Australian restaurant chain Kickin’Inn has announced plans to open sites overseas following rapid national growth. Founded by Ravi Singh and Sami Karras, the popular Cajun-style seafood restaurant brand has fast become a family favourite in Australia and is now eyeing new markets in New Zealand and Asia.

Campbelltown

Kickin' In, co-founded by Ravi Singh and Sammy Karas, has grown from a single Sydney restaurant in 2018 to almost 30 locations across Australia. The chain, known for its Louisiana-inspired Cajun seafood-boil concept and homemade sauces, now serves over a million customers annually and employs 500 staff.

The company attributes its success to a strong brand identity rooted in family values and community engagement. Kickin' In is preparing to expand internationally, with plans to enter the New Zealand and Indonesian markets and further growth in Asia, aiming to open 50 stores by 2030.

Aussie dining favourite set to go global

Ravi Singh and Sammy Karas have mastered an incredible recipe for success. Far from just cooking Cajun seafood, in seven years the co-founders of Kickin' In have created a home-grown restaurant brand that's not only become one of Australia's most popular dining experiences, but also one of the country's fastest growing businesses. It's all about the unique concept, it's all about Australian seafood and eating with your fingers. And it isn't hard to see why it works. Once I tasted the sauce, it just went like wildfire. From one restaurant in Petersham in Sydney's Inner West in 2018, to now almost 30 right across Australia, Kickin' In was the first to bring a Louisiana-inspired Cajun seafood-boiled dining concept down under. We tasted a few Cajun sauces, we didn't like them, and we said to each other, if we don't like them, the customers won't like them. So we started making our own Cajun sauce from scratch. The business now employs 500 staff, serving over 1 million customers every year, with plans to open 50 stores by 2030. Australia's probably one of the most competitive markets in hospitality. Rasha Abood is a strategic advisor to a number of leading Australian hospitality brands. It's stuff out there. High rent, high wages, high inflation, and more red tape. For Kickin' In, I think the most unique concept for them is their true brand identity. According to Ravi and Sammy, at the heart of that identity is Kickin' In being a family business. What we've done is created a culture where all our employees feel they form part of the family. So not only is there accountability and responsibility, but they take ownership from their heart. Kickin' In is special because it was born in a home, a family kitchen. We treat our staff members, our suppliers, our guests like family. I'm so proud of the boys and us for not giving up. It can land on a shorter runway. Crucial too, Kickin' In's commitment to the community. Kickin' In's been such a great partner for us in supporting country kids all across Australia in different ways. We are a family business. It's about doing things from your heart. How can you add value to the community? Now, as Kickin' In prepares to open restaurants overseas... New Zealand market and the Indonesian market and then we expand in Asia. Much like that other Aussie icon who threw a shrimp on the barbie many years ago, it's hoped that Kickin' In's quintessential Australian values will help it draw prawn-loving fans to tables the world over. We've done very well here in the Australian market. I think the brand is ready to take the next leap and go international. Kickin' In

Kingston's waterfront in Jamaica was empty on Saturday, with the first bands of rain from Hurricane Melissa hitting the island. But in some parts of the city, they are still racing to prepare for the storm. Jason Allen reports.

Kingston

Jamaica braces for Hurricane Melissa

U.S President Donald Trump says he plans to hike tariffs on imports of Canadian goods by an extra 10 per cent because of an anti-tariff television ad aired by the province of Ontario.

Ontario

Global Tariffs

Trump announces new punishing tariffs on Canada

French media reports that the Louvre has moved some of its most precious jewels out of the museum for safekeeping. The jewels were moved from the Apollo Gallery, the scene of Sunday's heist, according to French radio.

Paris

Louvre moves most precious jewels out of museum for safekeeping

The United States is stepping up its military presence in the Caribbean by ordering its most advanced aircraft carrier into the region. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro accused the US of using drug trafficking claims to "fabricate a war" in Latin America.

Caracas

Venezuela's Maduro accuses U.S of 'fabricating war'

Deploying an aircraft carrier is a major escalation of military power in a region that has already seen an unusually large US military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off Venezuela.

U.S sending aircraft carrier to South America in major escalation

Ontario Premier Doug Ford stands by his decision to run an anti-tariff ad campaign in the U.S. after President Donald Trump halted trade talks with Canada because of it. The ad will be paused next week and Prime Minister Mark Carney says he is ready to resume talks when the U.S. is interested.

Ottawa

Trump halts trade talks with Canada over World Series ad

New York Attorney General Letitia James pleaded not guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and railed against the Trump administration over her prosecution.

New York

Letitia James pleads not guilty in mortgage fraud case

The Pentagon announced the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, is headed toward South America as news emerges about a 10th U.S. strike against alleged drug-carrying vessels in the area.

Washington

Pentagon sending world's largest aircraft carrier to Latin America

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week as part of a trip to Asia, the White House said on Thursday (October 23), confirming the meeting which had been called into question following an escalation in trade tensions.

Seoul

Trump to meet Xi in South Korea as part of Asia swing

Changpeng Zhao, known as "CZ," stepped down as head of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange and pleaded guilty to money laundering in 2023. U.S. President Donald Trump has issued Zhao a pardon.

Trump pardons convicted Binance founder Changpeng Zhao

Britain's King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV have prayed in public together in a historic moment, marking the first time in 500 years that leaders of both the Church of England and the Catholic Church have taken part in a joint service.

Vatican City

King Charles meets Pope Leo XIV in historic public show of unity

U.S. President Donald Trump is reacting to an anti-tariff ad featuring a speech by former President Ronald Reagan. Trump is claiming that Canada is trying to influence the Supreme Court as it prepares to hear a case on tariffs.

Trump ending trade talks with Canada over anti-tariff ad

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appealed Thursday for calm as tensions rose with Washington, saying in English: “No crazy war, please!” His plea followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he had authorised covert action against Caracas amid an expanding U.S. military campaign targeting alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific.

'No crazy war, please!' Maduro pleads to Trump after covert action

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was charged in connection with a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was charged in a second fraudulent betting scheme and more than 30 people in total were arrested between the two cases.

Portland

NBA coach Chauncey Billups charged in rigged gambling scheme

An Alaska Airlines IT outage is causing a ground stop for flights nationwide.

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

FAA issues ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights due to tech issue

President Trump signaled the U.S. military is planning to go beyond just striking what the administration says are Venezuelan-linked drug boats, saying "land is going to be next."

Trump warns land strikes against alleged drug traffickers may be next

The European Union has imposed more economic sanctions on Russia, adding to U.S. President Donald Trump's new punitive measures against the Russian oil industry.

Brussels

EU joins U.S. in imposing more sanctions on Russia

President Trump announced Thursday that he has called off a plan to deploy federal agents to San Francisco after a conversation with the city's Democratic mayor, Daniel Lurie.

San Francisco

Trump reverses plan to send federal agents to San Francisco

President Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to enabling money laundering through the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao

In a post on X, Lithuania's President Gitanas Nausėda slammed what he called a "blatant breach of international law and territorial integrity."

Vilnius

Russian aircraft enter NATO member Lithuania's airspace

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo were seen together at last night's Knicks game following the final mayoral debate.

Adams to endorse Cuomo in NYC mayoral race

Several National Basketball Association stars have been charged in an illegal gambling scheme that involved multiple organized crime families. Among those taken into custody are Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and current Miami Heat player Terry Rozier.

NBA stars linked to illegal gambling investigations

King Charles III met on Thursday with Pope Leo XIV during a state visit to the Vatican, where he made history as the first head of the Church of England to pray publicly with a pontiff in a service broadcast live on Vatican media.

British royals at Vatican for historic visit with Pope Leo

The U.S. struck two more alleged drug vessels, this time on the Pacific side of Latin America – totaling nine strikes in less than two months.  Videos released by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday show boats destroyed in two separate military strikes.

U.S. strikes two alleged drug vessels in the Pacific, Hegseth confirms

U.S. President Donald Trump is imposing new sanctions against Russia as violence against civilians in Ukraine continues. CBS News' Nancy Cordes reports.

Ukraine Invasion

Trump imposes new Russia sanctions

US Vice President JD Vance is in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A US-brokered Gaza ceasefire has come under pressure over the weekend as both sides, Israel and Hamas, accused the other of not abiding by the ceaesfire's conditions.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

U.S. VP Vance meets Israeli PM Netanyahu in Jerusalem

The director of the Louvre admitted to inadequate camera surveillance of the museum's outside walls, three days after thieves robbed it of prize jewels in a brazen daytime heist. But Laurence des Cars said that a diamond- and emerald-studded crown that the burglars damaged and dropped as they fled could be restored.

Louvre director admits 'insufficient' camera coverage after heist

Testimony has begun in the murder trial of former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson, who shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home last year after she had called 911 for help.

Springfield

Testimony begins in murder trial of ex-deputy who killed Sonya Massey

The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel is legally obligated to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, amid growing concerns over the worsening crisis in the enclave.

The Hague

UN court rules Israel legally obligated to allow aid into Gaza

The U.S. hit another alleged drug vessel with a military strike Tuesday night, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday. CBS News senior national security correspondent Charlie d'Agata has more.

Breakdown