Eats meets west

Kylie Kwong is Australia's best known chef of Chinese background. Born in Sydney to Australian-born parents, she was first taken to China 13 years ago with her then boss, chef/ restaurateur Neil Perry. In 2005, she made her first trip to her ancestral village and since then she has returned to china 15 times.

Australia waiting for 60,000 more World Youth Day visa applications

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) expect another 20,000 people to apply for a visa for Australia, or Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), in order to be eligible for entry to Australia. Officials also expect another 4,000 to come from New Zealand, where citizens are not required to apply for an Australian travel visa.

People from more than 170 countries are expected to attend the event, and all will need an Australian tourist and visitor visa before arriving in the country. World Youth Day sees young people from all continents gathering together in the presence of the Pope.

Although the numbers are 60,000 people below the estimated target, officials remain confident that the turn-out will be impressive, reports the news provider. An extra 36 flights are still arranged to cope with the influx of tourists. However, Youth Day pilgrims are being warned that without an Australia travel visa, they could miss out on the festivities.

Inflation key to housing rally

Investors are needed to fund a big expansion in stock to cope with Victoria's rapidly increasing population, which is growing at 1.6%, or 82,430 people, a year. Australia's population increased 1.59%, or by 331,872 people, last year, but the country is reportedly experiencing a construction shortfall of 30,000 new houses a year.

"This kind of population growth will support the housing market, but it means that we're facing a long-term under-supply problem regardless of what may look like an over-supply in today's softening (conditions)."

Mr Lawless said buyers, particularly second or third-home owners with strong cash reserves, were well positioned to buy investment properties in the today's environment of flat price growth and oversupply.

Tourists flocking to Australia cause extra flights to be scheduled

Sydney Airport Corporation said 36 extra flights, including one charter flight, have been scheduled for the event, at which organisers expect to attract 125,000 people on Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visas. Danny Casey, the Chief Operating Officer, said every flight in the lead up to the event is fully booked.

"World Youth Day is bringing international visitors into Sydney in droves. Sydney is going to come alive this winter with 125,000 young people from more than 170 nations arriving here to celebrate their faith with 100,000 young people from all over Australia," he told the World Youth Day official website. Christopher Brown, the Tourism and Transport Forum Managing Director, said bars, restaurants and hotels are expected to benefit from the tourism boom caused by young people travelling to Australia for the event.