Brisbane City Council will increase property rates by 3.97%, below inflation, in its $3.9 billion austerity budget. Rising fuel costs, Middle East conflict, and natural disaster impacts are cited. The budget also includes $1.35 billion for Story Bridge repairs, with the council seeking 90% federal and state funding.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing in Beijing, endorsing his leadership and pledging to deepen strategic cooperation. The meeting, China's staunchest international support for Myanmar's military government, also addressed issues like online gambling and drug trafficking.
Turkey's Meteorology General Directorate has issued warnings for heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds across several regions, including Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, Central Anatolia, and Black Sea. Localized severe weather is expected in specific provinces, with potential for floods, landslides, and hail. Meteorologist Prof. Dr. Orhan Şen links these extreme events to climate change and predicts an increase in natural disasters this year.
The Community and Public Sector Union claims Victoria's State Control Centre will see staffing cut by two-thirds. The government refutes this, stating 24/7 operations will continue with no net reduction in staff, though the union argues this rolls back crucial reforms.
A proposed merger of Emergency Management Victoria and Emergency Recovery Victoria could cut State Control Centre staffing from 88 to 31 full-time equivalents, according to the CPSU. The union warns this impacts disaster response, while the government claims 24/7 staffing will be maintained.
The Pacific Response Group is beginning negotiations on a treaty that would allow it to respond more quickly to natural disasters and other crises across the region.
As about 1.6 million households experience insurance unaffordability stress, a disparate alliance of stakeholders proposes cheaper premiums for home owners who upgrade their properties to withstand natural disasters.
Following Hurricane Helene's devastation in western North Carolina, patients in opioid recovery faced treatment disruptions that risked relapse and overdose. Doctors with addiction medicine expertise published an editorial urging federal and state governments to improve access to substance use medications during natural disasters, citing studies showing similar crises after Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Maria, and California wildfires.
Archaeologists at Pompeii have used AI for the first time to digitally reconstruct the face of a man killed during the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The remains were discovered near the Porta Stabia necropolis as he attempted to flee toward the coast, holding a terracotta mortar over his head as a shield against falling volcanic debris. The project, developed with the University of Padua, also found he was carrying an oil lamp, an iron ring, and 10 bronze coins. The AI-generated illustration shows the man running along a debris-covered road with Vesuvius erupting in the background.
Archaeologists at Pompeii have used AI for the first time to digitally reconstruct the face of a victim of the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The reconstruction, developed by the Pompeii Archaeological Park with the University of Padua, is based on data from excavations near the Porta Stabia necropolis. The victim was found holding a terracotta mortar, interpreted as an improvised attempt to shield his head from falling lapilli.
A new AI tool will help Parks Victoria manage native and endangered species affected by natural disasters, including the summer bushfires, with the department making the technology available to everyone.
Growers across Western Australia's Gascoyne take a huge financial hit after four natural disasters in the first four months of 2026.
