Stories from Canberra · Australia

The leader of the One Nation party has apologized for a scuffle.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott is being positioned to lead the Liberal Party's organizational wing. He has the support of opposition leader Angus Taylor. Backers hope Abbott can help the party regain influence.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is conducting a consultation process regarding a formal link between Andrographis paniculata and anaphylaxis. Results published two weeks ago confirmed this connection.

Associates linked to the Islamic State, with Syrian connections, are reportedly arriving in Australia. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely. The exact number of individuals and their specific activities remain under investigation.

The Australian government plans to include research and development tax breaks as a key component of a productivity package in next week's budget. This follows reports of government leaks regarding the upcoming budget.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Chrissy Barrett announced that some individuals will be arrested and charged following investigations. Barrett stated that children involved will be required to participate in re-education programs.

New research from Australia suggests that traveling can assist with anti-aging processes. The study indicates that unfamiliar surroundings and relaxing experiences help the body with balance, resilience, and repair while lowering stress.

Federal police confirmed that Australian children with connections to Islamic State group members will participate in countering violent extremism programs. The federal government was informed that four women and nine children have booked flights to return to Australia from Syria. This follows reports of individuals attempting to return from conflict zones. The Australian government confirmed that 13 Australian citizens with alleged links to Islamic State members are returning from Syria. The Home Affairs Minister stated that the government will not provide assistance to the group. No specific names or numbers of returning citizens were provided in the transcript. The return follows previous reports regarding the status of citizens in the region. Some returning Australian citizens were born in camps and claim they did not intentionally join Syria.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King announced that all planned projects north of the parks are on ice indefinitely. King cited cost blowouts as the reason for the decision. The minister plans to redirect spending toward the existing rail network instead.

Australian authorities plan to arrest and charge women returning from Syria with ISIS fighters late tomorrow. The group consists of 13 individuals, including four women and nine children. Commissioner Chrissy Barrett stated that plans to manage and monitor the group have been in place since 2015. Authorities confirmed they will not provide assistance to the group during the process. The children will be required to undergo specific procedures, according to the commissioner. The government is facing pressure following the Bondi terror attack over the summer, which also had an alleged link to IS radicalization. Since the fall of the Islamic State in 2019, at least 45 fighters and 29 women and children have returned to Australia via repatriation or independent travel.