A low-flying chopper apparently signalled the mating season for crocodiles on a farm in Queensland, Australia. It may sound bizarre, but it is what it is.&nbsp;

It happened when a Chinook pilot reportedly attempted to fly particularly low over a saltwater crocodile farm.&nbsp;

The aim was to let the visitors on board take photos of some of the farm's inmates - the 3000 crocodiles.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/faking-death-female-frogs-have-unique-sex-strategy-they-also-avoid-persistent-males-646032">Faking death? Female frogs have unique sex strategy, they also avoid persistent males</a>&nbsp;

The helicopter flying low, however, shockingly awakened the crocodiles' sexual desires, prompting them to "mate like mad".&nbsp;

When the&nbsp;crocodiles heard the disturbance, all the large bulls rose up, screamed, and rumbled at the skies, according to John Lever, who is the owner of the Koorana Crocodile Farm.&nbsp;

And by the time the helicopters left, they'd already started making some serious orgiastic baby-making.&nbsp;

Lever told ABC: "All of the big males got up and roared and bellowed up at the sky, and then after the helicopters left they mated like mad."&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/amphibians-are-vanishing-at-an-alarming-rate-scientists-warn-645511">Amphibians are vanishing at an alarming rate, scientists warn</a>&nbsp;

Notably, saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) mate annually and time their mating to coincide with the ideal time to lay eggs in a burrow or nest.&nbsp;

Thunderstorm seasons are not ideal as the hatchlings may drown in flood waters following severe rains and storms.&nbsp;

Hence, they wait for the thunderstorm season&nbsp;to pass for the mating, when the offspring are more likely to hatch. Also, with the warm and wet weather, October is a great time in Northern Australia.&nbsp;

Therefore, some experts believe that the crocodiles misunderstood the noise and vibrations caused by the helicopter rotors and thought it's&nbsp;thunderstorm season.&nbsp;

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A low-flying chopper apparently signalled the mating season for crocodiles on a farm in Queensland, Australia. It may sound bizarre, but it is what it is. It happened when a Chinook pilot reportedly attempted to fly particularly low over a saltwater crocodile farm.

A low-flying chopper apparently signalled the mating season for crocodiles on a farm in Queensland, Australia. It may sound bizarre, but it is what it is. It happened when a Chinook pilot reportedly attempted to fly particularly low over a saltwater crocodile farm. The aim was to let the visitors on board take photos of some of the farm's inmates - the 3000 crocodiles. Also read: Faking death? Female frogs have unique sex strategy, they also avoid persistent males The helicopter flying low, however, shockingly awakened the crocodiles' sexual desires, prompting them to "mate like mad". When the crocodiles heard the disturbance, all the large bulls rose up, screamed, and rumbled at the skies, according to John Lever, who is the owner of the Koorana Crocodile Farm. And by the time the helicopters left, they'd already started making some serious orgiastic baby-making. Lever told ABC: "All of the big males got up and roared and bellowed up at the sky, and then after the helicopters left they mated like mad." Also read: Amphibians are vanishing at an alarming rate, scientists warn Notably, saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) mate annually and time their mating to coincide with the ideal time to lay eggs in a burrow or nest. Thunderstorm seasons are not ideal as the hatchlings may drown in flood waters following severe rains and storms. Hence, they wait for the thunderstorm season to pass for the mating, when the offspring are more likely to hatch. Also, with the warm and wet weather, October is a great time in Northern Australia. Therefore, some experts believe that the crocodiles misunderstood the noise and vibrations caused by the helicopter rotors and thought it's thunderstorm season. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Did a Chinook helicopter send crocodiles into mating frenzy on Australian farm?

South Africa batsman Quinton de Kock predicted that Thursday's high-profile&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;clash with old rivals Australia will be decided by a battle of "big egos".

De Kock, who will quit international&nbsp;cricket&nbsp;at the end of this tournament, has enjoyed being part of a Proteas side who have had the upper hand in recent years.

Since 2016, South Africa have won 15 of their 20 meetings with Australia in One-Day Internationals.

Also WATCH - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/odi-world-cup-2023-watch-virat-kohli-and-naveen-ul-haq-close-ipl-fight-with-hug-during-india-vs-afghanistan-645660">Virat Kohli and Naveen ul Haq close IPL fight with hug during India vs Afghanistan</a>

"The Australians and us have always had a great history, a good competitive background," said 30-year-old De Kock on Wednesday.

"Both teams are going to come out fighting tomorrow, and whoever makes the right choices under pressure will be the stronger team at the end of the day."

He added: "Both teams are strong teams, both got big egos, both want to win, want to beat each other."

South Africa got off to a scintillating start at this&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup, piling up a tournament record 428 in a 102-run win over Sri Lanka in New Delhi.

De Kock cracked his 18th ODI century in that match but it was his first at a&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup. Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen also hit centuries.

"I think I've been wanting a 100 for a while. Just for my personal self, it's been a while," said De Kock whose last ton came against India in Cape Town in January 2022.

"Just to tick it off in a&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;and get the campaign started was a big thing for the guys' confidence."

After the&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;ends, De Kock will officially remain available for T20 internationals but only when there isn't a clash with more lucrative franchise opportunities.

He will leave behind a legacy of almost 12,000 international runs across the three formats, and 25 centuries. He has scored hundreds in Tests, ODIs and T20&nbsp;cricket.

However, De Kock insists he will have no regrets about closing the book on his 11-year South Africa career.

"I'm sure a lot of guys love the ODI format. I have been doing it for a couple of years now, so I find it quite tiring," he explained.

"But I'm sure there's still a lot of guys coming through the ranks, guys still at school, they still would love to play this format and I highly recommend that they find a way to keep it going."

For the moment, an elusive&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;title remains De Kock's priority for a country who have fallen at the semi-finals on four occasions.

They have been in good form -- arriving in India having overturned a 2-0 deficit to defeat Australia 3-2 on home soil last month.

"I think in order for us to be one of the best we need to be, we still need to be a bit more consistent," said De Kock who on Thursday will be playing in familiar surroundings -- his Lucknow IPL team is based at the Ekana Stadium.

"Especially in tight games like&nbsp;World&nbsp;Cups. That will determine actually how good we are."

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South Africa batsman Quinton de Kock predicted that Thursday's high-profile World Cup clash with old rivals Australia will be decided by a battle of "big egos". De Kock, who will quit international cricket at the end of this tournament, has enjoyed being part of a Proteas side who have had the upper hand in recent years.

South Africa batsman Quinton de Kock predicted that Thursday's high-profile World Cup clash with old rivals Australia will be decided by a battle of "big egos". De Kock, who will quit international cricket at the end of this tournament, has enjoyed being part of a Proteas side who have had the upper hand in recent years. Since 2016, South Africa have won 15 of their 20 meetings with Australia in One-Day Internationals. Also WATCH - Virat Kohli and Naveen ul Haq close IPL fight with hug during India vs Afghanistan "The Australians and us have always had a great history, a good competitive background," said 30-year-old De Kock on Wednesday. "Both teams are going to come out fighting tomorrow, and whoever makes the right choices under pressure will be the stronger team at the end of the day." He added: "Both teams are strong teams, both got big egos, both want to win, want to beat each other." South Africa got off to a scintillating start at this World Cup, piling up a tournament record 428 in a 102-run win over Sri Lanka in New Delhi. De Kock cracked his 18th ODI century in that match but it was his first at a World Cup. Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen also hit centuries. "I think I've been wanting a 100 for a while. Just for my personal self, it's been a while," said De Kock whose last ton came against India in Cape Town in January 2022. "Just to tick it off in a World Cup and get the campaign started was a big thing for the guys' confidence." After the World Cup ends, De Kock will officially remain available for T20 internationals but only when there isn't a clash with more lucrative franchise opportunities. He will leave behind a legacy of almost 12,000 international runs across the three formats, and 25 centuries. He has scored hundreds in Tests, ODIs and T20 cricket. However, De Kock insists he will have no regrets about closing the book on his 11-year South Africa career. "I'm sure a lot of guys love the ODI format. I have been doing it for a couple of years now, so I find it quite tiring," he explained. "But I'm sure there's still a lot of guys coming through the ranks, guys still at school, they still would love to play this format and I highly recommend that they find a way to keep it going." For the moment, an elusive World Cup title remains De Kock's priority for a country who have fallen at the semi-finals on four occasions. They have been in good form -- arriving in India having overturned a 2-0 deficit to defeat Australia 3-2 on home soil last month. "I think in order for us to be one of the best we need to be, we still need to be a bit more consistent," said De Kock who on Thursday will be playing in familiar surroundings -- his Lucknow IPL team is based at the Ekana Stadium. "Especially in tight games like World Cups. That will determine actually how good we are." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

ODI World Cup 2023: Australia, South Africa prepare for clash of 'big egos' in Lucknow

Singapore’s air force and emergency services were deployed on Thursday (Oct 12) to escort a flight operated by budget carrier Scoot back to the city-state’s Changi Airport after it received a bomb threat, said the airline in a statement. The threat was received an hour after the flight had departed from Singapore for the Australian city of Perth.&nbsp;

<h2>What&nbsp;happened?</h2>

According to the airline, Scoot flight TR16 to Perth departed Singapore at 4:11 pm (local time) and landed back in the city-state nearly two hours after the take-off at around 6:27 (local time) where security checks were carried out.&nbsp;

In an emailed statement, Scoot – the low-cost arm of Singapore Airlines Group – said that the decision to turn back the Perth-bound flight to Singapore was a “precautionary” one and taken after about an hour into the journey “due to a bomb threat.” &nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bomb-threat-on-delhi-pune-vistara-flight-at-delhi-airport-probe-underway-626614">&nbsp;India: Bomb threat on Delhi-Pune Vistara flight at Delhi airport, police respond</a> 
 
It added, “The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) was activated to escort the aircraft back to Changi Airport. Emergency services were also activated.”&nbsp;

“Scoot is assisting the authorities with their investigations. As this is a security matter, we regret that we are unable to provide further details,” said the airline.&nbsp;

The aircraft, as per media reports, was carrying 363 passengers and nine cabin crew members, as well as two pilots on board.&nbsp;

According to flight tracking website Flightradar24 the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was circling off the east coast of Malaysia before flying towards Changi Airport.

<h2>Defence ministry and eyewitness account</h2>

The city-state’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, in a Facebook post, said that two F-15SG fighter planes were scrambled to escort the Scoot flight back to Changi Airport.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-will-always-back-israel-says-blinken-to-netanyahu-on-solidarity-visit-645919">US will always 'back' Israel, says Blinken to Netanyahu on solidarity visit</a>

The Singapore police said that they were informed about the alleged bomb threat on the flight at around 4:55 pm (local time) and they are investigating the incident.&nbsp;

“The police take security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against those who intentionally cause public alarm,” said a police spokesperson as quoted by The Straits Times.&nbsp;

A 30-year-old systems analyst, who did not want to be named, told The Straits Times that passengers were informed at about 5:05 that the aircraft was experiencing “minor issues”.&nbsp;

When the fighter jets arrived people were “passing phones to those seated by the windows to take photos,” adding that he did not sense much alarm among those on board.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eiffel-tower-in-paris-evacuated-after-bomb-threat-reports-624867">Eiffel Tower in Paris briefly evacuated after bomb threat: Reports</a>

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said one runway of the Changi airport shut for about an hour “to facilitate ground operations,” and eight arriving flights and six departures experienced some delay because of the incident.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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Singapore’s air force and emergency services were deployed on Thursday (Oct 12) to escort a flight operated by budget carrier Scoot back to the city-state’s Changi Airport after it received a bomb threat, said the airline in a statement.

Singapore’s air force and emergency services were deployed on Thursday (Oct 12) to escort a flight operated by budget carrier Scoot back to the city-state’s Changi Airport after it received a bomb threat, said the airline in a statement. The threat was received an hour after the flight had departed from Singapore for the Australian city of Perth. What happened? According to the airline, Scoot flight TR16 to Perth departed Singapore at 4:11 pm (local time) and landed back in the city-state nearly two hours after the take-off at around 6:27 (local time) where security checks were carried out. In an emailed statement, Scoot – the low-cost arm of Singapore Airlines Group – said that the decision to turn back the Perth-bound flight to Singapore was a “precautionary” one and taken after about an hour into the journey “due to a bomb threat.” ALSO READ | India: Bomb threat on Delhi-Pune Vistara flight at Delhi airport, police respond It added, “The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) was activated to escort the aircraft back to Changi Airport. Emergency services were also activated.” “Scoot is assisting the authorities with their investigations. As this is a security matter, we regret that we are unable to provide further details,” said the airline. The aircraft, as per media reports, was carrying 363 passengers and nine cabin crew members, as well as two pilots on board. According to flight tracking website Flightradar24 the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was circling off the east coast of Malaysia before flying towards Changi Airport. Defence ministry and eyewitness account The city-state’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, in a Facebook post, said that two F-15SG fighter planes were scrambled to escort the Scoot flight back to Changi Airport. ALSO READ | US will always 'back' Israel, says Blinken to Netanyahu on solidarity visit The Singapore police said that they were informed about the alleged bomb threat on the flight at around 4:55 pm (local time) and they are investigating the incident. “The police take security threats seriously and will not hesitate to take action against those who intentionally cause public alarm,” said a police spokesperson as quoted by The Straits Times. A 30-year-old systems analyst, who did not want to be named, told The Straits Times that passengers were informed at about 5:05 that the aircraft was experiencing “minor issues”. When the fighter jets arrived people were “passing phones to those seated by the windows to take photos,” adding that he did not sense much alarm among those on board. ALSO READ | Eiffel Tower in Paris briefly evacuated after bomb threat: Reports The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said one runway of the Changi airport shut for about an hour “to facilitate ground operations,” and eight arriving flights and six departures experienced some delay because of the incident. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Fighter jets scramble to escort Perth-bound flight to Singapore after bomb threat

AUS vs SA FREE live Streaming: Australia will clash with South Africa in the 10th match of the ICC World Cup at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, India on Thursday (Oct 11).

AUS vs SA FREE live Streaming: Australia will clash with South Africa in the 10th match of the ICC World Cup at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, India on Thursday (Oct 11). Australia lost their tournament opener of the World Cup to India by 6 wickets. A partnership between KL Rahul and Virat Kohli ensured things got under control for India. Also read: CWC '23: Our middle-order not tested properly, feels Yuvraj; names THIS Indian who can win POTT award On the other hand, South Africa opened their account in an amazing style with a massive 102-run victory against Sri Lanka. Here are the live-streaming details of the AUG vs SA World Cup 2023: How to watch AUG vs SA World Cup 2023 match live Streaming for free in India? Fans can watch Australia vs South Africa, 10th World Cup match, live streaming for free in India on Disney+ Hotstar. Where to watch the AUG vs SA World Cup 2023 match live in India? Star Sports Network will telecast the Australia vs South Africa, 10th World Cup match, live in India. When is the AUG vs SA World Cup 2023 match? Date Australia will clash with South Africa in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 on Thursday, October 12. What time will the AUG vs SA World Cup 2023 match start? Time The AUS vs SA World Cup 2023 match will commence at 02:00 pm IST on Thursday, October 12. What is the venue for the AUG vs SA World Cup 2023 match? Venue Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, will host the AUS vs SA World Cup 2023 match. Here's a list of the live broadcasters in other countries: Country Channel Name Afghanistan Ariana TV and Ariana News, Ariana TV website and www.sportsafghan-wireless.com Australia Fox Sports 501 & Channel 9 HD, 9GemHD, FoxtelGo, FoxtelNOW and Kayo / 9Now Bangladesh GTV, BTV, T Sports, Rabbithole Canada Willow TV, Disney+ Hotstar Caribbean Islands ESPN and ESPN2, ESPN Play Caribbean Central & South America and Mexico ESPN+ Continental Europe and SEA(excluding Singapore) YuppTV Hong Kong Astro Cricket via NowTV, YuppTV India SS1(HD+HD), SS1 Hindi(SD+HD), SS1 Tamil, SS1 Telugu, SS1 Kannada, SS2(HD+SD), Disney+ Hotstar Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan SS1(HD+HD), SS1 Hindi(SD+HD), SS1 Tamil, SS1 Telugu, SS1 Kannada, SS2(HD+SD), Yupp TV Malaysia Astro Cricket, Yupp TV MENA CricLife and CricLife Max, StarzPlay & Switch TV New Zealand Sky Sport Pacific Islands TVWAN Action and TVWAN Sports, Digicel app Pakistan PTV Sports, www.ptvsports.pk, Daraz, Tapmad, Jazz Pakistan A-Sports, ARY ZAP Singapore HubSports 4 and HubSports 5, Simulcast of their linear channels on StarHub TV+ Sri Lanka Sirasa TV, Dialog TV & Event TV, www.kiki.lk & Kiki app South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa SuperSport Grandstand & SuperSport Cricket, SuperSport app UK Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Mix, SkyGO + Sky Sports App USA WillowTV, ESPN+ app AUS vs SA Pitch report: The Ekana Stadium pitch had help for the spinners and batsmen have been struggling to time their shots. The average 1st innings score is 210 where setting a high target won't be an easy thing. AUS vs SA Squads: South Africa Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams. Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

AUS vs SA FREE live Streaming: How to watch World Cup 2023 Australia vs South Africa live on mobile app online

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes that his side cannot afford to go 0-2 down in the World Cup after starting poorly against India in the opening encounter.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes that his side cannot afford to go 0-2 down in the World Cup after starting poorly against India in the opening encounter. Ponting said Australia were 'way off the mark' in the contest and will have to pull their socks to get back in contention. Speaking on the latest episode of the ICC Review podcast, Ponting reflected on Australia's second match against in-form South Africa who blasted 428 against Sri Lanka last week. "Australia, to me, looked to be a fair way off the mark, to be honest, in that game against India,” Ponting said. "You can't afford to be zip-and-two (0-2) in a World Cup. We know how important it is to finish up the top of the table," he added. Despite the tough talk, Ponting maintained that Australia had a talented group of players who could make it till the end of the tournament, provided Adam Zampa fired. The wrist spinner is the only proper spinner in the squad, apart from Glenn Maxwell performing part-time duties with his off-spin. "But I've still got full faith in their squad. It is a very good squad, a very talented squad. We know there's a lot of all-rounders in that side. The other thing that I probably learned is that they're going to need Adam Zampa bowling well. It's as simple as that. Also read | IND Vs AFG Live Cricket Score: India take on Afghanistan at World Cup stage once again Australia's struggles In their opening game, Australia, batting first, showed signs of rustiness as the batters failed to capitalise in the powerplay overs after opener Mitchell Marsh perished cheaply to Jasprit Bumrah. David Warner and Steve Smith forged a little partnership before the former smacked one straight down the throat of Kuldeep Yadav in his follow-through. Afterwards, the Australian innings succumbed from 110/2 to 199 all out. India chased the total inside 42 overs, despite losing three quick wickets. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul forged a 150+ runs partnership and saw their team home. Australia will hope to set things right when they take on the Proteas at the Ekana Sports Stadium in Lucknow on Thursday (Oct 12). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

World Cup 2023: 'You can't afford...', former Australian captain Ricky Ponting warns his team

Recent data from Australia is giving out contrasting sentiments between the business sector and households. According to a report by Bloomberg, business conditions continue to exhibit resilience in the face of heightened price pressures, however, consumer confidence remains in a "deeply pessimistic" state. This divergence highlights the varying responses of firms and households to the tightening monetary policies.

According to a National Australia Bank Ltd. survey released on Tuesday, business conditions, which gauge sales, employment, and profitability, eased slightly by 3 points to 11 in September but remained above the average level since the beginning of the year. Confidence among businesses remained steady at 1 point.

"The economy has remained in reasonable shape through the middle of the year. The survey showed some positive signs for inflation, with cost pressures and price growth easing,” Bloomberg quoted Alan Oster, the Chief Economist at NAB.

In contrast, a separate household survey from Westpac Banking Corp., conducted from October 2 to 5, revealed that consumer sentiment inched up by 2.9 per cent to reach 82 points in October. However, pessimists significantly outnumbered optimists, indicating a prevailing sense of pessimism among consumers. This index has largely fluctuated within a range of 78-86 over the past year.

These surveys underscore the persistent divergence between Australia's heavily-indebted households and its corporate sector, suggesting that businesses are better equipped to manage the impact of higher interest rates. NAB's survey also highlighted positive indicators such as forward orders being in positive territory.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been in a watch-and-wait mode after implementing 4 percentage points of rate hikes since May of the previous year, with the aim of reining in inflation. Although consumer prices have started to ease, a tight labour market and rising wage growth indicate that policymakers are prepared to take further action if necessary.

Bloomberg cited Matthew Hassan, a Senior Economist at Westpac, who commented on the consumer sentiment, saying, "The consumer mood has improved slightly, but optimism remains in extremely short supply."

He noted that while there are some faint signals of hope regarding family finances and job outlook, these positive aspects are overshadowed by concerns about high inflation and renewed worries about interest rate hikes.

Notably, the sub-index measuring the outlook for household spending, known as "the time to buy a major household item," surged by 7.6 per cent. This uptick, if sustained, could be indicative of easing inflation pressures for consumers.

The RBA's next meeting is scheduled for November 7, and during the same week, it will release detailed forecasts. Economists are divided on whether the central bank will implement one final rate hike, potentially raising rates to 4.35 per cent.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)

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Recent data from Australia is giving out contrasting sentiments between the business sector and households. According to a report by Bloomberg, business conditions continue to exhibit resilience in the face of heightened price pressures, however, consumer confidence remains in a "deeply pessimistic" state.

Recent data from Australia is giving out contrasting sentiments between the business sector and households. According to a report by Bloomberg, business conditions continue to exhibit resilience in the face of heightened price pressures, however, consumer confidence remains in a "deeply pessimistic" state. This divergence highlights the varying responses of firms and households to the tightening monetary policies. According to a National Australia Bank Ltd. survey released on Tuesday, business conditions, which gauge sales, employment, and profitability, eased slightly by 3 points to 11 in September but remained above the average level since the beginning of the year. Confidence among businesses remained steady at 1 point. "The economy has remained in reasonable shape through the middle of the year. The survey showed some positive signs for inflation, with cost pressures and price growth easing,” Bloomberg quoted Alan Oster, the Chief Economist at NAB. In contrast, a separate household survey from Westpac Banking Corp., conducted from October 2 to 5, revealed that consumer sentiment inched up by 2.9 per cent to reach 82 points in October. However, pessimists significantly outnumbered optimists, indicating a prevailing sense of pessimism among consumers. This index has largely fluctuated within a range of 78-86 over the past year. These surveys underscore the persistent divergence between Australia's heavily-indebted households and its corporate sector, suggesting that businesses are better equipped to manage the impact of higher interest rates. NAB's survey also highlighted positive indicators such as forward orders being in positive territory. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been in a watch-and-wait mode after implementing 4 percentage points of rate hikes since May of the previous year, with the aim of reining in inflation. Although consumer prices have started to ease, a tight labour market and rising wage growth indicate that policymakers are prepared to take further action if necessary. Bloomberg cited Matthew Hassan, a Senior Economist at Westpac, who commented on the consumer sentiment, saying, "The consumer mood has improved slightly, but optimism remains in extremely short supply." He noted that while there are some faint signals of hope regarding family finances and job outlook, these positive aspects are overshadowed by concerns about high inflation and renewed worries about interest rate hikes. Notably, the sub-index measuring the outlook for household spending, known as "the time to buy a major household item," surged by 7.6 per cent. This uptick, if sustained, could be indicative of easing inflation pressures for consumers. The RBA's next meeting is scheduled for November 7, and during the same week, it will release detailed forecasts. Economists are divided on whether the central bank will implement one final rate hike, potentially raising rates to 4.35 per cent. (With inputs from Bloomberg) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Australian consumer sentiment inches up from record lows as businesses remain resilient

Former Indian men's cricket team coach believes Steve Smith is all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's bunny after the left-arm orthodox spinner outfoxed the Australian batter during the World Cup match in Chennai on Sunday (October 8).&nbsp;

Opting to bat first, Australia had a wretched start to the proceedings as opener Mitchell Marsh departed for nought.&nbsp;Afterwards, David Warner and Smith stitched a partnership and handled things sensibly. However,&nbsp;Jadeja bowled a beauty to get Smith and the wheels came off for Australia after that.&nbsp;

“Dream dismissal and he has dismissed him 10 to 12 times. He (Smith) is his bunny. It is not that easy to play such a delivery because of the speed at which he bowls. As a batter, you don't know which ball is going to turn and which ball will go straight,” Shastri told host broadcaster Star Sports.

The former Indian cricketer added that even Jadeja himself didn't know which ball would turn or not. The Chennai pitch assisted the spinners plenty and the left-armer made full use of it.&nbsp;

“He (Jadeja) himself said in the interview that he doesn't know which ball will turn and which will go straight. If he doesn't know, how will the batter know? So he plays inside the line at times and outside the line on other occasions,” added Shastri.

“If he plays outside, he becomes leg-before and if he plays inside, it hits the stumps, just like it happened with Smith. It's not easy as he will trouble anyone. If he gets a surface like this, he becomes the most difficult bowler because his every ball does not turn,” said Shastri.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-2023-india-brave-initial-blues-to-stave-off-australia-challenge-win-by-6-wickets-644201">Also read |&nbsp;World Cup 2023: India brave initial blues to stave off Australia challenge, win by 6 wickets</a>

From 110/2, the five-time World champions slipped to 199 all out, primarily due to Jadeja's excellent spell in the middle overs. He accounted for three Australian scalps and could've had more if the fielders had accepted the offerings made by the batters.&nbsp;

<h2>India's World Cup campaign&nbsp;</h2>

With Axar Patel out of the World Cup, India are heavily reliant on Jadeja to perform the all-rounder duties. While Jadeja has started off admirably with the ball, experts believe he will have to pick form with the bat as India get deeper into the World Cup campaign.&nbsp;

India will face Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on October 11 before squaring up against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Narendra Modi International Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Former Indian men's cricket team coach believes Steve Smith is all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's bunny after the left-arm orthodox spinner outfoxed the Australian batter during the World Cup match in Chennai on Sunday (October 8).

Former Indian men's cricket team coach believes Steve Smith is all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's bunny after the left-arm orthodox spinner outfoxed the Australian batter during the World Cup match in Chennai on Sunday (October 8). Opting to bat first, Australia had a wretched start to the proceedings as opener Mitchell Marsh departed for nought. Afterwards, David Warner and Smith stitched a partnership and handled things sensibly. However, Jadeja bowled a beauty to get Smith and the wheels came off for Australia after that. “Dream dismissal and he has dismissed him 10 to 12 times. He (Smith) is his bunny. It is not that easy to play such a delivery because of the speed at which he bowls. As a batter, you don't know which ball is going to turn and which ball will go straight,” Shastri told host broadcaster Star Sports. The former Indian cricketer added that even Jadeja himself didn't know which ball would turn or not. The Chennai pitch assisted the spinners plenty and the left-armer made full use of it. “He (Jadeja) himself said in the interview that he doesn't know which ball will turn and which will go straight. If he doesn't know, how will the batter know? So he plays inside the line at times and outside the line on other occasions,” added Shastri. “If he plays outside, he becomes leg-before and if he plays inside, it hits the stumps, just like it happened with Smith. It's not easy as he will trouble anyone. If he gets a surface like this, he becomes the most difficult bowler because his every ball does not turn,” said Shastri. Also read | World Cup 2023: India brave initial blues to stave off Australia challenge, win by 6 wickets From 110/2, the five-time World champions slipped to 199 all out, primarily due to Jadeja's excellent spell in the middle overs. He accounted for three Australian scalps and could've had more if the fielders had accepted the offerings made by the batters. India's World Cup campaign With Axar Patel out of the World Cup, India are heavily reliant on Jadeja to perform the all-rounder duties. While Jadeja has started off admirably with the ball, experts believe he will have to pick form with the bat as India get deeper into the World Cup campaign. India will face Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on October 11 before squaring up against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Narendra Modi International Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

World Cup 2023: Ravi Shastri names Australian batter as Jadeja's bunny after Chennai win

When Indian opening batter Ishan Kishan departed in the first over without scoring, the Chepauk crowd erupted for Virat Kohli, who was walking in to bat at one-down. However, this Kohli-driven joy was very short-lived as the Aussie pace attack led by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood claimed the wickets of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer&nbsp;in quick succession. Just like Kishan, they too went for a duck. At the end of three overs, team India were limping at 5-3 (a scoreboard that appeared more like one from a football match). However, meticulous stroke play during a 165-run partnership (off 215 balls) by the Kohli-Rahul duo stood tall and snatched the game from the Aussies.

As is often the case in big international tournaments, Kohli was seen fighting to keep India's hopes alive, while his fellow top-order batters left him deserted in a high-pressure situation. The Kohli-Rahul partnership didn't just offer solace and finesse, the stunning performance of this duo was also a face-saver for the Indian top order that fell like skittles.&nbsp;

Luck also played a major part in ensuring Kohli's long and fulfilling innings as he was dropped at 12 by Mitchell Marsh when he was just starting to settle in. This explains the luck that Indian skipper Rohit Sharma had hoped for, during his pre-match presser. Except for a couple of risky shots, Kohli displayed the supreme and clinical stroke play that he is world-renowned for. KL Rahul played an innings that was similarly paced to that of Kohli's, thereby complementing the careful construction of an Indian fightback. Kohli fell to a Josh Hazlewood delivery when he was 15 runs short of a ton.&nbsp;

While 200 did not seem like a very challenging total for the hosts, the top-order failure made even survival look herculean. While the Aussie top order kept the score going, it was a middle and tail failure that caused them trouble. In stark contrast, India's top order failed, whereas one-down Kohli and three-down Rahul compensated, in a classy and memorable manner.&nbsp;

The partnership of David Warner (41 runs) and Steve Smith (46 runs) helped the visitors notch up their score beyond 100, by the time they had batted halfway through the innings. Having lost only two wickets till the halfway mark of their innings, Australia lost all remaining wickets in the latter half. In India's case, after the debacle in the first three overs, it was a Kohli-Rahul show that entirely absorbed the pressure and carried the chase and Indian fans' expectations on their shoulders till the near end. Notably, until the first 25 overs, the scoring rate of the Indian side remained quite similar to that of the Aussies. However, the well-settled Indian batters accelerated their chase in the second half of their innings.

As India bowled, the spin trio - Ravindra Jadeja (3 wickets), Kuldeep Yadav (2 wickets) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2wickets) proved lethal and scalped a total of seven wickets. The rest were taken care of by pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who claimed one wicket each, thereby bowling out Australia in the final over. The admirable pace bowling spell of Siraj also restricted the visitors' scoring rate. For the visitors, it was the pace attack led by Josh Hazlewood (3 wickets) and Mitchell Starc (1 wicket), who did the damage and the spin bowling failed to scalp any.&nbsp;

After Kohli departed, India needed 33 runs to win. This was ably handled by a few big hits from Hardik Pandya (11*) and KL Rahul (97*). India sealed a stellar win with six wickets in hand. The sign-off sixer was by KL Rahul, who ended up three short of a well-deserved century. With this, India have won the 150th India-Australia ODI and have had a positive start to the ICC World Cup that is being hosted at home. With a little over 75 per cent occupancy, the fans at the Chepauk stadium got their money's worth. However, what remains unexplained is how almost 8500 seats went unoccupied for this Sunday's super clash, which is also the maiden match for both India and Australia, in this World Cup.

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When Indian opening batter Ishan Kishan departed in the first over without scoring, the Chepauk crowd erupted for Virat Kohli, who was walking in to bat at one-down.

When Indian opening batter Ishan Kishan departed in the first over without scoring, the Chepauk crowd erupted for Virat Kohli, who was walking in to bat at one-down. However, this Kohli-driven joy was very short-lived as the Aussie pace attack led by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood claimed the wickets of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer in quick succession. Just like Kishan, they too went for a duck. At the end of three overs, team India were limping at 5-3 (a scoreboard that appeared more like one from a football match). However, meticulous stroke play during a 165-run partnership (off 215 balls) by the Kohli-Rahul duo stood tall and snatched the game from the Aussies. As is often the case in big international tournaments, Kohli was seen fighting to keep India's hopes alive, while his fellow top-order batters left him deserted in a high-pressure situation. The Kohli-Rahul partnership didn't just offer solace and finesse, the stunning performance of this duo was also a face-saver for the Indian top order that fell like skittles. Luck also played a major part in ensuring Kohli's long and fulfilling innings as he was dropped at 12 by Mitchell Marsh when he was just starting to settle in. This explains the luck that Indian skipper Rohit Sharma had hoped for, during his pre-match presser. Except for a couple of risky shots, Kohli displayed the supreme and clinical stroke play that he is world-renowned for. KL Rahul played an innings that was similarly paced to that of Kohli's, thereby complementing the careful construction of an Indian fightback. Kohli fell to a Josh Hazlewood delivery when he was 15 runs short of a ton. While 200 did not seem like a very challenging total for the hosts, the top-order failure made even survival look herculean. While the Aussie top order kept the score going, it was a middle and tail failure that caused them trouble. In stark contrast, India's top order failed, whereas one-down Kohli and three-down Rahul compensated, in a classy and memorable manner. The partnership of David Warner (41 runs) and Steve Smith (46 runs) helped the visitors notch up their score beyond 100, by the time they had batted halfway through the innings. Having lost only two wickets till the halfway mark of their innings, Australia lost all remaining wickets in the latter half. In India's case, after the debacle in the first three overs, it was a Kohli-Rahul show that entirely absorbed the pressure and carried the chase and Indian fans' expectations on their shoulders till the near end. Notably, until the first 25 overs, the scoring rate of the Indian side remained quite similar to that of the Aussies. However, the well-settled Indian batters accelerated their chase in the second half of their innings. As India bowled, the spin trio - Ravindra Jadeja (3 wickets), Kuldeep Yadav (2 wickets) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2wickets) proved lethal and scalped a total of seven wickets. The rest were taken care of by pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who claimed one wicket each, thereby bowling out Australia in the final over. The admirable pace bowling spell of Siraj also restricted the visitors' scoring rate. For the visitors, it was the pace attack led by Josh Hazlewood (3 wickets) and Mitchell Starc (1 wicket), who did the damage and the spin bowling failed to scalp any. After Kohli departed, India needed 33 runs to win. This was ably handled by a few big hits from Hardik Pandya (11*) and KL Rahul (97*). India sealed a stellar win with six wickets in hand. The sign-off sixer was by KL Rahul, who ended up three short of a well-deserved century. With this, India have won the 150th India-Australia ODI and have had a positive start to the ICC World Cup that is being hosted at home. With a little over 75 per cent occupancy, the fans at the Chepauk stadium got their money's worth. However, what remains unexplained is how almost 8500 seats went unoccupied for this Sunday's super clash, which is also the maiden match for both India and Australia, in this World Cup. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

World Cup 2023: Kohli-Rahul ace herculean chase, compensating for top-order failure

India began their ICC ODI World Cup campaign against Australia with a six-wicket win in Chennai. The Indian fans were ecstatic after Men in Blue's win. Check out this exclusive ground report WION's Sidharth MP from the MA Chidambaram stadium.

ICC World Cup 2023: Fans celebrate after India win opening match against Australia

India started their ODI World Cup 2023 campaign with a win against Australia by six wickets in Chennai on October 8. India were in a soup early on while chasing 200 as they had lost three quick wickets but Virat Kohli and KL Rahul added 165 runs for the fourth wicket to rescue the hosts. There were many records broken during the game and here are some them.

ODI World Cup 2023: All records broken in India vs Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday expressed hope that the referendum to recognise the nation's indigenous people in its constitution would succeed.&nbsp;

Previous surveys found that the population was split about the referendum, with the larger portion of people against it.

<h2>Australian constitution and the indigenous people</h2>

The Australian constitution dates back to 1901. However, the 122-year-old constitution fails to make mention of Indigenous Australians that make up around 3.8 per cent of the nation's population.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/support-for-australian-indigenous-recognition-up-slightly-with-vote-underway-642222">Support for Australian Indigenous recognition up slightly with vote underway</a>

As per Reuters, the marginalised community faces discrimination, short life expectancy, lower education outcomes and high incarceration rates.

If the referendum titled "Voice to Parliament" is approved, it would constitutionally enshrine the Australian Indigenous people. It would also give way to the setting up of an advisory body that would enable the community to add their input on policies that affect them.

<h2>For and against</h2>

As per Reuters, PM Albanese's centre-left Labor government backs the referendum. However, the opposition Liberal-National conservatives are gearing for a "No" vote on October 14.&nbsp;

An opinion poll from last week found that nationally, only 38 per cent were in favour.

However, Albanese says he is hopeful. Talking to ABC, he said "I'm optimistic."&nbsp;

"Whether it be Shepperton or Sydney or Brisbane, Melbourne, the places I've been, Hobart, Adelaide in the last week, have been extremely positive."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/eclipse-of-the-sun-skywatchers-to-witness-rings-of-fire-on-october-14-details-644364">Skygazers to witness the mesmerising 'ring of fire' on October 14 | Details</a>

However, even as most indigenous people favour the change, some say it is a distraction from achieving practical and positive outcomes. They also claim that the referendum would not fully resolve the issues plaguing them.

The political opposition, on the other hand, has labelled the measure divisive, and says it would be ineffective and would slow government decision-making.

AFP reports that Noel Pearson, an Indigenous lawyer and land rights activist, one of the architects of the "Voice" proposal, said that Australians now face a "moral choice".

He said that "One choice will bring us pride and hope and belief in one another and the other will, I think, turn us backwards and bring shame to the country," he told Australian broadcaster ABC.

"'Yes' is a moral choice and 'no' would be a travesty for the country, and we will possibly never live it down."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday expressed hope that the referendum to recognise the nation's indigenous people in its constitution would succeed.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday expressed hope that the referendum to recognise the nation's indigenous people in its constitution would succeed. Previous surveys found that the population was split about the referendum, with the larger portion of people against it. Australian constitution and the indigenous people The Australian constitution dates back to 1901. However, the 122-year-old constitution fails to make mention of Indigenous Australians that make up around 3.8 per cent of the nation's population. Also read | Support for Australian Indigenous recognition up slightly with vote underway As per Reuters, the marginalised community faces discrimination, short life expectancy, lower education outcomes and high incarceration rates. If the referendum titled "Voice to Parliament" is approved, it would constitutionally enshrine the Australian Indigenous people. It would also give way to the setting up of an advisory body that would enable the community to add their input on policies that affect them. For and against As per Reuters, PM Albanese's centre-left Labor government backs the referendum. However, the opposition Liberal-National conservatives are gearing for a "No" vote on October 14. An opinion poll from last week found that nationally, only 38 per cent were in favour. However, Albanese says he is hopeful. Talking to ABC, he said "I'm optimistic." "Whether it be Shepperton or Sydney or Brisbane, Melbourne, the places I've been, Hobart, Adelaide in the last week, have been extremely positive." Also read | Skygazers to witness the mesmerising 'ring of fire' on October 14 | Details However, even as most indigenous people favour the change, some say it is a distraction from achieving practical and positive outcomes. They also claim that the referendum would not fully resolve the issues plaguing them. The political opposition, on the other hand, has labelled the measure divisive, and says it would be ineffective and would slow government decision-making. AFP reports that Noel Pearson, an Indigenous lawyer and land rights activist, one of the architects of the "Voice" proposal, said that Australians now face a "moral choice". He said that "One choice will bring us pride and hope and belief in one another and the other will, I think, turn us backwards and bring shame to the country," he told Australian broadcaster ABC. "'Yes' is a moral choice and 'no' would be a travesty for the country, and we will possibly never live it down." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Facing a moral choice: Australia votes on referendum on indigenous rights

Scientists have made a significant discovery around the Great Barrier Reef, revealing that substantial pollution is infiltrating the reef through underground water sources. This finding has profound implications for policymakers striving to reduce pollution stemming from river catchments.

New research indicates that nearly one-third of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and two-thirds of dissolved inorganic phosphorus in the waters surrounding the Great Barrier Reef originate from underground sources, a previously undocumented phenomenon, reported the Guardian.

<h2>Focus on pollution control</h2>

Efforts to control pollution runoff from farms into the reef have been a primary concern for governments and agencies. Scientists assert that improving water quality is essential to enhancing&nbsp;the reef's resilience against bleaching events caused by global heating.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-tiniest-flowering-plant-could-feed-and-oxygenate-astronauts-in-space-643877">Earth's tiniest flowering plant could feed and oxygenate astronauts in space</a>

<h2>UN concerns</h2>

United Nations science experts have consistently voiced their concerns about the slow progress in water quality improvement.

Failure to address this issue alongside the climate crisis could jeopardise the Great Barrier Reef's status as a world heritage site.

The groundbreaking research was conducted through a decade-long collaboration between scientists from Southern Cross University, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and CSIRO. Their findings have been published in the journal Environmental Science &amp; Technology.

Researchers collected water samples and analysed them for radium isotopes, which serve as markers for pollution. Although the study did not identify the pollution's specific source, it did reveal the pathway it takes to reach the reef.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-crosses-key-15-c-warming-mark-for-record-number-of-days-in-2023-report-643608">World crosses key 1.5ºC warming mark for record number of days in 2023: Report</a>

Both state and federal governments have committed substantial financial resources, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, to enhance water quality in the Great Barrier Reef.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek welcomed the research, stressing the importance of understanding threats to the Great Barrier Reef for its protection and restoration. She highlighted the government's investment of $1.2 billion to safeguard the reef, including allocating over $232 million to practical projects aimed at improving water quality flowing into the reef.

&nbsp;

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Scientists have made a significant discovery around the Great Barrier Reef, revealing that substantial pollution is infiltrating the reef through underground water sources.

Scientists have made a significant discovery around the Great Barrier Reef, revealing that substantial pollution is infiltrating the reef through underground water sources. This finding has profound implications for policymakers striving to reduce pollution stemming from river catchments. New research indicates that nearly one-third of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and two-thirds of dissolved inorganic phosphorus in the waters surrounding the Great Barrier Reef originate from underground sources, a previously undocumented phenomenon, reported the Guardian. Focus on pollution control Efforts to control pollution runoff from farms into the reef have been a primary concern for governments and agencies. Scientists assert that improving water quality is essential to enhancing the reef's resilience against bleaching events caused by global heating. Also read | Earth's tiniest flowering plant could feed and oxygenate astronauts in space UN concerns United Nations science experts have consistently voiced their concerns about the slow progress in water quality improvement. Failure to address this issue alongside the climate crisis could jeopardise the Great Barrier Reef's status as a world heritage site. The groundbreaking research was conducted through a decade-long collaboration between scientists from Southern Cross University, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and CSIRO. Their findings have been published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Researchers collected water samples and analysed them for radium isotopes, which serve as markers for pollution. Although the study did not identify the pollution's specific source, it did reveal the pathway it takes to reach the reef. Also read | World crosses key 1.5ºC warming mark for record number of days in 2023: Report Both state and federal governments have committed substantial financial resources, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, to enhance water quality in the Great Barrier Reef. Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek welcomed the research, stressing the importance of understanding threats to the Great Barrier Reef for its protection and restoration. She highlighted the government's investment of $1.2 billion to safeguard the reef, including allocating over $232 million to practical projects aimed at improving water quality flowing into the reef. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Groundwater is a major source of pollution on Great Barrier Reef: Study

India and Australia has become a storied rivalry in the recent times with both teams going all out against each other in every format. They start their ODI World Cup 2023 campaign against each other on October 8 in Chennai and here are some of the players to watch out during the game

ODI World Cup 2023: Players to watch out in India vs Australia

A light plane crashed in a rural area of Australia's New South Wales state on Friday, killing the male pilot and three children who were on board, police said late on Friday.

The Cirrus SR22 took off from Canberra and crashed about 3 p.m. local time (0400 GMT) near the town of Queanbeyan which is roughly 290 kilometres (180 miles) from Sydney.

Emergency services responded to reports that a plane had crashed and was in flames, with firefighters extinguishing the blaze but there were no survivors, police said.

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A light plane crashed in a rural area of Australia's New South Wales state on Friday, killing the male pilot and three children who were on board, police said late on Friday.

A light plane crashed in a rural area of Australia's New South Wales state on Friday, killing the male pilot and three children who were on board, police said late on Friday. The Cirrus SR22 took off from Canberra and crashed about 3 p.m. local time (0400 GMT) near the town of Queanbeyan which is roughly 290 kilometres (180 miles) from Sydney. Emergency services responded to reports that a plane had crashed and was in flames, with firefighters extinguishing the blaze but there were no survivors, police said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Light plane crashes in rural Australia, four killed

Australia is all set to build the world’s tallest wooden tower in its western state of Perth. The 50-storey building will be based on a hybrid design consisting of 42 per cent timber and the rest reinforced concrete.&nbsp;

This is the second such timber-concrete hybrid building in Australia, a move towards making sustainable and green buildings. The newly proposed hybrid tower will be 191.2 metres tall (627 foot) and will be constructed in Southern Perth with about 200 apartments.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/immigration-surge-makes-biden-administration-to-waive-26-federal-laws-in-south-texas-to-build-border-wall-642758">Illegal immigration surge makes Biden admin to waive 26 federal laws in South Texas to build border wall</a>

On Thursday, Perth’s Metro Inner-South Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) approved Grange Development’s proposal for the skyscraper, currently dubbed the C6 building. It will be twice as high as the current record holder - Ascent Tower in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.&nbsp;

<h2>World’s tallest wooden building, a new leap towards sustainable construction&nbsp;</h2>

The proposed structure will be constructed in Southern Perth at Charles Street. The building will also be taller than another to-be-unveiled Atlassian Headquarters in Sydney.&nbsp;

Like Atlassian, the proposed C6 tower will combine laminated timber beams with a steel exoskeleton to support the structure.&nbsp;

The building will contain more than 200 apartments and will be Western Australia’s first carbon-negative residential building, as per Grange Development.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ai-of-the-tiger-tiny-camera-protects-predator-and-people-642751">AI of the tiger: Tiny camera 'protects' predator and people</a>

“The intent of C6 has always been, at its core, a straightforward proposition,” Grange Development’s director, James Dibble, said in a press release. “Our aspiration with C6 is to shift the focus towards a more climate-conscious approach.”

The tower will use 7,400 cubic meters (over 260,000 cubic feet) of timber harvested from 600 trees, according to Grange.

“We can’t grow concrete,” Dibble said in a proposal submitted to Perth authorities, calling the plan “a new open-sourced blueprint that utilizes hybrid construction methodology to offset the carbon within our built environment, which is the single biggest contributor to climate change.”

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/setback-for-vladimir-putin-as-russia-withdraws-black-sea-fleet-from-crimea-report-642764">Setback for Vladimir Putin, as Russia withdraws Black Sea Fleet from Crimea: Report</a>

The construction of such multi-storey green buildings will try to solve two problems at once - the climate crises and housing crises, said Dibble.&nbsp;

Apart from using timber, Grange’s plan also includes green features such as a rooftop garden, an urban farm and resident access to 80 new fully-electric Tesla Model 3s.

Cement, used in construction emits a major chunk of CO2 emissions, so replacing it with biomaterial like timber will reduce the environmental impact of the building significantly.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Australia is all set to build the world’s tallest wooden tower in its western state of Perth. The 50-storey building will be based on a hybrid design consisting of 42 per cent timber and the rest reinforced concrete.

Australia is all set to build the world’s tallest wooden tower in its western state of Perth. The 50-storey building will be based on a hybrid design consisting of 42 per cent timber and the rest reinforced concrete. This is the second such timber-concrete hybrid building in Australia, a move towards making sustainable and green buildings. The newly proposed hybrid tower will be 191.2 metres tall (627 foot) and will be constructed in Southern Perth with about 200 apartments. Also Read | Illegal immigration surge makes Biden admin to waive 26 federal laws in South Texas to build border wall On Thursday, Perth’s Metro Inner-South Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) approved Grange Development’s proposal for the skyscraper, currently dubbed the C6 building. It will be twice as high as the current record holder - Ascent Tower in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. World’s tallest wooden building, a new leap towards sustainable construction The proposed structure will be constructed in Southern Perth at Charles Street. The building will also be taller than another to-be-unveiled Atlassian Headquarters in Sydney. Like Atlassian, the proposed C6 tower will combine laminated timber beams with a steel exoskeleton to support the structure. The building will contain more than 200 apartments and will be Western Australia’s first carbon-negative residential building, as per Grange Development. Also Read | AI of the tiger: Tiny camera 'protects' predator and people “The intent of C6 has always been, at its core, a straightforward proposition,” Grange Development’s director, James Dibble, said in a press release. “Our aspiration with C6 is to shift the focus towards a more climate-conscious approach.” The tower will use 7,400 cubic meters (over 260,000 cubic feet) of timber harvested from 600 trees, according to Grange. “We can’t grow concrete,” Dibble said in a proposal submitted to Perth authorities, calling the plan “a new open-sourced blueprint that utilizes hybrid construction methodology to offset the carbon within our built environment, which is the single biggest contributor to climate change.” Also Read | Setback for Vladimir Putin, as Russia withdraws Black Sea Fleet from Crimea: Report The construction of such multi-storey green buildings will try to solve two problems at once - the climate crises and housing crises, said Dibble. Apart from using timber, Grange’s plan also includes green features such as a rooftop garden, an urban farm and resident access to 80 new fully-electric Tesla Model 3s. Cement, used in construction emits a major chunk of CO2 emissions, so replacing it with biomaterial like timber will reduce the environmental impact of the building significantly. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sustainable construction | Australia to build world's tallest wooden building in Perth

The Australian government has agreed to pay more than 120 Indonesians who say that Canberra wrongly detained or prosecuted some of them as adult people smugglers while they were still children settling a major class action suit. Canberra has agreed to pay more than A$27 million (US$17 million) to the victims.&nbsp;

<h2>Settlement offer</h2>

The class action brought by the Indonesians – some of whom were as young as 12 – at the time was recently settled after the Australian officials were said to have used a deeply flawed wrist X-ray technique to determine their age and locked them up in adult prisons and prosecuted in adult courts.&nbsp;

“It’s fair to say we’re delighted to have gotten this outcome...this has been 10 years in the making,” said Sam Tierney, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs, as quoted by the BBC.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/highly-decorated-australian-soldier-loses-case-against-media-giants-amidst-grave-war-crimes-allegations-599163">Highly-decorated Australian soldier loses case against media giants amidst grave war crimes allegations</a>

According to reports, most applicants involved in the class action suit were detained between 2009 and 2012 after arriving in Australia on people-smuggling boats during a highly charged political climate around border protection.

The case began with over 120 class action members but has reportedly grown in the two years since proceedings began. It was not until Thursday (Oct 5) that the parties reached an agreement to settle for $17 million, plus the legal fees.&nbsp;

Notably, the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing and is pending final approval by the federal court before it can be paid out.

<h2>What do we know about the case?</h2>

The Indonesians had told Australian authorities at the time that they were lured onto the boats as children with offers of highly paid work, often unaware of their destination or that they were to transport asylum seekers.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the Indonesians who brought the class action suit also said that they told authorities they were children but the Australian federal police relied on a wrist X-ray technique to convince courts they were adults which led to their detainment and prosecution as adult people smugglers.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-police-arrest-over-200-after-cracking-underworld-messaging-app-390046">Australian police arrest over 200 after cracking underworld messaging app</a>

Australian law mandated that any children found on these boats should be returned to their home countries. Colin Singer, a prison guard, told BBC back in 2018, that he believed the Australian government had “knowingly” imprisoned the children, and that the Indonesian government “didn’t want to do anything” to help them.

The lead plaintiff, Ali Jasmin, also accused Australian officials of negligence and racial discrimination. He also claims to have been assaulted in Hakea prison in 2010 where he was held on remand.

<h2>What happens now?</h2>

According to reports, the federal court will now give a chance for others to object to the settlement before a subsequent hearing in December.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-former-childcare-worker-charged-with-1623-sexual-abuse-offences-against-91-young-girls-621455">Explained | Australian man charged with 1,623 sexual abuse offences: Here's what happened</a>

After which the lawyers for the plaintiffs will spend the next one year looking for any additional Indonesians who may be eligible for compensation, reported the Guardian.&nbsp; 
 
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The Australian government has agreed to pay more than 120 Indonesians who say that Canberra wrongly detained or prosecuted some of them as adult people smugglers while they were still children settling a major class action suit.

The Australian government has agreed to pay more than 120 Indonesians who say that Canberra wrongly detained or prosecuted some of them as adult people smugglers while they were still children settling a major class action suit. Canberra has agreed to pay more than A$27 million (US$17 million) to the victims. Settlement offer The class action brought by the Indonesians – some of whom were as young as 12 – at the time was recently settled after the Australian officials were said to have used a deeply flawed wrist X-ray technique to determine their age and locked them up in adult prisons and prosecuted in adult courts. “It’s fair to say we’re delighted to have gotten this outcome...this has been 10 years in the making,” said Sam Tierney, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs, as quoted by the BBC. ALSO READ | Highly-decorated Australian soldier loses case against media giants amidst grave war crimes allegations According to reports, most applicants involved in the class action suit were detained between 2009 and 2012 after arriving in Australia on people-smuggling boats during a highly charged political climate around border protection. The case began with over 120 class action members but has reportedly grown in the two years since proceedings began. It was not until Thursday (Oct 5) that the parties reached an agreement to settle for $17 million, plus the legal fees. Notably, the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing and is pending final approval by the federal court before it can be paid out. What do we know about the case? The Indonesians had told Australian authorities at the time that they were lured onto the boats as children with offers of highly paid work, often unaware of their destination or that they were to transport asylum seekers. Furthermore, the Indonesians who brought the class action suit also said that they told authorities they were children but the Australian federal police relied on a wrist X-ray technique to convince courts they were adults which led to their detainment and prosecution as adult people smugglers. ALSO READ | Australian police arrest over 200 after cracking underworld messaging app Australian law mandated that any children found on these boats should be returned to their home countries. Colin Singer, a prison guard, told BBC back in 2018, that he believed the Australian government had “knowingly” imprisoned the children, and that the Indonesian government “didn’t want to do anything” to help them. The lead plaintiff, Ali Jasmin, also accused Australian officials of negligence and racial discrimination. He also claims to have been assaulted in Hakea prison in 2010 where he was held on remand. What happens now? According to reports, the federal court will now give a chance for others to object to the settlement before a subsequent hearing in December. ALSO READ | Explained | Australian man charged with 1,623 sexual abuse offences: Here's what happened After which the lawyers for the plaintiffs will spend the next one year looking for any additional Indonesians who may be eligible for compensation, reported the Guardian. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia to pay $17 million in compensation to Indonesian children held in adult jails

The Royal Australian Mint unveiled on Thursday, October 5, the new King Charles III effigy that will feature on Australian coins.

UK: King Charles III to feature on Australian coins; effigy expected to appear on $1 coin | WION

Australian coins will soon have the image of King Charles III, more than a year after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. On Thursday, the chief executive of the Royal Australian Mint, Leigh Gordon, announced that the Australian dollar coin will be the first to have an image of the new British monarch, who also happens to be Australia's head of state.

Australian coins will soon have the image of King Charles III, more than a year after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. On Thursday, the chief executive of the Royal Australian Mint, Leigh Gordon, announced that the Australian dollar coin will be the first to have an image of the new British monarch, who also happens to be Australia's head of state. Around ten million one-dollar coins will come in circulation by Christmas 2023, he told AP. "As Australia's circulating coin manufacturer, we appreciate the importance of the transition, and we are applying our considerable skill and expertise to producing Australia's coins bearing the new royal effigy," he said. ALSO READ | Australia to build world's tallest wooden building in Perth Andrew Leigh, assistant minister for treasury, said the government did not want to rush the coin transition after the queen's death in September 2022. "Certainly, we're keen to put out as many new coins with the king's face on them as quickly as possible," he said. Furthermore, the remaining denominations, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cent coins with a $2 coin, will roll out with the king's left profile without a crown in 2024 based on the demand from banks. The latest queen's image wore a crown and traditionally showcased her right profile. The Royal Mint in London has designed the king's image on the upcoming coins with his approval. All the British Commonwealth countries can use this as the official Commonwealth Effigy. "The staff at the mint have been very deliberate and measured in the steps to date, and we are now well positioned to expand into production," Gordon said. ALSO READ | Setback for Vladimir Putin, as Russia withdraws Black Sea Fleet from Crimea: Report Queen Elizabeth II first appeared on Australian money in 1953, and the country introduced decimal currency in 1966. The 15.5 million Australian coins carrying the queen's image will stay legal tender. However, the Australian government has received criticism for replacing the queen's image on the $5 note with an indigenous design rather than the king's. The $5 bill was the only Australian banknote left to feature a monarch's image. Critics have called out the centre-left Labor Party government for replacing the British monarch as Australia's head of state with an Australian president. However, Leigh confirmed no plan was in action to remove the monarch from the Australian coins. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Australian coins with image of King Charles III to come in circulation by Christmas this year

Faced with a skewed rainfall this year, Australia has recorded its driest September since records began in 1900. The data has surfaced even as uncontrollable bush fires are raging in Victoria and new South Wales. The meteorological office has also warned of flash floods in the regions later this week.

Flash flood warnings issued across states in Australia

Less than 24 hours since residents in parts of&nbsp;Australia's Victoria state fled bush fires, authorities warned on Wednesday of flooding as heavy rain douses flames and swells rivers in the southeastern state.

Flash flooding is expected through Wednesday afternoon in northeastern Victoria, according to the&nbsp;Australian Bureau of Meteorology, as rain drenched parts of the state where as recently as Tuesday about 17,000 hectares were ablaze.

First responders overnight rescued a farmer in the area who got trapped after driving through floodwaters, according to chief officer operations Tim Wiebusch at Victoria state emergency service.

Parts of the state had received up to 150 mm of rain, almost eight times the state's average in September, with more expected on Wednesday, he said.

"Fortunately we have seen some rainfall across those two fires," said Wiebusch.

"But over these next 24, 48 hours flash flooding, riverine flooding, is really the key risk. We can't emphasise enough, people need to be alert to their conditions."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/wion-spotlight-bogus-applicants-trigger-australia-ban-on-indian-students-583763">WION Spotlight | Bogus applicants trigger Australia ban on Indian students</a>

The rain comes during an unseasonably dry&nbsp;Australian spring, which began in September. Last month was the driest September on record, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with rainfall 71% below the 1961-1990 average.

Firefights are working to contain bush fires in two parts of Victoria state but authorities said there was no immediate threat to residents.

Across the border in New South Wales state, a 5,200 hectare bush fire was out of control near the town of Bermagui, roughly 300 km (186 miles) southwest of Sydney.

"I just feel anxious and a bit on edge because we don’t really know yet what's next," Sheena Boughen, a resident of a nearby town, told state broadcaster ABC.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on a visit to the area that the severity of the fires would likely bring back memories of the catastrophic fire season in the summer of 2019-2020.

"This must be an incredibly traumatic experience," he said.

"We're standing here, we can smell, we can see the impact that these fires are having."

State fire authorities said conditions eased overnight although several properties were lost and firefighters were working to contain the blaze.

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Less than 24 hours since residents in parts of Australia's Victoria state fled bush fires, authorities warned on Wednesday of flooding as heavy rain douses flames and swells rivers in the southeastern state.

Less than 24 hours since residents in parts of Australia's Victoria state fled bush fires, authorities warned on Wednesday of flooding as heavy rain douses flames and swells rivers in the southeastern state. Flash flooding is expected through Wednesday afternoon in northeastern Victoria, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, as rain drenched parts of the state where as recently as Tuesday about 17,000 hectares were ablaze. First responders overnight rescued a farmer in the area who got trapped after driving through floodwaters, according to chief officer operations Tim Wiebusch at Victoria state emergency service. Parts of the state had received up to 150 mm of rain, almost eight times the state's average in September, with more expected on Wednesday, he said. "Fortunately we have seen some rainfall across those two fires," said Wiebusch. "But over these next 24, 48 hours flash flooding, riverine flooding, is really the key risk. We can't emphasise enough, people need to be alert to their conditions." Also read | WION Spotlight | Bogus applicants trigger Australia ban on Indian students The rain comes during an unseasonably dry Australian spring, which began in September. Last month was the driest September on record, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with rainfall 71% below the 1961-1990 average. Firefights are working to contain bush fires in two parts of Victoria state but authorities said there was no immediate threat to residents. Across the border in New South Wales state, a 5,200 hectare bush fire was out of control near the town of Bermagui, roughly 300 km (186 miles) southwest of Sydney. "I just feel anxious and a bit on edge because we don’t really know yet what's next," Sheena Boughen, a resident of a nearby town, told state broadcaster ABC. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on a visit to the area that the severity of the fires would likely bring back memories of the catastrophic fire season in the summer of 2019-2020. "This must be an incredibly traumatic experience," he said. "We're standing here, we can smell, we can see the impact that these fires are having." State fire authorities said conditions eased overnight although several properties were lost and firefighters were working to contain the blaze. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Australia state swings from bush fires to flash floods in 24 hours

Support for a proposal to amend Australia's constitution to enshrine recognition of Indigenous people has edged higher, according to a poll published on Tuesday, although most voters intend to reject the change in a referendum now underway.

Early voting on whether to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution and create a "Voice to Parliament" to give them an avenue to advise the government on matters affecting First Nations Australians began on Monday.

The latest Guardian Essential poll showed support for the "yes" vote had risen two points to 43% over the past two weeks, while backing for a "no" vote slipped two points to 49%. The shifts are within the poll's three-point margin of error.

A "hard no" group in the survey of 1,125 voters outnumbered "hard yes" respondents by 42% to 30%.

Voting in Australia's first referendum since a 1999 rejection of a proposal to become a republic closes on Oct. 14.

Supporters of the proposal argue that the Voice would bring progress for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, while opponents say it would be divisive.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who introduced the referendum, said people tended to support the reform once they understood its details.

"It is a pretty humble request frankly," Albanese said on Triple M Hobart radio in Tasmania state.

"They're not asking for a right of veto or the right to fund programmes or anything like that. They're just saying 'we want to be heard'."

Unlike New Zealand and Canada, Australia has no treaty with its Indigenous people, who make up about 3.2% of its population of 26 million. Indigenous groups were marginalized by British colonial rulers and are not mentioned in Australia's 122-year-old constitution.

Despite backing from sports stars and celebrities, support for the proposal has slumped in recent months, with respondents in a poll last week saying the vote distracted from issues like the cost of living and housing.

Some critics have described the Voice as tokenism and toothless.

A campaign volunteer for the "no" vote, Ken Harris, said he was concerned about policy changes that might come should the proposal be vote in.

"Noel Pearson, one of the advocates for the 'yes' side, has said this, 'the Voice, is just the first door' so it’s what else is behind the door that worries me a great deal," Harris said.

"I don’t like to see the country divided according to race," he said. "I think we all should be equal Australians, equal in every respect and not have a special carve out for one particular race."

Altering the constitution in Australia is notoriously difficult and only eight referendums have passed since 1901 when it became a country.

The proposal must get a majority of votes nationwide and at least four of the six states must back the change.

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Support for a proposal to amend Australia's constitution to enshrine recognition of Indigenous people has edged higher, according to a poll published on Tuesday, although most voters intend to reject the change in a referendum now underway.

Support for a proposal to amend Australia's constitution to enshrine recognition of Indigenous people has edged higher, according to a poll published on Tuesday, although most voters intend to reject the change in a referendum now underway. Early voting on whether to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution and create a "Voice to Parliament" to give them an avenue to advise the government on matters affecting First Nations Australians began on Monday. The latest Guardian Essential poll showed support for the "yes" vote had risen two points to 43% over the past two weeks, while backing for a "no" vote slipped two points to 49%. The shifts are within the poll's three-point margin of error. A "hard no" group in the survey of 1,125 voters outnumbered "hard yes" respondents by 42% to 30%. Voting in Australia's first referendum since a 1999 rejection of a proposal to become a republic closes on Oct. 14. Supporters of the proposal argue that the Voice would bring progress for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, while opponents say it would be divisive. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who introduced the referendum, said people tended to support the reform once they understood its details. "It is a pretty humble request frankly," Albanese said on Triple M Hobart radio in Tasmania state. "They're not asking for a right of veto or the right to fund programmes or anything like that. They're just saying 'we want to be heard'." Unlike New Zealand and Canada, Australia has no treaty with its Indigenous people, who make up about 3.2% of its population of 26 million. Indigenous groups were marginalized by British colonial rulers and are not mentioned in Australia's 122-year-old constitution. Despite backing from sports stars and celebrities, support for the proposal has slumped in recent months, with respondents in a poll last week saying the vote distracted from issues like the cost of living and housing. Some critics have described the Voice as tokenism and toothless. A campaign volunteer for the "no" vote, Ken Harris, said he was concerned about policy changes that might come should the proposal be vote in. "Noel Pearson, one of the advocates for the 'yes' side, has said this, 'the Voice, is just the first door' so it’s what else is behind the door that worries me a great deal," Harris said. "I don’t like to see the country divided according to race," he said. "I think we all should be equal Australians, equal in every respect and not have a special carve out for one particular race." Altering the constitution in Australia is notoriously difficult and only eight referendums have passed since 1901 when it became a country. The proposal must get a majority of votes nationwide and at least four of the six states must back the change. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Support for Australian Indigenous recognition up slightly with vote underway

England are the undisputed kings of white-ball cricket. The reigning World Champions in ODI and T20 Cricket go into the 50-over World Cup as overwhelming favourites. England's batting depth is unparalleled but their bowling is a concern heading into the marquee event. Ben Stokes' return has handed the Three Lions a major boost and they head into the World Cup with a target on their back. 1996 World Cup-winning coach Dav Whatmore believes it will take something special to stop Jos Buttler from emulating Eoin Morgan.

White-Ball Kings England eye more glory

Southeast Australia is sweltering in a heat wave. Sydney has endured its hottest-ever start to October. The scorching heat has raised the risk of bushfires in the week ahead and prompted authorities to issue fire bans.

Scorching heat raises risk of bushfires in Australia

Out-of-control bushfires prompted the evacuations of hundreds of residents and tourists in rural southeast Australia, on Sunday (Oct 1) as the country sweltered in a heat wave. The high temperatures have also led officials to issue fire bans for large swathes of New South Wales state.

<h2>Hundreds evacuated</h2>

In the Australian state of Victoria, officials have ordered evacuations of hundreds of people in four towns in Gippsland, a region of national parks and wineries popular with tourists, about 320 kilometres east of the state capital Melbourne, due to an out-of-control bushfire.

Additionally, three other towns and surrounding areas were warned to prepare to leave. “I watched the main water tank, the plastic tanks melt away,” Briagolong resident Rob Saunders, who saw the flames reach his house, told public broadcaster ABC.

“The car port is gone, the camper trailer and bits and pieces all went up (in flames)...I looked to the side of my house, it’s a mud brick, raw timber house, one of my verandah posts was on fire...it was time for me to go,” said the Briagolong resident.&nbsp;

<h2>Australia witnesses high temperatures</h2>

The Australian weather forecaster said temperatures would be up to 12 degrees Celsius above average in some areas, with Sydney, set to witness 36 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

The temperature in Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport hit 34.6 degrees Celsius at 0300 GMT, more than 11 degrees above the October mean maximum temperature.&nbsp;

Later in the day, temperatures in Sydney reached 35.5 degrees Celsius, reported AFP, which was the warmest October day since 2019. The hottest October day on record was 38.2 degrees Celsius in 2004.&nbsp;

“To even be within cooee (near to records) on the first day of the month is unusual, for sure,” Angus Hines, senior meteorologist from the Bureau of Meteorology told AFP.&nbsp;

This comes as the country already faces a high-risk bushfire season following the onset of the El Nino weather event which typically follows extreme events such as wildfires, cyclones and droughts.

<h2>Start of official bushfire danger period</h2>

The country’s State Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib also announced the beginning of an official bushfire danger period amid “scorching” raising the risk for the upcoming week.&nbsp;

“Not only is it hot, it’s dry and it's windy and those conditions combined are the perfect storm,” said Dib, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, fire officials on Sunday issued nine total fire bans for parts of New South Wales state to reduce the chance of bushfires.&nbsp;

This comes after the country witnessed catastrophic bushfires in 2019-2020 which were dubbed the “Black Summer” where the blazes destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed over 30 people.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Out-of-control bushfires prompted the evacuations of hundreds of residents and tourists in rural southeast Australia, on Sunday (Oct 1) as the country sweltered in a heat wave.

Out-of-control bushfires prompted the evacuations of hundreds of residents and tourists in rural southeast Australia, on Sunday (Oct 1) as the country sweltered in a heat wave. The high temperatures have also led officials to issue fire bans for large swathes of New South Wales state. Hundreds evacuated In the Australian state of Victoria, officials have ordered evacuations of hundreds of people in four towns in Gippsland, a region of national parks and wineries popular with tourists, about 320 kilometres east of the state capital Melbourne, due to an out-of-control bushfire. Additionally, three other towns and surrounding areas were warned to prepare to leave. “I watched the main water tank, the plastic tanks melt away,” Briagolong resident Rob Saunders, who saw the flames reach his house, told public broadcaster ABC. “The car port is gone, the camper trailer and bits and pieces all went up (in flames)...I looked to the side of my house, it’s a mud brick, raw timber house, one of my verandah posts was on fire...it was time for me to go,” said the Briagolong resident. Australia witnesses high temperatures The Australian weather forecaster said temperatures would be up to 12 degrees Celsius above average in some areas, with Sydney, set to witness 36 degrees Celsius. The temperature in Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport hit 34.6 degrees Celsius at 0300 GMT, more than 11 degrees above the October mean maximum temperature. Later in the day, temperatures in Sydney reached 35.5 degrees Celsius, reported AFP, which was the warmest October day since 2019. The hottest October day on record was 38.2 degrees Celsius in 2004. “To even be within cooee (near to records) on the first day of the month is unusual, for sure,” Angus Hines, senior meteorologist from the Bureau of Meteorology told AFP. This comes as the country already faces a high-risk bushfire season following the onset of the El Nino weather event which typically follows extreme events such as wildfires, cyclones and droughts. Start of official bushfire danger period The country’s State Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib also announced the beginning of an official bushfire danger period amid “scorching” raising the risk for the upcoming week. “Not only is it hot, it’s dry and it's windy and those conditions combined are the perfect storm,” said Dib, as quoted by Reuters. Meanwhile, fire officials on Sunday issued nine total fire bans for parts of New South Wales state to reduce the chance of bushfires. This comes after the country witnessed catastrophic bushfires in 2019-2020 which were dubbed the “Black Summer” where the blazes destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed over 30 people. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia: ‘Out of control’ fires prompt evacuations as country swelters in ‘scorching’ heat

One man died in Australia after a whale hit his boat and flipped it during a fishing expedition. Another person accompanying him was in hospital on Saturday, Reuters reported.

The person who died was pulled in an unconscious state from Botany Bay off Sydney. The 61-year-old was later pronounced dead by authorities, while the other person, a 53-year-old skipper, was stable and being treated in hospital.

New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley termed the incident ‘terribly tragic’.

"A whale has been involved, whoever would have thought that that would have occurred, it's terribly tragic," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.

<h2>People on the second boat came to help</h2>

Aljazeera reported that people on a second boat first spotted their 4.8-metre vessel and raised the alarm.&nbsp;

The boat “was likely to have struck or been impacted by a whale breaching, causing the boat to tilt, ejecting both men”, police said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-wine-industry-awaits-relief-as-billion-of-litres-unsold-report-640368">Also read:&nbsp;Australian wine industry awaits relief as billions of litres unsold: Report</a>

Australia’s ABC quoted Water Police Acting Superintendent Siobhan Munro as saying that the men could have been in the water for 45 minutes before they were spotted and rescued.

<h2>Deaths by whales</h2>

The incident is shocking as human deaths caused by whales are extremely rare. Australia’s coastline is known for housing 10 large and 20 smaller species of whales.

Watch:&nbsp;From floods to fires: Australia's growing climate crisis

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“Right now there are lots of whales out there and there are lots of examples of whales breaching next to boats,” Munro said.

<h2>Advisory</h2>

According to New South Wales Maritime executive director Mark Hutchings, people should stay at least 100 metres away from an adult whale and 300 metres away if the whale is accompanying a calf or baby whale.

“Whales aren’t there to harm anyone, but those interactions can happen,” Hutchings told the ABC.

A similar incident was earlier reported in June when eight Danish people were rescued after their sailboat capsized in the Pacific Ocean following a collision with one or two whales.

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One man died in Australia after a whale hit his boat and flipped it during a fishing expedition. Another person accompanying him was in hospital on Saturday, Reuters reported.

One man died in Australia after a whale hit his boat and flipped it during a fishing expedition. Another person accompanying him was in hospital on Saturday, Reuters reported. The person who died was pulled in an unconscious state from Botany Bay off Sydney. The 61-year-old was later pronounced dead by authorities, while the other person, a 53-year-old skipper, was stable and being treated in hospital. New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley termed the incident ‘terribly tragic’. "A whale has been involved, whoever would have thought that that would have occurred, it's terribly tragic," he was quoted as saying by Reuters. People on the second boat came to help Aljazeera reported that people on a second boat first spotted their 4.8-metre vessel and raised the alarm. The boat “was likely to have struck or been impacted by a whale breaching, causing the boat to tilt, ejecting both men”, police said in a statement. Also read: Australian wine industry awaits relief as billions of litres unsold: Report Australia’s ABC quoted Water Police Acting Superintendent Siobhan Munro as saying that the men could have been in the water for 45 minutes before they were spotted and rescued. Deaths by whales The incident is shocking as human deaths caused by whales are extremely rare. Australia’s coastline is known for housing 10 large and 20 smaller species of whales. Watch: From floods to fires: Australia's growing climate crisis × “Right now there are lots of whales out there and there are lots of examples of whales breaching next to boats,” Munro said. Advisory According to New South Wales Maritime executive director Mark Hutchings, people should stay at least 100 metres away from an adult whale and 300 metres away if the whale is accompanying a calf or baby whale. “Whales aren’t there to harm anyone, but those interactions can happen,” Hutchings told the ABC. A similar incident was earlier reported in June when eight Danish people were rescued after their sailboat capsized in the Pacific Ocean following a collision with one or two whales. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Australia: One dead, another injured after whale hits, flips their boat 

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has sounded a stark warning about the escalating costs of managing natural disasters in the country, which could reach multi-billion dollar levels, Bloomberg reported.

Chalmers spoke of the urgency of addressing the financial implications of climate change as Australia faces the looming threat of a potentially devastating wildfire season driven by the El Nino phenomenon.

In a speech delivered in Rockhampton, Chalmers revealed that government funding for disaster recovery had surged by a staggering 433 per cent over the past three years, reaching Australian $2.5 billion ($1.6 billion) for the fiscal year ending on June 30. “The pressure of a changing climate and more frequent natural disasters is constant, cascading, and cumulative,” Bloomberg quoted him as saying.

Australia has endured a series of catastrophic natural events in recent years, from the Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20 to widespread rainfall and flooding in the east during 2021 and 2022.

With the current El Nino weather system in the Pacific Ocean expected to bring high temperatures and reduced rainfall, authorities are now warning of an elevated risk of severe bushfires in the upcoming months.

Australia, despite being one of the countries most affected by climate change, has faced criticism for its perceived inaction in addressing the issue, particularly under the previous center-right government. The nation remains one of the world's highest per capita carbon emitters and a significant coal exporter.

According to Bloomberg, Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt sought to reassure the public by stating that Australia is better prepared for the approaching bushfire season compared to 2019. He noted that government funding for aerial firefighting has doubled since then.

However, Chalmers cautioned that the economic toll of climate change is only just beginning to become clear. He cited the Black Summer bushfires and the 2022 floods, each costing the Australian economy approximately Australian $1.5 billion ($962 million). Bloomberg also "If further action isn't taken, Australian crop yields could be 4 per cent lower by 2063, costing us about Australian $1.8 billion ($1.1 billion) in GDP in today's dollars."

As Australia grapples with the mounting financial burden of climate-related disasters, the call for proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the country's economy grows stronger.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)

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Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has sounded a stark warning about the escalating costs of managing natural disasters in the country, which could reach multi-billion dollar levels, Bloomberg reported.

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has sounded a stark warning about the escalating costs of managing natural disasters in the country, which could reach multi-billion dollar levels, Bloomberg reported. Chalmers spoke of the urgency of addressing the financial implications of climate change as Australia faces the looming threat of a potentially devastating wildfire season driven by the El Nino phenomenon. In a speech delivered in Rockhampton, Chalmers revealed that government funding for disaster recovery had surged by a staggering 433 per cent over the past three years, reaching Australian $2.5 billion ($1.6 billion) for the fiscal year ending on June 30. “The pressure of a changing climate and more frequent natural disasters is constant, cascading, and cumulative,” Bloomberg quoted him as saying. Australia has endured a series of catastrophic natural events in recent years, from the Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20 to widespread rainfall and flooding in the east during 2021 and 2022. With the current El Nino weather system in the Pacific Ocean expected to bring high temperatures and reduced rainfall, authorities are now warning of an elevated risk of severe bushfires in the upcoming months. Australia, despite being one of the countries most affected by climate change, has faced criticism for its perceived inaction in addressing the issue, particularly under the previous center-right government. The nation remains one of the world's highest per capita carbon emitters and a significant coal exporter. According to Bloomberg, Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt sought to reassure the public by stating that Australia is better prepared for the approaching bushfire season compared to 2019. He noted that government funding for aerial firefighting has doubled since then. However, Chalmers cautioned that the economic toll of climate change is only just beginning to become clear. He cited the Black Summer bushfires and the 2022 floods, each costing the Australian economy approximately Australian $1.5 billion ($962 million). Bloomberg also "If further action isn't taken, Australian crop yields could be 4 per cent lower by 2063, costing us about Australian $1.8 billion ($1.1 billion) in GDP in today's dollars." As Australia grapples with the mounting financial burden of climate-related disasters, the call for proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the country's economy grows stronger. (With inputs from Bloomberg) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Australia's climate-driven disaster costs surge, signalling economic risk

A "major restructuring" of the army with a new capability for long-range strikes was declared by Australia on Thursday, in response to China's increasing military influence in the Asia-Pacific area. The reorganization comes in response to a July strategic assessment that recommended a dramatic move toward long-range deterrence, which involves putting enemies at a distance with the use of missiles, submarines, and cybertools.

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Picture this: it's New Year's Eve, a night of&nbsp;celebration, and fireworks. You're waiting for your boyfriend, and you receive a message saying he's been kidnapped. What would you do? Call the police, of course.

This is exactly what happened in the land Down Under, where a woman reported that her partner, 35-year-old tradesman named Paul Iera, has been kidnapped by a group of Middle Eastern kidnappers.&nbsp;

However, in the end this turned out to be a ploy by the Aussie Romeo to spend time with his mistress, and now the Casanova has to pay for sending police on a wild goose chase.

<h2>Big plans</h2>

On New Year's Eve 2022, Paul Iera had big plans for the night, and they didn't involve watching fireworks with his partner.&nbsp;

Instead, this Aussie Casanova had a date with his mistress, and he was willing to go to great lengths to make it happen. To escape spending time with his girlfriend, Iera came up with an ingenious plan of faking his own kidnapping.&nbsp;

It was a foolproof plan, or so he thought.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/from-sloppy-to-stylish-tiktoks-girlfriend-effect-show-women-really-make-men-look-hotter-640635">From sloppy to stylish: TikTok's 'girlfriend effect' show women really make men look hotter</a>

Spinning a web of lies, he told his partner he was meeting with his "financial guy," reports CNN affiliate 9 News.&nbsp;

A plausible excuse, right? But even the best-laid plans can go awry, especially when your partner starts asking questions. In a desperate bid to buy time, Paul and his mistress concocted a text message that would set off a chain of events that would rival any Hollywood thriller.

The message read: "Thank you for sending Paul to me, now payback is a ***** bye bye. We will keep him with us until the morning wen (sic) he gives us his bike we call it square."&nbsp;

<h2>Police get involved</h2>

Understandably worried, Paul's partner reported it to the police, just minutes before the stroke of midnight.&nbsp;

And with that, the stage was set for an unforgettable New Year's Eve.

Springing into action, police launched a full-scale investigation into the "kidnapping".&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Paul and his mistress were cruising through the night, unaware of the storm brewing back home. In the morning, the pair had their escape intercepted by the police. They were pulled over by authorities, who expected to find kidnappers in Iera's van, but only found him and his mistress.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/fungis-cosmic-journey-from-unwanted-space-stowaway-to-scientific-fascination-640348">Fungi's cosmic journey: From unwanted space stowaway to scientific fascination for its resilience</a>

Yet, even in the face of mounting evidence, Paul clung to his story, insisting that he had been abducted by a mysterious group of Middle Eastern men who had now conveniently released him. He then led the police on a wild goose chase of around 200 hours.

Fast-forward 12 days. The truth surfaces and the cheating Romeo gets arrested and charged with making a false accusation with the intent to subject another person to investigation.&nbsp;

"You chose to send alarming, frightening messages to your partner so you could get some extra time with another partner," said Magistrate Michael Ong to him, as reported by 9 News.&nbsp;

He has now been ordered to pay the state government approximately $10,000 for the 200 hours of police work. Justice comes with a hefty price tag, he has learned.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Picture this: it's New Year's Eve, a night of celebration, and fireworks. You're waiting for your boyfriend, and you receive a message saying he's been kidnapped.

Picture this: it's New Year's Eve, a night of celebration, and fireworks. You're waiting for your boyfriend, and you receive a message saying he's been kidnapped. What would you do? Call the police, of course. This is exactly what happened in the land Down Under, where a woman reported that her partner, 35-year-old tradesman named Paul Iera, has been kidnapped by a group of Middle Eastern kidnappers. However, in the end this turned out to be a ploy by the Aussie Romeo to spend time with his mistress, and now the Casanova has to pay for sending police on a wild goose chase. Big plans On New Year's Eve 2022, Paul Iera had big plans for the night, and they didn't involve watching fireworks with his partner. Instead, this Aussie Casanova had a date with his mistress, and he was willing to go to great lengths to make it happen. To escape spending time with his girlfriend, Iera came up with an ingenious plan of faking his own kidnapping. It was a foolproof plan, or so he thought. Also read | From sloppy to stylish: TikTok's 'girlfriend effect' show women really make men look hotter Spinning a web of lies, he told his partner he was meeting with his "financial guy," reports CNN affiliate 9 News. A plausible excuse, right? But even the best-laid plans can go awry, especially when your partner starts asking questions. In a desperate bid to buy time, Paul and his mistress concocted a text message that would set off a chain of events that would rival any Hollywood thriller. The message read: "Thank you for sending Paul to me, now payback is a ***** bye bye. We will keep him with us until the morning wen (sic) he gives us his bike we call it square." Police get involved Understandably worried, Paul's partner reported it to the police, just minutes before the stroke of midnight. And with that, the stage was set for an unforgettable New Year's Eve. Springing into action, police launched a full-scale investigation into the "kidnapping". Meanwhile, Paul and his mistress were cruising through the night, unaware of the storm brewing back home. In the morning, the pair had their escape intercepted by the police. They were pulled over by authorities, who expected to find kidnappers in Iera's van, but only found him and his mistress. Also read | Fungi's cosmic journey: From unwanted space stowaway to scientific fascination for its resilience Yet, even in the face of mounting evidence, Paul clung to his story, insisting that he had been abducted by a mysterious group of Middle Eastern men who had now conveniently released him. He then led the police on a wild goose chase of around 200 hours. Fast-forward 12 days. The truth surfaces and the cheating Romeo gets arrested and charged with making a false accusation with the intent to subject another person to investigation. "You chose to send alarming, frightening messages to your partner so you could get some extra time with another partner," said Magistrate Michael Ong to him, as reported by 9 News. He has now been ordered to pay the state government approximately $10,000 for the 200 hours of police work. Justice comes with a hefty price tag, he has learned. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Love, lies, and fake kidnapping: Australian Romeo's lie to girlfriend lands him in hot water with police

Billions of litres of wine is sloshing around in Australia as there's almost no way to sell it quickly, reported Financial Times. The winemakers of Australia are faced with a massive drop in wine exports as a result of the trade dispute with China.

China was the biggest importer of Australian wine but relations between the two countries soured during the Covid pandemic of the year 2020. This led China to impose punitive tariffs on Australian wine and this has resulted in Australian winemakers losing the Chinese market share to rivals from other countries.

The relations between the two countries are improving, but it's a long road ahead for the winemakers.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised the issue of punitive tariffs with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the Asean meet in Jakarta earlier this month.

“It is in Australian wine producers’ interest to export wine, but it is also in China’s interest to receive it,” he said, as quoted by Financial Times.

However, Australian winemakers are not too optimistic about the situation, even if it improves.

“The market has effectively collapsed, which means there is a lot of bulk red wine floating around without a home. [The tariffs] have taken out the biggest market by the proverbial country mile,” said Alister Purbrick, chief executive of the family-owned Tahbilk winemaker in Nagambie in northern Victoria, as quoted by Financial Times.

The Australian wine industry has grown threefold since the 1990s. In the year 2022, there was about 1.3 billion litres production of wine. According to The Wine Australia trade body figures, the wine industry was generating A$ 40 billion ($25 billion) for the country's economy.

In the year before June 2023, wine exports fell 10 per cent to A$1.86 billion.

The winemakers are now praying for the full removal of tariffs by China. But even if they are removed, the winemakers fear that the industry will have to take a 'slow road' to recovery.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Billions of litres of wine is sloshing around in Australia as there's almost no way to sell it quickly, reported Financial Times. The winemakers of Australia are faced with a massive drop in wine exports as a result of the trade dispute with China.

Billions of litres of wine is sloshing around in Australia as there's almost no way to sell it quickly, reported Financial Times. The winemakers of Australia are faced with a massive drop in wine exports as a result of the trade dispute with China. China was the biggest importer of Australian wine but relations between the two countries soured during the Covid pandemic of the year 2020. This led China to impose punitive tariffs on Australian wine and this has resulted in Australian winemakers losing the Chinese market share to rivals from other countries. The relations between the two countries are improving, but it's a long road ahead for the winemakers. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised the issue of punitive tariffs with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the Asean meet in Jakarta earlier this month. “It is in Australian wine producers’ interest to export wine, but it is also in China’s interest to receive it,” he said, as quoted by Financial Times. However, Australian winemakers are not too optimistic about the situation, even if it improves. “The market has effectively collapsed, which means there is a lot of bulk red wine floating around without a home. [The tariffs] have taken out the biggest market by the proverbial country mile,” said Alister Purbrick, chief executive of the family-owned Tahbilk winemaker in Nagambie in northern Victoria, as quoted by Financial Times. The Australian wine industry has grown threefold since the 1990s. In the year 2022, there was about 1.3 billion litres production of wine. According to The Wine Australia trade body figures, the wine industry was generating A$ 40 billion ($25 billion) for the country's economy. In the year before June 2023, wine exports fell 10 per cent to A$1.86 billion. The winemakers are now praying for the full removal of tariffs by China. But even if they are removed, the winemakers fear that the industry will have to take a 'slow road' to recovery. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Australian wine industry awaits relief as billions of litres unsold: Report

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From floods to fires: Australia's growing climate crisis

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