Significant damage reported as 7.4 magnitude earthquake hits Vanuatu
Sydney, Dec 17 (IANS) A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck South Pacific Ocean nation Vanuatu’s capital of Port Vila on Tuesday, causing ‘considerable damage’ to some buildings, including a shared diplomatic mission. The quake hit 30 km west of Port Vila, capital of Vanuatu, at 12:47 local time, with a depth of 43 km, the US Geological […]
High-speed internet linked to increased Australian obesity
Sydney, Nov 11 (IANS) New research has found a link between high-speed internet activities and Australia’s growing rate of obesity. According to a study published on Monday, sedentary internet activities such as online gaming and binge-watching on streaming platforms are driving increasing obesity in Australia. “Access to high-speed internet connection decreases the likelihood of individuals […]
Millions of Australian households experiencing food insecurity
Sydney, Oct 15 (IANS) Millions of Australian households are experiencing severe food insecurity, according to a report published on Tuesday by hunger relief charity Foodbank Australia. The report said 3.4 million households across the country experienced food insecurity in the last 12 months. Of those, 2 million households experienced severe food insecurity. Food insecurity is […]
Five sperm whales dead after stranding on Australian island
Sydney, Oct 9 (IANS) Five sperm whales have died after becoming stranded on an island off Australia’s south coast. The whales were found on a beach on the coast of Flinders Island, which is located between the Australian mainland and the island state of Tasmania, on Sunday night and were reported to Tasmania’s Marine Conservation […]
Majority of households in Australia’s Queensland living below basic standards
Sydney, Sep 9 (IANS) Over half of households in the Australian state of Queensland are struggling to afford food, bills and petrol, a report found on Monday. The Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS), the peak body for the state’s social service sector, published its 2024 Living Affordability Report, revealing that 60 per cent of […]
New offences introduced for interacting with crocodiles in Australia
Sydney, Sep 3 (IANS) People in the Australian state of Queensland will face fines for unintentionally feeding, and knowingly remaining close to, crocodiles under new laws announced on Tuesday aimed at reducing attacks. Leanne Linard, Queensland’s minister for the environment, announced a government crackdown on feeding and interfering with crocodiles, Xinhua news agency reported. Under […]
Confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease soar up to 60 in Melbourne
Sydney, Aug 1 (IANS) Authorities said on Thursday that a major outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease resulted in 60 confirmed cases in the Australian state of Victoria. The Victorian Department of Health initially issued a public alert over “a significant increase in cases notified across metropolitan Melbourne and surrounding areas” on Monday, while the confirmed cases […]
Most Australian welders exposed to cancer-causing fumes, finds study
Sydney, July 21 (IANS) A team of researchers here on Sunday said at least 46,000 Australian welders are exposed to high levels of dangerous, potentially cancer-causing fumes at work — and little is being done to protect them. The research team surveyed 634 workers and employers involved in welding from across Australia and asked a […]
Man dead, another rescued after boat capsizes in Australia
Sydney, July 13 (IANS) A man died and another was rescued after their boat capsized when crossing the Tweed River bar in far north of Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) state on Saturday. At around 6.00 a.m. local time, emergency services were called to the north wall of the Tweed River, following reports of two […]