[warm] This is NewsCard Daily for Wednesday January 21, 2026 ... the biggest stories from Australia and around the world in just minutes. — —
[serious] We begin in Canberra where Parliament passes sweeping new gun control and hate crime laws. Lawmakers approve a national firearm buyback scheme ... tighter import rules ... and stronger background checks for license holders. This follows the horrific Bondi Beach terrorist attack last month ... where 15 died at a Jewish festival. One gunman held a legal license for six firearms. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vows decisive action to prevent repeats. The laws also target hate groups ... letting ministers block visas for extremists and create offenses for preaching violence to kids. Even the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network disbands in response. For Aussie families ... this means safer streets and a stand against terror. — —
[urgent] In Sydney ... heavy rain and thunderstorms batter the east coast ... sparking flood fears just like those hitting neighbours across the ditch. MetService warns of severe gales in New Zealand's Northland and Auckland ... with slips closing Waioeka Gorge and choppers airlifting stranded drivers. Aussie weather bureaus echo the call ... prepare for downpours that disrupt travel and power. Communities brace ... remembering last year's chaos. — —
[curious] Over to Melbourne now ... where University of Melbourne researchers drop a bombshell on ancient climates. Shifting tectonic plates ... not volcanoes ... drove massive carbon releases over 540 million years ... flipping Earth between ice ages and hothouses. Volcanoes like those on our Pacific Ring of Fire only ramped up recently. This rewrites textbooks ... and warns why today's rapid warming hits so hard. For Australians tracking climate risks ... it spotlights deep-Earth forces shaping our future. — —
[serious] In Brisbane ... calls grow for a dedicated Transport Police force after rising safety fears on buses ... trains and ferries. Commuters report assaults and thefts ... pushing politicians to act. Northland meth rehab centres also struggle with funding cuts ... labelled a joke by locals. These frontline issues hit everyday Aussies travelling or fighting addiction in our region. — —
[urgent] Overseas ... Donald Trump ramps up pressure on Greenland with tariff threats ... a move that could drag Pacific nations like ours into superpower crossfire. Experts warn small allies might face fallout from US bids to control Arctic resources. Meanwhile in Europe ... an explosion rocks Utrecht ... under investigation as authorities hunt suspects. — —
[serious] And in Perth ... Kiwi sailor Peter Burling eyes glory in the new SailGP season despite a finger injury. Aussies cheer as teams clash on home waters. — —
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