Tag: Australia

Third of Australia’s threatened species not being monitored

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A third of Australia’s threatened species are not being tracked, scientists said Friday, warning they could easily slide into extinction without anyone noticing. The first national assessment on the monitoring of threatened birds, mammals, frogs, freshwater fish, reptiles and ecological communities found 217 species were not being watched. Plants and insects were not included. The government-funded Threatened Species Recovery Hub said the results were poor for most groups, although keeping tabs […]

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Macron warns over China dominance in Indo-Pacific

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — No country can be allowed to dominate the Indo-Pacific, the leaders of France and Australia said Wednesday, as regional capitals fret over the rise of an increasingly assertive China. French President Emmanuel Macron said the two nations — alongside fellow democracy India — had a responsibility to protect the region from “hegemony” — a veiled reference to Beijing’s growing might. “What’s important is to preserve rules-based development in the region… and […]

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Pope aide Pell to stand trial on multiple sex abuse charges

  by Daniel De Carteret Agence France Presse MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — The Vatican’s finance chief Cardinal George Pell Tuesday became the highest-ranked Catholic to be sent for trial over historic sex offences, as the elderly priest vowed to fight the charges. The 76-year-old was impassive throughout the hearing in the Australian city of Melbourne that ordered him to face a jury on “multiple” charges, although half of the allegations against him — including some […]

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World’s oldest known spider dies in Australia — of wasp sting

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — The world’s oldest known spider has died at the ripe old age of 43 after being monitored for years during a long-term population study in Australia, researchers said Monday. The trapdoor matriarch comfortably outlived the previous record holder, a 28-year-old tarantula found in Mexico, according to a study published in the Pacific Conservation Biology Journal. The spider did not die of old age but was killed by a wasp sting, researchers […]

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Australia pledges half a billion to restore Great Barrier Reef

by Martin Parry Agence France Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia pledged half a billion dollars to restore and protect the Great Barrier Reef Sunday in what it said would be a game-changer for the embattled natural wonder, but conservationists were not convinced. The World Heritage-listed site, which attracts millions of tourists, is reeling from significant bouts of coral bleaching due to warming sea temperatures linked to climate change. It is also under threat from […]

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Large bushfire burns near homes on Sydney outskirts

  SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Hundreds of firefighters were Monday battling a large bushfire that was raging near Sydney suburbs, with authorities saying it was “miraculous” no houses had been damaged and no-one had been injured. New South Wales state police are investigating the cause of the bushfire in south-western Sydney, which started on Saturday afternoon amid unseasonably warm autumn weather and strong winds, with suspicions it was deliberately lit. The blaze has burnt through more than […]

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Australia admits tensions with China but denies ‘deep chill’

  SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s prime minister admitted Thursday bubbling tensions with China over allegations of Beijing meddling in domestic politics, but denied there was a “deep chill” in relations after reports ministers were being refused visas. Bilateral ties took a dive late last year when Canberra announced wide-ranging reforms to espionage and foreign interference legislation, singling out China as a focus of concern. It sparked a furious response from Beijing, which summoned Australia’s ambassador […]

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Tears and sympathy: support grows for Smith over cricket ban

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A wave of sympathy for disgraced Australia skipper Steve Smith gathered pace on Friday after his heart-wrenching apology and as opposition grew to the severity of bans handed out in a ball-tampering scandal. Smith’s tearful appearance in front of media helped trigger the resignation of coach Darren Lehmann and also prompted calls to rein in criticism which has verged on hysterical during an extraordinary week for Australian cricket. Both Smith and […]

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Vatican finance chief awaits decision over sex offences trial

    MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell faces a nervous wait after a hearing to determine if he will stand trial on historical sexual offence charges adjourned Thursday. After four weeks of witness statements, and cross-examinations by Pell’s lawyers, magistrate Belinda Wallington retired to decide if there is sufficient evidence for the case to go to trial. A decision is expected some time in April. The 76-year-old, who is a […]

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Australia expels two Russian diplomats over Britain poison case

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia joined the United States and other British allies in expelling two Russian diplomats Tuesday in response to a nerve agent attack on a double agent in England. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the pair were “undeclared intelligence officers” and had seven days to leave. “This decision reflects the shocking nature of the attack, the first offensive use of chemical weapons in Europe since World War II, involving a highly lethal […]

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World cities go dark as Earth Hour climate campaign circles globe

  PARIS, France (AFP) — The Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower and Moscow’s Red Square were among the world landmarks to go dark Saturday, as part of a global campaign to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change. Earth Hour, which started in Australia in 2007, is being observed by millions of supporters in 187 countries, who turned off their lights at 8:30 p.m. local time in what organizers describe as the world’s […]

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PHL, Australia reaffirm commitment to war vs terror

Cayetano, Turnbull discuss human rights, the West Philippine Sea, others in bilateral meet in Sydney (Eagle News) – The Philippines and Australia reaffirmed their commitment  to fight terrorism, and discussed human rights, rule of law,  the West Philippine Sea, and people-to-people relations in their bilateral meeting in Sydney, Australia. This was according to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, who represented President Rodrigo Duterte during the bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull  on […]

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