Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Wednesday that 10 female&nbsp;passengers flying out of Doha were forced to endure invasive physical examinations.

Earlier, the government of Qatar said it “regrets any distress or infringement on the personal freedom of any traveller” after several women were asked to deboard the flight and were strip-searched by the authorities of Qatar Airways onboard a flight from&nbsp;Doha to Sydney after a&nbsp;newborn baby had been found abandoned in a trash can and was wrapped in a plastic bag.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/several-women-strip-searched-by-qatar-airways-authorities-after-infant-found-dead-337845">Several women strip-searched by Qatar Airways authorities after infant found dead</a>

"While the aim of the urgently-decided search was to prevent the perpetrators of the horrible crime from escaping, the State of Qatar regrets any distress or infringement on the personal freedoms of any traveller caused by this action," the <a href="https://www.gco.gov.qa/en/2020/10/28/government-communications-office-statement-on-an-abandoned-infant-discovered-at-hamad-international-airport/">statement</a>.

Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, had ordered an investigation and the results would be shared with international partners, it added.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-aviation-industry-hammered-qatar-airways-at-risk-of-bankruptcy-290029/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, the statement did not specifically detail that women had been forcibly examined, only referring to a "search for the parents".

Payne&nbsp;told parliament that women on "10 aircraft in total" had been subject to the searches, which she had earlier described as "grossly disturbing" and "offensive".

Payne said 18 women,&nbsp;including 13 Australians, on the October 2 flight to Sydney were affected, along with "other foreign nationals".&nbsp;

She did not detail the destinations of the other flights, adding she was unaware if any Australian women were on those planes.

Frances Adamson, head of&nbsp;Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said there was "distress, abhorrence and deep questioning of how this can have happened".

Officials said&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;was also working "very closely" with other countries to jointly raise concerns with Doha but refused to name those countries, citing privacy concerns of women on the Sydney-bound flight.

"There is a very strong, likeminded view about this -- other countries affected absolutely share&nbsp;Australia's views and the strength of&nbsp;Australia's views," Adamson told the Senate hearing.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Wednesday that 10 female passengers flying out of Doha were forced to endure invasive physical examinations. Earlier, the government of Qatar said it “regrets any distress or infringement on the personal freedom of any traveller” after several women were asked to deboard the flight and were strip-searched by the authorities of Qatar Airways onboard a flight from Doha to Sydney after a newborn baby had been found abandoned in a trash can and was wrapped in a plastic bag.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Wednesday that 10 female passengers flying out of Doha were forced to endure invasive physical examinations. Earlier, the government of Qatar said it “regrets any distress or infringement on the personal freedom of any traveller” after several women were asked to deboard the flight and were strip-searched by the authorities of Qatar Airways onboard a flight from Doha to Sydney after a newborn baby had been found abandoned in a trash can and was wrapped in a plastic bag. Also read: Several women strip-searched by Qatar Airways authorities after infant found dead "While the aim of the urgently-decided search was to prevent the perpetrators of the horrible crime from escaping, the State of Qatar regrets any distress or infringement on the personal freedoms of any traveller caused by this action," the statement. Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, had ordered an investigation and the results would be shared with international partners, it added. However, the statement did not specifically detail that women had been forcibly examined, only referring to a "search for the parents". Payne told parliament that women on "10 aircraft in total" had been subject to the searches, which she had earlier described as "grossly disturbing" and "offensive". Payne said 18 women, including 13 Australians, on the October 2 flight to Sydney were affected, along with "other foreign nationals". She did not detail the destinations of the other flights, adding she was unaware if any Australian women were on those planes. Frances Adamson, head of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said there was "distress, abhorrence and deep questioning of how this can have happened". Officials said Australia was also working "very closely" with other countries to jointly raise concerns with Doha but refused to name those countries, citing privacy concerns of women on the Sydney-bound flight. "There is a very strong, likeminded view about this -- other countries affected absolutely share Australia's views and the strength of Australia's views," Adamson told the Senate hearing.

Australia says female passengers on 10 flights from Qatar invasively examined

Several women were asked to deboard the flight and were strip-searched by the authorities of Qatar Airways onboard a flight from&nbsp;Doha to Sydney.&nbsp;

Flight QR908 to Sydney was about to leave the&nbsp;Hamad International airport at Doha at 8.30 on Friday when the authorities found an infant's dead body at the airport.

Following this, authorities asked several women to step down and those women returned to the plain&nbsp;after almost three-four hours.

The plane had 34 passengers on board, and one of the passengers told Guardian Australia that when the women returned,&nbsp;“most of them were very upset”.

“At least one of them was crying, they were discussing what had happened and saying that it was unacceptable and disgusting,” the passenger said.

He said the plan took off after a delay of more than three hours and when he interacted with the concerned (almost) 13 passengers, they told him about how they were subjected to search and medical exams.

“They were taken by security personnel into the cellar, not knowing what was going on,” he said. “And then they were presented to a female doctor and they were basically strip-searched and had to take everything downwards off, all their clothes, even their underwear.

“And then the doctor would try to feel in the uterus and stomach area or lower abdomen to see whether they may have given birth recently.

“Someone had been told that a baby had been found in the toilet and they were trying to find out who the mother was.”

The Australian government has registered "serious concerns" with Qatari authorities following the incident. The authorities said they were&nbsp;“aware of concerning reports regarding the treatment, in Qatar, of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight to Sydney”.

An updated statement, that was released on Sunday night, stated that&nbsp;the Australian government had “formally registered our serious concerns regarding the incident with Qatari authorities and have been assured that detailed and transparent information on the event will be provided soon”.

The Qatar Airways, however, has claimed that they have not been contacted by any of the passengers, but are investigating the matter. “We appreciate the concerns and distress expressed to you by the Australian passengers who you have spoken to, and will be investigating these matters with the relevant authorities and officials,” a spokesperson said.

Several women were asked to deboard the flight and were strip-searched by the authorities of Qatar Airways onboard a flight from Doha to Sydney. Flight QR908 to Sydney was about to leave the Hamad International airport at Doha at 8.

Several women were asked to deboard the flight and were strip-searched by the authorities of Qatar Airways onboard a flight from Doha to Sydney. Flight QR908 to Sydney was about to leave the Hamad International airport at Doha at 8.30 on Friday when the authorities found an infant's dead body at the airport. Following this, authorities asked several women to step down and those women returned to the plain after almost three-four hours. The plane had 34 passengers on board, and one of the passengers told Guardian Australia that when the women returned, “most of them were very upset”. “At least one of them was crying, they were discussing what had happened and saying that it was unacceptable and disgusting,” the passenger said. He said the plan took off after a delay of more than three hours and when he interacted with the concerned (almost) 13 passengers, they told him about how they were subjected to search and medical exams. “They were taken by security personnel into the cellar, not knowing what was going on,” he said. “And then they were presented to a female doctor and they were basically strip-searched and had to take everything downwards off, all their clothes, even their underwear. “And then the doctor would try to feel in the uterus and stomach area or lower abdomen to see whether they may have given birth recently. “Someone had been told that a baby had been found in the toilet and they were trying to find out who the mother was.” The Australian government has registered "serious concerns" with Qatari authorities following the incident. The authorities said they were “aware of concerning reports regarding the treatment, in Qatar, of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight to Sydney”. An updated statement, that was released on Sunday night, stated that the Australian government had “formally registered our serious concerns regarding the incident with Qatari authorities and have been assured that detailed and transparent information on the event will be provided soon”. The Qatar Airways, however, has claimed that they have not been contacted by any of the passengers, but are investigating the matter. “We appreciate the concerns and distress expressed to you by the Australian passengers who you have spoken to, and will be investigating these matters with the relevant authorities and officials,” a spokesperson said.

Several women strip-searched by Qatar Airways authorities after infant found dead

The women were checked for signs of having recently given birth after a newborn baby was found abandoned in a toilet at Hamad International Airport.

Australia seeks Qatar response after female passengers strip-searched

Even as Quad, a grouping of US, India, Australia and Japan is increasingly gaining currency, the US has said it is an "alignment of democracies" and more common activities are on the anvil when it comes to it.

In response to a WION question at a briefing for reporters, a senior US administration official said, “Regarding the next level of the Quad, because the Quad is an informal arrangement – it’s an alignment of democracies in the Indo-Pacific – there are many different dimensions in which it can grow and expand, and more – all activities are on the table and meetings among officials in different places and at different levels and with different subject matter focus."

Adding, “So I think all of us are open to additional cooperation, coordination, and common activity. &nbsp;And I expect that the next year will see even more alignment of activities among the four countries in the Quad, and hopefully those that will bring in other like-minded nations as well."

Earlier this month the Quad Foreign ministers met in Tokyo. The second such meeting that happened in the last year. The grouping is seen with a lot of suspicion by Beijing, which sees it as anti-China grouping calling it "Asian Nato".

Asked about any plans for a summit-level Quad meeting, US administration officials said, "Regarding a Quad summit, no, there are no plans for that in the immediate short term, but anything could happen in the future.”

The quad meeting, India inviting Australia for Malabar exercises in the Indian Ocean in November and the visit of US secretary of state and defence to New Delhi for 2+2 dialogue come amid increase Chinese aggressiveness.&nbsp;

On next week's 2+2, a senior state department official said, "The 2+2 ministerial will serve as a capstone to review our many accomplishments as well as lay down next steps for the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership."

Four major themes at this years 2+2 will be, global cooperation, which includes public health collaboration, economic cooperation, which include partnership on energy and in space, people-to-people ties and defense and security ties.

Even as Quad, a grouping of US, India, Australia and Japan is increasingly gaining currency, the US has said it is an "alignment of democracies" and more common activities are on the anvil when it comes to it.

Even as Quad, a grouping of US, India, Australia and Japan is increasingly gaining currency, the US has said it is an "alignment of democracies" and more common activities are on the anvil when it comes to it. In response to a WION question at a briefing for reporters, a senior US administration official said, “Regarding the next level of the Quad, because the Quad is an informal arrangement – it’s an alignment of democracies in the Indo-Pacific – there are many different dimensions in which it can grow and expand, and more – all activities are on the table and meetings among officials in different places and at different levels and with different subject matter focus." Adding, “So I think all of us are open to additional cooperation, coordination, and common activity. And I expect that the next year will see even more alignment of activities among the four countries in the Quad, and hopefully those that will bring in other like-minded nations as well." Earlier this month the Quad Foreign ministers met in Tokyo. The second such meeting that happened in the last year. The grouping is seen with a lot of suspicion by Beijing, which sees it as anti-China grouping calling it "Asian Nato". Asked about any plans for a summit-level Quad meeting, US administration officials said, "Regarding a Quad summit, no, there are no plans for that in the immediate short term, but anything could happen in the future.” The quad meeting, India inviting Australia for Malabar exercises in the Indian Ocean in November and the visit of US secretary of state and defence to New Delhi for 2+2 dialogue come amid increase Chinese aggressiveness. On next week's 2+2, a senior state department official said, "The 2+2 ministerial will serve as a capstone to review our many accomplishments as well as lay down next steps for the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership." Four major themes at this years 2+2 will be, global cooperation, which includes public health collaboration, economic cooperation, which include partnership on energy and in space, people-to-people ties and defense and security ties.

Quad is an alignment of democracies: Senior US administration official to WION

Watch today in 'World Business Watch': Australian airline Qantas has claimed that Australian state border closures or travel curbs due to the pandemic had costed $71 Million in earning in Q1.

World Business Watch: Australia's Qantas airline claims travel curbs costed $71 Mn in profit

Anything can happen in 2020, and not in a good way. While the world is fighting with a pandemic, Australia has a new problem: blood-transmitted diseases.

More than 200 people who had been residents of a&nbsp;coronavirus quarantine have now being asked to get tested&nbsp;for any&nbsp;blood-transmitted diseases, including HIV.

The incident came to light after the staff of the facility admitted to using the same blood-testing devices for various residents.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/abnormalities-spotted-in-lungs-of-60-coronavirus-patients-months-later-oxford-university-study-336676">Also read|&nbsp;Abnormalities spotted in lungs of 60% coronavirus patients months later: Oxford University study</a>

A Victoria health agency,&nbsp;Safer Care Victoria, said that their staff has reached out to 243 people who had their blood glucose level test before August 20 in their facility.

The agency, in their report, said that these people carry the risk of&nbsp;cross-contamination and blood-borne viruses, including HIV.

Blood glucose level testing devices intended for use by one person were used across multiple residents. This presents a low clinical risk of cross-contamination and blood-borne viruses – Hepatitis B and C, and HIV.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-worldwide-cases-surpass-40-million-more-than-50-cases-from-us-india-and-brazil-336386">Also read|&nbsp;Coronavirus: Worldwide cases surpass 40 million; more than 50% cases from US, India and Brazil</a>

The agency has also asked people t get in contact if they had their 'finger prick' test done in the facility but have not been contacted yet. They have also guaranteed anonymous testing for those who ask for it.&nbsp;"The clinical risk of infection is low. However, for reassurance, access to confidential testing will be arranged," Safer Care Victoria said in a statement.

As of now, there is no explanation provided about who is responsible for it. However,&nbsp;CEO Safer Care Victoria Adj Assoc Prof Ann Maree Keenan has assured that the matter will be investigated.

"Right now, we won’t be able to answer the many questions people will have about how this happened. Be assured that Safer Care Victoria is conducting a full review into how and why this device came to be in use."&nbsp;

Anything can happen in 2020, and not in a good way. While the world is fighting with a pandemic, Australia has a new problem: blood-transmitted diseases. More than 200 people who had been residents of a coronavirus quarantine have now being asked to get tested for any blood-transmitted diseases, including HIV.

Anything can happen in 2020, and not in a good way. While the world is fighting with a pandemic, Australia has a new problem: blood-transmitted diseases. More than 200 people who had been residents of a coronavirus quarantine have now being asked to get tested for any blood-transmitted diseases, including HIV. The incident came to light after the staff of the facility admitted to using the same blood-testing devices for various residents. Also read| Abnormalities spotted in lungs of 60% coronavirus patients months later: Oxford University study A Victoria health agency, Safer Care Victoria, said that their staff has reached out to 243 people who had their blood glucose level test before August 20 in their facility. The agency, in their report, said that these people carry the risk of cross-contamination and blood-borne viruses, including HIV. Blood glucose level testing devices intended for use by one person were used across multiple residents. This presents a low clinical risk of cross-contamination and blood-borne viruses – Hepatitis B and C, and HIV. Also read| Coronavirus: Worldwide cases surpass 40 million; more than 50% cases from US, India and Brazil The agency has also asked people t get in contact if they had their 'finger prick' test done in the facility but have not been contacted yet. They have also guaranteed anonymous testing for those who ask for it. "The clinical risk of infection is low. However, for reassurance, access to confidential testing will be arranged," Safer Care Victoria said in a statement. As of now, there is no explanation provided about who is responsible for it. However, CEO Safer Care Victoria Adj Assoc Prof Ann Maree Keenan has assured that the matter will be investigated. "Right now, we won’t be able to answer the many questions people will have about how this happened. Be assured that Safer Care Victoria is conducting a full review into how and why this device came to be in use."

Australia: More than 200 people to test for HIV after COVID-19 test kit blunder

The Quad now has a distinct military dimension. Australia will now join India, US, and Japan in the Malabar Exercise next month. While Japan is arming a rival of China. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how an Indo-Pacific alliance against China is taking shape.

Gravitas: Countering the Dragon: How an Indo-Pacific alliance is taking shape

According to a report Koalas in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) could become extinct by 2050 unless the government immediately intervenes to protect the species and its habitat.

Your Story: Report states Koalas to be extinct in NSW by 2050

Calling Australia's participation at Malabar exercises as a "milestone", the country in its first reaction on the development said it, “showcases the deep trust between four major Indo-Pacific democracies and their shared will to work together on common security interests.”

A joint release by Australian foreign and defense ministry said," “It will bolster the ability of India, Australia, Japan and the United States to work together to uphold peace and stability across our region.”

The invitation for participation in the exercises was sent by New Delhi to Canberra in last one week. The exercises which will take place in November will see all four quad member countries participating in exercises in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.

Australian defence minister Linda Reynolds said," “High-end military exercises like MALABAR are key to enhancing Australia’s maritime capabilities, building interoperability with our close partners, and demonstrating our collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific".

The sentiment was echoed by Australian foreign minister Marise Payne, who said, “This builds on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, to which Prime Minister Morrison and Prime Minister Modi agreed on 4 June 2020, and which I progressed with my counterpart, Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar, this month when we met in Tokyo."

Australia last participated in Exercises in 2007 and this will be after a decade it will be back in the exercises which is bound to irk China. China has already been upset with quad, calling it Asian Nato, and coming together of all 4 quad countries under Malabar exercises umbrella is bound to draw a sharp reaction from Beijing.

Indian and Australian Navies already have bilateral exercises and the Indian navy has been going to Australian waters for multilateral exercises. Interestingly, New Delhi has LEMOA or Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement with all 3 countries--US, Japan and Australia.

Calling Australia's participation at Malabar exercises as a "milestone", the country in its first reaction on the development said it, “showcases the deep trust between four major Indo-Pacific democracies and their shared will to work together on common security interests.

Calling Australia's participation at Malabar exercises as a "milestone", the country in its first reaction on the development said it, “showcases the deep trust between four major Indo-Pacific democracies and their shared will to work together on common security interests.” A joint release by Australian foreign and defense ministry said," “It will bolster the ability of India, Australia, Japan and the United States to work together to uphold peace and stability across our region.” The invitation for participation in the exercises was sent by New Delhi to Canberra in last one week. The exercises which will take place in November will see all four quad member countries participating in exercises in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. Australian defence minister Linda Reynolds said," “High-end military exercises like MALABAR are key to enhancing Australia’s maritime capabilities, building interoperability with our close partners, and demonstrating our collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific". The sentiment was echoed by Australian foreign minister Marise Payne, who said, “This builds on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, to which Prime Minister Morrison and Prime Minister Modi agreed on 4 June 2020, and which I progressed with my counterpart, Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar, this month when we met in Tokyo." Australia last participated in Exercises in 2007 and this will be after a decade it will be back in the exercises which is bound to irk China. China has already been upset with quad, calling it Asian Nato, and coming together of all 4 quad countries under Malabar exercises umbrella is bound to draw a sharp reaction from Beijing. Indian and Australian Navies already have bilateral exercises and the Indian navy has been going to Australian waters for multilateral exercises. Interestingly, New Delhi has LEMOA or Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement with all 3 countries--US, Japan and Australia.

Australia calls its participation in Malabar exercise a ‘milestone opportunity’

Specialised drones that disperse seeds will be trialled in Australia to help regenerate bushland and wildlife after the country's devastating summer bushfires. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Australia said that it plans to use drones that can plant around 40,000 seeds a day, including ones for Eucalyptus trees, which would help revive wildlife corridors across burnt out landscapes and inaccessible terrain.

WWF Australia use drones to regenerate wildlife after bushfire disaster

In a major development, Australia will be part of the annual Malabar exercises that will take place in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea in November.

Defence Ministry in a release said,"as India Seeks to increase cooperation with other countries in the maritime security domain and in the light of increased defence cooperation with Australia, Malabar 2020 will see the participation of the Australian Navy"

Malabar exercises will now have all 4 quad countries as part of the exercises - US, India, Japan and Australia. The announcement comes weeks after Quad country foreign ministers met in person in Tokyo.

The exercise will be ‘non-contact - at sea’ format and will "strengthen the coordination between the Navies of the participating countries", the Indian defence ministry release said.

In fact,&nbsp;Malabar exercises started in 1992 as a bilateral Indian Navy-US Navy exercise and Japan joined the exercises in 2015. In 2018, the exercise took place off the coast of Guam in the Philippine Sea, in 2019 off the coast the Japan.

The Indian Defence Ministry explained,&nbsp;"Participants of Exercise Malabar 2020 are engaging to enhance safety and security in the maritime domain."

Adding,"They collectively support free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and remain committed to a rules based international order."

The development will raise eyebrows in Beijing that sees coming together of Quad countries suspiciously.

In a major development, Australia will be part of the annual Malabar exercises that will take place in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea in November. Defence Ministry in a release said,"as India Seeks to increase cooperation with other countries in the maritime security domain and in the light of increased defence cooperation with Australia, Malabar 2020 will see the participation of the Australian Navy" Malabar exercises will now have all 4 quad countries as part of the exercises - US, India, Japan and Australia.

In a major development, Australia will be part of the annual Malabar exercises that will take place in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea in November. Defence Ministry in a release said,"as India Seeks to increase cooperation with other countries in the maritime security domain and in the light of increased defence cooperation with Australia, Malabar 2020 will see the participation of the Australian Navy" Malabar exercises will now have all 4 quad countries as part of the exercises - US, India, Japan and Australia. The announcement comes weeks after Quad country foreign ministers met in person in Tokyo. The exercise will be ‘non-contact - at sea’ format and will "strengthen the coordination between the Navies of the participating countries", the Indian defence ministry release said. In fact, Malabar exercises started in 1992 as a bilateral Indian Navy-US Navy exercise and Japan joined the exercises in 2015. In 2018, the exercise took place off the coast of Guam in the Philippine Sea, in 2019 off the coast the Japan. The Indian Defence Ministry explained, "Participants of Exercise Malabar 2020 are engaging to enhance safety and security in the maritime domain." Adding,"They collectively support free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and remain committed to a rules based international order." The development will raise eyebrows in Beijing that sees coming together of Quad countries suspiciously.

Eyeing China, Australia to join India's annual Malabar drill

Australia is set to join the Malabar trilateral naval exercise comprising India, Japan and US. The naval exercises will have all 4 Quad members now.

News Alert: Australia to join Malabar naval exercise for the first time

All hopes of the fashion industry opening after the lockdown have doused by the second surge of coronavirus infection. Watch report.

Prices of Australia's Merino wool drops: Fashion industry in coronavirus

Scientists in a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society Journal said that half of Great Barrier Reef's corals had died in last 25 years. Climate change is severely affecting the world-heritage listed reef off Australia's northeastern coast.

Great Barrier Reef is made up of corals that support rich and bio-diverse marine life. The reef is 2300 km long.

Climate change has affected larger species of corals which have almost disappeared from far northern reaches of the reef.

"They're typically depleted by (up to) 80 or 90 percent compared to 25 years ago," report co-author and James Cook University professor Terry Hughes told AFP.

"They make the nooks and crannies that fish and other creatures depend on, so losing big three-dimensional corals changes the broader ecosystem."

Great Barrier Reef was an estimated USD 4 billion in revenue from tourism before the coronavirus pandemic.

The reef is at risk of losing its coveted world heritage status because of ocean warming -- fuelled by climate change -- damaging its health.

Changes in ocean temperatures stress healthy corals, causing them to expel algae living in their tissues -- draining them of their vibrant colours in a process known as bleaching.

Back-to-back mass bleaching events in 2016 and 2017 prompted the government to downgrade the long-term outlook for the world's largest living organism to "very poor". 
Mass bleaching was first seen on the reef in 1998 -- at the time, the hottest year on record -- but as temperatures continue to soar it frequency has increased, shrinking the reef and making it harder to recover.

The big mamas

"A vibrant coral population has millions of small, baby corals, as well as many large ones -- the big mamas who produce most of the larvae," the study's lead author Andy Dietzel, also of James Cook University, said.

"Its resilience is compromised compared to the past, because there are fewer babies, and fewer large breeding adults."

On top of long-term ocean warming and associated bleaching, the reef has been battered by several cyclones and two outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish -- which eat the coral -- since 1995.

When the starfish occur in small numbers, they are considered part of the natural ecosystem, but when a large outbreak happens, they can rapidly destroy parts of the reef.

While four mass bleaching events up to 2017 were covered by the latest research, the damage to coral species from bleaching in early 2020 is yet to be assessed.

It was the most widespread bleaching on record, impacting swathes of the southern reaches of the reef for the first time.

Hughes said scientists expected corals to continue dying off unless nations met their Paris Agreement commitment to keep the increase in global average temperature under 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

"It takes about a decade for a half-decent recovery for the fastest-growing species, so the chances of us getting decades between the future sixth, seventh and eighth bleaching events is close to zero because temperatures are because going up and up and up," he said.

If temperatures do stabilise later this century under the Paris target, it is hoped that corals will be able to reassemble and rebuild their numbers.&nbsp;

Even then, Hughes said, "we don't think they'll rebuild into the mix of species that we've known historically".

If the rise is as much as 3 or 4 degrees Celsius, "forget it", he said.

"The trajectory is changing very, very quickly -- we're shocked and surprised by how quickly these changes are happening -- and there's further change ahead."

(With AFP inputs)

Scientists in a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society Journal said that half of Great Barrier Reef's corals had died in last 25 years. Climate change is severely affecting the world-heritage listed reef off Australia's northeastern coast.

Scientists in a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society Journal said that half of Great Barrier Reef's corals had died in last 25 years. Climate change is severely affecting the world-heritage listed reef off Australia's northeastern coast. Great Barrier Reef is made up of corals that support rich and bio-diverse marine life. The reef is 2300 km long. Climate change has affected larger species of corals which have almost disappeared from far northern reaches of the reef. "They're typically depleted by (up to) 80 or 90 percent compared to 25 years ago," report co-author and James Cook University professor Terry Hughes told AFP. "They make the nooks and crannies that fish and other creatures depend on, so losing big three-dimensional corals changes the broader ecosystem." Great Barrier Reef was an estimated USD 4 billion in revenue from tourism before the coronavirus pandemic. The reef is at risk of losing its coveted world heritage status because of ocean warming -- fuelled by climate change -- damaging its health. Changes in ocean temperatures stress healthy corals, causing them to expel algae living in their tissues -- draining them of their vibrant colours in a process known as bleaching. Back-to-back mass bleaching events in 2016 and 2017 prompted the government to downgrade the long-term outlook for the world's largest living organism to "very poor". Mass bleaching was first seen on the reef in 1998 -- at the time, the hottest year on record -- but as temperatures continue to soar it frequency has increased, shrinking the reef and making it harder to recover. The big mamas "A vibrant coral population has millions of small, baby corals, as well as many large ones -- the big mamas who produce most of the larvae," the study's lead author Andy Dietzel, also of James Cook University, said. "Its resilience is compromised compared to the past, because there are fewer babies, and fewer large breeding adults." On top of long-term ocean warming and associated bleaching, the reef has been battered by several cyclones and two outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish -- which eat the coral -- since 1995. When the starfish occur in small numbers, they are considered part of the natural ecosystem, but when a large outbreak happens, they can rapidly destroy parts of the reef. While four mass bleaching events up to 2017 were covered by the latest research, the damage to coral species from bleaching in early 2020 is yet to be assessed. It was the most widespread bleaching on record, impacting swathes of the southern reaches of the reef for the first time. Hughes said scientists expected corals to continue dying off unless nations met their Paris Agreement commitment to keep the increase in global average temperature under 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. "It takes about a decade for a half-decent recovery for the fastest-growing species, so the chances of us getting decades between the future sixth, seventh and eighth bleaching events is close to zero because temperatures are because going up and up and up," he said. If temperatures do stabilise later this century under the Paris target, it is hoped that corals will be able to reassemble and rebuild their numbers. Even then, Hughes said, "we don't think they'll rebuild into the mix of species that we've known historically". If the rise is as much as 3 or 4 degrees Celsius, "forget it", he said. "The trajectory is changing very, very quickly -- we're shocked and surprised by how quickly these changes are happening -- and there's further change ahead." (With AFP inputs)

Great Barrier Reef lost half of its corals in 25 years

Australia's right-wing former prime minister Tony Abbott registered as an agent of foreign influence Friday, after controversially taking up a role as a trade advisor to the UK government.

Abbott -- who lost his seat in parliament at the last election -- is registered under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme, which is designed to monitor outside influence over Australian public life.

The scheme is similar to the United States' Foreign Agents Registration Act, and was introduced in late 2018 amid concerns about growing Chinese lobbying efforts Down Under.

"Anthony John Abbott" -- "Occupation: Former Prime Minister" -- appeared on register Friday as "an unpaid adviser to the UK Board of Trade. The role is to advocate for free and fair trade especially trade with the UK and its allies."

Abbott's 2013-2015 tenure was marked by hardline policies on illegal immigration, opposition to same-sex marriage and scepticism of man-made climate change.

His appointment prompted outrage in Britain, where he was pilloried as a "climate change-denying, Trump-worshipping misogynist" and raised questions in Australia about whether a former prime minister should work for a foreign state.

In 2014, Abbott -- an ardent monarchist -- reintroduced knights and dames to the Australian honours system, and his subsequent decision to knight Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip was met with ridicule and disbelief.

The titles have since been removed from the honours system by his successor.

Abbott's party mate, Australia's former minister of foreign affairs Alexander Downer also appears on the register, working as a trade advisor to Britain's Iberian enclave of Gibraltar.

Australia's right-wing former prime minister Tony Abbott registered as an agent of foreign influence Friday, after controversially taking up a role as a trade advisor to the UK government.

Australia's right-wing former prime minister Tony Abbott registered as an agent of foreign influence Friday, after controversially taking up a role as a trade advisor to the UK government. Abbott -- who lost his seat in parliament at the last election -- is registered under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme, which is designed to monitor outside influence over Australian public life. The scheme is similar to the United States' Foreign Agents Registration Act, and was introduced in late 2018 amid concerns about growing Chinese lobbying efforts Down Under. "Anthony John Abbott" -- "Occupation: Former Prime Minister" -- appeared on register Friday as "an unpaid adviser to the UK Board of Trade. The role is to advocate for free and fair trade especially trade with the UK and its allies." Abbott's 2013-2015 tenure was marked by hardline policies on illegal immigration, opposition to same-sex marriage and scepticism of man-made climate change. His appointment prompted outrage in Britain, where he was pilloried as a "climate change-denying, Trump-worshipping misogynist" and raised questions in Australia about whether a former prime minister should work for a foreign state. In 2014, Abbott -- an ardent monarchist -- reintroduced knights and dames to the Australian honours system, and his subsequent decision to knight Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip was met with ridicule and disbelief. The titles have since been removed from the honours system by his successor. Abbott's party mate, Australia's former minister of foreign affairs Alexander Downer also appears on the register, working as a trade advisor to Britain's Iberian enclave of Gibraltar.

Aussie ex-PM registers as foreign agent over UK role

Australia wants to introduce an English test for partner visas. Is it too much to ask for? WION's Palki Sharma argues why Australia's demand for knowledge of functional English from immigrants is a valid one.

Australian Visas: English test for foreign spouses | Gravitas

A lot is being said about a proposed Australian law that is about immigration. Australia wants foreign spouses of existing residents to know basic English and&nbsp;wants spouses to pass an English test when applying for immigration to Australia.

This requirement has not been approved by the Parliament yet. If it gets the nod, it will be applicable from mid 2021. However, critics say the move is racist and&nbsp;has been designed to keep non-westerners out of Australia.

The other side of this debate is that if you were relocating to a country to join your spouse or family and want to be&nbsp;employable or even survive, you might need&nbsp;a functional knowledge of the local language — may be just enough to say a hello or a thank you or seek help.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-australia-world-champion-surfer-narrowly-escapes-shark-attack-333423">Watch | Australia: World champion surfer narrowly escapes shark attack</a>

What Australia is asking for&nbsp;is not for an applicant to write a Shakespearean prose&nbsp;or Keatsian poetry; it is asking for functional and beginner's level English.

If Australia goes ahead with the law, it will not be an exception.

In Germany, foreign nationals living there are expected to demonstrate competency in the German language. Their government website clearly states that to be able to live in Germany, you will need to know German.

You need to take a language test. "To be allowed to immigrate to Germany, you will need to enter the exams and pass them up to either a1 or b1," the official website reads.

If a child is seeking immigration to unite with his or her parents, Germany expects "for children over 16 years old, there must be suffiecient proof of German language proficiency and the ability to adapt and integrate".

As for spouses, "they will need to have at least an a1 German proficiency to qualify".

Similarly in&nbsp;Switzerland, if&nbsp;a family member applies for Swiss residence perimit, the authorities may ask them to sign a cultural intergration agreement. The applicants may be asked to show a certain level of language skill.

These countries are not looking for proficiency, but just functional knowledge of a lanauge.

The UK spouse visa requirement includes&nbsp;a minimum English language proficiency of CEFR level A1. CEFR stands for the Common European Framework of References for language.

In case you are wondering, &nbsp;there is no such language requirement in India. If someone wants to migrate to India, there is no expectation for him or her to have a functional knowledge of Hindi, Bangla, Tamil, or any of the official langauges.

Our question is that&nbsp;is it too much to ask for to learn basics of a language? It takes 80 to 100 hours of classes and a couple of tests to clear a beginner level foreign language test. Most of these lessons are now available online, so nobody needs to even pay for the classes.

Learning a new language will help the applicant adjust to the new country, be functional, if not employable.

Australia too is thinking on the same lines. It says there were about one million people living in Australia with poor or no English skill and this has limited their work and social skills.

So Canberra wants applicants to take 500 hours of English class which are free of cost. Australia is not saying that if you do not know English, you cannot visit your spouse. It says you can still enter the country and stay there temporarily.&nbsp;

It is only if you want to stay in Australia permanently that you would need to learn English, and&nbsp;you can do that while staying in Australia.

A lot is being said about a proposed Australian law that is about immigration. Australia wants foreign spouses of existing residents to know basic English and wants spouses to pass an English test when applying for immigration to Australia.

A lot is being said about a proposed Australian law that is about immigration. Australia wants foreign spouses of existing residents to know basic English and wants spouses to pass an English test when applying for immigration to Australia. This requirement has not been approved by the Parliament yet. If it gets the nod, it will be applicable from mid 2021. However, critics say the move is racist and has been designed to keep non-westerners out of Australia. The other side of this debate is that if you were relocating to a country to join your spouse or family and want to be employable or even survive, you might need a functional knowledge of the local language — may be just enough to say a hello or a thank you or seek help. Watch | Australia: World champion surfer narrowly escapes shark attack What Australia is asking for is not for an applicant to write a Shakespearean prose or Keatsian poetry; it is asking for functional and beginner's level English. If Australia goes ahead with the law, it will not be an exception. In Germany, foreign nationals living there are expected to demonstrate competency in the German language. Their government website clearly states that to be able to live in Germany, you will need to know German. You need to take a language test. "To be allowed to immigrate to Germany, you will need to enter the exams and pass them up to either a1 or b1," the official website reads. If a child is seeking immigration to unite with his or her parents, Germany expects "for children over 16 years old, there must be suffiecient proof of German language proficiency and the ability to adapt and integrate". As for spouses, "they will need to have at least an a1 German proficiency to qualify". Similarly in Switzerland, if a family member applies for Swiss residence perimit, the authorities may ask them to sign a cultural intergration agreement. The applicants may be asked to show a certain level of language skill. These countries are not looking for proficiency, but just functional knowledge of a lanauge. The UK spouse visa requirement includes a minimum English language proficiency of CEFR level A1. CEFR stands for the Common European Framework of References for language. In case you are wondering, there is no such language requirement in India. If someone wants to migrate to India, there is no expectation for him or her to have a functional knowledge of Hindi, Bangla, Tamil, or any of the official langauges. Our question is that is it too much to ask for to learn basics of a language? It takes 80 to 100 hours of classes and a couple of tests to clear a beginner level foreign language test. Most of these lessons are now available online, so nobody needs to even pay for the classes. Learning a new language will help the applicant adjust to the new country, be functional, if not employable. Australia too is thinking on the same lines. It says there were about one million people living in Australia with poor or no English skill and this has limited their work and social skills. So Canberra wants applicants to take 500 hours of English class which are free of cost. Australia is not saying that if you do not know English, you cannot visit your spouse. It says you can still enter the country and stay there temporarily. It is only if you want to stay in Australia permanently that you would need to learn English, and you can do that while staying in Australia.

Australia asks foreign spouses to clear basic English test; critics call it 'racist'

A world championship surfer had a close encounter with a shark on Wednesday (October 7) in New South Wales, Australia. The close call was captured by a patrol drone belonging to lifeguards at Sharpes Beach, about 736 km (457 miles) away from Sydney. In the footage, former pro surfer Matt Wilkinson is seen paddling on his surf board when a shark briefly surfaces behind him, then swims away.

Drone footage shows world championship surfer’s close encounter with shark

The Quad has been around for 13 years. The aim of the alliance is to contain China's growing aggression. But, the Quad has been shy of saying it out aloud. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why the Quad must move beyond being a symbolic alliance.

Gravitas: Will 2020 be a turning point for the Quad?

Foreign Ministers of India, Japan, Australia, and the US met in Tokyo today. This Quad meeting was seen as an effort to cement the alliance. Can the Quad rise up to take on China? WION's Palki Sharma tells you why the Quad must not play safe now.

Quad Meeting in Tokyo: Can the alliance go beyond words? | Gravitas

All the noise around the QUAD meeting, yet the members could not stitch together a joint statement, not even to condemn their common adversary-China. WION's Palki Sharma asks- What is holding back India, U.S, Japan, and Australia?

Gravitas: Is the QUAD a lost opportunity?

Four countries have one agenda to stop China's efforts to dominate the Indo-Pacific. China's expansionism threat is not new and neither the 'Quad' or the Quadrilateral alliance between India, Australia, United States and Japan.

However, in the past, the group has been shy of openly declaring its intentions.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-the-quad-a-lost-opportunity-333008/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/quad-is-an-idea-whose-time-has-come-but-ideas-need-implementation-333013">Quad is an idea whose time has come. But ideas need implementation</a>

The group met for the first time in 2017 and a few years before this these countries had joined hands for ad hoc relief operations after the 2004 tsunami.&nbsp;

The prime ministers of India, Japan, Australia met with the then US Vice President Dick Cheney.&nbsp;

The first 'Quad' summit happened on the sidelines of the ASEAN Forum.

Since then, the idea of the alliance has been around, made news, but fallen short of taking any substantive action.&nbsp;

A decade later, though, the alliance was resurrected in 2017 and the members of 'Quad' had a working-level meeting.&nbsp;

And now, amid the pandemic, the foreign ministers have met in Tokyo, which reflects a clear sense of purpose, an urgency to take a harder stand against China.&nbsp;

America is not mincing words on China and Australia has named the Asian giant as a threat in its strategic assessment.&nbsp;

Australia's department of defence has said that China is engaged in active pursuit of "greater influence in the Indo-Pacific".&nbsp;

India has already locked in a border standoff with China and since May, New Delhi has imposed curbs on Beijing's investments.

More than 100 Chinese apps have been banned in India.&nbsp;

And, Japan's territorial disputes in the East China Sea have flared up again.&nbsp;

Japan was the country that proposed this alliance and now it has become the host for the meeting of the group's foreign ministers.

<h2>What will the 'Quad' do?</h2>

The US wants the alliance to have a clear military dimension.&nbsp;

Reports suggest Washington is considering inviting air forces of the group's allies for training at the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam

The Guam base is a key US military facility in the Pacific and may also be China's first target if hostilities escalate between the two countries.&nbsp;

Last month, the Chinese Air Force released a propaganda video that simulated an attack on the base. But eagle-eyed fact-checkers were quick to point out how Chinese stole clips from Hollywood movies to make this fake video.&nbsp;

In recent months, China has made its intentions clear. It is indulging in more fights and staking a claim on more territories.&nbsp;

The time is right for all the four nations to move beyond being a symbolic alliance.&nbsp;

It must set out clear objectives and each ally must commit to tangible contributions.&nbsp;

They could start by naming China as the common enemy first.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Four countries have one agenda to stop China's efforts to dominate the Indo-Pacific. China's expansionism threat is not new and neither the 'Quad' or the Quadrilateral alliance between India, Australia, United States and Japan.

Four countries have one agenda to stop China's efforts to dominate the Indo-Pacific. China's expansionism threat is not new and neither the 'Quad' or the Quadrilateral alliance between India, Australia, United States and Japan. However, in the past, the group has been shy of openly declaring its intentions. Watch | Also read | Quad is an idea whose time has come. But ideas need implementation The group met for the first time in 2017 and a few years before this these countries had joined hands for ad hoc relief operations after the 2004 tsunami. The prime ministers of India, Japan, Australia met with the then US Vice President Dick Cheney. The first 'Quad' summit happened on the sidelines of the ASEAN Forum. Since then, the idea of the alliance has been around, made news, but fallen short of taking any substantive action. A decade later, though, the alliance was resurrected in 2017 and the members of 'Quad' had a working-level meeting. And now, amid the pandemic, the foreign ministers have met in Tokyo, which reflects a clear sense of purpose, an urgency to take a harder stand against China. America is not mincing words on China and Australia has named the Asian giant as a threat in its strategic assessment. Australia's department of defence has said that China is engaged in active pursuit of "greater influence in the Indo-Pacific". India has already locked in a border standoff with China and since May, New Delhi has imposed curbs on Beijing's investments. More than 100 Chinese apps have been banned in India. And, Japan's territorial disputes in the East China Sea have flared up again. Japan was the country that proposed this alliance and now it has become the host for the meeting of the group's foreign ministers. What will the 'Quad' do? The US wants the alliance to have a clear military dimension. Reports suggest Washington is considering inviting air forces of the group's allies for training at the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam The Guam base is a key US military facility in the Pacific and may also be China's first target if hostilities escalate between the two countries. Last month, the Chinese Air Force released a propaganda video that simulated an attack on the base. But eagle-eyed fact-checkers were quick to point out how Chinese stole clips from Hollywood movies to make this fake video. In recent months, China has made its intentions clear. It is indulging in more fights and staking a claim on more territories. The time is right for all the four nations to move beyond being a symbolic alliance. It must set out clear objectives and each ally must commit to tangible contributions. They could start by naming China as the common enemy first.

Quad: A potential force to counter China needs to move beyond symbolism

Make-up mogul Kylie Jenner is being called out on Twitter for tweeting the wrong flag of Australia. The 23-year-old reality TV star tweeted on September 30 that her team was launching new Kylie Skin websites for the United Kingdom, Gremany, France and Australia. 
 
She added a flag emoji to accompany each website link. The European websites&nbsp; were&nbsp; paired with the correct flag emoji, but instead of Australia's flag, Jenner's tweeted the flag for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
hi guys, my team is working hard on my <a href="https://twitter.com/kylieskin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kylieskin</a> sites for the UK, Germany, France and Australia and we have a new launch date of October 7! 🤍 can’t wait! 
 
🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/gMl24e2PLI">https://t.co/gMl24e2PLI</a> 
🇩🇪 <a href="https://t.co/1qtrgN6K0Y">https://t.co/1qtrgN6K0Y</a> 
🇫🇷 <a href="https://t.co/A7UYNAzFOb">https://t.co/A7UYNAzFOb</a> 
🇬🇸 <a href="https://t.co/gsGp3nx84P">https://t.co/gsGp3nx84P</a>
— Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) <a href="https://twitter.com/KylieJenner/status/1311375970276966401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The tweet went viral almost instantly with many calling out Jenner for her ignorance.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hi Kylie I think you mean —-&gt; 🇦🇺 but nice try <a href="https://t.co/hrbezG9ceX">https://t.co/hrbezG9ceX</a>
— Jules (@justjuuliette) <a href="https://twitter.com/justjuuliette/status/1311851927261511680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
hi guys, my team is working hard on my <a href="https://twitter.com/kylieskin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kylieskin</a> sites for the UK, Germany, France and Australia and we have a new launch date of October 7! 🤍 can’t wait! 
 
🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/gMl24e2PLI">https://t.co/gMl24e2PLI</a> 
🇩🇪 <a href="https://t.co/1qtrgN6K0Y">https://t.co/1qtrgN6K0Y</a> 
🇫🇷 <a href="https://t.co/A7UYNAzFOb">https://t.co/A7UYNAzFOb</a> 
🇬🇸 <a href="https://t.co/gsGp3nx84P">https://t.co/gsGp3nx84P</a>
— Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) <a href="https://twitter.com/KylieJenner/status/1311375970276966401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Great to see <a href="https://twitter.com/KylieJenner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KylieJenner</a> flying the flag for South Georgia &amp; the South Sandwich Islands...! 🇬🇸🐧🐳 <a href="https://twitter.com/GovSGSSI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovSGSSI</a> <a href="https://t.co/nnMrwrEZQd">https://t.co/nnMrwrEZQd</a>
— Tom Chance (@Polar__Tom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Polar__Tom/status/1311956359819259904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Many also pointed out that it could have been an honest mistake on her part as the emoji size of the flags were not very clear.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Let's just not blame her, lol 
🇦🇺🇨🇰🇫🇰🇫🇯🇬🇸🇰🇾🇲🇸🇵🇳🇳🇿🇸🇭🇹🇦🇹🇨🇹🇻🇻🇬 <a href="https://t.co/qJzhdtpf3n">https://t.co/qJzhdtpf3n</a>
— ᴮᵒⁿᵘˢ (@bbiladhh) <a href="https://twitter.com/bbiladhh/status/1311991768922099712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The flags of Australia and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are similar; they both have red, white, and blue colour combination and and both include a Union Jack flag in the top left corners. 
 
The difference is that&nbsp; the Australian flag has six white 7-point stars to represent the commonwealth states, while the flag for South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands has a coat of arms that includes a penguin, seal, and reindeer around a shield. 
 
So far Jennner has not addressed the faux pas on social media. Neither has she corrected the tweet.

Make-up mogul Kylie Jenner is being called out on Twitter for tweeting the wrong flag of Australia. The 23-year-old reality TV star tweeted on September 30 that her team was launching new Kylie Skin websites for the United Kingdom, Gremany, France and Australia.

Make-up mogul Kylie Jenner is being called out on Twitter for tweeting the wrong flag of Australia. The 23-year-old reality TV star tweeted on September 30 that her team was launching new Kylie Skin websites for the United Kingdom, Gremany, France and Australia. She added a flag emoji to accompany each website link. The European websites were paired with the correct flag emoji, but instead of Australia's flag, Jenner's tweeted the flag for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. hi guys, my team is working hard on my @kylieskin sites for the UK, Germany, France and Australia and we have a new launch date of October 7! 🤍 can’t wait! 🇬🇧 https://t.co/gMl24e2PLI 🇩🇪 https://t.co/1qtrgN6K0Y 🇫🇷 https://t.co/A7UYNAzFOb 🇬🇸 https://t.co/gsGp3nx84P — Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) September 30, 2020 × The tweet went viral almost instantly with many calling out Jenner for her ignorance. Hi Kylie I think you mean —-> 🇦🇺 but nice try https://t.co/hrbezG9ceX — Jules (@justjuuliette) October 2, 2020 × hi guys, my team is working hard on my @kylieskin sites for the UK, Germany, France and Australia and we have a new launch date of October 7! 🤍 can’t wait! 🇬🇧 https://t.co/gMl24e2PLI 🇩🇪 https://t.co/1qtrgN6K0Y 🇫🇷 https://t.co/A7UYNAzFOb 🇬🇸 https://t.co/gsGp3nx84P — Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) September 30, 2020 × Great to see @KylieJenner flying the flag for South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands...! 🇬🇸🐧🐳 @GovSGSSI https://t.co/nnMrwrEZQd — Tom Chance (@Polar__Tom) October 2, 2020 × Many also pointed out that it could have been an honest mistake on her part as the emoji size of the flags were not very clear. Let's just not blame her, lol 🇦🇺🇨🇰🇫🇰🇫🇯🇬🇸🇰🇾🇲🇸🇵🇳🇳🇿🇸🇭🇹🇦🇹🇨🇹🇻🇻🇬 https://t.co/qJzhdtpf3n — ᴮᵒⁿᵘˢ (@bbiladhh) October 2, 2020 × The flags of Australia and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are similar; they both have red, white, and blue colour combination and and both include a Union Jack flag in the top left corners. The difference is that the Australian flag has six white 7-point stars to represent the commonwealth states, while the flag for South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands has a coat of arms that includes a penguin, seal, and reindeer around a shield. So far Jennner has not addressed the faux pas on social media. Neither has she corrected the tweet.

Kylie Jenner called out for tweeting the wrong flag emoji of Australia

Australia’s A$2 trillion economy suffered its deepest slump on record in the June quarter.

Australia to spend more on jobs amid COVID crisis

Australia has approved two major new fossil fuel projects that proponents in the climate change-vulnerable nation say will create badly needed jobs despite growing concerns over emissions.

Authorities in New South Wales state on Wednesday announced conditional approval for a Aus$3.6 billion (US$2.6 billion) coal seam gas development that has generated widespread local opposition.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was "relieved" that an independent commission had given energy firm Santos the green light to proceed, adding that gas was a "central part of our energy security into the future".

The project is a keystone of conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison's plan for a "gas-fired recovery" of the coronavirus-hit economy, as Australia grapples with its first recession in almost 30 years and a million job losses.

Up to 850 wells would be drilled on 1,000 hectares of a 95,000-hectare site, Santos said, with the potential to supply half the gas needs for the country's most populous state.

Conservationists have raised fears over the impact on vast tracts of forest and farmland near Narrabri, northwest of Sydney, as well as Morrison's doubling down on carbon-emitting fuels.

"With this approval, we risk becoming a fossil fuel pariah as the world transitions to renewable energies and countries strengthen their commitment to climate action," Greens parliamentarian Cate Faehrmann said.

Approval of the gas project came a day after Queensland's government gave a final go ahead for the state's third-largest coal mine, which officials say is expected to have an 80-year lifespan and employ 1,000 workers once operational.

The sprawling project, which will provide steel-producing metallurgical coal, has proved less contentious due to lower expected emissions than nearby thermal coal operations, but is nevertheless set to raze a swathe of koala habitat.

"Clearing those forests pushes this species closer to extinction," Australian Conservation Foundation's Gavan McFadzean told public broadcaster ABC.

Resource-rich Australia has recently emerged as one of the world's largest exporters of fossil fuels, behind only Russia and Saudi Arabia by some estimates.

The new projects come despite calls for the coronavirus crisis to spur a "green recovery" and just months after Australia emerged from the most severe bushfire season in recorded history.

Almost 90 percent of Australians believe that climate change is a critical or important threat, according to a recent poll by Sydney's Lowy Institute.

Drought and water shortages -- worsened by climate change -- are seen as the top threat facing the country, above even the pandemic and the global econo

Australia has approved two major new fossil fuel projects that proponents in the climate change-vulnerable nation say will create badly needed jobs despite growing concerns over emissions.

Australia has approved two major new fossil fuel projects that proponents in the climate change-vulnerable nation say will create badly needed jobs despite growing concerns over emissions. Authorities in New South Wales state on Wednesday announced conditional approval for a Aus$3.6 billion (US$2.6 billion) coal seam gas development that has generated widespread local opposition. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was "relieved" that an independent commission had given energy firm Santos the green light to proceed, adding that gas was a "central part of our energy security into the future". The project is a keystone of conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison's plan for a "gas-fired recovery" of the coronavirus-hit economy, as Australia grapples with its first recession in almost 30 years and a million job losses. Up to 850 wells would be drilled on 1,000 hectares of a 95,000-hectare site, Santos said, with the potential to supply half the gas needs for the country's most populous state. Conservationists have raised fears over the impact on vast tracts of forest and farmland near Narrabri, northwest of Sydney, as well as Morrison's doubling down on carbon-emitting fuels. "With this approval, we risk becoming a fossil fuel pariah as the world transitions to renewable energies and countries strengthen their commitment to climate action," Greens parliamentarian Cate Faehrmann said. Approval of the gas project came a day after Queensland's government gave a final go ahead for the state's third-largest coal mine, which officials say is expected to have an 80-year lifespan and employ 1,000 workers once operational. The sprawling project, which will provide steel-producing metallurgical coal, has proved less contentious due to lower expected emissions than nearby thermal coal operations, but is nevertheless set to raze a swathe of koala habitat. "Clearing those forests pushes this species closer to extinction," Australian Conservation Foundation's Gavan McFadzean told public broadcaster ABC. Resource-rich Australia has recently emerged as one of the world's largest exporters of fossil fuels, behind only Russia and Saudi Arabia by some estimates. The new projects come despite calls for the coronavirus crisis to spur a "green recovery" and just months after Australia emerged from the most severe bushfire season in recorded history. Almost 90 percent of Australians believe that climate change is a critical or important threat, according to a recent poll by Sydney's Lowy Institute. Drought and water shortages -- worsened by climate change -- are seen as the top threat facing the country, above even the pandemic and the global econo

Australia approves major new fossil fuel projects

Australian wildlife officials started disposal of nearly 350 dead pilot whales after hopes of rescuing more were shattered after days of the tiresome rescue missions Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania state.

Australia: 108 pilot wales rescued, 15 whales disposed so far

A lone whale was rescued from among hundreds of carcasses Sunday, taking to 110 the number of creatures that survived a mass stranding in southern Australia.

The country's largest-ever mass stranding saw around 470 pilot whales become stuck in a remote harbour on Tasmania's rugged western seaboard last week, sparking a major effort to save the animals.

It was "absolutely remarkable" another whale was found alive six days after the pod was first discovered, a Tasmania environment department spokeswoman told AFP, adding that it had been taken back out to sea.

More than 100 rescuers toiled for days in chilly waters, but many volunteers and conservationists have now packed up as efforts turned to disposing of the remaining carcasses.

"There has been a tremendous team effort and this combined commitment has allowed us to get as many whales as we can back out to sea," Parks and Wildlife Service manager Rob Buck said of the "complex rescue".

With more than 300 carcasses spread across a 10-kilometre area (about 6 miles), authorities shifted their focus Sunday to a mass sea burial.

Boats have begun towing the dead whales into the open ocean, where they will be released over several days.

Authorities have warned that more whales could be found in the area, with some animals likely to become beached for a second time.

The causes of mass strandings remain unknown, but some experts have suggested the pod may have gone off track after feeding close to the shoreline or by following one or two whales that strayed.

A lone whale was rescued from among hundreds of carcasses Sunday, taking to 110 the number of creatures that survived a mass stranding in southern Australia. The country's largest-ever mass stranding saw around 470 pilot whales become stuck in a remote harbour on Tasmania's rugged western seaboard last week, sparking a major effort to save the animals.

A lone whale was rescued from among hundreds of carcasses Sunday, taking to 110 the number of creatures that survived a mass stranding in southern Australia. The country's largest-ever mass stranding saw around 470 pilot whales become stuck in a remote harbour on Tasmania's rugged western seaboard last week, sparking a major effort to save the animals. It was "absolutely remarkable" another whale was found alive six days after the pod was first discovered, a Tasmania environment department spokeswoman told AFP, adding that it had been taken back out to sea. More than 100 rescuers toiled for days in chilly waters, but many volunteers and conservationists have now packed up as efforts turned to disposing of the remaining carcasses. "There has been a tremendous team effort and this combined commitment has allowed us to get as many whales as we can back out to sea," Parks and Wildlife Service manager Rob Buck said of the "complex rescue". With more than 300 carcasses spread across a 10-kilometre area (about 6 miles), authorities shifted their focus Sunday to a mass sea burial. Boats have begun towing the dead whales into the open ocean, where they will be released over several days. Authorities have warned that more whales could be found in the area, with some animals likely to become beached for a second time. The causes of mass strandings remain unknown, but some experts have suggested the pod may have gone off track after feeding close to the shoreline or by following one or two whales that strayed.

Final whale saved from grim Australia mass stranding

An overnight curfew in Australia's second-largest city will be lifted this week, officials said Sunday, even as the global coronavirus toll inched towards one million dead.

Despite the number of infections worldwide passing 32 million -- with the US state of New York reporting a fresh spike -- more than 10,000 anti-lockdown protesters demonstrated in central London ahead of the re-imposition of restrictions there.

In more positive news, residents of the Chinese city of Wuhan -- where the virus emerged last year -- reported a hesitant return to normalcy, while the French Open got underway at Roland Garros in Paris.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/google-removes-street-view-feature-for-australias-uluru-330146">Also read:&nbsp;Google removes street view feature for Australia's Uluru</a>

In Australia, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said Melbourne residents would be free from Monday to leave their homes for work, exercise, shop for essentials, or provide care after active cases in the state fell below 400 for the first time since June 30.

The relaxation of the curfew, imposed August 2, comes after 16 new infections and two deaths were reported Sunday.

People will still be confined to within five kilometres (about three miles) of their homes, and fines for breaching other restrictions will be increased to almost Aus$5,000 ($3,515).

Andrews said several other restrictions, including on religious services and childcare centres, will also be lifted.&nbsp;

Anti-lockdown protests

It was a different story in the UK, now battling to contain a mounting second wave, as thousands marched in London on Saturday against coronavirus restrictions.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/further-difficult-days-ahead-virus-hit-australia-goes-into-recession-324822">Also read|&nbsp;'Further difficult days ahead': Virus-hit Australia goes into recession</a>

At least 10 people were arrested as police moved in with batons to disperse more than 10,000 protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square.

This week Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government imposed a ban on gatherings of more than six people and ordered pubs and restaurants to close at 10 pm in a bid to slow the spread of the virus, which has claimed 42,000 lives in the country so far -- making it the worst-affected nation in Europe.

In New York state -- once the epicentre of the US outbreak -- new infections rose for the first time since June to above 1,000 a day, local officials said.

In India, meanwhile, infections closed in on six million on Sunday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on people to keep wearing face masks in public.

"They are potent tools to save the life of every citizen," he said.

Health ministry figures showed that the total number of cases had risen to 5,992,532.

India is expected to take over the United States -- which has reported more than seven million cases so far -- as the worst-hit country in the next few weeks.

Back to normal?

In Paris, a limited number of spectators will watch live tennis for the first time in months as the French Open starts -- four months later than scheduled.

It will be an eerily unfamiliar tournament as a resurgence of the virus means only 1,000 spectators will be allowed into the grounds each day.

For residents of Wuhan, where the coronavirus first emerged late last year, life is already back to normal.

There have been 50,340 confirmed cases and 3,869 deaths in Wuhan, according to the official figures -- the majority of mainland China's toll -- but no new infections since May.

Families are once again packing amusement parks, and shopping streets were full over the weekend -- although residents remained cautious.

"The people have experienced tragedy and deeply know that a happy life is not easy to come by," said a woman named Wang.&nbsp;

An overnight curfew in Australia's second-largest city will be lifted this week, officials said Sunday, even as the global coronavirus toll inched towards one million dead.

An overnight curfew in Australia's second-largest city will be lifted this week, officials said Sunday, even as the global coronavirus toll inched towards one million dead. Despite the number of infections worldwide passing 32 million -- with the US state of New York reporting a fresh spike -- more than 10,000 anti-lockdown protesters demonstrated in central London ahead of the re-imposition of restrictions there. In more positive news, residents of the Chinese city of Wuhan -- where the virus emerged last year -- reported a hesitant return to normalcy, while the French Open got underway at Roland Garros in Paris. Also read: Google removes street view feature for Australia's Uluru In Australia, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said Melbourne residents would be free from Monday to leave their homes for work, exercise, shop for essentials, or provide care after active cases in the state fell below 400 for the first time since June 30. The relaxation of the curfew, imposed August 2, comes after 16 new infections and two deaths were reported Sunday. People will still be confined to within five kilometres (about three miles) of their homes, and fines for breaching other restrictions will be increased to almost Aus$5,000 ($3,515). Andrews said several other restrictions, including on religious services and childcare centres, will also be lifted. Anti-lockdown protests It was a different story in the UK, now battling to contain a mounting second wave, as thousands marched in London on Saturday against coronavirus restrictions. Also read| 'Further difficult days ahead': Virus-hit Australia goes into recession At least 10 people were arrested as police moved in with batons to disperse more than 10,000 protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square. This week Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government imposed a ban on gatherings of more than six people and ordered pubs and restaurants to close at 10 pm in a bid to slow the spread of the virus, which has claimed 42,000 lives in the country so far -- making it the worst-affected nation in Europe. In New York state -- once the epicentre of the US outbreak -- new infections rose for the first time since June to above 1,000 a day, local officials said. In India, meanwhile, infections closed in on six million on Sunday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on people to keep wearing face masks in public. "They are potent tools to save the life of every citizen," he said. Health ministry figures showed that the total number of cases had risen to 5,992,532. India is expected to take over the United States -- which has reported more than seven million cases so far -- as the worst-hit country in the next few weeks. Back to normal? In Paris, a limited number of spectators will watch live tennis for the first time in months as the French Open starts -- four months later than scheduled. It will be an eerily unfamiliar tournament as a resurgence of the virus means only 1,000 spectators will be allowed into the grounds each day. For residents of Wuhan, where the coronavirus first emerged late last year, life is already back to normal. There have been 50,340 confirmed cases and 3,869 deaths in Wuhan, according to the official figures -- the majority of mainland China's toll -- but no new infections since May. Families are once again packing amusement parks, and shopping streets were full over the weekend -- although residents remained cautious. "The people have experienced tragedy and deeply know that a happy life is not easy to come by," said a woman named Wang.

Virus curfew to be lifted in Australia as global deaths near a million

Australian wildlife officials began disposing of hundreds of dead pilot whales on Saturday after concluding there was no longer any hope of rescuing any more.

In Australia's biggest whale beaching, 470 whales&nbsp;were first spotted on a wide sandbank during an aerial reconnaissance of rugged Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania state on Monday.

After days of difficult and dangerous rescue attempts, Australia said they rescued 108 whales, with the rest now believed to have died.

Rob Buck, Incident Controller and Parks and Wildlife Service manager, said 15 whales have already been disposed of at sea, but the operations to dispose of the remaining near 350 mammals was expected to take several days at least.

"Collection and disposal is being undertaken with the assistance of aquaculture companies whose equipment and expertise on the harbour is essential for a timely and effective outcome," Buck said in an emailed statement.

The bodies of the dead whales were being separated into groups and enclosed with water booms to try keep them in one place and isolated from sharks and other predators.

Most of the released whales, a gregarious species that lives in deep waters, were expected to "regroup" and recover from the traumatic event, officials said.

Australian wildlife officials began disposing of hundreds of dead pilot whales on Saturday after concluding there was no longer any hope of rescuing any more. In Australia's biggest whale beaching, 470 whales were first spotted on a wide sandbank during an aerial reconnaissance of rugged Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania state on Monday.

Australian wildlife officials began disposing of hundreds of dead pilot whales on Saturday after concluding there was no longer any hope of rescuing any more. In Australia's biggest whale beaching, 470 whales were first spotted on a wide sandbank during an aerial reconnaissance of rugged Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania state on Monday. After days of difficult and dangerous rescue attempts, Australia said they rescued 108 whales, with the rest now believed to have died. Rob Buck, Incident Controller and Parks and Wildlife Service manager, said 15 whales have already been disposed of at sea, but the operations to dispose of the remaining near 350 mammals was expected to take several days at least. "Collection and disposal is being undertaken with the assistance of aquaculture companies whose equipment and expertise on the harbour is essential for a timely and effective outcome," Buck said in an emailed statement. The bodies of the dead whales were being separated into groups and enclosed with water booms to try keep them in one place and isolated from sharks and other predators. Most of the released whales, a gregarious species that lives in deep waters, were expected to "regroup" and recover from the traumatic event, officials said.

Australia begins disposing hundreds of dead whales after rescuing 108

To protect the privacy of an Australian&nbsp;indigenous group, Google has decided to remove images of Australia's Uluru from its Street View option.

Uluru is&nbsp;a sacred Aboriginal site and Google had&nbsp;user-contributed images of the site. However,&nbsp;Parks Australia had requested the tech giant to take down these images to respect the wishes of the&nbsp;Anangu people who are the traditional owners of the World Heritage site.

The&nbsp;Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has been closed for tourists since Ocotober 2019 after the&nbsp;Anangu requested a closure to protect the sanctity of the site. Earlier, tourists used to climb the site despite resistance from the community.

Google was quick to agree to the request to show respect towards the community and their wishes. "We understand Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is deeply sacred to the Anangu people," a Google spokesperson said.

"As soon as Parks Australia raised their concerns about this user contribution, we removed the imagery," they said.

The site was handed back to the rightful owners earlier as it holds great spiritual and religious sigfor thnificance e community. It has also been established that the site has belonged to the community since tens of thousands of years ago.

The decision has been appreciated by the&nbsp;indigenous group.

To protect the privacy of an Australian indigenous group, Google has decided to remove images of Australia's Uluru from its Street View option. Uluru is a sacred Aboriginal site and Google had user-contributed images of the site.

To protect the privacy of an Australian indigenous group, Google has decided to remove images of Australia's Uluru from its Street View option. Uluru is a sacred Aboriginal site and Google had user-contributed images of the site. However, Parks Australia had requested the tech giant to take down these images to respect the wishes of the Anangu people who are the traditional owners of the World Heritage site. The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has been closed for tourists since Ocotober 2019 after the Anangu requested a closure to protect the sanctity of the site. Earlier, tourists used to climb the site despite resistance from the community. Google was quick to agree to the request to show respect towards the community and their wishes. "We understand Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is deeply sacred to the Anangu people," a Google spokesperson said. "As soon as Parks Australia raised their concerns about this user contribution, we removed the imagery," they said. The site was handed back to the rightful owners earlier as it holds great spiritual and religious sigfor thnificance e community. It has also been established that the site has belonged to the community since tens of thousands of years ago. The decision has been appreciated by the indigenous group.

Google removes street view feature for Australia's Uluru

Australia on Thursday unveiled its biggest shakeup in bankruptcy laws in nearly three decades.

Australia to overhaul bankruptcy laws to help firms over COVID-19

australia

Australia, News on Australia, stories on Australia, articles on Australia, Australia stories at Wion, Australia news, Australia latest news