Australia

MacGill endorses North for Ashes spinner''s job

MacGill endorses North for Ashes spinner''s jobSydney, Mar. 25 (ANI): Former Australian leg spinner Stuart MacGill has endorsed off-spinner Marcus North as the first-choice spinner against England and said specialist tweaker Bryce McGain was never in contention for the Ashes, even before his horrific debut against South Africa.

MacGill, who took 208 Test wickets for Australia, said he would stick with North given there was enough grunt in the pace attack.

Australia’s killer bushfires have their origins in Indian Ocean

Australia’s killer bushfires have their origins in Indian OceanSydney, March 25 : Climate experts have uncovered a link between the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and the killer bushfires in Australia.

Found by Dr Wenju Cai and Tim Cowan, of CSIRO's Marine and Atmospheric Research, the link indicates that a weather pattern centred on the Indian Ocean may provide an early warning system for major bushfires in southern Australia.

According to a report by ABC News, 11 of 16 major bushfires in Victoria since 1950 have been preceded by what is known as a positive IOD event.

Global chill brings economics in from the cold

Global chill brings economics in from the coldSydney - The global financial crisis has done wonders for the dismal science of economics.

From Anchorage to Ankara the spooky talk about global warming has given way to debate on toxic debt and stimulus packages, job security and interest rates.

There's a fresh cast of characters in the news bulletins: out went the sports stars and fashion labels and in came Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, Warren Buffett and Ben Bernanke.

Listen in on the conversations of commuters and be amazed at the discourse.

Australians talk socks, jocks, polo shirts and protection

Australians talk socks, jocks, polo shirts and protectionSydney  - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had hoped that when the Group of 20 (G20) met in London in April, he would be among the few representing an economy still growing.

But the billions spent in November's stimulus package won't stop a second consecutive quarter of shrinkage that would qualify the Australian economy as being in a technical recession.

Crime gang crackdown follows Sydney airport killing

Crime gang crackdown follows Sydney airport killingSydney - Australian police promised more arrests Wednesday as a squad dedicated to breaking up motorcycle gangs rolled through major cities picking up suspects in a show of force.

The crackdown follows Sunday's outrage when a Hells Angels member was bludgeoned to death in front of horrified passengers at Sydney airport.

Fears of outright war between rival gangs were stoked by a double murder in Canberra on Tuesday. But police warned against immediately linking the killings to gang rivalry.

Beekeeper killing: your honey or your life

Beekeeper killing: your honey or your life Sydney - An Australian beekeeper found shot dead at his isolated property where he lived alone was killed for his honey, a Brisbane court was told Wednesday.

Donald Alcock, 34, was found guilty of murdering 41-year-old Tony Knight by shooting him in the back while he slept.

"If Tony was home I was going to have to maim him or hurt him bad if I was going to knock off the honey," Alcock told police. "I was only out to hurt him, I wasn't out to kill him."

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