Tiny frog, pink-eyed bug among 200 animal species found in remote Papua New Guinea

Scientists see new bugs, frogs in Papua New Guinea

New Zealand rescuers fail in bid to cut entangled humpback whale free from rope, likely death

NZ rescuers fail to cut rope from entangled whale

New Zealand rescuers save 14 whales of pod of 74 stranded on remote beach

NZealand rescuers save 14 whales from stranded pod

80 pilot whales stranded on New Zealand beach; only 24 still alive despite rescue efforts

56 pilot whales die after stranding on NZ beach

Officials say 80 pilot whales stranded on New Zealand beach; 40 already dead

80 pilot whales stranded on New Zealand beach

Officials say 74 pilot whales stranded on New Zealand beach; 25 already dead

74 pilot whales stranded on New Zealand beach

US military postpones Guam buildup decisions on live fire training range, carrier berth

US military postpones 2 Guam buildup decisions

Toyota to build a $300 million plant in Melbourne to produce greener engines

Toyota plant in Australia to build greener engines

Independent lawmakers hand Australia’s Labor Party enough support to form government

Australian Labor Party wins enough support to rule

American Samoa to ban plastic bags in effort to protect environment

American Samoa law to ban plastic bags next year

Tasmanian devil once ‘immune’ to cancer killing the species euthanized after developing tumors

Famed Tasmanian devil euthanized after tumor found

Greens party agree to help Labor Party form Australia’s first minority government since 1943

Greens party supports Australian Labor Party gov’t

Australian political leaders seek backing of independents in bids for power

Australian parties seek backing of independents

Australian prime minister negotiates with independent lawmakers to hang on to power

Australian PM asks independents to save government

New Zealand rescuers save 9 pilot whales that survived beach stranding, 49 mammals are buried

NZ rescuers save 9 whales stranded on beach

New Zealand rescuers refloat 11 pilot whales that survived beach stranding in which 47 died

NZ rescuers refloat 11 whales stranded on beach

58 pilot whales die in New Zealand beach stranding; volunteers fight to save 15 more

58 pilot whales die in New Zealand beach stranding

Boat made of 12,500 plastic bottles completes 4-month journey across Pacific Ocean

Boat of plastic bottles ends 4-month Pacific sail

Boat made of 12,500 plastic bottles arrives in Sydney after 4-month journey across Pacific

Boat made of plastic bottles arrives in Sydney

Australian election campaign begins with focus on immigration; Labor holds a slight lead: poll

Australia’s election campaigning kicks off

Australian PM, only 3 weeks on the job but already polling well, calls August elections

Australian PM, 3 weeks on job, calls Aug elections

Australia’s first woman Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces Aug 21 general elections

Australian PM Gillard announces Aug 21 elections

Australian scientists find cave of marsupial fossils in Outback; some similarities to kangaroo

Cave of marsupial fossils discovered in Outback

ND coal-drying plant passes first large-scale test using New Zealand lignite; more trials set

ND coal-drying plant passes first large-scale test

Police: Drunk Australian bitten by ‘Fatso’ the crocodile after trying to sit on animal’s back

Australian bitten while trying to sit on crocodile

Achoo! Coughing and sneezing into hands is common, but isn’t right way to stop spread of germs

Yuck: Few people correctly cover coughs, sneezes

Total eclipse of the sun occurs this weekend, but few can see it

Weekend total solar eclipse visible to lucky few

Carcass found believed to be New Zealand’s friendly dolphin, Moko

New Zealand celebrity dolphin believed dead

Scientists say Japanese spacecraft may have collected first samples from asteroid

Japanese spacecraft may have dust from asteroid

Scientists say Japan probe may have collected first samples from asteroid

Japanese probe may have dust from asteroid

New Zealand greenhouse gas pricing system takes effect, immediately lifts gas, power prices

NZ carbon price system hikes household costs

G20 countries face split on issue of stimulus spending versus tackling soaring deficits

G20 leaders facing worries about rising deficits

Surprise move by formerly loyal deputy delivers Australia’s first female prime minister

Australia gets its 1st female PM

SYDNEY — Julia Gillard had long been tipped as Australia’s first woman prime minister, but the way it finally happened has shocked almost everyone.

Australia’s ruling party ousts Kevin Rudd, installs first woman prime minister

Australia gets its 1st female PM as Rudd ousted

Australian government in turmoil as prime minister calls leadership vote

Australia’s PM Rudd calls leadership vote

CANBERRA, Australia — A surprise revolt forced Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday to call a party leadership vote that he will struggle to win — just months away from national elections. It marks a dramatic reversal in fortunes for the wonkish premier and could give the country its first woman leader.

Nations can’t agree on how to curb whaling; Japan can still raid marine sanctuary unchecked

Nations fail to limit whaling, Japan still hunts

Japan warns it may quit whaling commission if no progress made in easing of ban

Japan may quit whaling commission if ban stays put

Scientists recover Japanese space probe with possible asteroid clues to solar system creation

Scientists retrieve capsule, seeking asteroid dust

Scientists hunt for Japanese space probe with possible asteroid clues to solar system creation

Hunt on for asteroid dust and solar system secrets

Japanese space probe returns to Earth after 7-year journey to collect asteroid material

Space probe returns to Earth from trip to asteroid

Rescue boats headed to 16-year-old sailor adrift in Indian Ocean on damaged yacht

Boats heading to teen sailor found in Indian Ocean

Scientists waiting in Australian Outback for Japanese space capsule that visited asteroid

Scientists wait in Outback for Japanese spacecraft

Australian study finds crocodiles make up for their poor swimming by surfing across the ocean

Australian study finds crocodiles surf the seas

Briton becomes 1st woman to row solo across Pacific, receives warm welcome in Papua New Guinea

Briton is 1st woman to row solo across Pacific

Australia says it will take Japan to International Court of Justice to stop whaling

Australia to take Japan to court over whaling