Jamu Barokahs

Rabu, 19 Februari 2020

Australia firefighters thanked with Times Square billboard - BBC News

An Australian firefighting service has used a 21m (70ft) billboard in New York's Times Square to thank their local and American volunteers.

Mammoth fires which ravaged New South Wales (NSW) state were finally declared "contained" last week in an end to the worst bushfire season on record.

At least six firefighters were killed in the state, including three US crew.

The NSW Rural Fire Service said it had received an "incredible response" this season from helpers and the public.

"We wanted to say 'thank you' in the biggest way possible and take our message to the world," the service said.

Close to 90% of the firefighters battling the blazes this season had been volunteers. Australia's main bushfire agencies are funded by the government but rely on many trained volunteers.

Contingents from North America and New Zealand were also deployed to fight the blazes this summer.

"Imagine fighting a bushfire higher than this billboard," the sign reads.

"Thank you to the brave Australian and US firefighters defending Australia. And to the world for your support."

The thank you message was run on a billboard donated by the advertising company which owns it, the service said.

At least A$100m (£51m; $67m) in donations was raised around the world for the fire service and for other relief funds.

Heavy rainfall in the past fortnight helped douse and finally extinguish many blazes which had been burning for weeks.

NSW, Australia's most populous state, was worst-affected by the fires - some the size of small countries.

Firefighters watched a bushfire in New South Wales

Getty

NSW bushfires

2,439homes destroyed
11,264bush or grass fires
24mlitres of fire retardant used

Source: NSW RFS

Serious blazes were also seen in every other Australian state and territory this summer. At least 33 people died nationwide.

Hundreds of thousands were also affected due to bushfire smoke, which affected air quality in the cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane.

The unprecedented scale, frequency and intensity of the fires this year is the result of climate change, scientists say.

Australia's long-term average temperature has increased by over 1C since 1910, leading to an increase in dangerous fire weather conditions.

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2020-02-19 05:33:57Z
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Camp Hill: Three children among dead in 'horrific' Australia car fire - BBC News

An ex-rugby league player and his three children have died after a car was allegedly set alight in the Australian city of Brisbane, police said.

Rowan Baxter and the children, all under 10, were found dead in the car by emergency responders, police said.

His wife Hannah Baxter suffered extensive burns and reportedly jumped from the car yelling: "He's poured petrol on me".

A crime scene is in place in the Camp Hill area in the city's east.

"It's a horrific scene," Det Insp. Mark Thompson told reporters. "It is very early in the investigation, but the vehicle was fully involved in fire upon police arriving."

Police were first called to the scene at 08:30 local time on Wednesday (21:30 GMT on Tuesday ).

They found Rowan Baxter, 42, and his three children aged six, four and three dead in the car.

Rowan Baxter had been in the front passenger seat and Hannah Baxter had been driving the car, police said.

Residents told Australian media they had seen Mrs Baxter, 31, jump out of the car while she was on fire.

She was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition, police said.

Paramedics said they had also treated a passerby, who had "tried his best to get to the car". He had suffered some "facial burning" and also been taken to hospital, a Queensland Ambulance spokesman said.

Rowan Baxter formerly played for the New Zealand Warriors rugby league team in Auckland and had reportedly also been running a gym with his wife in Capalaba to the east of Brisbane.

Queensland's Police Minister Mark Ryan told parliament about the "horrific incident" on Wednesday.

"My thoughts are with all of those affected by this terrible tragedy," he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his "heart goes out to the families and community going through this tragic time and the emergency responders confronting what would be a shattering scene".

Federal MP Terri Butler said she was "horrified and devastated" by the incident.

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2020-02-19 04:35:53Z
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Camp Hill: Three children among dead in 'horrific' Australia car fire - BBC News

Four people, including three children, have died after a car was allegedly set alight in the Australian city of Brisbane, police said.

The children, all under the age of 10, were found dead in the car by emergency responders, said Queensland Police.

A man known to the victims has also died, while a woman suffered extensive burns and has been taken to hospital.

Police have established a crime scene in the suburban street in Camp Hill in the city's east.

"It's a horrific scene," Det Insp. Mark Thompson told reporters on Wednesday.

"It is very early in the investigation, but the vehicle was fully involved in fire upon police arriving," he said. Paramedics said they had also treated a passerby, who had "tried his best to get to the car". He had suffered some "facial burning" and also been taken to hospital, a Queensland Ambulance spokesman said.

Det Insp. Thompson confirmed the group in the car had lived locally. Police were first called to the scene at 08:30 local time (21:30 Tuesday GMT).

Residents on the street told Australian media they had seen the woman jump out of the car while she was on fire.

She had yelled, "he's poured petrol on me", one witness told The Australian newspaper.

Police said it was too early to confirm details about the victims' identities, and refused to comment on questions about family violence.

Queensland's Police Minister Mark Ryan told parliament about the "horrific incident" on Wednesday.

"My thoughts are with all of those affected by this terrible tragedy," he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his "heart goes out to the families and community going through this tragic time and the emergency responders confronting what would be a shattering scene".

Federal MP Terri Butler said she was "horrified and devastated" by the incident.

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Selasa, 18 Februari 2020

Australia bushfires: Backpackers can stay longer if they help rebuild - BBC News

Backpackers in Australia on working holiday visas may now be able to stay longer if they help out on farms that were affected by the bushfires.

Previously, these visas let people work in the same place for six months - but that's just been upped to 12.

Australia's acting minister for immigration says the new rules are about getting "as many boots on the ground as they need".

And the new rules have been introduced with immediate effect.

"These hard-working Australians have been hit by the recent bushfires, but from today they can employ backpackers for six months longer, helping them at a critical time in the recovery effort," said Alan Tudge in a statement.

"It means working holiday makers can help rebuild homes, fences and farms, they can get onto properties and help with demolition, land clearing, and repairing dams, roads and railways."

'We need all hands on deck'

Australia often burns during its bushfire season, but its most recent summer was one of the most extreme ever.

A state of emergency was declared in November 2019 and there was no substantial rain until February 2020, when fires in New South Wales were put out - but it also brought floods to some parts of Australia.

The immigration minister's new rules will not only affect how long backpackers can stay in one place in their first year, it will also help them apply for a visa to spend a second year in Australia.

Previously this only applied to people doing paid work in regional areas - which Mr Tudge estimates a third of backpackers in Australia already do.

He also told radio station 2GB that construction work would now count towards backpackers extending their stay.

"They're very practical measures just to get more people on the ground right now, because we need all hands on deck," the minister said.

He also added that getting more backpackers out to affected areas would bring benefits for wider communities, not just the farmers.

"It brings money into those local communities as well," he added.

"Backpackers tend to earn the money then go and spend it in a very short amount of time in those local areas as well so they're great for local communities on a number of fronts."

Australia's minister for trade, tourism and investment, Simon Birmingham, says that getting more holiday makers into these communities is essential to "help protect local jobs and keep local businesses alive".

"We know tourism businesses in fire-affected communities are doing it tough, and the more tourism dollars that these working holiday makers can inject into these economies, the quicker these businesses can get back on their feet," he says.

Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.

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2020-02-18 10:17:59Z
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Minggu, 16 Februari 2020

Queen reprise 22-minute Live Aid set at Fire Fight Australia concert - BBC News

US singer Adam Lambert has joined Queen to reprise the band's legendary 1985 Live Aid set for 75,000 people at a huge benefit concert in Sydney.

The 22-minute set was part of a 10-hour fundraising event organised to raise A$10m (£5.15m; $6.71m) for communities devastated by bushfires.

"As Aussies we bear together... because it turns out the people at the top don't," the host Celeste Barber said.

Recent fires have killed at least 33 people, destroying thousands of homes.

In New South Wales, the worst-hit state, heavy rains have brought blazes under control. But in the last few months more than 11 million hectares of land - an area comparable to the size of England - has been affected across all of Australia's states and territories.

On Sunday, Olivia Newton-John and Alice Cooper joined local stars 5 Seconds of Summer, Tina Arena and Delta Goodrem for the Fire Fight Australia gig.

Joining Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor on stage, Lambert filled in for the late Freddie Mercury as the band performed hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio Ga Ga, We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions.

Lambert, a former American Idol contestant who has previously toured with Queen, said it was a "real honour" to perform the band's full Live Aid set for the victims of Australia's bushfires.

The set at the 1985 fundraising concert at London's Wembley Stadium for famine relief is seen as one of the greatest performances by any rock band. It was recreated for the 2018 film Bohemian Rhapsody.

Australia has always had a fire season, with naturally occurring blazes sparked during the dry summer, but this year's has been unprecedented in the scale and intensity of the fires.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government has come in for harsh criticism for its response to the disaster.

Profits from the event will be passed on to rural fire services, communities affected by bushfires and animal welfare groups.

Among those attending was Dalene George, a teacher from Bateman's Bay, who told Reuters news agency: "[I want to be] part of the people who helped to try and bring things back together and bring smiles. Yeah be part of that healing stuff that happens with community."

Another concert-goer, bank worker Karen Adams, said: "We're in Sydney so we couldn't even get down there to help, which was heartbreaking. And I work in a bank and so many families have lost everything so we're here to support them all."

All pictures copyrighted.

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Australia fires: Thousands in Sydney for Fight Fire Australia concert - BBC News

Thousands of Australians are attending a huge benefit concert in Sydney aiming to raise A$10m (£5.15m; $6.71m) to help communities devastated by bushfires.

Global acts like Queen and Alice Cooper have joined local stars like 5 Seconds of Summer, Tina Arena and Delta Goodrem for the Fire Fight Australia gig.

"As Aussies we bear together... because it turns out the people at the top don't," the host Celeste Barber said.

Recent fires have killed at least 33 people, destroying thousands of homes.

In the worst-hit state New South Wales, heavy rains have brought bushfires under control, but in the last few months more than 11 million hectares of land - an area comparable to the size of England - has been affected across all of Australia's states and territories.

The nation has always had a fire season, with naturally occurring blazes sparked during the dry summer, but this year's has been unprecedented in the scale and intensity of the fires.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government has come in for harsh criticism for its response to the disaster.

Profits from the 10-hour event at Sydney Olympic Park will raise money for rural fire services, communities affected by bushfires and animal welfare.

Among those attending was Dalene George, a teacher from Bateman's Bay, who told Reuters: "[I want to be] part of the people who helped to try and bring things back together and bring smiles. Yeah be part of that healing stuff that happens with community."

All pictures copyrighted.

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2020-02-16 08:57:51Z
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Sabtu, 15 Februari 2020

Huawei row: Australian MPs cancel UK trip amid tensions over leak - BBC News

Senior Australian MPs have cancelled a planned trip to the UK as tensions heighten over the role of Huawei in building Britain's 5G network.

Lawmakers from the intelligence and security committee had been expected to travel to the UK next month.

But the trip has been postponed amid reports of a diplomatic rift.

The decision follows a reported complaint from the UK over leaked details of a high-level meeting where Huawei was discussed.

Australia has banned the Chinese telecommunications giant from building its next-generation 5G mobile internet networks but Britain last month decided the company could continue to play a role in its system, despite pressure and warnings from Washington.

Last week, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab visited Australia, where he met members of the parliament's intelligence committee.

Details of the meeting were later leaked to the Sydeny Morning Herald, which said an MP had rebuked Mr Raab in the meeting over Britain's Huawei decision, saying Australia was very disappointed.

According to Australian media that report prompted a formal complaint from Vicki Treadell, the UK's High Commissioner to Australia, to the heads of two Australian parliamentary committees.

Australia and the UK are both part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which also includes the US, New Zealand and Canada.

Australia's parliament on Saturday confirmed the trip to the UK had been delayed but said it was due to the fact that the counterpart parliamentary committee in the UK was yet to be appointed following December's election.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, in the meeting with Mr Raab, Anthony Byrne, the deputy chair of Australia's intelligence committee, said that allowing China to build the UK's 5G telecoms infrastructure was equivalent to letting Russia construct it.

"How would you feel if the Russians laid down infrastructure in your own networks? That's how we feel about Huawei," Mr Byrne was quoted as telling Mr Raab.

In a Twitter post at the time, he said the meeting had involved a "full and frank discussion" over 5G and strategic challenges. Ms Treadell was present.

There's been no official response to the reports from the British and Australian governments. The BBC has contacted the UK High Commission in Australia and the Foreign Office in London for comment.

In her letter to Australian MPs, Ms Treadell expressed her disapproval of the leak, ABC News reported.

One unnamed committee member was quoted by the Australian broadcaster as describing Ms Treadell's intervention as "foolish".

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg however sought to scotch suggestions of a rift, saying "our relationship with the United Kingdom couldn't be stronger".

Why is there a row over Huawei?

Australia and other intelligence allies of the UK are concerned about its decision to give the Chinese firm access to communication networks.

Washington has pressured allies to exclude Huawei from 5G networks, arguing that its equipment could allow the Chinese state to spy via "back-doors". The firm strongly rejects that it poses any security threat.

On a visit to the UK last month after Britain's decision, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the Five Eyes partnership would remain in place despite previous warnings from Washington that it could be affected.

The UK has only given Huawei partial access to its 5G network, banning it from supplying kit to "sensitive parts", known as the core.

Last week, China's ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, said those opposed to Huawei playing a role in the UK's 5G network were conducting "a witch-hunt".

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2020-02-15 12:33:29Z
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