Xenophon challenges Malaysia's entry ban

Lindsay Murdoch Bangkok: Independent senator Nick Xenophon has launched a legal challenge against Malaysia's refusal to allow him into the country before a closely fought general election on May 5.

Detained MP envoy for Anwar

Lindsay Murdoch, Natalie O'Brien The Australian senator ordered to be deported by Malaysia as a ''security risk'' previously acted as an emissary for Malaysia's opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, carrying a warning letter to the...

Last Australian soldiers leave Dili

Lindsay Murdoch The last 50 Australian infantry soldiers in East Timor boarded an RAAF C-130 transport aircraft on Friday, ending a six-year intervention that has helped secure stability in the half-island nation.

Lots of laughs but no election advice for PM

Lindsay Murdoch BARACK Obama didn't have any tips for Julia Gillard about winning elections.

Costing opposition policies 'routine': PM

Michelle Grattan and Lindsay Murdoch The government is unrepentant about commissioning and releasing Treasury costings of three opposition policies that would put a $4.57 billion burden on business in their first full year of operation.

PM raises prospect of defence ties with Burma

Lindsay Murdoch, Vientiane Australia is considering resumption of defence ties with Burma's military, Julia Gillard revealed on Monday.

Gillard puts Asian rhetoric to first test

Lindsay Murdoch Vientiane: Welcomed by goose-stepping soldiers in impoverished and landlocked Laos, Julia Gillard has begun six days of diplomatic meetings in two countries where she will promote her government's...

Philippines closer Australian ties in signal to China

Lindsay Murdoch The Philippines wants Australia to be one of its top three defence allies in a move that would send a strong signal to China amid tensions over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Philippines to request a united stand on China

Lindsay Murdoch THE Philippines wants Australia to be one of its top three defence allies in a move that would send a strong signal to China amid tensions over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Keating government in clear over conduct in Wilson kidnap

Lindsay Murdoch ACTIONS by the Cambodian army, not the Australian government, have been blamed for causing the murder of Australian tourist David Wilson and two other foreigners in 1994, a coroner has found.

Indonesia sending top-secret aircraft for role in war games

Lindsay Murdoch, Michael Bachelard INDONESIA is sending its front-line Sukhoi jet fighters to take part in Australia's largest air combat exercise later this month, signalling a new era of enhanced defence co-operation.

Boat boy freed after two years' detention

Lindsay Murdoch, Bangkok Indonesian boy wrongly convicted of people smuggling will be freed today.

Lindsay Murdoch

There will be no silencing Suu Kyi

Lindsay Murdoch Just 17 months ago, Aung San Suu Kyi was under house arrest, her party outlawed and anyone caught possessing her photograph would have been jailed.

Carr gives $1.6m to UN tribunal rocked by resignations

Lindsay Murdoch THE Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, has pledged a further $1.61 million of taxpayers' money to a United Nations tribunal that is set to allow a Khmer Rouge commander who sent two Australians to their...