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"32 years of safe landings": Pilot's surprise speech reduces passengers to tears

A pilot has brought his passengers to tears with an emotional speech on his final flight after 32 years in the skies. Jeff Fell, an American Airlines pilot, took off from Chicago on his retirement flight as he stood in front of his passengers and delivered a heartfelt message. At first, his message seemed routine, informing travellers of the weather and and flight time, before acknowledging it was strange for him to deliver the address from outside the cockpit. “I normally don’t stand up in front of everybody like this, I usually just stay in the cockpit and talk on the PA. If I get a little emotional please forgive me for that,” he said in the speech, which was captured on video by a passenger. With passengers still unaware of what was to come, he pointed out a group of “very important people” to him sitting at the back of the plane. “They’re the majority of my family who have come along with me on my retirement flight,” Mr Fell said. The plane was filled with applause as the pilot's voice wavered with emotion. “They’re on-board with me on my retirement flight after 32 years with American,” he said. He continued, fighting back tears, “Thank you all for coming along with me tonight and celebrating this very memorable time in my life. I love all of you." With another round of applause from his passengers, Mr Fell added:, “I didn’t want to get emotional but goodness gracious.” “Finally, for my wonderful wife Julie who has been at my side for the majority of my 32 years at American. She has been the rock, the solid rock in the foundation in our lives and our marriage. Her faith in the Lord, wisdom, strength and love has guided our marriage and family throughout these years. I love you and look forward to the next chapter in our lives. And welcome aboard everybody.” The video was uploaded to TikTok and has since gone viral, raking up millions of views, and you can watch the full video <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@realjharrison/video/7299484162648509738" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Thousands of social media users left comments of support, with many confessing the clip had brought them to tears. “As soon as he said retirement flight my tears came,” one person wrote, while another added, "32 years of safe landings also. God bless him and all pilots.” “To think of the amount of families, people, and cultures he has single-handedly connected throughout the world. Thank you!” penned a third person. “32 years of bringing people closer together. I’m crying!” agreed another. Image credits: TikTok

International Travel

Rod Stewart lists $105 million LA mansion

Legendary rocker Rod Stewart has put his mega mansion on the market. The listing comes just days after the star’s former Malibu home was listed for an asking price of $49.5m (AU$74.2m), with the Wall Street Journal first reporting his current Los Angeles compound is asking for $70m (AU$105m). With a European style, situated in the gated enclave of North Beverly Park, the property spans 3,065 sqm with a pool and a soccer field. Although a soccer field is a rarity in LA, it’s no surprise Stewart, 78, is an avid soccer fan. The 78-year-old was even spotted in Malibu playing football with the Scottish national team on the beach after inviting them to play there. The Journal noted that according to sales records, Stewart purchased the property in 1991 for $12,08m. He also owns a home in Palm Beach, Florida. Images of the home showcase Old World-style finishes such as ceiling mouldings and medallions, Corinthian columns, crystal chandeliers and stunning marble floors in various patterns. The main house boasts nine bedrooms, one being the primary suite with a sitting room and a terrace that looks over the pool. The main wardrobe is also found in the primary suite — one large enough to store the rocker’s massive show collection. Elsewhere offers entertaining areas, including a flashy speak-easy with eye-catching jade green-painted walls. A main-floor great room showcases a bar and a loggia to spend time with guests outdoors. The listing also includes a three-stories-tall guest house with two gyms. Michelle Oliver of Douglas Elliman has the listing and declined to reveal why the British icon has decided to sell. She noted it is suitable for owners who are seeking “a return to maximalism” and for “something that looks different and stands out.” Image credit: Getty / Realtor.com

Real Estate

“A lesson learned”: Uni student lands herself in an overdue book nightmare

A university graduate student received the shock of her academic career when an email arrived in her inbox to inform her she owed her school’s library a whopping $11,900 in overdue book fines. Hannah took to TikTok to share her story, posting a snippet of the horror email, and the news that her library account had amassed a debt of “$11,9000 owed for 119 lost books”. The books had been declared lost, though Hannah was quick to note that she was “still using” each of them, and had every intention of returning them once she was finished with her studies. To drive home the fact that the books were not missing, and instead safely in her scholarly possession, Hannah panned around the various piles of tomes stacked around her home, with a caption reading “the books aren’t lost, I’m just hoarding them until I finish my dissertation.” The email itself explained the books were marked as lost in the library’s system if they exceeded 30 days overdue, and that there was a flat rate of $100 per book in such instances. And according to the library, it was up to each patron to renew their books, and that Hannah “received overdue notices on the following dates prompting you to renew your library books before they are declared lost.” As she explained to The Daily Dot, she had checked out her collection three years prior while she’d been preparing for exams, and confirmed that she had received four reminders to either renew or return the books, but she’d put it off each time. “Then I got the automatic email,” she added, “saying all of the books were marked as lost and my account was charged $100 per book.” Hannah’s woe drew a mixed response from her audience, with some surprised that her library had even let her withdraw that many books in the first place, others unable to wrap their heads around the fact she could have let her situation get so bad, and many quick to defend the librarian, who they declared had only been doing her job. “My library only lets me check out 5 books at a time,” one wrote. “That’s why keeping library books past their due date is considered stealing,” another said, to which Hannah responded to promise her lesson had been learned. “Only 30 days over due??? Damn give a lil more time,” said one, with Hannah informing them that she’d had the books for years by that point. It wasn’t all bad for the budding scholar though, with Hannah explaining in another comment that “it was hunky dory”, as the library had waived her fees as soon as she’d responded to them, and that she’d been allowed to keep all 119 for an additional year. And, as she told another follower, “I’ve never replied to an email faster.” Images: TikTok

Books

What's inside the $126k Oscars gift bags?

For many actors, being awarded an Oscar is the greatest gift of their career. However, if an actor misses out in their category, it doesn't mean they'll walk away with nothing. The Oscars' gift bags have long been jam-packed with a selection of luxury goods, bringing the total value of the goodies well into the six-figure mark. This year is no exception, with the Los Angeles-based marketing company Distinctive Assets once again sending out its infamous "Everybody Wins" swag bags to the top nominees. The bags are worth an impressive $126,000 this year, with 26 nominees in acting and directing categories going home with the goodies. The celebrities will be offered thousands of dollars worth of luxury goods, and even more in vouchers for things like vacations and cosmetic procedures. Among the contents is a luxury getaway to Canada, which is said to be valued at $40,000, vouchers for cosmetic procedures like liposuction and micro-needling, luxury skincare and gourmet foods, and and "the first-ever chocolate box with a personalised video embedded inside." Also in the goodie bag is one unusual gift that has caused outrage with Indigenous Australian communities: a plot of land in regional areas of Australia. Pieces of Australia is one of a number of brands to pay $4,000 to secure a spot in the Oscars gift bag, offering a small parcel of land in outback Australia as part of its “Conservation Gift Packs”. The land parcels all come with a “certificate of land licence”, but the terms and conditions go on to state that “you have purchased a symbolic souvenir … of the land” and people who own a “pack” may not “take possession of the parcel; use the parcel; enter upon the parcel and/or the land without the licensor’s express written consent”. The digital “member’s handbook” which comes with the pack referenced the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN) without the company's permission, causing outrage with the traditional owners of the land. In a statement, ICIN said it “has not granted permission for any of our information, publications or photos to be reproduced to support the Oscars ‘Goodie Bag’ or ‘Pieces of Australia’.” “The Indigenous Carbon Industry Network is a 100% Indigenous-owned charitable company owned by 23 Indigenous organisations across Australia,” it said. “ICIN is seeking legal advice regarding this matter and will be able to provide further statement once we have sought appropriate advice.” The Pieces of Australia founder, Niels Chaneliere, said the intention of his organisation was to provide “land licence agreements (where there is no land title transfer at any point) as novel/symbolic gifts for people around the world to engage and participate positively in conservation efforts”. Image credits: Getty Images

Movies

24-year-old flight attendant dies as plane lands

A flight attendant who died suddenly when her plane landed shared how much she “loved her job” in a final Instagram post. Greta Dyrmishi, 24, was a cabin crew member for Air Albania and was travelling from Tirana, the Albanian capital, to Essex in the UK when she suddenly fainted on the tarmac. Paramedics arrived on the scene, giving CPR after reports of a woman being seriously ill, but unfortunately, they were unable to save her. A post-mortem found that the Ms Dyrmishi had died from “sudden adult death syndrome”. The 24-year-old, who was very active on Instagram and regularly posted about her travels, shared an aerial view of city lights at night, paired with the words, “That’s why I love my job.” She shared a clip from a plane window, roughly nine weeks before she passed away, showcasing the ocean, buildings and countryside. Ms Dyrmishi also shared footage on Instagram where she was seen enjoying a night out with co-workers. Essex Coroner’s Court was informed the young woman was given basic first aid on the tarmac when she fainted. “Ten minutes later there was no pulse and CPR commenced. Paramedics treated her and confirmed she had passed away,” Michelle Brown, area coroner for Essex, said. “A post-mortem found her cause of death to be sudden adult death syndrome.” According to the British Heart Foundation, Sudden Adult Death syndrome, also referred to as Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS), is “when someone dies suddenly and unexpectedly from a cardiac arrest, but the cause of the cardiac arrest can’t be detected. The Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Australia revealed SADS is one of the biggest causes of death for Australians under 50 and is five times more likely to affect men. “The primary cause of SCD in adults 35 and over is coronary heart disease. In younger people under 35, it is congenital heart conditions and heart rhythm disorders,” it says on its <a href="https://baker.edu.au/health-hub/sudden-cardiac-death#:~:text=Sudden%20cardiac%20death%20%E2%80%94%20also%20sudden,over%20is%20coronary%20heart%20disease." target="_blank" rel="noopener">site</a>. Ms Brown stated at the time of the incident that Ms Dyrmishi was at the front by the doors on the plane at Stansted Airport. “This is suitable for a documentary inquest in due course,” she said. At the time of her death, Air Albania issued a statement that said, “On December 21, after disembarking the passengers from our flight to London, one of our cabin crew Greta Dyrmishi had a heart attack. “Even after all medical assistance was provided immediately, we still lost her. “She was taken to the hospital in London, and procedures are being followed. “From the first moments, Air Albania contacted her family, and we continue to be close to them in these difficult moments. “In respect to Greta and her family, we decided to share the news with the public at the appropriate time. “We will always remember Greta as a passionate professional, an excellent co-worker, and a great friend to all of us. May God mercy her and give peace to the family. Air Albania will continue to be with her family.” Image credit: Instagram

Travel Trouble

"This is crazy": Ellen shares worrying update from storm-lashed LA

Former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres shared an update on Twitter showing the intensity of the wild storms hitting Los Angeles. The 64-year-old gave an up close and personal look at how the storm was wreaking havoc near her Montecito mansion. "Montecito is under mandatory evacuation. We are on higher ground so they asked us to shelter in place. Please stay safe everyone," she wrote. The video shows DeGeneres bundled up in a grey raincoat and hoodie as the rising floodwaters in the creek raged behind her. "This creek next to our house never flows, ever. It’s probably about nine feet [2.7m] up. It could go another two feet [60cm] up. We have horses ready to evacuate," she said. DeGeneres lives in an affluent area with other A-listers including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Montecito is under mandatory evacuation. We are on higher ground so they asked us to shelter in place. Please stay safe everyone. <a href="https://t.co/7dv5wfNSzG">pic.twitter.com/7dv5wfNSzG</a> — Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) <a href="https://twitter.com/EllenDeGeneres/status/1612591946635284480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2023</a></blockquote> DeGeneres referenced the five-year anniversary of the deadly mudslides that struck Southern California in 2018, leaving 23 people dead and over 160 others injured. "This is crazy, on the five-year anniversary. We’re having unprecedented rain,” she said. DeGeneres ended the video with a friendly reminder that: “We need to be nicer to mother nature, cause mother nature is not happy with us. Let’s all do our part. Stay safe everybody.” Various fans have commented their support and prayers for the former talk show host. "Wow, so sorry you have to go through that. Stay safe," one commented. "It’s 5 years to the day since 23 people died in the Montecito mudslides. Stay safe Ellen and everyone else," commented another. Image: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Jennifer Aniston snaps up Oprah's estate in star-studded neighbourhood

Jennifer Aniston has joined the likes of fellow A-listers Ariana Grande, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Ellen DeGeneres and Rob Lowe, forking out AUD$22 million on Oprah Winfrey’s former home. The four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom Tuscan-style farmhouse sits on 1.03 acres and was just one part of Winfrey’s vast property that she sold to the actor, while selling her other half of the estate to long-time personal trainer and property manager Bon Greene for an impressive $2.3 million. Spanning just over 400 sqm, the 53-year-old Friends star, who also owns a $20.97m Bel Air mansion, purchased the main residence of the estate under a trust around the same time as well. Winfrey quietly purchased the estate in early 2021 for $10.5m, which means she is walking away with a $6.5m profit. Because of the nature of the deal, interior photos of Aniston’s new place are scarce. The Mediterranean-style abode features a driveway surrounded by lush landscaping for optimal privacy and panoramic ocean views. Images: Getty/Google Earth/The Ellen Show

Real Estate

Incredible collection of 200 "lost" Elvis Presley items up for auction

A stunning collection of lost jewellery and other memorabilia and items that Elvis Presley gave to his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, is going up for auction on August 27 with the backing of his ex-wife, Priscilla. Up to 200 items, including gold rings encrusted with jewels, cufflinks, watches and chains, have been brought together by GWS Auction. Also included is the V-2 guitar played by Presley during his famous 'comeback' TV special of 1968, which alone is listed at US$750,000. Presley's 9.81 carat-to-weight Diamond 'First' TCB ring – where "TCB" stands for "taking care of business"' a favourite expression of the music legend – is also listed for a minimal bid of US$500,000. His 18 karat lion ring, which Elvis wore in the documentary 'Elvis: That's The Way it Is' is for sale too for a minimal bid of US$25,000. Other accessories, including watches, rings and necklaces, are mostly listed between US$1,000 to US$10,000 per item. The King's “Heartbreak Hotel” original lyrics board is also for sale for a minimal bid of US$50,000. Other items in the auction include: The King's "Speedway" Racing Jumpsuit, listed for a minimal amount of US$20,000; his 1976 Harley Davidson FLH 1200 Electra Glide for US$100,000; his 1973 Lincoln Continental 'Last' Limo for an amount of US$50,000; and his personally owned jet purchased for his father, listed at US$100,000. Many of the jewellery pieces were provided by Priscilla, although she doesn't own them. The lost collection's total estimated value, as well as its current owner's identity, remain unknown and it is also unclear how the items were found. Priscilla has also said she felt protective of the items because she designed some of them herself, including artefacts with the logo for TCB Band, the musicians who formed the core rhythm section of Presley's backing band in his later years. She also said she supported the auction in part because she was weary of seeing so many fake Elvis items for sale online. “There is so much product out there that is not authentic at all and that worries me,” she said. “I want to know for sure that that is going to go to someone who is going to care for it, love it.” The auction will be held in Los Angeles, California, at the Sunset Marquis Hotel starting at 10 pm on August 27. Image: Kruse GWS Auctions

Money & Banking

New research in Arnhem Land reveals why institutional fire management is inferior to cultural burning

One of the conclusions of this week’s shocking <a href="https://soe.dcceew.gov.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State of the Environment report</a> is that climate change is lengthening Australia’s bushfire seasons and raising the number of days with a fire danger rating of “very high” or above. In New South Wales, for example, the season now extends to almost eight months. It has never been more important for institutional bushfire management programs to apply the principles and practices of Indigenous fire management, or “cultural burning”. As the report notes, cultural burning reduces the risk of bushfires, supports habitat and improves Indigenous wellbeing. And yet, the report finds: <blockquote> with significant funding gaps, tenure impediments and policy barriers, Indigenous cultural burning remains underused – it is currently applied over less than 1% of the land area of Australia’s south‐eastern states and territory. </blockquote> Our <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-12946-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent research</a> in Scientific Reports specifically addressed the question: how do the environmental outcomes from cultural burning compare to mainstream bushfire management practices? Using the stone country of the Arnhem Land Plateau as a case study, we reveal why institutional fire management is inferior to cultural burning. The few remaining landscapes where Aboriginal people continue an unbroken tradition of caring for Country are of international importance. They should be nationally recognised, valued and resourced like other protected cultural and historical places. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Different indigenous fire application today with a country full of weeds. First burn of of two applications this year. This is what we have to do to make country have less flammable vegetation. Walk through, More time and love put into country. <a href="https://t.co/pnoWFQbq6C">pic.twitter.com/pnoWFQbq6C</a> — Victor Steffensen (@V_Steffensen) <a href="https://twitter.com/V_Steffensen/status/1505384041402748930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> Ancient fire management The rugged terrain of the Arnhem Plateau in Northern Territory has an ancient human history, with archaeological evidence <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-07-20/aboriginal-shelter-pushes-human-history-back-to-65,000-years/8719314#:%7E:text=New%20excavations%20of%20a%20rock,earlier%20than%20archaeologists%20previously%20thought." target="_blank" rel="noopener">dated at 65,000 years</a>. Arnhem Land is an ideal place to explore the effects of different fire regimes because fire is such an essential feature of the natural and cultural environment. Australia’s monsoon tropics are particularly fire prone given the sharply contrasting wet and dry seasons. The wet season sees prolific growth of grasses and other flammable plants, and dry season has reliable hot, dry, windy conditions. Millennia of <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-best-fire-management-system-is-in-northern-australia-and-its-led-by-indigenous-land-managers-133071" target="_blank" rel="noopener">skilful fire management</a> by Indigenous people in these landscapes have allowed plants and animals needing infrequently burnt habitat to thrive. This involves shifting “mosaic” burning, where small areas are burned regularly to create a patchwork of habitats with different fire histories. This gives wildlife a diversity of resources and places to shelter in. Conservation biologists suspect that the loss of such patchy fires since colonisation has contributed to the <a href="http://132.248.10.25/therya/index.php/THERYA/article/view/236/html_66" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calamitous demise</a> of wildlife species across northern Australia, such as northern quolls, northern brown bandicoots and grassland melomys. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> "Fire is the way to really look after the land and the people. Since we started here, we've been using fire. And we need to bring it back because it unites the people and the land." Jacob Morris, Gumea-Dharrawal Yuin man. 🎥 Craig Bender & <a href="https://twitter.com/VeraHongTweets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VeraHongTweets</a> <a href="https://t.co/Afh6iwIrOX">pic.twitter.com/Afh6iwIrOX</a> — FiresticksAlliance (@FiresticksA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FiresticksA/status/1436177617049296901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2021</a></blockquote> Collapse of the cypress pine Our study was undertaken over 25 years, and wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support and close involvement of the Traditional Owners over this time. It compared an area under near continuous Indigenous management by the Kune people of Western Arnhem Land with ecologically similar and unoccupied areas within Kakadu National Park. We found populations of the cypress pine (Callitris intratropica) remained healthy under continual Aboriginal fire management. By contrast, cypress pine populations had collapsed in ecologically similar areas in Kakadu due to the loss of Indigenous fire management, as they have across much of northern Australia. The population of dead and living pines is like a barcode that records fire regime change. The species is so long lived that older trees were well established before colonisation. The timber is extremely durable and termite resistant, so a tree killed by fire remains in the landscape for many decades. And mature trees, but not juveniles, can tolerate low intensity fires, but intense fires kill both. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/475072/original/file-20220720-22-odbe84.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/475072/original/file-20220720-22-odbe84.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/475072/original/file-20220720-22-odbe84.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/475072/original/file-20220720-22-odbe84.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/475072/original/file-20220720-22-odbe84.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/475072/original/file-20220720-22-odbe84.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/475072/original/file-20220720-22-odbe84.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/475072/original/file-20220720-22-odbe84.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1005&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>Cypress pine timber can remain in the landscape decades after the tree died. Michael Hains/Atlas of Living Australia, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY-NC-SA</a></figcaption></figure> Since 2007, park rangers have attempted to emulate cultural burning outcomes. They’ve used aircraft to drop incendiaries to create a coarse patchwork of burned and unburned areas to improve biodiversity in the stone country within Kakadu. Unfortunately, our research found Kakadu’s fire management interventions failed to restore landscapes to the healthier ecological condition under traditional Aboriginal fire management. While the Kakadu aerial burning program increased the amount of unburnt vegetation, it didn’t reverse the population collapse of cypress pines. Searches of tens of kilometres failed to find a single seedling in Kakadu, whereas they were common in comparable areas under Aboriginal fire management. Our study highlights that once the ecological benefits of cultural burning are lost, they cannot be simply restored with mainstream fire management approaches. But that’s not to say the ecological impacts from the loss of Aboriginal fire management cannot be reversed. Rather, restoring fire regimes and ecosystem health will be slow, and require special care in where and how fires are set. This requires teams on the ground with deep knowledge of the land, rather than simply spreading aerial incendiaries from helicopters. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> After 60 years of fire exclusion, another magic day restoring fire to Arakwal-Bundjalung-Bumberlin country. <a href="https://t.co/xRRNb4ELdQ">pic.twitter.com/xRRNb4ELdQ</a> — Dr. Andy Baker (@FireDiversity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FireDiversity/status/1537768580455931905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2022</a></blockquote> There’s much to learn There remains much for Western science to learn about <a href="https://theconversation.com/fighting-fire-with-fire-botswana-adopts-indigenous-australians-ancient-burning-tradition-135363" target="_blank" rel="noopener">traditional fire management</a>. Large-scale institutional fire management is based on concepts of efficiency and generality. It is controlled by bureaucracies, and achieved using machines and technologies. Such an “industrial” approach cannot replace the placed-based knowledge, including close human relationships with Country, underpinning <a href="https://www.firesticks.org.au/about/cultural-burning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cultural burning</a>. Cultural burning and institutional fire management could be thought of as the differences between home cooking and fast food. Fast food is quick, cheap and produces the same product regardless of individual needs. Home cooking takes longer to prepare, can cater to individual needs, and can improve wellbeing. But restoring sustainable fire regimes based on the wisdom and practices of Indigenous people cannot be achieved overnight. Reaping the benefits of cultural burning to landscapes where colonialism has disrupted ancient fire traditions take time, effort and resources. It’s urgent remaining traditional fire practitioners are recognised for their invaluable knowledge and materially supported to continue caring for their Country. This includes: <ul> <li>actively supporting Indigenous people to reside on their Country</li> <li>to pay them to undertake natural resource management including cultural burning</li> <li>creating pathways enabling Indigenous people separated from their country by colonialism to re-engage with fire management.</li> </ul> Restoring landscapes with sustainable cultural burning traditions is a long-term project that will involve training and relearning ancient practices. There are extraordinary opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike to learn how to Care for Country. <hr /> The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution of Victor Steffensen, the Lead Fire Practitioner at the Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation, who reviewed this article.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/184562/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-bowman-4397" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Bowman</a>, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Tasmania</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-i-roos-1354187" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christopher I. Roos</a>, Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-methodist-university-1988" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Southern Methodist University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/fay-johnston-90826" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fay Johnston</a>, Professor, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Tasmania</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-research-in-arnhem-land-reveals-why-institutional-fire-management-is-inferior-to-cultural-burning-184562" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: @FireDiversity (Twitter)

Domestic Travel

Queen’s private jet forced to abort landing

A plane carrying Queen Elizabeth II was forced to abandon its initial landing due to severe weather conditions. The pilot was due to land at RAF Northolt, about 20km from Windsor Castle, after leaving Aberdeen but was unable to because of a severe electrical storm, rain and hail. The plane remained in the air for an extra 15 minutes before the pilot successfully pulled off a second attempt at landing. The 96-year-old monarch was then taken to Windsor Castle to prepare for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations that will run until June 5. Revellers have already begun camping outside the castle hoping to get a glimpse of the royals during the exciting days ahead. The Platinum Jubilee will kick off with Trooping the Colour Parade on Thursday. It remains unclear how many events the Queen will attend due to her mobility issues, with the Palace no longer announcing whether she will attend an event in person until the day. Instead, it is assumed that her son Prince Charles, 73, will take her place as he has been doing for quite some time. Image: Getty

Travel Trouble

Dreaming of greener pastures? You could be paid to move to the Scottish countryside

If you’ve ever wanted an excuse to start afresh in a remote area on the other side of the world, you could be in luck - and you could even be paid to do it. In a bid to boost the populations of Orkney and the Isle of Skye, the Scottish government has been handing out up to £50,000 ($88,000 or $NZ 97 thousand) to people who are willing to make the move to the countryside. According to its mission statement, the Island Bond fund was created to support island residents to stay in their community and encourage others to move there, with financial support totalling £5 million ($AU 8.77 or 9.66 million NZ) split between 100 households. “We launched the Islands Bond consultation on 2 August 2021, providing an opportunity for our island residents in particular to identify the key challenges that a bond may be able to respond to.” As well as boosting local populations, it’s also hoped that the scheme encourages new residents to start new businesses in the region, giving the local economy a boost. However, local residents and councillors on Orkney have shared their reservations about the scheme, including Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur. “Rather than offering bribes to individuals, which could prove divisive, Scottish Ministers should commit to investing in projects that benefit whole island communities such as new ferries or faster broadband,” he wrote on Twitter. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Rather than offering bribes to individuals, which could prove divisive, Scottish Ministers should commit to investing in projects that benefit whole island communities such as new ferries or faster broadband. <a href="https://t.co/EJLI1HRGKz">https://t.co/EJLI1HRGKz</a> — Liam McArthur MSP (@Liam4Orkney) <a href="https://twitter.com/Liam4Orkney/status/1528711611665489928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2022</a></blockquote> “The proposed islands bond is set to benefit only a small minority,” he explained, per <a href="https://www.tyla.com/news/scottish-island-50k-20220525" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyla.com</a>. “It also has the potential to open up divisions rather than tackle the root causes of depopulation in island communities.” Despite reservations, the program has already been well-received, with Tyla.com reporting that applications have come from as far away as South America. To find out more about the scheme, head to the Rural and Islands Housing Fund (RIHF) website <a href="https://www.mygov.scot/rural-housing-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Getty Images

Real Estate

Florida man with no flying experience lands plane

A passenger on a small plane has kept his cool after the pilot collapsed at the controls, forcing him to take over and land the plane with zero flying experience. Darren Harrison told NBC’s Today show that he had been relaxing in the back of the single-engine Cessna on his return from a fishing trip in the Bahamas when the pilot told him and another passenger: “Guys, I gotta tell you I don’t feel good”. “He said, ‘I’ve got a headache and I’m fuzzy and I just don’t feel right’,” the 39-year-old Florida man said. “And I said, ‘What do we need to do?’ and, at that point, he didn’t respond at all.” After climbing into the cockpit, Mr Harrison discovered the unconscious pilot and that the plane was diving fast. “All I saw when I came up to the front was water out the right window and I knew it was coming quick. At that point, I knew if I didn’t react, that we would die,” he recalled. The flooring salesman then reached over the pilot, grabbed the controls, and slowly pulled back the stick to level the plane, which he said was simply common sense. “I knew if I went up and yanked that, the airplane would stall,” he explained. “And I also knew that at the rate we were going, we were going way too fast, and it would probably rip the wings off of the airplane.” He said that thought was “the scariest part of the whole story”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> What if your pilot became ill and you had to fly the plane? That’s what happened over the ocean, 25 miles from <a href="https://twitter.com/flyPBI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@flyPBI</a>. Air traffic controllers sprang to action and calmly guided a passenger to land safely. Read about the miracle at 7,000 ft on our blog <a href="https://t.co/4Hn7JzNKN5">https://t.co/4Hn7JzNKN5</a>. <a href="https://t.co/2KPhpmqG2S">pic.twitter.com/2KPhpmqG2S</a> — The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FAANews/status/1524498223749996544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2022</a></blockquote> The other pilot - who he said was a friend of the pilot - helped him move the pilot out of the seat so that Mr Harrison could take his place. But, when he put on the headset, he realised the wires were frayed and the plug was gone and took the headset from the other passenger. He reached out to an air traffic controller in Florida but, when asked if knew the plane’s position, said the GPS was out so he had no idea. The air traffic controller then asked what he could see, with Mr Harrison telling him: “I see the state of Florida and I see a small airport”. He recalled refusing to let fear set in at that moment, with the knowledge that landing the plane was his only choice. “When I was flying and saw the state of Florida, at that second I knew I’m going to land there,” he said. “I don’t know what the outcome’s going to be, I don’t know how it’s going to happen, but I knew I’m going to have to land this airplane because there’s no other option.” Mr Harrison said he had to get home to his wife, Britney, who was seven months pregnant with their first child. “People said what if you had crashed and died? You could have at least called her, you could have reached out to her, you had time,” he said. “In my mind I knew I wasn’t going to die, and the thought never crossed my mind to call and tell my wife, ‘bye’.” With the help of air traffic controller Robert Morgan, Mr Harrison safely landed the plane at Palm Beach International Airport. “I said thank you for everything and threw the headset on the dash and I said the biggest prayer I’ve ever said in my life,” he recalled. “That’s when all the emotion set in.” Mr Harrison recalled offering a “thankful prayer for the safety and everything that had happened”, with the strongest part of the prayer going to the “guy in the back because I knew it was not a good situation”. The pilot was taken to hospital and is expected to be released this week, according to Mr Harrison. After landing, Mr Harrison then called his wife, who wasn’t expecting to hear from him so early. Britney said that last year, her brother-in-law died when her sister was six months pregnant, “so honestly, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for it not to be him on the other line”. “I told myself, ‘God we can’t do this again’. I don’t think I could do it again. And thankfully we didn’t have to.” Image: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Madonna flips The Weeknd's former LA estate

Music icon Madonna has successfully flipped this Los Angeles-area mansion for a huge profit. The ‘Material Girl’ singer has listed her 3-acre Hidden Hills home for $25.9 million (A$36 million) just one year after buying it from R&B star The Weeknd. That’s $6.7 million (A$9.3m) more than the $19.3 million (A$26.8m) the 63-year-old pop queen paid for the approximately 12,000-square-foot estate, which she bought from the singer in April 2021. This time around, however, the house may actually sell at the steep asking price, thanks to the addition of a new gym and dance studio in the property’s barn. The home features a saltwater pool, a basketball court, a 10-person spa, an indoor-outdoor bar, a formal dining room with a fireplace, a wine cellar, a five-car auto gallery, a home theatre and a two-bedroom, two-bathroom guesthouse with a full kitchen. It also has plenty of room for guests, boasting nine bedrooms and eleven bathrooms throughout the main house and separate guesthouse. All seven of the main residence’s bedrooms have ensuite baths. The interesting compound is also very well hidden, accessed via an “olive-tree lined drive & storybook bridge”. The grounds are located on a “sun-drenched hillside” brimming with redwood trees in the gated Hidden Hills community, which is known for its many current and former famous residents. Images: Domain

Real Estate

Stallone sells home to Adele then buys THIS

Maybe you heard that Sylvester Stallone has up and sold his custom Beverly Hills 90210 mansion. The lucky buyer on this occasion was none other than soul diva Adele – who only paid a humble $58 million for the abode residing in the ultra-exclusive guard-gated Beverly Park community. While Stallone and his wife Jennifer now call Florida home (with a $35 million pad out in Palm Beach), the power couple are keeping one foot on Californian soil with a recent purchase. They’ve “downsized” on the down-low to an estate in nearby Hidden Hills. This happens to be another guard-gated community near Los Angeles, in an area well known for its many famous residents – including musicians, pro athletes and nearly all of the Kardashians. Stallone paid about $18.2 million for the residence, meaning he got himself a new home and still managed to pocket roughly $40 million from the Beverley Park sale. The house is set at the end of a discreet Hidden Hills cul-de-sac, the gated estate spans more than two acres and is a true compound, with a mansion-sized main house, a guesthouse, pool house and separate horse barn. All up, the various structures include more than 10,000 square feet of living space, and the fully landscaped property also includes a greenhouse, vegetable garden, 100 fruit-bearing citrus and avocado trees, a koi pond and a horse arena for riding. Built new in 2015, the property was sold the following year for $7.8 million to Margie Keyes, the Australian-born ex-wife of Keyes Auto Group owner Howard Keyes. Shortly after her purchase, Keyes engaged the services of noted interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard who is best known for his work with celebrity clients like the Kardashians and the Osbourne family - for a very custom make over. As you can see in the gallery below, the results of those renovations are stunning and highly luxurious. Images: Dirt Real Estate

Real Estate

News crew reporting on hit-and-run films ANOTHER one as it happens

A news report about a dangerous section of a main road was interrupted by a car crash. The timing was truly impeccable and really proved the reporter’s point. An LA news crew were reporting on a hit and run that had happened in late February and as the reporter was explaining how dangerous that particular road is, a collision happened behind him on camera. According to Gene Kang who was the reporter at the scene, a Honda sedan was heading toward him and his team but veered away and hit another sedan. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2W-Rx2NLTO8" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Tooting is heard behind Kang as he says "officials say this is one of the most dangerous streets in all of Los Angeles." Kang then turns to observe the crash in action. Following the crash, the driver of the Honda mounted the footpath and fled the scene. The driver of the other car was reportedly uninjured.

Travel Trouble

Brooke Shields earns TWICE what she spent on LA home

Actress and model Brooke Shields has reportedly <a href="https://www.redfin.com/CA/Pacific-Palisades/1710-N-San-Remo-Dr-90272/home/6849498">sold</a> her LA home for $11 million - making a hefty $6.17 million profit in the process. According to <a href="https://www.dirt.com/gallery/entertainers/actors/brooke-shields-house-los-angeles-1203456072/brookeshields_pps15/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dirt</a>, Shields bought the five-bedroom, five-bathroom 1980s home for about $4.8 million in 1997, meaning she has collected double its original value. The opulent residence, located in the affluent Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, features an airy living area with a functional fireplace and exposed beams, as well as a large balcony area with sweeping views of the canyon, and a marble-topped professional kitchen. On the second floor, the master suite boasts two fireplaces, a study nook, a free-standing tub, a sauna, and its own private balcony. Outside, the home’s second deck on the first floor is home to a lagoon-style pool and spa, accompanied by a lush lounge area. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CaVXUThuZb7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CaVXUThuZb7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Brooke Shields (@brookeshields)</a> </div> </blockquote> Shields took to Instagram last week to announce she was moving on from her LA home, sharing a series of throwback photos from when she made jam with LA Times columnist Ben Mims. “My iPhone just reminded me of these pics from jamming mandarins with my new friend @benbmims in my backyard, as I said goodbye to my LA home 💛 #movingon,” she wrote. Although the Blue Lagoon star has owned the property for 25 years, she has spent most of her time on America’s east coast in the 1840s Manhattan townhouse she owns with her husband Chris Henchy. Images: @brookeshields (Instagram), Redfin

Real Estate

Naomi Osaka's stunning new mega-mansion

Naomi Osaka, former World No. 1 tennis player, has forked out $8.7 million (US$6.3m) for former boy-band star Nick Lachey's LA home. This isn't the first time the famed athlete has bought a home from a pop star. In 2019, Osaka splashed $9.5 million (US$6.9m) on buying Nick Jonas' 90210 pad. The San Fernando Valley purchase happened off market, according to Dirt, and appears to be a tidy pay day for Lachey and wife Vanessa. The pair only lived there for a year after buying the house in late 2020 for $7 million (US$5.1m). Nick Lachey is best known as the former 98 Degrees boyband singer, Jessica Simpson's ex-husband and co-host of Netflix's Love Is Blind. Osaka is well placed to indulge in luxury real estate. Forbes estimates the Japanese-Haitian tennis superstar's income reached $83 million (US$60 million) in a single year, making her the highest-paid female athlete of all time. Located in LA's Tarzana neighbourhood, the East Coast traditional-inspired manor was newly built in 2015 and boasts an outdoor feature Osaka was no doubt drawn to – a sunken sports court. Behind a double-gated driveway, the home welcomes you with manicured front garden and driveway parking for a dozen or more cars, plus a four-car garage. Interiors feature a large gourmet eat-in kitchen with dual islands, a formal dining room sports wainscoting and a patterned wallpaper, a lounge area with beautiful coffered ceiling and fireplace and a temperature-controlled wine cellar. There's a media room that acts a second comfy lounge room and a "parlor games room" that in listing photos is equipped with pool table and wet bar that can easily seat five sports fans. There's also a movie theatre. All five of the home's bedrooms enjoy ensuite full bathrooms, with an additional two powder rooms in the residence. The upstairs main suite comes with a fireplace, private balcony, private sitting room and dual closets. Year-round outdoor entertaining is also on offer, with a covered loggia including fans and a fireplace. Outside, the resort-style backyard has grassy lawns, a fire pit, stamped concrete patio and a dark-bottomed pool. Plus, there's also a bar and built-in BBQ for summer get togethers. The best feature of the roughly 2,800sqm property, and no doubt part of the reason Osaka was keen to snag the home, is the aforementioned sports court. Images: Domain.com.au

Real Estate

See inside “Jeopardy!” star Alex Trebek’s luxe LA home

Just over a year after Alex Trebek, the beloved host of Jeopardy!, passed away at 80, his children have decided to list his home near Los Angeles for a whopping $10.58 million ($USD 6.995 million). According to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3405-Fryman-Rd_Studio-City_CA_91604_M12859-49929" target="_blank">listing</a>, Trebek first bought the five-bedroom, 7.5-bathroom home in 1991 for $3.25 million. In an interesting turn of events, Trebek’s daughter Emily is the listing agent for the property, along with Renee Oigens at Compass. Though the Trebeks have been forced to slash the price of their last home that hit the market - to the tune of $USD 200,000 ($NZD 300,000) - some experts believe they will actually sell the LA home for more than the asking price. Real estate experts have pointed to the home’s location in LA’s Fryman Canyon, a secluded hotspot for celebrities, as well as its famed pedigree. “We believe this home will go at or above the asking price,” Amy Herman, a licensed real estate salesperson who works with high-profile clients, told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/inside-alex-trebeks-home-los-angeles-how-much-its-worth-today/" target="_blank">Realtor.com</a>. “This is in part because of Alex Trebek’s legacy, and in part because of the fabled Studio City urban/suburban, super niche neighbourhood.” Herman pointed out that the area is home to A-list celebrities such as Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus, and George Clooney. “Plus, a 99-year-old Mediterranean mansion on 1.5 acres is super difficult to find,” she said. “The house has an extra-special library and movie theatre, which are especially reflective of Trebek’s iconic Hollywood legacy.” Jason Gelios, an author and real estate agent in Detroit, said the kinds of buyers attracted to celebrity homes will tend to pay a higher price. “Celebrity properties tend to appeal to a different type of homebuyer in the luxury market,” he said. “Homebuyers who look for that celebrity touch on a property will pay the higher price.” Though the home does require some renovating, which could see the selling price take a hit, Californian broker and real estate agent Khari Washington says it’s a reasonable price. “There are smaller houses nearby that are fixed up and have sold in the $5 million range. With this home being more significant, the asking price is right on.” With features including a twin wrought-iron staircase in the double-height foyer, as well as cathedral-style ceilings, uniquely designed windows, and a separate wing housing a 13-metre-long home theatre, its new owners will have a lot to enjoy. Images: Getty Images, Realtor.com

Real Estate

2021 was one of the hottest years on record – and it could also be the coldest we’ll ever see again

Well, it’s official: 2021 was one of the planet’s seven hottest years since records began, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) declared this week. The year was about 1.11℃ above pre-industrial levels – the seventh year in a row that the average global temperature rise edged over 1℃. The WMO report echoes <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/news/2021-was-worlds-6th-warmest-year-on-record">two separate</a> <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/2021-tied-for-6th-warmest-year-in-continued-trend-nasa-analysis-shows">official US analyses</a> released last week that found 2021 was the sixth hottest year on record, tied with 2018. For many of us in Australia and overseas, however, 2021 may have felt generally colder and rainier than usual. This is because of the effect of back-to-back La Niña events, a natural phenomenon that brings cooler, rainier weather in our region. The fact 2021 was among the world’s hottest years despite these cooling forces shows just how strong the long-term warming trend is. Indeed, 2021 may well be the coldest year we’ll ever experience again. Let’s reflect on the year that was, and what we can expect for this year and beyond. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PiR6TnAx36E?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> 2021 was one of the seven warmest years on record, WMO consolidated data shows. <h2>La Niña dampens the heat, but not enough</h2> 2021 started and ended with La Niña events. While it’s unusual for this climate phenomenon to occur two years in a row, <a href="https://theconversation.com/back-so-soon-la-nina-heres-why-were-copping-two-soggy-summers-in-a-row-173684">it’s not unheard of</a>. In La Niña years, we see the global average temperature decrease by about 0.1-0.2℃. So how does it work? During La Niña we see cool water from deep in the Pacific Ocean rise to the surface. This happens when wind strength increases at the equator, which pushes warmer water to the west and allows more cool water to rise off the coast of South America. Essentially, the net transfer of energy from the surface to the deeper ocean brings the average global surface temperature down. While La Niña is a natural phenomenon (it’s not the result of human activities), human-caused climate change remains a constant underlying influence that sets a long-term warming trend. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437382/original/file-20211213-25-9bnwpl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/437382/original/file-20211213-25-9bnwpl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> A schematic showing interactions between the atmosphere and ocean during a La Niña. Bureau of Meteorology. The La Niña conditions of 2021 took the edge off the global average surface temperature. Parts of Australia, southern Africa and northwestern North America saw cooler temperatures during 2021 compared to recent years as the effects of La Niña kicked in. Unless we have another strong La Niña very soon, we’re going to keep seeing even hotter years than 2021 for the foreseeable future until net global greenhouse gas emissions cease. <h2>A year with massive, extreme events</h2> As the world warms we’re becoming more accustomed to extreme events, especially severe heatwaves. This was no different for 2021, which was characterised one incredibly extreme heat event in particular, which occurred in western North America. In late June and early July, heat built over northwest United States and southwest Canada. <a href="https://theconversation.com/extreme-heat-waves-in-a-warming-world-dont-just-break-records-they-shatter-them-164919">New temperature records were set across the region</a> – at some sites, by several degrees. A staggering 49.6℃ was recorded in Lytton, British Columbia, which is Canada’s highest temperature measurement. This heatwave was disastrous, including in Seattle and Portland where <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/08/11/climate/deaths-pacific-northwest-heat-wave.html">death rates spiked</a>. Soon after, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-02/lytton-fire-record-temperatures-heat-dome-canada-heatwave/100261768">wildfire destroyed</a> the town of Lytton. While many other parts of the world also saw heatwaves, including significant events in Europe and Asia, the western North American heatwave stands out. The scale of this event would have been <a href="https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/western-north-american-extreme-heat-virtually-impossible-without-human-caused-climate-change/">virtually impossible without human-caused climate change</a>. Severe floods were also a feature of 2021 in many places. Short bursts of extreme rainfall that bring flash flooding are becoming more frequent and intense due to the human influence on the climate. We saw especially devastating events in <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/europe-s-deadly-floods-leave-scientists-stunned">central Europe</a> and in <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57861067">China</a> in July. <h2>Australia’s coolest year since 2012</h2> Australia not only experienced <a href="https://theconversation.com/back-so-soon-la-nina-heres-why-were-copping-two-soggy-summers-in-a-row-173684">back-to-back La Niña events</a>, but also the <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-wet-winter-a-soggy-spring-what-is-the-negative-indian-ocean-dipole-and-why-is-it-so-important-164957">negative Indian Ocean Dipole</a> – a bit like the Indian Ocean’s version of La Niña, bringing cool, rainier weather to Australia during winter and spring. Both left their mark, with Australia experiencing its <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/#tabs=Tracker&tracker=timeseries">coolest year since 2012</a> and its <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/#tabs=Tracker&tracker=timeseries&tQ=graph%3Drranom%26area%3Daus%26season%3D0112%26ave_yr%3D0">wettest year since 2016</a>. And still, 2021 was warmer than any year in the observational series prior to 1980. In fact, Australia is warming faster than the world as a whole, with <a href="https://theconversation.com/climate-change-has-already-hit-australia-unless-we-act-now-a-hotter-drier-and-more-dangerous-future-awaits-ipcc-warns-165396">Australian temperatures</a> already up <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/state-of-the-climate/australias-changing-climate.shtml">about 1.4℃ since 1910</a>. We also saw major floods in Australia that inundated <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-20/nsw-floods-break-120-year-old-rain-records/100079400">eastern New South Wales</a> in March, and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/01/queensland-floods-950-evacuated-from-inglewood-as-rising-rivers-threaten-towns">Queensland</a> more recently. However, the influence of climate change on extreme rainfall in Australia is less clear than for other parts of the world because Australia has a high climate variability - swinging from drought to flooding rains and back again. Another reason is because our major floods are often caused by extreme rain that falls for several days, and the effect of climate change on this type of rain is difficult to unpick. <h2>What’s in store for 2022 and beyond</h2> We can’t forecast the weather beyond about ten days, but we can make a couple of forecasts for 2022 with confidence. First, while 2022 may experience a slight cooling influence from <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/outlook/">the ongoing La Niña</a>, it will still be among our warmest years. To have an individual year as cool as those we experienced as recently as the 1990s is exceptionally unlikely due to our high greenhouse gas emissions. Second, there will be more extreme heat events somewhere on Earth this year, because our influence on the climate has <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-hot-weather-records-continue-to-tumble-worldwide-86158">greatly increased the odds of record-breaking heatwaves occurring</a>. Even if we start acting on climate change with more urgency, we will experience more frequent and intense heatwaves in coming years. This means we need to <a href="https://theconversation.com/adapting-cities-to-a-hotter-world-3-essential-reads-120634">build greater resilience to these extremes</a> and adapt cities and towns to a hotter world. Beyond 2022, we know we will see continued global warming until we stop emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. And with global carbon dioxide emissions rebounding to <a href="https://www.globalcarbonproject.org/carbonbudget/21/highlights.htm">near-record levels in 2021</a> after a brief drop in 2020 from the pandemic, we’re a long way off stopping global warming. Rapid decarbonisation is needed to reduce further warming of the planet. It’s not too late to <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-no-end-to-the-damage-humans-can-wreak-on-the-climate-this-is-how-bad-its-likely-to-get-166031">avoid the most dangerous climate change impacts</a>. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/175238/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-king-103126">Andrew King</a>, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/2021-was-one-of-the-hottest-years-on-record-and-it-could-also-be-the-coldest-well-ever-see-again-175238">original article</a>. Image: AP Photo/Michael Pappas

Travel Trouble

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Stevie Wonder snaps up lavish LA mansion

Music legend Stevie Wonder has recently bought himself a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2147-Ravensfield-Ln_Los-Angeles_CA_90077_M27108-95842" target="_blank">luxe mansion in Bel-Air</a>, dropping $USD 13.85 million ($NZD 20.46 million). According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dirt.com/gallery/entertainers/musicians/stevie-wonder-house-bel-air-los-angeles-1203443140/" target="_blank">Dirt</a>, the elaborate estate was formerly owned by Prince Mohammed bin Faisal bin Saud al-Saud, who hasn’t spent much time in the area and has apparently been renting the home for $USD 75,000 a month. The home was <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/stevie-wonder-reportedly-buys-wonderful-mansion-in-bel-air-for-14m/" target="_blank">first listed for sale</a> in 2017 for a whopping $USD 25 million ($NZD 36.93 million), before the price began to nosedive. In early 2018, the price fell to $USD 23.5 million, followed by a reduction to $USD 20 million eight months later and a final discount to $USD 17.95 million at the end of the year. Still failing to find a buyer, the home was eventually floated off the market for a few years before it returned in April 2021 with a price tag of $USD 14.7 million. It was eventually snapped up by Wonder at an almost 50 percent discount off its initial price. Built in 2009, the Superstition singer’s new 1858-square-metre home includes 11 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, high ceilings, and a mix of wood and stone floors throughout. The home also boasts a formal dining room, professional kitchen, home theatre, bar, and entertainment room with its own pool table, card table, and pinball machines, and a wine cellar that can hold up to 2550 bottles. On the second floor, the master bedroom comes with a private sitting area and a balcony that overlooks the pool. The lavish estate also includes space for guest or staff quarters, and a lift connecting all three floors. Outside, the half-acre grounds include a pool, spa and waterfall, as well as a patio and outdoor fireplace. Images: Getty Images, Realtor.com

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Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Stevie Wonder snaps up lavish LA mansion

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

"32 years of safe landings": Pilot's surprise speech reduces passengers to tears

Rod Stewart lists $105 million LA mansion

“A lesson learned”: Uni student lands herself in an overdue book nightmare

What's inside the $126k Oscars gift bags?

24-year-old flight attendant dies as plane lands

"This is crazy": Ellen shares worrying update from storm-lashed LA

Jennifer Aniston snaps up Oprah's estate in star-studded neighbourhood

Incredible collection of 200 "lost" Elvis Presley items up for auction

New research in Arnhem Land reveals why institutional fire management is inferior to cultural burning

Queen’s private jet forced to abort landing

Dreaming of greener pastures? You could be paid to move to the Scottish countryside

Florida man with no flying experience lands plane

Madonna flips The Weeknd's former LA estate

Stallone sells home to Adele then buys THIS

News crew reporting on hit-and-run films ANOTHER one as it happens ﻿

Brooke Shields earns TWICE what she spent on LA home

Naomi Osaka's stunning new mega-mansion ﻿

See inside “Jeopardy!” star Alex Trebek’s luxe LA home

2021 was one of the hottest years on record – and it could also be the coldest we’ll ever see again

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Stevie Wonder snaps up lavish LA mansion

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News crew reporting on hit-and-run films ANOTHER one as it happens

Naomi Osaka's stunning new mega-mansion