It’s an alien invasion you can’t see because it is happening underwater. Since the St. Lawrence Seaway opened almost 50 years ago, at least 185 species have invaded the Great Lakes most from the bellies of giant cargo ships. Some have been harmless. Many have caused devastation. Take the Quagga mussel. It’s a fingernail-sized mollusc native to rivers around the Caspian and Black Sea that was first discovered in Lake Erie in 1989. Since then, it has spread like a carpet across...

AN emerging breed of athletic and healthy model is defying the skeletal syndrome.

Luka Thompson, 16, an under-17 state netballer, and Sheridan Seekamp, 17, the under-18 national high jump champion, represent a positive image of modelling.

Both girls are making their mark on the sporting and fashion worlds.

Unlike the stick-thin models at this month’s Australian Fashion Week, both say their goal is to stay fit and healthy.

Sheridan, who is in training to qualify for next year’s World Junior Athletics Championship in Poland, said modelling had changed her perception of body shapes. “I’m muscly and I love food so, while some might say I’m skinny, I just think I’m healthy,” she said.

Finesse Model Agency owner Brigette Mitchell, who represents the girls, said they promoted a positive image of modelling. “They are two of Adelaide’s top models,” she said.

“They could have been chosen for Australian Fashion Week but they were too busy with sport.”

While Ms Mitchell said some designers did use overly thin models to attract attention, it also was a “fact of life” some people were thin.

The company, which owns and operates about 2,000 pubs, is coming to the end of a six-month review of its assets following pressure to spin off its entire 5.5bn property portfolio into a tax-efficient real estate . M&B has invited , , Topland, London & Regional and Tchenguiz’s own property company, R20, to submit bids for jointventure sale and leaseback deals ranging in value from 500m to 4bn. By selling part of the assets, shareholders could retain ownership and take advantage...