North Sydney Council has passed a recommendation to make its CBD the first smoke-free business district in Australia. The ultimate aim is to make North Sydney the first smoke-free municipality in Australia. There are about 72,000 residents and this means all shared public spaces - streets, plazas and parks - will become no-go zones for smokers. It includes outdoor seating areas in front of restaurants and cafes. Smoking prevalence in the Northern Sydney local health district is 9.5 per cent, lower than the state average of 15.2 per cent. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/north-sydney-set-to-become-australia-s-first-smoke-free-cbd-20180925-p505xn.html

Fortum Singalong Shuttle is the world?s first taxi that is paid by singing. The car keeps on moving as long as you keep on singing. The service is run on electric cars, so the passengers can enjoy the music without background noise and carbon emissions. It was piloted by driving festival visitors at Ruisrock festival, July 2018 in Turku, Finland. Carpool karaoke was popularised by the comedian James Corden?s viral segment where celebrity guests sing?in his car. www.fortum.com/singalongshuttle

Microsoft Soundscape is a research project that explores the use of innovative audio-based technology to enable people, particularly those with blindness or low vision, to build a richer awareness of their surroundings, thus becoming more confident and empowered to get around. Unlike step-by-step navigation apps, Soundscape uses 3D audio cues to enrich ambient awareness and provide a new way to relate to the environment. It allows you to build a mental map and make personal route choices while being more comfortable within unfamiliar spaces. dogs. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/product/soundscape/

The Australian Ambassador's residence in Washington, known as White Oaks, is a Heritage-listed brick mansion built in 1923. It was once the home of George Patton, one of the most significant and controversial military figures in US history. It has a lawn tennis court that had fallen into disrepair. Joe Hockey, Australia's Ambassador to the US, thought this was a waste, since it's the only lawn tennis court in Washington, and one of only a handful in the US north-east, so had it restored with the help of Westfield CEO Peter Lowy. Playing on grass is a dream of many tennis lovers and senior members of Congress, military leaders and foreign diplomats have all played on the court over the past year.  

Facett is a geometric, faceted hearing aid that won Australia's 2018 Good Design Award. It's both beautiful and user-friendly: instead of requiring tiny batteries that can be difficult to replace, it is rechargeable and clicks together with magnets. www.facett.com.au