Australia

Australia's reputation damaged by violence: FM (AFP)

AFP - Violence against Indian students has damaged Australia's reputation and will lead to a drop in the number of foreign students, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said.

Accused says she didn't hurt toddler

A woman who is on trial for murdering a three-year-old boy in her care told police she never laid a hand on him, a court was told today.Patricia Angela Pickering, 38, has pleaded not guilty in the High Court at Auckland to murdering...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

NZers kicked out of Morocco not missionaries

A New Zealand family kicked out of Morocco say that although they are Christians, they were not trying to convert Muslim orphans they looked after.Aucklanders Chris and Tina Broadbent and their two young children were given an...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Film festival a bridge between India and Australia

The director of the Indian Film Festival, which opened in Melbourne on Wednesday, says she hopes the event will be a cultural bridge between the Australian and Indian communities.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

Dan Marsh retires from top-level cricket

Former Tasmanian captain Dan Marsh will retire from first-class cricket at the end of the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

Auditor slams some Sydney bus services

Sydney bus companies should be fined for not meeting performance benchmarks, the NSW Auditor-General has recommended.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

Tas slump to 3-46 at lunch against Vics

Tasmania slumped to 3-46 after winning the toss in their Sheffield Shield cricket match against Victoria at the MCG.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

Australia and Indonesia move to combat people-smuggling framework

AUSTRALIA and Indonesia have signed a new framework to combat people smuggling, but have released few details on how the plan will work.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

New hope in devil disease fight

There is new hope in the fight against the disease wiping out the Tasmanian devil.
Read more [ABC News Australia]

Doctor guilty of professional misconduct

An Auckland doctor has been found guilty of professional misconduct for working without a current practising certificate and for forging a certificate which he presented to clients.Ratilal Magan Ranchhod, who provided medical...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Pair guilty of disabled woman's manslaughter

The caregivers of an intellectually disabled woman have been found guilty of manslaughter by a High Court jury today.The jury returned to the High Court at Auckland with its verdicts at 1.15pm after seven hours of deliberations.Joseph...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Spy base 'disarmed for Jesus', court told

A man on trial for attacking the Waihopai spy base has told Wellington District Court how he and two fellow activists planned and executed their mission.Adrian Leason is accused with Peter Murnane and Sam Land of slashing the...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Scientology puts lives at risk, says Australian of Year

Australian of the Year Pat McGorry has backed calls for a Senate inquiry into Scientology, saying its views on mental health are putting lives at risk.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

Sydney eateries trial 'scores on doors' rating scheme

Restaurants and cafes in Sydney's Canada Bay area will be part of a trial of a new system of rating food safety and hygiene standards.
Read more [ABC News Australia]

Police officer admits drink-driving

A Whangarei police officer, responsible for training new recruits, was found driving with nearly double the legal alcohol limit in his system, a court was told.Senior Constable Ross Kneebone, 53, pleaded guilty in Whangarei District...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Australian dollar opens higher

The Australian dollar opened higher after a business confidence survey boosted traders' hopes of an interest rate rise in April.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

Roadworks dig finds millions of Aboriginal artefacts

Archaeologists say they may have found proof of the oldest and most southerly human habitation in the world at the site of a major road project in Tasmania.
Read more [ABC News Australia]

Canterbury fire threatened power

A large blaze at Mcleans Island in Canterbury came close to knocking out the power supply to the country north of Christchurch.The 19 hectare blaze started yesterday about 11.30am and was contained by 4pm, but four fire crews...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Caregiver jury retires

A High Court jury considering whether two South Auckland caregivers are guilty of the manslaughter of an intellectually impaired woman they cared for went home last night after hearing Justice Pamela Andrews sum up. Joseph Proude,...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Students charged after $3m drug bust

Five students are accused of using an unoccupied suburban house in Auckland as the centre of a multimillion-dollar drug operation.The Mt Roskill home was the drop-off address for pallets of granite which hid $3 million of a key...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Dedicated scientists scoop PM's award

Two scientists who spent 23 years developing high-temperature superconductors have won the main prize in the inaugural Prime Minister's science awards.The top award, presented in Auckland yesterday, was given to Dr Jeff Tallon...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Identity theft case grows as another Australian named

The latest Australian whose identity was used by the team behind the Dubai assassination of a Hamas commander is an old friend of a Melbourne man named as a suspect last month.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

Experts scoff at claims of crisis in rent market

An Auckland property manager is warning of a looming rental housing crisis - but her claim has been rejected by market watchers.Wayne Boberg of property management business Bobergs First National tracks the rental and houses for-sale...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

High Court bid to stop felling of pohutukawa

Tree-lovers are taking their fight to save an old pohutakawa to the High Court today.The Tree Council is taking legal action after the Auckland City Council decided the fate of two large Avondale trees without public consultation.The...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Ratepayers being cut out of loop

Unelected boards of businesspeople will control 75 per cent, if not 90 per cent, of council services under the Auckland Super City, says a veteran of local government, Suzanne Weld.The Government's planned seven "council controlled...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Indonesian leader honoured by Australia on historic visit (AFP)

AFP - Indonesia's president was handed Australia's highest civilian honour on Tuesday as he arrived for a historic visit expected to help bury tensions and fight people-smuggling and extremism.

Surgeon fails to have name suppressed

A Wellington surgeon has failed in his bid to secure name suppression and overturn a Health and Disability Commissioner's decision against him.Richard Stubbs had been ordered to pay the widow of a cancer sufferer $5000 and amend...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Sydney FC's confidence still sky high

Despite last weekend's extra-time loss to Melbourne, confidence is still sky high around Sydney FC as they prepare for their A-League grand final qualifier.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

Chinese student missing in Sydney

Police have called on the public to help find a Chinese student who disappeared in Sydney almost a year ago.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

Power restored to Wellington CBD after outage

Electricity has been restored to parts of Wellington's central business district affected by a power cut this afternoon.Parliament, Lambton Quay, Wellington District Court and some parts of Thorndon were affected by the 4.20pm...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Surgery for girl badly beaten in park attack

The 17-year-old victim of a brutal bashing in a west Auckland park during the weekend had surgery today to repair damage to some of the broken bones in her face.Police said the teenager and her boyfriend, 19, were lucky to be...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Central Australia to get nuke waste dump

The Northern Territory is set to house a national radioactive waste dump, after the federal coalition resolved to support government legislation.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

Phoenix push claim for ACL eligibility

Wellington Phoenix say they should be entitled to qualify for the Asian Champions League, claiming they are no different to any other side in the A-League.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]

Father praises NZ soldier's 'courageous act'

The father of a New Zealander who saved two British Army colleagues from a Taleban grenade attack in Afghanistan says his son performed a "brilliant and courageous act".Wellington-born rifleman James McKie, 29, scooped up a live...
Read more [New Zealand Herald]

Tas MP drops assault charge against ex

An assault charge against the former partner of Tasmanian federal MP Jodie Campbell has been withdrawn after she decided not to proceed with the matter.
Read more [The Age: Australia National]