The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has announced that it will fly a Pride flag at Twickenham rugby stadium in support of the LGBTQ+ community in response to the inclusion of controversial former Australian rugby player Israel Folau in a World XV side. Folau’s contract was terminated by the Australian Wallabies after he posted views on social media claiming that gay people would be sent to hell “unless they repent of their sins and turn to God”. The RFU, which will also display a foreword in the match programme outlining its commitment to diversity, has called itself “inclusive to all players, staff and fans”, regardless of background.
Australian television broadcaster and journalist Stan Grant, who is of Aboriginal descent, has left a flagship programme after receiving what he called “relentless” racist abuse following remarks regarding King Charles’s Coronation. During the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) coverage of the event, Grant commented on the “invasion” represented by the British Crown. His observations prompted viewer complaints including claims that the ABC’s commentary was not impartial. The Australian Monarchist League attacked the broadcaster for a lack of balance and respect. Grant’s comments also provoked racist vitriol on social media aimed at him and his family.
The G-7 lords have launched the Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion, aiming to see off China's business bullying. The joint mechanism will target economic measures aimed at interfering with other states' affairs, with Bloomberg Singling out Australia and Lithuania as two countries that have felt China's wrath. The platform says China has used its economic weight to coerce nations in political disputes; however, an automatic response is not within the remit of the panel. Several G-7 members failed to agree on what stronger measures could be taken and by whom.
The G7 summit is seeking to adopt a common approach on Beijing and is planning to introduce measures to respond to Chinese "economic coercion" in an announcement on Saturday. A “platform” is to be unveiled which will provide a forum for the identification of economic vulnerabilities and coordination of protective measures. This follows two years of efforts by the US administration of Joe Biden, helped by Japan, to foster unity among G7 members on challenges posed by Beijing. China has taken issue with the G7’s language on “economic coercion”, saying in a statement "it is, in fact, the United States itself that instigates coercive diplomacy".
Iran has executed three men accused of involvement in anti-government protests that resulted in deaths of members of Iran's security forces last year, it said on Twitter last Friday. The fast-tracked trial of the three men has been criticised by rights groups who say the men gave “torture-tainted ‘confessions’”. Their execution brought the number of protesters hanged since the beginning of the nationwide protests in autumn 2019 to at least seven. In response, the EU has condemned Iran's actions "in the strongest possible terms".
Morgan Stanley Chairman and CEO James Gorman will step down as CEO and transition to executive chairman, the bank said. Gorman will remain in the role of CEO for at least the next year while the board searches for his successor. "When I do step down as CEO, it is the board's and my expectation that I will assume the role of executive chairman for a period of time," he said. Morgan Stanley co-presidents Ted Pick and Andy Saperstein, as well as Dan Simkowitz, head of the bank's investment management business, are seen as possible contenders to replace Gorman.
The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard is a novel that accurately understood the post-war era and globalisation before it was widely discussed. It tells the story of two sisters in Australia in the 1950s, with the story ending in the late 1970s, following the pair through their moves from Sydney to London, then to New York, and finally to Stockholm. The book combines a brilliant sense of setting and character capture with technical expertise and skill. Hazzard's ability to set "a sweeping historical moment as well as the most intimate" makes for beautiful reading.
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the French Open with a muscle injury, marking the first time the Spaniard will miss the tournament since 2004. Nadal, who won the tournament a record 13 times, has been dogged with injuries in recent years with a fractured rib and abdominal injury in 2022 and a hip injury in 2023. The severity of this latest ailment has prevented Nadal from "competing at 100%", and he stated that time has caught up with him. Nadal has outlined that he still wants to compete professionally but will take an extended break from tennis to allow his injuries to heal. He will be absent from the French Open draw, where players such as Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud are among the favourites to win.
Leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) nations have warned China and North Korea about their nuclear arsenals as they focus on the major northeast Asian crises ahead of the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the summit later on Saturday. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that President Joe Biden and Zelensky would have face-to-face talks at the summit, a day after Biden supported training Ukrainian pilots on US F-16 fighter jets. The move follows earlier decisions by the US to send rocket launcher systems and Abrams tanks to Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression but discouraged attacks by Ukraine into Russian territory. The focus on Asia comes as Japanese military officials confirmed Zelensky’s decision to attend the G7 in person to participate in talks to influence Ukraine’s defence against Russia. Zelensky called for the supply of Western fighter jets to bolster his country’s defences against Russia’s invasion; the jets could become useful in the long-term security of the country.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is making the 9,000 km journey to Hiroshima to attend the G7, while also seeking support from leaders who have taken a neutral stance over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He hopes to reach out to India's PM, Narendra Modi, and Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, two countries that have continued to trade with Russia despite sanctions imposed by the EU and G-7. Zelenskiy is keen to help Ukraine become influential in nations that the country has rarely connected with on a diplomatic level, described as "a significant diplomatic opportunity".
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is overwhelmingly unrepresentative of the country it claims to serve, contributing to a culture that is dismissive or hostile to staff and audiences who are not white, according to an op-ed in The Guardian. The piece cited the recent complaints about a TV panel featuring Indigenous journalist Stan Grant discussing differing perspectives on the monarchy. The focus of the criticism was Grant and his reflections on the legacy of the crown as an Indigenous man. While racist abuse driven many non-white broadcasters to be less visible and vocal, the article claimed it had not been taken seriously enough by senior personnel. In a statement, Grant said that the institutional failure was a problem across all Australian media organisations, adding that there is a “toxicity around race that resides deep within this country.”
Australian national broadcaster, ABC, has been accused of fostering an environment that is hostile towards staff and an audience who are not white. This follows the quitting of Stan Grant, an indigenous journalist and broadcaster who has long been a supporter of AAP and has often voiced his belief that the broadcaster had a duty to better reflect the globalised world that Australia resides in. Grant cited the alleged racist abuse he had received, including on social media, as a reason for his resignation. Furthermore, he claimed that no one at the ABC had issued a single public statement of support and equated the broadcaster’s lack of support during this period as a significant institutional failure. This issue is not exclusive to the ABC, racial diversity within Australia’s media and public sphere, in general, has reached breaking point and formed a significant part of Black Lives Matters’ movement in the USA.
US President Joe Biden has apologised to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia for his cancelled trip to the country and said that negotiations to resolve the US debt crisis were “in their closing stages” ahead of the rescheduled Quad summit on Saturday night. Biden said he was confident the US will avoid a default if the deadline of 1 June is met. At the summit in Hiroshima, Biden is expected to discuss threats to regional and global security with leaders from India, Japan and Australia.
The decision by Joe Biden to halt his trip to Australia has cost the media a wasted expense of up to $25,000 per person, wiping out costs for hotel bookings, ground transportation, a shared press filing centre, among other costs. Organised by the White House Travel Office, the now-cancelled charter flight cost $1.1m or around $21,000 per person for the 55 travel journalists who had reserved seats. Journalists will be immediately off the hook for a deposit of around $11,500 each and will be forced to scuttle for last-minute, alternative return travel plans from Hiroshima to Washington, losing some or all of the cost of their return flights from Sydney to Washington. Some correspondents fear the mounting expenses from such overseas trips will force their bosses to pull back coverage of the president on overseas trips, thus damaging chances of any future charter flights.
Moose Toys' Magic Mixies toy has become a $100m product line, backed by a Netflix series, merchandise and awards from the toy industry. The toy involves young users adding water, powders and glitter to a cauldron until a furry creature – the Magic Mixie – appears. Moose hopes the toy line will be the successor to its previous wildly successful Shopkins range of tiny collectibles, which has racked up $4.3bn in sales since 2014. Analysts predict the integration of a TV series with the range will drive sales further and help licensing deals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to attend the G7 summit on Sunday, allowing him to confront Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, two crucial developing countries that have maintained close ties with Moscow despite the country’s invasion of Ukraine, about their lack of support for sanctions against Russia, with their obfuscation over who is to blame for the conflict in which Kyiv is preparing to push for battlefield gains. Experts believe Zelenskyy’s presence should serve as a ‘symbol of unity’ against Russia.
Jack Wighton has praised Indigenous players including team-mate Latrell Mitchell, admitting that without his voice and efforts, the NRL’s Indigenous Round would not be as successful. As someone who is Wiradjuri, he believes the round represents all Australians sharing and learning more about each other’s cultures. Wighton, who will transfer to South Sydney in 2023, has hinted that his representative retirement could only last for this year.
With most of Australia's key attractions and cities located around its fringes, cruises (preferably topped and tailed with land-based touring) are a great way to explore numerous Down Under wonders in a single trip, writes John Lee in iNews. Although Brits tend to overlook Australia as a cruise destination, the country with the world's largest island has over 37,000 miles of coastline fronting the Southern, Pacific and Indian Oceans as well as several smaller seas. There are several types of cruises available in the country, from mega-ships with a plethora of facilities, boutique brands with a more refined air, and luxurious riverboats to expedition ships that can sail to remote places. The Kimberley, Western Australia's vast and sparsely populated wilderness region, is one such place and is best explored with Coral Expeditions, which has been cruising the area for four decades. A ten-night Darwin to Broome cruise with the company costs from £3,965 ($5,495) per person and departs between April and September each year.
Leaders of the G7 have shown support for Ukraine, condemning Russia’s “brutal” war on the country. The group’s leaders also called on Russia to cease its aggression against Ukraine and adhere to the rules of the international community. The statement also offered Ukraine “unwavering support” in absence of lasting peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Japan for the summit and is expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil’s ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Neither figure has supported Ukraine in the past, but they will participate in the summit.
The discussion about the intersection of sex and gender, and women's concerns around trans activism has been reinvigorated by coverage of feminist academic Holly Lawford-Smith's treatment by trans activists, as highlighted in The Age. Some women feel marginalised by what they see as the trans community's assault on hard-won female rights and the push for what they see as inclusion without recognition of biological realities concerning gender. Some are particularly concerned by what they see as what amounts to bullying and thought-policing on university campuses.
