South Wales

Australia faces catastrophic fire conditions; body found in S Australia

Australia’s most populous state was paralysed by “catastrophic” fire conditions amid soaring temperatures, while one person died as wildfires also ravaged the country’s southeast.

Australia beats hottest day on record, reaching almost 42 degrees Celsius

Meanwhile, the country's most populous state of New South Wales declared a seven-day state of emergency on Thursday as dire conditions fanned around 100 wildfires.

Australian firefighters warn of uncontrollable blazes as conditions worsen

Firefighters are battling more than 120 fires across NSW, including a 60 km (37.2 miles) firefront northwest of Sydney, one many of that have been burning since November.

Death toll in Australia bushfires rises to four

Hundreds of houses have been damaged or destroyed and more than one million hectares (2.5 million acres) of land burnt in the devastating bushfires in eastern Australia.

Australia offers drought ravaged farmers up to $688 million in cheap loans

There will be no interest payable over the first two years of the loan, the government said. Farmers across Australia's east coast have been battling drought conditions for more than three years.

Australian teen 'deliberately' mowed down and killed 20 kangaroos

Though the sight of dead kangaroos by the roadside is not uncommon in New South Wales state -where about 90 percent of car crashes are caused by collisions with the animals - the scale and allegedly intentional nature of the incident shocked locals.

Drought-hit Australian towns prepare for 'unimaginable' water crisis

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says the drought is being driven, in part, by warmer sea-surface temperatures impacting rainfall patterns. Air temperatures have also warmed over the past century, increasing the ferocity of droughts and fires.

New Australian laws could see social media execs jailed over terror images

The tough new legislation will be brought to parliament next week as Canberra pushes for social media companies to prevent their platforms from being "weaponised" by terrorists in the wake of the mosque attacks in New Zealand's Christchurch.

Australian police raid homes near terrorist's hometown – NZ mosque attacks

Australian police said that the counter-terrorism teams raided two homes linked to the mass shooting that killed at least 50 people at two New Zealand mosques last week.

World reacts to terrorist attacks on two mosques in New Zealand

At least 50 people were killed after a shooter opened fire inside two mosques in Christchurch. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was "one of New Zealand's darkest days."

Thousands of fish die in third mass death in Australian river

Local officials blame the mass deaths on drought but critics say the issue at least partly stems from water mismanagement.

Heatwave is stressing out bats in Australia

Ecologist Jason Van Weenen says bats in Adelaide's Botanic Park are getting more and more stressed. They're starting to cluster in the trees in large clumps, which signals trouble.