SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) – More than 2,000 leaked reports detailing allegations of sexual assault, child abuse and self-harm in Australian immigration centres on Nauru were published Wednesday, prompting rights groups to renew calls for refugees to be resettled elsewhere. Under Canberra’s current policy, asylum-seekers arriving by boat are sent to the remote Pacific island nation of Nauru or to Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island. They will not be allowed to resettle in Australia even if […]
Tag: Australia
Australia probes youth detention abuse likened to Guantanamo
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) by Martin PARRY The Australian government ordered an inquiry Tuesday after graphic evidence emerged of prison guards assaulting teenage boys, with one shown hooded and shackled in scenes likened to Guantanamo Bay. National broadcaster ABC on Monday night showed footage of offenders, many indigenous, being stripped naked, tear-gassed and held in solitary confinement for weeks at a youth detention centre in the Northern Territory in 2014 and 2015. In one video from last […]
“Do more,” families of MH370 passengers tell Malaysia, China
(Eagle News) — Relatives of people aboard the missing Malaysia airlines flight MH370 urged governments on Thursday (July 21) to step up the hunt for the aircraft, a day before a meeting where ministers could decide to call off the search. Malaysian, Chinese and Australian ministers will meet in Kuala Lumpur today to discuss the future of the search for MH370, which disappeared during a flight from the Malaysian capital to Beijing in march 2014, […]
Russian hot air balloon adventurer launches round-the-world attempt
NORTHAM, Australia (Reuters) — Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov lifted off from Northam in Western Australia on Tuesday (July 12) in his attempt to break the world record for a hot air balloon solo flight around the world. The 64-year-old Russian Orthodox priest’s wife and children watched as he departed at sunrise from the same place American aviator Steve Fossett started his successful solo flight in 2002 to circumnavigate the globe. Fossett took 13 and a […]
Pokemon Go craze crashes Aussie servers, draws police warnings
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — High demand for the mobile augmented-reality game Pokemon Go crashed the app’s servers in Australia Tuesday, while attracting safety and trespassing warnings from police. The game has been a huge hit with players since it was rolled out in Australia, New Zealand and the United States late last week, with more than five million downloads on the Android Google Play app store. It has also topped Apple’s app charts. A Pokemon […]
Tribute to Heroes
SYDNEY, Australia (Eagle News)–Crime and fire fighting is truly a noble yet dangerous and challenging work. Many police officers and firefighters risk their own lives to save others. These past few weeks, members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) in Australia and New Zealand paid tribute and honored the brave firefighters and police officers of the land. As part of the church’s INC Giving Program, a Heroes Appreciation Day for the Police and Firefighters […]
Australia in political limbo after voters punish government
by Martin Parry SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia was in political limbo Sunday after voters failed to hand Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull the stability he craved in calling an election, with the nation instead facing the prospect of a hung parliament. The former banker went to the polls early looking to shore up support and deliver a strong government based on a “jobs and growth” agenda after ousting fellow Liberal Tony Abbott in a party […]
Indonesian accused of cyanide coffee murder on trial
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — An Indonesian woman accused of murdering a friend with cyanide-laced coffee went on trial Wednesday, in a case that has caused tensions between Indonesia and Australia over the death penalty. Jessica Kumala Wongso, who is an Australian permanent resident, denies the premeditated murder of her college friend Wayan Mirna Salihin, who collapsed and died after drinking the coffee at an upmarket Jakarta cafe in January. The case has attracted huge national […]
Australian rodent species first victim of climate change?
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Climate change appears to have driven to extinction an Australian Great Barrier Reef rodent, according to a new study, which suggests the species may be the first mammal lost to the global phenomenon. Extensive searches for the Bramble Cay melomys, a small rat-like animal, have failed to find a single specimen from its only known habitat on a sandy island in far northern Australia. Researchers said the key factor behind the […]
Australia pledges $1 billion to help save the Great Barrier Reef
LIZARD ISLAND, Australia (Reuters) — Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Monday (June 13) pledged $1 billion in assistance for the ailing Great Barrier Reef if his government is re-elected next month. Speaking in Townsville in North Queensland, Turnbull said if his government is returned to power after the July 2 election he would instruct Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) to redirect $1 billion of it $10 billion fund towards a loans scheme aimed […]
New debris images examined by MH370 search team
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Images of three new pieces of debris are being examined by Australian search teams looking for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, they said Friday. One of the items washed up on remote Kangaroo Island off Australia’s south coast, while the other two were reportedly found in Madagascar. “The ATSB has been advised and has received photos of the item (on Kangaroo Island),” a spokesman for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which […]
NBA: Bogut eyes Rio despite ‘scary’ Zika
by Jim SLATER CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — Andrew Bogut plans to play for Australia at the Rio Olympics, but Zika virus concerns have the NBA standout joking about getting a hazmat suit as he considers the risks. The 31-year-old 7-footer (2.13m) from Melbourne has helped the defending champion Golden State Warriors grab a 2-0 lead over Cleveland in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. “I would be lying to say I wasn’t concerned about it, but […]
