In just five years, China surpassed the US as leading a trading partner in the world. With 124 countries considering China their largest trading partner and only 76 having that relationship with the US, the Asian country’s influence is on the rise. In 2006, the US was the larger trading partner for 127 countries, while China dominated among 70. In 2011, the numbers reversed, with China dominating... 

Shipping could not find an island between Australia and New Caledonia which is listed by cartographers in atlases, maps and even Google Earth. A dream common to most explorers and discoverers throughout history has been to find unknown territories, but in Australia, a team of scientists have done just the opposite: they identified an island that does not exist. Known as Sandy Island, the land mass... 

The Moon is seen passing in front of the Sun during a solar eclipse in Auckland, New Zealand. A total solar eclipse was observed on Tuesday (13th) from 17:40 (GMT) in the state of Queensland, Australia. Clouds hampered the show, but even so, it was possible to observe the Sun completely covered by the Moon for a few minutes. The eclipse could be seen from the Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, 250 kilometers... 

There is a high level of public support for abandoning the monarchy in some of the nations of the Commonwealth. Along with Britain’s anti-monarchy campaign group Republic that campaigns for a democratic country consisting of an elected head of state, there seems to be a high level of public support for abandoning the monarchy in some of the nations of the Commonwealth. In 16 of the total of 54 Commonwealth... 

The initial stage of unprecedented radio telescope has been officially opened in Australia. The project will explore the universe in search of new galaxies, black holes, planets and even intelligent extraterrestrial life – if there is any. In the heart of red desert where man-made radio signals are minimal the AUS$152 million worth telescope will scan space for traces of the beginning of the universe,... 

Think twice the next time you play a video game or surf the Net: ‘Internet-use disorder’ is set to be added to the list of mental illnesses in the worldwide psychiatric manual. Kids are identified as being especially at risk. The international mental health encyclopedia known as the ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’ (DSM-IV) will include Internet-use disorder as a condition... 

Genetically engineered wheat contains an enzyme suppressor that, when consumed by humans, could cause permanent liver failure and death. That’s the warning issued today by molecular biologist Jack Heinemann of the University of Canterbury in Australia. Heinemann has published an eye-opening report that details this warning and calls for rigorous scientific testing on animals before this crop is... 

New Zealanders are moving to Australia in their tens of thousands. Australia is facing a flood of economic refugees. But the big numbers aren’t from the north, they are from the across the Tasman, where Statistics New Zealand yesterday announced the biggest exodus to Australia on record. An extraordinary 53,900 New Zealanders moved to Australia in the year to July – around the entire population... 

Ecuador has granted political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The decision comes almost two months after the world-famous whistleblower came to the country’s embassy in London seeking protection. “We have decided to grant political asylum to Mr. Assange,” said Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino. “We believe that his fears are legitimate and there are the threats that he... 

Rescuers at the scene of a refugee boat accident near Australia’s Christmas Island. A boat carrying 130 asylum-seekers has capsized near Australia’s Christmas Island in a second such incident this week. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority announced earlier that two merchant vessels had been dispatched to the scene on a rescue operation. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said at least... 

Astronomers have found a rectangular galaxy that bucks the typical spheroidal, disc-like, or lumpy shapes. Astronomers have found a rectangular galaxy in a wide field-of-view image taken with the Japanese Subaru Telescope for Swinburne astrophysicist Dr. Lee Spitler. The unusual cosmic phenomenon was discovered 70 million light years away within a group of 250 galaxies. “In the Universe around us,... 

Hundreds of sheep lying on the Princes Highway after a livestock truck overturned on an overpass It has been raining sheep in Australia after a truck carrying about 400 animals overturned on a highway overpass outside Melbourne. The flock of sheep fell to their deaths on to stunned drivers below, injuring several people. ­The truck crashed above the Princes Highway in southern Australia on Thursday... 

Koala populations in parts of the country face a ‘serious threat’ from urban expansion and climate change, government says. The Australian government has listed the koala as a threatened species in parts of the country for the first time, admitting that the species faces a “serious threat” from factors such as urban expansion and climate change. Koala populations in Queensland,... 

US Marines Corps About 200 United States Marines have arrived in Australia for a six-month deployment in the Northern Territory, as part of plans to expand the US military presence in the Asia-Pacific. According to a US Marine Corps spokesman, the first of 2,500 Marines, who entered the northern Australian city of Darwin late Tuesday, are expected to engage in exercises with the Australian Defense... 

Recession continues in Europe and Japan. The USA remains in the state of political uncertainty on the threshold of presidential election. What about the Green Continent, Australia? Lost between two oceans, Australia was increasing its economic potential while the northern hemisphere was suffering from the consequences of economic and financial storms. Australia managed to double its GDP from 1998...