International

John O'Donnell analyses recent positive US policy developments and land management commitments aimed at confronting the US wildfire/ bushfire crisis and finds that there is much Australia might learn from the US strategy.

She might not sound like it with her prominent London accent, but Abbey Martin is a fair dinkum, true blue, dinki-di Australian. The only thing she’s missing is the piece of paper to prove it. Tomorrow, on Australia Day, Abbey will take the pledge and become a bona fide Aussie.

Kendall Jennings. On a hot summer day at Barham’s Riverside Park, locals were treated to a world-class experience when former world and current Australian champion Jaydyn Coggins held a sport stacking demonstration and coaching session on Wednesday, January 5.

Nuvaxovidâ„¢ is the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine to receive approval for provisional registration in Australia. Novavax, Inc. has announced TGA approval for provisional   registration of NVX-CoV2373, Novavax' COVID-19 vaccine (adjuvanted), for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals 18 years of age and older. The vaccine will be supplied to Australia under the brand name Nuvaxovidâ„¢.

Sharon and Graham Collins live on an organic farm in the curve of the hills at Peacock Creek. Englishman Graham calls himself an accidental farmer, he’d never planned a life on the land. His wife Sharon grew up on a dairy farm in Cornwall in England and she described herself as a ‘”compassionate farmer”. They raise and sell English black pigs, have cattle, sell duck and chicken eggs and recently got some goats.

The WA State Government has partnered with the local avocado industry through Hort Innovation, Avocados Australia and Austrade to showcase the popular fruit to potential importers, retailers and consumers at the WA Premium Food and Beverage Trade Event in Tokyo.

Consumers are increasingly demanding proof of their seafood’s sustainability and they are turning to a range of seafood certifications, rating programs and indexes to inform their purchases. Globally, there is a growing number of initiatives to guide consumers. But they are not all created equal, nor do they measure and report on the same parameters.

Forestry Australia is calling on the Western Australian Government to release scientific evidence in justification of its decision to end native forest harvesting. Forestry Australia President Bob Gordon said the association was concerned the decision to end native harvesting was not based on science, demonstrated poor understanding of WA’s world-class forest management practices and would result in increased imports of wood products from countries with lower management standards.

With unpredictable weather being experienced due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Tiffany in the north, many might be wondering where Tennant Creek’s new $17 million radar is.

Aware of the interest of many of our readers in knowing when the Novavax protein based Covid-19 vaccine might be available in Australia, Australian Rural & Regional News has obtained some positive feedback from the company.

She's regarded by thousands as the fittest woman in the world and Tia-Clair Toomey is now trying to harness her power to earn another tilt at the Olympics ... Toomey, who is coached by her husband Shane Orr, who also grew up in Weipa, has been training for the Australian bobsleigh team for more than a year.

Strong retail demand and the reopening of foodservice set the aquaculture industry up for another strong year in 2022, especially for salmon and shrimp. Sustainability-related investments are expected to ramp up this year, as major producers and retailers have set ambitious targets to reduce carbon footprints. Rabobank just published a report summarizing the main takeaways from the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) GOAL Conference, one of the seafood industry’s most anticipated events.

Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) highly anticipated Australian Lamb Summer Campaign is back in a new TV commercial that celebrates Australia reuniting with the rest of the world after years of isolation.

The Mahakaruna Buddhist Society celebrated 21 years since it was established in Denmark on December 12 and marked the retirement of The Venerable Lozang Chodzin ... In 2003, Lozang Chodzin was ordained as a Buddhist nun and eventually took over the role of teacher.

A Barkers Vale man and woman have been arrested and charged with importation of cocaine. NSW Police arrested the 33 year old man and 31 year old woman following investigations into an organised crime syndicate operating between NSW and Queensland.

Australia has secured an emphatic World Trade Organization (WTO) win against India’s price-distorting sugar production supports and export subsidies a WTO Panel found that India had export subsidies in place which were prohibited under trading rules and it recommended their removal. The Panel also found that India’s levels of sugarcane price supports had consistently exceeded permitted levels.

Victorian Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Martin Pakula congratulated Hanwha Defense Australia on its successful bid to deliver the Commonwealth’s LAND 8116 program in Victoria, strengthening the state’s defence capabilities and creating 300 highly skilled local jobs in design, engineering and manufacturing.

The Morrison Government has announced a $1 billion defence contract for new Self-Propelled Howitzers for the Australian Army has been awarded to Hanwha Defense Australia. The contract signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea. Based in Greater Geelong, the contract will procure Self-Propelled Howitzers and Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles, under the LAND 8116 Phase 1 project.