Category: Oceania

Four Americans Dead In Australian King Air Crash

The five were on a twin-engine Beechcraft Super King Air that crashed about 45 minutes before the Direct Factory Outlet mall in suburban Essendon was to open, Police Minister Lisa Neville said. “Five on the aircraft and looks like no-one has survived the crash”, said Victoria police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane, AFP reported.

Five feared dead as plane crashes into shopping mall in Melbourne

She said the Mr De Haven, 70, was “extremely athletic” and at one time aspired to become a professional golfer, but his young family at the time came first. De Haven and his wife were part of a larger group that included at least two other couples who were touring Australia over the course of three weeks and meant to also see New Zealand, Wicht said.

Pilot of plane that crashed near Melbourne called ‘mayday’ several times, authorities say

At least 74 bodies were found in Zawiya, according to a spokesperson for the United Nations’ Inte… A push to reduce property taxes in this year’s legislative session is gaining new support in Nebraska. The coalition announced Tuesday includes 16 agricultural and school g… It’s another busy week of high school basketball as we mix girls district play with C and D games for the boys with subdistricts taking place around the region.

International students welcomed to South Canterbury

Many families sent their children to New Zealand to learn English and build up their knowledge and connections to bring back to businesses in their home countries, she said. She welcomed students, parents and friends to approach the chamber to discuss business developments and other opportunities, while saying she hoped they would return and “contribute to our economy”.

‘No closer’ to welcoming refugees

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says he will do everything in his power to make sure refugees are welcome in Armidale HERE TO HELP: Former Armidale mayor Herman Beyersdorf is lobbying the government to include Armidale on the refugee resettlement list. Photo: Matt Bedford The federal government’s rejection of Armidale as a primary refugee resettlement location played to a national audience on the weekend when SBS aired the city’s exclusion on its world news program.

4 US tourists and pilot killed in Australian plane crash

An Australian pilot and four American tourists on a golfing vacation were killed when a light plane crashed in flames into a shopping mall on Tuesday shortly after takeoff in the Australian city of Melbourne, officials said. The five were on a twin-engine Beechcraft Super King Air that crashed about 45 minutes before the Direct Factory Outlet mall in suburban Essendon was to open, Police Minister Lisa Neville said.

Globe trotting Hannah settles down in Gorae

PORTLAND and the surrounding district is home to a variety of well travelled characters and Gorae’s Darryn Hannah is one of many faces with plenty of stories to tell. Born in New Zealand, Mr Hannah, 63, made the move to Australia in 1989 after spending a decade as CEO of the Wellington Cricket Association.

Shearing record bid today in Southland

Another World shearing record attempt has been given the all-clear to go ahead in Southland today with Leon Samuels tackling a record of 603 strongwool ewes in eight hours. The green-light was given at a late-Sunday pre-record wool-weigh where the wool from 10 sample sheep shorn under the supervision of World Sheep Shearing Records Society judges weighed 33kg, comfortably over the minimum average of 3kg per sheep.

McCully to visit Cook Islands

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to the Cook Islands this week to undertake a range of meetings, including with Prime Minister Henry Puna and his Cabinet. “My discussions with Prime Minister Puna and his Cabinet will cover a range of matters including New Zealand’s support to the Cook Island’s tourism sector, which accounts for over 60% of national GDP,” Mr McCully says.

No love lost for Bibi in Australia

PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem last September. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Australia this week was supposed to be a positive, official trip to further cement Australia’s bipartisan support for Israel.

Roads closed, trains changed

Road closures at level crossings across the Hunter Valley rail network will take effect later this week as part of a $20 million renewal program by Australian Rail Track Corporation . The million-dollar maintenance includes upgrading track, ballast, sleepers, structures like bridges, culverts and level crossings between Kooragang, Ulan and Narrabri from February 21-24.

Midnight Oil announce world tour

It’s been two decades since Midnight Oil did a world tour and only a handful of gigs have peppered the time between now and 2002, when frontman Peter Garret decided to focus on his political career. They will play over fifty shows in six months with a full tour of Australia including many regional stops as well as shows in South America, the US, Canada and Europe.

Warm, wet weather to dampen smorgasbord of Wellington events

Wellingtonians will be spoiled for choice with a haul of events around the region expected under warm but wet skies this weekend. Start at the Island Bay Festival then head for the Petone Rotary Fair in Lower Hutt, BrewDay in Trentham, Wings over Wairarapa near Masterton, and then hit the Art Deco Festival in Napier.

Officials inside the Manus Island refugee camp in Papua New Guinea. Photo: Reuters

Officials at an Australian immigration centre in Papua New Guinea are increasing pressure on asylum seekers to return to their home countries voluntarily, including offering large sums of money, amid fears a deal for the United States to take refugees has fallen through. They told me and others that if you go back voluntarily you will get money about US$20,000, if you guys go in group you will get more money About a dozen Bangladeshi and Nepalese asylum seekers on Manus Island told Reuters they are being repeatedly called to meet with Australian officials and pressured to take amounts of up to US$25,000 to return to those countries, or face deportation.

Officials inside the Manus Island refugee camp in Papua New Guinea. Photo: Reuters

Officials at an Australian immigration centre in Papua New Guinea are increasing pressure on asylum seekers to return to their home countries voluntarily, including offering large sums of money, amid fears a deal for the United States to take refugees has fallen through. They told me and others that if you go back voluntarily you will get money about US$20,000, if you guys go in group you will get more money About a dozen Bangladeshi and Nepalese asylum seekers on Manus Island told Reuters they are being repeatedly called to meet with Australian officials and pressured to take amounts of up to US$25,000 to return to those countries, or face deportation.

Inspiring story

The founder of The School of St Jude will share her story at a Taree fundraiser on March 9 at 7pm. Former Australian teacher Gemma Sisia opened the gates to The School of St Jude 15 years ago in Tanzania and now, thanks to the support of thousands of Australians, 1,800 promising yet impoverished students have access to a free, high-quality education.

Sri Lankan prime minister says refugees safe to come home

Sri Lankan asylum seekers held on Pacific island camps who could potentially find new lives in the United States are free to return home without fear of persecution, Sri Lanka’s prime minister said Wednesday. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made the comments during a visit to Australia in which he discussed with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull bilateral cooperation on combating people smuggling.

Plans for new climate change adaptation project for Tonga

A new climate change adaptation project for Tonga, likely to cost more than $40m in grant financing, is expected to be submitted to the Green Climate Fund ( The new project is a combination of two ongoing Green Climate Fund design projects at the request of the Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon Siaosi Sovaleni, and will involve a coalition of government leaders, technical experts and cooperation entities working together. Our Climate Change vision is to have [a] more resilient Tonga and a key part of that vision is to strengthen the resilience of our coastal communities,” said Hon Sovaleni.

Two men charged with animal cruelty over quokka kick video

Two men charged with animal cruelty over sickening video of an endangered quokka being kicked into a wall as the distressed animal tries to run away Two men have been arrested and charged with animal cruelty after video emerged of a quokka being kicked into a wall. Police apprehended the men, aged 21 and 20, on Monday as they tried to catch a ferry off Rottnest Island, in Western Australia.

Narooma nice fit for trainee GP Dr Paul Barnett

Dr Paul Barnett is looking forward to training as a rural GP and is already settling into the Narooma lifestyle. Settling into Narooma, Dr Paul Barnett is looking forward to training as a rural GP, as well as indulging in the odd game of golf and catching a wave.

Thais welcome ordination of new Supreme Patriarch

PEOPLE ACROSS the country are preparing to welcome the country’s new Supreme Patriarch at his official ordination ceremony today, with a former disciple of Somdet Phra Ariyawongsakhatayan labelling him the perfect choice to lead Thai Buddhists. The sacred appointment ceremony for the new Supreme Patriarch will be held today at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha confirming Somdet Phra Ariyawongsakhatayan, the abbot of Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram Temple, as the 20th Supreme Patriarch of the Rattanakosin Era .

New Zealanders race to save whales after 400 swim aground

It was the sound of soft sighs and cries in the half-light that first struck Cheree Morrison , and then as the dawn broke she began to see the extent of the carnage – more than 400 whales had swum aground along a remote New Zealand beach. About 275 of the pilot whales were already dead when Morrison and two colleagues found them Friday on Farewell Spit at the tip of the South Island.

Australian murder trial almost aborted after witness sends Facebook friend request to juror

A witness in Australia who sent a Facebook friend request to a female juror during the closing stages of a murder trial will face further investigation after his actions threatened to force the proceedings to be aborted. Graham Anthony George Sloane, 68, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the first day of his trial, admitting he was responsible for taking Renee Mitchell from her home in the Lake Macquarie suburb of Windale.

PNG deports Manus asylum seekers

Papua New Guinea authorities have moved to force the deportation of at least one asylum seeker housed on Manus Island. Federal Attorney-General George Brandis told parliament on Thursday he had been advised the men were not refugees, but Greens senator Nick McKim said their appeal processes had not yet been exhausted.

With golf and gifts, Japan’s Abe cuts own path with Trump

Japan is charting its own course to deal with a radically different U.S. president, an approach that will be tested at the end of this week when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets Donald Trump in the White House and on the golf course in Florida. Some other leaders of America’s closest neighbors and allies, from Mexico to the United Kingdom, have been singed by their encounters with Trump.

Music TeacherQueensland Australia

Smart Teachers is recruiting for a Music teacher to join a well-regarded independent school located on the QLD central coast. This is a full-time position and experience teaching senior students is essential.

Milking the industry? Who benefits

ACCC commissioner Mick Keogh in Taree yesterday for the ACCC forum. “Farmers spoke on the imbalance of power, the limits of collective bargaining and that they feel they are very much price takers, with no influence,” he said.

Complex childcare payments to be abolished

Parents will finally get more help with childcare fees three years after the federal government first laid out its plans – as long as a new push to convince parliament is successful. “Those families have told us that these changes will enable them to make easier decisions to go back to work, to work more hours, to work the hours that suit them,” Education Minister Simon Birmingham told reporters at a childcare centre in Canberra on Wednesday.

Qatar chief bags Air NZ for cancelling agreement that would have connected Kiwis to vast network

Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker with Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand at the Qatar Airways press conference in Auckland. The head of Qatar Airlines Akbar Al Baker has slammed Air New Zealand for withdrawing from an agreement before it touched down on our shores, saying the move will prevent Kiwi travellers from connecting to a wide international flight network.

It’s about time someone attacked Australia. Thank you, President Trump.

The president gave Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull a good chewing out this week, telling him a refugee agreement between the two countries was the “worst deal ever,” calling their conversation the “worst call” and abruptly ending the exchange 25 minutes into what was supposed to be an hour-long talk. It was clear from accounts of the talk that Trump thinks Turnbull is almost as much of a basket case as the Mexican guy Trump yelled at the week before.

Auckland Airport welcomes world’s longest flight

Auckland Airport has welcomed Qatar Airways this morning as the airline launches the world’s longest commercial passenger flight on the Auckland-Doha route. Scott Tasker, Auckland Airport’s acting general manager – aeronautical commercial, says, “We welcome Qatar Airways to Auckland and New Zealand.