Coalition reunion looms as Liberals back policy demands
An in-principle agreement to four key policies has paved the way for an estranged coalition to come back together after their political marriage split. The Liberal party room met virtually…
Two seats still undecided three weeks after election
The final make-up of Australia’s next federal parliament will soon be known, as counting nears its conclusion in two tight election races. Independent candidate Nicolette Boele is ahead of Liberal…
New Zealand takes scalpel to foreign aid budget
New Zealand has slashed foreign aid to its lowest level in four years, with specific cuts to climate finance, in a move decried by the international development sector as a…
Nationals leader under fire over messy coalition split
Pressure is mounting on David Littleproud’s leadership of the Nationals as questions mount over the party’s split from the Liberals. A senior Nationals MP has failed to declare his confidence…
Asia shares gain as beaten-down Treasuries find support
Asian shares made some tentative gains on Friday as beaten-down Treasuries found buyers after US President Donald Trump’s tax bill narrowly passed the lower house, although debt worries still lingered.…
Nationals expect demands to be met for reunion
The Liberal Party is expected to accept four policy demands made by the Nationals as a condition for the coalition getting back together. Liberal leader Sussan Ley addressed her party…
US Mint moves forward with plans to kill the penny
The US Mint has made its final order of penny blanks and plans to stop producing the coin when those run out, a Treasury Department official says. An immediate annual…
Rudd talking the AUKUS talk in Washington, but is the US walking?
A new FOI reveals Kevin Rudd has been talking the AUKUS talk, with success. Yet no amount of talk will help the US walk the AUKUS walk. Rex Patrick on…
US govt targets food, chemicals in child health report
A commission led by US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has issued a report that says processed food, chemicals, stress and overprescription of medications and vaccines may be factors…
Parties ponder getting coalition band back together
Liberal MPs have broadly backed reuniting with their Nationals counterparts, but questions remain about policy demands. The former coalition partners are edging closer to a reunion after both parties delayed…