Ritambhara Rai Bhattarai, Correspondent (Asia: South) KATHMANDU — Twenty Bhutanese refugee families were transported back to their camps in Jhapa and Morang-Eastern Nepal, from Kathmandu after the third country resettlement programme was kept on hold by the U.S. government. Impact of the shutdown was felt even by the Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. Refugees who could not make it to the states this month had to return to their camps. To their disappointment, their dwelling […]
Richard Wanekeya, Correspondent (Sport) Defending champions New Zealand rammed in from behind to claim the HSBC Sevens World Series 2013/14 opener at the Gold Coast in Robina after beating hosts Australia 40-19 in the final. Trailing 12-0, it looked as though New Zealand was set for the third successive Main Cup final defeat at Skilled Park, but tries from debutant Ambrose Curtis, Tomasi Cama, David Raikuna, Waisake Naholo and Joe Webber assured a win for […]
Nathan Alder Correspondent (Sport) Australia’s eight-match limited overs tour of India sparked into life after a record breaking run chase by the hosts levelled the one day series at one a piece, leaving the travellers stunned going into the third clash in Mohali in two days’ time. The tour started off poorly for the Australians as they were comprehensively beaten in the first and only Twenty20 match of the series. India won the game […]
Nathan Alder, Correspondent (Travel) Situated just an hour’s flight from Melbourne, off the south Australian coast, sits an unassuming isle of unrivalled beauty. Tasmania, so often the butt of many a joke from their mainland neighbours, has come on leaps and bounds in the last decade and can now boast the accommodation and dining facilities to rival its stunning natural splendour. The island has always boasted stunning scenery with a fifth of the its […]
Lais Fulgencio, Editor (South America) Two of the 30 Greenpeace activists, Brazilian biologist Ana Paula Maciel and a British cameraman, were formally charged on September 2 this week for piracy, according to Greenpeace lawyer Mikhail Kreindlin. The two activists were detained in Russia for organising a protest at a Russian oil platform in the Arctic and are the only two accused of piracy by the Russian authorities for now. If convicted, they face up to 15 […]
Ingrida Kurlinkute, Correspondent (Business) LONDON — 2016 might see the introduction of smaller polymer banknotes by The Bank of England. Plastic banknotes will be less shabby, much more difficult to falsify and also smaller in size, just 125mm by 65mm, yet still bigger than euro banknotes. More than 20 countries now issue polymer banknotes such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Mauritius and Singapore. An Australian $5 note wears out in three years, while the English […]
Joe Paley, Correspondent (Sport) Australia has dropped controversial opener David Warner for the upcoming limited overs leg of their tour of England. Warner, 26, who was painted as the pantomime villain before and during the recently concluded Ashes series, will be replaced by Aaron Finch at the top of the batting order for Australia. It is a decision that surprises many in the cricketing world, mostly because of the attacking instinct Warner offers in the […]
Sophie Moss, Correspondent (Oceamia) SYDNEY — In the lead up to the closely contested federal election on September 7, the Australian government has issued an uncompromising crackdown on the number of refugees seeking asylum within Australian borders — a decision that has ignited harsh criticism from many Australian citizens. In July, Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that asylum-seekers travelling by boat to seek refuge in Australia would instead be intercepted and sent to […]
Miles McCormack Correspondent (Oceania) CANBERRA — Australia’s labor party this week raised global attention with a campaign highlighting the need for a national broadband network in the country. The ad, focused on selling the Australian internet as promised by Labor’s opposition, The Coalition, worldwide. The video has cleverly drawn attention to the fact that internet connectivity and speed is anything but a given in 2013, as well as acting a vital campaign tool for Rudd’s […]
Cate Reynolds-Foote, Correspondent (Oceania) James Lillis was on the verge of bankruptcy in 2009 when he took up a hobby that inadvertently began one of Australia’s best-known companies. He had the desire to sew, so by pawning his stereo he acquired a sewing machine and began sewing any material scraps he could get his hands on. His hobby became an obsession and soon basic necessities such as food came second to fuelling his new passion […]
