Australia
How a mega fire spread toward Sydney
SYDNEY - Ferry services were halted, fire alarms triggered and Sydney’s famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House disappeared from view in a thick, smoky...
Australia tells Facebook and Google to commit to competition rules, or else
SYDNEY - Australia said on Thursday technology giants such as Facebook Inc and Google will have to agree to new rules to ensure...
Australia probes theft of drinking water in drought-hit state
MELBOURNE - Australian police are investigating the theft of tens of thousands of liters of drinking water from a council site on the...
Bougainville vote favors independence from Papua New Guinea
CANBERRA, Australia — The South Pacific region of Bougainville voted overwhelmingly to become the world’s newest nation by gaining independence from Papua New Guinea,...
Tremors at New Zealand volcano island hinder recovery of bodies
WHAKATANE, New Zealand - Increasing tremors on a volcanic island in New Zealand have hampered efforts by authorities to recover the bodies of eight...
Australia’s Queensland state will bid for 2032 Olympics
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s Queensland state will bid to host to the 2032 Olympic Games and Paralympics, state premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters...
Spitting volcano keeps search parties off New Zealand island, death toll rises to six
WHAKATANE, New Zealand - Fearing a volcano could erupt again, search parties were unable to set foot on New Zealand’s White Island for eight...
Australian firefighters burn grasslands to minimize looming bushfire risk
Thousands of firefighters burned grassland in eastern Australia on Monday in a desperate bid to starve an anticipated new front of bushfires of fuel...
‘Sudden’ volcano eruption in New Zealand kills five, several missing
WHAKATANE, New Zealand - At least five people were killed, up to 20 injured and several reported missing after a volcano that is...