Two divers off the coast of Perth were rescued after their boat drifted away while they were underwater. In South Australia, a writers' festival faced backlash after canceling an author due to her past comments amid rising tensions following a terror attack. Meanwhile, Queensland is grappling with severe flooding as remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji continue to cause heavy rainfall across the region.

Stranded Divers Rescued Off Perth

Ryan Chapman and his diving partner experienced a harrowing ordeal off the coast of Mindarie, a suburb north of Perth. After spending approximately 45 minutes spearfishing about 5 kilometers offshore, they resurfaced to find their boat had disappeared due to a loose knot on their anchor. The pair swam approximately 1.5 kilometers to a nearby fishing vessel, which rescued them. They later admitted to not securing the anchor properly and diving without a skipper on board. Their experience highlights the importance of safety measures while engaging in water activities.

Controversy at Adelaide Writers' Festival

The Adelaide Writers' Week faced significant controversy when Randa Abdel-Fattah, a Palestinian Australian author, was removed from the festival lineup. The board cited her past statements regarding Israel, particularly in the wake of a terror attack in Bondi, as the reason for her exclusion. This decision sparked a backlash, leading to the resignation of the board and the eventual cancellation of the event for 2026. The board apologized to Abdel-Fattah for how the decision was represented, reflecting the heightened sensitivities surrounding discussions of Israel and Palestine.

Misinformation Following the Bondi Attack

In the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack, misinformation spread rapidly across social media, including a deepfake video that falsely claimed four Indian nationals had been arrested. The video, which appeared to be from a press conference by Australian federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett, was flagged by fact-checkers but had already garnered hundreds of thousands of views. This incident underscores the growing challenge of misinformation, particularly with the increasing sophistication of deepfake technology.

Queensland Flooding Caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji

Queensland is currently facing severe flooding due to the heavy rainfall associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji. The town of Clermont recorded 203 millimeters of rain within 24 hours, while Eungella received over 400 millimeters over the weekend. The flooding has cut off access to both towns, with Eungella potentially facing isolation for months. Authorities are warning of ongoing risks of flash flooding throughout the week as the region continues to recover from the extreme weather.

Wrap-up

The day’s news highlights significant events across Australia, from the rescue of stranded divers in Perth to the fallout from a writers' festival in South Australia and the severe weather impacting Queensland. These stories reflect the diverse challenges and discussions facing communities across the nation.

Sources
theguardian.com

@hoju-korean.com Editorial Team