Japan attracted the largest year-on-year growth in Australian visitors for October, the ATIA says. Picture: stock JAPAN, Vietnam and Indonesia are the top trending destinations for Australians heading off on overseas visits. The countries were identified in an Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) monthly travel trends report using government data and inhouse analysis. ATIA says…
Picture: stock FIFA’s decision to name Saudia Arabia as 2034 World Cup hosts has prompted criticism by human rights and sporting organisations. In a statement, FIFA said Morrocco, Portugal and Spain will host the 2030 Cup while three centenary celebration games will be played in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Saudi Arabia’s choice has been criticised…
The vehicle damaged by a drone at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant. Photo: IAEA The two occupants of a nuclear watchdog vehicle in Ukraine have escaped injury after a drone attacked their car. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) vehicle was at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on Tuesday (local time) during a staff rotation.…
Picture: stock AN extra 36,000 jobs in November lowered the unemployment rate to 3.9 per cent as well as wide expectations of a February interest rate cut. David Taylor, the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ head of labour statistics said that the number of unemployed that month fell by 27,000 people. “In November we saw a…
The reef supports over 1500 species such as corals, endangered turtles and sea snakes, fish species and migratory whales. Photo: supplied / Nush Freedman Photography Marine scientists, film-makers and conservationists made a 300km voyage from WA’s Kimberley coastline to Scott Reef to highlight the threats posed by Woodside’s Browse gas proposal. The 12-strong group included…
Fans at the Aust-PNG PM’s XIII game held in Port Moresby earlier this year. Photo: DFAT Papua New Guinea is to get a team in an expanded NRL competition as part of a rugby league deal funded by the federal government. The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC), which runs the NRL, confirmed the 10-year Pacific…
The NSW RFS Chinook can now carry more water and operate at night. Photo: www.helis.com.au The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) has been giving Australia’s largest firefighting helicopter some much-needed upgrades in time for the fire season. Its CH-47 Chinook now can carry more water: 11,000 litres in an internal tank, the RFS says. It…
The Spirit of Tasmania IV during its first sea trial in Finnish waters. Photo: Spirit of Tasmania The ‘enforced’ stay of a newly-built Tasmanian ferry in Scotland has helped prompt a near-doubling in Devonport-Geelong sailings this summer. And an offer from New Zealand for a short-term lease (three months) has fallen through. The Tasmanian Government…
Picture: stock The Bureau of Meteorology is changing its forecasts to improve public understanding amid a changing climate. The public is now encouraged to follow its short- and long-term forecasts, not its outlook for climate indicators such as the El Nino-Southern Oscillation. The bureau hopes the changes will improve the relevance and accuracy of its information.…
Underseas cables linking North America and Europe are part of a network of subsea cables. Photo © US Navy / Joshua Knolla NATO military and civilian experts have met in Brussels today to ramp up co-operation in responding to attacks on undersea cables. A NATO statement says the experts were joined by industry representatives, including…