January 22, 2026
World
World
TOKYO, Jan 22 — Japan has halted the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant just hours after it began, though the reactor remains “stable,” the operator said.
SYDNEY, Jan 11 — Authorities said bushfires have destroyed hundreds of buildings across southeast Australia, with the first fatality from the disaster confirmed.
A heatwave pushed temperatures above 40°C in the state of Victoria, igniting dozens of fires that have scorched more than 300,000 hectares in total. While a state of disaster had been declared earlier, officials said conditions began to ease today, allowing firefighters to gain better control of several blazes.
Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said more than 300 structures, including sheds and other rural buildings, were destroyed, with over 70 homes lost. Large areas of farmland and native forest were also badly affected.
Police confirmed one person died in a bushfire near Longwood, about two hours north of Melbourne. Forest Fire Management Victoria’s Chris Hardman expressed condolences to the victim’s family and the local community.
The fires come as Australia continues to face worsening extreme weather, following the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019–2020. Scientists say the country has warmed by an average of 1.51°C since 1910, increasing the frequency of extreme conditions. — AFP
