Australia and Oceania

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May 21, 2008 

CANBERRA, Australia: (AP) Kangaroos and Tasmanian devils are beloved Australian icons that are tugging the nation's heartstrings for very different reasons. While authorities are cutting the population of the former, they are struggling to prevent the latter from dying out altogether.

The juxtaposition underscores Australia's challenges, failures and differences in opinion on caring for its unique fauna.  read more »

April 30, 2008 news.com.au

A PROTEST by cab drivers which has caused mayhem in Melbourne's CBD appears to have ended with cabbies having their demands for safer conditions met.

Driver representative Mohammed Jama and Victorian Taxi Directorate general manager Peter Corcoran said safety screens would be made compulsory in taxis and introduced by Christmas.

Pre-paid fares will be compulsory between 10pm and 5am each night, and the State Government will cover all medical costs for a driver stabbed and left for dead this week.

Mr Jama said he was happy with the result and drivers could remove the screens if they did not want them.  read more »

Wednesday March 05, 2008
By Jarrod Booker New Zealand Herald

Consent has been given for the restaurant to be built on the site at Motueka, near Nelson, but a group calling itself Uniquely Motueka is standing in the way.  read more »

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By Carmel Crimmins

MANILA (Reuters) - Thousands of people streamed into Manila's financial district on Friday calling for the resignation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a colorful outpouring of placards, prayers and chants.

Police estimated between 13,000 and 15,000 people had gathered, but independent estimates put the crowd at over 25,000.

Priests in white cassocks recited the rosary, university students shouted "Fight for Truth" and office workers from nearby high-rise buildings sprinkled confetti.  read more »

February 18, 2008 abs-cbnnews

Militant groups on Monday launched protest actions against the annual joint RP-US military exercise Balikatan ’08 as well as the continued presence of US troops in the country.

Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo said the joint RP-US war games were launched under the "auspices of the onerous and one-sided Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between two countries."

"Many incidents of human rights violations were documented in these actual combat areas where previous war games were held," Ocampo said in a statement.  read more »

By Penny McLintock Tuesday February 12, 04:24 PM ABC

Thousands of people have marched across the lawns of Parliament House to protest against the Federal Government's intervention in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities.

Aboriginal people from across the country and non-Indigenous supporters gathered at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy near Old Parliament House to hear leaders speak against the intervention.  read more »

By Sebastien Berger Telegraph 28/01/2008

An anti-apartheid activist has rejected one of South Africa’s highest honours in protest at poverty in the country.

John Minto, a New Zealander, led demonstrations against a Springbok rugby tour of his country in 1981, some of which turned violent.  read more »