France's ambassador to Australia, Jean-Pierre Thebault, said on Wednesday that Australia acted with deceit when it abruptly cancelled a multi-billion dollar deal with Paris to build a fleet of submarines.

"The deceit was intentional," Thebault told media in Canberra on Wednesday.

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"And because there was far more at stake than providing submarines, because it was a common agreement on sovereignty, sealed with the transmission of highly classified data, the way it was handled was a stab in the back."

Australia in September cancelled a deal with France's Naval Group, opting instead to build at least 12 nuclear-powered submarines in a deal with the United States and Britain.

The new alliance, dubbed AUKUS, is designed to give Australia access to nuclear-powered submarines for the first time.

The decision has caused a major bilateral rift, with France recalling its ambassadors from Australia and the United States in protest. Thebault returned to Canberra last month and the speech on Wednesday is the first time he has spoken publicly on the bilateral relationship.

"These are not things which are done between partners - even less between friends," said Thebault, who added that the French government had no gripe with the people of Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to refute Thebaults comments when speaking on Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates en route from the UN COP26 climate summit.

"Claims were made and claims were refuted, what is needed now is for us to move on," Morrison told reporters.

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French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said Morrison had lied to him about Canberra's intentions. 
Morrison has denied the claim. He said he had previously explained to Macron that conventional submarines would no longer meet Australia's needs.

Morrison and Macron spoke last week before the Australian leader publicly sought a handshake with his French counterpart at the G20 meeting.

The destabilisation of the usually close diplomatic relations between the two nations now threatens to spill over into trade consequences.

The European Union has twice postponed a planned round of free trade talks with Australia. In solidarity with France, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen questioned whether the bloc could strike a trade deal with Australia.

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The relationship was tested further this week after Australian media published leaked messages between Morrison and Macron that attempted to counter France's claim that Australia did not give it sufficient warning that the contract would be cancelled.

Thebault said the leaking of the messages represented an "unprecedented new low" and he said that it sent a worrying signal to heads of state that confidential correspondence could one day be "weaponised against you".

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said Macron was wrong to accuse Morrison of lying. 
"We had a major political leader call the prime minister of Australia a liar, and you can`t do that diplomatically," Joyce told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"This isn't some tin-pot nation in the middle of nowhere&nbsp;if a person calls you a liar, what are you going to do&nbsp;You have to defend it and say you are not."

US&nbsp;President Joe Biden said last week that the handling of the new pact had been clumsy, adding that he had thought France had been informed of the contract cancellation before the new pact was announced.

France's ambassador to Australia, Jean-Pierre Thebault, said on Wednesday that Australia acted with deceit when it abruptly cancelled a multi-billion dollar deal with Paris to build a fleet of submarines.

France's ambassador to Australia, Jean-Pierre Thebault, said on Wednesday that Australia acted with deceit when it abruptly cancelled a multi-billion dollar deal with Paris to build a fleet of submarines. "The deceit was intentional," Thebault told media in Canberra on Wednesday. Also Read | Newcomer Republican Glenn Youngkin set to win race for Virginia governor: US media "And because there was far more at stake than providing submarines, because it was a common agreement on sovereignty, sealed with the transmission of highly classified data, the way it was handled was a stab in the back." Australia in September cancelled a deal with France's Naval Group, opting instead to build at least 12 nuclear-powered submarines in a deal with the United States and Britain. The new alliance, dubbed AUKUS, is designed to give Australia access to nuclear-powered submarines for the first time. The decision has caused a major bilateral rift, with France recalling its ambassadors from Australia and the United States in protest. Thebault returned to Canberra last month and the speech on Wednesday is the first time he has spoken publicly on the bilateral relationship. "These are not things which are done between partners - even less between friends," said Thebault, who added that the French government had no gripe with the people of Australia. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to refute Thebaults comments when speaking on Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates en route from the UN COP26 climate summit. "Claims were made and claims were refuted, what is needed now is for us to move on," Morrison told reporters. Also Read | Indonesia could phase out coal by 2040 with financial help, says finance minister French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said Morrison had lied to him about Canberra's intentions. Morrison has denied the claim. He said he had previously explained to Macron that conventional submarines would no longer meet Australia's needs. Morrison and Macron spoke last week before the Australian leader publicly sought a handshake with his French counterpart at the G20 meeting. The destabilisation of the usually close diplomatic relations between the two nations now threatens to spill over into trade consequences. The European Union has twice postponed a planned round of free trade talks with Australia. In solidarity with France, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen questioned whether the bloc could strike a trade deal with Australia. Also Read | US aviation regulator warns of potential interference from 5G spectrum plan The relationship was tested further this week after Australian media published leaked messages between Morrison and Macron that attempted to counter France's claim that Australia did not give it sufficient warning that the contract would be cancelled. Thebault said the leaking of the messages represented an "unprecedented new low" and he said that it sent a worrying signal to heads of state that confidential correspondence could one day be "weaponised against you". Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said Macron was wrong to accuse Morrison of lying. "We had a major political leader call the prime minister of Australia a liar, and you can`t do that diplomatically," Joyce told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "This isn't some tin-pot nation in the middle of nowhere if a person calls you a liar, what are you going to do You have to defend it and say you are not." US President Joe Biden said last week that the handling of the new pact had been clumsy, adding that he had thought France had been informed of the contract cancellation before the new pact was announced.

French ambassador accuses Australia of deceit over submarine deal

There have been tears, cheers and hugs at Sydney's international airport after Australia's border opened for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tears, cheers and hugs at Sydney airport as Australians return home

The national medical body of Australia has legally recognised two made in India COVID-19 vaccines (Covaxin and Covishield), which are used across the world but not in Australia, opening the way for Indian tourists in the coming months.&nbsp;

Previously, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) suggested that only Australian-approved vaccinations, as well as Covishield from India and Sinovac from China, be recognised for travel and other limitations.&nbsp;

It has now added two more to the list — Covaxin, manufactured in India and Sinopharm, which is made in China. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vaccines-against-coronavirus-more-protective-than-prior-infection-study-425660">Also read | Vaccines against coronavirus more protective than prior infection: Study</a>

"Today, the TGA determined that Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech, India) and BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China) vaccines would be 'recognised' for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status. This recognition is for travellers aged 12 and over who have been vaccinated with Covaxin, and those 18 to 60 who have been vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV," the TGA said in a statement.

"Importantly, recognition of Covaxin, and BBIBP-CorV, along with the previously announced recognition of Coronavac (manufactured by Sinovac, China) and Covishield (manufactured by AstraZeneca, India), means many citizens of China and India as well as other countries in our region where these vaccines have been widely deployed will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia," it added.

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Today, the TGA determined that Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech, India) and BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China) vaccines would be 'recognised' for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status. 
Read more: <a href="https://t.co/fpQvr7FQhW">https://t.co/fpQvr7FQhW</a> <a href="https://t.co/YLqIAglMQX">pic.twitter.com/YLqIAglMQX</a>
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The ruling will make it easier for overseas students who have received vaccinations that differ from those given in Australia to return.

The TGA previously said that there was insufficient evidence to suggest that the Sputnik and CanSino vaccines from Russia and China be recognised in Australia.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The national medical body of Australia has legally recognised two made in India COVID-19 vaccines (Covaxin and Covishield), which are used across the world but not in Australia, opening the way for Indian tourists in the coming months.

The national medical body of Australia has legally recognised two made in India COVID-19 vaccines (Covaxin and Covishield), which are used across the world but not in Australia, opening the way for Indian tourists in the coming months. Previously, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) suggested that only Australian-approved vaccinations, as well as Covishield from India and Sinovac from China, be recognised for travel and other limitations. It has now added two more to the list — Covaxin, manufactured in India and Sinopharm, which is made in China. Also read | Vaccines against coronavirus more protective than prior infection: Study "Today, the TGA determined that Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech, India) and BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China) vaccines would be 'recognised' for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status. This recognition is for travellers aged 12 and over who have been vaccinated with Covaxin, and those 18 to 60 who have been vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV," the TGA said in a statement. "Importantly, recognition of Covaxin, and BBIBP-CorV, along with the previously announced recognition of Coronavac (manufactured by Sinovac, China) and Covishield (manufactured by AstraZeneca, India), means many citizens of China and India as well as other countries in our region where these vaccines have been widely deployed will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia," it added. Today, the TGA determined that Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech, India) and BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China) vaccines would be 'recognised' for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status. Read more: https://t.co/fpQvr7FQhW pic.twitter.com/YLqIAglMQX — TGA Australia (@TGAgovau) November 1, 2021 × The ruling will make it easier for overseas students who have received vaccinations that differ from those given in Australia to return. The TGA previously said that there was insufficient evidence to suggest that the Sputnik and CanSino vaccines from Russia and China be recognised in Australia. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia now formally recognises two made in India vaccines Covaxin and Covishield

For the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia has eased its international border restrictions on Monday, allowing some of its vaccinated public to travel freely and many families to reunite.

Australia eases international border restrictions for first time in pandemic

Australia's international border reopened on Monday almost 600 days after a pandemic closure began, sparking emotional scenes at Sydney airport as loved ones reunited.

Emotional reunions at Sydney airport as Australia lifts travel ban

After 590 days of the country's international borders being blocked, fully vaccinated Australians may finally go overseas without a visa.

After months of limitations during the coronavirus epidemic, the most severe restrictions on foreign travel will be lifted starting today.

The travel alert was given at a time when the country was seeing a low number of new virus infections.

Millions of Australians in Victoria, New South Wales, and Canberra are finally free to travel after 18 months of some of the world's tightest coronavirus border regulations, which barred individuals from returning to or leaving the country unless granted an exemption.

While the inaugural flights are only for Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate families, it kicks off a strategy to reopen the country to overseas visitors and employees, both of which are desperately needed to reenergize a tired country.

Thailand and Israel are also welcome vaccinated travellers without quarantine starting Monday, boosting global aviation travel after a difficult 18-month period.&nbsp;

Australia's Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Monday that the travel changes would immediately aid the economy.

(With inputs from agencies)

After 590 days of the country's international borders being blocked, fully vaccinated Australians may finally go overseas without a visa. After months of limitations during the coronavirus epidemic, the most severe restrictions on foreign travel will be lifted starting today.

After 590 days of the country's international borders being blocked, fully vaccinated Australians may finally go overseas without a visa. After months of limitations during the coronavirus epidemic, the most severe restrictions on foreign travel will be lifted starting today. The travel alert was given at a time when the country was seeing a low number of new virus infections. Millions of Australians in Victoria, New South Wales, and Canberra are finally free to travel after 18 months of some of the world's tightest coronavirus border regulations, which barred individuals from returning to or leaving the country unless granted an exemption. While the inaugural flights are only for Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate families, it kicks off a strategy to reopen the country to overseas visitors and employees, both of which are desperately needed to reenergize a tired country. Thailand and Israel are also welcome vaccinated travellers without quarantine starting Monday, boosting global aviation travel after a difficult 18-month period. Australia's Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Monday that the travel changes would immediately aid the economy. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia is reopening to the world after 590 days of restricted access

French President Emmanuel Macron has accused Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying to him over an abandoned $90 billion submarine deal.

French President Macron accuses Aussie PM Morrison of lying over submarine deal

A report by an Indo-Australian industry body said on Friday that the two nations and their respective industries can deeply collaborate in the fields of Agri tech, E-commerce and retail tech, Fin tech, Health Tech, Ed Tech, Cybersecurity, R&amp;D and others. Top officials from both countries reiterated the commonalities between the democracies and Commonwealth nations and touched upon how technology can create new opportunities.&nbsp;

Prepared by the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce (IACC), the report is titled 'Recommendations to build stronger ties between India &amp; Australia in technology and innovation'&nbsp;

Speaking at the event, Australian Consul-General for South India, Ms Sarah Kirlew touched upon Australia's Pioneering advances in Cybersecurity, AI, Quantum computing and 5G and related policy frameworks. She added that Indian and Australian governments could put in place pathways for closer collaboration.

The diplomat also referred to the comprehensive Indo-Australia free trade agreement that is expected by next year, which could maximize economic prosperity for both nations. She added that Australia would be having a strong country presence at the upcoming Bengaluru tech summit, which would be taking place at the same time as the Sydney dialogue.

Dr Neeraj Mittal, Principal Secretary to Government, IT Dept, Government of Tamil Nadu, said that India was a strong player in the software domain, but also referred to the need to collaborate with pioneers in the field of education tech.

On the prospects of Tamil Nadu, he said that the southern Indian state is the first to have an Artificial Intelligence policy, has strong relationships with manufacturing firms and that The state was looking towards growing to a $1Tn economy. He added that the state would soon operationalize the BharatNet connectivity program that would ensure high speed internet connectivity to Gram Panchayats and smalll villages, within 1.5 years. The senior official said that this initiative would be able to significantly boost education and telemedicine.&nbsp;

IACC CEO Petula Thomas said, “This report considered views of 82 industry leaders, senior government representatives and tech experts. It will serve as a roadmap for implementing the recommendations set out for stakeholders primarily in six key sectors. The Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Science &amp; Innovation’ industry-sector leadership forum will engage stakeholders to develop a short term (6-12 months) and long term (2-3 years) strategy to deliver on the 41 recommendations made, and create lasting high impact”.

A report by an Indo-Australian industry body said on Friday that the two nations and their respective industries can deeply collaborate in the fields of Agri tech, E-commerce and retail tech, Fin tech, Health Tech, Ed Tech, Cybersecurity, R&D and others.

A report by an Indo-Australian industry body said on Friday that the two nations and their respective industries can deeply collaborate in the fields of Agri tech, E-commerce and retail tech, Fin tech, Health Tech, Ed Tech, Cybersecurity, R&D and others. Top officials from both countries reiterated the commonalities between the democracies and Commonwealth nations and touched upon how technology can create new opportunities. Prepared by the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce (IACC), the report is titled 'Recommendations to build stronger ties between India & Australia in technology and innovation' Speaking at the event, Australian Consul-General for South India, Ms Sarah Kirlew touched upon Australia's Pioneering advances in Cybersecurity, AI, Quantum computing and 5G and related policy frameworks. She added that Indian and Australian governments could put in place pathways for closer collaboration. The diplomat also referred to the comprehensive Indo-Australia free trade agreement that is expected by next year, which could maximize economic prosperity for both nations. She added that Australia would be having a strong country presence at the upcoming Bengaluru tech summit, which would be taking place at the same time as the Sydney dialogue. Dr Neeraj Mittal, Principal Secretary to Government, IT Dept, Government of Tamil Nadu, said that India was a strong player in the software domain, but also referred to the need to collaborate with pioneers in the field of education tech. On the prospects of Tamil Nadu, he said that the southern Indian state is the first to have an Artificial Intelligence policy, has strong relationships with manufacturing firms and that The state was looking towards growing to a $1Tn economy. He added that the state would soon operationalize the BharatNet connectivity program that would ensure high speed internet connectivity to Gram Panchayats and smalll villages, within 1.5 years. The senior official said that this initiative would be able to significantly boost education and telemedicine. IACC CEO Petula Thomas said, “This report considered views of 82 industry leaders, senior government representatives and tech experts. It will serve as a roadmap for implementing the recommendations set out for stakeholders primarily in six key sectors. The Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Science & Innovation’ industry-sector leadership forum will engage stakeholders to develop a short term (6-12 months) and long term (2-3 years) strategy to deliver on the 41 recommendations made, and create lasting high impact”.

Report recommends six sectors for greater Indo-Australian cooperation 

Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city which has endured nearly nine months of lockdowns since the start of the pandemic, saw people flocking to shops and gigs for the first time in months on Saturday as public health curbs eased.

The city of five million, which re-emerged from its sixth lockdown last week, was reopening further as full vaccination rates across Victoria state, of which Melbourne is capital, was set to reach 80&nbsp;per cent for those 16 and older.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-who-delays-approval-for-covaxin-jab-every-minute-is-an-eternity-for-this-indian-family-424897">As WHO delays approval for Covaxin jab, every minute is an eternity for this Indian family</a>

People queued at malls and boutiques despite cool weather for their first in-person shopping since early August, waiting to be let in as capacity limits were observed, television footage showed.

A crowd of 5,500 were expected to attend the Victoria Derby racehorse on Saturday, the first large event in post-lockdown Melbourne, which was to be followed by a concert for 4,000 fully vaccinated at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in the evening.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-melbourne-celebrates-its-freedom-day-after-worlds-longest-lockdown-423015">&nbsp;In Pics | Melbourne celebrates its freedom day after world's longest lockdown</a>

Victoria reported 1,355 new daily COVID-19 infections, its lowest in nearly a month. There were also 11 deaths reported, with health authorities saying serious infections mainly affected the unvaccinated.

"So please - particularly for those people in their 20s - go out and get vaccinated, that is your best and in fact, your only real protection against the impact of covid," Jeroen Weimar, Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, said.

Across Australia, New South Wales reported 236 new cases and three deaths. The Australian Capital Territory reported nine new infections.

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Neighbouring New Zealand had 160 new cases, most of them in Auckland, which has been battling an outbreak of the Delta variant for months.

Once champions of a covid-zero strategy of managing the pandemic, both Australia and New Zealand have been moving towards living with the virus through extensive vaccinations, as the Delta variant has proven too transmissible to suppress.

As of Saturday, 74&nbsp;per cent of eligible people in New Zealand were fully vaccinated and 76.8 per cent of those 16 and older in Australia.

Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city which has endured nearly nine months of lockdowns since the start of the pandemic, saw people flocking to shops and gigs for the first time in months on Saturday as public health curbs eased.

Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city which has endured nearly nine months of lockdowns since the start of the pandemic, saw people flocking to shops and gigs for the first time in months on Saturday as public health curbs eased. The city of five million, which re-emerged from its sixth lockdown last week, was reopening further as full vaccination rates across Victoria state, of which Melbourne is capital, was set to reach 80 per cent for those 16 and older. Also Read | As WHO delays approval for Covaxin jab, every minute is an eternity for this Indian family People queued at malls and boutiques despite cool weather for their first in-person shopping since early August, waiting to be let in as capacity limits were observed, television footage showed. A crowd of 5,500 were expected to attend the Victoria Derby racehorse on Saturday, the first large event in post-lockdown Melbourne, which was to be followed by a concert for 4,000 fully vaccinated at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in the evening. Also Read | In Pics | Melbourne celebrates its freedom day after world's longest lockdown Victoria reported 1,355 new daily COVID-19 infections, its lowest in nearly a month. There were also 11 deaths reported, with health authorities saying serious infections mainly affected the unvaccinated. "So please - particularly for those people in their 20s - go out and get vaccinated, that is your best and in fact, your only real protection against the impact of covid," Jeroen Weimar, Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, said. Across Australia, New South Wales reported 236 new cases and three deaths. The Australian Capital Territory reported nine new infections. Also Read | Watch: Thousands of Swiss locals protest against Covid vaccine certificates Neighbouring New Zealand had 160 new cases, most of them in Auckland, which has been battling an outbreak of the Delta variant for months. Once champions of a covid-zero strategy of managing the pandemic, both Australia and New Zealand have been moving towards living with the virus through extensive vaccinations, as the Delta variant has proven too transmissible to suppress. As of Saturday, 74 per cent of eligible people in New Zealand were fully vaccinated and 76.8 per cent of those 16 and older in Australia.

Australia's Melbourne back to the races, shops as vaccination rate hits 80%

A regulator in Australia has said that it wants Google to give option to users to use search engine of their choice through a 'choice screen'. This is being looked at as a step to challenge Google's monopoly of the search market.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) also wants to limit Google's ability to pay Apple Inc to have its search engine installed as the default option on the smartphone maker's devices, the regulator said in a report on Thursday.

These measures will take Australia roughly in line with Europe.

Europe has forced Google to offer a choice of search engine on phones using its Android operating system. Google has 94% of the Australian search engine market, which makes money by selling advertisements.

"We are concerned that Google's dominance and its ability to use its financial resources to fund arrangements to be the default search engine on many devices and other means through which consumers access search, such as browsers, is harming competition and consumers," said ACCC Chair Rod Sims in a statement.

"Google pays billions of dollars each year for these placements, which illustrates how being the default search engine is extremely valuable to Google's business model."

The search engine report was part of the ACCC's wider examination of large internet companies, which led this year to laws making Google and social media giant Facebook Inc pay media companies for content on their websites.

A Google spokesperson said the company was reviewing the report and looked forward to discussing it with the ACCC and government.

"Android gives people choice by allowing them to customise their device, from the apps they download to the default services for those apps," the spokesperson said.

The ACCC said it would put the potential measures out for industry consultation in 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

A regulator in Australia has said that it wants Google to give option to users to use search engine of their choice through a 'choice screen'. This is being looked at as a step to challenge Google's monopoly of the search market.

A regulator in Australia has said that it wants Google to give option to users to use search engine of their choice through a 'choice screen'. This is being looked at as a step to challenge Google's monopoly of the search market. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) also wants to limit Google's ability to pay Apple Inc to have its search engine installed as the default option on the smartphone maker's devices, the regulator said in a report on Thursday. These measures will take Australia roughly in line with Europe. Europe has forced Google to offer a choice of search engine on phones using its Android operating system. Google has 94% of the Australian search engine market, which makes money by selling advertisements. "We are concerned that Google's dominance and its ability to use its financial resources to fund arrangements to be the default search engine on many devices and other means through which consumers access search, such as browsers, is harming competition and consumers," said ACCC Chair Rod Sims in a statement. "Google pays billions of dollars each year for these placements, which illustrates how being the default search engine is extremely valuable to Google's business model." The search engine report was part of the ACCC's wider examination of large internet companies, which led this year to laws making Google and social media giant Facebook Inc pay media companies for content on their websites. A Google spokesperson said the company was reviewing the report and looked forward to discussing it with the ACCC and government. "Android gives people choice by allowing them to customise their device, from the apps they download to the default services for those apps," the spokesperson said. The ACCC said it would put the potential measures out for industry consultation in 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

Australia wants Google to make alternative search engines available on smartphones

As price increases became more broad-based, Australian core inflation sped to its fastest annual pace since 2015 in the September quarter. It's a major surprise that led markets to price in earlier hikes in interest rates.

Australia core inflation jumps to six-year high in Q3

A team of engineers at Australia's University of Newcastle and have developed a patented thermal block material, which its inventors hope can be used to ease the transition away from coal-fired power.

Australian engineers patent thermal slab to store renewable energy

"I'm a footballer and I'm gay," A-League's Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo revealed on Wednesday (October 27) that he was gay. He became the first openly homosexual footballer to come out while still playing in the Australian league.

"I'm a footballer and I'm gay," A-League's Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo revealed on Wednesday (October 27) that he was gay. He became the first openly homosexual footballer to come out while still playing in the Australian league. In a video shared on his official Twitter handle, Josh announced that he was "ready to speak about something personal" as he was "finally comfortable" to talk. He also added that he was done with feeling ashamed about his sexuality and the exhaustion of trying to live a "double-life". Cavallo, who has represented Australia at the under-20 level, said, "All I want to do is play football and be treated equally. I'm tired; trying to perform at the best of your ability and to live this double life, it's exhausting. It's something that I don't want anyone to experience." ALSO READ | France footballer Lucas Hernandez avoids jail as Madrid court accepts appeal in four year old case He added, "I thought that people would think of me differently when they found out. They would start treating me differently. They would start saying bad things about me or making fun out of me. That's not the case. If anything, you will earn more respect from people." His announcement has prompted supportive comments from his team, the A-League and Football Australia and from top footballers like Antoine Griezmann and Gerard Piqué. The 21-year-old said, "Coming out to my loved ones, my peers, my friends, my teammates, my coaches has been incredible. The response and support I have received is immense. It's starting to make me think that why have I been hiding this burden for so long? I want to inspire and show people that it's OK to be yourself and play football. It's OK to be gay and to play football." IN PICS | How much Cristiano Ronaldo earns per week? Mind-boggling salary of Manchester United star and his net worth "Through my coming out, I'm excited to open up. To show everyone the Josh Cavallo. To show the true Josh Cavallo. I'm Josh Cavallo. I'm a footballer and I'm proud to be gay," the footballer said. pic.twitter.com/gSfymTagGl — Josh Cavallo (@JoshuaCavallo) October 27, 2021 × Hey @JoshuaCavallo, I don’t have the pleasure to know you personally but I want to thank you for this step that you take. The world of football is far behind and you are helping us move forward. https://t.co/pe8xdJl15i — Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) October 27, 2021 × Proud of you @JoshuaCavallo ✊🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/VRU5Dda0s8 — Antoine Griezmann (@AntoGriezmann) October 27, 2021 × Thank you @JoshuaCavallo for your strength and bravery... 🏳️‍🌈 You are an inspiration to millions 🏳️‍⚧️ Everyone deserves the right to be themselves The world of football is a better place today, because of you ❤️ https://t.co/bdUtBpzmHv — Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 27, 2021 × Proud of you @JoshuaCavallo for your strength and bravery. You'll Never Walk Alone ❤️ #RedTogether https://t.co/1zOmGBnCRf — Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 27, 2021 × Cavallo said Thomas Beattie, a former youth player for English club Hull City who came out in 2020, had been a "role model" in helping him on his journey and hoped their example might help change things for other young gay men in sport. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: A-League player comes out as gay, releases emotional video: 'It's OK to be gay and play football'

On Tuesday, indigenous residents of the low-lying Australian island of Torres Strait filed a landmark lawsuit against the Australian government.

The lawsuit is aimed at forcing the government to take steps to protect the islanders from climate change, by imposing deeper cuts on carbon emissions so as to combat the climate crisis. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-adopts-target-of-net-zero-emissions-by-2050-but-wont-legislate-goal-424095">Australia adopts target of net zero emissions by 2050 but won't legislate goal</a>

They say that rising sea levels pose an existential threat to their homelands and culture, thereby putting them at the frontline of the climate crisis.

Lawmakers representing traditional land owners of Boigu and Saibai, two of the hardest hit islands, want the Federal Court to order the government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a level that would prevent Torres Strait Islanders from ending up as climate refugees.

In terms of climate change class actions, this is believed to be the first to be launched by Indigenous Australians.

Australian officials unveiled a 2050 net-zero goal on the same day the lawsuit was filed; the plan, however, is light-on-detail and criticised for relying heavily on undeveloped technologies and carbon offsets.

Watch |&nbsp;Climate holdout Australia sets 2050 net zero emissions target

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The Torres Strait, also called Zenadth Kes, is a collection of 274 islands between Australia's mainland and Papua New Guinea. Fewer than 5,000 people live there.

In its lawsuit, the islanders claim that some islands are expected to become uninhabitable if global temperatures rise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted that we could pass that threshold by 2030.

United Nations reports project the world will warm by 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100, based on current global commitments.

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The plaintiff, Paul Kabai, who lives on the island of Saibai, said that salt-ruined soils and worsening flooding were putting the health of his people at risk, leaving them facing a dire future.

"If you take away our homelands, we don't know who we are. We have a cultural responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen."

He said becoming a climate refugee means losing everything: their homes, their culture, their stories, and identity. 
In May, a federal judge ruled that expanding a coal mine near Sydney would cause climate-related harm to eight Australian teenagers. That judgement paved the way for this lawsuit.

People in Australia and around the world are increasingly turning to the courts in an effort to prod governments into taking action on climate change.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/planned-fossil-fuel-production-dangerously-out-of-sync-with-needed-emissions-cuts-un-422407" hreflang="en">Planned fossil fuel production 'dangerously out of sync' with needed emissions cuts: UN</a>

Earlier in 2019, a group of Torres Strait Islanders had filed a separate complaint with the United Nations, alleging that the authorities are failing to address climate change, which is a violation of their human rights.

The Australian government has asked for the complaint to be dismissed; however, the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva has not yet formally responded.

On Tuesday, indigenous residents of the low-lying Australian island of Torres Strait filed a landmark lawsuit against the Australian government. The lawsuit is aimed at forcing the government to take steps to protect the islanders from climate change, by imposing deeper cuts on carbon emissions so as to combat the climate crisis.

On Tuesday, indigenous residents of the low-lying Australian island of Torres Strait filed a landmark lawsuit against the Australian government. The lawsuit is aimed at forcing the government to take steps to protect the islanders from climate change, by imposing deeper cuts on carbon emissions so as to combat the climate crisis. Also read | Australia adopts target of net zero emissions by 2050 but won't legislate goal They say that rising sea levels pose an existential threat to their homelands and culture, thereby putting them at the frontline of the climate crisis. Lawmakers representing traditional land owners of Boigu and Saibai, two of the hardest hit islands, want the Federal Court to order the government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a level that would prevent Torres Strait Islanders from ending up as climate refugees. In terms of climate change class actions, this is believed to be the first to be launched by Indigenous Australians. Australian officials unveiled a 2050 net-zero goal on the same day the lawsuit was filed; the plan, however, is light-on-detail and criticised for relying heavily on undeveloped technologies and carbon offsets. Watch | Climate holdout Australia sets 2050 net zero emissions target The Torres Strait, also called Zenadth Kes, is a collection of 274 islands between Australia's mainland and Papua New Guinea. Fewer than 5,000 people live there. In its lawsuit, the islanders claim that some islands are expected to become uninhabitable if global temperatures rise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has predicted that we could pass that threshold by 2030. United Nations reports project the world will warm by 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100, based on current global commitments. Also read | G20 split over coal, 1.5 degree climate limit ahead of Rome summit: Report The plaintiff, Paul Kabai, who lives on the island of Saibai, said that salt-ruined soils and worsening flooding were putting the health of his people at risk, leaving them facing a dire future. "If you take away our homelands, we don't know who we are. We have a cultural responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen." He said becoming a climate refugee means losing everything: their homes, their culture, their stories, and identity. In May, a federal judge ruled that expanding a coal mine near Sydney would cause climate-related harm to eight Australian teenagers. That judgement paved the way for this lawsuit. People in Australia and around the world are increasingly turning to the courts in an effort to prod governments into taking action on climate change. Also read | Planned fossil fuel production 'dangerously out of sync' with needed emissions cuts: UN Earlier in 2019, a group of Torres Strait Islanders had filed a separate complaint with the United Nations, alleging that the authorities are failing to address climate change, which is a violation of their human rights. The Australian government has asked for the complaint to be dismissed; however, the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva has not yet formally responded.

Australian indigenous islanders file lawsuit against government, demand climate action

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces a much-delayed pledge to meet the 2050 net-zero emissions target ahead of a landmark UN climate summit. Widely seen as a climate laggard, Australia is one of the world's largest coal and gas exporters.

Climate holdout Australia sets 2050 net zero emissions target

Australia, long under fire as one of world's top producers of coal and gas, said it will target net zero carbon emissions by 2050, but added it will not legislate the goal and instead rely on consumers and companies to drive emission reductions.

The adoption of the target will ease international criticism after Australia earlier refused to join countries in pledging to meet the target ahead of the United Nations COP26 climate conference in Glasgow from October&nbsp;31 to November&nbsp;12.&nbsp;

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia, one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases on a per capita basis, will achieve the target largely through technology development, with the government investing A$20 billion ($15 billion).

The investment will reduce the costs of technologies such as clean hydrogen and increase their use, he said.

Morrison has been in a political bind over climate change. He needs the support of rural votes who oppose the reducing emissions as he heads into an election that must take place by May, but much of the wider Australian population wants to see more action.

A widely watched poll on Monday showed Morrison is on course to lose to the centre-left Labor party. read more

On Tuesday, Morrison, sought to downplay any threat to domestic industries and jobs as a result of reducing emissions.

"Australians want action on climate change. They’re taking action on climate change, but they also want to protect their jobs and their livelihoods. They also want to keep the costs of living down,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“I also want to protect the Australian way of life, especially in rural and regional areas. The Australian way of life is unique.”

Morrison also said Australia will not strengthen its 2030 target of reducing emissions by 26-28 per cent&nbsp;from 2005 levels but added the country looks like it will reduce emissions by 30-35 per cent.

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Critics said Morrison's plan was too weak and does not prepare the Australian economy for a rapidly evolving world.

“Unless the government sets the wheels in motion to cut our emissions in half by 2030, it is making climate change worse and turning its back on the opportunities," said Kelly O’Shanassy, chief executive officer of the Australian Conservation Foundation.

"Australia cannot keep relying on coal and gas exports because these industries are on the way out and if those workers are not helped with the transition, they will be left high and dry."

Morrison struggled to gain backing for the net zero target from his coalition government's junior partner, the National Party, which has a regional power base reliant on agriculture and mining.

However, the party said on Sunday it would support a net zero target. According to the Australian Financial Review, the deal includes an agreement for increased spending on regional infrastructure and tax benefits for income derived from carbon farming.

Australia, long under fire as one of world's top producers of coal and gas, said it will target net zero carbon emissions by 2050, but added it will not legislate the goal and instead rely on consumers and companies to drive emission reductions.

Australia, long under fire as one of world's top producers of coal and gas, said it will target net zero carbon emissions by 2050, but added it will not legislate the goal and instead rely on consumers and companies to drive emission reductions. The adoption of the target will ease international criticism after Australia earlier refused to join countries in pledging to meet the target ahead of the United Nations COP26 climate conference in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12. Also Read | Saudi Arabia aims of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060 Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia, one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases on a per capita basis, will achieve the target largely through technology development, with the government investing A$20 billion ($15 billion). The investment will reduce the costs of technologies such as clean hydrogen and increase their use, he said. Morrison has been in a political bind over climate change. He needs the support of rural votes who oppose the reducing emissions as he heads into an election that must take place by May, but much of the wider Australian population wants to see more action. A widely watched poll on Monday showed Morrison is on course to lose to the centre-left Labor party. read more On Tuesday, Morrison, sought to downplay any threat to domestic industries and jobs as a result of reducing emissions. "Australians want action on climate change. They’re taking action on climate change, but they also want to protect their jobs and their livelihoods. They also want to keep the costs of living down,” he told reporters in Canberra. “I also want to protect the Australian way of life, especially in rural and regional areas. The Australian way of life is unique.” Morrison also said Australia will not strengthen its 2030 target of reducing emissions by 26-28 per cent from 2005 levels but added the country looks like it will reduce emissions by 30-35 per cent. Also Read | US: Plastics to overtake coal’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, says study Critics said Morrison's plan was too weak and does not prepare the Australian economy for a rapidly evolving world. “Unless the government sets the wheels in motion to cut our emissions in half by 2030, it is making climate change worse and turning its back on the opportunities," said Kelly O’Shanassy, chief executive officer of the Australian Conservation Foundation. "Australia cannot keep relying on coal and gas exports because these industries are on the way out and if those workers are not helped with the transition, they will be left high and dry." Morrison struggled to gain backing for the net zero target from his coalition government's junior partner, the National Party, which has a regional power base reliant on agriculture and mining. However, the party said on Sunday it would support a net zero target. According to the Australian Financial Review, the deal includes an agreement for increased spending on regional infrastructure and tax benefits for income derived from carbon farming.

Australia adopts target of net zero emissions by 2050 but won't legislate goal

Hot air ballooning has long been a male-dominated sport, with just five female commercial pilots operating in Australia. But three women have set their sights are determined to the attarct more women into the sport.

Encouraging more women to try hot air ballooning in Australia

Melbourne, Australia's&nbsp;second-biggest city, began its first weekend out of the world's longest string of COVID-19 lockdowns with spontaneous street parties, live music and packed pubs, bars and restaurants.

Home to about five million people, Melbourne endured 262 days, or nearly nine months, of restrictions during six lockdowns since March 2020, longer than the 234-day continuous lockdown in Buenos Aires.

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Despite rain on Saturday morning, people queued for barbers and breakfast restaurants, all of which are open only to the fully vaccinated.

Late on Friday, people broke into a spontaneous street party in Melbourne's southeast and many rejoiced with their first drink in months in a pub with friends, social media footage showed.

Although the Delta outbreak continues to spread, with 1,750 new cases and nine deaths reported on Saturday in Victoria state, of which Melbourne is the capital, the ease in restrictions came the state`s full-vaccination rate reached 70 per cent.

While most retail outlets remained closed, authorities said further easing will come once 80 per cent of Victorians are fully inoculated, estimated by next weekend.

"Let's not slack off, let's increase the pace as we get to the 80 per cent milestone - but also the 90&nbsp;per cent vaccination milestone," Jeroen Weimar, Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, said on Saturday. 
While small but violent anti-vaccinations protests have taken place in Melbourne and other cities this year, Australians overwhelmingly support vaccinations, with polls showing the percentage decisively opposed in single digits.

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Nearly 72&nbsp;per cent of adults in Australia are now fully vaccinated and nearly 87 per cent have received one shot. According to a national strategy, lockdowns will be unlikely once 80 per cent&nbsp;of Australians are fully inoculated.&nbsp;

Sydney, Australia's largest city, celebrated its reopening two weeks ago, after reaching the vaccination threshold of 70 per cent. On Saturday, New South Wales state, of which Sydney is the capital, recorded 332 COVID-19 cases and two deaths.

Weekend newspapers were filled with travel advertising for the coming months, as international border restrictions start to ease from November. Flag carrier Qantas Airways&nbsp;is speeding up plans to restart flights to many destinations and upsize some planes amid "massive demand".

Melbourne, Australia's second-biggest city, began its first weekend out of the world's longest string of COVID-19 lockdowns with spontaneous street parties, live music and packed pubs, bars and restaurants.

Melbourne, Australia's second-biggest city, began its first weekend out of the world's longest string of COVID-19 lockdowns with spontaneous street parties, live music and packed pubs, bars and restaurants. Home to about five million people, Melbourne endured 262 days, or nearly nine months, of restrictions during six lockdowns since March 2020, longer than the 234-day continuous lockdown in Buenos Aires. Also Read | Melbourne reopens as world's most locked-down city eases pandemic restrictions Despite rain on Saturday morning, people queued for barbers and breakfast restaurants, all of which are open only to the fully vaccinated. Late on Friday, people broke into a spontaneous street party in Melbourne's southeast and many rejoiced with their first drink in months in a pub with friends, social media footage showed. Although the Delta outbreak continues to spread, with 1,750 new cases and nine deaths reported on Saturday in Victoria state, of which Melbourne is the capital, the ease in restrictions came the state`s full-vaccination rate reached 70 per cent. While most retail outlets remained closed, authorities said further easing will come once 80 per cent of Victorians are fully inoculated, estimated by next weekend. "Let's not slack off, let's increase the pace as we get to the 80 per cent milestone - but also the 90 per cent vaccination milestone," Jeroen Weimar, Victoria's COVID-19 response commander, said on Saturday. While small but violent anti-vaccinations protests have taken place in Melbourne and other cities this year, Australians overwhelmingly support vaccinations, with polls showing the percentage decisively opposed in single digits. Also Read | Mix-and-match vaccines highly effective against COVID-19: Lancet study Nearly 72 per cent of adults in Australia are now fully vaccinated and nearly 87 per cent have received one shot. According to a national strategy, lockdowns will be unlikely once 80 per cent of Australians are fully inoculated. Sydney, Australia's largest city, celebrated its reopening two weeks ago, after reaching the vaccination threshold of 70 per cent. On Saturday, New South Wales state, of which Sydney is the capital, recorded 332 COVID-19 cases and two deaths. Weekend newspapers were filled with travel advertising for the coming months, as international border restrictions start to ease from November. Flag carrier Qantas Airways is speeding up plans to restart flights to many destinations and upsize some planes amid "massive demand".

Australia's Melbourne enjoys weekend of eased Covid curbs after long lockdown

Australia was the worst climate performer among comparable developed countries since nations pledged in the 2015 Paris agreement to take action to limit global warming, a think tank said Thursday ahead of a key climate conference in Scotland later this month.

The UN&nbsp;summit in Glasgow, known as COP26, will bring together thousands of diplomats, scientists and environmental campaigners to assess progress since nations agreed in the Paris accord to limit warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The meeting in Glasgow is widely seen as the last chance to hold global warming to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison plans to attend the conference starting October&nbsp;31, but lawmakers in his governing coalition are arguing over adoption of a tougher national carbon reduction target.

Morrison wants to commit Australia to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, but some lawmakers in the conservative government's junior coalition partner, the Nationals party, are resisting.

"Australia ranks dead last among comparable nations (in) addressing the climate challenge at its source -- by cutting emissions," the report from the Climate Council said. The council is an independently funded non-profit that replaced the Climate Commission, a publicly funded agency abolished in 2013 by the newly elected conservative government in which Morrison was a Cabinet minister.

The report ranked Australia last among 31 wealthy, developed countries on the criteria of emissions reduction performances and pledges.

Britain was first, followed by Switzerland and Sweden. The United States was 23rd.

Australia was tied for last with Canada in terms of fossil fuel extraction and use. Next from the bottom was Norway, then the United States. The Czech Republic came first with Sweden and Switzerland sharing second place.

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Major emitters including China, India and Russia were not included in the tables.

Morrison is unlikely to persuade his colleagues to agree to a more ambitious 2030 target before he goes to Glasgow.

Australia has not budged from its 2015 pledge in Paris to reduce emissions by 26 per cent&nbsp;to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, despite many countries adopting far more ambitious targets.

The Climate Council recommended Australia reduce emissions by 75 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2035.

Australian emissions from electricity have increased by a third since 1990, while transport emissions have grown by more than half, the report said.

If Australia achieves its current 2030 targets, the progress will mostly be reached through reduced land clearing and other land use changes, Climate Council Head of Research Simon Bradshaw told The Associated Press.

"Now that, of course, is important, but it's no substitute for actually stopping emissions at their source," Bradshaw said.

Reducing emissions is a politically fraught issue in Australia, which is one of the world's largest exporters of coal and liquified natural gas. The nation is also one of the world's worst greenhouse gas emitters per capita because of its heavy reliance on coal-fired power.

Australia was the worst climate performer among comparable developed countries since nations pledged in the 2015 Paris agreement to take action to limit global warming, a think tank said Thursday ahead of a key climate conference in Scotland later this month.

Australia was the worst climate performer among comparable developed countries since nations pledged in the 2015 Paris agreement to take action to limit global warming, a think tank said Thursday ahead of a key climate conference in Scotland later this month. The UN summit in Glasgow, known as COP26, will bring together thousands of diplomats, scientists and environmental campaigners to assess progress since nations agreed in the Paris accord to limit warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The meeting in Glasgow is widely seen as the last chance to hold global warming to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels. Also Read | Boris Johnson is playing another trick Prime Minister Scott Morrison plans to attend the conference starting October 31, but lawmakers in his governing coalition are arguing over adoption of a tougher national carbon reduction target. Morrison wants to commit Australia to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, but some lawmakers in the conservative government's junior coalition partner, the Nationals party, are resisting. "Australia ranks dead last among comparable nations (in) addressing the climate challenge at its source -- by cutting emissions," the report from the Climate Council said. The council is an independently funded non-profit that replaced the Climate Commission, a publicly funded agency abolished in 2013 by the newly elected conservative government in which Morrison was a Cabinet minister. The report ranked Australia last among 31 wealthy, developed countries on the criteria of emissions reduction performances and pledges. Britain was first, followed by Switzerland and Sweden. The United States was 23rd. Australia was tied for last with Canada in terms of fossil fuel extraction and use. Next from the bottom was Norway, then the United States. The Czech Republic came first with Sweden and Switzerland sharing second place. Also Read | COP26: Sponsors deem the climate summit as ‘mismanaged’ and 'very last minute' Major emitters including China, India and Russia were not included in the tables. Morrison is unlikely to persuade his colleagues to agree to a more ambitious 2030 target before he goes to Glasgow. Australia has not budged from its 2015 pledge in Paris to reduce emissions by 26 per cent to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, despite many countries adopting far more ambitious targets. The Climate Council recommended Australia reduce emissions by 75 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2035. Australian emissions from electricity have increased by a third since 1990, while transport emissions have grown by more than half, the report said. If Australia achieves its current 2030 targets, the progress will mostly be reached through reduced land clearing and other land use changes, Climate Council Head of Research Simon Bradshaw told The Associated Press. "Now that, of course, is important, but it's no substitute for actually stopping emissions at their source," Bradshaw said. Reducing emissions is a politically fraught issue in Australia, which is one of the world's largest exporters of coal and liquified natural gas. The nation is also one of the world's worst greenhouse gas emitters per capita because of its heavy reliance on coal-fired power.

Australia branded worst climate performer ahead of UN summit

Melbourne residents flocked to the city's pubs, restaurants and hair salons in the early hours of Friday after the world's most locked-down city emerged from its latest spate of restrictions designed to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Australia's second-largest city has so far endured 262 days, or nearly nine months, of restrictions during six separate lockdowns since March 2020, representing the longest cumulative lockdown for any city in the world.

Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, last year went through 234 straight days of lockdown.

In Melbourne, people were seen cheering and clapping from their balconies, while cars honked horns continuously at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday when lockdown restrictions in place since early August ended.

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Many venues, including food outlets and even haircutters, opened at the unusual hour for the occasion.

Josh Mihan, owner of The Bearded Man barber shop in Melbourne, told Reuters he is nearly booked out for the next month and he is encouraging customers to make appointments for Christmas.

"We all love cutting hair and being on the floor is such a lovely feeling, being around people," he said. "I have urged our customer base, make sure you have booked in your Christmas cut."

Similar jubilant scenes were seen in the country's largest city, Sydney, almost two weeks ago, when authorities started easing restrictions as COVID-19 vaccination rates rose.

Just over 70% of adults in Australia are now fully vaccinated and many residents are planning to fly overseas again as international border restrictions start to ease from November&nbsp;

From Nov. 1, fully vaccinated international travellers arriving in Sydney and Melbourne will no longer need to quarantine.

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Qantas Airways Ltd said on Friday that it would speed up plans to restart flights to many destinations and upsize some planes amid "massive demand".

Qantas said it would launch a new route from Sydney to Delhi in early December and bring forward plans for flights to Singapore, Fiji, Johannesburg, Bangkok and Phuket.

"This is a wonderful day - Australia is ready for take-off," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said shortly after the Qantas announcement.

A quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and Singapore could operate from next month, Morrison said, if an agreement is reached as expected.

A LONG LOCKDOWN

Even with Delta outbreaks across Australia's southeast from late June, coronavirus numbers are still far lower than those of many comparable nations, with some 152,000 cases and 1,590 deaths.

The state of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, reported 2,189 new local COVID-19 cases and 16 deaths on Friday, making it the centre of the Delta outbreak in Australia.

Daily cases in New South Wales, home to Sydney where the Delta variant was first detected in June, dropped slightly to 345. The state recorded a further five deaths.

With a once-stuttering vaccine rollout gaining momentum, authorities no longer plan to rely on extended lockdowns to suppress the virus.

It has been an arduous period, especially for those in Melbourne running a business.

"We've been open for a year, and this is our fourth lockdown. It's been very difficult," said David Boyle, the head chef at the up-market Farmer’s Daughters restaurant in Melbourne.

Under more relaxed rules, restaurants and cafes can reopen with up to 20 people indoors and 50 outdoors - all of whom must be vaccinated - while 10 guests can gather at homes. Masks will remain mandatory.

The reopening will be a boost for Australia's A$2 trillion ($1.5 trillion) economy after recent lockdowns pushed it to the brink of a second recession in as many years.

At Melbourne's once bustling Journal Cafe, waitress Sullivan Kovacs said business was still modest on Friday and that customer numbers would increase once office workers and trades people returned to the city en masse.

"A lot of the traffic comes from people working in the city, and a lot of the tradies haven't gone back to work yet," Kovacs said.

Melbourne residents flocked to the city's pubs, restaurants and hair salons in the early hours of Friday after the world's most locked-down city emerged from its latest spate of restrictions designed to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Melbourne residents flocked to the city's pubs, restaurants and hair salons in the early hours of Friday after the world's most locked-down city emerged from its latest spate of restrictions designed to combat the spread of COVID-19. Australia's second-largest city has so far endured 262 days, or nearly nine months, of restrictions during six separate lockdowns since March 2020, representing the longest cumulative lockdown for any city in the world. Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, last year went through 234 straight days of lockdown. In Melbourne, people were seen cheering and clapping from their balconies, while cars honked horns continuously at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday when lockdown restrictions in place since early August ended. Also Read | Australian government offering financial aid to victims to seperate from violent partners Many venues, including food outlets and even haircutters, opened at the unusual hour for the occasion. Josh Mihan, owner of The Bearded Man barber shop in Melbourne, told Reuters he is nearly booked out for the next month and he is encouraging customers to make appointments for Christmas. "We all love cutting hair and being on the floor is such a lovely feeling, being around people," he said. "I have urged our customer base, make sure you have booked in your Christmas cut." Similar jubilant scenes were seen in the country's largest city, Sydney, almost two weeks ago, when authorities started easing restrictions as COVID-19 vaccination rates rose. Just over 70% of adults in Australia are now fully vaccinated and many residents are planning to fly overseas again as international border restrictions start to ease from November From Nov. 1, fully vaccinated international travellers arriving in Sydney and Melbourne will no longer need to quarantine. Also Read | Malaysian trans woman says 'safe and free' in Australia Qantas Airways Ltd said on Friday that it would speed up plans to restart flights to many destinations and upsize some planes amid "massive demand". Qantas said it would launch a new route from Sydney to Delhi in early December and bring forward plans for flights to Singapore, Fiji, Johannesburg, Bangkok and Phuket. "This is a wonderful day - Australia is ready for take-off," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said shortly after the Qantas announcement. A quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and Singapore could operate from next month, Morrison said, if an agreement is reached as expected. A LONG LOCKDOWN Even with Delta outbreaks across Australia's southeast from late June, coronavirus numbers are still far lower than those of many comparable nations, with some 152,000 cases and 1,590 deaths. The state of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, reported 2,189 new local COVID-19 cases and 16 deaths on Friday, making it the centre of the Delta outbreak in Australia. Daily cases in New South Wales, home to Sydney where the Delta variant was first detected in June, dropped slightly to 345. The state recorded a further five deaths. With a once-stuttering vaccine rollout gaining momentum, authorities no longer plan to rely on extended lockdowns to suppress the virus. It has been an arduous period, especially for those in Melbourne running a business. "We've been open for a year, and this is our fourth lockdown. It's been very difficult," said David Boyle, the head chef at the up-market Farmer’s Daughters restaurant in Melbourne. Under more relaxed rules, restaurants and cafes can reopen with up to 20 people indoors and 50 outdoors - all of whom must be vaccinated - while 10 guests can gather at homes. Masks will remain mandatory. The reopening will be a boost for Australia's A$2 trillion ($1.5 trillion) economy after recent lockdowns pushed it to the brink of a second recession in as many years. At Melbourne's once bustling Journal Cafe, waitress Sullivan Kovacs said business was still modest on Friday and that customer numbers would increase once office workers and trades people returned to the city en masse. "A lot of the traffic comes from people working in the city, and a lot of the tradies haven't gone back to work yet," Kovacs said.

Melbourne reopens as world's most locked-down city eases pandemic restrictions

Australia is paying its citizens $3,700 to escape abusive relationships. The one-time payment will be given in cash, in form of services and school fees. Should other countries adopt this too? Palki Sharma brings you the details.

Gravitas: Australia pays citizens to leave abusive partners

Australia's east coast has been hit by a severe hailstorm, country's Coffs Harbour has been declared a disaster zone. Hailstorms have damaged houses in the cities and some parts also witnessed flooding.

Hailstorms batter Australia, emergency crews receive hundreds call from residents

Australian batter Steve Smith praised the India cricket team, branding the Virat Kohli's side favourites&nbsp;to win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup after the Men in Blue outclassed Australia in a warmup match on Wednesday (October 20).&nbsp;

"They're a terrific side, they've got all bases covered and some serious match-winners. They've all been playing in these conditions the last couple of months with the IPL (Indian Premier League). So they'll be used to that," Smith was quoted as saying by Reuters.&nbsp;

During the match, Smith scored a half-century to help Australia post a competitive 152 for five, while chasing the target, India got off to a steady start as openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma put together 42 runs inside the first six overs.&nbsp;

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Smith (57) was glad to get runs after being barely used by Delhi Capitals on the IPL's resumption in the UAE leg. "I feel like I've been hitting the ball really well. I haven't played too many games in the IPL but I've spent a lot of time in the nets, working on things and getting used to conditions," said the former skipper.&nbsp;

Rahul and Rohit Sharma put together 42 runs inside the first six overs. Both batters stitched together an opening stand of 68 runs and it finally ended in the 10th over as Ashton Agar had Rahul (39) caught at the hands of David Warner.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/team-india-take-squid-game-challenge-ahead-of-t20-world-cup-opener-only-two-succeed-watch-422580">Team India take 'Squid Game' challenge ahead of T20 World Cup opener, only two succeed - WATCH</a>

Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav ensured that India does not suffer from more hiccups, and with the side 26-run away from the target, Rohit decided to retire hurt after playing a knock of 60. In the end, India registered a comfortable victory with Suryakumar (38) and Hardik Pandya (14) remaining unbeaten at the crease.&nbsp;

Australian batter Steve Smith praised the India cricket team, branding the Virat Kohli's side favourites to win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup after the Men in Blue outclassed Australia in a warmup match on Wednesday (October 20).

Australian batter Steve Smith praised the India cricket team, branding the Virat Kohli's side favourites to win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup after the Men in Blue outclassed Australia in a warmup match on Wednesday (October 20). "They're a terrific side, they've got all bases covered and some serious match-winners. They've all been playing in these conditions the last couple of months with the IPL (Indian Premier League). So they'll be used to that," Smith was quoted as saying by Reuters. During the match, Smith scored a half-century to help Australia post a competitive 152 for five, while chasing the target, India got off to a steady start as openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma put together 42 runs inside the first six overs. ALSO READ | 'I don't know what insecurity we' - Salman Butt slams Babar Azam & Co. ahead of T20 WC opener vs India Smith (57) was glad to get runs after being barely used by Delhi Capitals on the IPL's resumption in the UAE leg. "I feel like I've been hitting the ball really well. I haven't played too many games in the IPL but I've spent a lot of time in the nets, working on things and getting used to conditions," said the former skipper. Rahul and Rohit Sharma put together 42 runs inside the first six overs. Both batters stitched together an opening stand of 68 runs and it finally ended in the 10th over as Ashton Agar had Rahul (39) caught at the hands of David Warner. ALSO READ | Team India take 'Squid Game' challenge ahead of T20 World Cup opener, only two succeed - WATCH Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav ensured that India does not suffer from more hiccups, and with the side 26-run away from the target, Rohit decided to retire hurt after playing a knock of 60. In the end, India registered a comfortable victory with Suryakumar (38) and Hardik Pandya (14) remaining unbeaten at the crease.

Steve Smith names 'serious match-winners' who got 'all bases covered' to win T20 World Cup

Australian airline Qantas Airways Ltd is expecting to get back to flying 100% of its pre-COVID-19 domestic capacity by January as the country set to open its borders for the vaccinated.

Australia set to open borders after pandemic, Qantas expects 100% of domestic capacity

A passanger train derails near Sydney in Australia after being hit by an abandoned van. Train driver along with few passengers suffer minor injuries. The incident happened around 100 kilometer away from Sydney. Driver was rescued by firefighters.

Passenger train derails in Australia. Driver, others suffer minor injuries

A prominent Malaysian transgender entrepreneur accused of insulting Islam in the Muslim majority country said Wednesday she was "safe, happy and free" in Australia.

Nur Sajat, a millionaire who runs a cosmetics business, said officials promised to help her settle in the country.

"Australia chose me&nbsp;due to my case. So I did not apply (for asylum) to any other country," she told AFP in a video interview from an undisclosed location.

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"I was intimidated and abused (in Malaysia). The Australian government realised this," she said.

Sajat's case has highlighted concerns about the worsening climate for LGBT people in Muslim-majority Malaysia, where officials are increasingly cracking down against the community and seeking to toughen related laws.

She was charged earlier this year after attending a 2018 religious event dressed in women's clothes, and faces up to three years in jail or a fine if convicted.

She is also facing separate charges of obstructing and threatening a public servant, which she denies.

The entrepreneur said Australian officials have kept in constant communication with her, but did not reveal how she travelled to the country from Thailand early this month.

Canberra's department of home affairs said it does not comment on individual cases because of privacy concerns.

The 36-year-old said she fled to Thailand earlier this year because she "was abused and treated inhumanely" by religious officials in Malaysia.

She was arrested by Thai authorities in September over an invalid passport and later released on bail.

"The decision to run away was my last decision for me, because I did not feel happiness. (I was) not free," she said.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-approves-west-bank-residency-for-4000-undocumented-palestinians-422315">&nbsp;Israel approves West Bank residency for 4,000 undocumented Palestinians</a>

"There is freedom and gender equality in Australia," Sajat added.

While she did not reveal the conditions of her stay -- or her exact location in Sydney -- she did confirm she was in coronavirus quarantine.

Sajat said she would continue working in Australia, with a focus on gold and cosmetics.

"I want to rebuild my business empire here," she said.

Sajat also said she will not return to Malaysia because "people like me are abused and intimidated" there.

Thilaga Sulathireh, co-founder of Malaysian transgender activist group Justice for Sisters, told AFP that Sajat's was not an isolated case.

"Many LGBTIQ people have migrated and uprooted their lives because of the increasingly repressive environment in Malaysia," she said.

The country is home to some 32 million people, with ethnic Malay Muslims making up more than half of the population.

It also has a dual legal system, with Islamic criminal and family laws running alongside civil laws.

A prominent Malaysian transgender entrepreneur accused of insulting Islam in the Muslim majority country said Wednesday she was "safe, happy and free" in Australia.

A prominent Malaysian transgender entrepreneur accused of insulting Islam in the Muslim majority country said Wednesday she was "safe, happy and free" in Australia. Nur Sajat, a millionaire who runs a cosmetics business, said officials promised to help her settle in the country. "Australia chose me due to my case. So I did not apply (for asylum) to any other country," she told AFP in a video interview from an undisclosed location. Also read | Trump’s claim of executive privilege in the Jan. 6. inquiry, explained "I was intimidated and abused (in Malaysia). The Australian government realised this," she said. Sajat's case has highlighted concerns about the worsening climate for LGBT people in Muslim-majority Malaysia, where officials are increasingly cracking down against the community and seeking to toughen related laws. She was charged earlier this year after attending a 2018 religious event dressed in women's clothes, and faces up to three years in jail or a fine if convicted. She is also facing separate charges of obstructing and threatening a public servant, which she denies. The entrepreneur said Australian officials have kept in constant communication with her, but did not reveal how she travelled to the country from Thailand early this month. Canberra's department of home affairs said it does not comment on individual cases because of privacy concerns. The 36-year-old said she fled to Thailand earlier this year because she "was abused and treated inhumanely" by religious officials in Malaysia. She was arrested by Thai authorities in September over an invalid passport and later released on bail. "The decision to run away was my last decision for me, because I did not feel happiness. (I was) not free," she said. Also read | Israel approves West Bank residency for 4,000 undocumented Palestinians "There is freedom and gender equality in Australia," Sajat added. While she did not reveal the conditions of her stay -- or her exact location in Sydney -- she did confirm she was in coronavirus quarantine. Sajat said she would continue working in Australia, with a focus on gold and cosmetics. "I want to rebuild my business empire here," she said. Sajat also said she will not return to Malaysia because "people like me are abused and intimidated" there. Thilaga Sulathireh, co-founder of Malaysian transgender activist group Justice for Sisters, told AFP that Sajat's was not an isolated case. "Many LGBTIQ people have migrated and uprooted their lives because of the increasingly repressive environment in Malaysia," she said. The country is home to some 32 million people, with ethnic Malay Muslims making up more than half of the population. It also has a dual legal system, with Islamic criminal and family laws running alongside civil laws.

Malaysian trans woman says 'safe and free' in Australia

The Australian government on Monday began its legal challenge to a Federal Court's landmark decision that it has a duty of care to protect children from future personal injury caused by climate change, according to media reports.

In May, Anjali Sharma, a 17-year-old high-school student of Indian origin from Melbourne and seven other teenage environmentalists, led the legal battle against the Australian government.

Sharma and the group had argued the continued emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere would drive intense bushfires, floods, storms and cyclones and leave them vulnerable to injury, sickness, economic loss and even death towards the end of this century, news.com.au reported.

They urged the court to prevent Environment Minister Sussan Ley from approving a proposal to expand the Vickery coal mine in northern New South Wales.

In his ruling, Justice Mordecai Bromberg approved the extension of the coal mine project.

However, he did find that the minister had "a duty to take reasonable care to avoid causing personal injury" to children when she decided on the project extension under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC Act), a report in news.com.au said.

Watch

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-can-nuclear-power-solve-climate-change-420544/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The ruling was heralded as a significant win for the teenagers and the group of climate activists around the world.

Ley has since given the nod for the mine's expansion.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thirty-years-of-blah-blah-blah-greta-thunberg-slams-climate-talks-bureaucracy-416816">Thirty years of 'blah blah blah': Greta Thunberg slams climate talks bureaucracy</a>

For Sharma, it was the concern for the environment, her family and future generations, which fuelled her legal charge against the Australian government, a Sydney Morning Herald report said. Born in India, Sharma and her family moved to Australia when she was barely 10-months-old. Her relatives are farmers, who hail from Lucknow.

Growing up, she had heard about global warming and decided to seek more information by watching Youtube videos, the report said.

"Growing up in Australia I consider myself really fortunate," she said. "I got an education that helped me make sense of what was happening," Sharma was quoted as saying in the report.

On Monday, Ley's lawyers told the Federal Court that the EPBC Act was not an appropriate vehicle for the "novel duty of care" as identified by Justice Bromberg.

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They argued that Justice Bromberg had committed a mistake when he expanded the object of the act to not just be about protecting parts of the environment, but about protecting the interests of human beings living in the environment.

Her lawyers also contended that the duty of care is "incoherent" with the EPBC Act and distorts her capacity as minister.

They also claimed that there was no evidence that the additional coal from the expanded mine would increase the risk of the global temperature increasing beyond 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures, according to the Associated Press.

"We will proudly defend the historic ruling that all Australian children are owed a duty of care by our government, and fight to protect my generation from the increasing risks of climate change," Ms Sharma was quoted as saying in a statement by the Associated Press.

The eight young environmentalists were congratulated over the May ruling by Greta Thunberg, who rose to the forefront of the youth climate movement after she protested inaction by going on strike from school.

"This is a huge win for the whole climate movement. A big congratulations to the brave Australian teenagers who have achieved this," the 18-year-old Swedish environmentalist tweeted.

"Of course the action needed is still nowhere in sight, but these court cases are symbolic breaking points that could have huge snowball effects," Ms Thunberg had said then.

Australia has come under growing international criticism for failing to set more ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions.

Last week, Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison had agreed to attend next month's climate conference in Glasgow, but his government colleagues are yet to approve a commitment to net zero.

The Australian government on Monday began its legal challenge to a Federal Court's landmark decision that it has a duty of care to protect children from future personal injury caused by climate change, according to media reports.

The Australian government on Monday began its legal challenge to a Federal Court's landmark decision that it has a duty of care to protect children from future personal injury caused by climate change, according to media reports. In May, Anjali Sharma, a 17-year-old high-school student of Indian origin from Melbourne and seven other teenage environmentalists, led the legal battle against the Australian government. Sharma and the group had argued the continued emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere would drive intense bushfires, floods, storms and cyclones and leave them vulnerable to injury, sickness, economic loss and even death towards the end of this century, news.com.au reported. They urged the court to prevent Environment Minister Sussan Ley from approving a proposal to expand the Vickery coal mine in northern New South Wales. In his ruling, Justice Mordecai Bromberg approved the extension of the coal mine project. However, he did find that the minister had "a duty to take reasonable care to avoid causing personal injury" to children when she decided on the project extension under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC Act), a report in news.com.au said. Watch The ruling was heralded as a significant win for the teenagers and the group of climate activists around the world. Ley has since given the nod for the mine's expansion. Also read | Thirty years of 'blah blah blah': Greta Thunberg slams climate talks bureaucracy For Sharma, it was the concern for the environment, her family and future generations, which fuelled her legal charge against the Australian government, a Sydney Morning Herald report said. Born in India, Sharma and her family moved to Australia when she was barely 10-months-old. Her relatives are farmers, who hail from Lucknow. Growing up, she had heard about global warming and decided to seek more information by watching Youtube videos, the report said. "Growing up in Australia I consider myself really fortunate," she said. "I got an education that helped me make sense of what was happening," Sharma was quoted as saying in the report. On Monday, Ley's lawyers told the Federal Court that the EPBC Act was not an appropriate vehicle for the "novel duty of care" as identified by Justice Bromberg. Also read | Greta Thunberg to skip COP26 over unfair vaccine rollouts They argued that Justice Bromberg had committed a mistake when he expanded the object of the act to not just be about protecting parts of the environment, but about protecting the interests of human beings living in the environment. Her lawyers also contended that the duty of care is "incoherent" with the EPBC Act and distorts her capacity as minister. They also claimed that there was no evidence that the additional coal from the expanded mine would increase the risk of the global temperature increasing beyond 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures, according to the Associated Press. "We will proudly defend the historic ruling that all Australian children are owed a duty of care by our government, and fight to protect my generation from the increasing risks of climate change," Ms Sharma was quoted as saying in a statement by the Associated Press. The eight young environmentalists were congratulated over the May ruling by Greta Thunberg, who rose to the forefront of the youth climate movement after she protested inaction by going on strike from school. "This is a huge win for the whole climate movement. A big congratulations to the brave Australian teenagers who have achieved this," the 18-year-old Swedish environmentalist tweeted. "Of course the action needed is still nowhere in sight, but these court cases are symbolic breaking points that could have huge snowball effects," Ms Thunberg had said then. Australia has come under growing international criticism for failing to set more ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions. Last week, Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison had agreed to attend next month's climate conference in Glasgow, but his government colleagues are yet to approve a commitment to net zero.

Australian govt takes up legal battle against Indian-origin teen’s climate change court case

About 400 Australian koalas will be vaccinated against chlamydia as part of a trial that it could play a significant role in the longer-term survival of the animals. Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease also found in humans, has spread widely among Australian koalas, affecting half the animals in some areas.

Australian koalas line up for chlamydia vaccine in new trial

Earlier this week in Canberra, a team of firefighters responded to reports of a gas leak in a store, just to discover that the smell was caused by the pungent odour of a fruit inside the building.

In a fruitless (pardon the pun) search for the source of the leak at the Dickson shopping precinct, emergency responders advised the public to avoid the area.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-stinky-durian-fruit-is-a-big-hit-in-china-317333">Why stinky&nbsp;durian&nbsp;fruit is a big hit in China</a>

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HAZMAT - Gas Leak - Dickson Shops, Dickson<a href="https://t.co/cIezKTIzUs">https://t.co/cIezKTIzUs</a> <a href="https://t.co/TkPIIOEOVO">pic.twitter.com/TkPIIOEOVO</a>
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After spending an hour searching in vain for the gas leak, the emergency responders were advised by the owners of the tenancy above the shops advised them about the potential source of the incident; Durian fruit.&nbsp;

Canberra's emergency services agency later said that it was not a gas leak, but in fact a Durian fruit, which gives&nbsp;off a very pungent smell and can waft some distance.

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The "king of fruits", this fruit is native to tropical Southeast Asia, where it is loved for its bittersweet flavour and creamy texture.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bakery-in-uk-stops-producing-its-bestselling-biscuit-heres-why-421501">Bakery in UK stops producing its bestselling biscuit, here’s why</a>

The pungent produce, however, is compared to rotting garbage or a gas leak by those less fond of the smell. This is why, among other places, it is also banned in hotels and on public transportation in countries like Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.&nbsp;

In the past few years, incidents involving durian have become increasingly common in Australia, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has had two durian-related evacuations, in the past two years itself.

Watch | Gravitas: Durian | World's stinkiest fruit goes online

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-durian-worlds-stinkiest-fruit-goes-online-317364/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In 2019, the University of Canberra library was evacuated due to what was described as a strong smell of gas, but that also turned out to be caused by this fruit. The fruit was found near an air vent on the second floor of the library and removed in a sealed plastic bag.

A similar incident, at the RMIT campus in Melbourne's CBD a year earlier, saw 600 staff and students being evacuated while nearly 40 firefighters, including speciality crews, scanned the building for a feared gas leak.

Earlier this week in Canberra, a team of firefighters responded to reports of a gas leak in a store, just to discover that the smell was caused by the pungent odour of a fruit inside the building.

Earlier this week in Canberra, a team of firefighters responded to reports of a gas leak in a store, just to discover that the smell was caused by the pungent odour of a fruit inside the building. In a fruitless (pardon the pun) search for the source of the leak at the Dickson shopping precinct, emergency responders advised the public to avoid the area. Also read | Why stinky durian fruit is a big hit in China HAZMAT - Gas Leak - Dickson Shops, Dicksonhttps://t.co/cIezKTIzUs pic.twitter.com/TkPIIOEOVO — ACT ESA (@ACT_ESA) October 15, 2021 × After spending an hour searching in vain for the gas leak, the emergency responders were advised by the owners of the tenancy above the shops advised them about the potential source of the incident; Durian fruit. Canberra's emergency services agency later said that it was not a gas leak, but in fact a Durian fruit, which gives off a very pungent smell and can waft some distance. Update - HAZMAT (Gas Leak) - Dickson Shopshttps://t.co/9MUokP6rcY pic.twitter.com/srkb0zfKMN — ACT ESA (@ACT_ESA) October 15, 2021 × The "king of fruits", this fruit is native to tropical Southeast Asia, where it is loved for its bittersweet flavour and creamy texture. Also read | Bakery in UK stops producing its bestselling biscuit, here’s why The pungent produce, however, is compared to rotting garbage or a gas leak by those less fond of the smell. This is why, among other places, it is also banned in hotels and on public transportation in countries like Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. In the past few years, incidents involving durian have become increasingly common in Australia, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has had two durian-related evacuations, in the past two years itself. Watch | Gravitas: Durian | World's stinkiest fruit goes online In 2019, the University of Canberra library was evacuated due to what was described as a strong smell of gas, but that also turned out to be caused by this fruit. The fruit was found near an air vent on the second floor of the library and removed in a sealed plastic bag. A similar incident, at the RMIT campus in Melbourne's CBD a year earlier, saw 600 staff and students being evacuated while nearly 40 firefighters, including speciality crews, scanned the building for a feared gas leak.

Durian fruit triggers 'gas leak' alert in Canberra

Two people have survived days without water in Australia's hot and dusty outback, police said Monday, ending a frenzied five-day air and land rescue effort.

Twenty-one-year-old Shaun Emitja and 14-year-old Mahesh Patrick were reported missing on Tuesday in the Harts Range area of central Australia.

They had failed to return to the remote community of Hermannsburg after a weekend away.

After their blue Nissan Navara was found abandoned and bogged down in a dirt track, police scoured the countryside using a helicopter and expert trackers.

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The pair were feared to be in grave danger given a lack of water and the area's extreme temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in what is still the southern hemisphere's spring.

But Northern Territory police said Monday that the two men -- who had become separated -- were found alive and well by an "absolute miracle".

Officers said teenager Patrick was found in bushland late on Friday and was treated for dehydration and sore feet from walking in the remote environment.

Emitja was not found until a day later. "He is undergoing health checks but appears well," police said.

It is believed the pair survived without fresh water or provisions.

Two people have survived days without water in Australia's hot and dusty outback, police said Monday, ending a frenzied five-day air and land rescue effort. Twenty-one-year-old Shaun Emitja and 14-year-old Mahesh Patrick were reported missing on Tuesday in the Harts Range area of central Australia.

Two people have survived days without water in Australia's hot and dusty outback, police said Monday, ending a frenzied five-day air and land rescue effort. Twenty-one-year-old Shaun Emitja and 14-year-old Mahesh Patrick were reported missing on Tuesday in the Harts Range area of central Australia. They had failed to return to the remote community of Hermannsburg after a weekend away. After their blue Nissan Navara was found abandoned and bogged down in a dirt track, police scoured the countryside using a helicopter and expert trackers. Also Read | Australian koalas line up for chlamydia vaccine in new trial The pair were feared to be in grave danger given a lack of water and the area's extreme temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in what is still the southern hemisphere's spring. But Northern Territory police said Monday that the two men -- who had become separated -- were found alive and well by an "absolute miracle". Officers said teenager Patrick was found in bushland late on Friday and was treated for dehydration and sore feet from walking in the remote environment. Emitja was not found until a day later. "He is undergoing health checks but appears well," police said. It is believed the pair survived without fresh water or provisions.

'Miracle' pair found alive after days in Australian outback

Parts of Australia's island state of Tasmania entered a three-day snap lockdown and the next 48 hours remain critical, Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Saturday.

Under the restrictions, residents in the southern parts of the state including capital city Hobart, must stay at home unless very limited reasons such as shopping for urgent household supplies within 5 km of home -- only one person from a household at any one time, attending medical or health care appointments, being a permitted worker, or caring for a vulnerable person or for other compassionate reasons, reports Xinhua news agency.

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Addressing the media, Gutwein said the aim of the authorities is to make the lockdown "short and sharp", and committed grants to support low income, casual and self-employed workers who have lost income due to an inability to work.

The snap lockdown on Friday night came after a Covid-positive traveller from the state of New South Wales entered Tasmania without valid border pass and breached the hotel quarantine rules.

Gutwein said he asked Tasmania Police to "consider all avenues" for increasing the punishment on the man who has been fined A$3,000 ($2,225) for the breaches.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-allow-fully-vaccinated-travellers-from-november-8-white-house-421033">US to allow fully vaccinated travellers from November 8: White House</a>

"I have expressed to Tasmania Police that the sum of the fine that this individual has received at the moment simply doesn't appear to be in line with the crime," Gutwein said.

"This is a breach that has brought southern Tasmania to a standstill and I have requested that they consider what other action can be taken against this person."

Parts of Australia's island state of Tasmania entered a three-day snap lockdown and the next 48 hours remain critical, Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Saturday.

Parts of Australia's island state of Tasmania entered a three-day snap lockdown and the next 48 hours remain critical, Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Saturday. Under the restrictions, residents in the southern parts of the state including capital city Hobart, must stay at home unless very limited reasons such as shopping for urgent household supplies within 5 km of home -- only one person from a household at any one time, attending medical or health care appointments, being a permitted worker, or caring for a vulnerable person or for other compassionate reasons, reports Xinhua news agency. Also Read | Protests and blockades greet new Italy Covid rules Addressing the media, Gutwein said the aim of the authorities is to make the lockdown "short and sharp", and committed grants to support low income, casual and self-employed workers who have lost income due to an inability to work. The snap lockdown on Friday night came after a Covid-positive traveller from the state of New South Wales entered Tasmania without valid border pass and breached the hotel quarantine rules. Gutwein said he asked Tasmania Police to "consider all avenues" for increasing the punishment on the man who has been fined A$3,000 ($2,225) for the breaches. Also Read | US to allow fully vaccinated travellers from November 8: White House "I have expressed to Tasmania Police that the sum of the fine that this individual has received at the moment simply doesn't appear to be in line with the crime," Gutwein said. "This is a breach that has brought southern Tasmania to a standstill and I have requested that they consider what other action can be taken against this person."

Australia island state enters snap lockdown

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