Jetstar staff's big $7k win, tradies' daunting Woolworths threat, child abduction fears in Melbourne

Millennials with tickets to popular 90s band Sum 41 will be gutted to learn they've cancelled all of their Australian tour.

Lead singer Deryck Whibley has been advised by doctors he can't continue after battling pneumonia.

“It is with deep sadness and regret that we announce our 2024 Australian tour is unable to proceed. We were beyond excited to deliver this tour from December 4 – December 12, and connect with our Aussie fans once more,” the band said.

Police have spoken more about the four attempts to lure children into vans in the Melbourne area.

In the past month, men in white vans have approached four children aged ten to 15 years near schools. Police say they believe four different people were involved and haven't been able to establish any links between them.

The jump in reports of children being enticed into cars is one of the highest priority investigations for the force, Act Supt Cripps said.

All the men took a "friendly approach" when speaking with the children and used similar language, with slight variations in the descriptions of the vans involved.

"One thing we have to take into account, we are dealing with children so their descriptions aren't always as accurate as adults' (descriptions)," he said.

Parents are encouraged to "be alert but not alarmed" and have a discussion with their children about what to do if they are approached.

"We ask parents to talk to their children and tell them what to do in these situations - not to get into vehicles, safety behaviour, speak to their parents, or teachers, report it immediately and let us know about it," he said.

- With AAP

Just as Sydney thought it had seen the last of its mysterious tar balls that contained human excrement, they've reappeared.

This time they're further down the coast, popping up at Kurnell in the Sutherland Shire. Signage has been put up to warn beachgoers of the discovery.

It comes two months after a host of Eastern Suburbs beaches were closed due to the balls appearing on the sand.

Analysis of the balls by the University of NSW found they were likely small 'fatbergs' from the sewer and contained human faeces.

Domain has revealed its most viewed property of 2024 as it released its annual property report.

650 Woori Yallock Road in the regional suburb of Cockatoo, west of Melbourne, received the most clicks this year, with plenty of intrigue over the derelict property, which has previously been described as a "local icon".

The graffiti-covered mansion has had a price drop to $900,000 after failing to sell this year, most likely due to the sheer amount of work needed on the home. Take a look for yourself below.

A flu-like disease that has killed dozens of people over two weeks is being investigated in southwestern Congo, local authorities said.

The deaths were recorded last month, with symptoms include fever, headache, cough and anaemia, local health minister said over the weekend.

Up to 143 people have died so far, authorities told the Associated Press.

”A team of epidemiological experts is expected in the region to take samples and identify the problem,” deputy provincial governor, Rémy Saki, said.

People have been told to exercise caution and refrain from contact with dead bodies to avoid contamination. Congo is calling on national and international partners to send medical supplies to deal with the health crisis.

Congo is already plagued by the mpox epidemic, with more than 47,000 suspected cases and over 1,000 suspected deaths from the disease in the Central African country, according to the World Health Organization.

- With AP

It's that time of year again. All you're seeing on your social feed is people's Spotify Wrapped. And even the prime minister's got involved.

Anthony Albanese shared his top 5 songs to X this morning, revealing he's kept his listening this year very Australian.

But the move attracted plenty of angry comments suggesting he focus on more important issues like the economy instead.

For anyone interested, here's his top songs below.

Well this is embarrassing isn't it. Taxpayers are set to fork out $47,000 a week after one of two new Spirit of Tasmania ferries found a temporary home in Edinburgh.

The brand new ferry, which was created in Finland, can't make its way to Tasmania because there isn't a port that can accomodate its size. So it is now being homed in Scotland at a cost of $47,000 a week.

It's feared Tasmania won't be able to bring the ferries to the state until 2027.

The state's Labor opposition has labelled the scenario the biggest infrastructure stuff-up in Australian history.

Read more here.

The Opposition has revealed the Albanese government spent $18,000 on flowers as he welcomed world leaders to Australia earlier this year.

The major event was a dinner at the 50-year Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, which brought together 11 prime ministers, presidents and sultans in Melbourne, with Labor highlighting the importance of Australia's relationship with the group of nations.

But the Coalition called the expenditure "remarkable and insulting" amid difficult financial times for Australians.

There was also $44,000 spent on a performance from singer Jess Mauboy.

“Albo’s flower power has cost taxpayers more than $60,000 in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis,” Opposition waste spokesman James Stevens said.

The Prime Minister's Office said the expenditure was on par with previous events held when the Coalition was in office.

Days after controversially pardoning his son Hunter Biden, outgoing US President Joe Biden appears to have fallen asleep during meetings with African leaders.

During the summit in Angola, Biden held his hand to his face before appearing to wake up.

It's not the first time the 82-year-old has been accused of dosing off on the international stage as his age continuing to be a major talking point as he nears the end of his four years in the White House.

If you've been suffering in muggy weather recently, you're not alone. Most of the country has been dealing with humid weather with a moist airmass refusing to go away.

"It’s a continuation of the recent pattern where much of the country has seen heavy downpours at times – with the exception of southern and western areas of WA and large chunks of South Australia," Weatherzone explained.

The 'soupy' conditions have been triggered by a combination of features including a slow-moving high funnelling moist winds onshore from the Tasman Sea.

Read the full explanation here.

Check out this chilling clip from the US now. A giant alligator, aptly nicknamed 'Godzilla, was filmed in Florida dragging a giant dead Burmese python through the water at Shark Valley.

"I have seen many alligators eating pythons out here….I have never, ever, ever seen a python that large," Everglades National Park tour guide Kelly Alvarez who captured the video told USA Today.

I guess it's not just us with terrifying wildlife encounters.

Well things are heating up.

An increasingly-frustrated Woolworths has been warned "large numbers" of union members will be sent down to picket lines if the supermarket giant tries to breach them as strikes at distribution centres reach two weeks.

The Building Industry Group (BIG) of Unions has told Woolworths it will not tolerate interference without a deal being struck.

“The BIG Unions’ support for the UWU’s distribution centre members is unconditional and the combined unions will campaign and support the dispute industrially, politically and financially until these workers win this dispute,” they said in a joint statement.

“Should Woolworths try to break the picket line, the BIG is putting all our members on ­notice: if the UWU members require support for the picket, we will be there in large numbers at a moment’s notice.

“This is a critical fight, and the BIG unions stand with the UWU members and encourage all ­unions and workers to join the fight as well.”

Read all about it here over on Yahoo Finance.

Police are investigating a fourth reported suspicious incident involving men in vans approaching schoolchildren across Melbourne in recent weeks.

The latest incident occurred in the eastern suburb of Boronia on Tuesday morning.

This follows similar incident in nearby Blackburn on November 18, another suspicious incident in the northwest suburb of Tullamarine on November 27 and a further similar incident in Doncaster on Monday.

Police do not believe the four incidents are linked.

About 8.30am Tuesday a boy on his way to school at Boronia Heights Primary was reportedly approached by a man in a white van.

“Police are investigating after a boy was approached by a man driving a white van in Boronia on 3 December,” Victoria Police say.

“The boy walked away and reported the matter to police. The investigation remains ongoing.”

The day before, a teenage girl fled to a shopping centre after a similar incident.

This incident happened on Saxon Street, Doncaster, about 9.30am on December 3.

“She was approached by a man driving a white van. The man asked the girl to get in the van. The girl ran away to a nearby shopping centre,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

One week ago a man driving a white van approached a 14-year-old girl walking in Tullamarine, and asked her where she lived and to get in his vehicle.

This incident happened on Spring St on November 27.

The first in this string of similar incidents happened a few suburbs away from the latest one.

On November 18 another man tried to abduct an 11-year-old boy while he was walking home on Halley St in Blackburn.

Victoria Police are expected to speak with media about the incidents later on Thursday.

- NCA NewsWire

Jetstar cabin crew have had a big win after they scored a $7,000 pay rise.

Almost 1,500 staff members across Jetstar and Altara landed the deal thanks to a push from the Transport Workers Union who used Labor's same job, same pay laws, The Australian reported.

“This agreement will correct that and put all cabin crew work groups at Jetstar on a more level playing field," TWU national secretary Michael Kaine, arguing Qantas had wrongly "splintered its workforce into dozens of pieces".