Australia

Australia overcome England

Jordan Petaia, Folau Fainga'a and Pete Samu scored tries in the last quarter as Australia recorded their first win over England since knocking the co-hosts out of the 2015 World Cup.

Samu's try took Australia to a 30-14 lead but England debutants Henry Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet scored tries in the dying minutes to make the scoreline more respectable.

It was quite a turnaround for the Wallabies, who must have thought they were cursed after the first 34 minutes of the match.

Australia honey bees put in lockdown due to deadly varroa parasite

The varroa destructor was first found at a port near Sydney last week but has since been spotted in hives 100km away.

The outbreak threatens to cost the honey and food production industries millions of dollars.

Keepers inside a new biosecurity zone will not be able to move hives, bees or honeycombs until further notice.

Australia was the only continent free of the varroa mites, which are the biggest threat to bees worldwide.

The pests - which are about the size of a sesame seed - weaken and kill colonies by feasting on them and transmitting viruses.

Vanuatu calls on Australia to back its UN bid to recognise climate change harm

In a letter to the prime minister sent by leading Pacific and Australian NGOs, shared exclusively with Guardian Australia, the groups urged Anthony Albanese to support Vanuatu’s campaign for the international court of justice to issue an advisory opinion on the question of climate change.

Eight million Australians urged to turn off lights

Chris Bowen says people should not use electricity for two hours every evening if they "have a choice".

However, he added he was "confident" that blackouts could be avoided.

It comes after Australia's main wholesale electricity market was suspended because of a surge in prices.

Mr Bowen asked people living in New South Wales to conserve as much power as possible.

"If you have a choice about when to run certain items, don't run them from 6 to 8 [in the evening]," he said during a televised media conference in Canberra.

     

World's biggest plant discovered off Australian coast

Using genetic testing, scientists have determined a large underwater meadow in Western Australia is in fact one plant.

It is believed to have spread from a single seed over at least 4,500 years.

The seagrass covers about 200 sq km (77 sq miles), researchers from the University of Western Australia said.

The team stumbled upon the discovery by accident at Shark Bay, about 800km (497 miles) north of Perth.

They had set out to understand the genetic diversity of the species - also known as ribbon weed - which is commonly found along parts of Australia's coast.

Pathway to permanency to see 3000 Pacific workers settle in Australia each year

During the campaign trail, Australia's Labor party has proposed a "Pacific Engagement Visa" which would allow about three-thousand people from the Pacific to migrate to Australia annually.

A lottery will draw the winners, with a pathway to permanent residency in Australia the main prize.

"People will enter the lottery, with their family, if they have a family, and if they are lucky enough to be selected, then they'll need to find a job…to come to Australia,” the director of the Development Policy Center at the ANU Professor Stephen Howes said.

Australian police find 4-month-old baby safe and well after mother's car stolen

A baby boy in Australia has been reunited with his distraught mother after he was taken when her car was stolen from outside an Adelaide deli.

The 4-month-old was missing for almost two and a half hours as South Australia Police desperately searched for him and the stolen car.

His mother's 2009 white Honda Jazz was stolen from outside a deli on Fourth Avenue, Klemzig in Adelaide about 7.45am (local time) while she was shopping inside.

Australia wins London 7s

Paterson open the scoring just before halftime.

New Zealand were first to score the second half, with Akuila Rokolisoa scoring the equalizer at the kickoff.

The All Blacks looked to have walked away with the game after a Leroy Carter try that put them into a 14-7 lead.

Australia answered with, Paterson’s brace and the winner in the final minute play.

     

Vanuatu to stop exporting dried kava roots to Fiji

The CEO of the Vanuatu Primary Producers Authority Timothy Tumukon indicated on local media that Vanuatu would be better off exporting directly to Australia where it could value-add to its product.

"Export to Australia and not Fiji where they add value, give you peanuts and take the cream of the cake," Tumukon told the Vanuatu Television and Broadcasting Corporation.

He said Vanuatu was concerned that its produce was being mixed with Fiji kava and exported as a Fijian product.

“It’s time to stop exporting dry kava to Fiji.’’

Scott Morrison concedes, Anthony Albanese next Australian prime minister

Morrison spoke to reporters last night, saying he had conceded to Albanese.

"It's a difficult night for Liberals and Nationals around the country, as nights like this always are.

"They are humbling, but so is victory. Victory is also humbling and always should be.

"Tonight, I've spoken to the Leader of the Opposition and the incoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and I've congratulated him on his election victory."