Australia

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Aussie Navy Busted Over Free Boob Jobs

$10,000-a-pop operations address "psychological issues"

(Newser) - The Royal Australian Navy has footed the bill for $10,000 breast-enhancement surgeries for sailors, says a plastic surgeon who told Australia's News Network that he performed breast enlargements for two such women—although neither had any injury. Officials insist the Navy pays for cosmetic operations only when there are...

Mind the Gaffe, Prez!
Mind the
Gaffe, Prez!

Mind the Gaffe, Prez!

Word to Bush: It's APEC, not OPEC, and the troops are Australian, not Austrian

(Newser) - As usual, President Bush didn't mind the gaffe and stumbled again—and again—this weekend on the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in Sydney. He referred to Australian troops as Austrian troops and called the APEC summit the OPEC summit., Reuters reports. "Thank you for being such...

APEC Leaders Agree to Take on Global Warming

But pact isn't ambitious enough, critics say

(Newser) - Leaders of 21 Pacific Rim nations yesterday pledged to “slow, stop, and then reverse” greenhouse emissions, at the annual APEC summit. The group—which includes developing nations and top emitters Russia, China, Japan, and the US—could influence UN climate change negotiations. But critics call the pact unambitious, citing...

A Few Words of Mandarin Go Far in Sydney

Opposition leader upstages hosts, score huge points with Chinese at summit

(Newser) - The man tipped to be Australia's next prime minister has scored a major diplomatic coup at this week's APEC summit in Sydney, upstaging PM John Howard. Opposition leader Kevin Rudd spoke to delegates in fluent Mandarin and so impressed Hu Jintao that the Chinese president issued a personal invitation to...

Bush Calls For Freedom in China
Bush Calls For Freedom in China

Bush Calls For Freedom in China

He warns that world will be watching during Olympics

(Newser) - President Bush yesterday called on Chinese officials to demonstrate a commitment to "greater openness and tolerance" before the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In a speech to business executives in Sydney on the eve of the Asia-Pacific summit, Bush emphasized the need for greater freedoms throughout Asia and warned China that...

US, China Grow Closer Despite Touchy Issues

Bush accepts Olympics invitation; talks recalls, environment with Hu

(Newser) - President Bush accepted an invitation today from China’s president to attend next summer’s Olympics, a gesture that will likely anger human rights activists but may increase pressure on Beijing, the Times reports. In a 90-minute meeting in the eve of the APEC summit, Hu Jintao and Bush also...

Aussie Comics Penetrate Tight Sydney Security

Fake Osama, other pranksters mock Bush, embarrass police

(Newser) - Only one was dressed as Osama bin Laden, but all 11 eleven members of an Australian comedy troupe were arrested in Sydney today after they posed as a Canadian delegation and drove through two security checkpoints near President Bush’s hotel. The stunt was an embarrassment to Sydney police, who...

Aussie Boss Wins US Military Deal
Aussie Boss Wins US Military Deal

Aussie Boss Wins US Military Deal

Technology pact revealed as prime minister vows to stay in Iraq

(Newser) - Shortly before announcing that Australia would not withdraw its 500 troops from Iraq, Prime Minister John Howard struck a defense deal with President Bush giving his nation the same preferential status as the UK when purchasing US military technology. The deal “will remove layers of bureaucracy for defense industries...

Aussie PM: Troops Not Leaving Iraq
Aussie PM: Troops Not Leaving Iraq

Aussie PM: Troops Not Leaving Iraq

Bush may be talking withdrawal, but Howard stands pat

(Newser) - President Bush arrived in Sydney last night amid speculation he would reduce troop levels in Iraq, but his Australian counterpart dismissed any notion that his country would be withdrawing its forces. Prime Minister John Howard said the idea that Sydney could both pull its 550 troops and still make a...

Aussie Chief Pleads for APEC Peace on YouTube

Howard asks protesters for support, peace

(Newser) - Australian Prime Minister John Howard has taken to the YouTube web waves in a bid to quell protests this week in Sydney at the summit on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. If demonstrators "really are concerned about poverty and climate change, they should support APEC not attack it," Howard pleads....

What Is This 'Mate' of Which You Speak?

Australian government gives immigrants a formal definition

(Newser) - For its new citizenship test, the Australian government has provided a formal definition of the word "mate." Yes, as in "G'day, mate." A 40-page guide for aspiring Aussies, the brainchild of the immigration minister, defines mateship as the condition “where people help and receive help...

Laura Bush Will Skip APEC Trip to Australia

First Lady's pinched nerve could indicate surprise stops for president

(Newser) - Laura Bush plans to sit out the president's trip to Australia early next month for the APEC summit, due to a pinched nerve. Washington Post blogger Mark Silva speculates that the First Lady's decision may presage other stops being added to the president's itinerary for the trip, which comes just...

Camel Kills Owner in Apparent Mating Attempt

60-year-old woman had love for exotic animals

(Newser) - A pet camel killed its Australian owner—purportedly after trying to mate with her. The camel, 10 months old but already weighing in at about 330 pounds, knocked the 60-year-old woman to the ground and lay on top of her. “I’d say it’s probably been playing, or...

Stephen King Spooks Bookshop Staff
Stephen King Spooks Bookshop Staff

Stephen King Spooks Bookshop Staff

'Shining' author does some unannounced book signing

(Newser) - Stephen King recently dropped by an Australian bookstore and autographed a few copies of his own works—without telling anyone he was coming, or who he was. Nervous sale staff alerted management to a man vandalizing books, the BBC reports. It wasn't until King had wandered off, and someone checked...

Crickey! Crocs Tree Aussie Man
Crickey! Crocs Tree Aussie Man

Crickey! Crocs Tree Aussie Man

Farmer perches in tree for a week waiting for rescuers

(Newser) - An Australian farmer spent a week in a tree, out of reach of  stalking crocodiles and surviving on two sandwiches and some fresh water, reports the BBC. He fell from his horse while riding in the northern outback and found himself in high swamp grass criss-crossed with "monstrous" croc...

Aussie Police Blame Scotland Yard for False Terror Arrest

Doctor back home, talks of 'trauma'

(Newser) - Australian police yesterday blamed Scotland Yard for sending them inaccurate information that led to the arrest of an innocent Indian doctor in the failed British bomb plots. Mohammed Haneef was detained for 27 days before being freed; he was welcomed by cheering crowds in Bangalore.

Cleared Terror Suspect to Leave Australia

Going home to India; but his work visa won't be restored

(Newser) - An Indian doctor cleared of involvement in the failed UK bomb attacks is flying home to India to be with his family, but his Australian work visa won't be restored, the immigration minister announced today. Lawyers for Mohamed Haneef are demanding that his name be cleared completely and will mount...

Aussies Drop Terror Charge Against Doc

"No prospect of conviction' for man who loaned out SIM card

(Newser) - The Australian government today dropped a terrorism charge against an Indian doctor who had been linked to a series of attempted car bomb attacks in Britain. The top prosecutor said the charges against Mohammed Haneef, 27, had been withdrawn because there "was no reasonable prospect of conviction." 

Ouch! Player Sports Tooth in Forehead

Rugby opponent's chopper gets under Australian's skin

(Newser) - An Australian rugby player visited his doctor last week, but his ailment was a job for a dentist—someone else's dentist. Nearly 4 months after colliding with an opponent during a game, Ben Czislowski learned that he had a tooth lodged under the skin of his forehead. He says he's...

Aussies Angry Over Doc Detention in Bomb Plot

Bailed out, picked up by immigration officials

(Newser) - The re-detention of a doctor held in Australia in connection with the Britain terror plot has prompted charges that  the government is interfering in the judicial process. Mohamed Haneef  was released on bail but his visa was immediately revoked and he was sent to an immigration detention center, the Sydney ...

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