Australia and the European Union signed a free trade agreement after eight years of negotiations, removing tariffs on almost all goods and potentially easing EU access to Australian critical minerals. The deal follows intensified talks amid sharply higher U.S. tariffs under the Trump administration and growing Western concerns over China’s dominant position in rare earths and other critical minerals. The two sides also signed an agreement to deepen security and defense cooper

Australia’s most populous state passed sweeping new gun and anti-terror rules following the mass shooting on Bondi Beach, tightening firearm ownership, banning public display of terror symbols and strengthening police power to curb protests. Premier Chris Minns said not all residents of New South Wales would support the tough reforms but his government was doing everything possible to keep people safe, in the wake of the December 14 shooting at a Jewish Hannukah celebration,