Australian rugby union coach Eddie Jones has overseen the Barbarians’ team which included Australian players Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi. Although Cooper ruptured his Achilles tendon last August, he and Kerevi could play the roles of the Wallabies’ 10 and 12 over the early part of Jones’s tenure. Australia could enter the World Cup later this year using the two rugby stars as their front-line duo, while youngster Mark Nawaqanitawase is also viewed as an exciting prospect. Australia's opening match of the international rugby season is July 8 against South Africa in Pretoria.
New Zealand Rugby League has revealed plans to help create a new, alternative tournament to replace the France 2025 Rugby World Cup, following news that France is unable to financially host the event. The tournament was scheduled to take place in France across four years, but the government confirmed it would be unable to meet the financial rules needed to bring it to fruition. New Zealand and other countries are currently discussing alternative tournament options. Troy Grant, chairman of the International Rugby League, has stated that alternative contingency options are being considered.
Singapore Airlines has recorded its first annual profit in four years, thanks to demand for air travel and a rise in bookings to China, Japan and South Korea. The city-state's flag carrier said the turnaround was in line with other airlines, which are beginning to rebound now the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions around the world are being lifted. However, operators are warning of inflation pressures and stronger competition now that many airlines are regaining ground, and also anticipate that near-term cargo demand could shrink as the supply chain bottlenecks learn and weaker economic conditions hit demand and trade.
US President Joe Biden will visit Australia next week, amid uncertainty over negotiations to lift the debt ceiling in his country. The president will attend the first Quad security dialogue leaders’ summit in Australia, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also present. The leaders will discuss joint measures against issues such as illegal fishing vessels, a supply chain for critical minerals, and the climate crisis. Biden will speak to the Australian parliament and hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. This trip marks the first visit of a US president to the country since 2014.
Melbourne has been listed tenth on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s report of the world’s greatest cities to live. The city has the largest and most important street art scene in the world and Flinders Street Station is one of the world’s most beautiful stations. The city’s St Kilda offers seaside and retro fun and Phillip Island is known for the Koala Conservation Centre. Melbourne has a vibrant music scene, swim-with-dolphin eco-tourism and Rose Street Artists’ Market for handmade artwork and design, while Collins Street showcases Melbourne’s architecture. Hidden Secrets Tours sidesteps the obvious in favour of Melbourne’s offbeat sights, while the Royal Botanic Gardens is an ideal spot for those seeking peace and relaxation. Other attractions include Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, the cute wildlife and craft hipster haven.
Sir Angus Houston, co-lead of Australia's new Defence Strategic Review and former Chief of Australia's Defence Forces, will discuss the country's current challenges and review the DSR's key recommendations in a conversation with CSIS Senior Adviser Charles Edel. The DSR was established by the Australian Labor Government to review the country's defence strategy in response to a challenging strategic environment.
A group of US senators has proposed the Taiwan Tax Agreement Act of 2023 that would permit tax breaks for Taiwanese investors. The senators said that this will help to increase investment between the US and Taiwan by removing the double-taxation currently in place in relations between the countries. Offering tax relief could inspire further Taiwanese tech firms to move to the US to set up shop, including the construction of a TSMC $40bn plant in the state of Arizona. According to data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taipei, Taiwan invested $23.73bn in the US between 1952 and 2022, the second highest amount after mainland China. Analysis from experts suggested that this move would increase economic, capital, and personnel mobility between the two countries, disrupting China's chip-making lithography machines and shifting the focus into tech collaboration and development based around US-led tax-friendly policies.
An extra 10,000 seasonal fruit pickers are to be granted visas to enter the UK over and above the 45,000 already allocated to the agricultural sector, Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed at a farming summit. The move came after Home Secretary Suella Braverman said Britain should train its own fruit pickers, and pledged to cut migration. Sunak said 45,000 visas would be available next year, with capacity for a further 10,000 if necessary. He added that the additional visas were aimed at the needs of farmers. Boris Johnson had previously promised greater trade protections for farmers.
The Nova Scotia College of Nursing has received 10,526 applications since easing licensing regulations for out-of-province and some international nurses. The college introduced a fast-track to help speed up applications for nurses trained across Canada and in seven other countries where practices are similar to those in Nova Scotia. Deputy registrar Douglas Bungay said the new policy had surpassed the college’s expectations, and temporary and full-time staff have been employed to deal with the number of applications. Those in good standing can be licensed in Nova Scotia by passing a single national nursing exam, which can save months off the registration process. The new process began for Canadian nurses on March 29, and for those registered in the Philippines, Nigeria, India, the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand from May 1.
The 80th anniversary of the RAF's raid on German dams during the Second World War will be commemorated in a variety of ways, including a flyover by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight from the RAF Museum in north London over the Lincolnshire airfields where the 19 Lancasters departed from, and a series of tours at the Duxford arm of the Imperial War Museum. The Petwood Hotel in Lincolnshire, which was formerly the Officers' Mess of the RAF's 617 Squadron, will also be a place of pilgrimage for those wanting to remember the team that took part in the raid. A life-sized steel sculpture of a Lancaster bomber, similar to the Angel Of The North, is also planned for installation at Hill Holt Wood in Lincolnshire.Devotion to the Second World War and its veterans is particularly strong in Lincolnshire, which was home to many RAF airbases during the conflict. The international Bomber Command Centre, near Lincoln, serves as a tribute to those lost on bombing missions, but the closure of RAF Scampton this year has caused some disquiet among locals who fear that the base's history will be erased. The site housed Gibson's office - complete with pipe, ashtray and model of his beloved dog - until it was closed. The dog's remains, which are buried on the base, may have to be moved, sparking local controversy.
Sir Angus Houston, co-lead of Australia's new Defence Strategic Review and former Chief of Australia's Defence Forces, will discuss the country's current challenges and review the DSR's key recommendations in a conversation with CSIS Senior Adviser Charles Edel. The DSR was established by the Australian Labor Government to review the country's defence strategy in response to a challenging strategic environment.
Japan's GDP figures for the first quarter are set to be the highlight for Asian markets on Wednesday, with expectations of annualised growth of 0.7%, the fastest rate in three quarters, leading to Tokyo stocks opening up 0.2%. China's weaker than expected economic data for April has resulted in slumps across Chinese financial assets, with April house prices also due on Wednesday. Although offshore investors have a new scheme to link Hong Kong with the mainland in order to access interest rate derivatives to help hedge their Chinese bond exposure, concerns about debt demand have cast extra doubt over the yuan's ability to gain reserve currency status.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that his government is in discussions with the prime ministers of Japan and India after US President Joe Biden postponed his upcoming visit to Australia. Biden had been due to attend a Quad leaders' meeting in Sydney on May 24, but cancelled the trip because of the US debt ceiling crisis. Albanese stated that he and Biden had agreed to work to reschedule the visit as soon as possible.
Owen Davidson, an Australian tennis star, has died at the age of 79. Davidson became one of the leading mixed doubles players in history, winning 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, along with two men’s doubles Grand Slam titles. Only Doris Hart, who collected 15 major titles in mixed doubles, and Margaret Court, with 21, exceeded Davidson’s tally of Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Davidson made up part of a group of legendary Australian tennis players, a list that includes John Newcombe, Fred Stolle, and Rod Laver. He is best remembered for his mixed doubles partnership with Billie Jean King, with whom he won 8 of his Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, and one men’s doubles title. Davidson played in four US Open doubles finals over eight years, winning the last two, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2010. Isabel Suliga, his longtime friend and caretaker, announced he had died from cancer.
Apple has launched a service in Australia allowing iPhone users to take credit and debit card payments at point of sale. Working via Apple Pay, the service enables businesses to effectively use iPhones as payment terminals, downloading an app from a bank or fintech partner to enable contactless payments to be taken. In addition to co-operation with ANZ Bank, fintechs Till Payments, Stripe and Zeller have also signed up. Apple Pay has previously led to conflict with banks over its fees and charges.
Sir Angus Houston, co-lead of Australia's new Defence Strategic Review and former Chief of Australia's Defence Forces, will discuss the country's current challenges and review the DSR's key recommendations in a conversation with CSIS Senior Adviser Charles Edel. The DSR was established by the Australian Labor Government to review the country's defence strategy in response to a challenging strategic environment.
A bus carrying 45 primary school children was involved in a horrific crash near Melbourne, Australia, after being hit from behind by a truck. Nine children aged between 5 and 11 sustained injuries, including amputations, head and spinal injuries, requiring emergency surgery. The truck driver was taken into custody, but not charged. The bus had just picked up pupils from Exford Primary School on Melbourne’s western fringes when the collision occurred. Australia has a below-average road safety record compared to other advanced economies and is currently ranked 20th of out of 36 OECD countries in terms of road fatalities.
US President Joe Biden is expected to emphasise unity and Washington's dedication to the Asia-Pacific during his planned trip for the G7 Summit in Japan whilst navigating a delicate balance between countering China's economic coercion and avoiding further division among US allies. Biden also seeks to build a "little Nato" in Asia to contain Russia and China. While the G7 is expected to outline proposals on countering China's "economic coercion", it is important to not inflame nationalistic tendencies or put smaller countries in a difficult position where they become the target of coercive activities. The trick, according to experts, is to build more robust trade agreements, maritime security measures, and reinforcing supply chains rather than setting up divisions. China carried out 73 incidents of economic coercion aimed at 19 countries between 2020 and 2022, including trade sanctions, investment restrictions, tourism bans and popular boycotts.
Media outlets and members of the public are prohibited from naming an unnamed rape suspect in Queensland, Australia, because of Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act. The act states that anyone charged with rape, attempted rape, assault with intent to commit rape, and other sexual offences cannot be identified publicly until a magistrate has decided there is enough evidence available for a trial and has referred the matter to the district or supreme court. The defendant has been charged with rape over an alleged incident in October 2021. A coalition of media organisations had earlier appealed for the man’s identification to be revealed on grounds of public interest.
Australia’s treasurer Jim Chalmers has received criticism from opponents over the country's first budget surplus in 15 years, who claim the economic rebound and surging commodity prices made it an easy feat. Chalmers admitted that the return to balancing the books would only be temporary, with mounting defense, welfare, and energy transition bills to contend with. The country’s net debt position will rise to more than A$700bn by 2027, and concerns remain over how long commodity prices can sustain momentum with China's slowing growth. Observers suggested that more was needed to reshape Australia’s economy, with calls for more fiscal discipline. Danielle Wood, chief executive of the Grattan Institute think-tank, claimed there was a “pretty stubborn gap” between revenue and spending forecasts, requiring further action to address the structural deficit. Spending on defense is expected to rise to more than AUD50bn ($33.51bn) in the 2024 budget year, while the cost of the country’s disability support scheme is anticipated to increase from AUD35bn to AUD56bn in the 2027 budget year.
