aquino. As of 6am local time on Monday, Philippine authorities said the official number of the dead has been counted at 3,976 people.

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