Topic: Townsville

Cyclone Yasi bears down on Australia's coast

Cyclone Yasi is due to hit north of Queensland's main waterlogged area, but emergency services are already stretched and the whole state is flood-weary.

WikiLeaks' Julian Assange is merely 'fighting baddies,' says his mom

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's mother Christine is defending her son as fighting a good fight, saying she gave him a strong grounding in ethics.

Fossils found in South Africa point to early human ancestors

The fossil, nearly 2 million years old, 'may make a very good candidate' to be a new species of early human. Found in South Africa, it has a unique combination of ape-like and human features.

Ocean acidification, global warming, and the Great Barrier Reef

The decline in the rate of reef-building along the Great Barrier Reef is severe, sudden, and unprecedented in at least 400 years. Ocean acidification is a leading suspect.

Corals gain climate-change shield

Etc.

Australian P.M. plans military expansion to counter Asian arms race

With a 3 percent annual increase in military spending, Australia hopes to balance China's arms spending and India's sizeable military.

World