Samoan government shuts down over measles outbreak
Red flags have been erected across Samoa to mark unvaccinated households as the government shuts down Thursday to deploy all resources to reining in a deadly measles outbreak.
oceania
Canadian firefighters head to Australia to battle wildfires
As deadly bushfires continue to burn across Australia, a delegation of Canadian wildfire experts has embarked on a month-long trip to aid in the country's crisis.
Woman dumps remains of fire-ravaged home outside Australian parliament
A woman dumped the remains of her bushfire-charred family home outside the Australian parliament on Monday, accusing lawmakers of failing to act on the climate crisis.
Samoa to shut government to deal with deadly measles outbreak
The government of Samoa will shut its doors Thursday and Friday and redeploy civil servants to help deal with a deadly measles outbreak, Prime Minster Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi announced in a special address Monday.
'World first' cell phone detection cameras rolled out in Australia
The Australian state of New South Wales rolled out "high definition detection cameras" on Sunday, designed to catch drivers using cell phones behind the wheel.
The world's highest mountains and some alternatives
Simply finding the Seven Summits -- the highest mountains on each continent -- is a tall order.
Tennis Australia to honor Margaret Court but oppose her personal views
Tennis Australia confirmed it will invite former champion Margaret Court to next year's Australian Open to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her grand slam sweep but said it did not agree with her
Critics hit Singapore's first use of 'fake news' law
Singapore just showed the world how it plans to use a controversial new law to tackle what it deems fake news — and critics say it's just what they expected would happen.
Clive James, Australian author, poet and broadcaster, dead at 80
Clive James, the prolific Australian-born writer, broadcaster and poet, whose sardonic works were celebrated by audiences in Britain and around the world, has died aged 80, his agents have said.
Australian volunteer firefighter charged for allegedly starting fires
A volunteer firefighter in Australia has been charged after allegedly setting multiple blazes, some of which he helped put out afterwards, as the country continues to battle one of its worst bushfire seasons on record.
Top bank CEO in Australia steps down over money laundering scandal
Two top executives at Westpac, one of Australia's biggest banks, are out after the company was hit with extensive claims that it had systematically allowed money laundering on its watch.
Lewis the koala dies one week after rescue from Australia bushfire
Ellenborough Lewis, the koala who shot to internet fame after being rescued last week from massive wildfires that engulfed the Australian state of New South Wales, has died.
Thousands of sheep feared drowned after cargo ship capsizes
Thousands of sheep are feared to have drowned after a cargo ship capsized in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania on Sunday.
China spying allegations 'deeply disturbing,' Australian PM says
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he is deeply disturbed by allegations that the Chinese government attempted to have an agent elected to the country's parliament.
Koalas are likely dying by the hundreds
The wildfires torching southern Australia have wiped out much of the koala population, stoking fears that the national icon is getting closer to extinction.
Pregnant woman wearing a headscarf kicked in the head in Australia
A pregnant woman wearing a headscarf was viciously attacked in a café in a town near Sydney, New South Wales police said Thursday.
New Zealand man found guilty in murder of British backpacker
A 27-year-old New Zealand man has been found guilty of the murder of Grace Millane, a British backpacker who vanished last December, according to CNN affiliate Sky News Australia.
Winner of vaginal mesh implant court victory says fight is not over
The woman at the center of a landmark legal victory against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson over defective vaginal mesh implants said the battle has been won
Koala rescued from Australia bushfire reunited with hero grandma
A badly burned koala that was rescued crying and screaming from Australia's bushfires has been reunited with the heroic grandma who saved its life.
Couple tie the knot at 37,000 feet between Australia and New Zealand
A woman from New Zealand and a man from Australia took their love of aviation (and each other) to new heights by tying the knot 37,000 feet in the air.
Bushfire smoke engulfs Sydney, many treated for breathing difficulties
More than 50 people were treated for asthma and breathing-related problems in Sydney as smoke blown from New South Wales bushfires engulfed the Australian city in thick smoke.
Koala-sniffing dogs on mission to save animals in Australia bushfires
Dogs who have been trained to find and save koalas in the wild are helping to rescue the animals in Australia's devastating bushfires.
US, Australian hostages freed in Taliban prisoner swap
The Taliban has released two Western professors who had been held hostage for the past three years in exchange for three high-ranking militants, in a prisoner swap that could pave the way for renewed peace talks.
McDonald's could return $29M to NZ workers after holiday pay error
McDonald's has agreed to pay what could be tens of millions of dollars to New Zealand employees after becoming embroiled in a nationwide payroll debacle.
