Radio Australia Latest Stories (English International)

PNG PM threatens to shut down finance department

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:28:15 +1000

PNG's PM says he will shut down the country's finance department if he has to while improper payment allegations are investigated.

North Korea sends top military envoy to China

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:24:36 +1000

One of the North Korean leader's top advisers has been dispatched to China to ease strained relations.

Oklahoma tornado: authorities shift from rescue to recovery with all survivors believed found

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:20:15 +1000

Rescue teams working in the tornado-struck suburbs of Oklahoma City believe they have located all the dead and missing after Monday's devastating storm. Authorities lowered the death toll to 24 overnight, after initial fears 91 people had been killed. About 240 people were injured. During a long day of searching on Tuesday, emergency crews lifted broken doors, moved sections of shattered walls and tossed aside bricks looking for survivors as cadaver dogs sniffed through the rubble.

Joe Hockey defends Howard government tax cuts after reports say they contributed to structural deficit

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:24:21 +1000

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey says the Coalition makes "no apologies" for tax cuts delivered under the former Coalition government, which were today cited in two official reports for contributing to an ongoing structural deficit in the budget. Replying to last week's federal budget in a speech to the National Press Club, Mr Hockey acknowledged the structural difficulties and said they must be addressed. However, Mr Hockey would not concede that the Howard government tax cuts have had a detrimental effect.

Fears for Nauru fisherman missing for a week

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:10:06 +1000

Fears are growing for two Nauruan fishermen missing at sea for more than a week.

Pakistan politician Imran Khan leaves hospital after fall during election campaign

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:42:22 +1000

Imran Khan has left hospital two weeks after breaking bones in his back in a fall at a rally for Pakistan's general election, where his party scored a major breakthrough.

Pakistan politician Imran Khan leaves hospital after fall during election campaign

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:42:22 +1000

Imran Khan has left hospital two weeks after breaking bones in his back in a fall at a rally for Pakistan's general election, where his party scored a major breakthrough.

PNG PM threatens to shut down finance department

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:28:15 +1000

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister says he will shut down the country's finance department if he has to while allegations of improper payments are investigated.

PNG PM threatens to shut down finance department

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:28:15 +1000

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister says he will shut down the country's finance department if he has to while allegations of improper payments are investigated.

Fiji athletes qualify for IAAF World Youth Championships

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:23:48 +1000

For the first time in Fiji's athletics history, five athletes have qualified on merit to compete at the IAAF World Youth Championship.

Comedians enlisted to spread key sexual health messages with dirty jokes

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:20:48 +1000

A new sexual health project will use dirty jokes to get key sexual health messages through to young men.

Ben Te'o assault allegation withdrawn

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:02:31 +1000

Queensland Police say an allegation against NRL player Ben Te'o has been formally withdrawn.

French Polynesia back on UN decolonisation list

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:39:57 +1000

The United Nations has approved former French Polynesian President Oscar Temaru's appeal for the territory to be re-listed for decolonisation.

Cambodian prince to risk jail over assets

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:18:57 +1000

The former spokesman for Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk says he'd prefer to go to jail than declare his assets.

Oklahoma tornado: Rescuers search for survivors amongst the rubble

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:01:39 +1000

Rescuers are going building to building in search of victims while thousands of survivors are homeless, a day after a massive tornado tore through a suburb of Oklahoma City, wiping out whole blocks of homes and killing at least 24 people. Nine children were among the dead, including seven who drowned in the basement of a school which took a direct hit in the deadliest tornado to hit the United States in two years. Emergency workers pulled more than 100 survivors from the rubble of homes, schools and a hospital, and around 237 people were injured.

Salvation Army survey finds many families going without basic necessities

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:06:58 +1000

More than half of respondents to a Salvation Army survey say they are often going without meals, while two-thirds say they are having to cut down on basic necessities.

Study flags infant obesity concerns in American Samoa

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:25:12 +1000

A US study has found some American Samoan babies as young as 15 months are being classified as obese.

Oklahoma tornado: Survivor finds her missing dog during television interview

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:23:30 +1000

Amazing video has emerged of a Oklahoma tornado survivor reunited with her dog which was found trapped in rubble while she was giving an interview. The woman, named by US media as Barbara Garcia, is seen standing amid the remnants of her razed house recounting the terrifying moment the supercell storm struck. Ms Garcia is shown speaking to the TV camera when one of the crew spots her dog trapped under an appliance with wire over its face. The dog - reportedly named Cathy - was pulled, seemingly unharmed, from the rubble and reunited with its emotional owner.

Myanmar dials in to growing mobile market

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:02:57 +1000

Myanmar's increasing engagement is fuelling demand for mobile phones in a country described as less connected than North Korea.

French activist shoots himself in Notre Dame cathedral in gay marriage protest

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:52:13 +1000

A far-right French historian has shot himself dead at the altar of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in a protest against France's adoption of gay marriage.