The builder successfully sued the couple after they refused to pay their bills.

An embattled Cairns-based cruise ship has run aground while sailing around the South Pacific.

The vessel ran into trouble on Saturday morning, during its first trip back at sea after the death of an 80-year-old passenger on Lizard Island in October.

Australian-flagged vessel, the Coral Adventurer, hit a coral reef and ran aground off the Papua New Guinea coast, stuck around 30 kilometres from the city of Lae.

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Crew alerted relevant authorities around 6am.

9News understands there are 123 people on board the luxury cruise ship, including 80 passengers and 43 crew.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said in a statement "there are no injuries among the passengers and crew onboard".

The PNG Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre also confirmed an officer has boarded the vessel and is assisting with the incident.

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Crews were waiting for high tide to help re-float the ship, to assess if there's any damage.

It's been troubled waters for the luxury cruise ship that's already navigated a turbulent two months after it made headlines in October.

Suzanne Rees, an 80-year-old New South Wales tourist, was found dead on remote Lizard Island several hours after being left behind by the Coral Adventurer.

The tragedy ultimately sparked several investigations, including by the AMSA and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, which remains ongoing.

This latest 12-night cruise, which costs $13,280 per person, departed from Cairns on December 18, reaching Papua New Guinea last Saturday on December 20.

It's then been cruising up the coastline over the past week before this latest bungle happened on December 27.

Passengers were due to disembark on December 30.

Coral Expeditions responded on Saturday evening, saying an initial inspection has found no damage to the vessel and further investigations will be undertaken.

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Ghostwriting was the last side hustle Kristy Lee Kelly thought she'd fall into after being made redundant in 2020.

The 32-year-old from Sydney didn't even know ghostwriting existed until an old colleague suggested it could help her make ends meet.

Kelly figured there was no harm trying it, at least until she found a new job.

READ MORE: Andy wanted to call Australia home. Instead he was accused of crimes he 'didn't commit'

Instead she ended up ghostwriting for more than four years.

For those not in the know, a ghostwriter is a professional author paid to write books (among other things) for other authors, celebrities, even royals.

Prince Harry's Spare was ghostwritten by acclaimed journalist and author J. R. Moehringer, who reportedly charges seven figures per book.

Other, less established ghostwriters make tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars per book.

The trade-off is that most receive no credit for what they write because it's published under someone else's name (celebrity ghostwriters such as Moehringer are outliers).

But Kelly, a self-proclaimed "lover of words", didn't mind writing for other people at first.

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She was just happy getting paid to do something she enjoyed.

"You can't realistically live on one income anymore," she told 9news.com.au.

"It was a combination of extra cash while having a creative outlet that appealed to me."

It only took a few beginner projects to build her confidence and start landing bigger, well-paid contracts writing romance.

It's a booming genre, with Australians forking out $50 million on romance novels in 2024 alone, according to Nielsen BookScan.

And Kelly was "floored" to realise how many authors in it and other popular genres don't write their own books.

"People don't know how much of the publishing industry is built on ghostwriters," she said.

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Like most jobs, ghostwriting gigs are advertised online with details such as the genre of the book, the level of experience required, and the rate of pay.

And almost all of them require the hired ghostwriter to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) prohibiting them from ever revealing they wrote it.

Kelly had to sign one for every single book she worked on, but the cash was worth it.

Before long, she was ghostwriting for major publishers in the US and UK, as well as a few authors directly.

As her profile increased, so did her pay.

"I would negotiate the overall amount, then get paid in milestones," she explained.

"It started with the outline, then it was usually in 10,000- to 20,000-word increments, and then for any further edits."

READ MORE: Haven is only 15 but his unusual 'side hustle' has earned him thousands of dollars

It became a lucrative side hustle and when Kelly landed a full-time job in the disability sector in 2021, she decided to keep ghostwriting.

Having an extra income as the cost-of-living crisis was kicking off was a huge relief.

Especially when Kelly and her husband learned they were expecting their first child the following year.

It was a challenging juggle and Kelly had to write before and after work and on her lunch breaks to meet tight project deadlines.

"Whenever I had a spare moment, I was writing," she said, describing it as "exhausting but fulfilling".

"Then on weekends I smashed out as much as I could."

The only drawback was that Kelly had no ownership of her writing, even on the projects where she was given almost total creative freedom.

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For one project, she was given a vague theme and allowed to run wild with it for three books.

But as soon as the ink dried, her words were taken away to be published under a stranger's name.

"That's the one series I wish I could've put my name on, because it had so much of me in it and I still to this day have no idea where it ended up," Kelly said.

Of the 20 books she ghostwrote, Kelly has only ever found two on shelves – both by accident.

What happened to the rest remains a mystery.

It was only after becoming a mother that Kelly decided to finally step away from ghostwriting after more than four years.

"It was incredibly draining to give pieces of myself – my humour, my creativity, even my trauma – to other people's books," she explained.

"I started to question why I was bringing other people's stories to life but not the ones that I've been carrying around inside of me."

READ MORE: 'We're real': The type of book we may never see again thanks to AI

Hoping to show her daughter that it's never too late to chase your passions, Kelly is now writing original fiction between part-time work and raising a toddler.

But she doesn't regret her time as a ghostwriter.

"This has all led me to a path where I'm working on my own writing, and I'm excited to see where it leads me," she said.

"It could lead to a pile of books that never see the light of day, but at least I put pen to paper."

Have you got a story? Contact reporter Maddison Leach at Google Play.

More than 10 million Australians will head overseas in 2026, if recent travel trends are any indication.

But there are many destinations the federal government has strenuously warned against holidaying to, even though some of them are trying to entice foreign tourists.

Heading into the new year, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (DFAT) Smartraveller service has slapped a "do not travel" warning on 23 countries.

READ MORE: Jess visited Afghanistan to raise awareness, but are tourists like her doing more harm than good?

None of them are much surprise: war-torn Ukraine, Palestine and Yemen; military junta-run Myanmar and authoritarian North Korea; and large swaths of Africa, where the threat of terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crime looms, all feature on that list.

So too do Russia and allied Iran and Belarus, where Australians are at risk of arbitrary detention or arbitrarily enforced laws targeting Westerners.

"Russian authorities regard Australia as an 'unfriendly' nation and act accordingly," DFAT said about the world's largest country. 

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"If you're in Russia, leave immediately using commercial options."

The starkest warning, though, is saved for Afghanistan.

After re-seizing power in the country in 2021 following the disastrous US exit, the Taliban has promoted itself as a tourism destination in an attempt to bolster its fragile, war-ravaged and aid-dependent economy.

"The Afghan people are warm and welcoming and wish to host tourists from other countries and engage with them," Deputy Tourism Minister Qudratullah Jamal said in June. 

"Tourism brings many benefits to a country.

"We have considered those benefits and aim for our nation to take full advantage of them."

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While some Australians are among the foreigners who have travelled there, despite Afghans who have fled the country cautioning that it risks legitimising the Taliban's violent and abusive regime, the federal government's advice about a visit is blunt.

"Nowhere in Afghanistan is safe… understand that you could die and make a will before you go," it states.

While the "do not travel" countries are unsurprising, travellers may be a little shocked to see the advice for some of the safer nations on Smartraveller's list.

France and the United Kingdom are the only Western European countries to be marked as "exercise a high degree of caution" – the second level of advice.

READ MORE: The one state where this could cop you double demerits year-round

Thailand, another popular destination for Australians, also has the same warning, while travellers to Rwanda and Zambia, which both have Mpox outbreaks and border "do not travel" areas, are told to "exercise normal safety precautions" – the first and lowest tier of Smartraveller advice – although specific parts of those nations have higher advisories.

The advice for each country is based on a range of factors, including intelligence from ASIO and Australia's allies, and objectively reflect the risks travellers would face there, according to DFAT.

"We frequently review our travel advisories. However, we don't change them for all issues and incidents," Smartraveller states.

"We update travel advisories if there are new or increased risks to Australians."

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Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Kyiv after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he plans to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump in Florida Sunday, as efforts continue to end the nearly four-year war in Eastern Europe.

The aerial attack killed at least one person – a 71-year-old – and injured 32 more, including two children, according to Kyiv police.

Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko said more than 2600 residential buildings are currently without heating, as well as 187 kindergartens, 138 schools and 22 social institutions in the capital, amid freezing temperatures.

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The attack lasted nearly 10 hours in total, making it one of the longest of the year.

Speaking on board a plane bound for the United States Saturday, Zelenskyy repeated calls for the bolstering of Ukraine's air defences, saying the country needed more missiles amid Russia's relentless attacks.

"The support of Europeans is important to us today. We do not have enough additional air defence systems," he said.

Ahead of meeting Trump, Zelenskyy is stopping in Canada for talks with President Mark Carney.

On Friday, Zelenskyy told reporters that the 20-point peace plan hammered out by Ukrainian and US officials is "90 per cent ready" and that he planned to discuss with Trump how Ukraine's allies could guarantee its security in the future.

Trump said in an interview with Politico that he expects the meeting to "go good," but cautioned that Zelenskyy "doesn't have anything until I approve it". He added that he also expects to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin "soon, as much as I want".

In total, Russia launched nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles at Ukraine overnight, Zelenskyy said on Saturday morning, adding that while Russian officials are engaging in talks to end fighting, the ongoing violence speaks for itself.

The most recent strikes primarily targeted energy and civilian infrastructure in the capital city, Kyiv, Zelenskyy said.

"In some districts of the capital and the region, electricity and heating are currently unavailable," he said. "Firefighting efforts are underway."

A CNN reporter in the capital heard attack drones flying overhead and a series of explosions early on Saturday, when Air Force warnings were in place.

Fires broke out across the city, engulfing a car repair shop and several residential buildings, and forcing elderly residents to evacuate a care home as flames spread, according to Kyiv Emergency Service.

Pointing to Russia's recent engagement in talks with US representatives to end fighting in the country, Zelenskyy wrote on X in the wake of the attack that "Russian representatives engage in lengthy talks, but in reality, Kinzhals and 'shaheds' speak for them."

He added, "This is the true attitude of Putin and his inner circle."

In response to the attacks, Poland scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed two airports, Reuters reported, citing a post by the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency on X.

The shutdowns of Rzeszow and Lublin airports, in the country's southeast, were triggered by "unplanned military activity related to ensuring state security," according to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) posted on the US Federal Aviation Administration's website.

US officials said they were hopeful that Sunday's Zelenskyy-Trump meeting would be productive after a week of intensive efforts between US and Ukrainian negotiators. While officials did not cite a specific goal for the meeting, Zelenskyy told Axios on Friday that he wanted to conclude a framework to end the war.

The meeting is not expected to include any European leaders, according to US and European officials. However, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will join a call on Saturday with Zelenskyy, Trump and other European leaders, a commission spokesperson told Reuters.

The Ukrainians have been pushing for a meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump for months, European officials said. The Europeans expect a positive meeting because they describe the current dynamic between the US and Ukraine as productive. Still, they acknowledge that the outcome of any meeting with Trump is unpredictable.

"There is no low-risk scenario with Trump," said one NATO official.

In preparation for Sunday's meeting, Zelenskyy said on Friday that he had spoken with the leaders of NATO, Canada, Germany, Finland, Denmark and Estonia to coordinate their positions.

"Ukraine has never been and will never be an obstacle to peace, and we will continue working efficiently to ensure all necessary documents are prepared as quickly as possible," he said.

Zelenskyy's announcement comes after he offered to compromise on some of the thorniest issues that have so far stalled the US-mediated peace process with Russia. It is not clear, however, whether Zelenskyy's concessions will satisfy the Kremlin.

Asked about Zelenskyy's potential willingness to consider territorial concessions for a peace deal, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told CNN that "giving up the rest of Donetsk could contribute significantly."

The initial 28-point peace plan, which emerged in November following talks between the United States and Russia, was criticised by Ukraine's allies as heavily favouring Moscow.

Following weeks of talks between Ukrainian and US officials, that draft has been slimmed down to the current 20-point plan, which Zelenskyy has said can serve as a "foundational document on ending the war."

Latest on peace negotiations

Zelenskyy told reporters that Ukraine had not received an official response from the Kremlin to the latest proposal. He said Kyiv is negotiating exclusively with Washington, which in turn is communicating with Moscow.

If Russia does not agree to the peace plan drafted by Ukraine and the United States, Zelenskyy suggested that more should be done to force Moscow's hand.

"If Ukraine shows its position, it is constructive – and Russia, for example, does not agree, then the (existing) pressure is not enough," Zelenskyy said, adding that he wants to discuss this with Trump.

Russia's central demands are for Ukraine to abandon its ambition to join NATO – which was a distant prospect before Moscow launched its all-out invasion of the country in February 2022 – and for Kyiv's military to withdraw fully from Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, a vast area known as the Donbas. It was here that the Kremlin started destabilising Ukraine in 2014, helping pro-Russian separatists gain control of most of the area. The Donbas was eventually illegally annexed by Russia in September 2022.

Zelenskyy has offered concessions on both issues. During a wide-ranging press conference on Tuesday to discuss the new 20-point peace plan, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was seeking security guarantees from its allies that would "mirror" NATO's Article 5 – which requires all members to defend any member that has come under attack – but would no longer pursue full membership of the military alliance.

Zelenskyy also said Ukraine would be willing to withdraw its troops from parts of the Donetsk region not currently occupied by Russian forces. The Ukrainian leader said any withdrawal of troops would have to be reciprocal, with Moscow giving up as much Ukrainian territory as that ceded by Kyiv and those pockets of the Donbas becoming demilitarised as a result. Earlier this month, Zelenskyy noted that US negotiators wanted these territories to become "free economic zones" once all troops were withdrawn.

Ukraine's constitution requires any changes to the country's borders to be approved in a referendum.

Zelenskyy reiterated on Friday that "the fate of Ukraine should be decided by the people of Ukraine" and said Ukraine's allies "have enough power to force Russia or to negotiate with the Russians" to ensure that any such plebiscite could be carried out safely.

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A woman has been slashed on the arm after a man followed her to a Melbourne police station, which was closed, and demanded her car keys at knifepoint.

The 32-year-old woman was stopped in her car at the intersection of Mahoneys and Edgars Roads in Reservoir about 2.40am today.

The offender started damaging the woman's passenger door, police say.

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The driver, who had a 22-year-old female passenger in the car, drove to Reservoir Police Station but it was closed.

There, the same man threatened the woman at knifepoint for her car keys.

When she refused to hand them over, he slashed her on the arm, leaving a superficial cut.

The man then fled in his own car.

The victim drove to a nearby shopping centre carpark and called Triple Zero.

Police believe the offender is known to the victim.

Reservoir Police Station is closed on weekends and is one of 43 police stations across the state to have cut reception hours due to staffing shortages.

The Police Association said in a statement the closure was a "frustrating necessity", amid the "current resourcing crisis".

"Police stations are places of refuge, but given Victoria Police's current resourcing crisis, station closures are a frustrating necessity," the statement read.

"Greater clarity and consistency regarding opening hours is required to enable the public to quickly determine which stations are open and when."

In a statement, the government said there are more police on the beat in Victoria than any other state but the opposition blamed the government's budget for the shortage.

"This is the very situation we've been all fearing," Jess Wilson said.

"Someone seeking help someone under attack and going to a police station and finding it shut because there's not enough police and the government doesn't have enough money to hire more police. It's appalling."

It's understood decisions about staffing stations are made by Victoria Police.

Investigations are ongoing. 

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The $5.5m ticket was sold at New World Green Bay in Auckland.

Sydney's renowned New Year's Eve celebrations will look notably different on December 31 with a heavy police presence and special tributes to the victims of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack planned.

More than 1.1 million people are expected to head to the city to see the Harbour Bridge lit up with nine tonnes of fireworks and 25,000 individual pyrotechnic shots, creating the biggest show ever.

Sydney Mayor Clover Moore said the celebrations will provide an opportunity for the state, which is still reeling from the tragic events at Bondi on December 14, to hope for a safer and more peaceful year.

READ MORE: 'Hero' Texan rabbi smiles from hospital bed after Bondi attack

"Sydney New Year's Eve is more than fireworks. It's a reflection of who we are – a vibrant, diverse and inclusive city. Those values are more important than ever," she said.

While events are still taking place across the city, Bondi has cancelled Elrow XXL and Local's Lawn in respect to the 15 victims and the community.

Here is everything you need to know about this year's program in Sydney:

What time are the fireworks?

The first set of fireworks will go off at 9pm.

The eight-minute display has been created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and will showcase sky, land and sea country.

The main fireworks event will kick off the new year at 12am and last for 12 minutes.

READ MORE: New poll shows Aussies support tough changes after Bondi Beach attack

What's new in the program?

There will be additional displays to commemorate the victims of the Bondi attack.

"These moments will provide an opportunity for people to show respect, to reflect on the atrocity and to say we will not let this hateful act of terror divide us," Moore said. 

Shortly before the 9pm fireworks, the Harbour Bridge pylons will shine white with the image of a dove and the word "peace". 

A similar display will shine on the landmark at 11pm.

At this time, citygoers will pause for a minute of reflection.

They are urged to turn on their phone torch and shine it across the harbour, as a symbol of solidarity with the Jewish community and everyone affected by the tragedy.

There will also be a strong police presence throughout the city and the vantage points. 

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Where are the best vantage points?

There are 48 vantage points across Sydney that offer the best view of the fireworks.

Most, if not all, of the ticketed vantage points, like the Opera House forecourt and Luna Park, are exhausted.

As for the free vantage points, Barangaroo Reserve, Birchgrove Park, Bradfield Park and Mary Booth Reserve, Bradley's Head, Circular Quay and Darling Harbour are some of the popular places to be.

But as always, the areas fill out quickly, so the earlier you arrive and pick a spot, the better. 

A full list of the vantage points can be found online here.

The fireworks will also be livestreamed for those who miss out or watch at home.

READ MORE: Police release details of arson suspect after car with Hanukkah signage firebombed

What's the best way to travel to the city?

Public transport.

Thousands of additional services have been added to accommodate the number of people making their way in and out of the city.

Extra train services will run from mid-afternoon and post-midnight, with metro services continuing to run frequently. 

However, the L1 light rail service has been cancelled between Central and Convention stations from 8pm until 2.30am, and ferries will stop running on Sydney Harbour from 5.30pm with limited services after 12am.

There will also be no direct transport to Circular Quay from mid-afternoon.

While it will be packed on public transport, road closures and parking restrictions will make it virtually impossible to drive in and find a park.

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Where are the road closures? 

Roads will generally start closing as early as 4am on December 31 and last up to 6am on January 1.

Major roads in North Sydney, Milsons Point and Kirribilli will close from 5pm, while some roads around vantage points at the waterfront will close from 7pm on December 30.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be completely closed in both directions, and the Anzac Bridge and Western Distributor citybound lanes will be closed from 11pm ahead of the midnight fireworks.

Most roads in North Sydney and Milsons Point will reopen by 3am, and in the CBD by 4am.

Citygoers can find real-time updates on traffic conditions and road closures at Live Traffic NSW.

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Police have charged a man after he allegedly assaulted another driver with a hammer in a road rage attack in Melbourne's south-west.

The incident happened after two cars allegedly collided on McGrath Road in Wyndham Vale at about 8.45pm yesterday.

A fight broke out before one of the men allegedly hit the other with a hammer.

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The 53-year-old victim got back into his vehicle and drove to Chapman Drive before later being taken to hospital with serious injuries to his upper body.

The other driver, a 36-year-old man, ran from the scene but was later charged.

The Werribee man was charged with intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury, unlawful assault and assault with a weapon.

He was bailed to appear at court on April 2.

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A tourist has been hospitalised after falling six metres down a cliff at the Mornington Peninsula National Park in Victoria.

Emergency services were called to rescue the 25-year-old near Cape Schanck in Flinders about 1.15pm today.

The 25-year-old was unconscious and choking on water. 

READ MORE: Woman threatened at knifepoint for car keys in police station car park

Emergency services walked across the rough terrain to move the woman to higher ground on a stretcher to avoid the rising tide.

Then, a helicopter helped winch her and fly her to the Alfred Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Paramedic Jo Wilton told 9News the woman was missing her teeth and appeared to have a hip and wrist injury.

READ MORE: 'Hero' Texan rabbi smiles from hospital bed after Bondi attack

The woman is a tourist from Austria who was visiting Bushrangers Bay, which is known for its picturesque views.

She is believed to have climbed the estimated 12-metre-tall Elephant Rock before falling on the way back down.

"There's no actual tracks to get up to it, and on the way down, she has fallen, where there might have been some loose rocks," Wilton said.

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