site.news_by_theme Australia
World record price for rare Australian 'Holey Dollar'
A private collector has paid a world record Aus$495,000 (US$508,000) for one of Australia's first coins, known as the "Holey Dollar".
06 March 2013
Firm sorry for 'Keep Calm and Rape' shirts
A T-shirt company has issued an apology for advertising tops with slogans such as "Keep Calm and Rape A Lot" and "Keep Calm and Kill Her", with its founder saying Wednesday the firm may go under.
06 March 2013
James Franco lashes Australia for banning gay film
Hollywood star James Franco has lashed out at Australia for banning the US gay-themed film "I Want Your Love", calling the decision embarrassing.
05 March 2013
Australian mine workers sacked over Harlem Shake video
Workers at an underground gold mine in Western Australia have been sacked for performing the Harlem Shake dance while on the job.
04 March 2013
Australian climate on 'steroids' after hottest summer
Australia's weather went "on steroids" over a summer that saw an unprecedented heatwave, bushfires and floods, the climate chief said Monday, warning that global warming would only make things worse.
04 March 2013
Qantas passengers treated for heat exposure
Soaring cabin temperatures meant 50 passengers and crew had to be treated for heat stress Monday on a Qantas domestic flight in Australia, after a problem with the air-conditioning.
04 March 2013
Arianespace wins Australian broadband satellite contract
European satellite launch company Arianespace was Monday selected by Australia to send rockets into orbit to help bring broadband to the country's remote Outback.
04 March 2013
Sydney set to sparkle for gay pride parade
Up to 300,000 spectators were Saturday expected to brave the rain to watch Sydney's annual Mardi Gras gay pride parade, with an emphasis on the political as the nation prepares for elections.
03 March 2013
WHO says polio fight critical despite attacks
The head of the World Health Organization's polio drive said Friday it was crucial to push on with the fight to eradicate the disease despite a rising death toll among vaccination workers.
01 March 2013
Australian government pension fund dumps tobacco
The Australian government's pension fund for public servants Thursday announced it would sell off its Aus$222 (US$228) million holdings in tobacco companies following the nation's move towards plain packaging.
28 February 2013
Australia dismisses Assange fears as 'fantasy'
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr has dismissed as "fantasy" claims by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange that Sweden's case against him is a conspiracy to have him extradited to the United States.
26 February 2013
Powerful Cyclone Rusty nears Australia
Australian authorities urged the evacuation of parts of the resource-rich northwest Tuesday as a powerful cyclone whipped up huge seas, while a man died in heavy flooding in the northeast.
26 February 2013
Vast asteroid impact zone found in Australia
Scientists have discovered a massive 200-kilometre (124-mile) impact zone in the Australian outback they believe was caused by an asteroid which smashed into Earth more than 300 million years ago.
20 February 2013
Israel PM: exposing intelligence harms security
Exposure of intelligence activities can "badly damage" state security, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday in his first remarks on the arrest and death of a jailed Australian-Israeli with Mossad links.
18 February 2013
Asteroid whizzes safely past Earth
A closely tracked asteroid, about 150-feet (45-meters) wide, whizzed safely past Earth on Friday, the same day a much smaller, previously undetected meteor hit Russia.
17 February 2013
Uproar at Mossad over Australia spy story: reporter
Mossad went into crisis mode when it heard the "Prisoner X" story was about to break, the Australian reporter responsible said Friday, amid claims the jailed man had been set to reveal sensitive operations.
15 February 2013
Australia admits it knew of 'Prisoner X' in detention
Foreign Minister Bob Carr admitted Thursday Canberra knew an Australian had been detained by Tel Aviv in 2010 for national security offences, as media suggested he may have been held for treason.
15 February 2013
Bee Gees' Gibb says it could have been a life of crime
The sole surviving member of the Bee Gees on Thursday revealed he and his brothers could easily have turned to crime rather than music as he unveiled a statue in their honour in Australia.
14 February 2013
Australian magazine says Kate bump pictures 'beautiful'
An Australian women's magazine Wednesday defended its decision to publish pictures of a bikini-clad Duchess of Cambridge which show her baby bump, saying they were a "beautiful" set of images.
13 February 2013
Smoking out tobacco: The rise of the e-cig
The camera zooms in on a stubble-bearded hunk dragging on a cigarette and blowing out a thick cloud of smoke with what seems to be great satisfaction.
11 February 2013