Australia has been warned it must ‘urgently’ investigate its next moves after the US made a major move towards banning TikTok. A TikTok ban is “highly likely” to pass the United States congress before the year is done, sparking “critical” warnings Australia not be left behind. The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday voted unanimously 50-0 to advance a Bill, that, if passed, would prohibit TikTok from US app stores unless the platform is divested from its Chinese parent company ByteDance within 165 days. It’s the most significant and aggressive legislative progress on TikTok to date, and should it pass, would impact the app’s 170 million US users. It could have implications on how Australia deals with the popular social media app moving forward. The Coalition’s cybersecurity spokesman, James Paterson, has long fought for Australia to take action on the app, over concerns about foreign interference and censorship. He said the onus was now on Australia to “urgently” investigate its next moves. Although the app is not based in China itself, its parent company ByteDance is part-owned by a Chinese company that is beholden to Chinese security laws. Of specific concern is the requirement that data must be shared with the Chinese government if it is requested. So concerned was the Albanese government that it banned the app on all government devices last year. Senator Paterson said the Albanese government needed to go further, and must be proactive in the wake of the news out of the US. “It is absolutely critical that Australia is not left behind – but that is a major risk unless we also act,” he said. “The Albanese government must urgently investigate options to ensure TikTok Australia can also be protected from Chinese government influence. Otherwise we are allowing an authoritarian government to control the major source of news and information about the world for young Australians. “Given what we have learned about TikTok’s manipulation of content and abuse of data, the government must act to protect Australians from this serious national security threat.” TikTok has repeatedly maintained that ByteDance is 60 per cent owned by international investors and not influenced by the Chinese government. TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew was grilled by US politicians last March, where he stated “unequivocally” that neither the app or the parent company were “an agent of China or any other country”. A spokesman for Cybersecurity Minister Clare O’Neil said the government was “monitoring progress” on the US bill. “The Albanese government has taken strong action in line with advice from our agencies to restrict access to TikTok on devices used to handle sensitive information,” they said. “We are monitoring the progress of the bill in the US and will take additional action if and when relevant agencies advise it is appropriate to do so.” A TikTok spokesperson said the US bill, if passed, would “trample the First Amendment rights of 170 million Americans”. “It would deprive five million (American) small businesses of a platform they rely on to grow and create jobs,” they said. The bill will next move to the US House of Representatives, and if it passes will then progress to the Senate. If it is voted through there, it will become law.

Leaders of the ASEAN bloc and Australia made a joint statement calling for peace and stability in the region. China claims the entire South China sea and has been aggressive towards ships from other nations. Leaders of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia issued a collective statement on Wednesday against actions that could jeopardize peace in the South China Sea, following recent tensions between Beijing and the Philippines in disputed waters. "We recognize the benefits of having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, and prosperity. We encourage all countries to avoid any unilateral actions that endanger peace, security and stability in the region," the nations said in a joint statement while calling for a "rules-based" order in the Indo-Pacific region. In response, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said, "We will properly manage differences with the countries concerned and fully and effectively implement them with ASEAN countries." Tensions in the South China Sea Tensions in the trade corridor escalated earlier this week when Chinese vessels in the Spratly Islands were accused of pursuing Philippine ships.  On Monday when the summit began, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo asked Beijing to "stop harassing us."  The following day, the Philippines summoned China's deputy chief of mission in Manila for "aggressive actions" against a resupply mission for their troops. The Philippine coast guard said Chinese ships were involved in two separate collisions, including one where a resupply boat was hit with a water cannon. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, disregarding legal precedents and competing claims from various Southeast Asian nations. The dispute remains a significant security challenge in the region, casting a shadow over a three-day summit between Australia and the 10-nation ASEAN bloc.  China calls Philippines a US 'pawn' Tensions between China and the Philippines also threaten relations between China and the US, already precarious due to Beijing's aggression toward Taiwan. Manila and Washington are subject to a mutual defense treaty, going back to 1951, which binds them to defend each other if one comes under attack. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Wednesday that the collisions in the South China Sea were not enough of a reason to invoke the treaty. But Marcos did express his "great alarm" over the incidents. Meanwhile, China accused the US of using the Philippines as a "pawn" "China urges the United States not to use the Philippines as a pawn to stir up trouble in the South China Sea," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters. "The Philippines should not let itself be at the mercy of the United States," she added.  Australia seeks to 'alleviate tensions' China's increasing aggression in the sea has been a priority on the ASEAN summit's agenda, which ends Wednesday.  The summit is being held in Melbourne to mark 50 years of Australia becoming the bloc's first external partner.  Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,  speaking to reporters at the summit said, "I am very concerned and Australia is concerned about any unsafe and destabilizing behavior in the South China Sea. We need to make sure that activity in the South China Sea alleviates any tensions and doesn't add to it."

The Australia Women's Cricket team will arrive in Bangladesh on March 17 for their first ever tour here.  The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today announced the itinerary for Australia women's tour which includes three ODIs and three T20 internationals.  The ODI series is a part of the 2022-25 ICC Women's Championship. The teams have previously only faced each other in ICC events-once in 2022 World Cup and twice in T20 World Cup in 2020 and 2023.  This will however be the first ever bilateral series between the two sides.  All of the matches of their tour in Bangladesh will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The three ODIs are slated to be held on March 21, 24 and 27 and all of the matches will start from 9.30 AM. The three T20 Internationals are scheduled on March 31, April 2 and 4. The T20 matches will start at 12 PM. The Australian team will depart the country on April 5.  Source: BSS  

Australia has announced plans to boost defense spending and procure several combat-ready warships. Canberra wants to build up its naval capabilities due to concerns over tensions with China and Russia. Australia announced Tuesday it will more than double the Royal Australian Navy surface combatant fleet, spending AU$11.1 billion (roughly $7.25 billion, €6.7 billion) over the next decade. The plan will see Australia increase its current fleet of combat-ready warships from 11 to 26 alongside 25 minor war vessels to contribute to civil maritime security operations. "It is the largest fleet that we will have since the end of the Second World War," said Defense Minister Richard Marles. Concerns over China and Russia  Canberra has for years been looking to build up its naval defense capabilities in response to a massive build-up of firepower by rivals China and Russia. Australia's 2023 strategic review said that competition between the US and China was defining the Pacific region, leading to the "potential for conflict." "What is critically important to understand is that as we look forward, with an uncertain world in terms of great power contest, we'll have a dramatically different capability in the mid-2030s to what we have now," the defense minister said. "That is what we are planning for and that is what we are building," Marles added.  In 2021, Australia announced plans to buy at least three US-designed nuclear-powered submarines as part of the AUKUS security pact with Washington and London. What do we know about Australia's plan to buy new warships? Australia will get six Hunter class frigates, 11 general-purpose frigates, three air warfare destroyers and six state-of-the-art surface warships that do not need to be crewed. The plan would see Australia increase its defense spending to 2.4% of GDP by the mid-2030s, up from current expectations of 2.1%. "This decision we are making right now sees a significant increase in defense spending ... and it is needed, given the complexity of the strategic circumstances that our country faces," Marles said. Some of the ships will be built in the southern city of Adelaide, ensuring more than 3,000 jobs, but others will be sourced from US designs, and a still undecided design to come from Spain, Germany, South Korea, or Japan.

Australia says it will ban the import of disposable vaping devices from the start of next year. The crackdown comes amid concern about manufacturers targeting young people with flavors and packaging. Australia's Health Ministry said on Tuesday that it would ban the importing of single-use vaping devices in an effort to curb their increasing popularity with younger adults. The government has cited concern about the long-term harm of vaping products, which it says are increasingly produced and packaged to appeal to young Australians, including children. What the health ministry said Health Minister Mark Butler said vaping — initially touted as a way of easing nicotine addiction among existing smokers — was actually making young people more likely to be hooked on tobacco. "It was not sold as a recreational product, especially not one targeted to our kids, but that is what it has become," the minister told a news conference. "The great majority of vapes contain nicotine, and children are becoming addicted." Officials cite "consistent evidence" that young Australians, including children, who vape are about three times more likely than others to develop a nicotine habit. "These are the vapes that have pink unicorns on them, bubblegum flavoring, disguised in order for them to hide them in their pencil cases," Butler said. "This is not a therapeutic good to help hardened smokers kick the habit. This is a good that is deliberately targeted at kids to recruit them to nicotine addiction." Figures show that roughly one in five Australians aged 18-25 vapes, and about one in seven Australian children aged 14-17. The government plans to introduce legislation next year that applies the same ban on domestically produced devices. A pioneer in curbing smoking Australia has long had a place at the vanguard of introducing restrictions on the nicotine industry and it has one of the lowest rates of smoking in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development group of mostly affluent countries. In 2012, it became the first country to impose "plain packaging" laws to make the branding of products less distinct. The policy was later copied by France and Britain, among others. The country is also the most expensive in the world for smokers. Increased taxes have ratcheted the price of a packet of cigarettes up to about 50 Australian dollars ($33, €30). "Australia has been a world leader in reducing smoking rates and the subsequent health harms, so the government's decisive action to stop vaping in its tracks and prevent further harm is very welcome," said Australian Medical Association President Steve Robson. Doctors and nurses will be given expanded powers in January to prescribe therapeutic vapes where clinically appropriate. To ensure that existing smokers are not affected by the ban, medical professionals will be given new powers to prescribe vaping products.  However, the new legislation also includes restrictions on flavors, limited nicotine levels and a requirement for pharmaceutical packaging to be used. Until recently, New Zealand stood alongside its neighbor as a pioneer in the battle against nicotine addiction. However, the country's new conservative coalition government has promised to scrap a so-called "generational smoking ban" that would have barred any tobacco sales to anyone born after 2008.

Australia has achieved a six-wicket win over the host of the World Cup, breaking India's winning streak of 10 matches. Opener Travis Head hit 137, propelling Australia towards victory. Australia on Sunday achieved its sixth Cricket World Cup victory in a six-wicket win over India. This year's host was India, with the final match played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in the western Gujarat state. A crowd of over 92,000 people attended the event. Australia has the most World Cup wins of any team. India's last global title was the 2013 Champions Trophy. Opener Travis Head hit 137, propelling Australia towards victory. Australia reached its target in 43 overs, breaking India's winning streak of 10 matches. India was held to a modest 240 total. In the group stage just six weeks ago, India was holding a slim lead. Australia was defeated by India on October 8 and then by South Africa days later. India star batsman Virat Kohli ended the Sunday match having set a new record for most runs — 765 — at a single World Cup. Australia celebrate 'very special' win Pat Cummins said captaining Australia in the World Cup was the "pinnacle in cricket" following the win. "That's huge, that's the pinnacle in cricket, winning a World Cup, especially here in India, and these are the moments you remember for the rest of your life," said Cummins. "I was a little bit nervous this morning, pacing around the hotel," he said. "You know you are walking into something very special." India coach Rahul Dravid hailed captain Rohit Sharma's "fantastic" performance despite the host country's loss. "His batting was fantastic, the way he set the tone for us. We knew we wanted to play a certain way and we wanted to play a positive attacking brand of cricket," Dravid told reporters. "And he was very committed to doing that." "He wanted to lead by example. I thought right through the tournament, he was quite superb in doing that. And yeah, I just can't speak more highly of him as a person and as a leader." He said that India would learn from the defeat. "That's sport. That happens. And the better team won on the day. I'm sure the sun will come up tomorrow morning. We'll learn from it. We'll reflect and move on, as will everyone else," he said.

DP World disconnected internet on Friday after detecting a cyber security breach. DP World Australia manages about 40% of Australia's freight trade. Ports operator DP World Australia said on Monday operations had resumed at all its facilities after a cyber security incident. The cyber security breach had forced the company to suspend operations for three days. What was the security breach? DP World first disconnected internet on Friday after detecting the breach, which significantly impacted the flow of goods coming in and out of Australia over the weekend. The firm's advisor on its response to the cyberattack, Alastair MacGibon, said that data had been taken by "someone malicious or unauthorized." The company is part of Dubai's state-owned DP World. DP World Australia manages about 40% of Australia's freight trade. The suspension affected its container terminals in the state capitals of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and the port city of Fremantle in Western Australia. "Operations resumed at the company's ports across Australia at 9 a.m. today (2200 GMT, Sunday) ... following successful tests of key systems overnight," the company said in a statement. DP World expects to move about 5,000 containers from the four Australian terminals on Monday. However, it said that ongoing investigation to protect its networks could still result in temporary disruptions in the coming days. "This is a part of an investigation process and resuming normal logistical operations at this scale," the company said. Hackers threaten critical infrastructure Australia works on cyber defenses Australia has seen a rise in hacking incidents since late last year. In February, the Australian government changed regulations and set up an agency to manage the response to cyber attacks. "[The DP World breach] does show how vulnerable we have been in this country to cyber incidents and how much better we need to work together to make sure we keep our citizens safe," Cyber Security Minister Clare O'Neil told the public ABC radio station. Also on Monday, the government announced details of a proposed cyber security law that would force companies to report all ransomware incidents.

Australia Beat Pakistan by 62 runsAustralia defeated Pakistan by 62 runs as two batter of the winning team hit centuries on Friday at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Warner and marsh made 164 and 121 respectively, a total of 367/9 in their 50 overs.  In response, Pakistan were bowled out for 305, after the previous loss against India.

Australia have won the toss and elected to bawl first against South Africa in the 11th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, India. Australia (XI):  1 David Warner, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Marcus Stoinis/Cameron Green, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood South Africa (XI):  1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma (capt), 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Gerald Coetzee/Tabraiz Shamsi, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Lungi Ngidi

India secured a six-wicket victory over Australia in their first match of the ICC World Cup 2023, which was held on Sunday in Chennai. Australia won the toss, a total of 199 runs from their bats. Despite an early setback, David Warner and Steven Smith established a powerful 69-run partnership for the second wicket, providing a sturdy foundation for the Australian side. Despite batting first, Australia failed to set a challenging score. They claimed three early wickets swiftly, all three went down without contributing a single run.