Australian Broadcasting Corporation

A helicopter crashed into the roof of a Hilton hotel in Australia on Monday, according to local police reports. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has stated that the pilot, the sole occupant of the helicopter, was killed in the incident. The crash ignited a fire on the hotel's roof, prompting a large-scale evacuation.

Four beaches on Australia's east coast were closed July 26 after numerous shark sightings, police said, as authorities patrolled waters off a southern island following a fatal attack on a diver a day earlier.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott July 2 brushed off mounting pressure for a parliamentary vote on same-sex marriage from within his conservative coalition, saying he was more focused on the economy and security.

Close to 700 koalas have been killed off by authorities in southeastern Australia because overpopulation led to the animals starving, an official said on March 4, sparking claims of mismanagement.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will not leave the Ecuador embassy in London until it is guaranteed he will avoid extradition to the United States, his lawyer said Tuesday.