Australia/Antarctica News

RYLSTONE, Australia (AFP) - Hundreds of residents in eastern Australia were on alert Sunday as out-of-control wildfires fanned by soaring temperatures and windy conditions threatened properties, officials said. Full Story »

SYDNEY (AFP) - Two executives at a banknote-making firm part-owned by Australia's central bank have been suspended over a police probe into alleged bribery and kickbacks, officials said. Full Story »

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia said it was "deeply disappointed" after a fleet of Japanese whaling ships set out to kill hundreds of the giant ocean mammals on their annual hunt. Full Story »

SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian pin-up pilot forced to bring an emergency medical flight down in shark-infested waters was Friday hailed a hero for the daring landing from which all aboard escaped unharmed. Full Story »

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd voiced "concerns" about the Church of Scientology Wednesday after a senator detailed explosive allegations including torture, imprisonment and coerced abortions. Full Story »

CANBERRA, Australia - Australia must abolish policies that discriminate against Aborigines in its quest to lift its indigenous population out of Third World poverty, the head of an international human rights group said Wednesday. Full Story »

MELBOURNE, Australia - A team of Australian surgeons were working Monday on a delicate and complicated surgery to separate twin sisters who are joined at the top of the head. Full Story »

CANBERRA (AFP) - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Monday made an emotional apology to half-a-million "Forgotten Australians" who faced sexual abuse, violence and forced labour in childcare homes over a period of decades. Full Story »

CANBERRA (AFP) - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an emotional apology on Monday to half-a-million "Forgotten Australians" who faced sexual abuse, violence and forced labour in childcare homes over a period of decades. Full Story »

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologized Monday for years of abuse and pain suffered by thousands of orphans and children sent to Australia from Britain, often without the knowledge of their parents. Full Story »

LONDON (AFP) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to apologise for Britain sending thousands of children to former colonies, officials said Sunday, shortly before Australia's premier is also due to say sorry. Full Story »

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will apologize for shipping thousands of poor children, often without the knowledge of their parents, to its former colonies during the 20th century, the government said on Sunday. Full Story »

WELLINGTON (AFP) - New Zealand qualified for the World Cup finals on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Bahrain here in the Asia/Oceania final second leg. Full Story »

SYDNEY (AFP) - Relatives of an 88-year-old alleged war criminal on Friday vowed to fight his extradition to Hungary after it was approved by Australian officials. Full Story »

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian officials said they would carry out tests to check whether a skull handed in by a farmer belonged to the country's most infamous outlaw, bushranger Ned Kelly. Full Story »

ADELAIDE, Australia - The Australian government on Thursday approved the extradition of an alleged Nazi collaborator accused by Hungary of a World War II killing. Full Story »

DILI, East Timor - Thousands of mourners lit candles, sang hymns and prayed in East Timor on Thursday, honoring the victims of a massacre of pro-independence demonstrators by Indonesian troops 18 years ago. Full Story »

SYDNEY - A bomb-sniffing dog that disappeared during a fierce battle in Afghanistan between Australian troops and militant fighters has been found and returned to its unit after more than a year. Full Story »