Renju Jose

Australia targets social media algorithms with new user-choice rules

Australia and the United States said they would boost their defence ties in a move that could expand the U.S. military presence in Australia, while ​strengthening deterrence across the Pacific, where China has been expanding its influence.

AI-generated music will be excluded from Australia's music charts starting this week, the country's peak ‌music trade group said, following controversy over an Australian DJ's cover of Madonna's "Like a Prayer" topping local music charts.

KPMG Australia, embroiled in scandal ‌over the misuse of confidential client information, said on Monday it would cut about 5% of its workforce, affecting 27 partners and around 360 employees, and warned of difficult market conditions next year.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on ​Monday his party will introduce a bill in Parliament that seeks ‌to ban children under 16 from using social media, proposing fines of up to 10% of a platform's global revenue for non-compliance.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday the AUKUS defence pact remained "full steam ahead" ‌after an overnight call with U.S. President Donald Trump, adding that he had urged Trump to fully exempt Australia from all tariffs.

Australia's industrial umpire has approved new minimum standards requiring food and grocery delivery workers to be paid hourly rates above the national minimum wage and ​covered by injury insurance while on the job.

New Zealand's ruling centre-right coalition may retain a razor-thin parliamentary majority if an election were held now, a poll showed on Friday, but a ​surge for the new centrist Opportunity Party could reshape coalition talks ahead of ‌the November vote.

Jetstar, the budget arm of Australia's national carrier Qantas , will require passengers who want to store carry-on bags in overhead ​lockers to pay extra from February, as the airline overhauls its cabin baggage ‌policy.

Shell said on Wednesday it ​would invest in the next phase of the ‌Surat Gas Project in Queensland, Australia, which is being developed by Arrow Energy, a joint venture owned equally by Shell and ​PetroChina .