Waterbombing plane missing as Australia bushfires flare

The months-long crisis has sparked renewed calls for Australia's conservative government to take immediate action on climate change

A water-bombing plane was missing and feared to have crashed in Australia's southeast on Thursday, as firefighters battled a new outbreak of bushfires whipped up by scorching temperatures and strong winds.

At least seven blazes were declared emergencies, including one in the Snowy Monaro region, where authorities lost contact with the firefighting aircraft.