Australian PM Abbott to step down amid party revolt

Australian conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott was dramatically ousted Monday in a snap party vote forced by challenger Malcolm Turnbull, a millionaire former banker who will become the nation's new leader.

Alleged Payments to Smugglers Rile Australian Opposition

Rights groups and opposition politicians say allegations that Australian border officials paid human-smugglers thousands of dollars to abandon their journey have damaged the nation's credibility.

Australia's Abbott Warns of Islamic State's 'Global Ambitions'

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned Thursday of the Islamic State group's "global ambitions" and said more must be done to combat the organization's extremist mass appeal.

Teen arrested over Melbourne terror bomb plot

An Australian teenager has been charged after a counter-terror raid in Melbourne, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott saying a bomb plot was in a "reasonably advanced state of preparation".

Five teenagers arrested in Australian terror plot

Five teenagers arrested in Australia were planning an terrorist attack next week at an event to mark the centenary of the landings at Gallipoli during World War 1, Prime Minister Tony Abbot has said.

Australian troops to aid Iraq in battle against ISIS/ISIL

Australia is to send a contingent of troops to work alongside New Zealand forces in Iraq to help in the continuing battle against Daesh (ISIS/ISIL).

Australia decided to join AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank)

Australia has decided to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which would allow Australia to become a founding member of the bank, said a statement released by Prime Minister Tony Abbott Sunday morning.

MH370 search to continue (Malaysian official)

The search for the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 that disappeared on March 8 last year will continue, Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai told reporters on Friday.

Search for Malaysian plane lost one year ago may be stopped, says Australian PM

An extensive search for the Malaysian Boeing that went missing over the Indian Ocean almost a year ago may be stopped, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told the parliament on Thursday.

Australia to send additional 300 troops to Iraq

Australia will send an additional 300 troops to Iraq to train specialist Iraqi soldiers in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Tuesday.

Armed man holding an undisclosed number of hostages in a siege in Sydney's Central Business District

An undisclosed number of people have been taken hostage by an armed man at a cafe in the centre of Sydney.

Hundreds of armed police have sealed off the busy Martin Place in the city's central business district.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said it was unclear if the siege at a Sydney cafe, where hostages are being held, was politically motivated.

US, Australian and Japanese leaders meet in Brisbane.

U.S. President Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Premier Tony Abbott held a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brisbane on Sunday. They discussed the development of the Asia-Pacific region, struggle against terrorism and the Ukraine crisis, according to the White House press service.

Russia Stations Warships Off Australian Coast Ahead Of G-20 Summit

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Vladimir Putin is underlining his presence at a major summit of world leaders in Australia by stationing warships in waters off the country's northeastern coast, prompting the Australian prime minister to angrily accuse Russia of trying to reclaim the "lost glories" of the Soviet Union.

Australia’s Abbott vows to confront Putin over Flight MH17

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Thursday he was determined to secure a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to demand full cooperation in the investigation into the crash of a Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in Ukraine.

Abbott said he would hold a bilateral meeting with Putin as soon as possible either at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit in Beijing on Nov. 9-10 or a week later in the Australian city of Brisbane, where Australia will chair a G20 meeting.

MH17 discussion with Putin 'constructive': Australian FM

Russian President Vladimir Putin was cooperative and constructive when asked for his help in allowing investigators access to the MH17 crash site in Ukraine, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Saturday (Oct 18).

Bishop met the Russian leader on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting, just days after Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned he would confront Putin over the shooting down of the plane at a G20 meet next month.

Russian diplomat calls Australian leader (Tony Abbott) immature ...

A Russian diplomat today (Oct 14) dismissed the Australian prime minister’s threat of a physical confrontation with the Russian president as immature, warning that Mr Vladimir Putin is a judo expert.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott intends to have a one-on-one meeting with Mr Putin on the sidelines of a summit of the world’s 20 biggest economies in Brisbane next month to demand Russian cooperation with a Dutch-led investigation into the shooting down of a Malaysia airliner in Ukraine by Russian-backed separatists with the loss of 298 lives in July.

Australia PM slammed for Scottish independence remarks

The Scottish first minister has lashed out at the Australian prime minister’s comments about the Scottish referendum calling them "foolish, hypocritical and offensive".
Australian Premier Tony Abbott had told The Times newspaper those who wanted independence and break-up of the United Kingdom were "not the friends of justice …. or freedom."
First Minister Alex Salmond reacted to his words on BBC Scotland: "Mr Abbott's comments are hypocritical because independence does not seem to have done Australia any harm."

Australia, Dutch vow justice for MH17 victims

THE HAGUE: Australia and The Netherlands on Monday vowed to bring justice to the families of victims of downed flight MH17, despite the search for body parts being halted because of fighting in eastern Ukraine.

"We owe it to the dead, we owe it to the grieving families to bring them (the victims) home and to give them justice," Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said.

"We are not just partners in grief, but partners in demanding justice in the face of this terrible atrocity," Abbott told Dutch Premier Mark Rutte at a press conference in The Hague.

Australian PM threatens tougher sanctions against Russia. (If there is "any movement" by Russian forces across the border)

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Friday that Australia would enforce tougher sanctions against Moscow if Russian troops crossed the Ukraine border.

Abbott made the comments after Russia on Thursday imposed a ban on food imports from countries including Australia, after Western nations applied sanctions against Russia over Ukraine.

Abbott told reporters in Sydney that if Russian President Vladimir Putin allowed his troops to cross the border into the Ukraine,"you will find increased sanctions by Australia".

Australia holds national day of mourning for MH17 victims. (Australia lost 38 citizens and residents)

MELBOURNE: Flags flew at half mast on Thursday as Australia held a national day of mourning for those killed in the MH17 crash in Ukraine, a day after experts suspended the search for body parts.

Australia lost 38 citizens and residents, including children, when the Malaysia Airlines plane from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 on board. Church bells chimed around the country as a memorial service was held at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne, chosen as 16 of the Australians who died were from Victoria state.