Shark Safety Upgrade: NSW drone patrols logged 1,225 sharks from July 1 to Aug 31 and triggered 360 safety actions as the state ramps up its $120m aerial surveillance ahead of school holidays. Business Events Boost: Te Pae Christchurch has won Oceania’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre title again at the 2026 World Travel Awards, securing back-to-back recognition. Travel Demand Watch: Oasis’ 2027 world tour sold out all 42 dates in just three days across multiple countries, after a high-demand Ticketmaster-style ticketing shake-up. Holiday Budget Reality Check: Australians face mortgage pressure as Finder launches a free “Roast My Rate” tool to compare home-loan rates and options for paying off sooner. Payments & Travel Costs: A card surcharge ban starts soon, with banks and retailers warning savings may be offset by price rises or reduced rewards. Digital Tourism Tech: Indonesia expands cross-border QRIS payments to help international visitors spend more easily across more markets. Conservation Milestone: The IWC marks 40 years since the whaling moratorium as whale populations recover, with the 70th meeting in Hobart this week. EU Entry-Exit Warning: Glitches in Europe’s new EES system can wrongly flag overstays, with travellers facing harsh passport-control treatment. Northern Reef Mapping: Scientists mapped 1,000+ previously hidden coral reefs across northern Australia by combining hundreds of satellite images.