Australia | DD News

April 23, 2026 11:57 AM

Australia demands child safety transparency from gaming giants Roblox and Minecraft

Australia's internet regulator on Wednesday asked online gaming platforms including Roblox RBLX.N and Microsoft's MSFT.O Minecraft to spell out how they protect children from grooming by sexual predators and shield young users from radicalisation. The eSafety Commissioner said it had issued legally enforceable transparency notices to Roblox, Minecraft, Epic Games' Fortnite and Valve's Steam, seeking details on their safety systems, staffing and measures aligned with cybersecurity protocols. Co...

April 15, 2026 9:56 PM

Finance ministers, stung by hit to economies, call for full Iran war ceasefire

Finance ministers from almost a dozen countries led by Britain called on the U.S., Israel and Iran to implement their ceasefire in full on Wednesday and said the conflict would weigh on the global economy and markets even if it was resolved soon. A joint statement, signed by the finance ministers from Australia, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Norway, Ireland, Poland and New Zealand as well as Britain, was agreed a day after the International Monetary Fund cut its global economi...

April 8, 2026 8:58 AM

Australia welcomes US-Iran ceasefire, calls on parties to uphold humanitarian law, protect civilian life

Australia on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire announcement involving the United States, Iran and Israel, expressing hope that the agreement will be upheld and lead to a broader resolution of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. US President Donald Trump has stepped back from the brink of a major military escalation with Iran, announcing a conditional two-week pause in planned attacks tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a development that came as a big relief to people across the world. The...

March 18, 2026 6:20 PM

Railways draws $942 million FDI in 11 years; exports at ₹26,000 crore:Ashwini Vaishnav

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that the railway sector has attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) equity inflows of $942 million between 2014-15 and 2025-26 (up to December 2025). Citing the FDI policy circular dated October 15, 2020, he said 100% FDI is permitted under the automatic route in railway infrastructure. The permitted areas include suburban corridor projects through public-private partnerships, high-speed train projects, dedicated freight li...

March 17, 2026 10:42 AM

Cannabis shows little benefit for most mental disorders, data review finds

Cannabis-based medicines have shown little evidence of effectiveness for treating most mental health and substance-use disorders, according to a large review of past studies published in a major medical journal on Monday. Medical use of cannabinoids has been expanding, including in the United States, Canada and Australia, where many patients report using cannabis products to manage conditions such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep problems. Researchers reviewed data from 54 ...

March 16, 2026 3:39 PM

India in FTA talks with 6 countries, including Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile & Israel: Commerce Ministry

India is currently negotiating six Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with different countries and regional groups as part of its efforts to expand trade partnerships, according to information released by the Ministry of Commerce. The ministry said negotiations are ongoing with Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Israel. Among these, the India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) negotiations began in February 2023. Since then, 11 r...

February 24, 2026 12:47 PM

Canada’s PM Mark Carney to visit India, Australia and Japan to boost trade and strategic partnerships

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to India, Australia and Japan from February 26 to March 7, as part of efforts to diversify Canada’s trade, attract new investment and deepen strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. According to the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, Carney will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the multi-nation visit. The trip is aimed at ex...

February 20, 2026 9:26 PM

India AI Impact Summit 2026 Draws World Leaders as Global AI Dialogue Takes Centre Stage

The India AI Impact Summit 2026, running from February 16 to 21 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, has transformed the venue into a major global platform for artificial intelligence dialogue, with thirteen country pavilions from Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan and a collective African pavilion showcasing ideas, investments and collaborative intent. Due to overwhelming interest, the Government of India ...

February 12, 2026 6:44 PM

India urges medtech startups to go global as trade pacts open access to 70% of world GDP

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday urged medical technology startups to expand beyond the domestic market and tap India’s free trade agreements that now provide access to nearly 70% of global GDP, most of it at zero duty for Indian products. Speaking at the Pfizer INDovation Startup Showcase in New Delhi, Goyal said nine free trade agreements signed over the past three years cover 38 countries, including major developed and emerging markets, creating unpreceden...

February 12, 2026 10:29 AM

Instagram chief defends youth mental health decisions at trial

The top executive at Meta Platforms' Instagram defended the social media platform's choices around features that some company insiders called harmful to young users, at a trial on claims the app helped fuel a youth mental-health crisis. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, testified in Los Angeles as part of a trial on what plaintiffs call "social media addiction" in children and young adults. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is also expected to testify in the coming weeks. A California woman who bega...