Australian sailors have received an early Christmas gift with the announcement that all non-essential naval staff will be placed on two months’ paid leave over the holidays.

Australian sailors have received an early Christmas gift with the announcement that all non-essential naval staff will be placed on two months’ paid leave over the holidays.

Five men accused of plotting a terrorist attack went on trial, with prosecutors arguing that they were Islamic extremists.

Five men accused of plotting a terrorist attack went on trial in Australia on Tuesday.

The Qantas passenger jet flying from Singapore to Perth made an emergency landing at a remote Australian airport after the incident, officials said.

A jury in Australia’s largest terrorism trial has found six men guilty of plotting attacks on public facilities around Melbourne.

An Indian-born doctor arrested in Australia in July 2007 and accused of aiding in bungled bombings in central London and the Glasgow airport has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Australian investigators confirmed that an exploding oxygen cylinder blew a hole in the side of a Qantas airliner last month, but they are still unsure about why.

Air safety investigators say a pressurized oxygen cylinder set off the blast that blew a large hole in the side of a Qantas jet last month, forcing an emergency landing.

Australia?s Civil Aviation Safety Authority said Sunday that it would investigate safety standards at Qantas Airways after recent episodes involving the carrier?s fleet.