Latest Canberra News

People climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge stop under flags flying at half-mast as mark of mourning and respect in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, for three U.S. crew members of an aerial water tanker that crashed Thursday while battling wildfires in Australia. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Australia works to recover bodies of 3 from air tanker crash

Jan. 24, 2020 2:07 AM EST

SYDNEY (AP) — The American tanker plane that crashed while fighting Australian wildfires had just dropped a load of retardant on a fire before it went down in New South Wales state, investigators said Friday. The crash of the C-130 Hercules tanker Thursday killed Capt. Ian H. McBeth, 44, of Great Falls,...

In this undated photo released from the Rural Fire Service, a C-130 Hercules plane called

Firefighting plane crashes in Australia, killing 3 Americans

Jan. 23, 2020 7:31 PM EST

SYDNEY (AP) — Three American firefighting airplane crew members were killed Thursday when the C-130 Hercules aerial water tanker they were in crashed while battling wildfires in southeastern Australia, officials said. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the deaths in the state's Snowy...

In this Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, photo, a dust cloud billows over a street in Dubbo, Australia, 400 kms (248 miles) west of Sydney. Wind gusts of 107 kilometers an hour (66 mph) were recorded in Dubbo as the dust storm descended over the town. (Ian Harris via AP)

Hail, floods, dust hit Australia amid raging wildfires

Jan. 20, 2020 4:19 AM EST

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Dust storms, hail and flash floods have battered beleaguered Australian cities in recent days, extreme weather that has diminished the threat from scores of wildfires that continue to blaze across the country’s southeast. A hail storm in the national capital Canberra on...

FILE - In this Jan. 2, 2020, file photo, a commuter wears a mask as smoke shrouds the Australian capital of Canberra, Australia. It's an unprecedented dilemma for Australians accustomed to blue skies and sunny days that has raised fears for the long-term health consequences if prolonged exposure to choking smoke becomes the new summer norm. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

Australian wildfire smoke stokes health fears in cities

Jan. 15, 2020 1:00 AM EST

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Fire alarms have been sounding in high-rise buildings across downtown Sydney and Melbourne as dense smoke from distant wildfires confuse electronic sensors. Modern government office blocks in the Australian capital Canberra have been closed because the air inside is too dangerous...

A Forest Corporation worker manages a fire hose as he battles a fire near Moruya, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison called up about 3,000 reservists as the threat of wildfires escalated Saturday in at least three states with two more deaths, and strong winds and high temperatures were forecast to bring flames to populated areas including the suburbs of Sydney. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Djokovic: wildfires could cause problems for Australian Open

Jan. 4, 2020 11:39 AM EST

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic has voiced concerns about the impact of the devastating wildfires in Australia on tennis’ season-opening major, saying organizers may have to consider delaying the tournament if conditions around Melbourne deteriorate. Djokovic has won a record seven...

A pedestrian wears a mask as smoke shrouds the Australian capital of Canberra, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. Australia deployed military ships and aircraft to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that destroyed homes and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Wildfires near Canberra forces tennis tournament to move

Jan. 2, 2020 5:38 PM EST

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Canberra International tennis tournament scheduled to begin Monday will relocate to a city about 600 kilometers (370 miles) away because of continuing wildfires and smoke haze in the region, officials said. The event is on the ATP Challenger Tour and the ITF Women's circuit....

In this image made from video, an aerial scene shows fires burning and smoke rising close to properties in Bundoora, Victoria state, Monday, Dec. 30, 2019. New Year’s Eve fireworks in Australia’s capital and other cities have been canceled as the wildfire danger worsens in oppressive summer heat, and pressure was building for Sydney’s iconic celebrations to be similarly scrapped. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Channel 7, Channel 9 via AP)

New Year's fireworks OK'd in Sydney as wildfire risk worsens

Dec. 30, 2019 4:19 AM EST

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Sydney will set off its iconic New Year's Eve fireworks after being granted an exemption to a total fire ban Monday, with other Australian cities canceling their celebrations due to a worsening wildfire risk. Pressure had built for Sydney's spectacle to be scrapped before the New...

FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2019, file photo, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne holds a press conference following the Australia-New Zealand Foreign Minister Consultations in Sydney. Payne on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019, was

Australia says China’s treatment of writer is ‘unacceptable’

Dec. 2, 2019 4:46 AM EST

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s foreign minister on Monday described as “unacceptable” the daily interrogation of a shackled Chinese Australian writer detained in Beijing since January on suspicion of espionage. Yang Hengjun was taken into custody upon arriving in southern...

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