Headlines from the Associated Press

Lost British backpacker says he was 'total idiot'

By TANALEE SMITH — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:04:32 GMT

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) -- A British teenager who was found dehydrated and freezing after 12 wintry days lost in Australia's wilderness said he wrote farewell notes to his family and expected to die of starvation....

Sydney police investigate brutal killing of family

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:21:26 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) -- An Australian family of five, including two children, were bludgeoned to death in their home in a Sydney suburb in what police said Sunday was a targeted killing....

Australia investigates mysterious penguin killings

By KRISTEN GELINEAU — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:58:53 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) -- The first battered bodies were found on a small Australian beach, the white sand around them stained crimson with their blood. A few days later, the killer struck again - this time on the nearby cliffs overlooking Sydney Harbor. The cluster of victims were covered in bite marks, their tiny tummies slashed open....

H2-WHOA! Australian town bans bottled water sales

By KRISTEN GELINEAU — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:01:44 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) -- Residents of a rural Australian town hoping to protect the earth and their wallets have voted to ban the sale of bottled water, the first community in the country - and possibly the world - to take such a drastic step in the growing backlash against the industry....

Palau asks for more US aid after Gitmo deal

By JONATHAN KAMINSKY — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:00:15 GMT

KOROR, Palau (AP) -- Palau is asking longtime benefactor the United States for a 35-year extension on direct aid funding - and hinting Washington should say yes because of its offer to take in 13 Guantanamo Bay detainees....