Sydney, New South , Australia weather forecast

A dangerous tropical virus is spreading in Australia

A dangerous tropical virus, Japanese encephalitis, is spreading in Australia. It has been identified in residents in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

The virus is carried by mosquitoes, it has already infected 34 people, 3 of them died. Many pigs also died.

Previously, Australia has never been a region where the tropical diseases characteristic of Asia have spread. The climate of the continent was not conducive to rapid transmission of the virus. However, recent floods have made it possible for the virus to spread through mosquitoes thanks to puddles of stagnant water. Such puddles often appear after the strongest tropical downpours. Thus, the virus has traveled hundreds of kilometers to the southern and western parts of the country via mosquitoes.

India and Australia sign trade deal

The signing of a free trade agreement with India is a step for Australia to reduce its dependence on China, its largest trading partner.

Australia and India signed on Saturday, April 2, an interim free trade agreement. It provides for the removal of tariffs on 85 percent of goods from Australia exported to India, including mutton, wool, coal and copper, as well as duty-free trade in the Australian market for 96 percent of goods imported into the country from India.

Under the agreement, the trade ministers of Australia and India, Dan Tean and Piyush Goyal, put their signatures at the same time. At the same time, the heads of government of the countries - Scott Morrison and Narendra Damodardas Modi - watched the ceremony via video link.

Commenting on the signing of a free trade agreement with India, Australian Prime Minister Morrison called it "one of the biggest doors that could be opened." According to the politician, his state and India are "two dynamically developing regional economies, like-minded democracies, working together to achieve a common good." In turn, Modi regarded the signing of a free trade agreement with Australia as a "turning point."

Australia to hand over armored vehicles to Ukraine

The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, Scott Morison, announced his readiness to transfer Bushmaster PMV armored vehicles to Ukraine.

This is a response to yesterday's appeal of the Ukrainian President to the Australian Parliament with a request for military assistance.

In addition to the Bushmasters, Australia decided to send other military equipment.

“We are not just sending our prayers, we are sending our weapons, our ammunition, humanitarian aid and our bulletproof vests,” the prime minister said.

The Bushmaster PMV was developed in 1998 by Thales Australia. This is an armored vehicle seven meters long, equipped with a 300 hp diesel engine, accommodating nine fighters. It is in service with Australia, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Fiji, Jamaica and Japan. A total of 1072 copies were issued. They are used as military transport, patrol vehicles, weapons platforms and ambulances.

Bushmasters will be delivered to Ukraine by military transport Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.

DEATH TO THE RUSSIAN OCCUPANTS!

According to pre-Christian traditions

in Aboriginal communities in Wormoon, Western Australia, Christmas presents were given to children in place of Santa Claus by costumed crows