SYDNEY - Australian officials declared a state of emergency for the capital city of Canberra and surrounding regions on Friday, as soaring temperatures and strong winds threatened to propel a large bushfire beyond the control of firefighters.
Officials said an uncontrolled fire in the ACT's south, on the doorstep of Canberra, had grown to 185 sq km, almost 8% of the territory's land mass. Australia's federal parliament is located in Canberra, which is also home to several government and independent institutions as well as national museums. Four people died and almost 500 homes were destroyed in the 2003 Canberra fires.
In neighbouring New Zealand, where smoke from the Australian blazes has turned glaciers brown, firefighters were battling to contain around 25 fires that spread rapidly to cover around 100 hectares on the South Island. Heatwave conditions were also forecast for much of the country over the weekend.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US Secretary of State Pompeo takes on growing rift with Brexit BritainLONDON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits London on Wednesday (Jan 29) to repair a post-Brexit alliance with an old friend whose defiance on China and Iran underscores Washington's diplomatic isolation.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »
Heatwave threatens to stoke Australia's deadly bushfires despite containment effortsSYDNEY (REUTERS) - Firefighters will struggle to contain deadly fires as soaring temperature and strong winds stoke the threat of more blazes across Australia's east coast, authorities said on Friday (Jan 31).. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »
Tennis: Zverev renews pledge to donate US$2.8 million winner's cheque to bushfire reliefAlexander Zverev renewed a pledge Wednesday to donate the Aus$4.12 million ($2.83 million) Australian Open winner's cheque to bushfire relief if ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »
Explainer: Why Wuhan virus outbreak has not been declared a global public health emergencySYDNEY — The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) decision to not declare the novel coronavirus outbreak in China a public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC, will surprise many. The number of reported cases and deaths is doubling every couple of days, and patients have now been reported from many Asian countries, as well as the Middle East, Europe, Australia and the US. Because China owns WHO?
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »
Wuhan virus: WHO declares China virus outbreak an international emergencyGENEVA (REUTERS) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared on Thursday (Jan 30) that the coronavirus epidemic in China now constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »
Wuhan virus: China's death toll rises to 212 as WHO declares outbreak a global emergencyHubei province reported 1,220 new confirmed cases over the 24-hour period. . Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »