PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Australia Climate Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, front right, and Australian Minister for Climate Change Chris Bowen pose for photographs after signing the Nationally Determined Contribution to a cut in emissions by 2030 at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Thursday, June 16, 2022. Australia’s new government on Thursday formally committed to a more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target of 43% by the end of the decade in fulfillment of a key election pledge. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP) (Lukas Coch)CANBERRA, Australia — (AP) — Australia’s new government on Thursday formally committed to a more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target of 43% by the end of the decade in fulfillment of a key election pledge. Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Patricia Espinosa Cantellano to inform her of Australia’s new 2030 target. The Greens want a 2030 reduction target of 75%.

Australia’s new government has formally committed to a more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target of 43% by the end of the decade in fulfillment of a key election pledge.

Australia said it had added the U.S.-based far-right extremist group National Socialist Order and planned to add the entirety of the Palestinian group Hamas to its list of outlawed terrorist organizations as concerns rise about radicalized children. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP) (Lukas Coch)CANBERRA, Australia — (AP) — Australia on Thursday said it had added the U.S.-based far-right extremist group National Socialist Order and planned to add the entirety of the Palestinian group Hamas to its list of outlawed terrorist organizations as concerns rise about radicalized children. Hamas’ military wing, Hamas’ Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has been listed as a terrorist organization since 2003. “The views of Hamas and the violent extremist groups listed today are deeply disturbing, and there is no place in Australia for such views,” Andrews said. The National Socialist Order is only the third far-right group to be designated by Australia as a terrorist organization.

Australia Lithuania Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, right, and Lithuania's counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis hold a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. The foreign ministers called on like-minded countries to join forces against Chinese economic coercion. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP) (Lukas Coch)CANBERRA, Australia — (AP) — Australian and Lithuanian foreign ministers on Wednesday called on like-minded countries to join forces against Chinese economic coercion. Australia and Lithuania have become conspicuous examples of the economic damage that can come with raising China’s ire. Landsbergis said the international response to economic coercion needed to be more than regional.

Australian and Lithuanian foreign ministers have called on like-minded countries to join forces against Chinese economic coercion.

Australian political leaders on Tuesday apologized to staffers who have endured decades of bullying, harassment and sexual assault inside Parliamentary House and other government offices. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP) (Lukas Coch)CANBERRA, Australia — (AP) — Australian political leaders apologized to staffers who have endured decades of bullying, harassment and sexual assault inside Parliamentary House and other government offices. Prime Minister Scott Morrison thanked Higgins for the courage she had shown in making her allegations. I’m sorry to Ms. Higgins for the terrible things that took place here,” Morrison told Parliament. House Speaker Andrew Wallace told Parliament action was already being taken to improve the workplace culture.

Australian political leaders have apologized to staffers who have endured decades of bullying, harassment and sexual assault inside Parliamentary House and other government offices.

Pinnacle Communities plans a 300-unit complex at the former night club and resort site.

A developer wants to build apartments on the land that once housed the iconic Parliament House along North Orange Blossom Trail.

Australia South Korea Moon South Korean President Moon Jae-in, left, is invited to sign a visitor's book by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Parliament House, in Canberra, Australia, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. (Lukas Coch/Pool Photo via AP) (Lukas Coch)CANBERRA, Australia — (AP) — Australia and South Korea signed a $680 million defense deal Monday as South Korean President Moon Jae-in became the first foreign leader to visit Australia since the pandemic began. Worth about 1 billion Australian dollars, the deal will see South Korean defense company Hanwha provide the Australian army with artillery weapons, supply vehicles and radars. It's the largest defense contract struck between Australia and an Asian nation, and comes at a time of heightened tensions between Australia and China. “Therefore, South Korea is focused on the steadfast alliance with the U.S. and also with China," Moon said.

The Australian government expects 200,000 vaccinated foreign students and skilled workers will soon return without quarantining when the country further relaxes pandemic restrictions next week.

Australia Climate Change Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, left, listens to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce during question time in Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP) (Mick Tsikas)CANBERRA, Australia — (AP) — Australia’s prime minister said on Tuesday the country is set to reduce emissions by 35% below 2005 levels by 2030. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would not commit at the U.N. climate conference in Scotland to increasing the country’s current 2030 target of reducing emissions by 26% to 28% below 2005 levels. “We will meet it and we will beat it,” Morrison said, referring to the 2030 target Australian adopted in 2015. “We’ll beat it with emissions reductions we believe of up to 35% and we may even achieve better,” he added.

An Australian review of defamation laws will likely examine whether platforms such as Facebook should be liable for users' defamatory posts, the communications minister said on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP) (Lukas Coch)CANBERRA, Australia — (AP) — An Australian review of defamation laws will likely examine whether platforms such as Facebook should be liable for users' defamatory posts, the communications minister said on Wednesday. Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the ruling did not touch on whether Facebook could also be held liable for defamation under Australian law. “What the case did not illuminate was the question of whether Facebook themselves are liable, and that is something I anticipate” would be examined by the current review of Australian defamation laws, Fletcher said. News Corp Australia, which owns the two broadcast programs and two of the three newspapers targeted in the defamation case, called for the law to be changed.

An Australian government minister says a review of defamation laws will likely examine whether platforms such as Facebook should be liable for users’ defamatory posts.

Parliament House is dead, long live Parliament House. The iconic LGBT resort will never open on Orange Blossom Trail again, but  slimmed-down nightclub version of...

Parliament House is returning at a new location. The beloved gay resort that called Orange Blossom Trail home for decades will move into the heart...

A new location of the Iconic Orlando gay bar Parliament House will open in downtown Orlando in the near future, according to a social media post from the nightclub.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Parliament House has found a new home in downtown Orlando. The Parliament House has a new home in Downtown Orlando. We can't wait to share more of our plans... Posted by Parliament House Orlando on Thursday, July 29, 2021Owners said more information will come in the following weeks. Parliament House closed its Orange Blossom Trail location in November 2020. READ: Parliament House to close current locationSee a map of the new location below:©2021 Cox Media Group

New Zealand will consolidate its fragmented health care system into a national service similar to the one revered by many in Britain.

The Australian government decided against buying the single-dose Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine and identified a second case of a rare blood clot likely linked to the AstraZeneca shot.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison reacts while speaking during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Morrison said he was shocked and disgusted by the latest sex scandal to rock his government and vowed to do more to attract women into politics. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)CANBERRA – Australia’s prime minister said on Tuesday he was shocked and disgusted by the latest sex scandal to rock his government and vowed to do more to attract women into politics. “I was completely stunned, as I have been on more than one occasion over the course of this last month,” Morrison added. “I want to see more women in this place,” Morrison said, referring to Parliament House.

Morrison said Australian government is ramping up its COVID-19 vaccination support for Papua New Guinea in a bid to contain a concerning wave of infections in a near-neighbor. Marape warned this week that one in three or four people in Papua New Guinea could soon be infected. Morrison said Australia had asked the United States, Japan and India to consider what they could do as Quad partners to support Papua New Guinea. Several recent COVID-19 cases detected in the Australian state closest to Papua New Guinea, Queensland, originated across the border. AdThe first Australian-manufactured AstraZeneca is expected to roll out from next week, with 50 million doses to be produced in Australia in a year.

FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2017, file photo, Australian Finance Minister Mathias Cormann addresses reporters at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the OECD, said Monday it has appointed Australian former Finance Minister Mathias Cormann as its head - despite objections over his climate record. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk, File)PARIS – The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said Monday that it has appointed a former Australian finance minister, Mathias Cormann, as its head. The appointment of Cormann as the OECD's new secretary general comes despite objections over his climate record. He became Australia’s longest-serving finance minister, a job he held from 2013 to 2020.

Thousands of people with placards and banners rally demanding justice for women in Sydney, Monday, March 15, 2021, as the government reels from two separate allegations. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)CANBERRA – Australians rallied in the capital and other cities Monday demanding justice for women and calling out misogyny and dangerous workplace cultures as the government reels from two rape allegations. Outside Parliament House in Canberra, the crowd of hundreds was mostly female and most wore black. They carried placards with slogans including “Justice for Women” and “Men, Own Your Guilt.”Prime Minister Scott Morrison refused organizers’ demand that he address the crowd, and organizers said they wouldn’t meet him behind closed doors. Reynolds has since apologized for describing Higgins to her staff as a “lying cow” and said she was referring to Higgins' allegation of inadequate support, not the rape allegation.

Ad“I think that resigning is the only thing I can personally do to say that I don’t think anyone else should go through what I went through,” Higgins told Network Ten. Morrison said Reynolds should not have questioned Higgins about her accusation in the same office where Higgins alleged the rape took place. “That should not have happened, and I do apologize,” Morrison told reporters. Reynolds told the Senate she never gave Higgins a choice between her job and making a police complaint. The opposition questioned how Morrison could continue to have confidence in Reynolds since she hadn’t told him of the alleged rape.

(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)SYDNEY – Australia’s medical regulator has approved use of its first coronavirus vaccine, paving the way for inoculations to begin next month. Residents and workers at aged-care facilities, frontline healthcare workers and quarantine workers are among the groups being prioritized for the first doses. Australia has an agreement for 10 million doses of the two-dose Pfizer vaccine and an option to buy more if supplies allow. Under a three-way agreement, it plans to buy 30 million doses from the Serum Institute of India in phases. — Sri Lanka's government says it will start administering a coronavirus vaccine this week.

Google on Friday threatened to make its search engine unavailable in Australia if the government went ahead with plans to make tech giants pay for news content. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)WELLINGTON – Google on Friday threatened to make its search engine unavailable in Australia if the government went ahead with plans to make tech giants pay for news content. “If this version of the code were to become law, it would give us no real choice but to stop making Google search available in Australia,” Silva told senators. Silva told senators about 95% of searches in the nation are done through Google. Facebook also opposes the rules and has threatened to remove news stories from its site in Australia.

FILE- In this Oct. 16, 2019, file photo, Australia's Trade Minister Simon Birmingham addresses media outside the Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. Australia will ask the World Trade Organization to intervene in its dispute with China over barley and expects other nations to become involved in the case, Australian Trade Minister Birmingham said on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. China effectively ended imports of Australian barley in May by putting tariffs of more than 80% on the crop, accusing Australia of breaching WTO rules by subsidizing barley production and selling the grain in China at below production costs. Birmingham said Australia would formally ask the WTO to intervene on Wednesday. China is the Australian barley growers’ largest market.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern moves a motion in the Parliament House in Wellington, New Zealand, to declare a climate emergency, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Joining more than 30 other countries around the world, New Zealand took the symbolic step of declaring a climate emergency. (Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald via AP)WELLINGTON – Joining more than 30 countries, New Zealand on Wednesday took the symbolic step of declaring a climate emergency. The declaration states that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity and promises a commitment to minimize global warming. It says climate change will have a devastating impact on New Zealand through flooding, wildfires, sea-level rise and water availability.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the House of Representatives during Question Time at Parliament House on February 14, 2019 in Canberra, Australia. "Australia is seeking an apology from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from the Chinese government, for this outrageous post. We are also seeking its removal immediately and have also contacted Twitter to take it down immediately," Morrison told reporters . Earlier this year, Australia supported a growing call for an international inquiry into China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Beijing has taken measures against Australian exporters, including imposing steep anti-dumping duties on Australian wine exports to China.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The recently shuttered Parliament House bar and resort are slated to be demolished, permit applications filled by the property owners with the city of Orlando show. The Iconic Orlando gay bar closed Monday after operating at its 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail location for 45 years. Club owners said they tried to secure financing to renovate the existing property but was unable to make a deal with the property owners. The property on OBT is valued at $2.6 million, according to Orange County Property Appraiser records. Parliament House owners say they are working to find a new home for the gay club and will reopen.

click to enlarge Photo via Magic 107.7We've seen gators on golf courses before, but the sight never gets old to me. This scene played out on a golf course in Melbourne. – LINK It's the end of an era with the closing of the popular LGBTQ hotspot, The Parliament House. – LINK Calling all Mad Max fans, there's a special showing this weekend: Enzian and Ace Cafe are teaming up to bring us a special presentation of. – LINK Meet the extremely pregnant woman who wanted to vote so badly this year, she insisted on stopping on the way to the hospital.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Three people have been charged in connection with the death of a 21-year-old man found inside a burning vehicle in DeLand earlier this year, the Volusia County sheriff and state attorney announced. Three suspects have been charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm: Zachariah U. Sanders, 23, Fredryonna C. Grimes,18, and 17-year-old Cameron L. Lane. The 21-year-old was found dead inside a burning vehicle in the 900 block of Delaware Avenue. “We prayed, we cried, and we prayed some more, and we got just what we asked for from the Lord: An indictment,” Heath said. “So now all we’re waiting for is a conviction, and we know God will do that for us as well.”

click to enlarge Photo via Magic 107.7If the state of the nation isn't reason enough to head to the polls this year, Winter Park's New Standard just gave you one more reason to show up on election day. – LINK After 45 years of revelry, Orlando's famed Parliament House is closing its doors permanently on Monday and here's why. – LINKOh, and have we mentioned you can drink on the streets of Orlando this weekend? You can and it's all in the name of a safe Halloween. – LINKIn the name of saving tourism, Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, is encouraging the lifting of travel restrictions for people from the U.K.— LINK

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistribu)ORLANDO, Fla. – Iconic Orlando gay bar Parliament House will close next week, but the owners say they have plans for the future. A statement from the Parliament House says they will never forget the memories made in the past 45 years. For over 45 years, The Parliament House has called Orange Blossom Trail our home. We have to announce that our home at... Posted by Parliament House Orlando on Wednesday, October 28, 2020“Our community showed up in thousands to celebrate marriage equality in the United States. And although our location may be changing, we hope you will follow us to our next destination here in Orlando.”The Parliament House said updates about future plans will be shared.

click image Photo courtesy Parliament House/FacebookFor over 45 years, The Parliament House has called Orange Blossom Trail our home. We have to announce that our home at... Posted by Parliament House Orlando on Wednesday, October 28, 2020Say it ain't so!In what seems very much the end of an era, venerable Orlando gay club and resort Parliament House will close the doors of its Orange Blossom Trail location permanently on Monday, Nov. 2, after over 40 years of revelry and liberation.On Wednesday evening, a post on the official Parliament House Facebook page made official the news that had been swirling around on social media for the better part of the day.In that same post, after confirming the closure, Parliament House management said that they are "very excited about their future" despite the closure, planning to reopen in a new location sooner rather than later.As it stands right now, the last big events for Parliament House in their current digs will be the big Halloween weekend party and outdoors costume contest on Oct. 30-31 and the "Last Dance" mentioned above, now set for Sunday, Nov. 1.2020 is tough going.

(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)MANILA – Australia and New Zealand on Friday announced a partial opening of their borders to travel between the neighboring countries. But New Zealand will continue to insist on travelers from Australia going into hotel quarantine for two weeks on arrival. Australian authorities have concluded that New Zealand posed a low risk of COVID-19 transmission to Australia, McCormack said. The South Australia state capital Adelaide would likely become the next city to allow quarantine-free travel from New Zealand, McCormack said. When New Zealand would allow quarantine-free travel from Australia was a question for New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, he said.

ORLANDO, Fla. The Orlando Police Department arrested the man accused of shooting two men in the parking of the Parliament House. The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. on May 15. Police said officers arrested Yves Regis at the Orange Motel on Colonial Drive on Wednesday. The two victims in the shooing were rushed to the hospital after the incident. On May 18, police said both men were expected to survive their injuries.

ORLANDO, Fla. Orlando police detectives are investigating a shooting that left two men injured at a popular Orlando nightclub and hotel over the weekend. Police responded to Parliament Houe on Orange Blossom Trail at 8:30 p.m. Friday for reports of an armed person outside the gay nightclub venue and hotel. When officers arrived they were flagged down by multiple people who said someone was shooting on the west side of the motel, according to the police report. Officers also found 9 mm shell casings near the door of a motel room and two shooting victims inside the room, according to the report. One victim had injuries to his feet while the second victim suffered serious injuries to his leg, officers said.

click to enlarge Photo by Monivette CordeiroThe iconic Darcel Stevens is just one of the special guests. This is the 43rd year that Parliament House has hosted a Miss Parliament House drag pageant. Do you want to know what was happening the same year that the first pageant was held? The Son of Sam terrorized New York. Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

click to enlarge Photo by Ashleigh Ann GardnerBen Lamoureux in 'Mean Gays'Event Details Mean Gays @ Footlight Theatre, The Parliament House 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail Downtown Orlando, FL When: Sat., July 6, 7:30 p.m. Price: $15-$25 Theater MapNo, its not just George Takei and Ian McKellen trading barbs for an hour and a half., a parody of filled with 1990s and 2000s pop-culture references bills itself as too gay to function. The play, which earned Patrons Pick at the 2019 Orlando Fringe Festival, is back for an encore performance at the Parliament House with new cast members. Guests can purchase a VIP experience for $25, which includes reserved seating in the first four rows and a meet-and-greet after the performance. Get in, losers. We're going shopping!7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, July 4-6 | Footlight Theater at the Parliament House, 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail | meangaysencore.eventbrite.com | $15-$25