Free Republic

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A Chinese state-owned company is negotiating to buy a forestry planation with a deep-water port and World War II airstrip in Solomon Islands amid persistent concerns that China wants to establish a naval foothold in the South Pacific country. A delegation from China Forestry Group Corp. visited the plantation that covers most of Kolombangar Island in 2019, asking questions about the length of the wharf and depth of the water while showing little interest in the trees, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported on Monday. The board of Kolombangara Forest Products Ltd., the takeover target known as KFPL...

The winner of Australia's election, Tony Abbott, on Saturday pledged to form a competent and trustworthy government after he defeated Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. "I can inform you that the government of Australia has changed," the conservative challenger told supporters. "For just the seventh time in 60 years the government of Australia has changed." Under Abbott, the government would find billions of dollars in budget cuts, including slashing $4.5 billion (US$4.1 billion) from foreign aid over the next six years. Money saved would be spent on infrastructure projects including motorway upgrades, in a decision slammed by aid groups. Aside from...

BARACK Obama will be given a jar of kids' Vegemite to tempt him to try the popular breakfast spread when he arrives in Australia tomorrow. US ambassador Jeffrey Bleich said he was a convert and told the Herald Sun he would try to change the presidential tastebuds after Mr Obama described Vegemite as "horrible". In March, when Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited a Washington school with Mr Obama, he told students he was no fan of the traditional Australian breakfast staple, describing it as "a quasi-vegetable by-product paste". Ms Gillard fired back that she loved Vegemite and now has the...

The photographs show the 21-year-old on the shoulders of an unidentified friend and the pair arm-in-arm. Melbourne Magistrates Court heard the photos formed part of a package sent anonymously to Australian Federal Police in March last year. It is believed they were taken during an overseas trip made by Joud to Lebanon in 2002.

All Freepers, Several people have asked for links to the Australian Relief effort for the victims of the Bali terrorist attack. I used to live in Australia and have very close friends there. I requested that they provide me with some relief effort information and the following is what I have received in reply. The Aussies have always stood by us in our times of need. They have never wavered since the September 11th attacks. The attacks against a nightclub that only admitted foreigners at a popular Australian vacation retreat were not only an attack against Bali and its mainly...

A SEIZURE of more than 50 weapons during a raid on a private residence in Melbourne's east has prompted a police warning for gun owners to register their firearms. More than 50 items were seized, including semi-automatic weapons, shot guns, pistols, silencers and ammunition in the raid at a house in Seville yesterday. Two people have been charged with the illegal possession of firearms and will appear in court at a later date. Police spokesman Senior Constable Rob Pugh today warned gun owners police had begun conducting door knocks searching for unregistered weapons after the end of the gun amnesty...