Australia and Oceania

Australia seeks to allay fears Trump could nix refugee deal

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to allay concerns Monday that a deal to send refugees from remote Pacific camps to the United States could be scuppered by President-elect Donald Trump. Canberra on Sunday announced a “one-off” arrangement that would see an unspecified number of the 1,600 boatpeople held in offshore processing centres on Nauru and in Papua New Guinea settled in the US. But with the political novice, who campaigned […]

MH370 plunged rapidly, not ready for landing: new report

  SYDNEY, Australia | AFP | — Flight MH370 was likely out of control when it plunged into the ocean with its wing flaps not prepared for landing, a new report said Wednesday, casting doubt on theories a pilot was still in charge. Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014 carrying 239 passengers and crew. The report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the plane’s […]

Australia, Indonesia mull joint South China Sea patrols

    SYDNEY, Australia | AFP | — Australia is considering joint patrols with Indonesia in the disputed South China Sea, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Tuesday, in a move set to irk Beijing. The possibility was raised by Jakarta during meetings between Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne and Indonesian officials including Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu last week. “We have agreed to explore options to increase maritime cooperation and of course that would include […]

Australia, Indonesia mull joint South China Sea patrols

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia is considering joint patrols with Indonesia in the disputed South China Sea, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Tuesday, in a move set to irk Beijing. The possibility was raised by Jakarta during meetings between Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne and Indonesian officials including Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu last week. “We have agreed to explore options to increase maritime cooperation and of course that would include coordinated activities in the […]

Deal struck for world’s biggest marine reserve in Antarctica

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP)– The world’s largest marine reserve aimed at protecting the pristine wilderness of Antarctica will be created after agreement was finally reached Friday with Russia dropping its long-held opposition. The deal, sealed by the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) at an annual meeting in Hobart after years of negotiations, will see a massive US and New Zealand-backed marine protected area established in the Ross Sea. It will cover more than 1.55 […]

Shark attacks surfer in Australia

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A man escaped with cuts to his leg Monday after a shark crashed into his board while he was surfing near popular tourist spot Byron Bay in eastern Australia. Beaches in the area, some 800 kilometres (500 miles) north of Sydney, were closed for at least 24 hours after the early morning encounter, with the victim taken to hospital by a friend. “It is believed that the shark emerged from under […]

6.9-magnitude quake hits off PNG: USGS

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A strong 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea on Monday, officials said, but no Pacific-wide tsunami warning was issued. The tremor was estimated at a depth of 35 kilometres (22 miles) in the New Britain region of the country, some 418 kilometres northeast of the capital Port Moresby, the United States Geological Survey said. © 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

Australian state backflips on greyhound racing ban

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s most populous state made an embarrassing backflip Tuesday on its plan to ban greyhound racing after sustained industry and public pressure, admitting it “got it wrong”. New South Wales Premier Mike Baird announced in July that his government would shut down the sport from July 1 next year after a series of scandals including “live baiting” and the slaughter of tens of thousands of dogs. But the controversial decision was […]

One killed, thousands without power as storms hit Australia

BADGER CREEK, NORTH EAST OF MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) — Wind gusts and storms lashed the Australian state of Victoria on Sunday (October 9), killing one woman and disrupting power supplies to more than 100,000 people. Roughly 120,000 homes were without power across the country’s second-most populous state and Melbourne’s International Airport closed one of two runways, causing significant delays. Falling trees injured several people, with tree branches crashing into houses causing widespread damage. “I heard […]

Wild weather hits South Australia after mass blackout

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — South Australia braced for a second night of severe weather Thursday, with tens of thousands of homes still without power after “catastrophic” storms knocked out supply to the entire population. The total blackout caused chaos and widespread damage was reported, as authorities warned of more wild conditions to come including floods, high winds, heavy rain and surging tides. The state’s premier Jay Weatherill said “twin tornadoes” had hit northern areas, where […]

Orphaned baby Koala finds fluffy toy friend

  SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — An orphaned baby koala in Australia has found solace cuddling a fluffy toy marsupial in the absence of his mother as he recovers from the trauma of her death.  Nine-month-old Shayne’s mother was recently hit and killed by a car in Queensland state as he clung to her back.  Rescuers found the joey had been thrown 20 metres down the road by the impact and was being chased by crows. […]

6.0-magnitude quake hits off Solomon Islands

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A 6.0-magnitude quake hit off the Solomon Islands on Wednesday, officials said, but Australian seismologists said it was unlikely to generate a tsunami. The quake hit some 88 kilometers (54 miles) west of the capital Honiara at a depth of about 10 kilometers, the United States Geological Survey said. Geoscience Australia estimated the quake at a much deeper 30 kilometers, but said it was of a 6.2 magnitude. “It’s too small […]