Australia is set to approve measures giving polluters financial incentives to reduce emissions blamed for climate change, in a move critics described as ineffective.
A volcano erupted today in eastern Papua New Guinea, spewing rocks and ash into the air, forcing the evacuation of local communities and flights to be re-routed.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Thursday Australia’s closer ties with Tokyo would not hurt relations with China after a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Major free-trade and security deals were sealed during the trip, including sharing of defence technology.
Defence department sends 'small detachment' of Australian Defence Force troops to bolster security arrangements at its Baghdad embassy as ISIL militants close in on the Iraqi capital.
Move mirrors action taken earlier by US, which deployed 275 soldiers earlier this month.
Residents of northeastern Australia have reported seeing a flaming object plummeting to Earth, police said on Friday, adding that the incident remains a mystery as no evidence of a crash has been found.