OCEANIA

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An emerging compromise between Turkey and Australia is set to determine the structure of next year's United Nations climate summit, with Turkey poised to host COP31 while Australia leads the governmental negotiations. The arrangement, confirmed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, ends a prolonged impasse between the two countries, both of which had sought hosting rights since 2022. The new plan allows Turkey to stage the conference in Antalya while Australia assumes a central diplomatic role, guiding the negotiation process that underpins global climate commitments.

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In a move signaling increased scrutiny of the cryptocurrency sector, Australia has ordered Binance Australia to appoint an external auditor to address concerns about its money laundering and terrorism financing controls. The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, AUSTRAC, the country's financial intelligence agency, cited Binance Australia's recent independent review as being too "limited in scope" given the size and risks of the business.

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An Australian court on Monday imposed a Aus$90 million (US$59 million) fine on Qantas for illegally laying off 1,800 ground staff during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The decision brings to a close a five-year legal battle that began after Qantas decided in August 2020 to outsource the jobs, a move that the Federal Court found to be in violation of the law, despite Qantas's asserted "commercial imperatives."

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South Australian police have charged a man with theft following the discovery of an extensive trove of Lego and toys valued at $250,000 (£120,800; $163,400), allegedly stolen from department stores across Adelaide. The raid on a Royal Park property on Saturday yielded around 2,500 items, including 1,700 unopened Lego boxes.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, joining the UK, France, and Canada in taking similar steps. Albanese said Australia's decision followed commitments from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to demilitarize, hold general elections, and continue to recognize Israel's right to exist.