News for Friday

08 Mar 2013

Tasmania’s Tarkine has been named the world’s greatest wilderness area. In international news, a teenager has been stabbed to death on a bus on the way to school.

Tarkine tops list

American news channel CNN has ranked Tasmania’s Tarkine as the world’s greatest wilderness area. The listing has reignited debate about development in the area. The Mercury has the full story.
To read more about the wonders of the wilderness, see our Trails of the Tarkine story.

Staying in Tasmania, a bushfire has forced eco-warrior Miranda Gibson to end her treetop vigil. The 31-year-old has been living on a platform 60m above ground for 450 days protesting against logging. Read more. 

Autoimmune diseases linked to high-salt diet

Papers released yesterday show that a diet high in salt can be a risk factor for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. While these are early results, the international teams involved in the study say they warrant further investigation. Read the full story.

Bowel Cancer Australia wants more

Bowel Cancer Australia sees the upcoming election as a chance to revisit the free-screening program to make it more available and more frequent. Ninemsn.com.au has the full story.

Pistorius detective resigns

Detective Hilton Botha, made famous by the case against ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius, has handed in his resignation. Botha has said that his resignation has nothing to do with the case, but rather comes down to the fact that he found a higher-paying job. ABC News has more.

Bus stabbing in the UK leads to teenager’s death

In an apparently random attack, a teenage girl has been stabbed to death on a crowded bus as she made her way to school. The stabbing happened during morning rush hour. The Daily Mail UK has the details.

Berlusconi sentenced to jail

Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been sentenced to one year in jail overnight for his role in the wiretap scandal involving his family’s newspaper in 2006. There is a chance that a higher court may overturn the ruling. Read more.