Men and mining companies dominated the list.

A family left traumatised after thieves broke into their Melbourne home through their doggy door while they slept is calling on more to be done to reduce youth crime, including criminal charges for their parents.

Ben and Kat Mansfield from Armadale in inner Melbourne told Today they were "devastated" and their children remained "terrified" following the early-morning home invasion on Wednesday.

They were woken by their dogs barking about 3.15am in Armadale, only to discover their blue Maserati along with personal items including Kat's handbag were stolen.

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"They really weren't stressed, rushed – they were just taking their time, having fun," the mother of two told Today.

"It's just such a terrible violation of your privacy, but also your safety inside your own home and to see them acting so casually as though this is no big deal is quite striking."

The couple's seven-year-old son Henry was refusing to sleep in his bedroom and was keeping his taekwondo medal – his most prized possession – around his neck at all times.

Dad Ben wants more to be done to tackle youth crime, especially repeat offenders.

"There's about 20 people that make up 50 per cent of the crime in this area," he said.

"The parents need to be held to account.

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"I actually believe that if the youth re-offends, then the parent needs to actually either pay the fine or do the time.

"The families that are actually accountable for these people should have tax and other subsidy benefits and implications on them to actually stop this."

Police are investigating the incident and said the offenders fled in the blue Maserati with the registration CDK439.

The world is at the brink of a third nuclear age, the head of the UK's armed forces warned.

"The world has changed," Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said in a lecture on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) at the UK's Royal United Services Institute. "Global power is shifting, and a third nuclear age is upon us."

This age, he warned, was "altogether more complex" than those that came before it. The first of these ages was the Cold War, Radakin said, while the second was defined by disarmament efforts.

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This third nuclear age, which, according to Radakin, the world was "at the dawn of," was "defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies, and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before".

Russia's war in Ukraine and multiple conflicts in the Middle East have upended global stability, he suggested.

The deployment of North Korean troops on Russia's border with Ukraine was the year's "most extraordinary development," he said, as well as Moscow's use of Iranian-supplied drones and its threats to arm Yemen's Houthi rebels in retaliation to the West's support of Ukraine.

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In November, Russia updated its nuclear doctrine, two days after US President Joe Biden granted Ukraine permission to strike targets deep inside Russia with American-made weapons.

Despite this, Radakin said there was only a "remote chance" Russia would attack or invade NATO, as it knew that the "response would be overwhelming, whether conventional or nuclear."

"The strategy of deterrence by NATO works and is working," the armed forces chief said. "But it has to be kept strong and strengthened against a more dangerous Russia."

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Global unease was dividing the world into three groups, Radakin said. In one group was authoritarian states "seeking to challenge the global rules," including Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.

In the second were "responsible nations," mostly including democracies, but also Gulf monarchies and others who were "committed to partnership and to the maintenance of stability and security in the world," he continued.

The third group was made up of countries "hedging and ducking between the two for maximum advantage," Radakin said.

NATO countries must maintain an advantage over their adversaries in order to defeat them, he added.

In October, an Israeli strike on Iran destroyed Tehran's ability to produce ballistic missiles for a year, and "took down nearly the entirety of Iran's air defense system," he said.

"In this sense, Russia is showing us how not to fight. And Israel, in its response to Iran, has shown us the disproportionate advantage of modern ways of fighting," Radakin said.

The rideshare giant's annual rider ratings rankings has been revealed, which listed the Australian cities with the best (and worst) average ratings.

The patient is submerged in an ice bath as an anaesthetic for its impending surgery.

When sufficient numbness is achieved, University of Queensland student Lachlan Fitzgerald begins the procedure, carefully attaching a tiny circuit board to its back to create a part-living, part-machine biohybrid robot.

The patient is, in fact, a beetle, and the backpack-like device sends electrical pulses to its antennae, allowing Fitzgerald to control its movements, while tapping into its natural agility.

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"Only when it leaves the desired path that we want it to be on do we intervene and tell it to actually go this way instead of the way it was actually heading," says Fitzgerald, who is studying mathematics and engineering.

He hopes to create an army of insect-machine search and rescue workers.

"We see a future where after an urban disaster like an earthquake or a bombing, where humans can't safely access the disaster site, being able to send in a bunch of cyborg beetles to navigate the disaster zone quickly and efficiently," he says.

The biorobotics lab where Fitzgerald works is putting control backpacks onto giant burrowing cockroaches, a species native to Australia which can grow up to eight centimetres long, and darkling beetles. Species from the darkling family can be found scurrying through environments ranging from tropical savannahs to arid deserts across the world.

Having to handle the bugs doesn't bother Fitzgerald: "No, they definitely don't gross me out!"

Cyborg insects have an edge over traditional robots, according to Fitzgerald.

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"Insects are so adaptable compared to an artificial robotic system, which has to perform so much computation to be able to deal with all these different scenarios that might get thrown at it in the real world," he explains.

Fitzgerald says cyborg search and rescue beetles or cockroaches might be able to help in disaster situations by finding and reporting the location of survivors and delivering lifesaving drugs to them before human rescuers can get there.

But first, the Australian researchers must master the ability to direct the movements of the insects, which could take a while. Fitzgerald says that although the work might seem futuristic now, in a few decades, cyborg insects could be saving lives.

He's not the only roboticist creating robots from living organisms. Academics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), for example, are implanting electronic pacemakers into jellyfish to control their swimming speed. They hope the bionic jellies could help collect data about the ocean far below the surface.

In September, Cornell University researchers released robots controlled by a king oyster mushroom. The robots, which sense and respond to the environment by harnessing electrical signals made by the fungus and its sensitivity to light, could have uses like sensing the soil chemistry near crops to decide when to add more fertiliser.

The rise of biohybrid robots has stirred debate about the ethics of the work, and some researchers have advocated for better regulation and oversight.

Caltech academics told CNN that they worked with bioethicists to ensure its interventions don't cause any type of stress response in the jellyfish they work with.

Fitzgerald says that beetles that have had backpacks attached to them have normal life expectancies.

"So I don't think they mind, per se," he says.

"The science is out on whether or not they're actually conscious beings," he adds.

He agrees that concerns about the welfare of the creatures are valid but urges people to consider the benefits.

"I think the potential for this technology to save lives in an urban disaster, it really outweighs any kind of hesitancy you might have towards the field," he said.

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Bitcoin has topped the $US100,000 ($155,440) mark as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency sparked by the election of Donald Trump rolls on.

The milestone came just hours after the president-elect signalled a lighter regulatory approach to the crypto industry when he said he intended to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bitcoin has soared to unprecedented heights since Trump won the election on November 5. The cryptocurrency has climbed dramatically from $US69,374 on election day and rose as high as $US103,713 on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), according to CoinDesk. Just two years ago, bitcoin dropped below $US17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX.

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How long bitcoin will stay above the $US100,000 mark is uncertain. It fell back to just under $US102,000 early Thursday.

As with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is impossible to predict. And while some are bullish on future gains, other experts continue to warn of investment risks.

Here's what you need to know.

Back up. What is cryptocurrency again?

Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But, chances are, you've heard about it more and more over the last few years.

In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it's typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain.

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Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years.

Some investors see cryptocurrency as a "digital alternative" to traditional money, but the large majority of daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions.

Why is bitcoin soaring?

A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the US presidential election.

Trump, who was once a crypto sceptic, has pledged to make the US "the crypto capital of the planet" and create a "strategic reserve" of bitcoin.

His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies.

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Crypto industry players have welcomed Trump's victory, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they've long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape.

Trump made a move in that direction on Wednesday when he said he intends to nominate Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Atkins was an SEC commissioner during the presidency of George W Bush. In the years since leaving the agency, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. He joined the Token Alliance, a cryptocurrency advocacy organisation, in 2017.

Under current chair Gary Gensler, the SEC has cracked down on the crypto industry, penalising a number of companies for violating securities laws. But he's also faced criticism from industry players in the process, like the chief legal officer of Robinhood, who described Gensler's approach toward crypto as "rigid" and "hostile". Gensler will step down when Trump takes office.

One crypto-friendly move the SEC did make under Gensler was the approval in January of spot bitcoin ETFs, or exchange trade funds, which allow investors to have a stake in bitcoin without directly buying it. The Spot ETFs were the dominant driver of bitcoin's price before the election — but, like much of the crypto's recent momentum, saw record inflows post-election.

What are the risks?

History shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you've made it. Long-term price behaviour relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $US5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $US69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $US17,000.

Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs. But experts still stress caution, especially for small-pocketed investors. And lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could mean less guardrails.

"I would say, keep it simple. And don't take on more risk than you can afford to," said Adam Morgan McCarthy, a research analyst at Kaiko, adding that there isn't a "magic eight ball" to know for certain what comes next.

What about the climate impact?

Assets like bitcoin are produced through a process called "mining", which consumes a lot of energy. Operations relying on pollutive sources have drawn particular concern over the years.

Recent research published by the United Nations University and Earth's Future journal found that the carbon footprint of 2020-2021 bitcoin mining across 76 nations was equivalent to the emissions from burning 38 billion kilograms of coal or running 190 natural-gas-fired power plants. Coal satisfied the bulk of bitcoin's electricity demands (45 per cent), followed by natural gas (21 per cent) and hydropower (16 per cent).

Environmental impacts of bitcoin mining boil largely down to the energy source used. Industry analysts have maintained that clean energy has increased in use in recent years, coinciding with rising calls for climate protections

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Billionaire Adrian Portelli has been charged by South Australian authorities, accused of running an unlawful lottery.

Portelli is facing nine counts of conducting/assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery, and his company LMCT+ is facing 10 counts of the same charge.

The alleged offences are said to have occurred between January 29 last year and May 16 this year.

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Portelli responded tonight with a message directed at residents of South Australia alongside a photograph of him holding his child.

"It's okay SA we still love you," Portelli said in a post on the Instagram account for LMCT+.

"Your gambling commissioner won't allow you to win major life changing prizes so I've decided to run exclusive, DAILY $1000 cash giveaways to you guys instead.

"We still love you and I'll definitely be visiting to do more grocery voucher handouts," he added, with an emoji of two hands making a heart shape.

The promotions guru and property investor made waves earlier this year when he purchased all five homes on offer at The Block 2024 auction day.

LMCT+ charges monthly fees for shopping discounts, with membership including monthly draws.

Portelli made headlines earlier this week after giving away $150,000 worth of groceries in Sydney.

A massive crowd gathered before the giveaway began, with some people having lined up from 4am in Penrith and Fairfield West.

The billionaire bidder first made a name for himself as Block royalty after splashing $16.65 million on four Block homes in 2022 and 2023.

Portelli is due to face court on January 15.

The Herald understands the death was caused by a car accident.

A teenage boy who caused a crash that killed three women and injured a fourth while speeding in a stolen car has been sentenced to six years' detention.

Nurse Sheree Robertson, 52, Kelsie Davies, 17, and pastor Michale Chandler, 29 were killed after their vehicles collided after being struck by a stolen car driven by the youth.

A fourth woman, Kaylah Behrens, 23, was critically injured.

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Friends and family of the victims filled the Maroochydore District Court today, as District Judge Gary Long concluded a sentencing hearing for the youth that began in November.

Judge Long said the youth's offending resulted in catastrophic events and "horrendous consequences from your egregious behaviour".

The youth, now aged 14, of Bundaberg, appeared via video link from custody wearing a white long-sleeved formal shirt.

The youth previously pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing three deaths and grievous bodily harm while speeding.

He also pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing and unlicensed driving.

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The youth with other juveniles stole a Mercedes-Benz from a Maryborough home on April 30, 2023 and drove at speeds between 180 and 200km/h.

Judge Long said the alleged co-offenders argued with the youth and exited the vehicle after saying they feared for their lives due to his driving.

The youth was seen crossing double lines and passing within a metre of other vehicles during 10 minutes of driving that covered about 12km.

The youth hit the back of the victims' Holden Astra sedan, forcing it into oncoming traffic.

Judge Long said a Mazda 2 vehicle, driven by Robertson returning home from a hospital shift and travelling in the opposite lane, had no chance to avoid the victims before a fatal collision.

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The youth was found at the scene curled up on the ground.

"You were crying and complaining that your foot was hurting. You said you were hurt everywhere but there were no observable injuries," Judge Long said.

The teen driver at a police station told a youth justice worker he had been "driving mad and angrily" and smacked into the back of car before hitting a tree.

"It was a dumb thing to do. I was angry about the argument with my friend," the youth said at the time.

Judge Long said Behrens suffered life-threatening, extensive and significant injuries requiring lengthy treatment and has been left with ongoing health impacts.

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Judge Long said no sentence could undo the "grave losses and impacts that have resulted from this offending".

The youth had been involved with child protection services since the age of eight and had been exposed to serious domestic violence and drug use.

Judge Long said he had to take this background into account, as well as the youth's cognitive impairment from a traumatic brain injury that affected his rational decision-making and impulse control.

The youth had convictions recorded and will be released after a little more than two years, after serving 60 per cent of the detention period and already spending 583 days in custody.

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A coronial inquest has begun into the death of a wheelchair-using amputee, who likely died while police and paramedics argued over whether they were able to force their way into his house.

In February 2020, David Low was alone at home when he called his NDIS carer for help. 

Concerned about his wellbeing, the carer called triple zero. 

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Paramedic Darryl Sparrow arrived at the Adelaide home at 4.20pm but didn't force his way inside despite the carer's insistence that Low was in there.

When police arrived, they were told it was up to the ambulance service to act.

The officers and the paramedic were then each involved in phone calls going higher and higher up the chain, allegedly arguing as the minutes went by.

The paramedic said he needed evidence Low was inside to activate his powers to break in, while police said they couldn't do it because it was a medical case.

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The coroner was today told that both were wrong.

It was not until 5.23pm that Low's daughter arrived with a key and discovered her father dead inside.

A medical expert is expected to testify that Low likely died while the confusion played out outside.

Whether the rights of entry policies need to be updated, or whether there needs to be better training for frontline services will be central to the inquest.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.