A racing pigeon survived an extraordinary 13,000-kilometre (8,000-mile) journey in the Pacific Ocean, crossing from the United States to find a new home in Australia, but authorities now consider the bird a quarantine risk and plan to kill it. Melbourne resident Kevin Celli-Bird said on Thursday he discovered the exhausted bird in his back yard on December 26. It had disappeared from a race in the US state of Oregon on October 29. Joe’s feat has attracted the attention of the Australian media but also of the notoriously strict Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. Celli-Bird said quarantine authorities called him … Continue reading Australia to kill pigeon that survived 13,000km journey from US

A young woman has died after a suspected shark attack in New Zealand, the victim was rushed out of the water still alive but died at the scene despite efforts to save her life. Police said it appeared she had been injured by a shark. The attack happened at Waihi Beach on North Island not far from the country’s biggest city Auckland, shark attacks are rare in the country and it is thought to be the first fatality since 2013. Local media cited witnesses as saying the woman had been swimming right in front of the lifeguard flags on Thursday. … Continue reading Woman dies in rare suspected shark attack

New Zealand Police have introduced a hijab into their official uniform to encourage more Muslim women to join, new recruit Constable Zeena Ali will become the first officer to wear the official hijab. A spokesperson said they aimed to create an “inclusive” service reflecting the country’s “diverse community”. Other forces such as the Metropolitan Police in London and Police Scotland offer the option of a uniform hijab. In the UK, the Metropolitan Police in London approved a uniform hijab in 2006 with Police Scotland following in 2016. In Australia, Maha Sukkar of Victoria Police wore a hijab in 2004. New … Continue reading New Zealand Police introduce hijab to uniform

Australia Post says it will support the optional use of Aboriginal place names on mail addresses, following a large grassroots campaign, the national mail service changed it’s guidelines this week to include advice on how to include traditional names. While some areas are known by their original names, many Australians often have little knowledge of place names that pre-date European settlement, activists welcomed the endorsement of their push for greater awareness. Aboriginal woman Rachael McPhail started the campaign on social media in August, noting Aboriginal people had lived in Australia for at least 60,000 years. “Every area in this country … Continue reading Australia Post to support use of Aboriginal place names on mail

Australian police say they have rescued 46 children and arrested 14 men after an investigation into an international child abuse network, the victims were allegedly subjected to crimes including sexual abuse and other forms of exploitation, the investigation also led to three arrests in the US and had identified suspects in Europe, Asia, Canada and New Zealand, authorities said. The case is believed to be one of the biggest of it’s kind in Australia, all victims were aged between 16 months and 15 years old, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said, sixteen of the victims had attended one childcare centre. … Continue reading Australian police find 46 child abuse victims of global network

An online petition by former Australian PM Kevin Rudd calling for an inquiry into Rupert Murdoch’s media dominance has got a record number of signatures, more than 500,000 Australians have signed the petition to parliament since it launched three weeks ago. News Corp Australia controls 70% of local newspaper circulation. Mr Murdoch has not commented on the petition, the petition will likely be presented to parliament, but it is not obligated to act on it. Mr Rudd, a Labor prime minister from 2007-2010 and again in 2013, has been a frequent critic of Mr Murdoch and his newspapers, which advocated … Continue reading Media Monopoly: Record number of Australians sign petition