Today’s national news includes Australia increasing funding for East Timor police, Australia seeking investments from South Korea and Japan, Queensland’s families being hit by worsening cost of living crisis, and Australia lacking killer drones and counter-drone capability. PoliticsAustralia ups funding for East Timor policeAustralia will spend $23 million to support policing in East Timor, boosting disaster response and technology capabilities in the small Southeast Asian neighbour that recently upgraded ties with China, Voice of America has reported. https://www.voanews.com/a/australia-boosts-funding-to-east-timor-police/7461233.htmlEconomyAustralia seeking investments from South Korea and JapanAustralia’s resources minister has begun a week-long trip to South Korea and Japan to discuss gas exports and critical minerals opportunities, Reuters reported. Queensland has become “ground zero” for Australia’s cost-of-living crisis, with Brisbane leading the nation in rent, energy, insurance and health price hikes. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/29/many-queensland-families-unable-to-afford-basic-cost-of-living-as-brisbane-leads-nation-in-price-hikesDefenceAustralia lacks killer drones and counter-drone capabilityThe lack of killer drones and counter-drone capability has become the most serious hole in the country’s national defence that needs urgent government attention, The Australian reported.

Source: The Guardian January 30, 2024 12:38 UTC