ENVIRONMENT

Bureau of Meteorology’s Annual Climate Statement confirmed on Thursday that 2016 was the fourth-warmest year on record in Australia. The average national mean temperature rose 0.87C above average.

Australian Antarctic Division scientists have got a rare glimpse of the mysterious underwater world that’s present beneath the Arctic sea ice. Stunning images of spidery starfish, dandelion-like worms, coconut-shaped sponges and pink encrusting algae were captured by an underwater robot that the scientists deployed at O’Brien Bay, near Casey research station in East Antarctica.

Cyclone forecast 2016 suggests that four potential cyclones may threaten Australia, particularly Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. Rough weather is predicted for QLD while NT and WA are on high alert.

Christmas Day weather forecast 2016 has been unveiled by the Bureau of Meteorology. Australia is likely to witness a tale of two Christmases this year.

NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers warned that New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are extremely vulnerable to bushfires in summer as temperature may exceed 33 C.

In order to keep the weight of the space aircraft as light as they should, NASA is developing new healthy and lightweight food bars that astronauts can take along with them to their Mars mission.

A hot air mass, also known as the heatwave, is moving across Australia's southeast regions and is predicted to cause the mercury to hit 34 in several parts of the country.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull dismissed Coalition members’ suggestions that climate change policy review could be dangerous, even after Senator Bernardi said that it is one of the “dumbest things” he has heard in politics in recent times.

Former Vice President Al Gore is ready to set their differences aside and find common ground on more important issues.

Malcolm Turnbull plans to axe Tony Abbott's Green Army. The scheme is an environmental program that offered employment to around 15,000 young Australians. However, the Government had to axe to make savings.

In just about four years, Australia has already spent nearly 20 percent of its greenhouse gas allowance for year 2050.

Here are the details on getting the best "extra-supermoon" experience.

The Syrian Army claims it has control of the strategic 1070 Apartments district in Aleppo on Tuesday. It is the most significant gain by the Syrian government in the rebel-controlled city, says the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Up to eight nations are reportedly preparing for a global war amid the resumption of bombings in Aleppo by Russia and Syria hours after the 16-day ceasefire ended on Nov 4. Although chances of World War III erupting is seen as slim, NATO is not taking chances by placing around 300,000 of its soldiers on high alert.

On Friday, Nov 4, global attention would be on the Syrian city of Aleppo as the 7 pm deadline officially ends the ceasefire declared since Oct 18 by Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is also the deadline for rebels and residents to leave the city which would be vulnerable to air and land attacks if Putin gives the go signal, possibly triggering World War III.

While the ongoing Cold War between Russia and the US has inspired developers to create an interactive Red Button Quest game which Russians are playing, almost half of the country’s population actually fear the Syria situation could trigger a global war. A survey by the Levada Center polling agency found that 48 percent of Russians fear the breakdown in relations between Moscow and the west could least to a third world war.

Since speculations of a World War III, started in mid-October after We Are Anonymous claimed that Pentagon had admitted a global war is imminent, rumors have lessened despite deployment of Russian warships. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured the country would not attack anyone, although NATO is apparently building up forces in the Baltic region despite the assurance.

Amid the growing threat of World War III and both NATO and Russia building up its forces and armaments, Russian President Vladimir Putin denies the country plans to attack anyone. He made the assurance after deploying two small warships with long-range cruise missiles to the Baltic region.The strengthening of Russian power in the area

Following reports that alliance defence ministers are pushing the NATO to fill four battle groups of 4,000 troops for deployment to the Baltic area, Russian President Vladimir Putin reinforced the country’s Baltic fleet. He sent two small warships armed with long-range cruise missiles to counter NATO’s build-up.

Even if Russia has extended the ceasefire and has not conducted an air strike the past seven days, alliance defense ministers are pushing NATO to keep its July commitment to deploy forces to Baltic states. The promise was to fill four battle groups of about 4,000 troops.

Amid wide anticipation that Russia would launch an air strike on Aleppo within two weeks that could trigger a global war, some relief appears to be on the way. Moscow extended the three-day ceasefire in the war-torn Syrian city and there has been no air strike in the region in seven days.

As the Cold War between Russia and the US escalates, Russia recently held nuclear bomb-survival drills, amid speculations a cyberattack could be a trigger to a global war. The country upgraded its bomb shelters, tested gas masks and held a rehearsal on how citizens should respond to chemical and nuclear threats in which 40 million Russians took part.

The likely trigger to World War III is a Russian air attack on Aleppo which could spark a nuclear war between the two superpowers. However, Friday’s distributed denial of service (DDoS), which affected half of the internet in the US, could also trigger a global war.

The 88 members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has gathered this week in Slovenia to discuss the fate of the whales. The members have been divided on the issue about hunting lines.

Experts warn that if Russia would unleash just five of its SS-18 missile, also known as the Satan, it could destroy the east coast of the US and kill more than 4 million people. Russia is believed to have 55 Satans, its most powerful missile, part of the largest nuclear stockpile in the world which could make the nuclear bombs dropped during World War II in Japan pale in comparison.

NATO just warned that the Russian warships cruising near the North Sea is part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plan to end the civil war in Syria and declare victory for himself and Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Within two weeks they foresee Moscow launching a massive assault in the run up to the deciding battle or the proxy war between the US and Russia.

The Royal Navy went on a red alert upon finding out that Russian warships are planning to sail along the British coast on its way to Syria. Among the Russian warships photographed sailing off Ramsgate, Kent, were the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and the Kirov class battlecruiser Peter the Great.

Quora forum members listed several places, mostly in the southern hemisphere, as good places to be in if World War III would happen. Another alternative is to look for an underground bunker nearest you, or if you have money, have a Doomsday bunker built.

With talks of World War III becoming inevitable, people are now looking into options how to survive an anticipated global nuclear war between the US and Russia. Those who have money are building apocalypse-proof underground bunkers, while in online discussion forums, there are cities or nations recommended as good places to survive another global war.