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Tensions at the Manus Island detention centre erupted into a violent breakout last night, after asylum seekers were told their only option for resettlement was to live in Papua New Guinea.
Thirty-five asylum seekers escaped from the centre through a fence about 6:15pm (local time) but Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says they were quickly recaptured.
Mr Morrison says all "non-essential staff" were evacuated, several internal fences were knocked down, safety-glass panels were smashed, bunk beds were "broken apart" and the pieces used as weapons and thrown.
Eight asylum seekers have been arrested and 19 have been treated at the centre's medical clinic, but Mr Morrison says none of the patients are "exhibiting life-threatening conditions".
Topics: refugees, immigration, community-and-society, federal-government, government-and-politics, papua-new-guinea
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Ukrainian opposition protesters have ended a two-month occupation of city hall in the capital Kiev, as part of an amnesty deal with the government.
In return, criminal charges will be dropped against protesters in relation to the ongoing civil unrest.
Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, activism-and-lobbying, law-crime-and-justice, government-and-politics, police, ukraine
Posted
America's intelligence agency, the NSA, is refusing to comment on the latest leak of top secret documents which appear to implicate Australian spies.
The document appears to show that Australia helped the US spy on an American law firm that was representing the Jakata in a trade dispute.
Topics: defence-and-national-security, trade, international-aid-and-trade, government-and-politics, international-law, law-crime-and-justice, information-and-communication, indonesia
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Curitiba, the venue for Australia's clash with Spain, looks set to be removed from the 2014 FIFA World Cup schedule.
Topics: soccer-world-cup, socceroos, soccer, sport, brazil
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John Kerry says climate change could impact the way of life in Indonesia, urges action by nations.
Topics: climate-change, environment, environmental-management, world-politics, indonesia, asia, united-states
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At least four people have died after an explosion on a bus carrying Korean tourists in the Sinai peninsula near Egypt's border with Israel.
Topics: terrorism, unrest-conflict-and-war, egypt, israel, korea-republic-of
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Emergency workers in South Africa say they have successfully rescued 12 illegal miners trapped in an abandoned gold shaft near Johannesburg.
Topics: accidents, south-africa
Posted
A severe snowstorm sweeping across Japan has killed 12 people and left more than 1,650 injured, Japanese media reported, as the extreme weather sparked widespread transport chaos.
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Nepalese police have found the wreckage of a Nepal Airlines plane, carrying 18 passengers in the country's mountainous west.
Topics: air-and-space, accidents, nepal
Posted
Protesters in Kiev have vacated city hall after occupying the building for over two months as part of anti-government unrest sweeping Ukraine, in a highly symbolic concession ahead of a new mass protest.
Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, world-politics, ukraine
Posted
The United Nations has recommended an international investigation into allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, rights, human, government-and-politics, sri-lanka, asia, united-states
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Politicians have suffered a blood nose and a broken finger, in violent scuffles in Turkey's national parliament.
The punch-up happened during a heated debate over a controversial bill, giving the government more control of the judiciary.
Fighting erupted overnight with fists flying in the air between ruling party and opposition lawmakers as the bill was debated in a marathon 20-hour sitting.
Topics: government-and-politics, community-and-society, law-crime-and-justice, turkey
Posted
Lebanon has announced a new government, breaking a 10-month political deadlock during which violence from neighbouring Syria worsened internal instability.
Topics: world-politics, unrest-conflict-and-war, lebanon
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Aerial skier Lydia Lassila says she is yet to make a decision on her future in the sport after winning bronze in Sochi.
Topics: winter-olympics, winter-sports, sport, freestyle-skiing, russian-federation
Posted
A North Korean ship caught in July trying to move undeclared Cuban weapons through the Panama Canal has left to return to Cuba.
Topics: defence-and-national-security, sea-transport, government-and-politics, korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of, panama, cuba
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Manchester City rediscovered its swagger to beat Chelsea 2-0 and move into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Topics: soccer, sport, united-kingdom
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Michell Johnson's career-best match figures powered Australia to a 281-run win over South Africa in the first Test.
Topics: cricket, sport, south-africa
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A second round of peace talks between Syria's warring sides has broken off without making any progress and without a date being set for a third round, the UN mediator has said.
Topics: world-politics, unrest-conflict-and-war, syrian-arab-republic
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The United States and China announce they are joining forces to share more information on efforts to combat climate change.
Topics: world-politics, climate-change, government-and-politics, business-economics-and-finance, environment, environmental-policy, environmental-management, china, asia, united-states
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A fresh snow storm in Japan has left three people dead and 850 injured amid further disruptions to the country's road, rail and air travel services following last week's blizzard.
Topics: snowfall, weather, disasters-and-accidents, storm-event, japan, asia
Anti-government protesters attend a rally at Independence Square in Kiev February 16, 2014. Scores of Ukrainian anti-government protesters ended a two-month-old occupation of city hall in the capital Kiev on Sunday to meet a government amnesty offer.
Inside North Korea PROMO
Ukraine protesters end two-month occupation of city hall
Immigration Minister confirms disturbance at Manus Island detention centre
Crackdown on Thai protesters expected to continue
Bishop gives Fiji elections vote of confidence
Pacific media freedom