<p>Anything is possible nowadays. All you need to do is just think and technological advancements will do the rest. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Well, we are not kidding, it’s true. &nbsp;</p>

<p>A paralysed man, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has been able to make a post on social media “using only direct thought” in Australia on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/now-china-develops-ai-prosecutor-440123" hreflang="en">Now, China develops AI 'prosecutor'</a></strong></p>

<p>Philip O’Keefe has the&nbsp;disease, which causes paralysis. But still he is able to share thoughts with others by involving no muscle activity whatsoever. It has been made possible by a company called Synchron.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">no need for keystrokes or voices. I created this tweet just by thinking it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/helloworldbci?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#helloworldbci</a></p>
— Thomas Oxley (@tomoxl) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomoxl/status/1473809025254846467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>The post made by 62-year-old O’Keefe on Twitter said, “I created this tweet just by thinking it.” It was posted to the account of Synchron CEO Thomas Oxley. &nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the firm, the ‘first direct-thought tweet’ was made wirelessly by brain of O’Keefe. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/social-networking-in-stone-age-50000-year-old-social-network-discovered-in-africa-439532" hreflang="en">Social networking in Stone Age: 50,000-year-old social network discovered in Africa</a></strong></p>

<p>After ALS led to progressive paralysis, O’Keefe got a brain computer interface, which is called ‘Stentrode’, installed in 2020. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The implant has been “designed to enable patients to wirelessly control digital devices through thought.” It has been inserted via jugular vein in order to avoid drilling into the skull. &nbsp;</p>

<p>“Now, I just think about where on the computer I want to click, and I can email, bank, shop, and now message the world via Twitter,” the company cited O’Keefe as saying – or thinking. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Anything is possible nowadays. All you need to do is just think and technological advancements will do the rest. Well, we are not kidding, it’s true. A paralysed man, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has been able to make a post on social media “using only direct thought” in Australia on Thursday.

Anything is possible nowadays. All you need to do is just think and technological advancements will do the rest. Well, we are not kidding, it’s true. A paralysed man, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has been able to make a post on social media “using only direct thought” in Australia on Thursday. Also Read: Now, China develops AI 'prosecutor' Philip O’Keefe has the disease, which causes paralysis. But still he is able to share thoughts with others by involving no muscle activity whatsoever. It has been made possible by a company called Synchron. no need for keystrokes or voices. I created this tweet just by thinking it. #helloworldbci — Thomas Oxley (@tomoxl) December 23, 2021 × The post made by 62-year-old O’Keefe on Twitter said, “I created this tweet just by thinking it.” It was posted to the account of Synchron CEO Thomas Oxley. As per the firm, the ‘first direct-thought tweet’ was made wirelessly by brain of O’Keefe. Also Read | Social networking in Stone Age: 50,000-year-old social network discovered in Africa After ALS led to progressive paralysis, O’Keefe got a brain computer interface, which is called ‘Stentrode’, installed in 2020. The implant has been “designed to enable patients to wirelessly control digital devices through thought.” It has been inserted via jugular vein in order to avoid drilling into the skull. “Now, I just think about where on the computer I want to click, and I can email, bank, shop, and now message the world via Twitter,” the company cited O’Keefe as saying – or thinking. (With inputs from agencies)

Implant helps paralysed man make social media post with just thought in Australia

<p>Bangkok Port Custom Office seized over 193 kg of amphetamine hidden in punching bags bound for Australia. The drugs were hidden in 15 punching bags.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Australia, these drugs would have a value of nearly $30 million.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Officials, while speaking at a news conference said that the Thai customs authorities were suspicious since the Thai boxing training tool is not in such high demand in Australia. This is why the shipment was inspected.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the authorities did not provide details of when the drugs were seized.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-issues-10-day-ultimatum-for-online-celebrities-to-settle-unpaid-taxes-439224"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;China issues 10-day ultimatum for online celebrities to settle unpaid taxes</strong></a></p>

<p>A Thai customs official ripped a long cardboard box and the red outer layer of the boxing punch bag. The drugs were found in the stuffing.</p>

<p>"Australia consumes around 11 tons of methamphetamine per year and spends over 11 billion dollars on illicit narcotics, so there's a market for it, and disrupting it offshore in countries such as Thailand is fantastic and we thank Thailand for the cooperation," Australian Border Force Acting Superintendent Joel Carruthers said.</p>

<p>Methamphetamine production in Southeast Asia's golden triangle, a border region between Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, has been drastically increasing in recent years, reports the UN office on drugs and crimes.</p>

<p>The investigation is still ongoing by both Thai and Australian authorities.</p>


Bangkok Port Custom Office seized over 193 kg of amphetamine hidden in punching bags bound for Australia. The drugs were hidden in 15 punching bags. In Australia, these drugs would have a value of nearly $30 million.

Bangkok Port Custom Office seized over 193 kg of amphetamine hidden in punching bags bound for Australia. The drugs were hidden in 15 punching bags. In Australia, these drugs would have a value of nearly $30 million. Officials, while speaking at a news conference said that the Thai customs authorities were suspicious since the Thai boxing training tool is not in such high demand in Australia. This is why the shipment was inspected. However, the authorities did not provide details of when the drugs were seized. Also read | China issues 10-day ultimatum for online celebrities to settle unpaid taxes A Thai customs official ripped a long cardboard box and the red outer layer of the boxing punch bag. The drugs were found in the stuffing. "Australia consumes around 11 tons of methamphetamine per year and spends over 11 billion dollars on illicit narcotics, so there's a market for it, and disrupting it offshore in countries such as Thailand is fantastic and we thank Thailand for the cooperation," Australian Border Force Acting Superintendent Joel Carruthers said. Methamphetamine production in Southeast Asia's golden triangle, a border region between Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, has been drastically increasing in recent years, reports the UN office on drugs and crimes. The investigation is still ongoing by both Thai and Australian authorities.

Hidden in punching bags: Thailand seizes drugs worth over $30 million

<p>An Australian man who absconded from quarantine sparking a lockdown has been sentenced to five months in jail. The man from Australia's New South Wales state absconded quarantine in Hobart, capital of Australian island state of Tasmania.</p>

<p>Timothy Gunn, the man in question, on arriving in Tasmania lied to authorities that he had come from Queensland when in fact he had flown in from New South Wales. He was told by the authorities to remain in quarantine in Travelodge hotel for two weeks. However, Gunn left the hotel before the quarantine period was over.</p>

<p>He then stayed in Woolworths, a suburb of Hobart. He even shared a house with several.</p>

<p>Authorities arrested Gunn and on testing, he was found to be Covid positive. This sparked a lockdown and state authorities enforced mask mandate.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After he was arrested, Timothy Gunn was presented before a magistrate. The magistrate court sentenced him to five months in jail. Two months out of the total sentence were suspended. The sentence was backdated to late October. Gunn was taken into custody at that time.</p>

<p>As per reports, the magistrate noted that Timothy Gunn did not know that he was infected with Covid when he was out. There were no Covid cases linked to him in the record.</p>

<p>The state government has tightened security at the Travelodge hotel where the quarantine breach took place. Surveillance cameras have been installed as well.</p>


An Australian man who absconded from quarantine sparking a lockdown has been sentenced to five months in jail. The man from Australia's New South Wales state absconded quarantine in Hobart, capital of Australian island state of Tasmania.

An Australian man who absconded from quarantine sparking a lockdown has been sentenced to five months in jail. The man from Australia's New South Wales state absconded quarantine in Hobart, capital of Australian island state of Tasmania. Timothy Gunn, the man in question, on arriving in Tasmania lied to authorities that he had come from Queensland when in fact he had flown in from New South Wales. He was told by the authorities to remain in quarantine in Travelodge hotel for two weeks. However, Gunn left the hotel before the quarantine period was over. He then stayed in Woolworths, a suburb of Hobart. He even shared a house with several. Authorities arrested Gunn and on testing, he was found to be Covid positive. This sparked a lockdown and state authorities enforced mask mandate. After he was arrested, Timothy Gunn was presented before a magistrate. The magistrate court sentenced him to five months in jail. Two months out of the total sentence were suspended. The sentence was backdated to late October. Gunn was taken into custody at that time. As per reports, the magistrate noted that Timothy Gunn did not know that he was infected with Covid when he was out. There were no Covid cases linked to him in the record. The state government has tightened security at the Travelodge hotel where the quarantine breach took place. Surveillance cameras have been installed as well.

Australian man who escaped quarantine and sparked lockdown sent to jail

Australia, which is one of the largest producers of Beef globally, aims to make its beef industry climate-friendly by 2030.

Australia sets an ambitious target of making its beef industry carbon neutral by 2030

Australia looks forward to carbon-neutral Beef farming by 2030 to fight against climate change

Australia has raised its outlook for mining and energy export earnings to a record $272 billion for the current fiscal year as coal and gas shortages in China and Europe pump up prices.

Australia: $272 billion expected for current FY

<p>Amid new coronavirus cases, <strong>New South Wales</strong> leader Dominic Perrottet asserted that people "need to also move away from fear".</p>

<p>"There will always be new variants of this virus," Dominic Perrottet said. New South Wales has been hit hard due to the virus even as the state recorded 2,501 new coronavirus cases on Monday. On Sunday, the state had recorded 2,566 new <strong>COVID-19 </strong>cases.</p>

<p>Amid increased hospitalisations, Perrottet said 26 of the 33 people who were in intensive care were <strong>unvaccinated</strong>.&nbsp;Perrottet resisted calls for stiffer COVID-19 restrictions amid rising cases in the state.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-allows-vaccinated-non-citizens-to-enter-amid-omicron-threat-437153">Also Read:&nbsp;Australia allows vaccinated non-citizens to enter amid Omicron threat</a></p>

<p>"The numbers do not lie. Getting vaccinated protects you and your family, the numbers speak for themselves,” he said as he urged people to take the <strong>booster</strong> shots.</p>

<p><strong>Australia</strong> has made booster doses eligible for people five months after they take their second dose. In New South Wales masks are required in public transport.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Australia reports first Omicron COVID-19 variant case</strong></p>

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<p>The country has so far vaccinated over 90 per cent of its population with the<strong> Delta</strong> variant surging nationwide.</p>

<p>As COVID-19 cases continued to rise, <strong>Victoria</strong> recorded 1,302 new coronavirus cases and the Northern Territory reported three new cases just days after it reopened its domestic borders to fully vaccinated people.</p>

<p>In Queensland, a university graduation ceremony event held on December 13 was identified as a COVID-19 <strong>cluster</strong> with 15 confirmed virus cases although health authorities expect more cases to emerge with some Omicron cases.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-wont-be-able-to-meet-booster-campaign-target-reports-438091">Also Read |&nbsp;</a><a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/australia-wont-be-able-to-meet-booster-campaign-target-reports-438091" hreflang="en">Australia won't be able to meet booster campaign target: Reports</a></p>

<p>Australia has so far recorded &nbsp;255,000 COVID-19 cases and&nbsp;2,146 fatalities however it has witnessed a surge in cases in the past few months as authorities have struggled to halt the Delta surge.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to meet state leaders this week to discuss the response to the pandemic as he suggested a “sensible, common sense” approach to the pandemic.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from Agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>


Amid new coronavirus cases, New South Wales leader Dominic Perrottet asserted that people "need to also move away from fear". "There will always be new variants of this virus," Dominic Perrottet said.

Amid new coronavirus cases, New South Wales leader Dominic Perrottet asserted that people "need to also move away from fear". "There will always be new variants of this virus," Dominic Perrottet said. New South Wales has been hit hard due to the virus even as the state recorded 2,501 new coronavirus cases on Monday. On Sunday, the state had recorded 2,566 new COVID-19 cases. Amid increased hospitalisations, Perrottet said 26 of the 33 people who were in intensive care were unvaccinated. Perrottet resisted calls for stiffer COVID-19 restrictions amid rising cases in the state. Also Read: Australia allows vaccinated non-citizens to enter amid Omicron threat "The numbers do not lie. Getting vaccinated protects you and your family, the numbers speak for themselves,” he said as he urged people to take the booster shots. Australia has made booster doses eligible for people five months after they take their second dose. In New South Wales masks are required in public transport. Watch: Australia reports first Omicron COVID-19 variant case The country has so far vaccinated over 90 per cent of its population with the Delta variant surging nationwide. As COVID-19 cases continued to rise, Victoria recorded 1,302 new coronavirus cases and the Northern Territory reported three new cases just days after it reopened its domestic borders to fully vaccinated people. In Queensland, a university graduation ceremony event held on December 13 was identified as a COVID-19 cluster with 15 confirmed virus cases although health authorities expect more cases to emerge with some Omicron cases. Also Read | Australia won't be able to meet booster campaign target: Reports Australia has so far recorded 255,000 COVID-19 cases and 2,146 fatalities however it has witnessed a surge in cases in the past few months as authorities have struggled to halt the Delta surge. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to meet state leaders this week to discuss the response to the pandemic as he suggested a “sensible, common sense” approach to the pandemic. (With inputs from Agencies)

'Need to also move away from fear': Australian PM wants 'sensible' approach to fight virus

Australia reported the country's first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. A student with no history of foreign travel has tested positive for the strain in the country.

Australia reports first Omicron COVID-19 variant case

The new covid-19 variant has spread across the world, in a bid to combat the Omicron virus, Australia has shelved its plans to open international borders. It comes at a time when the country has confirmed five cases of this new variant.

Australia shelves plan to reopen borders amid Omicron scare

<p>Police have informed that the death toll from Australia's bouncy castle tragedy increased to six after an 11-year-boy died in hospital on Sunday (December 19) over three days after the accident. Two other children remain in critical condition in hospital and one is recovering at home.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The accident happened on Thursday when children fell from a height of 10 metres after the bouncy castle was picked by the wind at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, northern Tasmania. The kids were celebrating an end-of-year party. They belonged to grade 5 and 6 and were about 10-12 years old.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tasmania police commissioner Darren Hine said, "It is with a heavy heart that I can confirm an 11-year-old boy passed away in hospital this afternoon."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-grieve-with-them-australian-pm-scott-morrison-visits-site-of-jumping-castle-tragedy-438068">'We grieve with them': Australian PM Scott Morrison visits site of jumping castle tragedy</a></strong></p>

<p>He added, "Our thoughts continue to be with his family, and the families and loved ones of all the children involved, during what is an incomprehensibly difficult time."</p>

<p>Previously, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited the memorial site and announced that the government would fund support to the families, first responders and community affected by the tragedy. Morrison and his wife paid their respects at the memorial and laid flowers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the five families in particular who have lost those precious young ones and we think also of the families of the three who are still in a terribly critical condition. We think of the entire community that is just heaving with sorrow," Morrison told reporters in Hobart.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-pays-respects-on-first-wife-daughters-graves-on-crashs-49th-anniversary-438161">Biden pays respects on first wife, daughter’s graves on crash’s 49th anniversary</a></strong></p>

<p>The tragic incident led to an outpouring of grief in the local community and around Australia and an investigation was also launched to ascertain the cause.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After analysing the initial witness report, authorities have said that children were thrown from a height of about 10 metres (33 feet), however, they are waiting for the findings of the probe, which they expect will "take some time".</p>

<p>Also, specialist police are being flown to the island state to assist with interviewing people who were at the outdoor party, which some 40 primary school children attended.&nbsp;</p>


Police have informed that the death toll from Australia's bouncy castle tragedy increased to six after an 11-year-boy died in hospital on Sunday (December 19) over three days after the accident.

Police have informed that the death toll from Australia's bouncy castle tragedy increased to six after an 11-year-boy died in hospital on Sunday (December 19) over three days after the accident. Two other children remain in critical condition in hospital and one is recovering at home. The accident happened on Thursday when children fell from a height of 10 metres after the bouncy castle was picked by the wind at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, northern Tasmania. The kids were celebrating an end-of-year party. They belonged to grade 5 and 6 and were about 10-12 years old. Tasmania police commissioner Darren Hine said, "It is with a heavy heart that I can confirm an 11-year-old boy passed away in hospital this afternoon." ALSO READ | 'We grieve with them': Australian PM Scott Morrison visits site of jumping castle tragedy He added, "Our thoughts continue to be with his family, and the families and loved ones of all the children involved, during what is an incomprehensibly difficult time." Previously, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited the memorial site and announced that the government would fund support to the families, first responders and community affected by the tragedy. Morrison and his wife paid their respects at the memorial and laid flowers. "I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the five families in particular who have lost those precious young ones and we think also of the families of the three who are still in a terribly critical condition. We think of the entire community that is just heaving with sorrow," Morrison told reporters in Hobart. ALSO READ | Biden pays respects on first wife, daughter’s graves on crash’s 49th anniversary The tragic incident led to an outpouring of grief in the local community and around Australia and an investigation was also launched to ascertain the cause. After analysing the initial witness report, authorities have said that children were thrown from a height of about 10 metres (33 feet), however, they are waiting for the findings of the probe, which they expect will "take some time". Also, specialist police are being flown to the island state to assist with interviewing people who were at the outdoor party, which some 40 primary school children attended.

Australia's bouncy castle tragedy: 11-year-boy dies in hospital, death toll reaches six

<p>Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited the memorial site where five children died in a jumping castle accident on Thursday (December 16), as he announced that the government would fund support to the families, first responders and community affected by the tragedy. Morrison was accompanied by his wife Jenny as both of them paid their respects at the memorial and laid flowers.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The incident happened during an end-of-year party when the children were celebrating the last week of class before Christmas break in a primary school in Devonport, northern Tasmania.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The children fell from a height of 10 metres when the bouncy castle was picked by the wind at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport. As per reports, they belonged to grade 5 and 6 and were about 10-12 years old.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-witnesses-surge-in-covid-19-cases-438011">Australia witnesses surge in COVID-19 cases</a></strong></p>

<p>"I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the five families in particular who have lost those precious young ones and we think also of the families of the three who are still in a terribly critical condition. We think of the entire community that is just heaving with sorrow," Morrison told reporters in Hobart.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There are no words, only prayers, for our fellow Australians in Tasmania, and for the community that will carry this burden. And it will be a heavy burden. It will weigh them down," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We grieve with them, and we mourn with them, and we want to do everything we possibly can to help them through this terrible, terrible, unthinkable and imaginable tragedy," he further said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-bizarre-accident-us-official-finds-two-alligators-in-suv-at-mishap-site-437889">A bizarre accident? US official finds two alligators in SUV at mishap site</a></strong></p>

<p>An online fundraiser - initially aiming to raise Aus$1,000 ($712) for the victims' families - climbed to over Aus$1.1 million on Saturday morning.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It's just beyond anything we could have thought possible. I think it just proves how shaken up everyone is and how tight-knit of a community we are," Zoe Smith, who organised the fundraiser, told media in Devonport.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Australia prepares to protect Koalas from bushfires</strong></p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited the memorial site where five children died in a jumping castle accident on Thursday (December 16), as he announced that the government would fund support to the families, first responders and community affected by the tragedy.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited the memorial site where five children died in a jumping castle accident on Thursday (December 16), as he announced that the government would fund support to the families, first responders and community affected by the tragedy. Morrison was accompanied by his wife Jenny as both of them paid their respects at the memorial and laid flowers. The incident happened during an end-of-year party when the children were celebrating the last week of class before Christmas break in a primary school in Devonport, northern Tasmania. The children fell from a height of 10 metres when the bouncy castle was picked by the wind at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport. As per reports, they belonged to grade 5 and 6 and were about 10-12 years old. ALSO READ | Australia witnesses surge in COVID-19 cases "I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the five families in particular who have lost those precious young ones and we think also of the families of the three who are still in a terribly critical condition. We think of the entire community that is just heaving with sorrow," Morrison told reporters in Hobart. “There are no words, only prayers, for our fellow Australians in Tasmania, and for the community that will carry this burden. And it will be a heavy burden. It will weigh them down," he added. "We grieve with them, and we mourn with them, and we want to do everything we possibly can to help them through this terrible, terrible, unthinkable and imaginable tragedy," he further said. ALSO READ | A bizarre accident? US official finds two alligators in SUV at mishap site An online fundraiser - initially aiming to raise Aus$1,000 ($712) for the victims' families - climbed to over Aus$1.1 million on Saturday morning. "It's just beyond anything we could have thought possible. I think it just proves how shaken up everyone is and how tight-knit of a community we are," Zoe Smith, who organised the fundraiser, told media in Devonport. Watch | Australia prepares to protect Koalas from bushfires × (With inputs from agencies)

'We grieve with them': Australian PM Scott Morrison visits site of jumping castle tragedy

With fire season approaching, Australia prepares to save Koalas from bushfires. The population of Koalas are declining rapidly.

Australia prepares for saving Koalas from bushfires as fire season is approaching

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced Buffalo farmers in Australia to change some basic business practices to survive.

COVID-19 affected Buffalo farmers in Australia significantly

<p>The seller, who paid £150 to buy an ancient globe at a Welsh antique fair, was left stunned and dumbstruck when it was sold for a whopping price, fetching six figures at an auction on Thursday (December 16).&nbsp;</p>

<p>A 16th-century old globe created a buzz as it sparked an intense bidding war during the auction by UK-based Hansons Auctioneers, who stated that the item is believed to be the oldest example of its kind offered at auction.</p>

<p>The globe is a carved wood and paper sphere and it is It is believed that it dates back to the 1550s or 1560s.&nbsp;The auctioneers mentioned that several museums could not help in figuring out the 16th-century terrestrial globe because they had nothing like it in their collections, which makes the item rare.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To grab one of the "rarest objects" ever uncovered by Hansons Auctioneers, five phone bidders battled with the internet to buy the 470-year-old globe.&nbsp;The item was eventually sold at £116,000 to a private buyer in New York, America, who was bidding online.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/wikipedia-co-founder-sells-nft-of-first-ever-edit-made-on-its-site-for-750000-437399">Wikipedia co-founder sells NFT of first ever edit made on its site for $750,000</a></strong></p>

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<p>The seller, who was watching the auction online said, "I thought I was pushing the boat at £150 when I bought it during the pandemic. I had no idea it was so important and valuable."</p>

<p>She added, "I watched the auction with my friend, my husband and a glass of wine. My friend was crying, I was in shock and my husband was totally and utterly dumbstruck. It goes without saying that I'm delighted."</p>

<p><strong>History and significance of the globe</strong></p>

<p>Jim Spencer, who is the head of Hansons' Library Auction, came across the antique item when the seller took the object along for free valuation at Hansons’ Staffordshire saleroom, Bishton Hall.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After intense research, it was revealed that the globe was an incredibly rare circa 1550/60 globe. It was either made by Francois Demongenet, a French geographer known for globe gores which became a model for other makers. Or, it was a derivative of his design.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The globe shows a world before the country Australia had been discovered. The country, which by Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon in 1606, appears as part of a southern landmass called Terra Incognita.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/nft-of-side-eyeing-chloe-memes-original-image-sells-for-a-whopping-amount-416001">NFT of ‘side-eyeing Chloe’ meme’s original image sells for a whopping amount</a></strong></p>

<p>In the same globe, Japan is called 'Sipannge' and the islands near Java are termed 'Gryforum Insule'. North America has been marked 'Devicta ann 1530' and South America is marked 'Nova Terra Inventa anno 1492' and 'Canibales Tropophagi'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"A 16th century globe. One of the earliest in existence. It doesn't even show Australia. Europeans hadn't set foot on it when it was made circa 1560," Hansons Auctioneers noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Spencer said, "I'm delighted for all concerned. This is an exceptional result. This object truly deserved to excel. To me, the globe feels priceless. It’s just so early and fragile to have survived the centuries."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"One specialist told me 16th-century globes are nigh on impossible to come across. In terms of value, the general consensus was that it was a 'complete unknown'. We think our globe could be the earliest ever offered at auction," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is important to note that the oldest terrestrial globe in the world is the Erdapfel from 1492. The second oldest, the Ostrich Egg Globe from 1504, which was sold at the London Map Fair in 2012. Third is the Hunt-Lenox Globe, circa 1510.</p>


The seller, who paid £150 to buy an ancient globe at a Welsh antique fair, was left stunned and dumbstruck when it was sold for a whopping price, fetching six figures at an auction on Thursday (December 16).

The seller, who paid £150 to buy an ancient globe at a Welsh antique fair, was left stunned and dumbstruck when it was sold for a whopping price, fetching six figures at an auction on Thursday (December 16). A 16th-century old globe created a buzz as it sparked an intense bidding war during the auction by UK-based Hansons Auctioneers, who stated that the item is believed to be the oldest example of its kind offered at auction. The globe is a carved wood and paper sphere and it is It is believed that it dates back to the 1550s or 1560s. The auctioneers mentioned that several museums could not help in figuring out the 16th-century terrestrial globe because they had nothing like it in their collections, which makes the item rare. To grab one of the "rarest objects" ever uncovered by Hansons Auctioneers, five phone bidders battled with the internet to buy the 470-year-old globe. The item was eventually sold at £116,000 to a private buyer in New York, America, who was bidding online. ALSO READ | Wikipedia co-founder sells NFT of first ever edit made on its site for $750,000 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hansons Auctioneers (@hansons_auctioneers) × The seller, who was watching the auction online said, "I thought I was pushing the boat at £150 when I bought it during the pandemic. I had no idea it was so important and valuable." She added, "I watched the auction with my friend, my husband and a glass of wine. My friend was crying, I was in shock and my husband was totally and utterly dumbstruck. It goes without saying that I'm delighted." History and significance of the globe Jim Spencer, who is the head of Hansons' Library Auction, came across the antique item when the seller took the object along for free valuation at Hansons’ Staffordshire saleroom, Bishton Hall. After intense research, it was revealed that the globe was an incredibly rare circa 1550/60 globe. It was either made by Francois Demongenet, a French geographer known for globe gores which became a model for other makers. Or, it was a derivative of his design. The globe shows a world before the country Australia had been discovered. The country, which by Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon in 1606, appears as part of a southern landmass called Terra Incognita. ALSO READ | NFT of ‘side-eyeing Chloe’ meme’s original image sells for a whopping amount In the same globe, Japan is called 'Sipannge' and the islands near Java are termed 'Gryforum Insule'. North America has been marked 'Devicta ann 1530' and South America is marked 'Nova Terra Inventa anno 1492' and 'Canibales Tropophagi'. "A 16th century globe. One of the earliest in existence. It doesn't even show Australia. Europeans hadn't set foot on it when it was made circa 1560," Hansons Auctioneers noted. Spencer said, "I'm delighted for all concerned. This is an exceptional result. This object truly deserved to excel. To me, the globe feels priceless. It’s just so early and fragile to have survived the centuries." "One specialist told me 16th-century globes are nigh on impossible to come across. In terms of value, the general consensus was that it was a 'complete unknown'. We think our globe could be the earliest ever offered at auction," he added. It is important to note that the oldest terrestrial globe in the world is the Erdapfel from 1492. The second oldest, the Ostrich Egg Globe from 1504, which was sold at the London Map Fair in 2012. Third is the Hunt-Lenox Globe, circa 1510.

Ancient globe, bought for £150 at Welsh antique fair, fetches £116,000 at auction. Know what makes it valuable

As climate change makes its presence felt across the world, there are some who are trying to fight its impact away from the limelight by creating a solar village and living off the grid for 40 years more in this next detailed report.

Living off the grid for 40 years, meet the creators of solar village in Australia

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the buffalo farmers in Australia. For months, they had to sustain themselves with very little profits from milk and meat products. So how have the buffalo farmers of Australia managed to survive this downturn?

Australian buffalo farmers reducing carbon footprint to survive COVID-19 pandemic

Koalas, which are already at worryingly low numbers are particularly vulnerable and in the Sydney region, they also face many other dangers, including habitat loss and disease. WION tells you how Australia is preparing to protect Koalas.

Australia prepares to protect Koalas from bushfires

<p>At least five school children were killed and some were badly injured in an accident in Australia as their jumping castle was thrown into the air after a gust of wind picked it up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The heartbreaking incident happened on Thursday (December 16) during an end-of-year party when they were celebrating the last week of class before Christmas break in a primary school in Devonport, northern Tasmania.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ABC reported that the children fell from a height of 10 metres when the bouncy castle was picked by the wind at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport.&nbsp;Reports stated that they belonged to grade 5 and 6 and were about 10-12 years old.</p>

<p>Initial reports stated that four children - two boys and two girls were killed. However, police later confirmed that a fifth student died in the hospital.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-officials-quit-after-they-had-sex-with-prostitutes-during-an-assignment-overseas-437371">FBI officials quit after they had sex with prostitutes during an assignment overseas</a></strong></p>

<p>Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine as quoted by ABC said, "These children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we're all mourning their loss. Emergency services were called to the scene around 10am this morning after a wind gust had reportedly caused the jumping castle and inflatable zorb balls to lift into the air."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates and teachers of these young people who were taken too soon. Our thoughts are also with those emergency services personnel who attended to try and save these people's lives," the statement added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>School's response</strong></p>

<p>Hillcrest Primary school posted on its Facebook page: "The purpose for the day is to celebrate a successful year and enjoy some fun activities with classmates."<br />
&nbsp;<br />
There was an update which stated: "There has been an accident on site at our school. We are closing the school for the rest of the day. We ask that parents come to collect their children as a matter of urgency."</p>

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<p><strong>Scott Morrison mourns over&nbsp;'horrific tragedy'</strong></p>

<p>Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, "Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy, at this time of year, it just breaks your heart."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I just want to say, to the parents and families and friends, all who were there, to the other young children there and witnessing these events, I just pray you'll have great family around you and great friends and you can come through this horrific tragedy."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My heart is breaking for all those impacted by the tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School in Tasmania today.<br />
<br />
My prayers are with the family and friends of the children who lost their lives, the injured, the first responders and all those who witnessed this deeply distressing event.</p>
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP/status/1471336873851191298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


At least five school children were killed and some were badly injured in an accident in Australia as their jumping castle was thrown into the air after a gust of wind picked it up.

At least five school children were killed and some were badly injured in an accident in Australia as their jumping castle was thrown into the air after a gust of wind picked it up. The heartbreaking incident happened on Thursday (December 16) during an end-of-year party when they were celebrating the last week of class before Christmas break in a primary school in Devonport, northern Tasmania. ABC reported that the children fell from a height of 10 metres when the bouncy castle was picked by the wind at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport. Reports stated that they belonged to grade 5 and 6 and were about 10-12 years old. Initial reports stated that four children - two boys and two girls were killed. However, police later confirmed that a fifth student died in the hospital. ALSO READ | FBI officials quit after they had sex with prostitutes during an assignment overseas Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine as quoted by ABC said, "These children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we're all mourning their loss. Emergency services were called to the scene around 10am this morning after a wind gust had reportedly caused the jumping castle and inflatable zorb balls to lift into the air." "Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates and teachers of these young people who were taken too soon. Our thoughts are also with those emergency services personnel who attended to try and save these people's lives," the statement added. School's response Hillcrest Primary school posted on its Facebook page: "The purpose for the day is to celebrate a successful year and enjoy some fun activities with classmates." There was an update which stated: "There has been an accident on site at our school. We are closing the school for the rest of the day. We ask that parents come to collect their children as a matter of urgency." × Scott Morrison mourns over 'horrific tragedy' Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, "Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy, at this time of year, it just breaks your heart." "I just want to say, to the parents and families and friends, all who were there, to the other young children there and witnessing these events, I just pray you'll have great family around you and great friends and you can come through this horrific tragedy." My heart is breaking for all those impacted by the tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School in Tasmania today. My prayers are with the family and friends of the children who lost their lives, the injured, the first responders and all those who witnessed this deeply distressing event. — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) December 16, 2021 ×

'Horrific tragedy': Five children die after jumping castle blown into air at Australian school

<p>There is a new album in the top five of the Aria charts in Australia. Incredibly, it is made up entirely of endangered Australian bird squawks and tweets.</p>

<p>Titled 'Songs of Disappearance', the album has eclipsed the likes of The Weeknd and Abba, as well as holiday favourites Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-backed-conspiracy-theories-grip-social-media-following-general-bipin-rawats-death-437309" hreflang="en">Pakistan-backed conspiracy theories grip social media following General Bipin Rawat's death</a></strong></p>

<p>Created by BirdLife Australia, the album features the birdsongs of 53 of the most threatened species in Australia.</p>

<p>The album was released on 3 December, and a social media campaign was launched to help it reach Australia's Aria music sales charts. Needless to say, the campaign worked -- 'Songs of Disappearance' has made history by becoming the first album of its kind to chart in the top five.</p>

<p>Proceeds from the sale of this album will go to BirdLife Australia's conservation projects.</p>

<p>Wildlife sound recordist David Stewart has been collecting often unheard sounds of Australian wildlife for about three decades. Bird recordings from his collection have been used for the album.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-the-first-time-since-1975-us-teens-record-significant-decline-in-drug-use-437268" hreflang="en">For the first time since 1975, US teens record significant decline in drug use</a></strong></p>

<p>Some sounds required hours of waiting in the bush to record just one short tweet.</p>

<p>"This album is a very special record with some rare recordings of birds that may not survive if we don't come together to protect them," BirdLife Australia CEO Paul Sullivan told The Music Network.</p>

<p>"While this campaign is fun, there's a serious side to what we're doing, and it's been heartening to see bird enthusiasts showing governments and businesses that Australians care about these important birds," he added.</p>

<p>You can listen to the album here:</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ta_eqF9qENw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>A study by Charles Darwin University indicates that 216 out of 1,299 or one in six Australian bird species are now threatened. The study, which included the input of more than 300 bird experts, found that climate change was pushing species closer to extinction.</p>

<p>In the wake of the 2019 and 2020 bushfires destroying their habitats, BirdLife Australia estimates that the number of endangered bird species has increased by as much as 25 per cent.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


There is a new album in the top five of the Aria charts in Australia. Incredibly, it is made up entirely of endangered Australian bird squawks and tweets. Titled 'Songs of Disappearance', the album has eclipsed the likes of The Weeknd and Abba, as well as holiday favourites Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey.

There is a new album in the top five of the Aria charts in Australia. Incredibly, it is made up entirely of endangered Australian bird squawks and tweets. Titled 'Songs of Disappearance', the album has eclipsed the likes of The Weeknd and Abba, as well as holiday favourites Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey. Also read | Pakistan-backed conspiracy theories grip social media following General Bipin Rawat's death Created by BirdLife Australia, the album features the birdsongs of 53 of the most threatened species in Australia. The album was released on 3 December, and a social media campaign was launched to help it reach Australia's Aria music sales charts. Needless to say, the campaign worked -- 'Songs of Disappearance' has made history by becoming the first album of its kind to chart in the top five. Proceeds from the sale of this album will go to BirdLife Australia's conservation projects. Wildlife sound recordist David Stewart has been collecting often unheard sounds of Australian wildlife for about three decades. Bird recordings from his collection have been used for the album. Also read | For the first time since 1975, US teens record significant decline in drug use Some sounds required hours of waiting in the bush to record just one short tweet. "This album is a very special record with some rare recordings of birds that may not survive if we don't come together to protect them," BirdLife Australia CEO Paul Sullivan told The Music Network. "While this campaign is fun, there's a serious side to what we're doing, and it's been heartening to see bird enthusiasts showing governments and businesses that Australians care about these important birds," he added. You can listen to the album here: A study by Charles Darwin University indicates that 216 out of 1,299 or one in six Australian bird species are now threatened. The study, which included the input of more than 300 bird experts, found that climate change was pushing species closer to extinction. In the wake of the 2019 and 2020 bushfires destroying their habitats, BirdLife Australia estimates that the number of endangered bird species has increased by as much as 25 per cent. (With inputs from agencies)

'Songs of Disappearance': Spreading awareness, birdsong album overtakes music stars in Australia

Australians flocked to shopping malls and stores across inner Sydney to get their stockings filled and presents wrapped ahead of Christmas.

Australia: Shopping centres deck the halls with Christmas decorations

Locals shed tears of happiness as Queensland border reopens after 143 days

<p>Two years ago, the fields outside Christina Southwell’s family home near the cotton capital of Australia looked like a dusty, brown desert as drought-fueled wildfires burned to the north and south.</p>

<p>Last week, after record-breaking rains, muddy floodwaters surrounded her, along with the stench of rotting crops. She had been trapped for days with just her cat and still didn’t know when the sludge would recede.</p>

<p>“It seems to take for bloody ever to go away,” she said, watching a boat carry food into the town of Wee Waa. “All it leaves behind is this stink, and it’s just going to get worse.”</p>

<p>Life on the land has always been hard in Australia, but the past few years have delivered one extreme after another, demanding new levels of resilience and pointing to the rising costs of a warming planet. For many Australians, moderate weather — a pleasant summer, a year without a state of emergency — increasingly feels like a luxury.</p>

<p>The Black Summer bush fires of 2019 and 2020 were the worst in Australia’s recorded history. This year, many of the same areas that suffered through those epic blazes endured the wettest, coldest November since at least 1900. Hundreds of people, across several states, have been forced to evacuate. Many more, like Southwell, are stranded on flood plain islands with no way to leave except by boat or helicopter, possibly until after Christmas.</p>

<p>And with a second year of the weather phenomenon known as La Nina in full swing, meteorologists are predicting even more flooding for Australia’s east coast, adding to the stress from the pandemic, not to mention from a recent rural mouse plague of biblical proportions.</p>

<p>“It feels constant,” said Brett Dickinson, 58, a wheat farmer who lives not far from Southwell in northwest New South Wales, about a six-hour drive from Sydney. “We’re constantly battling all the elements — and the animals too.”</p>

<p>There’s a tendency to think of such extremes as “natural disasters” or “acts of God” that come and go with news reports. But Australia’s nightmares of nature ebb and flow. Its droughts and floods, although weather opposites, are driven by the same forces — some of them timeless, others newer and caused by humans.</p>

<p>Andy Pitman, director of the ARC Center of Excellence for Climate Extremes at the University of New South Wales, said the ups and downs of weather had been severe for millenniums on the Australian landmass, which is as large as the continental United States and surrounded by powerful climate-driving oceans, from the tropical South Pacific to the colder Southern Ocean off Antarctica.</p>

<p>As a consequence, the El Nino and La Nina patterns tend to hit Australia harder than they do other places, with harsh droughts that end with major floods. Some scientists even suggest that the way that marsupials reproduce, with the ability to put active pregnancies on pause, shows that the El Nino-La Nina cycle has been around long enough for flora and fauna to adapt.</p>

<p>On top of that already intense variability, Pitman said, are now two additional complicating factors: “climate change and human decisions around building things.”</p>

<p>Both make fires and floods more damaging.</p>

<p>“A small change in climate coupled with a small change in landscapes can have a large impact on flood characteristics,” Pitman said.</p>

<p>The results are already visible in government budgets. The cost of climate disasters in Australia has more than doubled since the 1970s.</p>

<p>Ron Campbell, the mayor of Narrabri Shire, which includes Wee Waa, said his area was still waiting for government payments to offset damage from past catastrophes. He wondered when governments would stop paying for infrastructure repairs after every emergency.</p>

<p>“The costs are just enormous, not just here but at all the other places in similar circumstances,” he said.</p>

<p>More viscerally, the effect of a “supercharged climate” is drawn on the land itself. Across the vast tracts of farmland and small towns between Melbourne and Sydney where much of the country’s food, cattle, wine — and coal — are produced, the effects of fire, drought and flood coexist.</p>

<p>Even in areas that did not burst into flames, the heat waves and lack of rainfall that preceded the bush fires killed as much as 60% of the trees in some places. Cattle farmers culled so much of their herds during the drought that beef prices have risen more than 50% as they rush to restock paddocks nourished (nearly to death) by heavy rain.</p>

<p>Bryce Guest, a helicopter pilot in Narrabri, once watched the dust bowls grow from above. Then came “just a monstrous amount of rain,” he said, and a new kind of job: flights to mechanical pumps pushing water from fields to irrigation dams in a last-ditch effort to preserve crops that had been heading for a record harvest.</p>

<p>On one recent flight, he pointed to mountains of stored grain — worth six figures, at least — that were ruined by the rains, with heavy equipment trapped and rusting next to it. Farther inland, a home surrounded by levees had become a small island accessible only by boat or copter.</p>

<p>“Australia is all about water; everything revolves around it,” he said. “Where you put your home, your stock. Everything.”</p>

<p>The flood plains in what is known as the Murray-Darling basin stretch out for hundreds of miles, not unlike the land at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The territory is so flat that towns can be cut off with roads flooded by less than an inch of additional rain.</p>

<p>That happened a few weeks ago in Bedgerabong, a few hundred miles south of Narrabri. On a recent afternoon, a couple of teachers were being driven out of town in a hulking firetruck — equipment for one disaster often serves another. Across a flooded road behind them, three other teachers had decided to camp out so they could provide some consistency for children who had already been kept out of school for months by pandemic lockdowns.</p>

<p>Paul Faulkner, 55, principal of the school (total enrollment: 42), said that many parents craved social connection for their children. The Red Cross has sent in booklets for those struggling with stress and anxiety.</p>

<p>“COVID has kept everyone from their families,” he said. “This just isolates them even more.”</p>

<p>He admitted that there were a few things they did not discuss; Santa, for one. The town is expected to be cut off until after the holidays as the waters that rose with surging rains over a few days take weeks to drain and fade.</p>

<p>In Wee Waa, where the water has started to recede, supplies and people flowed in and out last week by helicopter and in a small boat piloted by volunteers.</p>

<p>Still, there were shortages everywhere — mostly of people. In a community of around 2,000 people, half of the teachers at the local public school couldn’t make it to work.</p>

<p>At the town’s only pharmacy, Tien On, the owner, struggled with a short-handed staff to keep up with requests. He was especially concerned about delayed drug deliveries by helicopter for patients with mental health medications.</p>

<p>Southwell, 69, was better prepared than most. She spent 25 years volunteering with emergency services and has been teaching first aid for decades. After a quick trip into Wee Waa by boat, she returned to her home with groceries and patience, checking a shed for the stray cats she feeds and discovering that only one of her chickens appeared to have drowned.</p>

<p>She said she wasn’t sure how much climate change could be blamed for the floods; her father had put their house on higher stilts because they knew the waters would rise on occasion.</p>

<p>All she knew was that more extreme weather and severe challenges to the community would be coming their way.</p>

<p>“The worst part of it is the waiting,” she said. “And the cleanup.”</p>


Two years ago, the fields outside Christina Southwell’s family home near the cotton capital of Australia looked like a dusty, brown desert as drought-fueled wildfires burned to the north and south.

Two years ago, the fields outside Christina Southwell’s family home near the cotton capital of Australia looked like a dusty, brown desert as drought-fueled wildfires burned to the north and south. Last week, after record-breaking rains, muddy floodwaters surrounded her, along with the stench of rotting crops. She had been trapped for days with just her cat and still didn’t know when the sludge would recede. “It seems to take for bloody ever to go away,” she said, watching a boat carry food into the town of Wee Waa. “All it leaves behind is this stink, and it’s just going to get worse.” Life on the land has always been hard in Australia, but the past few years have delivered one extreme after another, demanding new levels of resilience and pointing to the rising costs of a warming planet. For many Australians, moderate weather — a pleasant summer, a year without a state of emergency — increasingly feels like a luxury. The Black Summer bush fires of 2019 and 2020 were the worst in Australia’s recorded history. This year, many of the same areas that suffered through those epic blazes endured the wettest, coldest November since at least 1900. Hundreds of people, across several states, have been forced to evacuate. Many more, like Southwell, are stranded on flood plain islands with no way to leave except by boat or helicopter, possibly until after Christmas. And with a second year of the weather phenomenon known as La Nina in full swing, meteorologists are predicting even more flooding for Australia’s east coast, adding to the stress from the pandemic, not to mention from a recent rural mouse plague of biblical proportions. “It feels constant,” said Brett Dickinson, 58, a wheat farmer who lives not far from Southwell in northwest New South Wales, about a six-hour drive from Sydney. “We’re constantly battling all the elements — and the animals too.” There’s a tendency to think of such extremes as “natural disasters” or “acts of God” that come and go with news reports. But Australia’s nightmares of nature ebb and flow. Its droughts and floods, although weather opposites, are driven by the same forces — some of them timeless, others newer and caused by humans. Andy Pitman, director of the ARC Center of Excellence for Climate Extremes at the University of New South Wales, said the ups and downs of weather had been severe for millenniums on the Australian landmass, which is as large as the continental United States and surrounded by powerful climate-driving oceans, from the tropical South Pacific to the colder Southern Ocean off Antarctica. As a consequence, the El Nino and La Nina patterns tend to hit Australia harder than they do other places, with harsh droughts that end with major floods. Some scientists even suggest that the way that marsupials reproduce, with the ability to put active pregnancies on pause, shows that the El Nino-La Nina cycle has been around long enough for flora and fauna to adapt. On top of that already intense variability, Pitman said, are now two additional complicating factors: “climate change and human decisions around building things.” Both make fires and floods more damaging. “A small change in climate coupled with a small change in landscapes can have a large impact on flood characteristics,” Pitman said. The results are already visible in government budgets. The cost of climate disasters in Australia has more than doubled since the 1970s. Ron Campbell, the mayor of Narrabri Shire, which includes Wee Waa, said his area was still waiting for government payments to offset damage from past catastrophes. He wondered when governments would stop paying for infrastructure repairs after every emergency. “The costs are just enormous, not just here but at all the other places in similar circumstances,” he said. More viscerally, the effect of a “supercharged climate” is drawn on the land itself. Across the vast tracts of farmland and small towns between Melbourne and Sydney where much of the country’s food, cattle, wine — and coal — are produced, the effects of fire, drought and flood coexist. Even in areas that did not burst into flames, the heat waves and lack of rainfall that preceded the bush fires killed as much as 60% of the trees in some places. Cattle farmers culled so much of their herds during the drought that beef prices have risen more than 50% as they rush to restock paddocks nourished (nearly to death) by heavy rain. Bryce Guest, a helicopter pilot in Narrabri, once watched the dust bowls grow from above. Then came “just a monstrous amount of rain,” he said, and a new kind of job: flights to mechanical pumps pushing water from fields to irrigation dams in a last-ditch effort to preserve crops that had been heading for a record harvest. On one recent flight, he pointed to mountains of stored grain — worth six figures, at least — that were ruined by the rains, with heavy equipment trapped and rusting next to it. Farther inland, a home surrounded by levees had become a small island accessible only by boat or copter. “Australia is all about water; everything revolves around it,” he said. “Where you put your home, your stock. Everything.” The flood plains in what is known as the Murray-Darling basin stretch out for hundreds of miles, not unlike the land at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The territory is so flat that towns can be cut off with roads flooded by less than an inch of additional rain. That happened a few weeks ago in Bedgerabong, a few hundred miles south of Narrabri. On a recent afternoon, a couple of teachers were being driven out of town in a hulking firetruck — equipment for one disaster often serves another. Across a flooded road behind them, three other teachers had decided to camp out so they could provide some consistency for children who had already been kept out of school for months by pandemic lockdowns. Paul Faulkner, 55, principal of the school (total enrollment: 42), said that many parents craved social connection for their children. The Red Cross has sent in booklets for those struggling with stress and anxiety. “COVID has kept everyone from their families,” he said. “This just isolates them even more.” He admitted that there were a few things they did not discuss; Santa, for one. The town is expected to be cut off until after the holidays as the waters that rose with surging rains over a few days take weeks to drain and fade. In Wee Waa, where the water has started to recede, supplies and people flowed in and out last week by helicopter and in a small boat piloted by volunteers. Still, there were shortages everywhere — mostly of people. In a community of around 2,000 people, half of the teachers at the local public school couldn’t make it to work. At the town’s only pharmacy, Tien On, the owner, struggled with a short-handed staff to keep up with requests. He was especially concerned about delayed drug deliveries by helicopter for patients with mental health medications. Southwell, 69, was better prepared than most. She spent 25 years volunteering with emergency services and has been teaching first aid for decades. After a quick trip into Wee Waa by boat, she returned to her home with groceries and patience, checking a shed for the stray cats she feeds and discovering that only one of her chickens appeared to have drowned. She said she wasn’t sure how much climate change could be blamed for the floods; her father had put their house on higher stilts because they knew the waters would rise on occasion. All she knew was that more extreme weather and severe challenges to the community would be coming their way. “The worst part of it is the waiting,” she said. “And the cleanup.”

First fires, then floods: Climate extremes batter Australia

In a protest against China's human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, Top Japanese officials are likely to skip Beijing Winter Olympics.

Japan likely to join US, Australia, UK & Canada in boycotting Beijing Winter Olympics diplomatically

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