Australia’s largest telecommunications company, Telstra Corp, reported a 23% increase in first-half profit to 1.47 billion Australian dollars (1.6 billion US dollars) as growth in mobile and internet customers offset its declining fixed-line telephone business.

The Australian federal government said today it will clear away hurdles that have stalled a nationwide fire alert telephone system, after thousands of people were caught off-guard by the deadliest wildfires in the country’s history.

AUSTRALIAN stocks gained, led by Telstra Corp after Citigroup Inc increased its earnings forecasts for Australia’s biggest telephone company.