Lessons today in naval battle 95 years ago Nov 9, 2009
NINETY-FIVE years ago today the new Australian navy won its first battle when the cruiser HMAS Sydney destroyed the German raider Emden off the Cocos Islands early in World War I. ... Von Muller decided to destroy a wireless station in the Cocos Islands, which would have crippled Allied communications. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
In your ears until they bleed, the calm, methodical Rudd Nov 8, 2009
The low-lying coral atolls of the Cocos Islands will be enhanced with a large artificial mountain built from Sydney landfill and old Work Choices mouse mats, which will be crowned with its own loudspeaker and will moreover function as a handy refuge should our calm and methodical approach to climate change mitigation fail to avert the promised phenomenon of widespread coastal inundation. The guano ranges of Christmas Island will be adorned with their own loudspeakers, and struggling media... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
To play king of the middle ground Nov 7, 2009
Despite not sharing his politics, Armstrong, who directed the greenie movie The Age of Stupid, told reporters she was grateful to Johnson for his gallantry, calling him her ''knight on a shining bicycle". And she made this telling observation: ''If you find yourself down a dark alleyway and in trouble I think Boris would be of more use than Ken.'' I would suggest that, when push comes to shove, it is muscular conservatives with the courage of their convictions, of either sex, who are of more use... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Rudd ready to sit out boat crisis Nov 5, 2009
He sent a veiled message to Indonesia by saying that the 27 survivors whose boat sank off the Cocos Islands on Sunday were going to Christmas Island because they were saved in Australia's search and rescue zone. By contrast, those aboard the Oceanic Viking were rescued in Indonesia's search and rescue zone and therefore had to go to Indonesia. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Survivors being taken to Christmas Island Nov 4, 2009
THE 27 survivors from a refugee boat that sank 350 nautical miles off the Cocos Islands are being taken to the Australian territory of Christmas Island for processing. Little hope remains for 11 other people still missing. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
* Eleven still missing after suspected asylum boat sinks Nov 4, 2009
The boat went down late on Sunday about 650km from the Cocos Islands, sparsely populated atolls about 2,400km northwest of the Australian coast and about 1,300km south of Indonesia. An air force cargo plane reached the area on Monday afternoon after hours of flying, and spotted two survivors in the water, OConnor said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Australia Authorities Suspend Search for Missing People on B Nov 4, 2009
The boat went down late Sunday about 400 miles from the Cocos Islands, sparsely populated atolls about 1,500 miles northwest of the Australian coast and about 800 miles south of Indonesia. The boat was in international waters but within Australia's area of responsibility for search and rescue operations. (Fox News)
One confirmed dead in Cocos search Nov 3, 2009
Australia sends an observation plane as efforts continue to rescue victims from a sinking ship near the Cocos Islands. At least one suspected asylum seeker has died and another 11 remain missing, feared drowned, aboard a boat that sank off the Cocos Island, the Government has confirmed. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Search in dark for boat people Nov 3, 2009
Australia sends an observation plane as efforts continue to rescue victims from a sinking ship near the Cocos Islands ... Search aircraft and ships were combing an area about 330 nautical miles north-west of the Cocos Islands, where the vessel sank. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Asylum Seekers Stuck in Indonesia-Australia Standoff Nov 3, 2009
On Nov. 2, another boat capsized near the Cocos Islands, a tiny set of Australian-owned atolls in the Indian Ocean. By the end of the day, 19 male survivors age 20-40 had been rescued, and up to 18 men were believed to still be missing. (Time.com)
One dead, 11 missing from sunken boat Nov 3, 2009
Australia sends an observation plane as efforts continue to rescue victims from a sinking ship near the Cocos Islands. A Taiwanese fishing boat is no longer helping search for 11 suspected asylum seekers, feared drowned after their boat sank about 350 nautical miles off the Cocos Islands west of Australia, the federal government says. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Dozens missing after boat sinks off Australia Nov 2, 2009
17 others are rescued after boat went down near the Cocos Islands ... About 40 people were believed to be aboard the boat when it went down near the Cocos Islands, sparsely populated atolls about 1,500 miles northwest of the Australian coast and about 800 miles south of Indonesia. (MSNBC -- International)
Oz: boat sinks, 20 dead? Nov 2, 2009
Defence chief Angus Houston said the unidentified boat capsized and then sank after the LNG Pioneer ship and Taiwanese fishing craft responded to pleas for help in a remote area off Australia's Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean ... A surveillance plane was headed to the area but a rescue ship was about a day's sail from the site off the tiny Cocos Islands, some 2000 kilometres off the Australian coast. (iAfrica.com)
World Briefs Nov 2, 2009
About 40 people were believed to be aboard the boat when it went down near the Cocos Islands, sparsely populated atolls about 1,500 miles northwest of the Australian coast. Former President Clinton gets statue in Kosovo PRISTINA, Kosovo -- Thousands of ethnic Albanians braved low temperatures and a cold wind in the Kosovo capital of Pristina to welcome former President Bill Clinton on Sunday as he attended the unveiling of an 11-foot statue of him on a key boulevard that also bears his name. (Erie Times-News, PA)
Boat capsizes off Cocos Islands Nov 2, 2009
A rescue operation is under way after a boat carrying about 40 people sank off the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean, Australian officials have said ... The Cocos Islands - an Australian ocean territory - lie roughly halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka. (BBC News -- South Asia)
Australia Tries Rescue After Boat Sinks Nov 2, 2009
The boat went down late Sunday about 400 miles (650 kilometers) from the Cocos Islands, sparsely populated atolls themselves about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) northwest of the Australian coast and about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) south of Indonesia. Government officials said it was too early to say whether those on board were asylum seekers trying to reach Australia, though aspects of the emergency such as an unseaworthy boat carrying so many people in waters sometimes used by human... (Time.com)
More than 20 feared dead as boat sinks off Australia Nov 2, 2009
This is a very difficult search environment," Rudd told reporters. A surveillance plane was headed to the area but a rescue ship was about a day's sail from the site off the tiny Cocos Islands, some 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) off the Australian coast. "We obviously have grave concerns about the safety of those who are still in the water, given they've been in there for some time now," a spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority told AFP. "The weather conditions aren't great,... (Channelnewsasia.com)
Dozens missing in capsizing off Indonesia Nov 2, 2009
About 40 people were believed to be aboard the boat when it capsized near the Cocos Islands, sparsely populated atolls about 1,500 miles northwest of Australia and some 800 miles south of Indonesia. A merchant ship that responded to a distress call managed to pluck 17 survivors from the Indian Ocean late last night and was searching for others, said Brendan O Connor, Australia s home affairs minister. (Boston Globe)
CTAM Summit 2009: Nat Geo Doubles Down for 'Expedition Week' 2 Oct 26, 2009
If Ben Horton (26) wins, he will research shark poaching in the Cocos Islands. If Trip Jennings (27) wins, he will embark on elephant research in Virunga National Park. (Multichannel News)
'We are second-class to asylum seekers' Sep 30, 2009
We'll look at that,'' the minister said, adding that it could form part of the work of a newly formed commonwealth taskforce which is examining the economic and environmental sustainability of Christmas and nearby Cocos islands ... The detention centre is currently contributing to full employment - so much so that workers could soon be flown in from the Cocos Islands. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Should 13-year-old girl be allowed to sail solo? Aug 26, 2009
As for physical dangers, the American teen admitted he was tracked by pirates while sailing from Australia to the Cocos Islands and had to call Australian authorities in to scare the hijackers off. "I had this boat following me all over the place and circling," Sunderland said. (MSNBC -- Health)
