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Australia arrests ten Chinese on suspected drug smuggling boat

Ten Chinese nationals were arrested in a suspected drug smuggling operation on a large commercial boat seized off Australia’s southern coast, authorities said on Friday.

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Australia PM Turnbull diverts election tour to visit storm-ravaged voters

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull suspended his election campaign tour on Tuesday (June 7) to visit areas of the country ravaged by a powerful storm that has battered the country's east coast for several days.

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Australia storm leaves one dead and homes in danger

One person is confirmed dead after massive storms flooded rivers, uprooted trees and tore into beaches along Australia's east coast.

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Ocean temperatures off Aust'n state up 4 degrees after extreme summer

​Water temperatures in the Australian state of Tasmania have been up to four degrees Celsius hotter than average over the past three months, and scientists have blamed the region's on-going extreme weather on rampant climate change.

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Australian gov't approves sale of biggest dairy farm to Chinese billionaire

The Australian government has approved the sale of the nation's biggest dairy farming company to Chinese billionaire Lu Xianfeng.

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Tasmania's bushfire frequency highest in 1,000 years: Aussie study

​Researchers have found that bushfires in the Australian state of Tasmania are occurring more frequently than at any time in the past 1,000 years, and humankind is to blame.

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Australian fruit exports to Asia at risk if fruit fly comes to Tasmania: experts

​Australia's Tasmanian fruit exports to Asian markets could be under threat if climate change brings the fruit fly into the island state.

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Bushfires in Aussie Tasmanian pose "gravest crisis" to world heritage forests

Bushfires engulfing Australian Tasmania could have detrimental long-term effects on the state's unique world heritage forests, according to conservationists.

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Second transmissible cancer found in Australia's Tasmanian devils

​Australian and British researchers said Monday they have identified a second transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils, iconic marsupial carnivores that are only found in the wild on the Australian island state of Tasmania.

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Aust'n state fighting obesity as record numbers opt for weight-loss surgery

​A record number of people from the Australian state of Tasmania are undergoing a medical procedure in order to fight the region's obesity epidemic.

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Australian state to increase smoking age to 21 as part of radical health plan

An Australian state government has outlined its plan to increase the smoking age well above the national standard of 18.

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Australian state's wastewater to be tested for drugs

​Australian Tasmania's residents may soon be subject to anonymous drug tests, as police consider sampling the state's wastewater to uncover the prevalence of illicit drugs.

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A soft touch in Chinese diplomacy

China's new leadership has demonstrably been following a new pattern of diplomacy that features increasing soft elements and a down-to-earth manner.

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Xi's visit to open new chapter of Australia-China ties -- official

Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to the Australian island state of Tasmania will open a new chapter for relations between Australia and China, said state Premier Will Hodgman.