Laura Chung
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Articles by Laura Chung
Australia to Impose Energy and Water Guardrails on Data Centers Amid A.I. Boom The country will also seek to protect the rights of creators of work used to train artificial intelligence models, as it aims to impose parameters on the growing industry.
Australia to Impose Energy and Water Guardrails on Data Centers Amid AI Boom
SYDNEY -- Australia will require large data centers powering artificial intelligence to generate as much power as they consume, and ensure that creative professionals retain control over work that may be used to train AI systems, as the government sets up guardrails over the rapidly growing industry.
Former Childcare Worker Facing 300 Abuse Charges Identified
A former childcare worker charged with more than 300 offenses in Australia involving the alleged abuse of more than 100 children has been named. Hamish Tait, 35, was arrested last year at a home in Sydney, but his identity was suppressed by a court order as police sought to identify and contact "impacted families." The order was lifted this week after The Sydney Morning Herald applied to the court for his name to be made public.
Former Child Care Worker Facing 300 Abuse Charges Identified
Former Child Care Worker Facing 300 Abuse Charges Identified A Sydney court lifted the suppression order on identifying a man accused of abusing more than 100 children over 16 years. July 14, 2026, 10:15 p.m. ET A former child care worker charged with more than 300 offenses in Australia involving the alleged abuse of more than 100 children has been named.
La foca más famosa de Australia es un fenómeno viral que preocupa a los expertos
Neil, un elefante marino de más de 1000 kilos, visita dos veces al año la costa de Tasmania y se ha convertido en estrella de internet, aunque los especialistas piden mantener la distancia. Un flujo constante de personas ha llegado para conseguir la mejor vista de la celebridad más grande de Australia. En la ciudad costera de Seven Mile Beach, en Tasmania, los niños se suben a los hombros de sus padres; la gente trepa sobre las rocas, algunos con binoculares en la mano.
La foca más famosa de Australia es un fenómeno viral que preocupa a los expertos
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. La foca más famosa de Australia es un fenómeno viral que preocupa a los expertos Neil, un elefante marino de más de 1000 kilos, visita dos veces al año la costa de Tasmania y se ha convertido en estrella de internet, aunque los especialistas piden mantener la distancia.
Il est énorme, bruyant et indiscipliné. Voici Neil, le phoque vedette de l’Australie.
Un flot constant de curieux afflue pour apercevoir la plus grande vedette d’Australie. Dans la localité côtière de Seven Mile Beach, en Tasmanie, des enfants sont juchés sur les épaules de leurs parents tandis que d’autres personnes grimpent sur les rochers, parfois armées de jumelles. Chaque fois que la vedette bouge, un murmure d’excitation parcourt la foule. Les voitures avancent au pas pour tenter d’apercevoir la vedette, et les passagers qui y parviennent affichent un sourire ravi.
Australie Des drones pour contrer les attaques de requins
Bien calé dans sa chaise de camping turquoise, sur un promontoire rocheux, Jason Iggleden a une vue imprenable sur le plus célèbre paysage côtier d’Australie, la plage de Bondi, en banlieue de Sydney. Mais il ne regarde pas la plage. Ses yeux sont rivés sur l’écran de sa télécommande de drone pendant que l’appareil survole les eaux, à la recherche d’une ombre ou d’un aileron triangulaire fendant la houle. M. Iggleden est là presque tous les jours à l’aube, avant même l’arrivée des sauveteurs.
Spate of shark attacks means more drones for Australia’s beaches
Jason Iggleden sits in a weathered teal camping chair on a rocky outcrop overlooking Australia’s most famous stretch of coastline, Bondi Beach in Sydney. He peers at the screen of his drone controller as the machine flies over the water, searching for the flick of a tail or a shadow slipping through the swell. Iggleden and his drone are here most mornings before sunrise and before the lifeguards set up for the day. He is watching for sharks.
He’s big, loud and unruly. Meet Neil, Australia’s celebrity seal
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By Laura Chung A steady stream of people has come to get the best view of Australia’s biggest celebrity. In the coastal town of Seven Mile Beach, in Tasmania, children sit on their parents’ shoulders; people clamber onto rocks, some clutching binoculars. A murmur of excitement echoes through the crowd every time the star moves. Cars drive at a snail’s pace to catch a glimpse of the VIP and passengers smile in delight when they do.
He’s Big, Loud and Unruly. Meet Neil, Australia’s Celebrity Seal
Anyone who has experienced a brown huntsman run at them knows these spiders are fast, but a new study says they may actually be one of the swiftest …
He’s Big, Loud and Unruly. Meet Neil, Australia’s Celebrity Seal
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. He’s Big, Loud and Unruly. Meet Neil, Australia’s Celebrity Seal The young elephant seal has gained fans around the world. But the authorities warn he could be in danger of being loved to death. VideoSeal’s Mischievous Antics Draws Crowds and Caution Neil the seal has smashed fences and lounged in the middle of the road, drawing crowds of adoring fans.
He's Big, Loud and Unruly. Meet Neil, Australia's Celebrity Seal
A steady stream of people has come to get the best view of Australia's biggest celebrity. In the coastal town of Seven Mile Beach, in Tasmania, children sit on their parents' shoulders; people clamber onto rocks, some clutching binoculars. A murmur of excitement echoes through the crowd every time the star moves. Cars drive at a snail's pace to catch a glimpse of the VIP and passengers smile in delight when they do. Multiple TV crews are watching closely.
Spate of Shark Attacks Means More Drones for Australia's Beaches
Jason Iggleden sits in a weathered teal camping chair on a rocky outcrop overlooking Australia's most famous stretch of coastline, Bondi Beach in Sydney. He peers at the screen of his drone controller as the machine flies over the water, searching for the flick of a tail or a shadow slipping through the swell. Iggleden and his drone are here most mornings before sunrise and before the lifeguards set up for the day. He is watching for sharks.
Spate of Shark Attacks Means More Drones for Australia’s Beaches
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Jason Iggleden sits in a weathered teal camping chair on a rocky outcrop overlooking Australia’s most famous stretch of coastline, Bondi Beach in Sydney. He peers at the screen of his drone controller as the machine flies over the water, searching for the flick of a tail or a shadow slipping through the swell.
Small, unloved and unkempt, these unusual properties are hot in Australia
SYDNEY — Bits of metal poked through the floor, paint peeled from the walls and “caution” signs warned visitors to watch their step on the uneven floor. The building was dark inside. Yet one potential buyer described it as “incredible.” Welcome to the real estate market in Sydney, where housing is so scarce that decommissioned electrical substations are in demand. The 1,280-square-foot property, which needs extensive work to make it livable, sits on the main thoroughfare leading to Bondi Beach.
Small, Unloved and Unkempt, These Unusual Properties Are Hot in Australia
Bits of metal poked through the floor, paint peeled from the walls and “caution” signs warned visitors to watch their step on the uneven floor. The building was dark inside. Yet one potential buyer described it as “incredible.” Welcome to the real estate market in Sydney, Australia, where housing is so scarce that decommissioned electrical substations are in demand. The 1,280-square-foot property, which needs extensive work to make it livable, sits on the main thoroughfare leading to Bondi Beach.
Small, Unloved and Unkempt, These Unusual Properties Are Hot in Australia
SYDNEY -- Bits of metal poked through the floor, paint peeled from the walls and "caution" signs warned visitors to watch their step on the uneven floor. The building was dark inside. Yet one potential buyer described it as "incredible." Welcome to the real estate market in Sydney, where housing is so scarce that decommissioned electrical substations are in demand. The 1,280-square-foot property, which needs extensive work to make it livable, sits on the main thoroughfare leading to Bondi Beach.
Small, Unloved and Unkempt, These Unusual Properties Are Hot in Australia
SYDNEY -- Bits of metal poked through the floor, paint peeled from the walls and "caution" signs warned visitors to watch their step on the uneven floor. The building was dark inside. Yet one potential buyer described it as "incredible." Welcome to the real estate market in Sydney, where housing is so scarce that decommissioned electrical substations are in demand. The 1,280-square-foot property, which needs extensive work to make it livable, sits on the main thoroughfare leading to Bondi Beach.
Thousands of Mice Swarm Parts of Western Australia in a ‘Mouse Plague’
Thousands of Mice Swarm Parts of Western Australia in a ‘Mouse Plague’ For months, mice have been found in tea kettles, crunched by car tires and even appeared in people’s beds. In one town, the end might be in sight. VideoPlague of Mice Hits Western Australia Parts of Western Australia have been battling a mouse plague for months, as swarms of the rodent have taken over homes, businesses and roads.CreditCredit...Ashley James June 12, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET The mice are everywhere.
Thousands of Mice Swarm Parts of Western Australia in a 'Mouse Plague'
SYDNEY -- The mice are everywhere. Each morning, residents of Morawa, a remote town in Western Australia, check for carcasses in the traps they set at bedtime. They inspect their kettles for little bodies before making tea. They wipe down kitchen benches in case rodents visited at night. Then they head to work and do it all again. The town, about 230 miles north of the state capital of Perth, has been under siege since February.
Four New Zealand Lawmakers Barred From China After Taiwan Trip
Four New Zealand Lawmakers Barred From China After Taiwan Trip New Zealand’s foreign minister was “surprised” to hear about the one-year travel ban, a spokesperson said, given lawmakers have visited Taiwan for years without issues.
Four New Zealand Lawmakers Barred From China After Taiwan Trip
Karishma Vaswani: Japan is stepping up as Asia's new powerbroker The U.S. would have you believe it is showing leadership in Asia. Yet the nation displaying real resolve is Japan. Standing up to China over its …
Four New Zealand Lawmakers Barred From China After Taiwan Trip
SYDNEY -- Four lawmakers from New Zealand have been barred from traveling to China for a year following a visit to Taiwan last month, government officials said Thursday, the first time such a restriction has ever been imposed. The lawmakers, Maureen Pugh, Duncan Webb, Laura McClure and David Wilson, visited Taipei for five days in May as part of a cross-party group that was established in 2023 to maintain relations between Taiwan and New Zealand, the local media reported.
Four New Zealand Lawmakers Barred From China After Taiwan Trip
SYDNEY -- Four lawmakers from New Zealand have been barred from traveling to China for a year following a visit to Taiwan last month, government officials said Thursday, the first time such a restriction has ever been imposed. The lawmakers, Maureen Pugh, Duncan Webb, Laura McClure and David Wilson, visited Taipei for five days in May as part of a cross-party group that was established in 2023 to maintain relations between Taiwan and New Zealand, the local media reported.
This Pair of Parakeets Are Saving Their Species One Chick at a Time
This Pair of Parakeets Are Saving Their Species One Chick at a Time There are about 450 orange-fronted parakeets left in the world. Super breeders Nacho and Trixie are doing their best to bolster the population.
This Pair of Parakeets Are Saving Their Species One Chick at a Time
SYDNEY -- Two critically endangered parakeets have been hailed as "super breeders" in New Zealand after the pair produced 55 chicks in two years -- increasing the population by more than 10%. The native kākāriki karaka, or orange-fronted parakeet, was declared extinct in 1919 and 1965, only to be rediscovered both times in the depths of mountainous valley areas. It is the country's rarest parakeet. Now, there are only about 450 left in the wild and in captivity.
Australia sues 3M for $1.4B over ‘forever chemicals’
The Australian government said Thursday that it was suing 3M for more than $1.4 billion in damages, alleging that the American industrial conglomerate had concealed information about the harmful effects of “forever chemicals” used at more than two dozen military sites across the country. The lawsuit is the largest ever brought by the Australian government, Michelle Rowland, the country’s attorney general, told reporters in Canberra, the capital.
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Australia Sues 3M for $1.4 Billion Over ‘Forever Chemicals’ The lawsuit, the largest ever filed by the Australian government, claims 3M hid information about the harmful effects of PFAS used at military bases.
Australia Sues 3M for $1.4 Billion Over 'Forever Chemicals'
The Australian government said Thursday that it was suing 3M for more than $1.4 billion in damages, alleging that the American industrial conglomerate had concealed information about the harmful effects of "forever chemicals" used at more than two dozen military sites across the country. The lawsuit is the largest ever brought by the Australian government, Michelle Rowland, the country's attorney general, told reporters in Canberra, the capital.
Australia Sues 3M for $1.4 Billion Over 'Forever Chemicals'
The Australian government said Thursday that it was suing 3M for more than $1.4 billion in damages, alleging that the American industrial conglomerate had concealed information about the harmful effects of "forever chemicals" used at more than two dozen military sites across the country. The lawsuit is the largest ever brought by the Australian government, Michelle Rowland, the country's attorney general, told reporters in Canberra, the capital.
Australia’s ‘Prettiest Street’ Is Grappling With Fame
It’s easy to spot the tourists on Tasman Drive. Their cars move slowly down the residential street as passengers dangle phones out of the window, trying to get the perfect shot. They pose in front of tripods in the middle of the road, or pore over smartphones and analyze their selfies.
Australia's 'Prettiest Street' Is Grappling With Fame
GERRINGONG, Australia -- It's easy to spot the tourists on Tasman Drive. Their cars move slowly down the residential street as passengers dangle phones out of the window, trying to get the perfect shot. They pose in front of tripods in the middle of the road, or pore over smartphones and analyze their selfies.
As Trump Tower Deal in Australia Falls Apart, a Blame Game Begins
5 hours ago Plans to build Australia’s first Trump Tower have been scrapped just three months after it was announced, with the local developer saying the Trump brand has become “toxic.” “Let’s just say that with the Iran war and everything else, the Trump brand was increasingly unpopular in Australia,” David …
As Trump Tower Deal in Australia Falls Apart, a Blame Game Begins Original
As Trump Tower Deal in Australia Falls Apart, a Blame Game Begins The property developer says the war in Iran and Trump’s ‘unpopularity’ contributed to the collapse of a plan for a 91-story building on the Gold Coast.
As Trump Tower Deal in Australia Falls Apart, a Blame Game Begins
SYDNEY -- Like many business executives, David Young, an Australian property developer, touted his latest venture on LinkedIn. Young, the CEO of Altus Property Group, wrote in February that he would oversee the construction of Australia's tallest building on the Gold Coast, a city in Queensland known for Instagram influencers and sunburned backpackers. But it was the other name on the agreement that drew global attention: the Trump Organization.
Australian Women and Children Linked to Islamic State Fighters Return Home
Australian Women and Children Linked to Islamic State Fighters Return Home Four women and nine children arrived in Australia from detention camps in northeast Syria after a yearslong controversy over their fate.
3 Australian Women Linked to the Islamic State Are Arrested After Arriving From Syria
SYDNEY -- Three Australian women who returned to their home country Thursday after years in detention camps in Syria for family members of men affiliated with the Islamic State group were arrested and face charges including suspected terrorism and crimes against humanity, according to police. The three were among four Australian women and nine children who arrived in the country Thursday.
Un visitante de la nube de Oort: un raro cometa aparece en los cielos del hemisferio sur
Conocido como C/2025 R3 PANSTARRS, el cometa será visible para los observadores de estrellas que utilicen un telescopio en Nueva Zelanda, Australia y Sudáfrica. Los cielos nocturnos del hemisferio sur recibirán a un extraño visitante durante las próximas dos semanas. Un brillante cometa azul verdoso, que se cree que se originó en una región helada del borde del sistema solar, oscilará sobre Nueva Zelanda, Australia y Sudáfrica.
Un visitante de la nube de Oort: un raro cometa aparece en los cielos del hemisferio sur
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. Un visitante de la nube de Oort: un raro cometa aparece en los cielos del hemisferio sur Conocido como C/2025 R3 PANSTARRS, el cometa será visible para los observadores de estrellas que utilicen un telescopio en Nueva Zelanda, Australia y Sudáfrica.
A Visitor From the Oort Cloud: Rare Comet Appears in Southern Skies Original
A Visitor From the Oort Cloud: Rare Comet Appears in Southern Skies Known as C/2025 R3 PANSTARRS, the comet will be visible to stargazers using a telescope in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The C/2025 R3 PANSTARRS comet seen over Auckland, New Zealand, on May 1.Credit...Josh Aoraki/Te Whatu Stardome May 5, 2026, 4:38 a.m. ET The night skies above the Southern Hemisphere will host a rare visitor over the next two weeks.
A Visitor From the Oort Cloud: Rare Comet Appears in Southern Skies
The night skies above the Southern Hemisphere will host a rare visitor over the next two weeks. A glowing blue-green comet, believed to have originated in an icy region at the edge of the solar system, will swing over New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The comet -- known as C/2025 R3 PANSTARRS -- was discovered in 2025 and has slowly been making its journey past Earth. Last month, it was visible in the Northern Hemisphere for several weeks.
Residents of Australia's 'most beautiful' street fed up with viral fame
GERRINGONG, Australia – Viral posts of an Australian street dubbed the country’s “most beautiful” have enticed coachloads of visitors to a picturesque seaside town – and locals have had enough of it. Just a two-hour drive south of Sydney, Gerringong is much like many other photogenic hamlets along Australia’s east coast, with multi-million-dollar properties set against stunning views of the azure blue sea.
Violence Erupts in Australian Town After Arrest of Suspect in Girl’s Killing Original
Violence Erupts in Australian Town After Arrest of Suspect in Girl’s Killing Police in Alice Springs fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse an angry crowd demanding justice.
What Is Australia’s ‘Welcome to Country’ Ceremony?
What Is Australia’s ‘Welcome to Country’ Ceremony? The tradition, dating back thousands of years, is used by Indigenous Australians to greet visitors to their ancestral lands. Joy Murphy Wandin, an Indigenous elder, delivering the “Welcome to Country” before a rugby game in Melbourne last year.Credit...Mike Owen/Getty Images May 1, 2026, 1:33 a.m. ET The “Welcome to Country” is a familiar ritual in Australia that is held at the opening of Parliament, festivals and graduations.
What Is Australia's 'Welcome to Country' Ceremony?
SYDNEY -- The "Welcome to Country" is a familiar ritual in Australia that is held at the opening of Parliament, festivals and graduations. The tradition involves a recognized elder of the local Indigenous community welcoming visitors with a speech, a song, a dance, a didgeridoo performance or a smoking ceremony. The speeches can take many forms, but usually an Indigenous custodian will welcome guests to their land, for example Gadigal in Sydney, and pay tribute to elders past and present.
Violence Erupts in Australian Town After Arrest of Suspect in Girl's Killing
SYDNEY -- Violence erupted across a rural town in Australia on Thursday night, after a crowd of people assaulted a man suspected of killing a 5-year-old Indigenous girl and then clashed with the police officers who were arresting him. Officers transported the man, Jefferson Lewis, to a hospital in Alice Springs, where hundreds of people yelled and threw rocks, bottles and other projectiles at the police, according to the national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Search for missing girl in Australia ends in ‘Worst possible outcome’
SYDNEY — For five days, Australian police officers scoured the outback surrounding a rural Indigenous town in the country’s far north, hoping to find a 5-year-old girl who had last been seen with a man released from prison just days before. Dozens of volunteers combed through dense and rough bush where, in some places, the grass was more than 3 feet tall and the vegetation was so thick that members of the search team could not see one another’s ankles.
Search for Missing Girl in Australia Ends in ‘Worst Possible Outcome’
2 hours ago A body has been found in the search for a missing 5-year-old girl in Australia. PEOPLE previously reported that authorities had received reports that a young girl, known as Sharon, had disappeared from her home in Alice Springs in the early hours of Sunday, April 26. In a media release shared on …
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