Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how to earn more, whether that’s through a pay rise or a side hustle. Hosted by Frances Cook. One of the biggest…

Pakotai farmer David Wilson was on his way to Kaikohe on Wednesday with some pigs when he came across an entirely different and totally unexpected beast in the middle of the state highway – a fur seal that was around 30 kilometres…

Sydney police have charged a Sri Lankan cricketer over the alleged sexual assault of a woman in the city's eastern suburbs.

Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested this morning after a 29-year-old woman from Rose Bay made a complaint to police.

It's alleged the 31-year-old international cricketer was communicating with the woman for several days via a dating app and through text, voice and video chats before they met up in person on Wednesday evening.

"The pair met up in Sydney at a pre-arranged meeting, they had drinks and went for something to eat before going back to the young lady's home," Sex Crimes Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty told reporters.

"Police will allege that whilst they're in the home the male assaulted the female a number of times whilst performing sexual acts upon her."

The alleged assault took place over a couple of hours, Doherty said.

The woman involved in the matter took a lot of steps to ensure that she was safe, Doherty said.

Police claim she communicated over a number of days before arranging to meet up, met up in a public place with other people around that were aware that she was there to meet someone for a date.

"It has nothing to do with meeting on a dating app," Doherty said.

Gunathilaka was arrested at a hotel on Sussex Street, in the CBD, where he has been staying, shortly before 1am this morning.

He was taken to Sydney City Police Station and charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent.

The Sri Lankan national was refused bail and is scheduled to appear at Waverley Court tomorrow.

It was the prosecution's intention to ask for bail to continue to be refused, Doherty said.

Doherty said sexual assault was a very serious offence.

"We have consent laws that commenced earlier this year that show that the judiciary realise how serious sexual violence is and that it should always be a person's choice as to whether or not they engage in a sexual act," she said.

"We know that it takes a lot of effort and it is very daunting for people to come forward and tell their stories.

"But that's how it starts."

Gunathilaka has been in Australia to play in the T20 World Cup.

Readers seeking support relating to sexual assault can contact 1800RESPECT(1800 737 732), 24 hours, 7 days a week, or online at www.1800respect.org.au.

A family has issued a desperate plea to find their little dog Angel after she was taken from outside a Melbourne restaurant.

The devastated owners fear the thief wasn't acting alone and stalked them before he pounced in Docklands.

The Sharma family were celebrating a birthday about 8.30pm at Harbour Kitchen, when 10 minutes later they noticed Angel was no longer tied up outside.

READ MORE: Victorian families exposed in cyberattack targeting school students

The five-year-old dog had been waiting patiently outside when a man approached from behind and offered her the back of his hand, CCTV appears to show.

Then he grabs the Maltese Shih Tzu by the collar.

She nips his hand, before he manages to unclip her from her lead, and run off with the dog under his arm.

Earlier in the night, CCTV captured the man carrying a dog transport crate.

Footage later revealed the man had been watching the family with other men.

Owner Harshita Sharma said they scoured the city for the pooch until 1am.

"It's just disgusting behaviour – how can you grab someone's family? It's someone's baby, it's someone's little child," she said.

"I'm just scared he will do something to her, because she's so scared, she's so fragile,"

Constable Eliza Singleton from Victoria Police warned dog owners to keep their pets in sight.

"Unfortunately there are some people in this world… it's just an easy money grab," Cons Singleton, said.

"It's a bit of a dog act."

The man was wearing a bandana, ripped jeans and a black top.

The family and police are calling on anyone who recognise him to come forward.

Serviced apartments in Sydney's inner west are set to free up public hospital beds.

It's part of a trial by the state government, aimed at helping people recover or prepare for surgery while easing the strain on the system.

The buildings look like normal apartment blocks, but one floor is actually a 'medi-hotel' as part of a pilot by Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

READ MORE: Doctors save 'miracle' Queensland baby born with 2kg tumour

Called the Surgery Support Centre, it's five minutes from the RPA and is operated by a nursing team.

Patients get their own apartment with ensuite, and the daily ward rounds are conducted by doctors, virtually.

It was a method used during the pandemic when the state's hospital system was under strain.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said it's a "new and creative way of helping the health system."

"There is not one health system anywhere in the world that is not under pressure," he said.

Peter Linnegar, acting director of nursing at the centre said patients will be moved there for various reasons.

"When they don't need an acute bed they can be here," he said.

"Nursing staff on site can provide the intervention that is required, be it drain management, wound management, IV antibiotics."

It's modelled on similar setups overseas helping to discharge patients from hospital quicker but who may still need follow up care

However, opposition leader, Chris Minns found fault with the plan.

"This is just a trial at one hospital, they're going to have to do a hell of a lot better than that," he said.

"They're refusal to adopt safe staffing levels or increase paramedics."

There's plans to set up a similar centre with John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

The pilot is expected to run until March.

From suits and dresses for tennis to hats for golf, these old shots show fashions in Australia from days gone by.

The Australian Federal Police is investigating a new crime trend involving elderly scam victims being forced to act as drug mules by organised criminals.

The trend was detected after the Australian Border Force (ABF) identified a series of elderly passengers carrying illicit drugs at Sydney airport over the last year.

The AFP has arrested 18 alleged drug mules arriving in Australia since October 2021.

When questioned by detectives, some of those arrested claimed they had been coerced into the role after becoming the victim of an online financial scam.

In June, three Americans, two of them elderly, were arrested at Sydney airport after 15kg of methamphetamine and 1.5 kg of cocaine was allegedly found hidden in the lining of their luggage.

Two of the accused told police they were given the luggage in Zimbabwe and were allegedly travelling to recover funds from a scam where they had lost $775,000.

A month later in July, two elderly German nationals arrived at Sydney airport with six suitcases allegedly containing 18kg of methamphetamine. 

The couple claimed to police the suitcases had been given to them in Zimbabwe and they had been told of an inheritance worth $10 million.

AFP Commander Kate Ferry said it was not surprising criminal syndicates were attempting to import drugs into Australia by any means possible.

"Criminal syndicates, by their very nature, exploit vulnerable communities and will undertake whatever tactics necessary to import drugs into our country," she said.

"We have unfortunately seen instances where people have not only fallen victim to classic inheritance or investment scams and lost their money, but they are then offered false hope to regain their money, some unwittingly working as drug mules for the criminal syndicate."

Commander Ferry said the victims of these online scams were often elderly and under significant financial hardship when they committed the crime.

 "The victims of scams are already facing significant financial hardship along with any additional emotional trauma as a result of the online scam," she said.

"These criminals prey on the vulnerable and, at times, naive and further victimise them by banking on the fact that they will do whatever it takes to recover their funds. The consequences for these victims can be severe, including lengthy terms of imprisonment."

Commander Ferry urged any Australians dealing with financial scams to contact law enforcement and seek assistance.

"We also urge all members of the community, including the elderly, to be aware of online scams and tactics used by organised crime to coerce them into providing funds and personal information, or undertake international travel."

• For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.

• Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online at counsellingonline.org.au.

• For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to turningpoint.org.au.

• The community can contact ABF's Border Watch Program and make a report online at www.abf.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/borderwatch.

State Highway 30 is closed after a serious crash between two vehicles near Lake Ōkatania this afternoon. DO YOU KNOW MORE? GET IN TOUCH HERE Police were called at about 1.15pm and said diversions were being put in place.Motorists…

This distinctive new species was found in one of the rarest habitats on earth and makes a distinctive sound.

Brisbane baby Saylor Thomson was born weighing just 1.025 grams, with a tumour twice as heavy attached to her tiny spine.

WARNING: This article contains graphic images which may be upsetting.

Saylor's fast-growing tumour was first spotted in utero at her 20-week scan, where mother Rachel Thomson was given the devastating news that her daughter had a 25-40 per cent chance of survival.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma is a tumour that grows from a baby's tailbone and occurs in one out of 40,000 live births.

READ MORE: One image started Melbourne coach's Facebook nightmare

Mater Mothers' Hospital's professor Sailesh Kumar said Saylor's tumour was the largest ever seen from a baby of her size at the hospital.

Kumar navigated Saylor's tricky birth with a team of 25 surgeons, neonatologists, anaesthetists, theatre staff, nurses and midwives.

"Saylor's tumour was extremely large and very complex. The tumour extended into her pelvis and abdomen.

"Many of these babies do not survive the pregnancy. Essentially these tumours function like a large vascular shunt causing a lot of blood to return to the heart. In some babies the heart can't cope with this extra volume and heart failure occurs."

Moments after Saylor's birth, doctors began a mammoth six-hour operation on the tiny newborn to remove the tumour.

READ MORE: Police find third body in Canberra pond

Dr Peter Borzi, a neonatal and paediatric surgeon at Mater Mothers' Hospital and Queensland Children's Hospital, performed the painstaking operation.

Borzi said Saylor needed five blood transfusions during the surgery, but she was "strong and resilient".

"She has made a fantastic recovery, with the help of the teams at Mater Mothers' Hospital and Queensland Children's Hospital," he said.

Ten days after Saylor's birth, her parents were able to hold their daughter for the first time.

"When the social worker and surgeons first gathered to tell us she had little chance of making it due to prematurity and the tumour, I cried hysterically," Mrs Thomson said.

"But being able to hold Saylor in my arms and know she has come through the other side is something special."

Saylor's doctors say she has gone from "strength to strength", gaining weight since her birth – she now almost weighs three kilograms.

The Thomsons are sharing their story to highlight World Prematurity Day on November 17, and thank the hospital for the care their daughter received.