A specially choreographed Welcome to Country will be projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s pylons tonight as the bridge turns into a giant Aboriginal flag.

Australia’s 2016 New Year Fest to celebrate its Aboriginal connection and culture

The connection between Indigenous people and the land will be celebrated as part of this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney. Red fireworks will cascade from the Harbour Bridge pylons while... Read more »

New Year 2016: Your guide to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane celebrations

Australians are preparing to ring in the New Year this evening, with fireworks, family-friendly extravaganza and major celebrations planned for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. While some eager beavers have already set up... Read more »

More than 60 sharks sighted in NSW in last 48 hours

More than 60 sharks have been spotted near popular swimming spots on the New South Wales coast over the past two days. Swimmers were kept out of the water at Jervis Bay... Read more »

Australia and New Zealand dollar forecasts for 2016

Risks include the weather, the global scene, low export prices and deteriorating structural metrics, but there are reasons for cautious optimism too By Precious Silva (IBTimes) Analysts remain mixed on how the... Read more »

Iranian Revolutionary Guards fired rockets near U.S. warships in Gulf

Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched rockets near the U.S. aircraft-carrier Harry S. Truman and other warships as they were entering the Gulf on Saturday, giving only brief notice in a “highly provocative” act,... Read more »

Tens of Thousands Flee over Worst Floods in Paraguay

With further rain looming, more families abandoned their homes in Paraguay, the country hardest hit by the worst flooding in decades in the area bordering Uruguay and Argentina, which has already forced... Read more »
Firefighters at the crash scene on the corner of Barkly and Gordon streets. Photo Source:News Corp Australia

Man dies, woman injured, as Footscray explosion triggers crash with five cars

Police say an oxyacetylene cylinder may have exploded, causing nearby buildings’ windows to blow out and scattering debris in Footscray. One man has died after an explosion in the truck he was... Read more »
Jamie Briggs announces his resignation as a Turnbull Government minister in Adelaide. Source: News Corp Australia

Jamie Briggs, South Australian Liberal resigns as minister over Hong Kong incident

Australian Federal minister steps down suddenly after public servant complained about his behavior, as PM also announces Mal Brough to stand aside “pending the completion of inquiries by the police”. The Turnbull... Read more »

Thai Govt targets Thailand’s Halal business and trade up to ASEAN top five in 2019

Bangkok, Dec 29,2015; Considered, not only Thailand’s, but ASEAN’s largest Halal exposition, ‘Thailand Halal Assembly 2015’ was held with an aim to reflect the idea of ‘Halal Culture & Innovations for Halal Economy... Read more »

Promoting halal industry means promoting Islamic codes of practice

By Syed Atiq ul Hassan: [The text of the speech delivered by Syed Atiq ul Hassan as a Guest Speaker in the Thailand Halal Assembly 2015, was held at the Queen Sirikit... Read more »
A surfer gets into the Christmas spirit at Bondi Beach. AAP: Paul Miller

Australians hit the beach, fire up barbecues to celebrate holiday

As temperatures across the country continue to rise, Australians are heading outside, hitting the beach and firing up the barbecue to celebrate Christmas. While temperatures around the country soar, revellers are not letting... Read more »

Australian PM Turnbull celebrates Christmas with homeless and lonely

Malcolm Turnbull gets festive love and belts out seasonal carols as he celebrates the holiday with the homeless and the lonely Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been welcomed like a rock... Read more »
Saudi civil defence agency workers at the hospital after the fire. Photograph: Reuters

At least 25 dead in fire at Saudi Arabia’s Hospital

At least 25 killed and 100 people injured after blaze breaks out at Jazan hospital in Saudi Arabia JAZAN (Saudi Arabia) – A fire at a hospital in Saudi Arabia has killed at... Read more »

Brazil declares emergency after 2,400 babies born with brain damage

More than 2,400 suspected cases of microcephaly have been reported this year in 20 Brazilian states, compared with 147 cases last year. Doctors are investigating 29 related infant deaths. Microcephaly results in... Read more »

Thailand Halal Assembly 2015 opens with great interest of participants

Bangkok, Thailand: Thousands of people are expected to attend the 2nd Thailand Halal Assembly 2015 being held during 25 – 27 December at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. This will be... Read more »

Hassan Asif’s case proves that the Australian Immigration Visa System has its flaws

Hassan Asif’s family visit visa application approved but raises question marks at the way visit visa applications are being assessed from Pakistan Melbourne (By: Sarwat Hassan) – ‘We want to keep our... Read more »

‘What is worse than not granting visa to family at last stage of Hassan Asif’s life’: Pakistani Australian Federation

Melbourne (Report by Sarwat Hassan, 23 Dec 2015): Thousands of people are struggling to understand why the Australian Immigration has denied the visa for a family of a Pakistani student suffering from... Read more »
Tumbalong Park reopens in time for Christmas

Tumbalong Park reopens in time for Christmas

SYDNEY – The transformation of Darling Harbour has reached a new milestone after the opening of Tumbalong Park reopens to the public, just in time for Christmas and the summer holidays. The... Read more »
Dozens of people are missing after a landslide engulfed 22 buildings in Chinese city of Shenzhen.

China landslide leaves at least 85 missing after buildings collapse in Shenzhen

Dozens of people are missing after a landslide engulfed 22 buildings at an industrial park in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. HONG KONG — As rescuers searched Monday for survivors of... Read more »
In the neighbourhood: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joins the meeting of defence and foreign ministers from Australia and Indonesia. Photo: Ben Rushton

Australia, Indonesia boost anti-terror cooperation

Australia and Indonesia have agreed to boost intelligence-sharing in the fight against terrorism, days after police arrested several men allegedly linked to a planned suicide bombing in Jakarta. SYDNEY – Australia and... Read more »

Indonesia ferry sinks: 80 missing, 3 dead, dozens rescued

Rescuers pulled out 39 survivors from a passenger boat that sank in the nation’s central region. The boat was carrying 110 passengers and 12 crew members, including 14 children MAKASSAR, Indonesia — A... Read more »
A refugee couple with their babies after safely reaching Greece

Every two seconds, a baby is born in a conflict zone: UNICEF

More than 16 million babies born into conflict in 2015: UNICEF ISLAMABAD – Millions of babies around the world are born into life-threatening situations every year. UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake said too... Read more »
Australia is the second best place in the world to live

Australia is the second best place in the world to live

Life is good in Australia as the country has been ranked as the second-best country in the world for its quality of life by a UN report which assessed economic, education and life-expectancy data.... Read more »

Airport officer suspended for singling out Julie Bishop for random security check

An Australian security officer at Melbourne airport has been sacked after the country’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was reportedly singled out for a security screening. While the Foreign Minister’s office maintains ‘no... Read more »