Top Asian News 2:07 a.m. GMT

Australian army private and her husband accused of spying for Russia

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian army private and her husband are accused of spying for Russia in the first charges brought under Australia’s sweeping espionage laws enacted in 2018. The Russian-born couple are Australian citizens with Russian passports and are scheduled to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday. They are each charged with one count of preparing for an espionage offense, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said. “The AFP will allege the individuals worked together to access Australian Defense Force material that related to Australia’s national security interests,” Kershaw told reporters. “We allege they sought that information with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities.