Australia & Oceania

Orangutan escapes enclosure at Australian zoo

AP - Mon Jul 13, 9:19 AM ET

SYDNEY - Officials at an Australian zoo say a clever orangutan used a rope to swing out of its enclosure and enjoy a brief taste of freedom.

  • East Timor rebels on trial for shooting president AP - Mon Jul 13, 8:17 AM ET

    DILI, East Timor - Rebel soldiers accused of trying to assassinate the president and prime minister of East Timor went on trial Monday.

  • An East Timor court has begun the trial under tight security of 28 people accused of trying to kill President Jose Ramos-Horta, seen here iin 2008, and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in a failed twin assassination attempt.(AFP/File/Anoek de Groot)
    Trial starts in E.Timor for attack on president AFP - Mon Jul 13, 6:20 AM ET

    DILI (AFP) - An East Timor court began the trial under tight security Monday of 28 people accused of trying to kill the president and prime minister in a failed twin assassination attempt.

  • Australia pushes China on Rio Tinto detentions Reuters - Mon Jul 13, 5:45 AM ET

    CANBERRA/BEIJING (Reuters) - Australia summoned China's ambassador on Monday for a second time to press for details of the detention of Rio Tinto's top iron ore salesman in China and three other staff accused of spying.

  • China president Hu endorsed Rio arrests: report Reuters - Sun Jul 12, 7:29 PM ET

    CANBERRA (Reuters) - China's President Hu Jintao personally endorsed an investigation into global miner Rio Tinto that led to the detention of four of its China-based staff, a newspaper said on Monday, citing Chinese government sources.

  • Australia warned China risked damaging its business reputation abroad by holding a top Rio Tinto executive accused of spying and predicted a lengthy diplomatic stand-off over his fate.(AFP/HO/File)
    Australia says spy row risks China business standing AFP - Sun Jul 12, 4:44 AM ET

    MELBOURNE (AFP) - Australia on Sunday warned China risked damaging its business reputation abroad by holding a top Rio Tinto executive accused of spying and predicted a lengthy diplomatic stand-off over his fate.

  • Australia warns of risks to delay in China spy case Reuters - Sun Jul 12, 4:15 AM ET

    PERTH/BEIJING (Reuters) - Australia warned China on Sunday of the risks to business confidence from the detention without charge of an Australian executive accused of stealing state secrets, and Chinese executives feared a wider purge.

  • A ferry carrying illegal immigrants is pictured heading for Indonesia. According to the local police, 15 of the 74 Afghan migrants who went missing in treacherous waters en route to Australia, have been found.(AFP/File/Jimin Lai)
    Indonesia find 15 Afghan migrants: police AFP - Sat Jul 11, 3:30 AM ET

    KUPANG, Indonesia (AFP) - Indonesia has found 15 of the 74 Afghan migrants who went missing in treacherous waters en route to Australia, according to police.

  • Australia concerned over Rio executive detention Reuters - Sat Jul 11, 12:34 AM ET

    SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Australia's trade minister, Simon Crean, said on Saturday he had expressed "strong concern" to the Shanghai city government regarding the detention of an executive working for Rio Tinto.

  • Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean (pictured on June 7) has sought a meeting with Chinese officials in Shanghai over the arrest of a top mining executive on bribery allegations, according to local media. Crean, who is in China on a pre-arranged diplomatic visit, has been trying to intervene on behalf of Rio Tinto boss Stern Hu, who is accused of spying and stealing state secrets.(AFP/File/Sonny Tumbelaka)
    Australia says Rio arrests linked to iron ore talks AFP - Fri Jul 10, 5:13 PM ET

    SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia on Friday said China's arrest of a top Rio Tinto executive was over alleged bribery during fraught iron ore negotiations, as Chinalco denied the move was payback for a collapsed deal.

  • Uluru (Ayers Rock), rising 348 metres, can be seen above the surrounding desert of central Australia. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd spoke out against plans to stop people climbing tourist hotspot Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, as debate raged about the ban.(AFP/File/Torsten Blackwood)
    Australia PM opposes Uluru climbing ban AFP - Fri Jul 10, 3:42 AM ET

    SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd spoke out against plans to stop people climbing tourist hotspot Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, as debate raged about the ban.

  • Employees are seen at Rio Tinto Limited Shanghai Representative Office in Shanghai, July 8, 2009. REUTERS/Aly Song
    Australia PM says caution needed on China spy case Reuters - Thu Jul 9, 7:03 PM ET

    CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia is adopting a cautious approach to dealing with Chinese allegations of spying against Shanghai-based staff of Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Friday.

  • German backpacker Sandra Hackel sits at Circular Quay in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, July 9, 2009, with a bottle of water at hand while she writes a letter home. Residents of a rural Australian town hoping to protect the earth and their wallets have voted to ban the sale of bottled water, the first community in the country and possibly the world to take such a drastic step in the growing global backlash against the bottled water industry. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
    H2-WHOA! Australian town bans bottled water sales AP - Thu Jul 9, 12:01 PM ET

    SYDNEY - Residents of a rural Australian town hoping to protect the earth and their wallets have voted to ban the sale of bottled water, the first community in the country — and possibly the world — to take such a drastic step in the growing backlash against the industry.

  • A employee is seen at Rio Tinto Limited Shanghai Representative Office in Shanghai July 8, 2009. REUTERS/Aly Song
    China says Rio Tinto staff hurt interests Reuters - Thu Jul 9, 6:38 AM ET

    BEIJING/SYDNEY (Reuters) - China said on Thursday detained staff from Australian miner Rio Tinto had harmed China's economic interests in a case that has rattled currency markets and raised questions about China-Australia relations.

  • Australian War Memorial handout shows Australian World War II Victoria Cross recipient Edward Kenna has died aged 90. Kenna was awarded the medal for storming a Japanese machine-gun nest and was Australia's last surviving World War II Victoria Cross recipient.(AFP/Australian War Memorial/Ho)
    Australia's last WWII Victoria Cross winner dies AFP - Thu Jul 9, 3:43 AM ET

    MELBOURNE (AFP) - Australia's last surviving World War II recipient of the Victoria Cross, who was awarded the elite medal for storming a Japanese machine gun post, has died aged 90, officials said.

  • China said Thursday it had evidence proving detained Rio Tinto staff stole state secrets, as the affair threatened to boil over into a diplomatic row with Australia summoning the Chinese ambassador.(AFP/File/Liu Jin)
    China confirms Rio Tinto four accused of spying AFP - Thu Jul 9, 3:36 AM ET

    MELBOURNE (AFP) - Australia has dismissed speculation that China's spying claims against a top mining executive were linked to trade disputes, as Shanghai officials confirmed four Rio Tinto staff were being held.

  • China said it had evidence proving detained Rio Tinto staff stole state secrets, as the affair threatened to boil over into a diplomatic row with Australia summoning the Chinese ambassador.(AFP/File/Greg Wood)
    China says 4 Rio Tinto staff held for spying AFP - Thu Jul 9, 1:21 AM ET

    SHANGHAI (AFP) - Four employees of Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto have been detained in China for allegedly stealing state secrets, the Shanghai branch of the state security authority said.

  • A truck being loaded with iron ore in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Australia said China's detention of a Rio Tinto employee accused of spying was "completely unacceptable" Wednesday and it was seeking urgent access to the executive in Shanghai.(AFP/Rio Tinto/File)
    Australian Rio Tinto executive held in China: FM AFP - Wed Jul 8, 7:08 AM ET

    MELBOURNE (AFP) - An Australian executive with mining giant Rio Tinto was being held in China as a suspected spy, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Wednesday.

  • FILE - In this June 8, 2000 file photo shown is Uluru, or Ayers Rock. Climbing Australia's famous 1,135-foot high (346-meter) red sandstone monolith, may be banned in the future under a plan released Wednesday July 8, 2009, by the national parks service, citing cultural, safety and environmental reasons. Climbing the rock has long been opposed by the Nguraritja, the Aboriginal tribe who regained title to the land in 1985 and consider it sacred territory.(AP Photo/Greg Saray, File)
    Climbers may be barred from Australia's famed rock AP - Wed Jul 8, 6:16 AM ET

    SYDNEY - Climbing Uluru, Australia's famous red sandstone monolith, may be banned in the future under a plan released Wednesday by the national parks service, citing cultural, safety and environmental reasons.

  • Australia's plan to ban Uluru climb sparks debate Reuters - Wed Jul 8, 3:51 AM ET

    CANBERRA (Reuters) - An Australian government proposal to stop people from climbing the famed Uluru, in deference to the wishes of indigenous people, sparked debate on Wednesday with lawmakers opposing the plan.

  • A police handout photo shows a 700-year-old child's skull which was found washed up on a Sydney beach. Baffled Australian police have launched an appeal for information on the skull.(AFP/HO/File)
    700-year-old skull washes up on Aussie beach AFP - Tue Jul 7, 3:18 AM ET

    SYDNEY (AFP) - Baffled Australian police have launched an appeal for information after a 700-year-old skull washed up on a beach.

  • Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Sydney who has been accused of "sheer arrogance" over moves to press the Pope to create the country's first saint.(AFP/File/Greg Wood)
    Australia PM slammed over Vatican sainthood move AFP - Mon Jul 6, 11:57 PM ET

    SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been accused of "sheer arrogance" over moves to press the Pope to create the country's first saint.

  • Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith attends a joint press conference with Malaysian foreign minister Anifah Aman at the foreign ministry, in Malaysia's administrative capital of Putrajaya. Smith is in Malaysia to discuss bilateral and international issues with Malaysian high officials that include the sensitive issue of the people trafficking.(AFP/Saeed Khan)
    Australia pressures Malaysia on people-smuggling AFP - Mon Jul 6, 4:21 AM ET

    KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia appealed for international help to curb people-smuggling, amid talks with Australian leaders who are pushing for action to close down illegal migration routes.

  • Mining giant Rio Tinto has announced the $1.2bln sale of Alcan's American food packaging arm to US firm Bemis as it offloads assets to pay off its big debts. The Anglo-American miner said it would receive cash and up to $200m in Bemis shares under the deal for Alcan Food Americas, which is still subject to regulatory approval.(AFP/File/Greg Wood)
    Rio Tinto offloads Alcan unit for $1.2bn AFP - Mon Jul 6, 4:17 AM ET

    MELBOURNE (AFP) - Mining giant Rio Tinto on Monday announced the 1.2 billion US dollar sale of Alcan's American food packaging arm to US firm Bemis as it offloads assets to pay off its big debts.

  • File photo shows joggers passing an Australian warship moored at Garden Island - the Navy's main base in Sydney. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said allegations that members of the navy ran a sex betting ring were "disturbing" and promised a full investigation.(AFP/File/Torsten Blackwood)
    Navy sex-bet claims 'disturbing': Australia PM AFP - Sun Jul 5, 11:43 PM ET

    MELBOURNE (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said allegations that members of the navy ran a sex betting ring were "disturbing" and promised a full investigation.

  • In this July 4, 2009 image released by Taronga Zoo a newly born baby elephant is pictured with his mother. The male calf - so far without a name - was born in Sydney's Taronga Zoo on Saturday and was healthy and generating many curious responses from among its herd, zoo officials said. (AP Photo/Taronga Zoo)
    First Asian elephant born in Australian zoo AP - Sun Jul 5, 7:22 AM ET

    SYDNEY - A 265-pound (120-kilogram), big-eared and long-nosed bundle of joy was welcomed in Australia as an important step in helping to save the endangered Asian elephant.

  • This Sydney Taronga Zoo handout image shows a CCTV frame of a new-born elephant calf (bottom centre) with its mother 'Thong Dee' at the zoo in the early hours of the morning. The male calf is the first to be born in Australia and was delivered after a three hour labour.(AFP/HO/Taronga Zoo)
    Australia welcomes its first new-born elephant AFP - Sat Jul 4, 2:17 AM ET

    SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia has welcomed the first elephant ever born in the country with the arrival of a 100-kilogram (220.4-pound) male calf at a Sydney zoo, according to keepers.

  • In this undated photo supplied by Queensland Museum, paleontologist Scott Hocknull analyses the Diamantinasaurus fossils in Winton, in central Queensland, Australia. Scientists have confirmed for the first time that Australia was once home to a dinosaur that was big, fast and terrifying, and has a name like something from an Arnold Schwazennegger movie. Meet the Australovenator. (AP Photo/Queensland Museum, HO)
    Australian dinosaur that lived 98M years ago found AP - Fri Jul 3, 7:26 AM ET

    CANBERRA, Australia - Scientists have confirmed for the first time that Australia was once home to a dinosaur that was big, fast and terrifying, and they've named it like something from an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Meet the Australovenator.

  • In this undated photo supplied by Air New Zealand Friday, July 3, 2009, its staff is seen with body paint on in the airlines latest safety video call the 'Bare Essentials of Safety.' The video shows three cabin staff and the pilot, all in uniform-colored full body paint, talking viewers through the aircraft's safety procedures. New Zealand's national airline has adopted the cheeky way to encourage passengers to watch its in-flight safety video: The cabin crew's uniforms are nothing but body paint. (AP Photo/Air New Zealand, HO)
    New Zealand airline issues nude safety video AP - Fri Jul 3, 6:05 AM ET

    WELLINGTON, New Zealand - New Zealand's national airline has adopted a cheeky way to encourage passengers to watch its in-flight safety video: The cabin crew's uniforms are nothing but body paint.

  • Aboriginal children playing beside a fishing net at Yirrkala in the Northern Territory.(AFP/File/Torsten Blackwood)
    Australia pledges millions to Aborigines AFP - Fri Jul 3, 5:32 AM ET

    SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia announced a 155 million US dollar package for isolated Aboriginal communities on Friday, after a new report revealed shocking levels of child abuse among the downtrodden minority.

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