Australia - Page 225

December 9, 2015

Australian PM under pressure over refugee 'back-pedal'

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was Wednesday accused by the opposition of "back-pedalling at 100 miles an hour" on his hardline asylum-seeker policies during a sensitive diplomatic visit to Indonesia this week.

December 9, 2015

Assange launches party to contest Australia polls

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange Thursday officially launched his political party to contest Australian elections this year, saying a victory for this candidates would be akin to planting the country's "best investigative journalists" in the Senate.

December 9, 2015

Family feud for grandfather, says Rinehart's son

The son of Australia's richest person Gina Rinehart has pledged he "won't give up" on his battle for control of the family fortune because it honours his grandfather's dying wishes, a report said Saturday.

December 9, 2015

Australia's Abbott proposes buying 'smuggler' boats

The frontrunning candidate in Australia's election, Tony Abbott, would pay Indonesians for unseaworthy boats to stop them from ending up with people-smugglers, as part of a plan unveiled Friday.

December 9, 2015

US commander says China ties 'collegial'

The United States' top naval commander in Asia described military relations with China as "collegial" and rejected Cold War comparisons, urging "methodical and thoughtful" diplomacy in the region.

December 9, 2015

Rudd set for Indonesia talks

Australia's new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd heads to Indonesia this week for his first foreign trip since retaking the leadership, but one in which the thorny domestic issue of asylum-seekers is set to figure prominently.

December 9, 2015

Australia have peaked too early - Lions coach

British and Irish Lions assistant coach Andy Farrell says Australia may have peaked a game early, after the Wallabies narrowly won the second Test to take the three-match series to a dramatic decider.

December 9, 2015

Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan

A decorated Australian Special Forces soldier has been killed by small arms fire in Afghanistan, becoming the nation's 40th casualty in the protracted conflict.

December 9, 2015

Boat with 150 asylum-seekers capsizes off Australia

A boat carrying some 150 asylum-seekers capsized off Christmas Island Tuesday but the Australian navy saved most of them, rescuers said.

December 9, 2015

Horwill excited to play in new McKenzie era

Skipper James Horwill said he was thrilled by what new coach Ewen McKenzie can bring to the Wallabies as they seek to end their run of defeats against the All Blacks.