The second day of racing at the Australia Sail Grand Prix has been cancelled because of damage to boats in windy conditions, organizers said.

Racing cancelled on second day of Australia Sail GP due to wind damage

<p>Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape on Monday confirmed that some people have taken an Australian university professor as a hostage in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Australian professor is an archaeologist who was working at an Australian university and had gone on a field trip along with many Papua New Guinean students from a local university who were also kept hostage, according to Reuters.</p>

<p>According to reports, the professor was conducting studies around Mount Bosavi along with guides and University of Papua New Guinea's graduates.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/papua-new-guineas-airlines-grounded-due-to-fuel-shortage-549850">Papua New Guinea's airlines grounded due to fuel shortage</a></p>

<p>While speaking to local reporters on Monday, Papua New Guinea's PM Marape said that the military and police have been kept on a stand-by, and the government has been working in co-ordination with the missionaries, who were playing the role of mediators.</p>

<p>"We want those criminals to release those who are held in captivity," Marape said, in the comments which were broadcasted on ABC Television. "There is no place to run, there is no place to hide," he added.</p>

<p>“I want to inform the families of those taken hostage we’ve been at work. Contact has been made with people in the bush through secondary sources. They have indicated ransom. We do not encourage ransom, but we’re treating this very diligently and carefully because life is at risk and life is at stake," the prime minister added.</p>

<p>Reassuring the families of the hostages, the prime minister said, "I'm confident, I'm optimistic, I'm prayerful that we get… them out."</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Australia's indigenous culture at risk</strong></p>

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<p>PM Marape did not disclose the location where the group was taken and said that they have kept the situation "under close wraps because of the sensitivity". The prime minister said that the PNG authorities have confirmed the group of students and the professor are alive.</p>

<p>According to a source in Papua New Guinea, the situation of the hostage was in "a crucial moment" on Monday morning and they cannot give any comment as of now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>No response was received by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade over the whole incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape on Monday confirmed that some people have taken an Australian university professor as a hostage in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape on Monday confirmed that some people have taken an Australian university professor as a hostage in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The Australian professor is an archaeologist who was working at an Australian university and had gone on a field trip along with many Papua New Guinean students from a local university who were also kept hostage, according to Reuters. According to reports, the professor was conducting studies around Mount Bosavi along with guides and University of Papua New Guinea's graduates. ALSO READ | Papua New Guinea's airlines grounded due to fuel shortage While speaking to local reporters on Monday, Papua New Guinea's PM Marape said that the military and police have been kept on a stand-by, and the government has been working in co-ordination with the missionaries, who were playing the role of mediators. "We want those criminals to release those who are held in captivity," Marape said, in the comments which were broadcasted on ABC Television. "There is no place to run, there is no place to hide," he added. “I want to inform the families of those taken hostage we’ve been at work. Contact has been made with people in the bush through secondary sources. They have indicated ransom. We do not encourage ransom, but we’re treating this very diligently and carefully because life is at risk and life is at stake," the prime minister added. Reassuring the families of the hostages, the prime minister said, "I'm confident, I'm optimistic, I'm prayerful that we get… them out." WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: Australia's indigenous culture at risk PM Marape did not disclose the location where the group was taken and said that they have kept the situation "under close wraps because of the sensitivity". The prime minister said that the PNG authorities have confirmed the group of students and the professor are alive. According to a source in Papua New Guinea, the situation of the hostage was in "a crucial moment" on Monday morning and they cannot give any comment as of now. No response was received by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade over the whole incident. (With inputs from agencies) 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 professor taken hostage in Papua New Guinea's highlands, says PM Marape

<p>Australian energy giant Santos has been accused of covering up the details of an oil spill that allegedly led to the death of at least three dolphins off northern Western Australia (WA) coast, last year. Furthermore, the whistleblower on the case has also sought protection after a statement by the anonymous company employee was tabled at the federal parliament by independent senator David Pocock, on Thursday (February 16). This comes after the oil and gas producer had claimed that the spill caused a “negligible” environmental impact.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, the anonymous whistleblower who is said to be a Santos employee witnessed the 25,000-litre oil leak near the Lowendal Islands in March 2022 from a hose Santos used to load a tanker moored off their Varanus Island Gas Plant. The account tabled by Australian lawmaker Pocock said it was a spill of condensate, a lighter form of oil 300 km off the coast of Karratha in WA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, the Lowendal Islands are known for their “pristine white sand beaches, gorgeous blue turquoise water and abundant marine and bird life,” as per a copy of the statement. It added that a subsea hose had been torn which was used to load an oil tanker parked a kilometre from the beach, went unnoticed for more than six hours and poured at least 25,000 litres of condensate into the ocean.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, the incident was not made public by the company or WA safety regulators till a month after it took place while the company claimed that it was a &nbsp;“minor spill” with “negligible” environmental impact. On the other hand, the anonymous whistleblower, recalling the oil spill said, “Tens of thousands of litres of oil in the ocean, dead dolphins and sea snakes. How was this negligible?”&nbsp;</p>

<p>They added that regardless of the efforts to “cease the spill”, dead dolphins, including a pup, were found “floating in dense sections of the oil spill” while in some areas sea snakes “writhed in agony”. Subsequently, the company employee also said they were shocked to read Santos’ public statement released a month later said it caused “negligible” harm to the environment while the energy giant has also since denied the responsibility for the dolphins’ death.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Along with the whistleblower statement, Pocock also tabled photos of the spill which showed oil in the water along with the tanker in the background, the torn-off subsea hose, and dolphins floating in the sea belly-up. Furthermore, the whistleblower also claimed that the company’s environmental assessors did not arrive on the island until a week after the incident and could not have known the actual scale of impact as it was “never checked”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They also said that employees spoke up about the public comments internally while the senior executives of Santos knew or should have known that the “company’s deceptive conduct was contrary to its internal code of conduct and values and, possibly, the law.” After the incident, the company spokesperson, at the time, had said that the spill resulted in a light sheen on the sea surface covering a small area and that the “condensate evaporated naturally within 24 hours and the impact to the environment is negligible.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Late last year when the news about the dead dolphins came to light, Santos’ spokesperson reportedly said that the authorities were made aware of the dolphins seen belly-up floating on the sea on March 20. However, they added that the dolphins could not have been killed due to the spill as they were found hours after the incident occurred.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I felt strongly that Santos’ comment was baseless, designed to mislead and avoid accountability,” said the whistleblower. The Australian lawmaker while tabling the statement during the Senate estimates exchange with the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) said that he found both the testimony and footage “very distressing”, reported the Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also went on to say how this raised serious questions about the regulatory systems and conduct of the parties involved and added, “I applaud the whistleblowers’ bravery in coming forward with this information and look forward to it being thoroughly investigated.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Subsequently, NOPSEMA chief executive, Stuart Smith said that the spill did not happen in Commonwealth waters and was outside their jurisdiction. However, Smith added, that while he was not aware of the background, a dead dolphin would not be considered “negligible harm.” He added, “If any spill (in Commonwealth waters) causes the death of a dolphin that would be of concern to us,” as per the Guardian.&nbsp;<br />
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Australian energy giant Santos has been accused of covering up the details of an oil spill that allegedly led to the death of at least three dolphins off northern Western Australia (WA) coast, last year.

Australian energy giant Santos has been accused of covering up the details of an oil spill that allegedly led to the death of at least three dolphins off northern Western Australia (WA) coast, last year. Furthermore, the whistleblower on the case has also sought protection after a statement by the anonymous company employee was tabled at the federal parliament by independent senator David Pocock, on Thursday (February 16). This comes after the oil and gas producer had claimed that the spill caused a “negligible” environmental impact. In a statement, the anonymous whistleblower who is said to be a Santos employee witnessed the 25,000-litre oil leak near the Lowendal Islands in March 2022 from a hose Santos used to load a tanker moored off their Varanus Island Gas Plant. The account tabled by Australian lawmaker Pocock said it was a spill of condensate, a lighter form of oil 300 km off the coast of Karratha in WA. Notably, the Lowendal Islands are known for their “pristine white sand beaches, gorgeous blue turquoise water and abundant marine and bird life,” as per a copy of the statement. It added that a subsea hose had been torn which was used to load an oil tanker parked a kilometre from the beach, went unnoticed for more than six hours and poured at least 25,000 litres of condensate into the ocean. Additionally, the incident was not made public by the company or WA safety regulators till a month after it took place while the company claimed that it was a “minor spill” with “negligible” environmental impact. On the other hand, the anonymous whistleblower, recalling the oil spill said, “Tens of thousands of litres of oil in the ocean, dead dolphins and sea snakes. How was this negligible?” They added that regardless of the efforts to “cease the spill”, dead dolphins, including a pup, were found “floating in dense sections of the oil spill” while in some areas sea snakes “writhed in agony”. Subsequently, the company employee also said they were shocked to read Santos’ public statement released a month later said it caused “negligible” harm to the environment while the energy giant has also since denied the responsibility for the dolphins’ death. Along with the whistleblower statement, Pocock also tabled photos of the spill which showed oil in the water along with the tanker in the background, the torn-off subsea hose, and dolphins floating in the sea belly-up. Furthermore, the whistleblower also claimed that the company’s environmental assessors did not arrive on the island until a week after the incident and could not have known the actual scale of impact as it was “never checked”. They also said that employees spoke up about the public comments internally while the senior executives of Santos knew or should have known that the “company’s deceptive conduct was contrary to its internal code of conduct and values and, possibly, the law.” After the incident, the company spokesperson, at the time, had said that the spill resulted in a light sheen on the sea surface covering a small area and that the “condensate evaporated naturally within 24 hours and the impact to the environment is negligible.” Late last year when the news about the dead dolphins came to light, Santos’ spokesperson reportedly said that the authorities were made aware of the dolphins seen belly-up floating on the sea on March 20. However, they added that the dolphins could not have been killed due to the spill as they were found hours after the incident occurred. “I felt strongly that Santos’ comment was baseless, designed to mislead and avoid accountability,” said the whistleblower. The Australian lawmaker while tabling the statement during the Senate estimates exchange with the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) said that he found both the testimony and footage “very distressing”, reported the Guardian. He also went on to say how this raised serious questions about the regulatory systems and conduct of the parties involved and added, “I applaud the whistleblowers’ bravery in coming forward with this information and look forward to it being thoroughly investigated.” Subsequently, NOPSEMA chief executive, Stuart Smith said that the spill did not happen in Commonwealth waters and was outside their jurisdiction. However, Smith added, that while he was not aware of the background, a dead dolphin would not be considered “negligible harm.” He added, “If any spill (in Commonwealth waters) causes the death of a dolphin that would be of concern to us,” as per 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: Energy giant Santos accused of covering up dolphin deaths after oil spill

<p>A shooting ambush in a rural Australian hamlet that led to the death of six people in December 2022 has been labelled a terrorist act with a religious motive. According to authorities, this is the first time a terror incident in Australia has been associated with Christian extremist ideology. In December of last year, Nathaniel, Stacey, and Gareth Train opened fire on a rural Queensland farm, killing two police officers and a neighbour in the process, said a&nbsp;report&nbsp;by the BBC.&nbsp;During a protracted police stand-off, the three were shot and killed.</p>

<p>Police have been investigating whether the group, including&nbsp;brothers Nathaniel and Gareth, and Stacey, who had at different points in time&nbsp;been married to each man — were linked to conspiracy theories.</p>

<p>The Trains "acted as an autonomous cell" and "executed a religiously-motivated terrorist attack," Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Tracey Lindford said on Thursday (February 16), citing the results of their investigation.</p>

<p>They were premillennialists, followers of a brand of religious fundamentalism that has been used to harm law enforcement.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-inside-out-nutritious-goodss-vegan-milk-recalled-in-nsw-after-a-case-of-botulism-reported-562753">What is botulism? Popular vegan milk brand in Australia recalled after a reported case</a></p>

<p>"They did refer to police as monsters and demons — as evil."</p>

<p>"Christian extremist ideology has been linked to other attacks around the world, but this is the first time we've seen it appear in Australia," Lindford said.</p>

<p>She said that the attack was premeditated and that investigators had discovered "strong evidence" of prior planning and preparation.</p>

<p>The Gareth and Stacey-owned property was secured with camouflaged hiding places, barricades, mud mounds, weapons, knives, cameras, and mirrors on trees.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Australia removes Chinese-made cameras as they pose security threat</strong></p>

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<p>Linford stated that the attacks have been connected to people in the United States despite the fact that there is "no proof" that anybody else in Australia aided or participated in the assault. Investigators there have received information from the police.</p>

<h2><strong>November 2022: Australian police ambush</strong></h2>

<p>Two police officers, Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot right away and then allegedly shot once more in an execution style. The fourth cop was terrorised by the gunmen, who lit fires to try to chase her away. Another police was hurt but managed to escape.</p>

<p>Alan Dare, a neighbour who arrived at the scene to provide assistance and was 58 years old, was also shot and killed, said the BBC report.&nbsp;<br />
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A shooting ambush in a rural Australian hamlet that led to the death of six people in December 2022 has been labelled a terrorist act with a religious motive. According to authorities, this is the first time a terror incident in Australia has been associated with Christian extremist ideology.

A shooting ambush in a rural Australian hamlet that led to the death of six people in December 2022 has been labelled a terrorist act with a religious motive. According to authorities, this is the first time a terror incident in Australia has been associated with Christian extremist ideology. In December of last year, Nathaniel, Stacey, and Gareth Train opened fire on a rural Queensland farm, killing two police officers and a neighbour in the process, said a report by the BBC. During a protracted police stand-off, the three were shot and killed. Police have been investigating whether the group, including brothers Nathaniel and Gareth, and Stacey, who had at different points in time been married to each man — were linked to conspiracy theories. The Trains "acted as an autonomous cell" and "executed a religiously-motivated terrorist attack," Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Tracey Lindford said on Thursday (February 16), citing the results of their investigation. They were premillennialists, followers of a brand of religious fundamentalism that has been used to harm law enforcement. ALSO READ | What is botulism? Popular vegan milk brand in Australia recalled after a reported case "They did refer to police as monsters and demons — as evil." "Christian extremist ideology has been linked to other attacks around the world, but this is the first time we've seen it appear in Australia," Lindford said. She said that the attack was premeditated and that investigators had discovered "strong evidence" of prior planning and preparation. The Gareth and Stacey-owned property was secured with camouflaged hiding places, barricades, mud mounds, weapons, knives, cameras, and mirrors on trees. ALSO WATCH | Australia removes Chinese-made cameras as they pose security threat Linford stated that the attacks have been connected to people in the United States despite the fact that there is "no proof" that anybody else in Australia aided or participated in the assault. Investigators there have received information from the police. November 2022: Australian police ambush Two police officers, Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot right away and then allegedly shot once more in an execution style. The fourth cop was terrorised by the gunmen, who lit fires to try to chase her away. Another police was hurt but managed to escape. Alan Dare, a neighbour who arrived at the scene to provide assistance and was 58 years old, was also shot and killed, said the BBC report. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Wieambilla shooting: Australian police ambush labelled religious terror attack

<p>Australian officials said Tuesday dozens of Chinese-made security&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;would be ripped out of politicians' offices, days after the country's defence minister announced his department would remove the devices from its buildings due to security concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At least 913 Chinese-made security&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;have been installed across more than 250 Australian government buildings, including the Department of Defence's facilities, according to figures released last week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles told national broadcaster ABC last week that all these&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;within his department's buildings would be removed, saying it was to "make sure that our facilities are completely secure".</p>

<p>Officials from the Department of Finance on Tuesday confirmed a further 65 closed-circuit television systems had been installed within offices used by Australian politicians.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the department had been gradually replacing the&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;as part of a broader security upgrade, at least 40 systems still needed to be stripped out, the department said, adding that they would be replaced by April.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CCTV&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;were not connected to the internet, and were being removed as a precaution, the department said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Similar moves have been made in the United States and Britain, which have taken measures to stop government departments installing Chinese-made&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;at sensitive sites.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both countries have expressed fears that Chinese companies could be forced to share intelligence collected by the&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;with Beijing's security services.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;were made by companies Hikvision and Dahua, which have been blacklisted in the United States for allegedly helping the Chinese government carry out a "campaign of repression".&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the US Department of Commerce, Hikvision and Dahua have been implicated in the "high-technology surveillance" of the Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US banned imports of surveillance equipment made by the two companies in November last year, saying it posed "an unacceptable risk to national security".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hikvision has said it was "categorically false" to paint the company as "a threat to national security".&nbsp;</p>

<p>After Marles' statements last week about removing Chinese-made&nbsp;cameras, Beijing accused Australia of "misusing national might to discriminate against and suppress Chinese enterprises".</p>

<p>"We hope Australia will provide a fair, just and nondiscriminatory environment for the normal operations of Chinese enterprises," China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.</p>


Australian officials said Tuesday dozens of Chinese-made security cameras would be ripped out of politicians' offices, days after the country's defence minister announced his department would remove the devices from its buildings due to security concerns.

Australian officials said Tuesday dozens of Chinese-made security cameras would be ripped out of politicians' offices, days after the country's defence minister announced his department would remove the devices from its buildings due to security concerns. At least 913 Chinese-made security cameras have been installed across more than 250 Australian government buildings, including the Department of Defence's facilities, according to figures released last week. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles told national broadcaster ABC last week that all these cameras within his department's buildings would be removed, saying it was to "make sure that our facilities are completely secure". Officials from the Department of Finance on Tuesday confirmed a further 65 closed-circuit television systems had been installed within offices used by Australian politicians. While the department had been gradually replacing the cameras as part of a broader security upgrade, at least 40 systems still needed to be stripped out, the department said, adding that they would be replaced by April. The CCTV cameras were not connected to the internet, and were being removed as a precaution, the department said. Similar moves have been made in the United States and Britain, which have taken measures to stop government departments installing Chinese-made cameras at sensitive sites. Both countries have expressed fears that Chinese companies could be forced to share intelligence collected by the cameras with Beijing's security services. The cameras were made by companies Hikvision and Dahua, which have been blacklisted in the United States for allegedly helping the Chinese government carry out a "campaign of repression". According to the US Department of Commerce, Hikvision and Dahua have been implicated in the "high-technology surveillance" of the Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region. The US banned imports of surveillance equipment made by the two companies in November last year, saying it posed "an unacceptable risk to national security". Hikvision has said it was "categorically false" to paint the company as "a threat to national security". After Marles' statements last week about removing Chinese-made cameras, Beijing accused Australia of "misusing national might to discriminate against and suppress Chinese enterprises". "We hope Australia will provide a fair, just and nondiscriminatory environment for the normal operations of Chinese enterprises," China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

Australia removes Chinese-made cameras from politicians' offices

There are rising surveillance cameras in the government offices in Australia. Canberra has now removed more than 900 Chinese-made surveillance cameras, intercoms, electronic entry systems and video recorders.

Australia removes Chinese-made cameras manufactured by Dahua, Hikvision

Australia removes Chinese-made cameras as they pose security threat | World News | WION

The regions across Oceania are bracing for a massive storm as a cyclone is on its way and forecasters say that the Cyclone which has been named as Gabrielle, will arrive shortly Australia's Norfolk Island.

Oceania region braces for Cyclone Gabrielle, to impact Australia's Norfolk island & New Zealand

<p>Nuclear apocalypse is a scary scenario. Aftermath of a global nuclear war does not paint a happy picture for humankind. The nuclear winter&nbsp;and sheer downfall of human civilization is definitely not what the survivors would like to see.&nbsp;Though the nuclear apocalypse would have a global effect, researchers are now saying that people residing in some specific parts of the world have a higher chance of survival.</p>

<p>These pockets of hope, so to speak, are Australia, New Zealand, Iceland along with two Pacific Ocean island countries (Solomon islands, Vanuatu).</p>

<p>The study in this regard has been published in the journal Risk Analysis. It says that these countries would be able to produce enough food for their populations and will even be vital in restoring the human civilisation once more.</p>

<p>For this study, the authors compared 38 island countries on 13 factors which they said would predict which ones stood the best chance of surviving in a post-apocalyptical world.</p>

<p>Australia and New Zealand fared best in the analysis, partly because, they are far removed from places that would spark nuclear war.</p>

<p>Other than this, Australia scored well as it has a good infrastructure, huge energy surplus, high health security and more. However, its close ties with the US and UK made it susceptible to becoming a target of nuclear attacks. New Zealand fared better on this count.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Nuclear apocalypse is a scary scenario. Aftermath of a global nuclear war does not paint a happy picture for humankind. The nuclear winter and sheer downfall of human civilization is definitely not what the survivors would like to see.

Nuclear apocalypse is a scary scenario. Aftermath of a global nuclear war does not paint a happy picture for humankind. The nuclear winter and sheer downfall of human civilization is definitely not what the survivors would like to see. Though the nuclear apocalypse would have a global effect, researchers are now saying that people residing in some specific parts of the world have a higher chance of survival. These pockets of hope, so to speak, are Australia, New Zealand, Iceland along with two Pacific Ocean island countries (Solomon islands, Vanuatu). The study in this regard has been published in the journal Risk Analysis. It says that these countries would be able to produce enough food for their populations and will even be vital in restoring the human civilisation once more. For this study, the authors compared 38 island countries on 13 factors which they said would predict which ones stood the best chance of surviving in a post-apocalyptical world. Australia and New Zealand fared best in the analysis, partly because, they are far removed from places that would spark nuclear war. Other than this, Australia scored well as it has a good infrastructure, huge energy surplus, high health security and more. However, its close ties with the US and UK made it susceptible to becoming a target of nuclear attacks. New Zealand fared better on this count. (With inputs from agencies) 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 ×

Australia, New Zealand among best places to survive nuclear apocalypse: Study

Australian department of defence will strip its buildings of made-in-China security cameras, admitting there is a potential security problem that needs to be addressed.

Are China-made cameras spying in foreign nations? | WION Shorts

<p>Researchers in Australia have made a groundbreaking discovery that could shed light on why some people become seriously ill with COVID-19 while others never show symptoms. The team, led by Professor Greg Neely of the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, in collaboration with Dr Lipin Loo and Matthew Waller, have discovered a protein in the lungs that sticks to the COVID-19 virus, immobilizing it in a way that is similar to velcro. The findings, published in the journal PLOS Biology, could have implications for the development of drugs that can block viral infections and suppress lung fibrosis, which can be caused by COVID-19.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Did the US help China cover up Covid-19 outbreak?</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>How did scientists find the&nbsp;LRRC15 protein?</strong></h2>

<p>The researchers used human cells in tissue culture and the genetic engineering tool, CRISPR, to search the entire human genome for proteins that can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The process allowed them to find a new receptor protein called LRRC15, which appears to be part of a new immune barrier that helps protect against serious COVID-19 infections.</p>

<h2><strong>Did&nbsp;LRRC15 protein protect patients from dying?</strong></h2>

<p>While patients who died from COVID-19 produced LRRC15, the researchers believe that not enough of the protein was produced to be protective, or that it was produced too late to help. A separate study from London found that blood samples with LRRC15 were lower in patients with severe COVID compared to patients with mild COVID, supporting the theory that higher levels of LRRC15 would result in less severe disease.</p>

<h2><strong>Important discovery for developing medicine</strong></h2>

<p>LRRC15 is also expressed in fibroblast cells, which control lung fibrosis, and the discovery could have implications for long COVID. Currently, there are no good treatments for lung fibrosis, but Neely believes that the discovery of LRRC15 could change this. “We can now use this new receptor to design broad-acting drugs that can block viral infection or even suppress lung fibrosis,” Neely said.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-drops-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-travellers-singapore-japan-also-relax-travel-curbs-560209">US drops COVID-19 vaccine mandate for travellers; Singapore, Japan also relax travel curbs</a></strong></p>

<p>The discovery is a powerful example of what can happen when teams work together in Australia, according to Professor Stuart Turville, a virologist with the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales. The research adds to our understanding of innate immunity, which is the hard-wired response humans have when a virus appears. Understanding these pathways is important as they enable us to put the brakes on a virus, so other parts of the immune system can respond.</p>

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Researchers in Australia have made a groundbreaking discovery that could shed light on why some people become seriously ill with COVID-19 while others never show symptoms.

Researchers in Australia have made a groundbreaking discovery that could shed light on why some people become seriously ill with COVID-19 while others never show symptoms. The team, led by Professor Greg Neely of the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, in collaboration with Dr Lipin Loo and Matthew Waller, have discovered a protein in the lungs that sticks to the COVID-19 virus, immobilizing it in a way that is similar to velcro. The findings, published in the journal PLOS Biology, could have implications for the development of drugs that can block viral infections and suppress lung fibrosis, which can be caused by COVID-19. Watch: Gravitas: Did the US help China cover up Covid-19 outbreak? × How did scientists find the LRRC15 protein? The researchers used human cells in tissue culture and the genetic engineering tool, CRISPR, to search the entire human genome for proteins that can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The process allowed them to find a new receptor protein called LRRC15, which appears to be part of a new immune barrier that helps protect against serious COVID-19 infections. Did LRRC15 protein protect patients from dying? While patients who died from COVID-19 produced LRRC15, the researchers believe that not enough of the protein was produced to be protective, or that it was produced too late to help. A separate study from London found that blood samples with LRRC15 were lower in patients with severe COVID compared to patients with mild COVID, supporting the theory that higher levels of LRRC15 would result in less severe disease. Important discovery for developing medicine LRRC15 is also expressed in fibroblast cells, which control lung fibrosis, and the discovery could have implications for long COVID. Currently, there are no good treatments for lung fibrosis, but Neely believes that the discovery of LRRC15 could change this. “We can now use this new receptor to design broad-acting drugs that can block viral infection or even suppress lung fibrosis,” Neely said. Also Read | US drops COVID-19 vaccine mandate for travellers; Singapore, Japan also relax travel curbs The discovery is a powerful example of what can happen when teams work together in Australia, according to Professor Stuart Turville, a virologist with the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales. The research adds to our understanding of innate immunity, which is the hard-wired response humans have when a virus appears. Understanding these pathways is important as they enable us to put the brakes on a virus, so other parts of the immune system can respond. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Australian scientists FINALLY solve the COVID-19 puzzle; discover lung protein that can kill the virus

Australia is expanding its rollout of the fifth COVID vaccine shot. More than half the country's population will be offered Omicron variant-specific vaccines from February 20. The question arises, what is a healthy limit of booster shots? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Australia to roll out fifth Covid vaccine shot

<p>Chinese-made security cameras will be removed from government buildings in Australia, said the country's Defence Minister Richard Marles on Thursday, adding that it was important to make facilities "completely secure".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Similar steps were adopted by Britain and the United States, as both countries took measures to stop government departments from installing Chinese-made cameras at sensitive sites.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In November last year, Britain took the step as it feared that the security services of Beijing can force Chinese companies to share intelligence information with them.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-wont-carry-king-charless-image-on-new-5-note-558084">Australia won't carry King Charles's image on new $5 note</a></p>

<p>As per official figures gathered by an opposition politician, including one quoted by the Department of Defence, the officials had installed security cameras at more than 200 government buildings in Australia.</p>

<p>Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles stated that all these cameras will be found and removed from the military sites by the officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's a significant thing that's been brought to our attention and we're going to fix it," he said while speaking to national broadcaster ABC. "It's important that we go through this exercise and make sure that our facilities are completely secure," the minister added.</p>

<p>The cameras were manufactured by Dahua and Hikvision, the two companies which have been blacklisted in the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The importation of surveillance equipment made by Hikvision and Dahua was banned by the US in November last year, as the government cited that it posed "an unacceptable risk to national security".</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | China objects to more talks on nuclear submarines among UK, US, Australia</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-objects-to-more-talks-on-nuclear-submarines-among-uk-us-australia-558635/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>A group of 67 MPs and lords had appealed to the UK government to ban Hikvision and Dahua in July last year after reports surfaced that the equipment was used to spy on Uyghurs living in Xinjiang. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Former health secretary Matt Hancock was also caught kissing an aide and violating Covid rules in June 2021 &nbsp;by a Hikvision camera, which led to his resignation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previously, Hikvision said that it was "categorically false" to portray the company as "a threat to national security".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The centre-left government of Australia has been making efforts to improve its relationship with China, after coming to power in May last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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Chinese-made security cameras will be removed from government buildings in Australia, said the country's Defence Minister Richard Marles on Thursday, adding that it was important to make facilities "completely secure".

Chinese-made security cameras will be removed from government buildings in Australia, said the country's Defence Minister Richard Marles on Thursday, adding that it was important to make facilities "completely secure". Similar steps were adopted by Britain and the United States, as both countries took measures to stop government departments from installing Chinese-made cameras at sensitive sites. In November last year, Britain took the step as it feared that the security services of Beijing can force Chinese companies to share intelligence information with them. ALSO READ | Australia won't carry King Charles's image on new $5 note As per official figures gathered by an opposition politician, including one quoted by the Department of Defence, the officials had installed security cameras at more than 200 government buildings in Australia. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles stated that all these cameras will be found and removed from the military sites by the officials. "It's a significant thing that's been brought to our attention and we're going to fix it," he said while speaking to national broadcaster ABC. "It's important that we go through this exercise and make sure that our facilities are completely secure," the minister added. The cameras were manufactured by Dahua and Hikvision, the two companies which have been blacklisted in the United States. The importation of surveillance equipment made by Hikvision and Dahua was banned by the US in November last year, as the government cited that it posed "an unacceptable risk to national security". WATCH | China objects to more talks on nuclear submarines among UK, US, Australia A group of 67 MPs and lords had appealed to the UK government to ban Hikvision and Dahua in July last year after reports surfaced that the equipment was used to spy on Uyghurs living in Xinjiang. Former health secretary Matt Hancock was also caught kissing an aide and violating Covid rules in June 2021 by a Hikvision camera, which led to his resignation. Previously, Hikvision said that it was "categorically false" to portray the company as "a threat to national security". The centre-left government of Australia has been making efforts to improve its relationship with China, after coming to power in May last year. (With inputs from agencies) 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

Chinese-made security cameras to be removed from government buildings in Australia

Australia will examine surveillance technology used in the offices of its defence department. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles statement came amid reports that Chinese-made cameras installed over there pose a security risk.

Australia to examine Chinese cameras, Defence Ministry says 'doing assessment of surveillance tech'

Global warming is impacting a world heritage-listed site -- the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It is a valuable ecosystem which has been exposed to climate change. A UN panel has now said that this world heritage-listed site is "in danger". Mohammed Saleh brings you this report.

UN lists great barrier reef 'in danger'| WION Climate Tracker

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<p>Legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne who died last year has left vast wealth for his children. Warne's will was revealed on Wednesday where he handed almost $21 million of his estate to the three children.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Australian media, Warne left 31 per cent each of his fortune to his three children Jackson, Brooke and Summer.</p>

<p>Jackson&nbsp;received&nbsp;a little extra in the will as his father gave him a Yamaha motorbike as well as a BMW and Mercedes - estimated to be around $375,000.</p>

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<p>The remaining seven per cent has been divided amongst his brother Jason who was granted a two per cent share while his niece Tyla and nephew Sebastian received two-and-a-half per cent each.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Warne did not leave any money for his former wife Simone Callahan and his ex-fiancee and Hollywood star Elizabeth Hurley.</p>

<p>Of the $20.7 million wealth of Warne, a home in Portsea, Victoria is worth $6.5 million. An Australian bank account of Warne had&nbsp;$5 million while $3 million of his money lies in shares and $2 million in other belongings.&nbsp;He had $295,000 in liabilities.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/former-australian-cricketer-ricky-ponting-pays-tribute-to-shane-warne-465406"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting pays tribute to Shane Warne</strong></a></p>

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<p><strong>Warne's sudden death&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The leg-spinner died of a heart attack while on a vacation in Thailand in March last year. According to various reports, Warne was found face down on his bed while the Test match between Pakistan and Australia played on television.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived. The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course," his management company informed at the time.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-cricket-legend-shane-warne-passes-away-aged-52-due-to-suspected-heart-attack-458992" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Australian cricket legend Shane Warne passes away aged 52 due to suspected heart attack</strong></a></p>

<p>Warne's passing shocked the entire cricketing community. He was only 52 years old and relatively healthy when he died. Tributes poured in from across the world as a heartful and endearing memorial was held at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).&nbsp;</p>

<p>After a stellar career between the 22 yards, Warne had turned towards the coaching and broadcast side of cricket.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-what-is-extreme-liquid-diet-that-late-shane-warne-followed-and-how-it-affects-the-body-460308"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Explained: What is extreme liquid diet that late Shane Warne followed and how it affects the body</strong></a></p>

<p>Warne made his Test debut for Australia at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in 1992 and went on to establish his credentials as one of the best spinners to have graced the game.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne who died last year has left vast wealth for his children. Warne's will was revealed on Wednesday where he handed almost $21 million of his estate to the three children.

Legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne who died last year has left vast wealth for his children. Warne's will was revealed on Wednesday where he handed almost $21 million of his estate to the three children. According to Australian media, Warne left 31 per cent each of his fortune to his three children Jackson, Brooke and Summer. Jackson received a little extra in the will as his father gave him a Yamaha motorbike as well as a BMW and Mercedes - estimated to be around $375,000. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jackson Warne (@jacksonwarne18) × The remaining seven per cent has been divided amongst his brother Jason who was granted a two per cent share while his niece Tyla and nephew Sebastian received two-and-a-half per cent each. Warne did not leave any money for his former wife Simone Callahan and his ex-fiancee and Hollywood star Elizabeth Hurley. Of the $20.7 million wealth of Warne, a home in Portsea, Victoria is worth $6.5 million. An Australian bank account of Warne had $5 million while $3 million of his money lies in shares and $2 million in other belongings. He had $295,000 in liabilities. WATCH | Former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting pays tribute to Shane Warne × Warne's sudden death The leg-spinner died of a heart attack while on a vacation in Thailand in March last year. According to various reports, Warne was found face down on his bed while the Test match between Pakistan and Australia played on television. "Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived. The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course," his management company informed at the time. Read more: Australian cricket legend Shane Warne passes away aged 52 due to suspected heart attack Warne's passing shocked the entire cricketing community. He was only 52 years old and relatively healthy when he died. Tributes poured in from across the world as a heartful and endearing memorial was held at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). After a stellar career between the 22 yards, Warne had turned towards the coaching and broadcast side of cricket. Read more: Explained: What is extreme liquid diet that late Shane Warne followed and how it affects the body Warne made his Test debut for Australia at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in 1992 and went on to establish his credentials as one of the best spinners to have graced the game. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne's $21 million will revealed! Here's who got how much

Australia has become the first nation to approve the legal use of MDMA & Psilocybin. These 'psychedelic therapies' can now be availed by the people. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Australia approves medical use of MDMA

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<p>In what comes as one of the biggest stashes of contraband confiscated, the New Zealand authorities on Wednesday said they had recovered cocaine worth $300 million, weighing 3.3 tonnes floating in international waters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The joint operation named 'Operation Hydros' between the New Zealand police, customs and&nbsp;defence force led to the discovery of the drugs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A total of 81 bales of cocaine was seized and hauled upon the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui back to the mainland where the entire batch was destroyed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Local reports stated that some of the bales of cocaine had stickers as identifiers. One had a batman logo while another had a four-leaf clover.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The amount of drugs seized was enough to supply New Zealand for 30 years, which suggests that it was destined for another country - most certainly&nbsp;Australia, according to the authorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This is the single biggest seizures of illegal drugs by authorities in this country by some margin. While this disrupts the syndicate’s operations, we remain vigilant given the lengths we know these groups will go to circumvent coming to law enforcement’s attention," Police Commissioner Andrew Coster was quoted as saying in a Reuters report.</p>

<p>"There is no doubt this discovery lands a major financial blow right from the South American producers through to the distributors of this product."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Operation Hydros: Police, Customs and NZDF recover half a billion dollars’ worth of cocaine at sea <a href="https://t.co/BxaZfWgFJ6">https://t.co/BxaZfWgFJ6</a> <a href="https://t.co/1NxNzlWo9T">pic.twitter.com/1NxNzlWo9T</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/chatgpt-figures-out-way-to-smuggle-drugs-from-columbia-to-the-uk-559718"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;ChatGPT figures out way to smuggle drugs from Columbia to the UK</strong></a></p>

<p>Drug traffickers often leave packaged drugs in international waters to be picked up by other vessels. It is a widely used strategy as cocaine floats and the traffickers using a net with flotation devices, attach the bales of drugs to it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The discovery of the record amount of drug comes in the backdrop of New Zealand starting an operation last year to keep an eye on the movement of suspicious vessels whilst taking help from intelligence-sharing partners.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-to-legalise-use-of-mdma-and-magic-mushrooms-for-treating-depression-post-trauma-stress-558658" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Australia to legalise use of MDMA and magic mushrooms for treating depression</strong></a></p>

<p>Last year in March, the agencies recovered a 700 kilogrammes cocaine shipment at a New Zealand port, coming from&nbsp;South America, bound for another country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The upsurge in drug assignments through New Zealand suggests that drug traffickers are assessing it as a viable route to other markets.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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In what comes as one of the biggest stashes of contraband confiscated, the New Zealand authorities on Wednesday said they had recovered cocaine worth $300 million, weighing 3.

In what comes as one of the biggest stashes of contraband confiscated, the New Zealand authorities on Wednesday said they had recovered cocaine worth $300 million, weighing 3.3 tonnes floating in international waters. The joint operation named 'Operation Hydros' between the New Zealand police, customs and defence force led to the discovery of the drugs. A total of 81 bales of cocaine was seized and hauled upon the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui back to the mainland where the entire batch was destroyed. Local reports stated that some of the bales of cocaine had stickers as identifiers. One had a batman logo while another had a four-leaf clover. The amount of drugs seized was enough to supply New Zealand for 30 years, which suggests that it was destined for another country - most certainly Australia, according to the authorities. "This is the single biggest seizures of illegal drugs by authorities in this country by some margin. While this disrupts the syndicate’s operations, we remain vigilant given the lengths we know these groups will go to circumvent coming to law enforcement’s attention," Police Commissioner Andrew Coster was quoted as saying in a Reuters report. "There is no doubt this discovery lands a major financial blow right from the South American producers through to the distributors of this product." Operation Hydros: Police, Customs and NZDF recover half a billion dollars’ worth of cocaine at sea https://t.co/BxaZfWgFJ6 pic.twitter.com/1NxNzlWo9T — NZP Media (@NZPoliceMedia) February 8, 2023 × Read more: ChatGPT figures out way to smuggle drugs from Columbia to the UK Drug traffickers often leave packaged drugs in international waters to be picked up by other vessels. It is a widely used strategy as cocaine floats and the traffickers using a net with flotation devices, attach the bales of drugs to it. The discovery of the record amount of drug comes in the backdrop of New Zealand starting an operation last year to keep an eye on the movement of suspicious vessels whilst taking help from intelligence-sharing partners. Read more: Australia to legalise use of MDMA and magic mushrooms for treating depression Last year in March, the agencies recovered a 700 kilogrammes cocaine shipment at a New Zealand port, coming from South America, bound for another country. The upsurge in drug assignments through New Zealand suggests that drug traffickers are assessing it as a viable route to other markets. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Cocaine worth $300 million with batman stickers found floating in New Zealand

In western Australia's state capital Perth, a 16-year-old girl has died after being mauled by a shark in Swan river.

Perth Shark Attack: Teenage girl dies in Swan River

<p>Julian Hill, a federal Labor MP, has claimed that artificial intelligence could be used for "mass destruction" in what is thought to be the first Australian parliamentary address partially produced by ChatGPT, as reported by the Guardian. The member for Bruce demanded on Monday that a white paper or investigation be conducted to examine the "risks and benefits" of AI, claiming that it may lead to academic cheating, job losses, discrimination, disinformation, and unfettered military applications.</p>

<p>A number of the speech's sections were written by Hill using ChatGPT prompts, such as "please summarise recent media reports about students using artificial intelligence in Australia to cheat and explain why teachers are worried about this" and "explain in 2 minutes the risks and benefits to Australia from artificial general intelligence."</p>

<p>Hill told the House of Representatives that “recently there have been media reports of students in Australia using AI to cheat on their exams”.</p>

<p>“AI technology, such as smart software that can write essays and generate answers, is becoming more accessible to students, allowing them to complete assignments and tests without actually understanding the material causing concern for teachers, who are worried about the impact on the integrity of the education system,” he said.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Australia: 16-year-old girl dies after shark attack</strong></p>

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<p>By recommending that the Liberal opposition ask ChatGPT "is climate change real?" Hill, Australia's most prominent politician on the TikTok social media app, subtly mocked the Liberal opposition, as reported by the Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“[Artificial general intelligence] has the potential to revolutionise our world in ways we can’t yet imagine, but if AGI surpasses human intelligence, it could cause significant harm to humanity if its goals and motivations are not aligned with our own,” he said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-heading-towards-launching-its-own-chatbot-technology-in-response-to-chatgpt-558876">Google heading towards launching its own chatbot technology in response to ChatGPT?</a></p>

<p>Beginning in 2023, Hill urged "a focused, serious, urgent policy think," which may take the form of a white paper, an investigation, a permanent commission, an international partnership, or a mix of things.</p>

<p>Experts are "spooked" by the advancement of artificial intelligence according to Prof. Stuart Russell, founder of the Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence at the University of California, Berkeley, who told the Guardian in 2021 that he compares it to the development of the atom bomb and calls for more regulation.</p>

<p>Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, urged for regulation of AI in 2014, stating that he believed it to be the greatest threat to the existence of the human race.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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Julian Hill, a federal Labor MP, has claimed that artificial intelligence could be used for "mass destruction" in what is thought to be the first Australian parliamentary address partially produced by ChatGPT, as reported by the Guardian.

Julian Hill, a federal Labor MP, has claimed that artificial intelligence could be used for "mass destruction" in what is thought to be the first Australian parliamentary address partially produced by ChatGPT, as reported by the Guardian. The member for Bruce demanded on Monday that a white paper or investigation be conducted to examine the "risks and benefits" of AI, claiming that it may lead to academic cheating, job losses, discrimination, disinformation, and unfettered military applications. A number of the speech's sections were written by Hill using ChatGPT prompts, such as "please summarise recent media reports about students using artificial intelligence in Australia to cheat and explain why teachers are worried about this" and "explain in 2 minutes the risks and benefits to Australia from artificial general intelligence." Hill told the House of Representatives that “recently there have been media reports of students in Australia using AI to cheat on their exams”. “AI technology, such as smart software that can write essays and generate answers, is becoming more accessible to students, allowing them to complete assignments and tests without actually understanding the material causing concern for teachers, who are worried about the impact on the integrity of the education system,” he said. Also watch | Australia: 16-year-old girl dies after shark attack By recommending that the Liberal opposition ask ChatGPT "is climate change real?" Hill, Australia's most prominent politician on the TikTok social media app, subtly mocked the Liberal opposition, as reported by the Guardian. “[Artificial general intelligence] has the potential to revolutionise our world in ways we can’t yet imagine, but if AGI surpasses human intelligence, it could cause significant harm to humanity if its goals and motivations are not aligned with our own,” he said. Also read | Google heading towards launching its own chatbot technology in response to ChatGPT? Beginning in 2023, Hill urged "a focused, serious, urgent policy think," which may take the form of a white paper, an investigation, a permanent commission, an international partnership, or a mix of things. Experts are "spooked" by the advancement of artificial intelligence according to Prof. Stuart Russell, founder of the Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence at the University of California, Berkeley, who told the Guardian in 2021 that he compares it to the development of the atom bomb and calls for more regulation. Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, urged for regulation of AI in 2014, stating that he believed it to be the greatest threat to the existence of the human race. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

In a speech part-written by ChatGPT, Julian Hill warns Australian parliament of the risks of AI

European Union member states along with G7 countries and Australia have reached an agreement on the price caps for Russian Petroleum products. The move is the latest part of a push to limit Russian President Vladimir Putin's war chest.

EU, G7 and Australia announces price cap; Russia lashes out at EU over price cap | World News | WION

<p>A 16-year-old girl was killed by a shark in Australia after she jumped into a river to swim near a pod of dolphins. The incident took place in Western Australia. The girl was bitten by an unknown species of shark during an outing with friends on the Swan River in the Perth suburb of North Fremantle.&nbsp;The girl was pulled out from the river, but died at the scene due to her injuries after efforts to revive her failed, said Paul Robinson, acting police inspector for the Fremantle district.</p>

<p>"It's very early on, what we're being advised is that she was with friends on the river," he told a news conference.</p>

<p>"They were on jet skis. Possibly a pod of dolphins were being seen nearby and the young female jumped in to swim nearby the dolphins."</p>

<p>Describing it as a "very, very traumatic incident," Robinson said the family of the girl, who was from Perth, was "absolutely devastated by the news".</p>

<p>Experts had advised that it was unusual for sharks to be found in that part of the river, he said.</p>

<p>The state government warned people to take "additional caution" in the Swan River in North Fremantle and to abide by any beach closures.</p>

<p>It was the first fatal shark attack in the Swan River since a 13-year-old boy was killed in January 1923 in the Perth suburb of Claremont, according to reports at the time and a database run by Taronga Conservation Society.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-link-between-us-gun-violence-and-daily-temperature-558352">US: Scientists find link between spike in gun violence incidents and daily temperature</a></strong></p>

<p>The last fatal attack in any Australian river was recorded in 1960 when a bull shark measuring an estimated 3.3 metres (nearly 11 feet) killed a snorkeller at Roseville Bridge in Sydney, the shark incident database showed.</p>

<p>In February last year, a 35-year-old British diving instructor, Simon Nellist, was devoured off Sydney's Little Bay Beach, the first such attack in the city since 1963.</p>

<p>According to Sports Australia, 4.5 million Aussies swim regularly and at least 500,000 surf.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>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"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>

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A 16-year-old girl was killed by a shark in Australia after she jumped into a river to swim near a pod of dolphins. The incident took place in Western Australia.

A 16-year-old girl was killed by a shark in Australia after she jumped into a river to swim near a pod of dolphins. The incident took place in Western Australia. The girl was bitten by an unknown species of shark during an outing with friends on the Swan River in the Perth suburb of North Fremantle. The girl was pulled out from the river, but died at the scene due to her injuries after efforts to revive her failed, said Paul Robinson, acting police inspector for the Fremantle district. "It's very early on, what we're being advised is that she was with friends on the river," he told a news conference. "They were on jet skis. Possibly a pod of dolphins were being seen nearby and the young female jumped in to swim nearby the dolphins." Describing it as a "very, very traumatic incident," Robinson said the family of the girl, who was from Perth, was "absolutely devastated by the news". Experts had advised that it was unusual for sharks to be found in that part of the river, he said. The state government warned people to take "additional caution" in the Swan River in North Fremantle and to abide by any beach closures. It was the first fatal shark attack in the Swan River since a 13-year-old boy was killed in January 1923 in the Perth suburb of Claremont, according to reports at the time and a database run by Taronga Conservation Society. Also Read | US: Scientists find link between spike in gun violence incidents and daily temperature The last fatal attack in any Australian river was recorded in 1960 when a bull shark measuring an estimated 3.3 metres (nearly 11 feet) killed a snorkeller at Roseville Bridge in Sydney, the shark incident database showed. In February last year, a 35-year-old British diving instructor, Simon Nellist, was devoured off Sydney's Little Bay Beach, the first such attack in the city since 1963. According to Sports Australia, 4.5 million Aussies swim regularly and at least 500,000 surf. (With inputs from agencies) 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 ×

Australia: Girl jumps in river to swim with dolphins, gets attacked by shark, succumbs

<p>The drug watchdog of Australia on Friday announced that the authorities will be soon legalising psychedelic substances MDMA and psilocybin, which are commonly known as magic mushrooms and ecstasy, for treating patients who are suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>From July, psychiatrists will be free to prescribe both substances, said the Therapeutic Goods Administration after it found "sufficient evidence for potential benefits in certain patients".</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-wont-carry-king-charless-image-on-new-5-note-558084">Australia won't carry King Charles's image on new $5 note</a></p>

<p>Both drugs are currently "prohibited substances" and authorities can only use them in closely controlled clinical trials.</p>

<p>The administration said that the drugs were found to be "relatively safe" when they were administered in a &nbsp;medical setting and provided an "altered state of consciousness" which seemed to help the patients.</p>

<p>University of South Australia's mental health and suicide prevention researcher Mike Musker welcomed the move as "long-awaited".</p>

<p>"There are many people in the community experiencing PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and depression, particularly army veterans and people who have worked in emergency services, where standard psychiatric drugs have not worked and offer no relief," he stated.</p>

<p>Musker added that both drugs "reduce inhibitions" and will help people process difficult memories and images.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Trending on WION: Australia wants to make cigarettes 'ugly' and 'tasteless'</strong></p>

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<p>Presently, the use of psilocybin and MDMA will remain limited to the treatment of patients suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the advocates hope that the drugs will be one day used for treating eating disorders, alcohol dependence and obsessive-compulsive disorder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Indigenous people&nbsp;have used psychedelics for millennia, however, western researchers started understanding the potential uses of these drugs in the middle of the last century.</p>

<p>The drugs were seen as symbols of the 1960s' &nbsp;counter-culture movement and were banned.</p>

<p>Authorities in the United States and Canada are among those who have permitted for the medical use of MDMA and psilocybin.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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The drug watchdog of Australia on Friday announced that the authorities will be soon legalising psychedelic substances MDMA and psilocybin, which are commonly known as magic mushrooms and ecstasy, for treating patients who are suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress.

The drug watchdog of Australia on Friday announced that the authorities will be soon legalising psychedelic substances MDMA and psilocybin, which are commonly known as magic mushrooms and ecstasy, for treating patients who are suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress. From July, psychiatrists will be free to prescribe both substances, said the Therapeutic Goods Administration after it found "sufficient evidence for potential benefits in certain patients". ALSO READ | Australia won't carry King Charles's image on new $5 note Both drugs are currently "prohibited substances" and authorities can only use them in closely controlled clinical trials. The administration said that the drugs were found to be "relatively safe" when they were administered in a medical setting and provided an "altered state of consciousness" which seemed to help the patients. University of South Australia's mental health and suicide prevention researcher Mike Musker welcomed the move as "long-awaited". "There are many people in the community experiencing PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and depression, particularly army veterans and people who have worked in emergency services, where standard psychiatric drugs have not worked and offer no relief," he stated. Musker added that both drugs "reduce inhibitions" and will help people process difficult memories and images. WATCH | Trending on WION: Australia wants to make cigarettes 'ugly' and 'tasteless' Presently, the use of psilocybin and MDMA will remain limited to the treatment of patients suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress. However, the advocates hope that the drugs will be one day used for treating eating disorders, alcohol dependence and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Indigenous people have used psychedelics for millennia, however, western researchers started understanding the potential uses of these drugs in the middle of the last century. The drugs were seen as symbols of the 1960s' counter-culture movement and were banned. Authorities in the United States and Canada are among those who have permitted for the medical use of MDMA and psilocybin. (With inputs from agencies) 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

Australia to legalise use of MDMA and magic mushrooms for treating depression

Thousands of hectares of state forest appear to have been earmarked for logging illegally. Law enforcement struggles to Police lumberjacks. Watch further to know more.

WON Climate Tracker: Illegal Lumberjacks threaten Australian forests

China firmly objects to further cooperation between Britain, United States and Australia on nuclear submarines as tensions between the West and China increases.

China objects to more talks on nuclear submarines among UK, US, Australia

Australian Tennis star Nick Kyrgios has pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend but has avoided a conviction after the judge ruled his action were at the low end of seriousness for a common assault.

Australian Tennis star Nick Kyrgios admits assaulting ex-girlfriend

Australia's central bank has decided that King Charles III will not appear on new $5 banknotes. Instead, the new design will honour the cultural history of Indigenous Australians. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Australia snubs King Charles for $5 banknotes

A Coin-sized radioactive capsule lost in the Australian outback has been found after a week-long search operation. The capsule posed significant health risks. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Australian authorities track down lost radioactive capsule

<p>Australian beachgoers are being warned about a water creature that is beautiful to look at&nbsp;but may inflict a painful sting. This month, dozens of blue dragons, also known as <em>glaucus atlanticus</em>, have been washing up on beaches in New South Wales and Queensland, prompting an ocean expert to caution beachgoers about the risks the vividly coloured sea slugs can pose, as reported by 7news.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Most beachgoers do not see the blue dragons until they have washed up on the shore, according to experts who spoke to 7news.&nbsp;However, swimmers may feel their presence in the water because of how painful their stings can be. That's because the animal stores its prey's stinging cells, known as cnidocytes, in sacs and feeds on&nbsp;species like the poisonous Portuguese man of war, according to David Hicks, dean of the University of Texas School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences.</p>

<p>Marine biology enthusiast Julian Obayd has&nbsp;been documenting his experience of finding and releasing the blue-coloured se slugs&nbsp;on beaches along the Gold Coast.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/for-those-who-missed-the-green-comet-here-are-breathtaking-videos-images-of-the-rare-astronomical-sight-558047"><strong>&nbsp;</strong>For those who missed the green comet, here are breathtaking videos, images of the rare astronomical sight</a></p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.</strong></em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here’s some videos of a blue sea dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) eating a by-the-wind sailor (Velella velella). These slugs really eat animals that are so much bigger than them… and don’t even get me started on their countershading 😍<br />
<br />
🎥: <a href="https://twitter.com/RebeccaRHelm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RebeccaRHelm</a> <a href="https://t.co/QlbCJWqFfT">pic.twitter.com/QlbCJWqFfT</a></p>
— Go to sea for science! (@goseascience) <a href="https://twitter.com/goseascience/status/1585827656909885440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>“It hurts like hell,” he says in one TikTok clip in which he shows the after-effects of being stung by several blue dragons when trying to release them back into the water.&nbsp;The blue dragons then will employ those deadly cells to defend themselves against attackers, sometimes with people getting caught in the crossfire.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/mating-frenzy-restlessness-behind-quolls-deaths-in-australia-557836">Mating frenzy, restlessness behind quolls deaths in Australia?</a></p>

<p>The pain felt after being stung is comparable to that of a man-of-war (a marine&nbsp;hydrozoan&nbsp;found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean)&nbsp;sting, which can be extremely excruciating and, in rare cases, life-threatening.</p>

<p>The temperate and tropical seas of the Pacific,&nbsp; the Atlantic, and Indian oceans are abode to these colourful&nbsp;sea slugs. As per Australian Geographic reports, the species are&nbsp;primarily found in Australia along the south-east coast of the continent, from southern Queensland to northern Victoria.</p>

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Australian beachgoers are being warned about a water creature that is beautiful to look at but may inflict a painful sting. This month, dozens of blue dragons, also known as glaucus atlanticus, have been washing up on beaches in New South Wales and Queensland, prompting an ocean expert to caution beachgoers about the risks the vividly coloured sea slugs can pose, as reported by 7news.

Australian beachgoers are being warned about a water creature that is beautiful to look at but may inflict a painful sting. This month, dozens of blue dragons, also known as glaucus atlanticus, have been washing up on beaches in New South Wales and Queensland, prompting an ocean expert to caution beachgoers about the risks the vividly coloured sea slugs can pose, as reported by 7news. Most beachgoers do not see the blue dragons until they have washed up on the shore, according to experts who spoke to 7news. However, swimmers may feel their presence in the water because of how painful their stings can be. That's because the animal stores its prey's stinging cells, known as cnidocytes, in sacs and feeds on species like the poisonous Portuguese man of war, according to David Hicks, dean of the University of Texas School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences. Marine biology enthusiast Julian Obayd has been documenting his experience of finding and releasing the blue-coloured se slugs on beaches along the Gold Coast. Also read | For those who missed the green comet, here are breathtaking videos, images of the rare astronomical sight Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. Here’s some videos of a blue sea dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) eating a by-the-wind sailor (Velella velella). These slugs really eat animals that are so much bigger than them… and don’t even get me started on their countershading 😍 🎥: @RebeccaRHelm pic.twitter.com/QlbCJWqFfT — Go to sea for science! (@goseascience) October 28, 2022 × “It hurts like hell,” he says in one TikTok clip in which he shows the after-effects of being stung by several blue dragons when trying to release them back into the water. The blue dragons then will employ those deadly cells to defend themselves against attackers, sometimes with people getting caught in the crossfire. Also read | Mating frenzy, restlessness behind quolls deaths in Australia? The pain felt after being stung is comparable to that of a man-of-war (a marine hydrozoan found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean) sting, which can be extremely excruciating and, in rare cases, life-threatening. The temperate and tropical seas of the Pacific, the Atlantic, and Indian oceans are abode to these colourful sea slugs. As per Australian Geographic reports, the species are primarily found in Australia along the south-east coast of the continent, from southern Queensland to northern Victoria. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'Blue dragon' alert: Australian beachgoers warned about stinging sea slug washing up on shores

According to the central bank of Australia, King Charles III will not appear on the new five dollar note. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) states that the new design would honour "the culture and heritage of the First Australians."

UK: No King Charles' image on Australian banknotes, $5 note to have a new design

<p>The coin-sized radioactive capsule that went missing in Western Australia last week has been found by country's emergency services. The authorities in Western Australia's sparsely populated Kimberley region said that they had "literally found the needle in the haystack".</p>

<p>The announcement of the loss sparked a frantic search since last week, stoking unprecedented public health warning spanning hundreds of kilometres in the sparsely populated West Australian region.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/radiation-alert-in-australia-as-hunt-for-lost-caesium-137-mining-capsule-on-how-can-it-hurt-you-556727">Radiation alert in Australia after Caesium-137 capsule goes missing</a></strong></p>

<p>"It's a good result, as I've said it's certainly a needle in a haystack that has been found, and I think West Australians can sleep better tonight," West Australian emergency services minister Stephen Dawson told reporters.</p>

<p><strong>Who found the radioactive capsule?</strong></p>

<p>The capsule was found by a team from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.</p>

<p><strong>Australia's missing radioactive capsule: What happened?</strong></p>

<p>An urgent public warning was issued after the Caesium-137 capsule was reported missing on January 25. It was reported that the capsule apparently fell off a truck transporting&nbsp;it from a Rio Tinto mine to Perth, a 1400-kilometre stretch.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/radioactive-capsule-lost-in-western-australia-along-1400-km-route-authorities-issue-health-warning-556939">Radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia along 1,400 km route</a></strong></p>

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<p>It vanished between January 11 and January 16, but its loss was not reported for more than a week, local media reported.</p>

<p><strong>What is the radioactive capsule like?</strong></p>

<p>According to reports, the now found&nbsp;capsule measures&nbsp;6mm in diameter by 8mm in height. it is used in mining equipment but can lead to dangerously high doses of radiation if mishandled.</p>

<p>Western Australians were warned of the dangerous misplaced capsule in a press conference held late on Friday afternoon.</p>

<p>The state's Chief Health Officer&nbsp;Andy Robertson warned at the time it could be anywhere between Perth and the Pilbara, an area stretching for 1,400 kilometres.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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The coin-sized radioactive capsule that went missing in Western Australia last week has been found by country's emergency services. The authorities in Western Australia's sparsely populated Kimberley region said that they had "literally found the needle in the haystack".

The coin-sized radioactive capsule that went missing in Western Australia last week has been found by country's emergency services. The authorities in Western Australia's sparsely populated Kimberley region said that they had "literally found the needle in the haystack". The announcement of the loss sparked a frantic search since last week, stoking unprecedented public health warning spanning hundreds of kilometres in the sparsely populated West Australian region. ALSO READ | Radiation alert in Australia after Caesium-137 capsule goes missing "It's a good result, as I've said it's certainly a needle in a haystack that has been found, and I think West Australians can sleep better tonight," West Australian emergency services minister Stephen Dawson told reporters. Who found the radioactive capsule? The capsule was found by a team from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Australia's missing radioactive capsule: What happened? An urgent public warning was issued after the Caesium-137 capsule was reported missing on January 25. It was reported that the capsule apparently fell off a truck transporting it from a Rio Tinto mine to Perth, a 1400-kilometre stretch. ALSO WATCH | Radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia along 1,400 km route × It vanished between January 11 and January 16, but its loss was not reported for more than a week, local media reported. What is the radioactive capsule like? According to reports, the now found capsule measures 6mm in diameter by 8mm in height. it is used in mining equipment but can lead to dangerously high doses of radiation if mishandled. Western Australians were warned of the dangerous misplaced capsule in a press conference held late on Friday afternoon. The state's Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson warned at the time it could be anywhere between Perth and the Pilbara, an area stretching for 1,400 kilometres. 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.

Missing coin-sized radioactive capsule found in Australia

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