Tag: Australia

Australia reverses recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital

Sydney, Australia | AFP | Australia said Tuesday it would no longer recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing a contentious decision by the previous conservative government. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the city’s status should be decided through peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, and not through unilateral decisions. “We will not support an approach that undermines (a two-state solution), she said, adding: “Australia’s embassy has always been, and remains, in Tel Aviv”. A conservative […]

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Floods swallow cars, swamp houses in ‘major’ Australian emergency

Melbourne, Australia | AFP | Flash floods swamped hundreds of homes in southeastern Australia Friday with waterlogged residents now facing a “nerve-wracking” wait to assess the damage. A major flooding emergency was declared in Victoria — Australia’s second-most populous state — where rapidly rising waters forced evacuations in the Melbourne suburb of Maribyrnong. Cars left on the streets of the suburb were almost completely swallowed by the floods, while some stranded residents had to be […]

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Floods force evacuations in Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Thousands were warned to flee their homes in southeastern Australia on Friday to escape surging floodwaters threatening towns across three separate states. The flooding emergency was the worst in Victoria — Australia’s second most populous state — where on Friday morning rapidly rising waters swamped the Maribyrnong suburb of Melbourne, forcing evacuations. The Victorian government was preparing to reopen a Covid-19 quarantine center to shelter those whose homes were uninhabitable, state […]

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USA to face Canada, Australia meet China in women’s basketball World Cup semis

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) – Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas nailed 13 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists as the United States close in on an 11th title after setting up a women’s basketball World Cup semi-final against Canada Thursday. Guard Kelsey Plum added a game-high 17 points in a 88-55 pummelling of Serbia, with the three-time defending champions strong on both offence and defence. They will meet Canada in Sydney on Friday after the world […]

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Myanmar junta court sentences Australian economist, Suu Kyi to 3 years

Yangon, Myanmar (AFP) Myanmar’s junta sentenced an Australian economist to three years in prison while also handing down another conviction to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, drawing global condemnation on Thursday. Both have been detained since a coup in February last year, when the military ousted Suu Kyi’s government, for which Sean Turnell was an adviser. “Mr Sean Turnell, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and another three were sentenced to three years imprisonment each […]

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Almost 200 pilot whales perish on Australian beach

by Andrew LEESON Agence France Presse OCEAN BEACH, Australia (AFP) — Almost 200 whales have perished at an exposed, surf-swept beach on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, where Australian rescuers were only able to save a few dozen survivors Thursday. After an arduous, day-long effort in difficult conditions, state wildlife services said just 32 of the 226 beached long-finned pilot whales were strong enough to be rescued. “We’ve been refloating those whales that have […]

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230 pilot whales stranded in Australia, ‘about half’ feared dead

  SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Around 230 pilot whales were found stranded on the rugged west coast of Tasmania Wednesday, with Australian officials saying only half appeared to be alive. “A pod of approximately 230 whales has stranded near Macquarie Harbour,” said the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment. “It appears about half of the animals are alive.” Aerial images showed a devastating scene of dozens of black glossy mammals strewn along a stretch […]

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More Australia floods ‘very real possibility’ as third straight La Niña declared

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) – Flood-battered eastern Australia faces further extreme weather in the coming months after the country’s forecasters confirmed Tuesday that a “triple-dip” La Niña was under way in the Pacific. The Bureau of Meteorology said La Niña, which brings intense downpours to Australia’s heavily populated east coast, would probably peak in spring with above-average rainfall expected to last through the southern hemisphere’s summer. The country’s east is still recovering from intense storms and […]

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Australia’s Gilmore wins record eighth surfing world title

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – Stephanie Gilmore said it was “freaking cool” after the Australian won an eighth world title to become the most successful woman surfer in history. The 34-year-old had been tied with Layne Beachley on seven but against the odds beat Hawaiian world number one Carissa Moore in California to eclipse her fellow Australian’s haul. “There really are not many words that can describe this feeling right now,” said Gilmore after […]

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‘Help wanted’: businesses struggle to fill jobs

PARIS, France (AFP) – Germany has a shortage of plumbers. The United States needs more postal workers. Australia is lacking engineers. In Canada, hospitals are looking for more nurses. “The Great Resignation” that countries have experienced since Covid pandemic restrictions were eased is not over yet. Michael Blume, chief executive of a software company in eastern Germany, said he had “a lot of difficulties finding workers”. “Wherever we look, we are lacking qualified workers,” Blume, […]

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Australian central bank hikes cash rate to seven-year high

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s central bank hiked interest rates to a near eight-year high Tuesday as it joins others in trying to bring down sky-high inflation and warned further increases were likely that would hit families’ pockets. The Reserve Bank of Australia lifted borrowing costs 50 basis points to 2.35 per cent, the highest since that start of 2015. The path to bring prices back into balance was a “narrow one and clouded in […]

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Pandemic-weary nurses strike in Australia

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Nurses in Australia’s most populous state went on strike Thursday, demanding better conditions after three years on the front line of the Covid-19 crisis. The 24-hour strike was the third statewide walkout by nurses and midwives this year, and came as tensions between essential workers and the New South Wales government reached the boiling point. Train drivers have crippled Sydney’s rail network in recent weeks with rolling strikes, while bus drivers […]

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