Australia: News
Can India's new tobacco tax fuel cigarette smuggling?
Experts have warned that a recent tax hike and new excise duty structure on tobacco could lead to an increase in cigarette smuggling and major revenue losses for the Indian government.
France to follow Australia with social media ban for under-15s
France is set to follow in Australia's footsteps by banning social media platforms for children from the beginning of the 2026 academic year.
Xi vows to reunify China-Taiwan in New Year's Eve speech
Chinese President Xi Jinping has reiterated his commitment to reunifying China and Taiwan in his annual New Year's Eve address.
Chinese ships withdraw after drills; Taiwan still on high alert
Taiwan is still on high alert on Wednesday after China conducted large-scale military drills around the island.
New Zealand welcomes 2026 with fireworks
Auckland, New Zealand, has become the first major city to welcome 2026 with a spectacular fireworks display. The show was held at Sky Tower, the country's tallest structure.
Australia flags fake Indian rabies doses; Indian maker rejects alarm
Australia has issued a health advisory over the Abhayrab rabies vaccine, warning that counterfeit doses are circulating in India.
Australia won't impose tariffs on Indian exports from next year
The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) came into force in December 2022. Under this deal, Australia has agreed to eliminate tariffs on all Indian exports starting January 1, 2026.
'India-New Zealand FTA was entirely women-led team': Piyush Goyal
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has hailed the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a "historic and landmark" deal.
Australian PM announces review of intelligence and law enforcement
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ordered a review of Australia's federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
AAP MLA Pathanmajra declared proclaimed offender in rape case
A local court in Patiala has declared Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra a proclaimed offender in a rape case.
ISIS calls Bondi Beach shooting 'source of pride'
The Islamic State has praised the recent mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach, calling it a "source of pride" in its latest al Naba newsletter.
Bondi terror attack: 24-year-old shooter charged with 59 offenses
Naveed Akram (24), the Bondi attacker who survived a shootout with police has been charged with 59 offenses after waking from his coma on Tuesday.
Bondi shooter from Hyderabad; family cut ties over Christian wife
The family of Sajid Akram, one of the gunmen behind the Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney, Australia, had immigrated from India in 1998 while his son was born in Australia, ThePrint reported.
After Bondi shooting, alerts to tighten Jew-frequented places in India
Indian authorities have issued two intelligence alerts in the last 48 hours to tighten security around places frequented by the Jewish community, News18 reported.
Sydney beach attack: Suspects traveled to Philippines before 'ISIS-inspired' shooting
The alleged gunmen behind the Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney, Australia, last weekend have been identified as father-son duo Sajid and Naveed Akram.
Australian intelligence probed Bondi shooter for IS links in 2019
Australia's intelligence agency had investigated one of the alleged gunmen in the Bondi Beach shooting for possible links to the Islamic State group in 2019, AFP reported.
Bondi Beach attack: Gal Gadot, Oprah Winfrey express grief
International celebrities and public figures have expressed shock and grief over the deadly mass shooting that occurred at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on December 14, 2025.
'People wish for...son like him': Sydney shooter's mother in denial
The mother of the gunmen involved in the Bondi Beach shooting, which left 15 dead, has expressed disbelief over her son's involvement.
Pakistani man, son identified behind deadly shooting at Sydney beach
The two suspected gunmen behind the deadly Hanukkah celebration attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach have been identified as a father-son duo, according to CBS News.
Netanyahu accuses Albanese of fueling antisemitism after Sydney beach shooting
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed Australian PM Anthony Albanese for fueling antisemitism in Australia, Reuters reported, after calling the shooting a "cold-blooded murder."
Sydney mass shooting: How bystander saved lives by tackling gunman
A mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, has left 11 dead and several injured.
US forms coalition to counter China's rare earth dominance
The Donald Trump administration is forming a global alliance to challenge China's dominance in critical minerals and emerging technologies.
Video: Skydiver's parachute gets stuck on plane's tail at 15,000ft
A skydiving accident in Far North Queensland, Australia, went awry when one of the skydiver's parachutes got caught on the plane's tail, leaving him dangling from the Cessna Caravan aircraft at 15,000 feet.
Australia's social media ban for under-16s comes into effect
Australia has become the first country to impose a social media ban on children under 16.
'Rot in hell...': Indian-origin nurse convicted for Australian woman's murder
Rajwinder Singh, an Indian-origin former hospital nurse, has been convicted of murdering Toyah Cordingley, an Australian woman.
OpenAI to build $4.6B data center in Sydney
OpenAI has announced a partnership with Australian data center operator, NextDC Ltd., to build a massive A$7 billion ($4.6 billion) computing cluster in Sydney.
Meta removes under-16 users ahead of Australia's social media ban
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has started removing Australian children under the age of 16 from its platforms.
Why YouTube is opposing Australia's social media ban for teens
YouTube has warned that Australia's new laws to block teens from its platform could make children less safe.
'Operation Sagar Bandhu' rescues hundreds, sends relief to Sri Lanka
Cyclone 'Ditwah' has wreaked havoc in Sri Lanka, killing 334 and displacing thousands. The cyclone has also left nearly 400 people missing as rescue operations continue for the fifth day.
Ozempic, Wegovy linked to suicidal thoughts: Australia's drug regulator
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a warning over the risk of suicidal behavior and ideation with popular diabetes and weight loss drugs.
After Australia, these countries might ban social media for teens
Australia is all set to become the first democratic nation to ban under-16s from using popular social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Australia spent $62M on weather website redesign. It backfired spectacularly
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), a government agency known for its weather forecasting services, has been hit by a wave of criticism after launching a major redesign of its website.
How will Canada's overhaul of citizenship rules benefit Indians?
Canada is set to overhaul its citizenship laws, making them more inclusive. The changes are expected to benefit thousands of Indian-origin families.
Malaysia to ban social media for under-16s from 2026
Malaysia is planning to impose a ban on social media for users below the age of 16, starting next year.
Australian teens below 16 can't use Twitch anymore
Australia's eSafety watchdog has added Amazon-owned live streaming service Twitch to its upcoming ban on social media platforms for users under the age of 16.
Why Meta is deactivating Instagram, Facebook accounts of Australian teens
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has announced plans to comply with Australia's new social media ban by deactivating accounts of users aged between 13 and 15.
Australia accuses China of hacking telecoms, stealing data worth $8B
Australia has accused China of hacking into its telecommunications networks and other critical infrastructure to steal sensitive information.
World leaders express solidarity with India after Red Fort blast
A car explosion near the historic Red Fort in New Delhi on Monday killed around 13 people and injured at least 20 others.
Rich nations losing zeal to tackle climate crisis: COP30 chief
The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has started in Belem, Brazil.
Great Barrier Reef recoverable if global warming stays below 2°C
Australia's Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems, is facing a "grim future" with a "rapid coral decline" by 2050, according to a new study.