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Image: James Gourley/AAP/Imago ImagesImage: James Gourley/AAP/Imago Images

Australia

Australia is an Oceanian country made up of the mainland continent, the island of Tasmania and several smaller islands. Its currency is the Australian dollar, its capital is Canberra and its most populous city is Sydney.

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A fire burning near Creswick in Victoria.

A fire burning near Creswick in Victoria.

Australia: Bushfires burn out of control in Victoria

Firefighters were trying to tame bushfires in the Australian state of Victoria on Saturday.

SHIFT Ai-Da Robo-Artist Millionaire

SHIFT Ai-Da Robo-Artist Millionaire

Bans, scams and demands: The future of tech — Shift

Social media bans, online shopping scams, and robo-artists. What’s next for the tech world?

Indonesien | Matthew Norman einer der Bali Nine vor seiner Rückkehr nach Australien

Indonesien | Matthew Norman einer der Bali Nine vor seiner Rückkehr nach Australien

'Bali Nine': Remaining Australian prisoners return home

The five remaining members of a group of nine people jailed for drug smuggling in Indonesia in 2005 have returned home.

University of Sydney's autonomous robot 'SwagBot' moves around a field in Allynbrook, Australia

University of Sydney's autonomous robot 'SwagBot' moves around a field in Allynbrook, Australia

Could an AI robot cowboy help Australia muster its cattle?

Could SwagBot, a robot cow herder now fitted with AI technology, help Australian farmers round up their cows?

Australia to force tech giants to pay for news media

The plan aims to force tech companies to better compensate those who write the news appearing on their platforms.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) reacts as Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape speaks during a press conference in Sydney on December 12, 2024

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) reacts as Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape speaks during a press conference in Sydney on December 12, 2024

Australia seals PNG rugby deal to counter Chinese influence

Australia inks deal with Pacific island nation as threat of Chinese influence looms large in the region.

A contractor cleans anti-Israel graffiti as a police officer looks on, on December 11, 2024.

A contractor cleans anti-Israel graffiti as a police officer looks on, on December 11, 2024.

Australia: Anti-Israel slogans sprayed on wall, car burnt

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the incident was an "outrage" and expressed support for Sydney's Jews.

Made in Germany | Sendung vom 11.12.2024

Made in Germany | Sendung vom 11.12.2024

German economy in crisis mode — MADE

Economic crisis in Germany, a struggling hydrogen strategy and: solar power via long-distance cable.

Anthony Albanese with David Adeang

Anthony Albanese with David Adeang

Australia seeks to block China with Nauru security deal

The new treaty comes as Australia seeks to counter China's rising power in the Pacific.

A policewoman stands guard at the scene of a fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne

A policewoman stands guard at the scene of a fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne

Australia PM blames antisemitism for synagogue fire

Police in Melbourne are searching for the perpetrators of an arson attack which left several people injured.

Members of the local Jewish community look at the damage of the arson attack at the Adass Israel Synagogue

Members of the local Jewish community look at the damage of the arson attack at the Adass Israel Synagogue

Australia: Police suspect arson attack at synagogue

The Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was set ablaze by two mask-wearing arsonists, police said.

Symbolbild I Online Grooming

Symbolbild I Online Grooming

How Australia's social media ban could affect us

Australia bans kids under 16 from using social media. Why? And what does it mean for all of us?

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attends a question time at Parliament House in Canberra

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attends a question time at Parliament House in Canberra

Australia PM says Musk pushing agenda after social media ban

Elon Musk last month said Australia's new law was a "backdoor way" to control "access to the internet."

Group of young people using smart mobile phones in subway

Group of young people using smart mobile phones in subway

TikTok, Meta slam Australia's social media ban for under-16s

The landmark Social Media Minimum Age bill sets Australia up as a test case for a growing number of governments.

Laos Vang Vieng Touristen

Laos Vang Vieng Touristen

Six tourists killed after methanol poisoning in Laos

An Australian teenager has become the sixth foreign tourist to die of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos.

Backpackers walking down a street in Vang Vieng

Backpackers walking down a street in Vang Vieng

Laos mourns methanol poisoning death of tourists

Methanol-laced alcohol is the suspected cause of a dozen foreigners being rushed to the hospital and several deaths.

Gus the emperor penguin is released back into the ocean off the south coast of Western Australia

Gus the emperor penguin is released back into the ocean off the south coast of Western Australia

Gus the penguin sets sail in the Southern Ocean

The emperor penguin made headlines after landing on Australia's coast, an the hope is he will now return to Antarctica.

Tourists drink at Nana Backpack hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos

Tourists drink at Nana Backpack hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos

4 tourists die from methanol tainted alcohol in Laos

Several backpackers have fallen ill in a suspected methanol poisoning incident in Laos.

A child lit up in the dark by the screen of a cell phone

A child lit up in the dark by the screen of a cell phone

Australia launches bill banning social media for under 16s

The proposed social media ban does not allow for the exemption of parental consent.

Verteidigungsgespräche zwischen Japan, den USA und Australien in Australien

Verteidigungsgespräche zwischen Japan, den USA und Australien in Australien

Japanese troops to start deployments in Australia

Japan, Australia, and the US are enhancing military cooperation in response to China's growing influence in the region.

Social Media

Social Media

Australia to ban social media for children under 16

The onus will be on social media platforms such as X, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to prevent minors from access.

DW "Global Us" Sendungslogo Composite

DW "Global Us" Sendungslogo Composite

Big business — evangelical churches in Brazil

Evangelical churches are growing rapidly in Brazil. Mass tourism is threatening coral reefs in Egypt.

King Charles addresses Australia's Parliament on October 21

King Charles addresses Australia's Parliament on October 21

King Charles heckled by Indigenous MP during Australia tour

A lawmaker previously known for protesting the colonization of Australia shouted "give us our land back" at Charles.

Wind gusts twist umbrellas and buffet people during Hurricane Ian in Charleston in South Carolina

Wind gusts twist umbrellas and buffet people during Hurricane Ian in Charleston in South Carolina

What are the La Nina and El Nino climate phenomena?

Here's how the Pacific weather phases of El Nino and La Nina can influence extreme weather across the globe.

Mysterious black spheres wash up on Coogee beach in Sydney, Australia

Mysterious black spheres wash up on Coogee beach in Sydney, Australia

Sydney beaches closed over 'mysterious' black balls

Beachgoing tourists and locals have been replaced by hundreds of mysterious black balls.

A man talks to cameras outside a court

A man talks to cameras outside a court

Australia: Man convicted for performing outlawed Nazi salute

A far-right extremist made the gesture less than a week after it was outlawed in the state of Victoria.

A koala in a train sttion

A koala in a train sttion

Koala leads police on chase through Sydney train station

The animal escaped from the officers after hopping a fence at Casula station.

Marokko | Demonstrationen in Rabat zum Jahrestag des 7. Oktober 2023

Marokko | Demonstrationen in Rabat zum Jahrestag des 7. Oktober 2023

Fresh rallies held globally on eve of October 7 anniversary

Thousands of people took to the streets around the world for another day of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli rallies.

Julian Assange holds up a piece of paper while standing next to his wife Stella at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg

Julian Assange holds up a piece of paper while standing next to his wife Stella at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg

Where does Julian Assange go from here?

WikiLeaks founder's first public speech since his release signals return to the international spotlight.

President Joe Biden (center right), joined by Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left), Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right), and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (center left), stand for a group photo on Sept 21, 2024

President Joe Biden (center right), joined by Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left), Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right), and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (center left), stand for a group photo on Sept 21, 2024

Biden tells Quad allies: China 'testing us'

Biden was caught on hot mic saying that China was "testing us all across the region."

Silhouette of a man in a darkened room working with what appears to be code on a laptop computer. Symbolic image taken in 2022.

Silhouette of a man in a darkened room working with what appears to be code on a laptop computer. Symbolic image taken in 2022.

Global police sting topples 'Ghost' criminal messaging app

A total of 51 suspects were arrested, 38 in Australia, where the app's creator resides.

Instagram introduces teen accounts with restricted features

The platform will also give parents tools to monitor their child's behavior online.

DW Sendung Shift | Drohne

DW Sendung Shift | Drohne

How much can AI improve border control security?

Autonomous drones have long been undergoing research to secure our borders. But what good are they?

Australian flag patch worn on military uniform

Australian flag patch worn on military uniform

Australia strips medals over Afghan war crimes

Several Australian military commanders are to be stripped of their medals over allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan.

Raygun competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Raygun competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Raygun officially ranked world No. 1 female breakdancer

Critics have said the World DanceSport Federation does not have significant standing in the breaking scene.

Drones fly over a field

Drones fly over a field

Using AI as a border control assistant

From smart lie detectors to analyzing dialects — artificial intelligence aims to help determine migrants' origins.

DW Sendung Shift | Mexico borderpassing

DW Sendung Shift | Mexico borderpassing

Can AI predict migration flows?

Danish artificial intelligence may be able to forecast how many people are forced to flee war or natural disasters.

Two border guards stand near a fence, behind the fence is a crowd of people

Two border guards stand near a fence, behind the fence is a crowd of people

AI drones and data collection

AI-based systems collect our data. But there is need for clarity on just how this data can be used.

Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, also known as Raygun, during the B-Girls Round Robin breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park in Paris, as part of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, also known as Raygun, during the B-Girls Round Robin breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park in Paris, as part of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Raygun: 'I knew people wouldn't understand my style'

Rachael Gunn, the 37-year-old Olympic breakdancer, says the criticism of her performance came from people's ignorance.

Port Phillip Bay on September 2, 2024

Port Phillip Bay on September 2, 2024

Australia: Storms leave 1 dead, thousands without power

A 63-year-old woman was killed when a tree fell on a cabin. Meanwhile, at least 121,000 people were still without power.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese speaks to the press.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese speaks to the press.

Pacific Island leaders endorse regional policing plan

The plan for the Pacific is seen as a response to China's influence in the region.

A brown fluid in a spoon near tablets, white powder, a vial and a syringe

A brown fluid in a spoon near tablets, white powder, a vial and a syringe

Australian police carry out massive nationwide drug bust

Police in Australia say more than 1,600 people have been arrested in an anti-drug operation.

A symbolic image of a man with his laptop in the countryside in Australia.

A symbolic image of a man with his laptop in the countryside in Australia.

Australian workers now have the 'right to disconnect'

The law gives workers the right to ignore unreasonable contact from their employers outside of work hours.

Roxanne Tickle in front of Australian Federal Court court house with media and legal team

Roxanne Tickle in front of Australian Federal Court court house with media and legal team

Australia: Trans woman wins case against female-only app

An Australian court ruled that female-only app "Giggle for Girls" engaged in "indirect" gender identity discrimination.

Gentoo penguin Sphen (L) and partner Magic (R) are tending to an egg at the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Gentoo penguin Sphen (L) and partner Magic (R) are tending to an egg at the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Gay penguin Sphen dies in Australian aquarium

A penguin famous for being in a same-sex male relationship at a Sydney aquarium has died at the age of 11.

An aerial view of the newly completed Broken Hill solar plant, New South Wales, Australia

An aerial view of the newly completed Broken Hill solar plant, New South Wales, Australia

Australia approves hub to export solar power to Singapore

Australia has given the go ahead for a massive solar and battery farm that would export energy to Singapore.

Rivers at Milford Sound

Rivers at Milford Sound

New Zealand: Emigration soars amid economic woes

Population growth in New Zealand has almost stagnated owing to high emigration rates, new statistics show.

A broken window and damaged rooftop is seen at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel after a helicopter crashed into its roof, in Cairns, Monday, August 12, 2024.

A broken window and damaged rooftop is seen at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel after a helicopter crashed into its roof, in Cairns, Monday, August 12, 2024.

Australia: 'Unauthorized' helicopter crashes into hotel

The helicopter ignited a fire on the roof of a Hilton hotel in Cairns, forcing hundreds of guests to evacuate.

Australian Security Intelligence Organization director-general Mike Burgess points as he talks in Canberra, Australia, Monday, Nov. 28, 2022.

Australian Security Intelligence Organization director-general Mike Burgess points as he talks in Canberra, Australia, Monday, Nov. 28, 2022.

Australia spy chief: Foreign meddling common, by friends too

"Some of them would surprise you," the head of Australia's ASIO intelligence agency said, without giving names.

The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is seen during Japan - U.S. joint training at New Ishigaki Airport in Ishigaku City, Okinawa Prefecture on October 24, 2023.

The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is seen during Japan - U.S. joint training at New Ishigaki Airport in Ishigaku City, Okinawa Prefecture on October 24, 2023.

US Marine Corps Osprey crash investigation finds major flaws

It recommended all crews flying Osprey aircraft stand down temporarily to review the accident.