#australia

#australia

Human-caused global heating made the intense heatwave that affected much of Australia in early January five times more likely, new analysis suggests. The heatwave earlier this month was the most severe since the 2019-20 black summer, with temperatures over 40C in Melbourne and Sydney, even hotter conditions in regional Victoria and New South Wales, and extreme heat also affecting Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.

Memorial services will be held at the Sydney Opera House and Bondi's Chabad House, a Jewish community centre. Most of the 15 victims of the attack were Jewish, including a 10-year-old child. The theme of the memorials is Light will win, and the government will stage light installations in the capital of Canberra and other cities featuring pillars of light for each of the 15 victims.

He stood his ground in a place where freedom is paid for in blood, and he gave his life so others could keep theirs, said the man, who has been contacted for comment. Ukraine is freer today because of him but the world is quieter without his laugh, his stubborn courage, his presence beside us. We shared cold nights, exhaustion, fear we never spoke out loud, and a bond forged where words stop working.

Growing up in Australia, December 25 meant swimming in the backyard pool, playing cricket on the beach, and eating cold prawns for lunch. Whenever I watched American holiday movies, I felt like I was witnessing a completely different, surreal celebration unfold, complete with snow, fireplaces, and people bundled up in heavy coats. Those movies might as well have been depicting the holiday on another planet - I didn't even see snow in real life until I visited Europe as an adult.

Sydney, New South Wales An terrorist attack on a Hanukah celebration at Australia's most famous beach has left at least 12 people dead, including one attacker, after gunmen opened fire from a nearby footbridge. Prime minister Anthony Albanese said the targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukah, which should be a day of joy [was] an act of evil antisemitism. A further 29 people, including two police officers responding to the attack, were taken to hospital with injuries.

Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told Sky News the attack occurred during what he described as a joyful community gathering and said his media adviser was wounded. "This is the Jewish community at its best coming together to mark a happy occasion. If we were targeted deliberately in this way, it's something of a scale that none of us could have ever fathomed. It's a horrific thing," he said.

Sadmir and his board game companions are just some of the 300 patients at the gaming disorder clinic, Australia's only publicly-run institution of its type, helping patients wean themselves off excessive online gaming habits. The room where they meet is a simple space in a faceless hospital but in the corner, there's a pile of boardgames on a chair. Jenga, Uno and Sushi Go are also popular choices at the informal group which is attended by both patients and clinicians.

Reddit is suing the Australian government over its newly enacted social media ban, which prevents children aged 16 and younger from accessing most social media platforms. Reddit argued that the ban impinges on the right to free political discourse implied by the country's constitution, according to a Reuters report. In essence, blocking the youths from Reddit would block their freedom of speech, the company said. Reddit also argued that it was not, primarily speaking, a social media site, but rather a place for exchanging information and ideas.

Experts are divided on whether an outright ban would be beneficial. A social media "ban" for under-16s will be watched closely when it comes into effect in Australia this week, but there are concerns it is merely a solution "that gives comfort to adults" - and one that could come with plenty of holes if replicated here.

"Social media was a big social experiment,"

If you're unfamiliar with the acronym and its rigorous but rewarding demands, FIFO has been around for hundreds of years. Essentially, it refers to temporary employment in a remote location, with Australia long regarded as a key destination. The task is simple yet challenging - work long hours in an intense job in short bursts, earn big and hopefully return home the happier for it. But there are notable concerns surrounding physical and mental health. To put it plainly, FIFO is not for everyone.

"After more than 40 years as a touring singer I've finally taken a sabbatical," Daniel told the Irish Independent.

The AFC Women's Asian Cup heads to Australia next year, as Australia get set to host their second major women's football competition in three years after the 2023 World Cup. From March 1-21 2026, 12 nations will take part in the competition, with a total of 27 matches taking place across Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast. With nine titles under their belt, reigning champions China are the most successful team in the competition.

From December 4, Meta will begin blocking access to established Instagram, Threads and Facebook accounts for teens aged under 16, and stop the creation of new ones. "We'll begin sending notifications today to give those affected a heads-up that they will soon lose access, and will have 14 days to download their memories or delete their account," Meta said on Thursday. "They can also update their contact information so we can get in touch and help them regain access once they turn 16."

A killer has been jailed for 28 years for murdering his ex-girlfriend, Hannah McGuire and burning her body in a brutal attack in regional Victoria. Lachlan Young, 23, looked straight ahead as justice James Elliott handed down the sentence in the supreme court in Ballarat on Tuesday. Young will be eligible for parole after 22 years and four months. He had initially denied murdering McGuire, claiming the 23-year-old's death was a spontaneous incident as he took the case to trial.