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The decision scraps duties as high as 218% on Australian wine exports to China, its largest overseas market once worth more than 1 billion Australian dollars ($653 million). The Australian government said it welcomed Beijing’s decision “which comes at a critical time for the Australian wine industry.”“Since 2020, China’s duties on Australian wine effectively made it unviable for Australian producers to export bottled wine to that market,” the statement read. “There are a lot of people in the Australian wine industry who will be reaching out for a good glass of wine tonight and feeling a whole lot happier about their future,” Bruce Tyrrell, managing director of Tyrrell’s Wines in New South Wales, told CNN. Annual wine production hit its lowest point in more than 15 years during 2022-2023, Wine Australia said. Lee McLean, head of national association of grape and wine producers Australian Grape & Wine, said industry groups were working with the Australian government to “ensure a coordinated re-entry” into the market.

Persons: ”, “, that’s, ” Bruce Tyrrell, Lee McLean, ” McLean, Anthony Albanese’s, Albanese, Wang Yi, Penny Wong, Yang Hengjun, Wong Organizations: Sydney CNN, China’s Ministry of Commerce, Canberra, World Trade Organization, Tyrrell’s, CNN, Wine Australia, Global, Wine, China’s Foreign, Anthony Albanese’s Labor, China’s, Ministry, Australian Locations: Hong Kong, Sydney, China, Australia, Beijing, New South Wales, Wine Australia, United Kingdom, Europe, China’s

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s House of Representatives has ramped up pressure on the United States and Britain to end the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange by passing a motion calling for the Australian citizen to be allowed to return to his home country. Independent lawmaker Andrew Wilkie moved the motion on Wednesday one week ahead of Britain’s High Court of Justice hearing Assange’s appeal against extradition to the United States on espionage charges. Leaders of both the government and the opposition have publicly stated that the United States’ pursuit of the 52-year-old had dragged on for too long. Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton on Thursday welcomed the lawmakers' vote, adding that his notorious sibling could potentially be extradited to the United States next week. Senior opposition lawmaker Dan Tehan said the motion did not reflect his party’s wish that the prosecution progress more quickly.

Persons: Julian Assange, Andrew Wilkie, Anthony Albanese, Assange, Gabriel Shipton, he’ll, ” Shipton, Wilkie, Albanese, Australia’s, Joe Biden, State Anthony Blinken, Dan Tehan, ” Tehan, Tehan, Chelsea Manning, Manning, Barack Obama Organizations: —, Independent, Australian, Ecuadorian Embassy, House, U.S, State, WikiLeaks, Army, Manning’s Locations: MELBOURNE, Australia, United States, Britain, Britain’s, Ecuadorian, London, Sweden

☆ Opinion | South Africa Sees Its Moral Conscience in a Genocide Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Sean Jacobs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Earlier this month, I went with my 18-year-old daughter to see the South African singer Thandiswa Mazwai perform with her band at a music festival in Manhattan. Many of my fellow South African expatriates were in the audience. As we took our seats, my daughter, Rosa, noticed concertgoers waving South African flags. This will make history whatever happens.”As a Black South African who grew up during the nation’s liberation struggle and came of age watching the birth of South African democracy, for me, Albanese’s words resonated. So does the case, regardless of the outcome on Friday, when the court is expected to announce a decision over whether to order provisional measures.

Persons: Thandiswa Mazwai, Rosa, Francesca Albanese, ” Organizations: International Court of Justice, South Locations: African, Manhattan, Israel, The Hague, Gaza, Cape Town, Palestine

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Survivors of the harmful morning sickness drug thalidomide were in the public gallery Wednesday when Australia’s Parliament made a national apology to them on the 62nd anniversary of the drug being withdrawn from sale in the country. “Today, on behalf of the people of Australia, our government and this Parliament offers a full unreserved and overdue apology to all thalidomide survivors, their families, loved ones, and carers,” Albanese said. The apology was recommended in 2019 by a Senate inquiry into the support that was available to aging thalidomide survivors. The government will fulfill another recommendation Thursday by opening a memorial in Canberra in recognition of thalidomide survivors and their families. Australia established a support program in 2020 that is providing lifelong assistance to 148 survivors, and Albanese said his government was reopening the program to survivors who had yet to register.

Persons: thalidomide, Anthony Albanese’s, “, ” Albanese, Trish Jackson, ” Jackson, Albanese, Jackson, “ It’s Organizations: —, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Diageo Scotland Ltd Locations: CANBERRA, Australia, Canberra, Zealand, British

☆ Australia-China: After seven years of strain, leader Albanese heads to Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Stakes are high for the four-day visit, which begins on Saturday and will see Albanese meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang and make stops in Beijing and Shanghai. Albanese’s trip also carries symbolic overtones, marking 50 years since the first official visit by an Australian leader to Communist China after the two countries established ties. James Bugg/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesUS relations loomAlbanese is heading to Beijing less than two weeks after he met with US President Joe Biden in Washington. As he aims to repair ties with China, Albanese will need to walk a line between these interests and China’s suspicions about the aims of these blocs, analysts say. “Beijing came to learn that the weaponization of trade did not force a close US ally to back down,” said Collinson.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Scott Morrison’s, Jingdong Yuan, ”, Cheng Lei, Yang Hengjun, Yang, ” Albanese, Elena Collinson, teeters, ” Collinson, James Bugg, Joe Biden, “ Albanese, Yuan, Xi, Biden, Collinson, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s Foreign Ministry, University of Sydney, Reuters, Huawei, Albanese’s Labor, Canberra, Albanese’s, University of Technology Sydney’s, China Relations Institute, Trans, Pacific, Bloomberg, Getty, Albanese, China, China - Asia Security, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Economic Cooperation, Australia Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Shanghai, Australia, Washington, Seoul, Communist China, Asia, Pacific, Darwin, Pacific Islands, South, University of Technology Sydney’s Australia, Europe, Yarra, Victoria, South China, United Kingdom, Japan, India, Sydney, Stockholm, San Fransisco

☆ Why China and Australia Are Reconciling. Sort of.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Damien Cave | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Since 2017, Australia has played David to China’s Goliath: rejecting Chinese pressure to adopt Huawei technology, calling out Chinese political interference, and demanding an inquiry into Covid-19’s origins, even as Beijing blocked Australian imports ranging from coal to wine. Now, with Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, landing in Beijing on Saturday for a three-day visit and a meeting with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, reconciliation is advancing — but with limits. Mr. Albanese’s trip represents a small step back to economic and diplomatic stability after a long march into distrust. China’s coercive tariffs are disappearing. “It won’t be easily erased because what came with it was a whole other set of assumptions and fears.”

Persons: David, China’s Goliath, Anthony Albanese, Xi Jinping, ”, James Curran Organizations: Huawei, University of Sydney Locations: Australia, Covid, Beijing

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday he will raise the plight of a detained democracy blogger with Chinese leaders during a state visit to China. Albanese said he had approved a draft letter to the sons of Yang Hengjun, who has been detained in China since 2019. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesThey said they had just last week received the first letter Yang had been allowed to send from detention. Feng said Albanese becoming the first Australian prime minister in seven years to visit China created an opportunity for Yang. They hoped Australian authorities could “achieve a second miracle by saving our father.”Asked about Cheng’s case, Albanese told reporters: “Every case is ... different.”

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Yang Hengjun, “, ” Albanese, Yang, ” Yang, Feng Chongyi, Feng, “ It’s, ” Feng, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Cheng Lei, Xi, Cheng, Yang’s, ” Organizations: —, China’s Ministry of State Security, China Locations: CANBERRA, Australia, China, Beijing, Shanghai, Indonesia

☆ On the Agenda for Australia’s State Visit: China, Trade and a U.S. Marine Band
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Katie Rogers | More About Katie Rogers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

This week, Mr. Biden is steering American involvement in two overseas wars and monitoring the continuing calamity of a speakerless House of Representatives, and there is another government shutdown crisis looming next month. John F. Kirby, a White House spokesman, played down the idea that global crises could distract Mr. Biden from his visitor, or perhaps even keep him waiting. During Mr. Biden and Mr. Albanese’s time together, which includes a news conference scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, they are expected to emphasize their shared interests. Mr. Biden’s advisers say the administration is supportive of the meeting between Mr. Albanese and Mr. Xi. Mr. Biden and Mr. Albanese are also likely to touch on the dysfunction in Congress.

Persons: Biden, Anthony Albanese, John F, Kirby, Mr, “, ” Mr, ”, Jill Biden, ” Dr, Bruce Jones, Albanese’s, Donald J, Trump, Scott Morrison, Morrison, Albanese, Xi Jinping, Jones, Xi Organizations: Representatives, U.S . Marine, Army and Air Force, China, Center for East Asia Policy, Brookings Institution, East Locations: Australia, United States, Washington, China, Georgia, Britain, Papua New Guinea, Israel, ”, American, Hormuz

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he will visit China in early November, making the announcement Sunday hours before he was to fly to the United States to meet with President Joe Biden. Albanese will become the first Australian prime minister to visit China in seven years when he travels to Beijing and Shanghai on Nov. 4-7. The visit will come near the 50th anniversary of Labor Party leader Gough Whitlam becoming the first Australian prime minister to visit the People's Republic of China in 1973. Albanese accepted an invitation weeks ago to visit China this year, but finding suitable dates had been challenging. It will be the ninth time Biden has met with Albanese as prime minister.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Joe Biden, Albanese, “, ” Albanese, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Gough Whitlam, Biden, Cheng Lei, “ We’ll, ”, “ I’ve Organizations: Australian, House, U.S, China, Labor Party, World Trade Organization, Biden, Economic Cooperation, Darwin Port, Shandong Landbridge Group Locations: CANBERRA, Australia, China, United States, Beijing, Shanghai, United Kingdom, U.S, Britain, People's Republic of China, Washington, Asia, San Francisco, Tokyo, Japan, India, Darwin

☆ Australia Voice referendum: Cherbourg, a community built on racial segregation, looks to the future
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

“We’ve got around 260 people waiting on our waiting list,” said Cherbourg Council CEO Chatur Zala. “My community is very, very confused,” said Mayor Elvie Sandow, from her air-conditioned office in the center of Cherbourg. Hilary Whiteman/CNNZala said Cherbourg Council has made gains in recent years, since Mayor Elvie was elected in 2020. “The highest employment rate of any Indigenous community,” he boasted. At the end of the day, I am the voice of Cherbourg because I’m the elected mayor for this community.”I am the voice of Cherbourg because I’m the elected mayor for this community.

Persons: Australia CNN —, “ We’ve, ”, Chatur Zala, –, Elvie Sandow, “ They’re, they’ll, “, “ They’ll, Hilary Whiteman, Erin Johnston, ” Johnston, Michael Blair, Andy Roache, Anthony Albanese, Cherbourg Aunty Ruth Hegarty, Aunty Ruth, Betty McKenzie, You’re, ” Aunty Ruth, Ruth, we’re, Aunty Ruth Hegarty, Moira Bligh, Nyunggai Warren Mundine, Blair Gilchrist, that’s, aren’t, it’s, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Richard Milnes, ” Price, “ It’s, Warren, It’s, Jacinta Nampijinpa, CNN Zala, Mayor Elvie, Zala, They’ve, Elvie, “ I’m, I’m, Elvie Sandow Zala, “ That’s, he’ll Organizations: Australia CNN, Torres Strait Islanders, ” Cherbourg, CNN, Australian Electoral Commission, AEC, Indigenous, Nations, Queensland Museum, Opium, Advance, Labor, Conservative Political, Conference, Tourists, Shed, Mayor, Digital Service Center Locations: Cherbourg, Australia, Queensland, Brisbane, Mitchell, Northern, ”, Trust, Canberra, Gujarat, India

☆ 'A deaf whale is a dead whale': Activists fight huge Australian fossil fuel project
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Angus Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

According to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, the noise can reach 250 decibels, around a million times “more intense” than the loudest whale sounds. “So, a deaf whale is a dead whale.”Environmental campaigners say Australia should be making greater efforts to reduce its emissions, not build new fossil fuel projects. Campaigners say the projected emissions made a mockery of Australia’s stated commitment to reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. “Scarborough is a part of the Burrup Hub, and that is Australia’s largest fossil fuel project. If it goes ahead we’re looking at emissions equivalent to 12 years of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions,” said Greenpeace’s Richard George.

Persons: Woodside’s, “, Raelene Cooper, Cooper, ”, Richard George, Alex Westover, Scott Morrison, Anthony Albanese’s, it’s, Woodside, ” Woodside, Wendy Mitchell, ” Cooper, “ Woodside, Australia’s, Greenpeace’s Richard George Organizations: Sydney CNN —, Woodside Energy, Federal, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Energy, CNN, Greenpeace, Whales, ” Locations: Australia, Woodside, “ Scarborough, ”, Scarborough, Western Australia, Asia

☆ Alan Joyce: Qantas CEO to step down early as Australian airline's reputation under scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Qantas Airways said on Tuesday that long-serving CEO Alan Joyce would exit the company two months earlier than previously flagged as a reputational turbulence engulfs Australia’s flagship carrier. Joyce’s early retirement will see CEO Designate Vanessa Hudson, the first woman to lead the century-old airline, take charge on Wednesday. Chairman Richard Goyder said the executive transition came at a “challenging time” for the airline and its staff. Qantas had announced a raft of leadership changes in June in a bid to increase focus on key areas as the airline completes its post-pandemic recovery. The airline said newly appointed Chief Financial Officer Rob Marcolina will also start early alongside Hudson.

Persons: Alan Joyce, Vanessa Hudson, Anthony Albanese’s, ”, Joyce, Richard Goyder, “, ” Goyder, Rob Marcolina Organizations: Reuters — Qantas Airways, Qantas, Qatar Airways, “, Hudson Locations: Australia

☆ Australia’s $2.5 trln pension stash is one to envy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Sure, mining giant BHP (BHP.AX) has its headquarters in Australia’s second-most populous city, it’s a self-anointed coffee capital and boasts top-notch restaurants. Two other factors have capital-hungry institutions knocking on super funds’ doors. This is especially true of so-called industry funds that are mutually owned and initially catered to specific sectors such as higher education employees or hospitality workers. Daniel Andrews, premier of Victoria, has earmarked industry super funds as minority investors in a state-run plan to build renewable energy plants. Recent ructions in real estate have prompted some super funds to reassess whether the risk and complexity are justified.

Persons: dwarfing, AustralianSuper, California’s CalPERS, London’s, Paul Schroder, Hostplus, Anthony, Daniel Andrews, Breakingviews, outsized, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Australian Stock Exchange, Association, Retirement, Canada, Plan Investment Board, Prudential Regulation Authority, APRA, Coal, IFM, Vienna Airport, KPMG, Reuters Graphics, Australian, Trust, Macquarie, Victorian State Department of, UniSuper, Sydney Airport, Victoria, Blackstone, CVC, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, Melbourne, Australia’s, it’s, Australia, Heathrow, Edinburgh, Europe, United States, Indiana, New York, London

☆ SPECIAL REPORT-Inside the subsea cable firm secretly helping America take on China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Joe Brock | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Reuters is revealing details of the Diego Garcia project and SubCom’s deepening ties with the Pentagon. SubCom’s loyalty is especially important because it is the only major U.S. subsea cable company. Rather, they carefully obscured the U.S. military component within a larger private-sector cable project, according to four subsea cable industry sources with knowledge of the arrangement. That project, known as the Oman Australia Cable, was spearheaded by SUBCO, a Brisbane-based subsea cable investment company owned by Australian entrepreneur Bevan Slattery. Once the Navy project was complete, AT&T’s submarine cable project morphed into a commercial business, the former employees said.

Persons: Diego Garcia, SubCom, Cerberus, Stephen Feinberg, Donald Trump, Feinberg, Joe Biden, Biden, Eckhard Bruckschen, They’ve, ” Bruckschen, Trump, Brad Smith, –, Mao Ning, ”, Jacob Helberg, Bevan Slattery, SUBCO’s, Richard Payne, Payne, “ We’re, ” Payne, Alex Kerska, Catherine Creese, Creese, David Coughlan, Coughlan, Slattery, SubCom’s Coughlan, Rich, Australia West Express –, John Mariano, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Caesar, Kellee Wicker, ” Wicker Organizations: CS, SubCom, Google, Microsoft, Meta, ., U.S, Navy, Cerberus Capital Management, U.S . Navy, President’s Intelligence, Board, U.S . Navy’s Pacific Fleet, U.S . Pacific Fleet, U.S ., Pentagon, America Inc, Cable Consultancy, Reuters, Japan’s NEC Corporation, France’s Alcatel Submarine Networks, China’s HMN, U.S . Department of Defense, White, U.S . Department of Justice, Foreign, Oracle, China Economic, Security, Commission, U.S . Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, government’s, Cable Security Fleet, Oman Australia Cable, SUBCO, The, The U.S . Pacific Fleet, SUBCO’s Oman Australia Cable, Facebook, Defense, Intelligence, SubCom’s, London Stock Exchange Group, U.S . Coast Guard, Naval, Cable, Office, Tyco Telecommunications, Australian, Financial, Australia West Express, GoTo Networks, couldn’t, Netflix, AT, Tyco International, Tyco, New, Washington, Science, Technology, Wilson, “ Cables Locations: Diego, Indian, China, New Jersey, United States, U.S, Soviet, Washington, New York, Philippine, South China, Beijing, America, American, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Eatontown , New Jersey, British, Britain, Australian, Australia, Oman, Brisbane, Southeast Asia, The U.S, SUBCO’s Oman, Perth, SubCom, Guam, U.S . Pacific, Republic of Djibouti, of Africa, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Newfoundland

☆ Inside the subsea cable firm secretly helping American take on China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +24 min

Persons: Diego Garcia, SubCom, Cerberus, Stephen Feinberg, Donald Trump, Feinberg, Joe Biden, Biden, Eckhard Bruckschen, They’ve, ” Bruckschen, Trump, Brad Smith, –, Mao Ning, ”, Jacob Helberg, Bevan Slattery, SUBCO’s, Richard Payne, Payne, “ We're, ” Payne, Alex Kerska, Catherine Creese, Creese, David Coughlan, Coughlan, Slattery, SubCom’s Coughlan, Rich, Australia West Express –, John Mariano, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Caesar, Kellee Wicker, ” Wicker, Joe Brock, Mohammad Kawoosa, Edgar Su, Catherine Tai Design, Eve Watling, Marla Dickerson Organizations: CS, SubCom, Google, Microsoft, Meta, ., U.S, Navy, Cerberus Capital Management, U.S . Navy, President’s Intelligence, Board, U.S . Navy’s Pacific Fleet, U.S . Pacific Fleet, U.S ., Pentagon, America Inc, Cable Consultancy, Reuters, Japan’s NEC Corporation, France’s Alcatel Submarine Networks, China’s HMN, U.S . Department of Defense, White, U.S . Department of Justice, Foreign, Oracle, China Economic, Security, Commission, U.S . Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, government’s, Cable Security Fleet, Oman Australia Cable, SUBCO, The, The U.S . Pacific Fleet, SUBCO’s Oman Australia Cable, Facebook, Defense, Intelligence, SubCom’s, London Stock Exchange Group, U.S . Coast Guard, Naval, Cable, Office, Tyco Telecommunications, Australian, Financial, Australia West Express, GoTo Networks, couldn’t, Netflix, AT, Tyco International, Tyco, New, Washington, Science, Technology, Wilson, “ Cables Locations: Diego, Indian, China, New Jersey, United States, U.S, Soviet, Washington, New York, Philippine, South China, Beijing, America, American, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Eatontown , New Jersey, British, Britain, Australian, Australia, Oman, Brisbane, Southeast Asia, The U.S, SUBCO’s Oman, Perth, SubCom, Guam, U.S . Pacific, Republic of Djibouti, of Africa, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Newfoundland

☆ Australia Russia embassy row: Suspected Russian diplomat squatter dismissed as just "a bloke" by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Australia’s government last week terminated its lease on the grounds of national security. A man, believed to be Russian diplomat, has remained at the site in defiance of the move. Albanese was asked by journalists on Friday to comment on reports that a Russian diplomat had taken up residence in a shed. “The national security threat that was represented by a Russian Embassy on site is not the same as some bloke standing on a blade of grass on the site – that, we don’t see really as a threat to our national security,” he replied. On Friday, Australia’s home affairs minister said Moscow had told the Australian government that it would take the matter to court.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, ”, “ We’re, Clare O’Neil, Australia’s, Moscow, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Australian, Russian Embassy, Home, Russian, Reuters, Australian Federal Police, CNN, Russian Federation, Commonwealth Locations: Hong Kong, Russian, Moscow, Canberra, Yarralumla, Australia, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia

NEW DELHI/SYDNEY, March 8 (Reuters) - Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrives in India on Wednesday seeking to strengthen the new momentum in ties between the two countries through deeper trade, investment and defence relations. Quad includes the United States and India besides Australia and Japan. Australia is due to host a Quad leaders summit in Sydney later this year. “India and Australia share warm and friendly relations based on common values and democratic principles. Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell is a part of Albanese’s delegation and the visit is expected to provide an opportunity to hasten the ambitious deal.

☆ Australia has bulwark against China slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The country is Australia’s biggest trading partner, accounting for up to a third of its roughly A$475 billion ($303 billion) of annual exports. Its voracious demand over the past three decades helped Australia enjoy almost 30 years without a recession until the 2020 pandemic. As Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ first budget on Tuesday shows, though, Australia has some shock absorbers. If it doesn’t Australia won’t be able to escape the fallout entirely, but at least has some defences. Australia’s budget deficit for the financial year to June 30 2023 is expected to be A$36.9 billion ($23.3 billion).

☆ Australia Boosts Pacific Aid as Efforts Ramp Up to Counter China
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Mike Cherney | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said much of the aid increase will focus on mitigating climate change, which many view as an existential threat to low-lying Pacific islands. SYDNEY—Australia plans to increase aid to Pacific island nations and invest more in security ties with those countries, as the U.S. and its allies seek to counter Chinese influence in the strategically important region. The Australian government said it would increase official development assistance to the Pacific by 900 million Australian dollars, equivalent to roughly $565 million, over the next four years. That is much more than the A$525 million boost that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s party promised during the recent election campaign, highlighting the issue’s importance to policy makers.

Many residents were especially incensed that their countries were helping pay for the royal tour. The same goes for Canada, where the support for having a foreigner as head of state has also been eroding. The sun was already setting on the British Empire when Elizabeth took the throne in 1953. With Charles now king, that trend is likely to continue, said Prior. “I don’t think that these conversations taking place across the world are conversations that the new king would have a great deal of control over,” Prior said.

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