Australian rescuers save 25 of 270 stranded whales so far

HOBART, Australia (AP) — Around one third of an estimated 270 pilot whales that became stranded on Australia’s island state of Tasmania have died, with rescuers managing to return 25 to the sea in an ongoing operation, officials said Tuesday. The whales were discovered Monday on a beach and two sand...

Asian shares track Wall Street retreat on pandemic pains

Shares slipped Tuesday in Asia after markets tumbled worldwide on worries about the pandemic’s economic pain. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.3% to 23,894.72 and the Kospi in South Korea sank 1.7% to 2,348.24. The S&P/ASX 200 in Australia lost 0.6% to 5,787.00 and the Shanghai Composite index edged 0.1%...

Australia state leader welcomes Israeli extradition ruling

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An Australian state leader on Tuesday described an Israeli court decision to extradite a former teacher wanted in Australia on charges of molesting children as a victory for abuse victims. Daniel Andrews is premier of Victoria state where Malka Leifer is accused of molesting...

Aussie reporter says China threatened to detain his daughter

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A former Australian correspondent in Beijing said Monday that he and his 14-year-old daughter were threatened with detention before they left China two years ago. Matthew Carney said he had not revealed the 2018 incident until now because he had wanted to avoid “negative...

Whale swims free of Australian river as 270 are stranded

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — A humpback whale has found its way back to sea weeks after getting lost in a murky, crocodile-infested river in northern Australia, while an estimated 270 pilot whales became stranded in the country's south. There have been no previous recorded sightings of whales in remote East...

Briton, Aussie killed in Solomon Islands by WWII bomb blast

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Two men from Britain and Australia who were working in the Solomon Islands to locate bombs left behind from World War II have died after one of the bombs exploded, authorities said Monday. The Norwegian People's Aid agency said the men were staff members who were working with...

Israel court says woman can be extradited in child sex case

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli court on Monday approved the extradition of a former teacher wanted in Australia on charges of child sex abuse, potentially paving the way for her to stand trial after a six-year legal battle. Malka Leifer, a former educator who is accused of sexually abusing several former...

Lawyers: Israel court agrees to extradite woman wanted on child sex abuse charges in Australia after 6-year legal battle

JERUSALEM (AP) — Lawyers: Israel court agrees to extradite woman wanted on child sex abuse charges in Australia after 6-year legal battle.

Asian markets lower after Wall St declines for third week

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets were mostly lower Monday after Wall Street declined for a third week and Britain reported a rise in coronavirus infections. Benchmarks in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Sydney retreated. Japanese markets were closed for a holiday. On Friday, Wall Street’s benchmark...

The Latest: New Zealand to end restrictions except in 1 city

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: All remaining virus restrictions will be lifted across much of New Zealand from late Monday with the exception of the largest city, Auckland, which will continue to have some restrictions for at least another 16 days. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement Monday after...