Australia

03 December 2007 -- Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as Australia's new Prime Minister with an agenda of action on climate change and the repeal of unpopular industrial laws. The new government has signed the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and also plans to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq by the middle of 2008.

Kevin Rudd's hand trembled slightly but his voice was strong as he was sworn in as Australia's 26th Prime Minister after sweeping to power in elections last month.

His first act as leader was to sign the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, which had been a key election pledge.    » read more »

Sydney, Australia and New York, NY, November 14, 2007 -- Franscois McHardy has been named Managing Director of Simon & Schuster Australia. McHardy's appointment is effective immediately, and was announced by Carolyn Reidy, who will become President and CEO of Simon & Schuster, Inc., on January 1, 2008.    » read more »

Monday October 29, 2007 -- It was certainly Silverchair’s night at this year’s ARIA Awards. Their 5 ARIA Award wins from 5 nominations (and a 6th for Best Video) ensured that not only have they beat the record held by any artist for the most ARIA Awards - at an overall total of 20 - but they have helped to show the strength of the EMI local artist roster, with EMI picking up more ARIA Award wins on the night than all other companies combined.    » read more »

Slime-Soaked Co-Hosts Zac Efron and The Veronicas – Plus Hundreds of Kids – Get the Goo, Too!

Sydney, 11 October 2007 -- Bindi Irwin has cemented her place in the hearts of Aussie kids everywhere winning two coveted blimps at Nickelodeon's Australian Kids' Choice Awards held at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia on 10 October. The Australian Kids' Choice Awards premiered on Nickelodeon Australia on 11 October at 6pm, Sydney Time.    » read more »

05 October 2007 -- Australia's main scientific research agency says it has produced the most accurate projections of climate change ever made - and the outlook is not good for Australia. Phil Mercer reports from Sydney, where the gloomy figures were presented this week to delegates at a major international conference on climate change.

The report comes from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, or CSIRO.    » read more »

23 September 2007, Tianjin, China (By Jim Stevenson) -- The semifinal round is set at the Women's World Cup football (soccer) tournament in China. VOA's Jim Stevenson reports Brazil got past Australia, 3-2, while Norway ended host China's run with a 1-0 victory.

Brazil struck early in its quarterfinal match against Australia in Tianjin. Formiga (full name is Miraildes Maciel Mota) booted a shot in the fourth minute that arced from outside the box and slipped in just under the crossbar.    » read more »

18 September 2007 -- Colombian cyclist Leonardo Duque has won the 16th stage of the Tour of Spain while Denis Menchov of Russia retained the overall lead.

Leonardo Duque edged Russia's Alexander Kolobnev and Joan Horrach of Spain to win Tuesday's 161.5-kilometer stage, from Jaen to Puertollano in 4:39:00. Alexander Kolobnev was second and Joan Horrach took third place, both credited with the same time.    » read more »

16 September 2007, Hangzhou, China (By Jim Stevenson) -- The fifth FIFA Women's World Cup in China is being broadcast to a record number of viewers around the world. VOA's Jim Stevenson has more on the growth of the quadrennial football (soccer) event since it began in 1991.

China hosted the inaugural Women's World Cup 16 years ago. At that time, 12 nations competed, with the United States winning the title. But football fans following that team and the others often had to wait about a day for game results to appear in newspapers.    » read more »

17 September 2007 -- Conservationists have started a campaign to urge the Australian government to formally protect the Coral Sea, one of the country's last tropical marine wildernesses. A coalition, led by the World Wildlife Fund, has declared it a 'predator diversity hotspot' for its abundant shark populations. The environmental groups are concerned the area could be damaged by a variety of man-made threats. Phil Mercer reports from Sydney.

Conservationists describe the Coral Sea as "a stunning blue-water highway, full of oceanic predators."    » read more »

05 September 2007 -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard has assured President Bush that his country will not reduce its troop levels in Iraq.

Mr. Bush met with his Australian counterpart Wednesday in his first one-on-one meeting during this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

At a joint press conference, President Bush welcomed Australia's support in Iraq and said that there are signs of reconciliation in the country.

Mr. Bush arrived in Sydney Tuesday after making a brief visit to Iraq.    » read more »

03 September 2007 -- President Bush is on his way to Australia for the annual summit of Asia-Pacific nations following an unannounced stop in Iraq where he held talks with Iraqi officials and U.S. military commanders.

The main focus of the 21-nation summit will be economic and environmental matters.

Members are expected to push for a successful conclusion of the current round of world trade talks. They are also likely to seek some sort of consensus on the controversial issue of climate change.    » read more »

01 September 2007, Osaka, Japan (By David Byrd) -- The United States has won the gold medals in the men's and women's relay while an American took the pole vault title at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. VOA's David Byrd was trackside and has this report on the action.

Tyson Gay of the United States won his third world championship gold medal this week. Gay, who won the men's 100-meter and 200-meters titles, was the third runner in the U.S. 4x100 men's relay.    » read more »

30 August 2007 Osaka, Japan (By David Byrd) -- American sprinter Tyson Gay has won his second gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan. As VOA's David Byrd reports, Gay added the 200-meters title to his 100-meters gold medal.

Thursday's race was a duel between two men - Tyson Gay of the United States and Jamaica's Usain Bolt. After a false start, the sprinters took off clean and Bolt had a slight lead through the curve of the track.    » read more »

For Third Consecutive Year, Citi Wins Majority of Internet Bank Awards in Asia

August 28, 2007, Singapore/Hong Kong – Citi has picked up the majority of awards for the World's Best Internet Banks in Asia Pacific from Global Finance magazine. This is the third year in a row that Citi has dominated the Global Finance magazine awards in Asia Pacific, underscoring Citi's continued commitment to invest in technology to meet the evolving needs of its clients.    » read more »

27 August 2007 -- Australia has echoed American criticism of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, saying the pace of political reconciliation under his government is too slow. Phil Mercer reports from Sydney, where Iraq is expected to be a major issue of discussion among leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum next month.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki should be doing more to bring about political unity in Iraq.    » read more »