Britain signs underwater drone deal with U.S. and Australia

"Britain, Australia and the U.S. have signed an agreement to produce

“cutting-edge” technology for underwater military drones.
The deal involves developing new technologies such as weapons and sensors that can be deployed from uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs).
John Healey, the Defense Secretary, announced the next step in the Aukus defense partnership project alongside Pete Hegseth, his U.S. counterpart, and Richard Marles, the Australian deputy prime minister, at a conference in Singapore." 

msn

6.0 Earthquake - Western Indian-Antarctic Ridge

"A very strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in the Indian Ocean 932 km (579 mi) from Australia shortly after midnight at 12.01 am local time (GMT +9). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

IMF Warns Australia Set For One Of Highest Inflation Rates In Developed World

"The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Australia is on track to have one of the highest inflation rates in the developed world.
It predicted that Australia’s GDP growth would remain flat this year at 2025’s level of 2.0 percent and would fall in 2027 to 1.7 percent.

While declining to offer his own forecast of GDP, John Quiggin, professor of economics at the University of Queensland, said he agreed that the Australian Labor government’s cut to fuel excise was “giving the wrong signals.”
“The only merit is that it is temporary,” he said. It is due to end in 3 months.
Graham Young, executive director of the Australian Institute for Progress, said the government was giving “a masterclass in how to repeat the 1970s and 80s and turn a price increase into an inflation increase.
“On its own, the oil price will redirect spending largely from non-essentials to fuel, but if the government tries to soften the hit, and they do that without corresponding savings somewhere else, then it will turn into inflation,” he explained." ZH

5.5 Earthquake - Anangu Pitjantjatjara, South Australia

"A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit 78 km (49 mi) away from Yulara, Northern Territory, Australia, in the early morning at 3.56 am local time (Australia/Darwin GMT +9:30). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was felt by many near the epicenter. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD

Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle forecast to cross Far North Queensland

"Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle intensified into a Category 5 system and is forecast to cross

the Cape York Peninsula between Lockhart River and Cape Melville, Queensland, on the morning. Very destructive wind gusts of more than 250 km/h (155 mph), heavy rainfall of 100 to 350 mm (4 to 14 inches), and dangerous coastal conditions, including abnormally high tides and large waves, are forecast near and south of the landfall area, although slight weakening to a high-end Category 4 before crossing remains possible." W

Australian Facilities Damaged by Iranian Missile Attack on UAE Air Base

"An Iranian missile struck near the Al Minhad airbase in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), damaging a facility that houses Australian military personnel. No injuries were sustained during the attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced.
Australian outlets reported the Al Minhad base, owned by the UAE, presently houses more than 100 Australian military personal in addition to British and American personnel." Breitbart

Australia sounds alarm after Chinese military incident

"The Australian defense ministry has accused the Chinese navy of another “unsafe and unprofessional maneuver” that endangered lives.
The encounter follows a string of complaints from Australia, the Philippines, Japan, and other U.S. allies about alleged unsafe behavior by the Chinese military in recent years.
Beijing has frequently rejected these accusations and accused the other party of violating its sovereignty and of threatening regional stability.

In a statement, the ministry said a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) helicopter intercepted an Australian Defense Force (ADF) MH-60R helicopter launched from Anzaz-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba. The vessel was conducting a routine activity in international waters in the Yellow Sea as part of a multinational operation to enforce U.N. sanctions against North Korea.
“The PLA-N helicopter moved slightly ahead, increased speed and then rolled towards the ADF helicopter, which required evasive action to maintain safe flight,” the ministry stated, calling it an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver that posed a risk to our aircraft and its personnel.
“HMAS Toowoomba and its embarked helicopter acted in accordance with international law at all times.”
The incident follows an October encounter between a Chinese Su-35 fighter jet and an Australian air force P-8A Poseidon patrol plane. The PLA plane reportedly fired flares in proximity to the Australian aircraft, an unsafe maneuver that put the crew at risk, Canberra said." msn

Australia swelters in a record heat wave

"Parts of Australia

sweltered in record temperatures of close to 122 degrees Fahrenheit on
Tuesday as the country sweated through a prolonged heat wave.
The rural towns of Hopetoun and Walpeup in Victoria state registered preliminary highs of 48.9 C (120 F), which if confirmed overnight would top records set on the day in 2009 when 173 people were killed in the state’s devastating Black Saturday bushfires." msn

State of Disaster declared for the first time since 2020 as bushfires destroy over 130 structures in Victoria, Australia

"A fast-moving bushfire crisis has prompted the Victorian Government to declare a State of
Disaster for the first time since 2020 with over 300 000 ha (741 000 acres) being scorched across the state under extreme heat and high winds. At least 130 structures have been destroyed, and thousands remain under evacuation orders, with conditions forecast to remain dangerous in the coming days." W

Severe multi-state heatwave drives extreme bushfire risk across southern Australia

"Australia is enduring one of its most intense heatwaves since the 2019–20 Black Summer,

with extreme temperatures, strong winds and dry lightning fuelling catastrophic fire danger across multiple states. Emergency-level bushfires have been reported in South Australia and Victoria, while BOM forecasts indicate the threat will intensify through Friday, before cooler air reaches southern regions at the weekend." W

Tropical Cyclone Hayley bears down on Western Australia as man dies in north Queensland floods

"A man has died in floodwaters in Australia’s far north as residents on the other side of the country prepare for a major cyclone as it made landfall.

Police were called to the man’s submerged vehicle in the northern Queensland town of Normanton about 3pm on Tuesday.
The man, aged in his 70s, was found dead inside his car.
In Australia’s north-west, Tropical Cyclone Hayley made landfall on Tuesday night with residents in Beagle Bay, Cockatoo Island and Derby warned it was too late to leave.
“Gales with damaging wind gusts to 100 km/h are occurring over areas from north of Derby through to Cockatoo Island, and may extend further north towards Kuri Bay early on Wednesday morning,” the BoM said. “Gales should then ease during Wednesday morning as Hayley moves further inland and weakens.” Guardian

Twelve dead and gunman 'neutralized' after Hanukkah terrorist attack on Bondi Beach

"Police have confirmed that the mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Australia, is being treated as a

terrorist attack.
At least 12 people have died, with one gunman also killed, during celebrations on the first day of Hanukkah. A further 29 people have been taken to various hospitals around Sydney, including a child.
The other gunman is in serious condition. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed they will "make sure no stone is left unturned" in regards to a potential third gunman, adding police are investigating "thoroughly" of any other people linked to the shooting.
Premier Chris Minns said the attack was "designed to target Sydney's Jewish community"." GBN

5.9 Earthquake - West of Macquarie Island

"A strong magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean 746 km (464 mi)
from Australia in the morning at 8.47 am local time (GMT +10). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow." VD

Mass power outages after giant hail and destructive winds hit south-east Queensland, Australia

"A powerful thunderstorm struck south-east Queensland on Monday, November 24, 2025,

generating giant hailstones, destructive winds and extensive power outages affecting over 150 000 homes.
A line of severe thunderstorms swept through south-east Queensland on Monday afternoon, dropping giant hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall that left more than 150 000 properties without power
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued multiple severe thunderstorm warnings as the system tracked eastward from the Darling Downs toward the coast, intensifying over the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane metropolitan area." W

M6.0 earthquake hits southeast Indian Ridge

"The epicenter was located 1 964 km (1 220 miles) WSW of Augusta (population 1 362) and 2 027 km (1 259 miles) WSW of Busselton (population 21 898), Australia." W

Australia Struck by Giant Hail! Massive Hailstorm Destroyed Homes and Cars in Brisbane, Queensland

"A massive hailstorm struck Brisbane, Australia, unleashing golf-ball-sized hail, 96 km/h

winds, and torrential rain that shattered roofs, flooded streets, cut power to over 65 000 homes, and turned the city into a scene of chaos as emergency crews raced to restore order.
Lightning cracked, winds roared, and the air, which had been humid and warm,
suddenly felt explosive, as though the sky itself had been rewired. A severe thunderstorm warning blasted out across suburbs and coastal zones, urging residents to take cover immediately. Then came the hail. Not the ordinary soft, gentle kind that melts on window sills,

but chunky pellets of ice with diameters pushing 5 cm or more, plummeting from the sky like frozen cannonballs." WW

Chinese fighter jets spark panic after unleashing 'dangerous' flares at Australian plane

"A Chinese fighter jet and a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol aircraft had an “unsafe and unprofessional” interaction as the two operated over the waters of the South China Sea, Canberra officials said Monday.
A People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Su-35 fighter released flares twice near an Australian P-8A aircraft near the Paracel Islands. It is the second time this year that such an incident has occurred.
“This was an unsafe and unprofessional [maneuver] that posed a risk to the aircraft and its personnel,” reads an Australian Defense Department news release." usni

Emergency declared as record heat triggers over 100 bushfires across Queensland, Australia

"A bushfire ignited between Enoggera Reservoir and Camp Mountain, north of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia as record heat triggered over 100 fires statewide. An emergency declaration was issued as temperatures soared across the state. Total fire bans are in effect at least 26 local government areas." W

Rare Southern Hemisphere stratospheric warming is weakening the polar vortex

"A sudden stratospheric warming event is unfolding over Antarctica in early September 2025, rapidly weakening the southern polar vortex. Forecast models indicate potential downstream effects on the Northern Hemisphere jet stream, with implications for winter 2025/26 in the USA and Canada.
Such events are rare in the Southern Hemisphere, and can weaken the vortex, while sending ripples across the entire atmospheric system.
Forecast models suggest that within two weeks the strength of the vortex could be cut nearly in half, even without a full reversal of winds, a threshold that typically defines a SSW event.
The anomaly is expected to peak by late September, with temperatures in the stratosphere rising as much as 50°C (90°F) above seasonal norms.
Unusually, this warming is also projected to descend to lower levels of the stratosphere,

down to around 19 km (12 miles), which highlights the extraordinary strength of this event. When warming propagates downward in this way, the chances of it influencing surface weather increase significantly.
At the surface, the South Pole pressure index is forecast to turn negative and stay that way, signaling disrupted polar circulation and the development of high-pressure ridging around Antarctica.
Such blocking patterns are known to push cold polar air outward, raising the risk of sudden cold surges into mid-latitude regions.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the disruption is expected to affect spring weather in South America, Australia, and New Zealand, potentially altering storm activity, rainfall distribution, and seasonal transitions.
“When the Southern Hemisphere’s tropospheric polar vortex is stronger than usual, cold air and powerful winds surrounding Antarctica typically contract towards the south,” said Ben Domasino of Weatherzone.
“The Southern Hemisphere’s polar vortex always weakens during spring as part of its normal seasonal cycle,” Domasino said.
“However, the stratospheric polar vortex has started to weaken faster than usual over the past week due to abnormally warm air entering the polar stratosphere. Some forecast models suggest that further stratospheric warming could occur through the middle of September as well.”
Domensino added that it is difficult to predict how each stratospheric warming episode will impact weather patterns closer to the ground, because such events are rare in the Southern Hemisphere and no two are the same. However, if the tropospheric polar vortex does weaken in the coming weeks, it will increase the likelihood of more frequent and stronger cold fronts over Australia during mid-to-late spring.
The impacts of this stratospheric warming may not be confined to the Southern Hemisphere as the two poles are connected through the Brewer–Dobson circulation, and disturbances in one can propagate into the other.
Extended high-pressure anomalies over the South Pole from August to October have also been associated with colder-than-average winters in the United States during December to February, while Europe often experiences the opposite effect, with warmer conditions than usual." W

Rare tornadoes strike New South Wales, damaging properties in Caragabal

"Multiple tornadoes touched down in New South Wales on September 10, 2025, one of which

destroyed the shed of a farm in Caragabal, and ripped the roof off a nearby house. While tornadoes are a relatively rare occurrence in Australia, with around 10 to 20 sightings reported annually, September 10 proved to be an exceptional day as multiple tornadoes were reported in New South Wales (NSW).
The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the occurrence of a tornado in Tubbul, along with a second one a short time later in Caragabal. It also received unconfirmed reports of a third tornado in Cowra." W