Australia and Oceania

Millions of dead fish clog Australian river

  Millions of dead and rotting fish have clogged a vast stretch of river near a remote town in the Australian outback as a searing heatwave sweeps through the region. Videos posted to social media showed boats ploughing through a blanket of dead fish smothering the water, with the surface barely visible underneath. The New South Wales government said on Friday that “millions” of fish had died in the Darling River near the small town […]

50,000 teachers strike in New Zealand over cost of living

Wellington, New Zealand (AFP) — Around 50,000 teachers in New Zealand went on strike on Thursday, after union talks with the Ministry of Education aimed at improving salaries and conditions stalled. Teachers demanding better pay waved placards declaring “can’t afford the dentist” and “too poor to print good signs” as the one-day strike forced kindergartens as well as primary and secondary schools to close across the country. Trade unions argued that the government’s latest pay […]

Australia to buy US nuclear subs in ambitious new pact

  San Diego, United States | AFP | by Jim Watson with Sebastian Smith in Washington Australia has unveiled plans to buy up to five US nuclear-powered submarines, then build a new model with US and British technology under an ambitious plan to bulk up Western muscle across the Asia-Pacific in the face of a rising China. The announcement came Monday at an event at a San Diego, California, naval base where President Joe Biden […]

Australia to buy US nuclear subs in ambitious new pact

by Jim Watson with Sebastian Smith in Washington Agence France-Presse SAN DIEGO, United States (AFP) — Australia announced Monday it will buy as many as five US nuclear-powered submarines, then build a new model with US and British technology under an ambitious plan to bulk up Western muscle across the Asia-Pacific in the face of a rising China. The announcement came at an event at a San Diego, California, naval base where President Joe Biden […]

Australia PM says to meet Biden in US, submarine deal expected

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s prime minister on Wednesday said he will soon meet President Joe Biden in the United States, where a massive nuclear-powered submarine deal is expected to be unveiled. After 18 months of deliberation, Australia is expected to reveal plans to obtain eight nuclear-powered submarines, in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called “the single biggest leap” in defense capability in the country’s history. “I’ll be meeting with President Biden in the […]

Earthquakes, back-to-back cyclones batter Vanuatu

  Port Vila, Vanuatu | AFP | Friday 3/3/2023 The Pacific nation of Vanuatu was under a state of emergency Friday, after two earthquakes and two cyclones hit in as many days. As the country cleared roads and restored power lines cut by Cyclone Judy, residents were jolted early Friday by twin earthquakes and told to hunker down for a second approaching storm — Cyclone Kevin. “It’s crazy, Vanuatu is used to natural disasters, but […]

Strong earthquakes, cyclone rattle Vanuatu

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (AFP) — Vanuatu was under a state of emergency Friday, after back-to-back earthquakes and cyclones struck the Pacific nation. An initial 6.5-magnitude quake struck at 1804 GMT off the island of Espiritu Santo in the north of the archipelago at a depth of 10 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said. An aftershock with a magnitude of 5.4 rocked the island shortly after. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was “no tsunami […]

Australian defense minister aims to reassure Thailand over nuclear subs

  by Lisa MARTIN Australia’s defence minister aimed to reassure Thailand on Friday that plans to acquire a new fleet of nuclear submarines would enhance “collective security” in the region after neighbouring countries voiced concerns. The submarine issue came up during a visit to Manila earlier this week, Defence Minister Richard Marles told AFP in an interview, and was also on the agenda for Friday’s talks with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who is responsible […]

Facebook, Instagram roll out paid subscription in Australia, New Zealand

  Facebook and Instagram began a week-long rollout of their first paid verification service on Friday, testing users’ willingness to pay for social media features that until now have been free. Facing a drop in advertising revenues, parent company Meta is piloting a subscription in Australia and New Zealand before it appears in larger markets. The service will cost US$11.99 on the web and US$14.99 on the iOS and Android mobile platforms. From Friday, subscribers […]

New Zealand seeks international help as cyclone cripples North Island

Napier, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand deployed gunships and helicopters to deliver water, food and fuel to cities cut off by Cyclone Gabrielle on Thursday, as overwhelmed authorities embraced overseas offers of help. Five people have died, 100 are missing and 10,500 more have been displaced in a disaster that has crippled the country’s populous North Island. Four days of violent winds and lashing rains caused landslides and widespread flooding that lacerated the island’s […]

Flights grounded, power cut as storm lashes New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Tens of thousands of homes in New Zealand were without power Monday and hundreds of flights have been cancelled as a tropical storm lashes the north of the country. A state of emergency has been declared in five separate regions in the North Island, covering almost one-third of New Zealand’s entire population of 5.1 million. Although the storm was downgraded as it approached on Sunday, it has already toppled trees, […]

Earthquake in Indonesia’s Papua kills 4

Jayapura, Indonesia | AFP | At least four people were killed Thursday when an earthquake struck the capital of Indonesia‘s breakaway eastern region of Papua and crumpled a waterfront restaurant, officials said. The 5.1-magnitude quake hit around 1.28 pm (0628 GMT) on land just southwest of Jayapura city at a depth of 22 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said. “A cafe collapsed and four people died there. It fell into the sea,” Asep Khalid, head […]