Australasia

A birthing partner to be fangful for

Visitors to a New Zealand oceanarium watched in astonishment when one shark tore a chunk out of another's stomach. But they were even more astonished when four baby sharks tumbled out of the gaping wound.

Inside Australasia

Sharp-toothed shark acts as midwife

Wednesday, 11 November 2009

Visitors to a New Zealand acquatic centre were stunned to see one shark give another shark an impromptu caesarean section.

King of Tonga bows to history as democracy comes ashore

Wednesday, 11 November 2009

After years of protests, the world's last absolute monarch yields power

Murdoch junior outbids Sydney A-listers on £12.7m house

Saturday, 7 November 2009

Former French consulate with ocean views sets new price record for the city

Leaking oil rig ablaze in Timor sea

Monday, 2 November 2009

Australia promised an investigation today after a massive fire erupted on an oil rig that had been leaking into the Timor Sea - the latest drama in a 10-week saga to plug the hole.

Lead-mining: the ugly truth about Mount Isa

Monday, 2 November 2009

In the boom town next to Australia's biggest lead mine, mothers fear their children are being poisoned, reports Kathy Marks from Queensland

Takeaway killing suspect hands himself in

Friday, 30 October 2009

The prime suspect in the killing of an Irish man in Australia handed himself over to police hours after an emotional plea from the dead man's mother, it emerged today.

Like father, like son: Prince Edward's Australian gaffe

Friday, 30 October 2009

It's another royal blunder Down Under. Seven years after his father marked a visit to Australia by asking an aborigine if he was still "throwing spears", Prince Edward has sparked fresh controversy by saying that the death of a teenager during a Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition could encourage other children to take part in the scheme.

'Beautiful plague' of budgies descends on Outback

Thursday, 29 October 2009

Many people believe the budgerigar's natural habitat is a pet shop. In fact, the bird is a native of the Australian outback, and locals there are saying they have rarely seen flocks of the size that are descending on Queensland this year. Some are calling it a "beautiful plague".

Coastal homes in Australia at risk from rising sea levels

Wednesday, 28 October 2009

Government report shocks country where 80 per cent of population lives on coast

Big breakfast, Sydney style

Sunday, 25 October 2009

There was only one place to be seen for breakfast in Sydney yesterday: 100 metres above the sparkling blue water on the Harbour Bridge. Gone were the eight lanes of traffic; in their place, a carpet of newly laid lush grass was dotted with tartan picnic rugs, food hampers and the odd cow.

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