Australia and Japan sign agreements on defence, energy and critical minerals (opens in new tab)

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, have announced a new agreement to elevate the 'special strategic partnership' between the two countries following talks in Parliament House in Canberra. The high-level agreement includes statements on economic security, energy trade, critical minerals and defence and security. 'For Australians, it will mean we are less vulnerable to global shocks like we are seeing right now because of conflict in the Middle E...