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As of September 17, 2025, Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have signed a defence communique but postponed the formal signing of a landmark mutual defence treaty. The treaty, elevating their security ties to the level Australia holds with the US and New Zealand, awaits cabinet approvals in both countries. The pact integrates defence forces, allows military service across borders, and offers PNG nationals a pathway to Australian citizenship, amid efforts to counter China's growing Pacific influence.
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Australia's environment minister has approved a 40-year extension of the North West Shelf gas project in Western Australia, despite Indigenous and environmental opposition. Conditions include emissions reductions and heritage protections, but critics warn the expansion risks damaging UNESCO-listed Aboriginal rock art and worsening climate impacts, drawing international legal and regional criticism.
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Morocco and Sierra Leone have ratified the UN treaty on marine biodiversity, bringing the total to 143 countries. The treaty aims to protect two-thirds of the ocean from threats like overfishing and deep-sea mining. It will take effect in January 2026, establishing rules for conservation and benefit-sharing in international waters.
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On October 17, 2025, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) postponed a vote to adopt the Net Zero Framework (NZF), a global carbon pricing system for shipping emissions. The delay followed intense pressure and threats of sanctions from the U.S. administration under President Trump, alongside opposition from Russia and Saudi Arabia. The vote was postponed by 12 months, stalling efforts to regulate shipping's 3% share of global greenhouse gas emissions.