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December 19, 2016

Australia's projected annual deficit worsens by $3.2 billion

Australia's projected budget deficit for the current fiscal year has increased by 4.4 billion Australian dollars ($3.2 billion) to AU$41.5 billion as the economy continues to slow following a China-driven mining boom, the government's latest forecasts showed Monday.

December 19, 2016

Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea

A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves: ___ EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a weekly look at the latest key developments in the South China Sea, home to several territorial conflicts that have raised tensions in the region.

December 17, 2016

Powerful earthquake hits off Papua New Guinea

A very strong earthquake has struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea, and a tsunami threat has been issued to areas near the epicenter.

December 17, 2016

Aboriginal woman's slaying exposes Australia's racial divide

The life was long drained from Lynette Daley by the time the cops rolled up to the lonely beach where her naked body lay.

December 16, 2016

Australian police: Suspected drug smuggling ship intercepted

A commercial ship police say that was used in a suspected drug smuggling operation was intercepted off Australia and its crew are expected to be taken into custody, officials said Friday.

December 15, 2016

Amber Heard set to return to Australia to star in Aquaman

U.S. actress Amber Heard appears set to return to Australia's Gold Coast to star in the movie "Aquaman" a year after she was convicted in the same tourist town of smuggling her pet Yorkshire terriers Pistol and Boo into the country.

December 15, 2016

Japanese leader accuses Australian church of discrimination

A Japanese-Australian community leader says he has filed a racial discrimination complaint against a Sydney church that he alleges has intimidated Japanese nationals by erecting a memorial to women forced to work as sex slaves by Japan's World War II army.

December 14, 2016

Australian company to give up Thai gold mines, move to Chile

An Australian mining company says it will shut down its gold mines in Thailand, lay off more than 1,000 workers and move to Chile unless it gets an "ironclad guarantee" from the government that it will be allowed to operate without interruptions.

December 14, 2016

'Democracy sausage' snags Australia's official word of 2016

A humble barbequed sausage on a slice of bread sold at polling booths around Australia was picked Wednesday as the country's official word of the year — "democracy sausage." Despite being two words, democracy sausage qualified as the Australian National Dictionary Center's word for 2016 because it was essentially a compound word, the center's director Amanda Laugesen said.

December 14, 2016

Sydney swelters through hottest December night in 148 years

Sydney residents sweltered through the city's second hottest night on record and its hottest December night in 148 years, with many cooling off at beaches long after dark.