International

An extra-terrestrial parcel of Australian Golden wattle seeds has returned safely to earth and is undergoing biosecurity screening following its journey into space. 

The National Farmers Federation says Australian farmers are the amongst the world’s most progressive in their approach to mitigating climate change and are poised to go even further.

Geoff Helisma. When it comes to succeeding at sport, desire is a powerful motivator – and it often makes itself apparent during a human’s formative years. Grafton-born Olympian Ryan Maskelyne – one of only two swimmers who represented Papua New Guinea at the Olympic Games – first made his Olympics dream public at the 2009 Yamba Convent Beach to Main Beach Ocean Swim. “He told us he intended swimming for PNG at the Olympics,” his uncle, Eddy Durkan, says. “He was 11 and is now 22.”

In a first for Australian heritage tourism management, residents in 13 local government areas in the Central Victoria Goldfields region have been taking an online survey to gauge their happiness, quality of life and well-being ... The survey forms an important part of the region’s bid to have the best of its gold-rush era heritage sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Patty Mills for Prime Minister – that was the call on Saturday night as the star basketballer drained 42 points to lead the Boomers to their first ever Olympic medal. The Torres Strait Island product was amazing in all the big moments as he led Australia to a 107-93 win against Slovenia to pick up a much-deserved bronze medal. Bronze felt like “rose gold” to Mills.

The World Surf League's 2022 schedule has positioned the Margaret River Pro as a mid-season decider, determining the finals fate of the world's top professional surfers. The Margaret River Pro, to be held from April 24 to May 4, is one of only two Australian events on the prestigious 2022 Championship Tour schedule, announced today.

Softs stole the show in July, as frost hit the heart of the Brazilian arabica coffee belt and also impacted sugar. The worst frost in 27 years led to ICE Arabica jumping by 27% and Robusta by 12% so far in July (coffee trees are very susceptible to frost damage), while sugar jumped 4.7%.

Due to its incredibly small population size, population density, and distribution, the Lord Howe Abalone faces an extremely high risk of extinction from threats including marine pollution - such as an oil spill event - and climate change. As a result, the IUCN assessed this species to be Critically Endangered. Of the 37 worldwide abalone species, it was one of only two given this status.

Data from Wine Australia showed total exports fell to $2.56 billion over the 2021 financial year. Exports to China plummeted 45% to $606 million. Beijing’s introduction of anti-dumping tariffs and duties in November ... Outside of China, Australian wine exports actually increased by 12% by value to $1.96 billion, and 6% by volume, to 643 million litres.

The National Farmers' Federation is seeing red at the United Nations Food Systems Summit and has urged the Government to do its best to stop uninformed and alarmist outcomes being supported. The NFF, on behalf of Australia’s livestock sector is working closely with the Global Meat Alliance, the Global Dairy Platform and other nations, who share our concerns, in responding to the UNFSS.

The Lismore Italian Film Festival at Lismore's bccEvent Cinemas scheduled for Saturday, August 7 and Sunday, August 8 2021 has been postponed.

China’s anti-dumping duties have seriously disrupted Australia’s wine trade, the latest research report from ABARES has found. The report, Australian wine in China: Impact of China’s anti-dumping duties, investigates the short- to medium-term consequences of China’s punitive anti-dumping measures on Australian wine exports.

A retinue of 38 specialists from NSW firefighting and emergency services will join an Australian deployment to Canada to assist firefighters as they continue to battle devastating wild fires.

Territorians, businesses and industry are now invited to give feedback on the draft Territory Space Strategy for 2021-25. The Territory Government is developing a new space strategy to support the future growth of the space industry, attract investment and identify potential projects.

nurture.farm – a digital platform for growers, farming communities and food systems, is scaling and expanding its global reach as a part of the OpenAg™ network. The OpenAg™ network was conceived by UPL Ltd, a world leader in sustainable agriculture.

Rockhampton Regional Council and Livingstone Shire Council have welcomed the State Government’s support for Central Queensland to become a bigger hub for the Defence Industry. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced last week that lease arrangements had been secured at Shoalwater Bay which would allow for 14,000 Singapore Armed Forces personnel to train between there and Townsville.

“Defence intends to utilise RAAF Base Scherger during Exercise Talisman Sabre 21 as the facility provides an important opportunity for the practice of rapid airbase activation and subsequent flying operations from the Royal Australian Air Force’s northern austere bare base and strategic outpost,” a Defence spokesperson told Cape York Weekly.

A staff shortage in Bamaga has led to criticism of a policy change that snubbed NPA from employing overseas workers. Companies in Weipa, Cooktown and Thursday Island can employ Australian-based overseas workers in hospitality jobs, but businesses in Bamaga cannot ... “There is now a very small and limited pool of skilled labour, especially in the hospitality industry where chefs and food and beverage professionals are as scarce as hen’s teeth," says Chris Foord, Bamaga Enterprises GM.

Investment in the South Australian racing industry is paying dividends with the arrival of leading South African training partnership Gary and Dean Alexander, who are relocating their operations to the training centre of excellence being developed at Murray Bridge. The multiple Group 1-winning trainers decided last year to move their base from South Africa’s premier racecourse, Turffontein in Johannesburg, to South Australia, with the development of the world-class facilities at Murray Bridge a deciding factor in the move.

A ‘warm’ COVID-19 vaccine suitable for remote and resource-limited locations lacking access to cold storage supply chains is one step closer following an international collaboration between scientists from India and Australia.

Kirstin Nicholson. “I’d like to say I was elated, but the reality is, with everything that’s been going on, even after we had booked them, I still wasn’t necessarily sure that we would end up on a flight. You try not to get your hopes up because in this whole thing there is no guarantee,” says Kate Slater.