Reserves of critical minerals are front and center as President Donald Trump holds his first formal meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday.

China’s escalating curbs on the critical minerals has given Australia, a longstanding U.S. ally, the opportunity to reposition itself to a transactional president.

Australia has raised concerns with Beijing after a Chinese fighter jet dropped flares near one of its maritime patrol planes, the defence department said on Monday, labelling the incident "unsafe and unprofessional".

Conservative US commentator Candace Owens has been definitively barred from entering Australia after the nation's highest court upheld a government decision to refuse her a visa. Three High Court judges unanimously dismissed Owens' challenge to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke's ruling last year, which cited "character grounds" for the refusal.

President Trump is meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia at the White House. Mr. Albanese is widely expected to position his country as a reliable supplier of rare earth metals and a valuable ally in countering China’s influence as he seeks leverage on trade talks.

Mitch Marsh guided Australia to a seven-wicket victory over India on Sunday with an unbeaten 46 in a rain-interrupted, series-opening one-day cricket international. Australia won the toss and bowled first,

Police images showed drug packages emblazoned with a picture of a cartoon bear from the 2012 comedy "Ted." Another bag featured Chinese characters reading "smooth sailing."

Victoria Police succeeded in keeping nationalist and anti-racist demonstrations separate, but only by deploying immense violence against the left-wing rally as clashes erupted around the CBD.

Former U.S. Marine pilot Daniel Duggan, accused of training Chinese military pilots in South Africa, has appealed against extradition from Australia.