Australia

SYDNEY, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Highly specialized drone technology has been brought in on an Australian island to assist starving koalas in the aftermath of the recent bushfire crisis.

Once a home to over 50,000 koalas, it's now estimated there are only 10,000 left on South Australia's Kangaroo Island, after wildfires tore through around 2,100 square kilometres of vegetation in January.

But while the flames are now extinguished, animal welfare groups are warning that one of Australia's most beloved creatures is now facing a new threat.

CANBERRA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been accused of making "racist" comments about Hinduism in the parliament.

Frydenberg made several references to Hinduism and other Indian religions in Parliament on Thursday while responding to the Opposition Labor Party's proposal to pursue a "wellbeing budget."

"They (Labor) are inspired by their spiritual leader, the member for Rankin," he said, referring to Labor's treasury spokesperson Jim Chalmers.

SYDNEY, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Australian state government of New South Wales (NSW) has told individuals and businesses to prepare for a possible COVID-19 pandemic, warning that the novel virus is likely to converge with the winter flu season in the coming months, placing extreme pressure on the state's healthcare system.

SYDNEY, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- An Australian woman has been charged with encouraging an associate of hers to travel overseas in order to fight for the terrorist Islamic State (IS), with her crimes carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The 22-year-old woman was arrested by the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) on Tuesday following a lengthy investigation.

It is alleged that in 2016 she encouraged and attempted to facilitate an associate of hers in traveling to Syria and Iraq in order to fight for IS.

SYDNEY, Feb 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Despite record-breaking rainfall on Australia’s east coast in recent weeks, politicians warn that for most of New South Wales (NSW) state, severe drought conditions are far from over.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will spend A$1.1 billion ($725.9 million) to upgrade an airbase in the country’s tropical north, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday, a development that increases Canberra’s military armory in the Pacific.

The base in the regional town of Katherine in Australia’s Northern Territory will be the home of the country’s new fleet of F-35 strike fighters once the upgrade is finished in 2027.

The development would also be used by U.S. troops, of whom there are 1,250 stationed in Australia’s north.

SYDNEY (AP) — Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Thursday that Australians were “shocked, saddened and devastated” by the deaths of five people including three children after a car fire in apparent domestic violence.

Hannah Baxter, 31, and her children Aaliyah, 6, Lainah, 4, and Trey, 3, died after their car was set alight on a street in suburban Brisbane on Wednesday morning.

Baxter’s estranged husband and the children’s father, Rowan Baxter, allegedly doused his family with gas before setting the car alight.

15 February 2020; AFP: Australia's "black summer" of devastating bushfires is finally coming to a close, but bitter arguments over how to tackle climate-fuelled disasters are raging on.

When firefighters announced this week that all blazes in the hard-hit state of New South Wales were under control for the first time since September, the relief was palpable.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - China is threatening the sovereignty of small Pacific Islands and undermining the region’s stability, a top U.S. military commander said on Thursday, in comments likely to inflame tension with China.

U.S.-China relations improved in January with the signing of a trade deal that defused an 18-month row that has hit global growth but strains remain.

SYDNEY, Feb 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) – With homes and businesses battered by the extreme weather on Australia’s east coast, energy provider Ausgrid asked for help from the military, to clear debris and repair electricity.

Speaking with Sky News Wednesday (this) morning, New South Wales (NSW) Minister for Energy and Environment, Matt Kean, confirmed that a request had been made to the Australian military.

“Their CEO (Richard Gross) raised it with me yesterday and I fully support it,” he said, adding, the state government would expedite the call out of the army.