Canberra, Feb 5 : In a new research, scientists have found that the Indian Ocean plays a profound role in driving the southern Australian drought.

According to a report in ABC News, the researchers, from the Climate Change Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, discovered that Australia's severe drought is being driven by temperature fluctuations in the Indian Ocean.

"We have found the Indian Ocean plays a profound role in driving the southern Australian drought," said Dr Caroline Ummenhofer of the Climate Change Research Centre at the University of New South Wales.

"We really hope this will improve forecasting of rainfall in that area," she added.

Canberra, Jan. 29 : Australian cricket selector Jamie Cox flew last night from Adelaide to Canberra - a distance of 1600 kilometers - to assess whether New South Wales batting prodigy Phillip Hughes is good enough for the Test team.

According to The Age, Cox has revealed that Hughes and fellow Blues opener Phil Jaques could both earn selection for the tour of South Africa.

Canberra, Dec 9 : Scientists have urged Australian consumers to eat more camel meat because the country’s one million-plus population of the animals is out of control, and is also wreaking environmental havoc.

According to a report in the website news. com. au, Murray McGregor, an agribusiness lecturer, said that a good way to bring down the number of camels was to eat them.

“Eat a camel today, I’ve done it,” Professor McGregor said. “It’s a bit like beef. It’s as lean as lean, it’s an excellent health food,” he added.

CANBERRA, Australia, Dec. 2 -- Indonesian diplomats in Afghanistan are selling visas to desperate people hoping to get to Australia, members of the Afghan community in Australia say.

Hassan Ghulam, who lives in Brisbane, said increasing violence in Afghanistan has led to an increase in the price of Indonesian visas at the embassy in Kabul, The Australian reported Wednesday. He said corrupt staff members at the embassy are now asking $1,500 in U. S. currency, up from $1,200.

"This is because the people are very eager to leave to Indonesia and then try their luck with a smuggler and get on a boat to come to Australia," Ghulam said.

Canberra, Dec 1 : Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has urged calm between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 195 people and strained relations between the two neighbouring countries.

New Delhi has accused “elements in Pakistan” of involvement in the three-day siege that wreaked havoc on Mumbai. Islamabad, however, denies any role in the attacks, the Daily Times reported.

Canberra, Nov. 28  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said tonight that he was "deeply concerned" about the well-being of 36 missing Australians in Mumbai.

A Herald Sun report said that Rudd has cancelled plans to attend a gala fundraising dinner in Sydney tonight to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his election as Prime Minister.

He opted to stay in Canberra for a meeting this evening of the Cabinet''s National Security Committee to monitor events in Mumbai.