Australia and Oceania

Strong aftershock as aid starts reaching quake-hit PNG

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Critical relief supplies are finally flowing into areas of Papua New Guinea devastated by a strong earthquake, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said, as another 6.7-magnitude tremor rocked the region Wednesday. At least 67 people were killed by the initial quake in the Pacific nation’s mountainous interior on February 26, according to the Red Cross, with 500 injured and 17,000 displaced. Aid has yet to reach isolated parts of the Southern Highlands, […]

PNG quake leaves 67 dead as aftershocks rock homes: Red Cross

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — At least 67 people were killed by a major earthquake that devastated Papua New Guinea’s remote highlands last week, the Red Cross said Monday, with thousands homeless and without food and clean water. The recovery effort has been slow as aid workers grapple with blocked roads and power outages to reach cut-off villages after the 7.5-magnitude quake struck on February 26 in the Pacific nation’s mountainous interior. Terrified locals in the […]

Crucial abuse hearing for top Vatican official opens in Australia

by Daniel DE CARTERET Agence France Presse MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — A crucial hearing opened in Melbourne Monday to determine if one of Pope Francis’ top advisers, Cardinal George Pell, will stand trial on multiple historical sexual offense charges. The 76-year-old, the most senior Catholic cleric to be charged with criminal offenses linked to the Church’s long-running sexual abuse scandal, denies all the claims. He has taken leave from his role as Vatican finance chief […]

One historical sex charge against Vatican finance chief withdrawn ahead of hearing next week

  MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Prosecutors Friday withdrew one of multiple historical sexual offence charges against Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell ahead of his committal hearing next week. The 76-year-old, a top adviser to Pope Francis, has taken leave to fight the allegations which relate to incidents that allegedly occurred long ago. The exact details and nature of the accusations have not been made public, other than they involve “multiple complainants”. A preliminary hearing […]

State of emergency declared in PNG after major quake

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A state of emergency has been declared in Papua New Guinea’s remote highlands after a major earthquake shook the region in what Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said was an “unprecedented disaster” for local communities. O’Neill said his government was working to restore services and provide aid to the affected Hela, Southern Highlands, Western and Enga provinces in the Pacific nation’s mountainous interior. “This is an unprecedented disaster in the Highlands region […]

Quake-hit Papua New Guinea struggles to assess damage

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Communication blackouts and blocked roads were hampering rescue efforts Wednesday as Papua New Guinea worked to get a better grasp of the damage wrought by a massive earthquake amid fears of its economic impact. The 7.5-magnitude tremor struck 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of Porgera in the Pacific nation’s mountainous Enga province early Monday, with sporadic aftershocks continuing to rumble through the rugged region. Local media reported that aerial surveys of […]

More than 30 believed dead in PNG quake: report

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — More than 30 people are believed to have died after a powerful earthquake struck Papua New Guinea’s mountainous interior, a report said Tuesday as rescue teams worked to reach the worst-hit areas. The 7.5-magnitude tremor struck 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of Porgera in the Pacific nation’s Enga province early Monday, with two strong aftershocks rattling the rugged region. Phone lines have been largely cut, but the PNG Post Courier newspaper […]

PNG troops respond to major 7.5 quake as aftershocks hit

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Papua New Guinea sent troops and rescue workers after a powerful earthquake struck the Pacific nation’s mountainous interior Monday and damaged a gas plant and other buildings. Authorities warned of aftershocks and landslides. There was no official information on fatalities or injuries in the rugged region but one unconfirmed report of deaths. Assessment teams headed to affected areas near the 7.5-magnitude quake’s epicenter, which the US Geological Survey said was some […]

PNG troops respond to major 7.5 quake as aftershocks feared

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Papua New Guinea sent troops and rescue workers Monday to respond to a powerful earthquake in the Pacific nation’s mountainous interior, with unconfirmed reports of fatalities and warnings of aftershocks and landslides. Assessment teams were heading to affected areas near the 7.5-magnitude quake’s epicenter, which the US Geological Survey said was some 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of Porgera in Enga province. “It is advisable to stay out of multi-story buildings, […]

Major 7.5-magnitude earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea early Monday, with unconfirmed reports of blackouts and damage to buildings, officials said. The quake’s epicentre was around 90 kilometres (55 miles) south of Porgera in Enga province, according to the US Geological Survey, and hit at a depth of 35 kilometres. The quake hit PNG’s mountainous interior and US scientists said there was no tsunami threat. Felix Taranu, a seismologist at the […]

Australia’s embattled deputy PM accused of sexual harassment

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s embattled deputy leader Barnaby Joyce was accused of sexual harassment Friday, as pressure mounted on him to quit as the controversy over an affair with a now-pregnant former aide showed no sign of abating. Joyce, whose National Party rules alongside Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Liberals, has been front-page news in Australia for two weeks since it emerged he had left his wife of 24 years for his younger former media […]

Aid reaches cyclone-hit Tonga as storm passes Fiji

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (AFP) –International aid began trickling in on Wednesday to areas of Tonga devastated by Cyclone Gita, as Fiji escaped the worst of the storm’s fury. Military aircraft from Australia and New Zealand flew emergency supplies to Nuku’alofa, which was battered early Tuesday by the most powerful cyclone ever recorded in the capital. Fiji feared similar destruction when the tempest moved over its southern Lau islands early Wednesday, but initial indications were encouraging. Fiji’s […]