Interesting Bits and Pieces
From recent happenings or stories around Australia and the world.
I am scratching my head about this.
After see twenty people waiting I would walk away.
Video (left) taken by a bemused neighbour in Hinchinbrook in the city's south-west (pictures of the home top and bottom-right) showed hundreds of prospective tenants lining up to inspect the $530-a-week four-bedroom home about 2pm on Wednesday. Traffic on Bennison Road was gridlocked for about half an hour, with dozens of cars left parked across driveways and footpaths near the one-storey property. Blaze Real Estate listing agent Isabella Mucedola told Daily Mail Australia police shut down the inspection at 2.35pm so they could clear the road, meaning more than 100 people who wanted to view the home missed out.
A mum has shown off the tiny lettuce she received after ordering online - noting it's neither the variety or quantity she expected to find.
Rainbow-coloured blanket octopus spotted for only fourth time off Lady Elliot Island on Great Barrier Reef
Sightings of the blanket octopus are so rare it is believed to have only been spotted three times in waters off the island. Sightings of the species are so rare the first male was only spotted on the Ribbon Reefs, near Cairns, 21 years ago.
May I ask what people think of this cover please?
Starring models Adut Akech, Amar Akway, Majesty Amare, Akon Changkou, Maty Fall, Janet Jumbo, Abény Nhial, Nyagua Ruea and Anok Yai in a striking fashion story shot by Rafael Pavarotti and styled by British Vogue's Editor-In-Chief Edward Enninful OBE, it's the first time Vogue has featured a group of black women this size on the cover.The issue celebrates the rise of the African model and talks to some of those 'redrawing the map'.E xplai
Christmas Island red crab population rebounds
This year the east coast and north coast of the island have seen large numbers of red crab babies emerge from the sea.
Yellow crazy ants killed tens of millions of the crustaceans however Christmas Island National Park Invasive species program coordinator Tanya Detto said for the past 20 years the crabs' population has been fairly stable at around 40 to 50 million, but this year's survey of the adults saw a dramatic increase.
It's 150 years since the death of Greyfriars Bobby.
Greyfriars Bobby was the faithful dog of John Gray, also known as Auld Jock, in Edinburgh. When Gray died and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Bobby sat by the grave every day and guarded it for the remaining 14 years of his life. The Skye Terrier was buried nearby.
A picture of his statue from last year in the snow.
Bobby's devotion captured hearts in Edinburgh, and he was commemorated with a statue in 1873 - a year after his death - near the entrance to the graveyard. The story has been brought to the world's attention through a 1912 book by Eleanor Atkinson and a 1961 Disney movie starring Donald Crisp, as well as a more recent movie in 2005.
Tourists from around the world stop to pose and have their picture taken with Bobby in front of a pub of the same name. Many touch the dog's nose for good luck, but that rubbing has left Bobby's face with a golden hue throughout the years. The local council has, on occasion, restored the statue.
New national park at Dryandra Woodland in WA a win for the critically endangered numbat.
The new national park has been created in the heart of Western Australia's Wheatbelt. The Dryandra Woodland near Narrogin is the natural home of numbats, woylies and western quolls, and is the largest remnant of the original vegetation before it was cleared for broadacre farming.
Numbats are an endangered species with fewer numbats left in the wild than pandas.
Approximately 15,000 hectares of the wandoo and powderbark eucalypt woodlands will be given greater levels of conservation programs, affording the unique mammals, birds and reptiles that call Dryandra home greater protection from cats and foxes.
I watched that too Celia. Great show.
Its a bit close to the edge don't you think?
Five-bedroom Scottish highlands home with a WATERFALL on its doorstep and views across the coast goes on the market for £325,000
Located near Wick in Caithness, the remote property (pictured) sits dramatically above the famous Whaligoe Steps and rugged coastline rocks; and is on the market for £325,000. The coastal home - which dates back to 1860 - is complete with a castle-style courtyard, commercial kitchen and breathtaking sea views. The unique house is set over two floors, with four bathrooms and features a quirky decor style throughout. It has pendant lampshades, exposed brick walls and windows to floor level in the main reception room.
As countries around the globe push towards net zero emissions targets, new research has highlighted an area of environmental concern in the production of solar panels.
An Australian study has found that to reach net zero milestones, the world will need almost 60 times more solar power, the production of which could cause "concerning" levels of global warming unless steps to reduce emissions during the panel production process are taken.
Photovoltaic engineering researcher Alison Lennon said part of the problem was the emission-intensive production of aluminium, with solar panel components mainly comprised of aluminium frames, inverter casings, rooftop cells and mounts.
"The emissions that could be generated in producing that aluminium are really concerning," she said.
Rainfall brings about return of endangered wetland birds throughout Central West NSW.
Magpie geese from northern Australia at Lake Cowal.
Mass flooding throughout inland New South Wales will save a number of endangered wetland bird species, according to wildlife experts. Lake Cowal, located in the Central West, has seen tens of thousands of birds descend over the summer. In the Macquarie Marshes, north of Dubbo, Joanne Ocock, a project conservation officer with National Parks and Wildlife said they have seen an increase in the number of blue-billed ducks.
Two endangered Blue-Billed ducks in the Macquarie Marshes, near Dubbo, January 2022.
The Macquarie Marshes, near Dubbo, has been inundated with wetland birds.
Aboriginal flag copyright transferred to Commonwealth, as the original artist agrees to make the flag freely available to all.
Luritja artist Harold Thomas created the flag in 1970 to represent Aboriginal people and their connection to the land, and it has been an official national flag since the end of the last century — but its copyright remained with Mr Thomas.
Anyone who wanted to use the flag legally previously had to ask permission or pay a fee.
Anyone flying to Australia from overseas must fill out a health survey as part of their application to enter the country.
On that form it asks if the person has travelled, or has plans to travel, in the 14 days before they arrive in Australia.
In documents released as part of Djokovic's Federal Circuit Court Case, he declared on his survey that he had not travelled in the last fortnight.
But a number of social media posts and news articles from the end of December show that that may not have been the case.
To have been within the border entry rules, Djokovic would had to have been in Spain, where he flew out from (via Dubai) to get to Australia, for two weeks from late on December 22.
He left Spain on January 4 and arrived in Australia late on Wednesday, January 5.
However, in videos and photos on social media, Djokovic appears to have been in Belgrade, Serbia, at Christmas time, where he was filmed playing tennis in the street.
Djokovic's lawyers and the Australian Border Force have been contacted for comment.
The tennis star's fate remains hanging in the balance as Immigration Minister Alex Hawke continues to consider whether to use his ministerial powers to cancel the world number one male tennis player's visa.
If that happens, it could mean Djokovic is banned from entering Australia for three years, although ban periods are done on a case-by-case basis.
"As noted yesterday in the Federal Circuit and Family Court, Minister Hawke is considering whether to cancel Mr Djokovic’s visa under section 133C(3) of the Migration Act," a spokesperson for Mr Hawke said.
"In line with due process, Minister Hawke will thoroughly consider the matter.
"As the issue is ongoing, for legal reasons it is inappropriate to comment further."
After a request from the Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabi?, to speak to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the two leaders had a phone call earlier today.
Mr Morrison's office said it was a "constructive conversation", while Serbian media outlet RTS reported that Ms Brnabi? asked that Djokovic be "treated fairly" and emphasised the importance of him being given time and conditions to train for the Australian Open.