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Australians Told to Shelter from Bushfires as Political Heat Builds

Reuters

   SYDNEY - Firefighters battled hundreds of bushfires across Australia
   Thursday as scores of blazes sprang up in new locations, triggering
   warnings that it was too late for some residents to evacuate.

   As thick smoke blanketed the most populous city of Sydney for a third
   day, residents were urged to keep children indoors, stepping up
   pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to tackle climate change.

   By early afternoon, dozens of fires were burning across the
   southeastern state of Victoria and temperatures of 40.9 Celsius (105.6
   F) in Melbourne, its capital, matched the hottest day on record in
   1894, Australia's weather bureau said.

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