Australia

The 25-year-old man was on his parents' property in Sydney when he plunged into dense bushland late on Sunday night, sparking a complex rescue operation.

He was winched to safety almost five hours later and treated for shoulder and chest injuries, paramedics said. The man remains in a stable condition.

New South Police Sergeant Peter McMaugh said it was remarkable the man was alive.

A formal ceremony was held this week to mark the progress of an Australian funded project to seal selected town roads in Buin.

The K4.8 million project is part of Australia’s long running partnership to help maintain Bougainville’s road network.

The town roads in Buin are a vital link connecting communities and businesses. The newly sealed roads will improve all-weather access to Buin Secondary School, residences, shops and essential services.

The project will deliver safer, more reliable roads for the people of Southern Bougainville.

In an article to be published in the PLOS (Public Library of Science) Magazine, modelling by the university's Centre for Public Health Policy concludes that taxing foods that are high in sugar, salt and saturated fats — as well as subsidising fruit and vegetables — would also save $3.4 billion in healthcare costs.

"The study suggests that taxes and subsidies on foods and beverages can potentially be combined to achieve substantial improvements in population health and cost savings to the health sector," the article reads.

The 45-year-old man's back was bruised, his lungs were full of diesel and hydraulic fluid, and he feared pneumonia was setting in.

He laughed, swore and thought to himself: "God, is this how I'm going to die, in a fricking pond?"

The father of two fought panic as he digested his predicament of being pinned beneath an excavator on his remote property.

He tried to dig his way out, but it didn't work - he descended further. The water was up past his chin.

Mr Bernardi confirmed his move in Australia's upper house on Tuesday, ending months of speculation.

The outspoken senator has repeatedly criticised PM Malcolm Turnbull's government for being too moderate.

Mr Bernardi's views on topics including same-sex marriage, climate change and abortion have polarised public opinion.

"This has been a very difficult decision for me," Mr Bernardi said. "Perhaps the most difficult one of my political life."

The RLWC2017 is scheduled from October 26-December 2 and will be co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand and PNG.

PNG will host national team Kumuls’ three pool matches at the National Football Stadium (NFS) against Wales (October 28), Ireland (November 5) and the USA (November 12).

RLWC2017 general manager commercial and marketing, Rohan Sawyer, said it’s an exciting year for rugby league in PNG.

Sawyer thanked the Government and Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko for their support of RLWC2017.

Valued at more than $675,000, the stone is the largest known high-grade opal in the world, according to the gem's new owners, the South Australian Museum in Adelaide, Australia.

"The Fire of Australia is around the size of a softball...and shows all the colors of the spectrum," museum director Brian Oldman told CNN, emphasizing the extreme rarity of the stone.

Morning rain delayed the scheduled start time, but the conditions improved enough for the ground staff to prepare McLean Park in Napier for a shortened match.

Practice facilities across the road from the ground were "bone dry" shortly after the rain stopped, according to New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, but the outfield at McLean Park failed to drain properly.

Ray Johnstone found casting lines off South Australia's Yorke Peninsula without company had turned his lifelong passion into a solitary affair.

His online ad on a popular Australian classifieds site, in which he jokingly described his condition as "used", was posted on 19 January.

"I'm a widowed pensioner who is looking for a fishing mate," Mr Johnstone wrote. "My previous mate is now deceased."

The RLWC2017 is scheduled from October 26 to December 2 and will be co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand and PNG.

PNG will host national team Kumuls’ three pool matches against Wales (October 28), Ireland (Nov 5) and the USA (Nov 12).

RLWC2017 general manager commercial and marketing, Rohan Sawyer said the tournament will be the biggest event in the region during 2017.

An estimated 450,000 fans will attend the event which would be a tournament record.