Australia

How to deal with the psychopath in your life

Or maybe it is you.

Five to 10 per cent of the population qualify as psychopathic, according to David Gillespie, author of Taming Toxic People: The Science of Identifying and Dealing With Psychopaths At Work and At Home.

A study last year found the rate could be as high as 20 per cent among corporate leaders.

How helping animals can help us better understand human trauma and rehabilitation

She was found wandering in a car park, highly agitated, by a family who took her home and made her their live-in pet. However, after three months they could no longer keep her.

She was relocated to the Sugarshine animal sanctuary, outside Lismore in New South Wales. Kelly Nelder, Sugarshine's founder and a mental health nurse, described her as "highly strung" and "needy".

Food health-rating labels failing to reveal added sugars, study finds

Professor Bruce Neal from the George Institute for Global Health in Sydney reviewed more than 34,000 packaged foods with health-star ratings.

These are the voluntary front-of-pack labels, designed to help people make healthier choices.

But health experts said naturally occurring sugars found in fruits, vegetables and dairy were treated the same as sugars added during food processing.

Indoor plants don't just look nice — they bring health benefits, too

The quarter-acre dream is fast disappearing and larger blocks and family gardens along with it.

As more people move from country areas to the city and as land to build homes near the city centre becomes scarce, we're getting further and further away from nature. It turns out this isn't great for our health.

The change in urban environments because of development, associated with a rapid increase in chronic disease, is a global phenomenon in developed countries.

Breastfeeding Australian senator quits over secret dual citizenship

Larissa Waters, who represented Queensland and recently made headlines for becoming the first senator to breastfeed her child in Parliament, issued a tearful apology Tuesday.

"It's with great sadness that I have discovered that I'm a dual citizen and I'll be forced to stand down from my position in the Senate," said Waters who holds both Australian and Canadian citizenship.

True Blood star dies aged 39

Ellis's manager, Emily Gerson Saines, confirmed the actor's death via an emailed statement on Saturday (local time).

The Hollywood Reporter, which was first to report Ellis's death, quoted her as saying the actor died from complications of heart failure, adding more information would come to light in coming days.

Cardinal Pell returns to Australia to fight charges

The 76-year-old cleric, a top adviser to Pope Francis, was photographed at Sydney Airport early on Monday. He had arrived from the Vatican via Singapore.

Police have said the accusations relate to alleged "historical" incidents.

Cardinal Pell, who has strongly denied any wrongdoing, is due to face a Melbourne court on 26 July.

Australia's most senior Catholic figure was granted a leave of absence from the Vatican to fight the charges.

He did not make any comment on arrival in Sydney, local media said.

Australian surgical mesh lawsuit begins

The case, expected to last six months, will involve women who claim their lives have been ruined by a vaginal medical device made by Johnson & Johnson.

It is designed to treat common complications from childbirth.

The firm behind the class action, Shine Lawyers, claimed about 8000 women could have been affected by mesh and tape surgical implants used to fix pelvic-floor damage from prolapse and incontinence.

The true number of Australia women affected is the subject of a senate inquiry. Estimates range from 3000 to 30,000 women.

Australians ditch religion at rapid rate, becoming more diverse

While the first census in 1911 found the average Australian was a 24-year-old man, last year the typical Aussie was a married 38-year-old woman, who lives in a three-bedroom house, with two kids and two cars.

The census, which is conducted every five years, found that Asians now make up the largest percentage of the overseas-born population, jumping from in 2011 -- 32.9% to 39.7% last year. Europe led that category the last time the survey was taken.

Sports agreement signing between Australia and Nauru

Australia has allocated $490,000 for the projects, which is expected to be provided within the next two months.

It’s hoped the measures, which include a revised Epon-Keramen style program, will help promote healthier lifestyles throughout the Nauruan community.

The agreement was signed by Nauru’s acting President Aaron Cook and the Australian High Commissioner John Donnelly.

Mr Donnelly said there would be a range of community consultations to determine which facilities across Nauru would be upgraded.