China's anti-Australia rhetoric forces envoy to fly homeAugust 20th, 2009 CANBERRA/BEIJING - China's refusal to back down from its anti-Australia rhetoric, has prompted Australia's ambassador to China to return home for high-level meetings aimed at reviving the ailing relationship. Tensions are still high in so far as Australia-China trade relations are concerned.
Australia signs multibillion-dollar LNG deal with ChinaAugust 18th, 2009 SYDNEY - Australia will supply China with liquefied natural gas (LNG) worth 50 billion Australian dollars (US $41 billion), officials said Tuesday. It's Australia's largest resources deal ever, double the size of the LNG supply deal sealed last week with India.
Plane carrying 13 people vanishes on approach to airport in Papua New GuineaAugust 11th, 2009 Plane carrying 13 missing in Papua New GuineaSYDNEY — A charter plane carrying 13 people to a popular tourist site in Papua New Guinea vanished on approach in bad weather to an airport nestled in rugged terrain on Tuesday. Australia's foreign minister said a "possible crash site" may have been found.
Rio Tinto 'still unaware' of any evidence to justify China's detention of 4 workersAugust 11th, 2009 Rio Tinto 'still unaware' of China case evidenceSYDNEY — Rio Tinto Ltd. said Tuesday it was still unaware of any evidence to justify China's detention of four employees on spying allegations, as the Australian government urged Beijing to speed up the case.
Chinese diplomat says Beijing has 'ample evidence' detained Rio employees stole secretsJuly 22nd, 2009 China says 'ample evidence' against Rio employeesBEIJING — China has told Australia it has "ample evidence" a detained Australian manager for miner Rio Tinto Ltd. and three co-workers stole state secrets, a Chinese diplomat said Wednesday.
Australian foreign minister hopes to talk with Chinese officials about Australian's detentionJuly 21st, 2009 Australian FM hopes to discuss Rio case with ChinaCANBERRA, Australia — Australia's foreign minister said Tuesday he hopes to discuss the detention of an Australian mining executive accused by China of stealing state secrets with his Chinese counterpart this week. Stephen Smith flew to Thailand on Tuesday for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting that China will be participating in.
Australian appeals to China for quick Rio resolution, warns of possible business impactJuly 21st, 2009 Australian asks China for quick Rio resolutionSHANGHAI — A visiting Australian state leader said he appealed to Chinese officials Tuesday to quickly resolve the case of a Rio Tinto Ltd. manager accused of espionage, warning that delays could harm business ties.
Rudd blames Howard agreement for limiting Oz access to Rio Tinto GMJuly 15th, 2009 CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has blamed an agreement reached by former premier John Howard and the Chinese government for limiting his government's access to Rio Tinto's detained GM, Stern Hu. "I note the consular agreement, which we inherited from the previous Australian government, limits the demands we can make on the Chinese authorities for consular access.
Australian diplomats meet executive held in China for spyingJuly 10th, 2009 SYDNEY - Australian diplomats Friday met the Rio Tinto executive held by Chinese authorities since Sunday over spying allegations. Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith would not comment on reports in the Chinese media that Australian citizen Stern Hu stood accused of trying to bribe employees of Chinese steel companies to gather confidential information during iron ore price negotiations.
Oz Minerals shareholders OK plan to sell Australian miner's assets to Chinese suitorJune 11th, 2009 Oz Minerals shareholders OK sale to Chinese buyerSYDNEY — Australian miner Oz Minerals Ltd. said Thursday its shareholders have approved a plan to sell most of its assets to a Chinese buyer days after a Chinese plan to invest in Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto collapsed.
Australian minister resignsJune 4th, 2009 SYDNEY - Australian Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon resigned Thursday following revelations that he arranged meetings with officials for his businessman brother. He is the first minister to exit from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's cabinet since Labor came to office 18 months ago.
India hopes student concerns in Australia will be addressedJune 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Monday said that India was in touch with Australia over protests by Indian students alleging racist attacks and expressed the hope that their problems will get "sorted out".
Oz PM to send 450 troopers to beef up Afghan securityApril 29th, 2009 CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced that his government will send 450 extra troops to beef up security in troubled Afghanistan. However, there will be no combat troops among the latest contingent.
Australians warned there is no free lunchMarch 12th, 2009 SYDNEY - Australians were warned of higher taxes to pay for the cash hand-outs they began receiving Thursday from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's 42-billion-Australian-dollar ($26-billion) stimulus package. 'They've got to understand that the cheques that are going out now are borrowed money,' former treasurer Peter Costello said.
Australia offers help to Pakistan in Lahore attack probeMarch 4th, 2009 CANBERRA - Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith Wednesday said his government had offered police assistance to Pakistan to help with the investigation into the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team that left eight people dead and six players injured. While talking to ABC Radio, Smith said he had spoken to Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi late Tuesday night about the incident, and indicated to Mehmood the Australian Federal Police would be able to assist so far as investigations and forensic matters were concerned.
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