Rugby player Alun Wyn Jones has retired from international rugby. The 37-year-old holds a world record for Test match appearances, with a total of 170, including 158 for Wales and 12 for the British and Irish Lions. He captained both teams and won five Six Nations titles, four World Cups, three of them as part of a Grand Slam. Jones began his international career in 2006 as a blindside flanker and helped Wales reach the semi-finals of two World Cups. He was a pivotal part of the British and Irish Lions team on four occasions, captaining them for the 2021 tour of South Africa.
The G7 summit, held in Hiroshima, Japan, is focusing on both heightened global economic uncertainty and a new common approach to China. Alongside climate change and artificial intelligence, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, has labelled the G7 as the “steering committee of the free world”, underlining the meeting's potential for a generational struggle in a new era of superpower rivalry. The seven countries involved in the summit include the US, UK, Japan, Canada, Germany, France and Italy. During the meeting, members have announced sanctions, including proposals to hit Russia’s diamond business, which has not yet been affected by western restrictions. They confirmed they will provide continued support for Ukraine for “as long as it takes”. Meanwhile, Russia has admitted to “problems” with oil and gas revenues, which have fallen to their lowest level in years, undermining the country’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine.
As the world waits for Ukraine’s spring offensive against Russia, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been on a diplomatic tour, visiting Germany, France, Italy, the Vatican, and Britain. Recently, Zelenskyy travelled to Saudi Arabia to meet Arab leaders and secure their support. Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, is facing significant international isolation amidst the International Criminal Court arrest warrant that hangs over his head, with his travel prospects dwindling including to Moscow alliances. Putin's invasion of Ukraine made him an international pariah, and many now speculate Ukraine may take its turn in the spotlight. Although conflicting information arose as to whether Zelenskyy would attend the G7 summit in Japan, it would be of significant geopolitical and symbolic significance for Ukraine. European leaders promised Ukraine missiles, tanks, and drones while the conversation of getting fighter jets continues. Zelenskyy's appearance at the Arab League summit in Jeddah highlighted Ukraine's struggle for support, even in countries whose alliances are with Moscow. It is the beginning of a larger shift in perception that could translate into potential support for Ukraine.
The Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show begins next week, running publicly from Tuesday to Saturday in London. The show opens with the prestigious Gala Evening on Monday, where much corporate entertaining takes place. According to the Financial Times, Chelsea is a high point in the calendar of corporate entertaining, especially for financial businesses that reportedly conduct deals among the show’s plants. Chelsea’s premier sponsor this year is the Newt in Somerset, an estate, hotel, restaurant and garden overseen by Karen Roos and her husband Koos Bekker. Exhibitors will display 50% drought-tolerant plants this year, up from about 30% in 2018. Judges will be asked to consider the eco-friendliness of sustainable designs, and the RHS has listed the top 10 drought-tolerant plants its visitors can look for at the show. Every year, Monday evening tickets for the event are oversubscribed, with or without dinner, and proceeds go to charity, mainly the RHS.
Wales will be without two of its most experienced players, flanker Justin Tipuric and lock Alun Wyn Jones, for the Rugby World Cup in France after both players announced their retirements from international rugby. Tipuric retired on Friday, while Jones confirmed his own retirement the following day. Jones is the game's most capped player with 158 appearances for Wales and 12 for the British and Irish Lions, but age – he is 37 – has now caught up with him. Wales head coach Warren Gatland had named both Tipuric and Jones in his squad of 54 players for the World Cup. Gatland must juggle the challenge of replacing almost 250 caps worth of leadership as well as taking the team he is trying to reshape in a new direction without losing the core elements that delivered three Six Nations Grand Slams and a World Cup semi-final in the past decade. Jones will play one final match for the Barbarians at Twickenham before his retirement takes effect.
Investors are choosing emerging market local currency bonds over dollar assets, as inflation drops and attractive yield rates are offered. From January to April, emerging market hard currency bond funds were hit with a net withdrawal of $2.65bn, while $5.23bn was invested in local currency bond funds. According to fund flow data provider EPFR Global, this year JPMorgan’s emerging market benchmark for local currency government bonds has delivered a 6.8% total return - more than three times its hard currency counterpart.
Rare shipment of U.S. oil heads to South Africa for Glencore refinery
Reuters
23-05-19 19:40
A shipment of US oil is heading to South Africa for the first time in two years, destined for a Glencore-owned refinery in Cape Town that has restarted operations after an explosion shuttered it in 2020. The 850,000-barrel cargo of West Texas Light was purchased by Swiss commodities trader Glencore. Glencore's majority-owned Astron Energy restarted production at its 100,000-barrel-per-day Cape Town refinery nearly three years after the explosion. South Africa gets most of its oil from West and Central Africa as well as Saudi Arabia, according to energy data provider Kpler.
Rugby Australia's decision to support the Indigenous Voice to Parliament initiative is deserving of praise, in contrast to the stance of conservative former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, according to this op-ed. The sporting body's embrace of the landmark social change campaign is in line with the sport's moral responsibility to represent all Australians, it adds. The article cites the example of former Wallaby Tony Abrahams, who withdrew from selection for a tour of South Africa in 1969 in protest against apartheid, as evidence of rugby's long-standing tradition of engaging with social issues.
Alun Wyn Jones, who holds the world record for most caps in rugby union with 170 appearances, has retired from international rugby. He played 158 times for Wales and 12 times for the British and Irish Lions. Jones won the Six Nations five times, three of which were Grand Slam victories, and was named player of the championship in 2019. He captained Wales 48 times and scored nine international tries. Jones took over a century of Wales caps in 2016, overtook prop Gethin Jenkins’ record of 129 in 2019 and broke the previous record of 148 appearances set by former New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw in 2020.
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.
Australian rugby coach Eddie Jones believes that veteran player Quade Cooper can still produce his best rugby as he prepares to represent the Barbarians alongside Wallabies teammate Samu Kerevi in an invitational match against a World XV later this month. Cooper and Kerevi are both likely to be named at No.10 and No.12 in what could be a Wallabies dress rehearsal ahead of Australia’s Test against South Africa in July. Jones recently hinted that Cooper was in Australia’s plans for the World Cup, which begins in September.
Wine writer Shana Clarke has published "150 Vineyards to Visit Before You Die" including Japan's MGVs vineyard, which Clarke describes as a laboratory-like building with precise winemaking akin to alchemy; Spain's Bodegas Vega Sicilia's Ontañón Vineyard, featuring vines dating back over 100 years; and Australia's d'Arenberg Cube, a five-storey art and education venue that aims to blur the lines between wine and attraction. The book explores lesser-known vineyards as well as famous ones in France and Italy. The vineyards were chosen to reflect Clarke's "broad story about the world of wine, which meant not just focusing on historically important vineyards, but what may come in the future".
During a special episode of I'm a Celebrity...South Africa, actor Joe Swash told an anecdote of one of the first evenings he spent with presenter Stacey Solomon, now his wife. The couple, who married last July, share three children together and both have emerged triumphant from the show in the past. However, the memory that Swash shared on the all-star version of the programme held particular resonance. “One of the first times I met Stacey we got drunk on red wine, but Stacey is definitely not a drinker,” he said, before describing the mess that resulted.
A UK resident has appeared before magistrates facing charges under the Firearms Act after a converted handgun and ammunition was seized in Croydon on Thursday. Evan Girdlestone, 47, was remanded to appear at Croydon Crown Court on 16 June.
Brazil has felt pressure to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy following the unannounced attendance of Zelenskiy to the G7 summit in Japan. Brazilian officials have said that the Brazilian delegation felt nervous about the event and considered it to be a “trap” scene. The Brazilian President Lula, who is attending as an invitee, was urged by French President Emmanuel Macron to meet with Zelenskiy. Some tensions may arise from Brazil’s more neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, feeling that both Ukraine, the US and EU share the blame for Russia’s invasion.
Several countries across the Middle East have reportedly moved away from the US dollar in reaction to ongoing dollar rationing strategies set in place by the United States. As previously reported, on 15 May 2021 Iraq band all business deals and exchanges of the dollar with Iran, and underlining an existing case where the nation’s authorities made it more difficult for individuals to obtain dollars as the US had revealed increasing concerns that much of its currency was being smuggled to Iran, which is under sanctions. This extreme measure against the dollar has since highlighted a trend in the Middle East where the continuous slowing of the currency’s value has led Saudi Arabia's finance minister to state it is “open” to pricing oil sales using different currencies, including the Chinese yuan and the euro. Similarly, in February this year, Iraq confirmed its intention to conduct business with China using yuan, instead of dollars.
Canada's hopes of avoiding relegation from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens series remain alive following a 21-19 win over Uruguay at the HSBC London 7s. Brock Webster's try with a subsequent conversion secured the victory in what was a play-off between four teams – with Japan already relegated, Canada, Uruguay and Kenya are vying to avoid the same fate. Kenya are strong favourites, leading the standings after wins over both Canada and Tonga. Regardless of Kenya’s fixture against Uruguay, whether Canada progress could go down to points difference, depending on the result when they play Tonga. Dropping out of the top tier would be devastating for Rugby Canada, who were targeting increasing its depth and provide more playing opportunities across both codes. The winning team at Twickenham will become the twelfth core team on the Series next season.
Canadian men's rugby 7s team rally past Uruguay to keep World Series hopes alive
CBC
23-05-20 16:26
Canada 21-19 Uruguay: Brock Webster’s late try and conversion lifted Canada to a comeback win in the HSBC London 7s, preserving their hopes of escaping relegation from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Canada needed a result against Uruguay to stay alive in the four-team relegation playoff that is part of the 11th and final stop on the men’s circuit this season and could face a catastrophic setback to their programme as dropping out of the sport’s top tier would vastly increase the degree of difficulty for Olympic qualification. The top two sides after the round-robin play will face off to see who retains core status on the World Series next season. Dropping out of the sport's top tier could hamper the Canadian programme's drive to deepen its pool of talent and opportunities for sevens and 15s players to interchange while also providing opportunities for young Canadian players to develop on the World Series.
Nick Bangs, the newly appointed managing director of Unilever Australia and New Zealand, has joined the company’s graduate program in 2003 and worked his way to the top. Now Bangs intends to bring a more innovative and flexible culture to the organization. In his previous role as Unilever New Zealand MD, Bangs experimented with several new products and marketing strategies and encouraged spending time outside the company’s usual comfort zones. In his new position, Bangs intends to spark a change by offering varying price ranges and value packs while encouraging progress in the company’s approach to sustainability.
A letter to The Telegraph has expressed concern that Sir Keir Starmer's call to broaden the electorate might lead to Labour removing the vote from British citizens aged over 75, in an effort to reverse Brexit. The suggestions follow Sir Keir's support for granting the vote to both 16 and 17-year-olds and EU nationals resident in the UK. Terry Smith from north-west London argues that it would be absurd to remove the vote from elderly citizens on the grounds that they would not live to experience decisions about Brexit. Similarly, other letters were written arguing either for or against the increasing of the UK's population, the effect of LED lights on drivers and support for reparations to those impacted by slavery.
