Australia

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Case Dismissed Against Accused Honeymoon Killer

Gabe Watson is free after judge abruptly ends trial

(Newser) - It's normally just a legal routine: After the prosecution rests, the defense stands up and asks the judge to dismiss all charges. Today, though, a judge in Alabama surprised everyone and agreed to do just that. As a result, Gabe Watson, accused of drowning his wife on their honeymoon...

Australia's Foreign Minister Resigns

Kevin Rudd in leadership rift with Prime Minister Julia Gillard

(Newser) - Australia's foreign minister resigned today in a bitter rift with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who may poll party lawmakers next week on who should lead the country. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd announced his resignation during a news conference in Washington, where he was visiting on official business, and he...

Bankrupt Air Australia Strands Thousands

Ticket holders may not get refunds

(Newser) - An Australian airline has gone bankrupt—leaving some 4,000 passengers stranded in spots like Indonesia and Hawaii. "It currently appears that there are no funds available to meet operational expenses so flights will be suspended immediately," Air Australia and its new administrators said today, according to CNN...

Dead Bride Pic Shown in 'Honeymoon Killer' Trial

Shows Tina Watson sinking near her husband

(Newser) - A chilling photo of dead newlywed diver Tina Watson sinking near her apparently unconcerned husband has been entered into evidence in his Alabama murder trial. Prosecutors say expert diver Gabe Watson killed his wife in the waters off Australia during their 2003 honeymoon to collect $130,000 in life insurance...

Boss Divvies Up $15M to Surprised Employees

Owner of bus company in Australia sells firm, feels generous

(Newser) - The boss of an Australian bus company dished out $15 million in bonuses to his employees. Ken Grenda sold his company and used the proceeds to give an average $8,500 to every one of his 1,800 workers. Grenda, 79, attributed his generosity to the typically enormous gap between...

PM Loses Shoe in Australia Day Protest

Julia Gillard stumbles as she tries to pass through indigenous right supporters

(Newser) - It sounds perfectly routine: Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott appeared at a restaurant in Canberra today—which just so happens to be Australia Day—to preside over an awards ceremony. What it turned into was an ugly mess, as some 200 supporters of indigenous rights...

World's Biggest Potheads Live In...

...Australia, New Zealand, where 15% of residents used marijuana in 2009

(Newser) - It appears that our friends from Down Under are in fact up higher than North Americans—a new study shows that Australians and New Zealanders are the world's top pot smokers, reports the Los Angeles Times . The Lancet found that 15% of Aussies and Kiwis ages 15-64 used some...

Beer Cooler, GPS Beacon Save 4 at Sea

Two men and their sons stayed afloat long enough for rescue

(Newser) - Two friends and their sons were saved from drowning by some quick thinking and an unlikely hero: a beer cooler. Scott Smiles and Rick Matthews were on a fishing trip with their 11-year-old sons off the coast of Sydney, Australia, yesterday, when their 40-foot boat started on fire five miles...

Moon Mineral Found in Ancient Rock ... on Earth

Last 'unique' lunar mineral was in Australia all along

(Newser) - A mineral brought back from the moon by astronauts in 1969 has been found on Earth for the first time, buried in billion-year-old rocks in Australia. Tranquillityite, named after the moon's Sea of Tranquility, had long been considered "the moon's own mineral." Two other previously unknown...

Girl, 7, Seriously Hurt in Kangaroo Attack

Animal leaped on her in picnic area

(Newser) - A 7-year-old Australian girl suffered serious cuts and bruising in a bizarre attack by a kangaroo during a family picnic. "I thought I was going to die,” Makala McEvoy told Sky News . “Everything was gray, gray, gray.” She was playing near a group of kangaroos when...

Scientists Find Dozens of New Hybrid Sharks

The animals are the first hybrid sharks in the world

(Newser) - Shark Week will have some new additions this year: Scientists found the first hybrid sharks in the world—57 of them—off the coast of Australia. The animals are a cross between the Australian blacktip shark and the common blacktip shark, and their existence may show that sharks are adapting...

Cranky Crocodile Steals, 'Drowns' Lawnmower

Cranky Aussie croc Elvis defeats noisy machine

(Newser) - Even by the less-than-happy-go-lucky standards of saltwater crocodiles, Elvis is one cranky and aggressive critter. The 16-foot croc, apparently annoyed by the sound of workers cutting the grass in his enclosure at an Australian reptile park, lunged at a lawnmower and dragged it into a pond. The croc, who lost...

'Dingo Took My Baby' Case Reopened

Australia will look into disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain for 4th time

(Newser) - A fresh turn in the spotlight for an infamous, three-decade-old case: Australia will conduct a fourth inquest into the death of Azaria Chamberlain, who disappeared in 1980 in the Australian outback; her mother famously said that a dingo took the nine-week-old child from their tent. Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton was found guilty...

Now Found in Some Australian Wines: Laxative Agent

No, it's not part of some weird plot to mess with your bowels

(Newser) - Those with delicate bowels may want to steer clear of wine from the Land Down Under. Winemakers there are now allowed to add sodium carboxymethyl cellulose to wine—a chemical lauded for its laxative powers. But in small quantities it can thicken liquids, and when it comes to wine, adding...

Dopey Prank at Courthouse
 Prankster Plants Pot at Court 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Dec 4, 2011 7:41 AM CST

Prankster Plants Pot at Court

Australian police confiscate about 60 seedlings

(Newser) - Australian police are calling it a pot prank. Someone apparently planted dozens of marijuana plants in the front garden of the Bellingen Court House in New South Wales. Police sniffed it out after people started calling in the plant sightings, reports ninemsn of Australia. Authorities found and confiscated about 60...

Cafe Customer Leaves $1M Stuffed in Suitcase

Aussie cops have some questions

(Newser) - Sydney police don't know why a man left a suitcase stuffed with cash in an upscale cafe—but they're pretty sure it wasn't a tip. The customer at Caffe Marco ordered a coffee but walked out after spending less than five minutes in the eatery, and left...

President Obama Announces Increased Military Presence in Australia, Insists US Does Not Fear China
 Obama: US Not Afraid of China 
Nov 16, 2011 12:40 PM CST

Obama: US Not Afraid of China

President announces increased military presence in Australia

(Newser) - The US and Australia announced a new security agreement today, seen by many as a response to China’s growing power, but President Obama insisted that “the notion that we fear China is mistaken.” Under the agreement, the US military presence will be expanded, with about 250 Marines...

Obama to Get Crocodile Insurance

A gift from the fine people of Australia

(Newser) - Barack Obama will soon be free to wrestle alligators with peace of mind: Should tragedy befall him, Michelle and the girls will be provided for, by way of a $51,000 insurance payout. The new insurance policy—which covers crocodile attacks—will be presented to him tomorrow on his visit...

Australia's Penfolds Releases $1K Wine

Last time Special Bin 620 was made was 1966

(Newser) - You can buy a single bottle of Penfolds for right around a ten-spot—or with about a hundred $10 bills, depending on which bottle you pick up. Australia's News Network reports that Penfolds today releases the country's "most expensive table wine," a 2008 Special Bin 620...

Aussie Court Ends Qantas Strike, Grounding

Airline ordered back to the skies after 14-hour hearing

(Newser) - An Australian court has ended the Qantas Airways standoff that abruptly grounded the entire fleet yesterday, as tens of thousands of stranded passengers scrambled to find rides. After 14 hours of testimony, which included government arguments that forcing the airline back into operation was in Australia's best economic interests,...

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