8 h. ago Weather tracker: Bushfires ravage Western Australia as temperatures soar

Extreme heat follows blazes in New South Wales, while winds plunge Brazil’s largest city into darknessExtreme heat and bushfires have ravaged the parched landscape of Western Australia. With temperatures expected to continue soaring above 40C (104F) over the coming days, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe heatwave warning across much of the south-west.The conditions follow bushfires in New South Wales this month, which resulted in the destruction of homes and loss of life. Severe heatwave warnings have also been issued for later this week in parts of South Australia and New South Wales, as a ridge of high pressure moves eastward, bringing blazing sunshine to much of the region. Continue reading...

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29 h. ago Mass shootings are rare in Australia. Here is a look at some previous attacks

Police say at least 11 people were killed Sunday in a shooting attack on a Jewish community event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach

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3 d. ago Weather tracker: Australia bushfires could be most dangerous since ‘black summer’

Fires are burning across NSW, with Tasmania also facing an emergency, while in US, Washington state braces for floodsBushfires have been ravaging Australia, with more than 50 burning throughout New South Wales, destroying homes and resulting in at least one death. Nine blazes remained out of control on Monday as flames ripped through homes and critical infrastructure. Scorching temperatures – peaking at 41C in Koolewong – combined with fierce, erratic winds to spread the fires rapidly and made them harder to control.On Sunday night an Australian firefighter was killed after a tree fell on him while he worked on a fireground near Bulahdelah, about 150 miles (250km) north of Sydney. The blaze scorched 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres) and destroyed four homes over the weekend. NSW, one of the nation’s most fire-prone regions, is particularly vulnerable because of its hot, dry climate and vast eucalyptus forests, which shed oils that become highly flammable. Continue reading...

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7 d. ago Weather tracker: Atmospheric rivers to bring heavy rain and snow to Pacific north

Flood and weather alerts in place across western half of region as parts of Iraq and Iran also face significant rainWeather alerts are in effect across the Pacific north-west this week as a series of atmospheric rivers are forecast to deliver multiple rainfall events and heavy mountain snow from western British Columbia in Canada, to Washington and Oregon in the US.More than 200mm (8ins) of rainfall is expected across the western half of Washington state and north-west Oregon by Friday, with between 100-150mm expected in cities such as Seattle and Portland. About 400mm are possible on the western side of the Cascades, while more than a foot of snow is expected above 1,800-2,100 metres. Continue reading...

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1 week ago Heatwave warning for large parts of Australia as temperatures expected to reach low 40s

New South Wales south coast faces highest heatwave category, with extreme temperatures forecast elsewhere, including in Western Australia and the NTFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCommunities across large parts of Australia have been urged to take precautions as temperatures begin to soar ahead of severe and extreme heatwave conditions, with parts of western Sydney expected to reach the low 40s by Saturday.The Bureau of Meteorology has issued heatwave warnings in New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with an extreme warning in place on the NSW south coast – indicating the highest level of risk. Continue reading...

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1 week ago Woman in her 20s dies after savage dog attack in Australia as man treated for injuries

A woman has died following a dog attack in Western Australia, with two dogs believed to be involved in the fatal incident - police say their investigations are ongoing

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2 w. ago Virginia Giuffre’s sons deny unsigned document is their mother’s will

After their mother died intestate, boys reject the claim that documents presented by her lawyer and carer represent her final intentionsAn unsigned will has emerged as the crux of the battle over Virginia Giuffre’s estate.Details of the document surfaced on Friday as hearings began at Western Australia’s supreme court where her sons, her longtime lawyer and her former carer are all vying for control of the assets. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Weather tracker: Snowfall cuts power in Poland and flooding devastates Sri Lanka

Temperatures dip to -8.5C in Poland and 250mm of rain falls in 24-hour period across Sri Lanka Temperatures plummeted this week across the eastern half of Europe, with the Alps dipping as low as -20C and to -8.5°C in the Polish town of Zakopane in the Tatras Mountains.Heavy snow also affected other parts of Poland with 15-20cm (about 6-8in) of snow falling in much of the central swathe of the country and more than 40cm in the south towards the mountains. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Sons of Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew and Epstein of abuse, seek control of her estate

Lawyers for the sons of Virginia Giuffre, her housekeeper, and her attorney have appeared in an Australian court to seek control of her estate

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3 w. ago Weather tracker: heatwave roasts Israel as 90 die in Vietnam downpours

Temperatures over 35C break November records in Israel while some areas of Vietnam have nearly 2 metres of rainfallExceptionally high temperatures have roasted Israel in recent days, breaking records for late November. During the heatwave, which peaked over Friday and Saturday, temperatures soared to between 10C and 12C above average, as low-lying parts of the country widely reached between 30C and 35C and exceeded 35C more locally. Israel’s previous record for the latter third of November was 34.9C.On Friday, temperatures reached 36.2C in Beit Dagan, near Tel Aviv, where the average November high is around 24C, while on Saturday they reached a peak of 37.3C in Eilat on the Red Sea coast, where the average is 27C. Though temperatures were less extreme at higher altitudes, they were still well above average; Jerusalem, at an altitude of more than 700 metres, reached around 27C, in comparison with an average November high of 19C. Continue reading...

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