Australia

Autumn internationals: Ireland 27-24 Australia

Tries from Iain Henderson and Garry Ringrose helped the hosts to a 17-0 lead but the Wallabies fought back with three touchdowns to move into the lead.

Keith Earls' score proved decisive but it was the Irish forwards who laid the platform in a breathless encounter.

The result ended Australia's hopes of a Grand Slam over the home nations.

They had defeated Wales, Scotland and France and will face England in the final match of their northern hemisphere tour next week.

Australian Visa Application Service Fees in the South Pacific

This will affect clients submitting visa applications in Fiji, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Nauru and Kiribati.

The changes have been announced by the Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Changes to TTS Service fees

The following TTS Service Fees will take effect from 01 December 2016:

COUNTRY            CURRENCY          PRIMARY SERVICE FEE   SECONDARY SERVICE FEE             BIOMETRIC FEE

Aria awards: Kylie Minogue calls for same-sex marriage in Australia

The 48-year-old singer and actor Joshua Sasse, 28, announced their engagement earlier this year.

The couple subsequently vowed to postpone their nuptials until same-sex marriage becomes legal in Australia.

Dressed in "Say I Do Down Under" T-shirts at the Arias in Sydney, the pair urged the change to come next year.

"We're here to introduce a shining light in the Australian music industry," Minogue told the audience on Wednesday night.

"But we're also here to say thank you to everyone who has supported Josh's campaign for equality."

PNG designer launches fashion on international stage

Winner of the inaugural Stella Runway 2016 Designer of the Year Award, Genevieve Igara-Falevai, the designer and founder of Wantok Clothing, showcased her label’s unique on 21 October.

An accidental fashion designer, Genevieve passed on a career in economics to follow her passion to create beautiful garments with a Papua New Guinean twist.

Starting her label in 2015, Genevieve has been awarded Miss Pacific Islands Pageant Project Runway 2015 and 2016; Stella Runway 2016 Designer of the Year; and dresser for Miss Papua New Guinea 2015 and 2016.

Kangaroos thump Kiwis in Four Nations final

Mal Meninga's team ran in six tries and returned to the top of the world rugby league rankings, after over-running a disappointing Kiwis side, who meekly surrendered the title they won in 2014.

The Kangaroos made their intentions clear after just two minutes when Trent Merrin's huge shot on Jordan Rapana dislodged the ball and from the resulting scrum, Darius Boyd found Blake Ferguson with a superb cut-out pass for the Sydney Roosters star to score.

Samoa listed as one of the hottest emerging island destinations for Australians

According to the metasearch engine, it comes as more and more Australians are seeking alternative, under-the-radar destinations for their holiday. Samoa joins the likes of lesser-known island holiday spots such as Tonga, Balipapan and Puerto Princesa.

KAYAK VP for the APEC region Debby Soo attributes this to the adventurous and trend setting nature of Australians with the “been there, done that” mentality.

Four Nations: Australia hammer New Zealand 34-8 in final at Anfield

Mal Meninga's team went through the tournament unbeaten - and in wrestling the title from the Kiwis reclaimed the world number one ranking.

With a quarter of the match gone, tries from Blake Ferguson, Josh Dugan and Trent Merrin plus a penalty from Johnathan Thurston gave the Kangaroos an unassailable 20-0 lead.

That was 24-0 by the break as the ruthless Australians added to their score when Dugan touched down a kick from Thurston.

Jedinak demands quick fix after Thailand shock Australia

The Aston Villa midfielder opened the scoring in Bangkok from the penalty spot, but the home side overturned that advantage thanks to two goals from Teerasil Dangda.

Jedinak levelled with a second spot-kick but the Socceroos were unable to fashion a winner, leaving them outside the automatic qualifying spots for Russia 2018 after five third-round matches, a point behind Saudi Arabia and Japan.

Turnbull, Dutton announce refugee resettlement deal with US

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed the agreement this morning, but did not provide any details on timeframes or the number of people involved.

Speaking in Canberra alongside Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, Turnbull said the deal would only apply to those currently on Nauru and Manus Island.

"There will be American officials from Homeland Security coming to Australia to begin the process in the next few days."

As of October 31, there were 872 people in the processing centre on Manus Island and 390 people in Nauru's centre.

Australian Senate considers asylum abuse claims

Australia has run the controversial camps on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and on Nauru for the past three years, amid heavily criticism from human rights groups, NGOs, medical organisations and former staff.