Australia: Last News

Rescuers release a stranded pilot whale back in the ocean at Macquarie Heads, on the west coast of Tasmania on Sept. 22, 2022.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The first consignment of rice from an Australian donation totaling AUD22 million (approximately USD15 million) arrived in Sri Lanka and will soon be distributed to those most affected by the ongoing economic crisisThe consignment, consisting of 600 metric tonnes of rice, forms part of a larger consignment of rice, pulses and cooking oil, due to arrive in the country soon.“Australia and Sri Lanka share many decades of friendship, and this latest contribution is an extension of our goodwill during this unprecedented crisis,” said Paul Stephens, Australia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. “We are supporting WFP to provide life-saving food to people who are struggling with price increases, job losses and reduced incomes”. “Australia was the first to contribute to WFP’s emergency response, enabling us to kick-off much needed assistance to those hard-hit by the ongoing crisis,” said Abdur Rahim Siddiqui, WFP Sri Lanka’s Representative and Country Director.

PETER Andre has revealed that he plans to move his family to Australia amid his mum Thea's health struggle. The Mysterious Girl singer, 49, said he will relocate "for as long as possible" after he finishes his work commitments.

Team India's pacer Mohammed Shami's T20I comeback will be delayed and has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 series against Australia starting from this week. The pacer was ruled out after he was detected being positive for Covid-19. Mohammed Shami will be replaced by another veteran pacer 35-year-old Umesh Yadav, who played last of his seven T20Is about more than three years ago against Australia is back in the scheme of things, having recovered from a quadriceps injury.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stopped to view Queen Elizabeth‘s casket ahead of a meeting with King Charles III in London.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that a majority of the country wants him to solve the crisis.Speaking to ABC Australia's Foreign Correspondent program Ranil Wickremesinghe said "I'm the one who said the correct thing, go to the IMF. That's why there is confidence backing me.

...#JusticeWorldTourIndia #JusticeWorldTourIndiaUpdate pic.twitter.com/I3MmNgSfxe Justin Bieber's shows in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Bahrain, the UAE and Israel were also cancelled along with that in India. Earlier this year in June, the 28-year-old shared with the world that he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

(ABC) – The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) says the world has never been in a better position to end the COVID-19 pandemic."We are not there yet. But the end is in sight," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, in his most upbeat assessment since declaring an international emergency in January 2020 and describing COVID-19 as a pandemic three months later.The virus, which emerged in China in late 2019, has killed nearly 6.5 million people, including more than 14,000 in Australia.Deaths from COVID-19 last week were the lowest since March 2020, the WHO reported.But Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A preliminary round of discussions were held between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Australian High Commissioner Paul Stephens to explore the opportunities for investment in  renewable energy sector in Sri Lanka.The discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (14) with the participation of a group of Australian investors.President Wickremesinghe has emphasized priority for encouraging new investments in the renewable energy sector as a solution to the current electricity crisis and to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Police Special Task Force has arrested one suspect who facilitated transportation for illegal immigrants to go to Australia by boat in Kattankudi.The suspect was identified as a 38-year-old resident of Batticaloa.Police said that on 10th of September, five suspects were arrested near the Kalladi bridge for providing transportation facilities to a group of suspects who were attempting to migrate to Australia illegally.The Kanthankudi police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

Canada will mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II with a national day of mourning on Sept. 19.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Department of Motor Traffic has decided to extend the validity period of driving licenses issued for a period of six months, to a period of one year. Accordingly Department of Motor Traffic mentioned that the public should visit either the district offices of the RMV or the Werahera office in Colombo in order to extend the validity period of licenses.Upon visiting, the licenses issued for a period of 6 months will be granted an extension of up to one year.Meanwhile, steps have been taken to issue driving license cards only to new license holders looking forward to going abroad, the department said.The department also stated that the country will receive a stock of 450,000 license printing cards within the next few weeks in line with an order made by an Australian company.

Canadian cannabis industry eyeing U.S. push for marijuana legalization “A positive energy if ever there was one, a man who almost always flashed a winning smile, a man who spoke out about what he believed in,” Canadian fighter Sarah Kaufman said on social media.Theodorou took up MMA in 2009 after his first year at Humber College, where he studied creative advertising.He made his pro debut in June 2011 and was 8-0-0 in 2013 when he joined the cast of The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs.

George Clooney is convinced 900,000 lives would have been saved if America had followed Australia’s Covid response. The 61-year-old actor, who filmed his new comedy ‘Ticket to Paradise’ in Australia during the peak of the country’s pandemic lockdown, praised its ultra-strict policy on isolation as “admirable”. He said on Australian current affairs show The Project: “I look at what particularly Australia did, and some of these things get politicised.

In this photo illustration, British currency in the form of two one pound coins rest atop a Bank of England ten pound note featuring an image of Queen Elizabeth II as a leading think tank predicts that surging rates of inflation and weak economic gro LONDON - Queen Elizabeth II has been depicted on British banknotes and coins for decades. Her portrait also has been featured on currencies in dozens of other places around the world, in a reminder of the British empire's colonial reach.So what happens next after her death this week? It will take time for the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries to swap out the monarchs on their money.Here's a look at what is next for the paper cash featuring the late queen:The queen’s portrait on British notes and coins is expected to be replaced by a likeness of the new King Charles III, but it won’t be immediate."Current banknotes featuring the image of Her Majesty The Queen will continue to be legal tender," the Bank of England said.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles radiantly during a picture-taking session in the salon at Sandringham House. Her pet dog looks up at her.

(L) Queen Elizabeth II becomes the first reigning monarch to open a session of the Canadian Parliament as she reads a speech from the throne in the Senate Chamber in Ottawa in 1957. (R) Queen Elizabeth II ahead of the Queen's Speech in the House of L LONDON - What does the world look like without Queen Elizabeth II? The British monarch, who died on Thursday at age 96,served as a constant, stabilizing force throughout her 70-year reign.

Ontario Science Table calls for provincial strategy to manage long COVID “In this year’s influenza season in Australia, case counts were higher than any previous year in the past five years, and while influenza hospitalizations were lower than the worst two influenza seasons in the past five years, they did peak at a level higher than the five-year average,” Dr. Deena Hinshaw wrote.“If we see a similar impact here, what we need to anticipate as being different from any previous year is the combined impact on all our systems of all these viruses circulating at the same time.”Like other jurisdictions, Alberta’s latest influenza season had a late-season start and the numbers of lab-confirmed positive cases were fewer than in the past five years.

WATCH: Rob Mills discusses mental health battle after Australian IdolMills spoke to WHO during a break in his current rehearsal schedule, for musical Hairspray, about his own mental health journey and how important it is to check in with friends.“I suffered a panic attack many years ago after Australian Idol. I think it came from a bit of substance abuse, drinking and stuff,” he shares.“It was probably at a time where I really didn’t know who I was as a person, and I hadn’t really done any self-exploration.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The World Food Program says that is has received a third of its emergency appeal for USD $ 63 Million to provide humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka.To date, WFP has received a total of US $21.35 million from the governments of Australia, Italy,Japan, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland, as well as from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, private sector partners, and multilateral donors.WFP’s economic crisis response aims to reach a total of 3.4 million people across three main activities: (1) unconditional food assistance through cash or in-kind; (2) school meals; and (3) nutrition support. Throughout August, WFP reached a total of 31,724 people with cash assistance, with a further 57,528 in progress through government social protection systems.WFP has procured 1,475 mt of rice and 755 mt of iron-fortified rice to support 1 million children with school meals for three months. The first consignment of rice is expected to arrive in September.

Married At First Sight Australia's Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli announced that they are expecting their first child after Martha has recently suffered from health issues. Michael Brunelli previously revealed that he was pulled over by the police after taking his fiancé to the hospital during one of her health scares, which now seems to have been linked to the pregnancy.The couple announced the exciting news on Instagram on Monday (September 5), with Martha detailing her social media absence was due to battling Hyperemesis Gravidarum, severe sickness.READ MORE: Married at First Sight contestants aren't chasing love, they're chasing fa me' In the announcement Michael said: "We wanted to explain our situation and make a little bit of an announcement.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa demanded whether the 'conspiracy' against the current CBSL Governor is a move to reinstate the former Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, who fled the country.Participating at a Constituency Committee meeting in Akmeemana, Galle, the Opposition Leader alleged that there is a conspiracy to remove Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, who was retired and living in Australia initially, when the Government invited him to take up the Governor position of the Central Bank. Stating that the relevant conspiracy started on Wednesday, the Opposition Leader said that an MP who entered Parliament through the SLPP and is now a supporter of the UNP continued inquiring from Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Several International envoys have expressed positive reactions towards Sri Lanka arriving to a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including the Australian High Commission, the representatives of the European Union and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of the United States.China and India too expressed their sentiments, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijan stating that China supports relevant financial institutions in consulting with Sri Lanka for proper solutions.Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi acknowledged that the staff agreement is an evolving situation, however, India has been advocating for assistance to Sri Lanka. The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung noted that US stands ready to assist Sri Lanka, as the IMF represents the best tools, approaches, and resources to enable Sri Lanka to overcome the ongoing economic crisis.The Senate Foreign Relations Committee mentioned that the IMF initial agreement is an important first step to get Sri Lanka on the path to economic stability and to address systemic corruption. "Now Sri Lanka’s creditors, including China, must negotiate in good faith to provide Sri Lankans the debt relief they desperately need," the Senate Foreign Relations Committee stated.The Australian High Commission mentioned that Australia is ready to extend support in every way possible, and lauded Sri Lanka for reaching a staff-level agreement with the IMF.

FILE - USA's Serena Williams hits a return to Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic during their 2022 US Open Tennis tournament women's singles third round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, on Sept. 2, 2022.  (COREY SIPKIN/AFP via Getty Images)NEW YORK - Serena Williams lost what is expected to be the last match of her transcendent tennis career Friday night, eliminated from the U.S.

A pair of new studies describe COVID-19–related parental loss and occupational death rates, with a global analysis finding that children were more likely to be orphaned if they live in the poorest countries with high rates of noncommunicable diseases, and the other showing that essential workers in California had higher rates of coronavirus deaths and excess deaths than those with less workplace exposure.

illegal drugs were discovered in a vintage car shipped from Canada.Australia’s New South Wales Police Force says border officers received a tip about a shipping container that had arrived at a port in Sydney from Canada earlier this month.Officers X-rayed the contents — a 1960 vintage Bentley S2 — and discovered a large quantity of methylamphetamine hidden behind the headlights.

Long Covid has already cost the Australian economy three million working days this year, according to a government analysis seen by AFP, significantly worsening the country's acute labour shortages.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (FOX 9) - This week, Ruff Start Rescue has stepped in to help a young puppy find a new home with a family just outside the metro.The puppy named "Priority" is an Australian cattle dog and border collie mix with large ears, a loud bark, and a unique story of survival.

As the dominant circulating strain of SARS-CoV-2 evolved from Alpha to Omicron, the incubation period from infection to symptoms or first positive COVID-19 test result gradually decreased, from 5 to 3.4 days, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published today in JAMA Network Open.

Married At First Sight Australia star Michael Brunelli has revealed he was pulled over by police after taking partner Martha Kalifatidis to hospital.The couple, who were put together on the reality show's sixth season in 2019 and are still going strong, have been having some private struggles recently.Martha, 34, has been suffering with a viral infection since she and Michael, 31, returned home from an overseas trip.READ MORE: MAFS star Morag Crichton teases huge move to racy subscription site OnlyFansAnd while they've dealt with things very privately recently, Michael revealed on Instagram that they almost had yet another problem added to their list.The Aussie hunk said things were "slowly getting better" before letting his fans in on the traumatic ordeal.He said: "I got pulled over by police at 12am after taking Martha to the hospital (she's ok) for having these on my plates."The caption was written over a picture of a sheer number plate cover, which police told Michael was "reflecting the headlights from their car", adding: "They couldn't read my number plate and thought the car could be stolen..."Said I would normally get a fine, but gave me a warning after explaining where we'd been."That wasn't all though, as Michael revealed he'd been going through some health issues of his own too, as he'd been experiencing "abdominal pain for a few months".He explained he went to get an X-ray, but then had to get a CT scan.However it turned out to be nothing to worry too much about, as he shared: "Thinking the absolute worst, only to find out I'm just full of s***."Michael then took aim at Martha for giving him grey hairs, writing: "I'm pretty confident that I'm getting a new grey hair for every day Martha is sick!"The reality

Rates of "brain fog," dementia, psychotic disorders, and epilepsy or seizures remained elevated 2 years after COVID-19 infection, according to a study of nearly 1.3 million adults and children in the United States, Australia, Europe, and Asia.

(Texas Parks and Wildlife Department) BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Be careful about what you're adding to your next crawfish boil as an invasive crayfish has been found in Texas.The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says that the Australian Redclaw Crayfish showed up this year in Brownsville.Researchers first found them over the winter, and then they reappeared in July along a two-mile stretch between an apartment pond and a wetland area.This is only the second time scientists have found the crustacean in the wild in the continental U.S. "We don’t know when these invasive crayfish were first introduced or how far they have spread, but we do know they can have a negative effect on local species and biodiversity," said the department’s aquatic biologist, Archis Grubh, in a press release. "Spreading the word about this invasive species and reporting sightings to TPWD can help us better understand where it is distributed and potentially take steps to help prevent its spread."States from New York to North Carolina are issuing quarantines for the spotted lanternfly, an invasive, plant-killing pest.INVASIVE PEST READY TO SWARM AND EAT ITS WAY ACROSS AMERICAOfficials fear the newcomer would threaten the survival of native crayfish.

Home and Away introduced fans to city girl turned beach babe Ziggy Astoni , a troubled wild child with some major family troubles in tow, back in 2017.The rebel character has given fans a slew of dramatic storylines during her time in Summer Bay, between getting kidnapped, supporting her mum through a cancer diagnosis, and discovering her husband’s affair.But actress Sophie Dillman lives a very different life to that of her rebellious alter-ego.READ NEXT: Neighbours fans call for Karl Kennedy to join EastEnders as Alan Fletcher visits setAs she enjoys a budding romance with one of the soap’s sexiest stars and struggles with a crippling health battle of her own, Daily Star get to know the stunning actress who brought this rebel character to life.The soap opera star is often seen smooching her on-screen beau Dean Thompson on the Aussie soap, but fans may not know that the Sophie is also dating actor Patrick O’Connor in real life.The actors opened up about their relationship back in 2021, telling TV Week about how they became friends before falling in love."We were work buddies first, and it's helped us work well together now, so we're lucky in that regard," she said."It's nice to have a relationship built on friendship.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Australian High Commissioner Paul Stephens was honored to present credentials to Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (17). The High Commissioner said that he looks forward to working together with our valued Sri Lankan partners to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

ICC: The upcoming cycle of the ICCs Future Tours Program features five major ICC events, starting with the Cricket World Cup next year in India.West Indies and the USA will host the T20 World Cup in 2024, which will be followed by the return of the Champions Trophy in 2025 to be hosted by Pakistan.India and Sri Lanka will jointly host the T20 World Cup in 2026 and the FTP cycle will be rounded off by the Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027.The 12 Full Members of the ICC will play more international cricket across each of the three formats in the next Future Tours Program (FTP) cycle. The FTP outlines the international cricket calendar, including ICC events and bilateral international series.The 12 Members will play a total of 777 international matches – 173 Tests, 281 ODIs and 323 T20Is – in the 2023-2027 FTP cycle compared to the 694 in the current one.This includes the next two cycles of the ICC Men’s World Test Championship, multiple ICC events and a host of bilateral as well as tri-series action.ICC GM of Cricket Wasim Khan said: “I’d like to thank our Members for the effort that has gone into creating this FTP for the next four years.

(Original Caption) Las Vegas, Nev..Entertainer, Elvis Presley sits cheek to cheek wit his bride, the former Priscilla Ann Beaulieu, following their wedding May 1, 1967. Today marks 45 years since music icon Elvis Presley died, and Priscilla Presley is sharing brand-new details about The King.Presley's ex-wife dropped a bombshell about something he did not love doing during his career: the classic Elvis beach movies.

omicron. Other versions of omicron, BA.4 and BA.5, are now more prevalent, but the virus is evolving faster than new vaccines can be formulated and tested, and this is the closest match available that has received clearance.

The tiny Indian Ocean island of Sri Lanka has an outsize geostrategic importance, and its military seeks deeper ties with Pacific Air Forces for maritime security and disaster relief while not roiling China, a senior Sri Lankan Air Force official told Air Force Magazine.Just 34 miles off the coast of India at its closest point, Sri Lanka aims to further professionalize its Armed Forces and capabilities at a moment when PACAF is seeking to strengthen regional partnerships.The Sri Lanka Air Force, 30,000 strong, has sought to work more closely with PACAF and is willing to participate in some exercises of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as “the Quad” grouping, which includes Australia, the United States, Japan, and India.“We are very concerned about the status quo of the region,” Sri Lankan defense attache Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremeratne told Air Force Magazine in a recent meeting at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington, D.C.“We are very careful, and we do not agitate [any] of the power players in our region,” he said, stressing Sri Lanka’s unaligned status. However, Sri Lanka is worried about shifting security trends in the Indo-Pacific.

FURTHER APPROVALS European Medicines Agency (EMA) officials expect COVID variant-adapted vaccines to be approved in the European Union by September, and have signalled the regulator is open to using shots targeting the older BA.1 variant this autumn, given those specifically targeting newer subvariants are further behind in clinical development. In contrast, the U.S.

Officers are pictured holding the python on Aug. 10, 2022, in Cibolo, Texas. (Credit: Cibolo Animal Services) A large python was returned to its owner after the 12-foot snake was found on the loose and slithering under a parked car in Texas.Animal services officers were called just before 5 a.m.

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Marine contingent which left for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2022, hosted by the US Pacific Fleet, arrived the island on 08th August 2022. The SLN contingent on 03rd August successfully completed its leg in the RIMPAC 2022, held in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.SLN Marine contingent for RIMPAC 2022 comprised 50 members including both officers and sailors who first left for Australia by a special flight arranged by Royal Australian Air Force on 04th July.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Taimur which arrived in Sri Lanka on a formal visit, is scheduled to conduct a Passage Exercise with SLNS Sindurala in the seas off Colombo as she departs the island on 15th August 2022, upon completion of her visit.Sri Lanka Navy, with the concurrence of foreign navies, conducts Passage Exercises as a routine engagement when their visiting naval ships depart the island after making official port calls. As part of this Passage Exercise, PNS Taimur and SLNS Sindurala are expected to conduct Maneuvering exercises and Search and Rescue exercises.Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Navy has conducted similar Passage Exercises with the navies of countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Germany, the U.K., Russia, and Australia on several previous occasions.

Revelations that Australia's former prime minister secretly appointed himself to several ministerial posts during the Covid-19 pandemic have sparked a political firestorm, with his successor promising a rapid investigation.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Taimur which arrived in Sri Lanka on a formal visit, is scheduled to conduct a Passage Exercise with SLNS Sindurala in seas off Colombo as she departs the island on 15th August 2022, upon completion of her visit. In this backdrop, certain media reports circulating about a ‘War Game’ between Sri Lanka Navy and Pakistan Navy are fallacious, says the Sri Lankan Navy.Sri Lanka Navy, with the concurrence of foreign navies, conducts Passage Exercises as a routine engagement when their visiting naval ships departing the island after making official port calls.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Australia's cricketers were moved by the scenes they saw in Sri Lanka during their mid-year tourAustralia's men's cricketers have donated their prizemoney from the recent tour of Sri Lanka to support children and families impacted by the nation's worst economic crisis in decades.Led by captains Pat Cummins, who is a UNICEF Australia ambassador, and Aaron Finch, the team will donate A$45,000 to the organization's Sri Lanka appeal.Australia's cricketers witnessed the crisis first-hand during their all-format tour in June-July this year, with long lines at petrol stations commonplace and the cries of thousands of peaceful protesters echoing around the Galle International Cricket Ground on day two of the second Test, with similar demonstrations in the capital of Colombo forcing the resignation of the country's president and prime minister.The economic situation gripping the island nation has resulted in food prices skyrocketing by 80 percent with more than two-thirds of households have reduced food consumption.School is limited to three days per week as travel for teachers and students is hindered by fuel shortages, queuing for medicines and fuel has become part of everyday life, health services are increasingly difficult to access, and clean drinking water is in short supply.The funds donated by Australia's cricketers will go towards UNICEF's programs to support nutrition, healthcare, safe drinking water, education, and mental health services for 1.7 million vulnerable Sri Lankan children in need."It was very clear to us how much day-to-day life for Sri Lankans is being impacted," Cummins said."When the team saw what was happening it was an easy decision to donate our prize money to UNICEF, who have been

EVERGLOW member Aisha has been hospitalised due to a “sudden health deterioration” and will not join her bandmates at the K-pop festival HallyuPopFest in Sydney this weekend, her label says.South Korean news outlet News1 reported earlier today (August 11) that the K-pop idol had collapsed amid preparations for an undisclosed scheduled activity. Following the incident, News1 said that her label, Yuehua Entertainment, immediately took her to the hospital.In response to the report, Yuehua Entertainment issued a statement to XSports News to confirm Aisha’s hospitalisation.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Australia's cricketers were moved by the scenes they saw in Sri Lanka during their mid-year tourAustralia's men's cricketers have donated their prizemoney from the recent tour of Sri Lanka to support children and families impacted by the nation's worst economic crisis in decades.Led by captains Pat Cummins, who is a UNICEF Australia ambassador, and Aaron Finch, the team will donate A$45,000 to the organization's Sri Lanka appeal.Australia's cricketers witnessed the crisis first-hand during their all-format tour in June-July this year, with long lines at petrol stations commonplace and the cries of thousands of peaceful protesters echoing around the Galle International Cricket Ground on day two of the second Test, with similar demonstrations in the capital of Colombo forcing the resignation of the country's president and prime minister.The economic situation gripping the island nation has resulted in food prices skyrocketing by 80 percent with more than two-thirds of households have reduced food consumption.School is limited to three days per week as travel for teachers and students is hindered by fuel shortages, queuing for medicines and fuel has become part of everyday life, health services are increasingly difficult to access, and clean drinking water is in short supply.The funds donated by Australia's cricketers will go towards UNICEF's programs to support nutrition, healthcare, safe drinking water, education, and mental health services for 1.7 million vulnerable Sri Lankan children in need."It was very clear to us how much day-to-day life for Sri Lankans is being impacted," Cummins said."When the team saw what was happening it was an easy decision to donate our prize money to UNICEF, who have been