Latest news with #Hooper
The Citizen
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Former Wallabies captain: URC ‘not the best thing ever' for SA
Wallabies great Michael Hooper believes South African players are struggling in the Vodacom URC and would love to see the local teams back in Super Rugby. The Stormers, Bulls, Sharks and Lions departed the old Sanzaar competition for the inaugural URC in 2021, and despite the challenges the SA teams face when competing in the northern hemisphere, a South African side has contested every final in four seasons of the competition. The Stormers lifted the trophy in 2022 following a narrow win over the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium, before going down to Munster the following season in Mother City. In 2024, Jake White's Bulls lost to Glasgow Warriors at Loftus, and then Leinster in Dublin last week. All Blacks legend Mils Muliaina previously said an American team competing in Super Rugby could help attract South Africans back to the southern hemisphere competition, amid reports that World Rugby is exploring a US-based team to boost interest ahead of the 2031 World Cup in America. Two-time Springbok world champion Frans Steyn, now Cheetahs director of rugby, recently criticised the current scheduling and travel demands for SA teams in the URC and EPCR competitions while insisting local teams should return to Super Rugby. The likes of former Bok and Bulls loose forward Jacques Potgieter played for the Waratahs and speaking on Stan Sport's 'Inside Line', Hooper discussed why more must be done to lure players from the Republic to Super Rugby Pacific. MORE: Super Rugby fan Frans slams 'stupid' calendar 'I think we need to make it more attractive. I'd love to see South Africa back,' the 125-Test flanker said. 'I'd love to see that country brought back into Super Rugby.' On whether he'd like to see just players or the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, Lions and Cheetahs rejoining the competition, the former Australia skipper added: 'Their teams, I'd love to see that. 'I hear that it's very difficult for South Africa to play in that URC, very difficult for the players; they've got to fly through Doha to get up there. It's tough going for them physically to play up and down there. 'I don't think that the sentiment around it is like, 'this URC thing is the best thing ever'. 'Maybe it's just me being old and now being one of the players remembering the past [but] there's a lot of people talking about, you know, those sort of days. 'It happened back in the day as well, with Jacques Potgieter coming to the Waratahs, you know, guys like that. So I think, how can the competition look juicier for players to come. But it comes down to financial gain.' The post Hooper: URC 'not the best thing ever' for SA appeared first on SA Rugby Magazine.
Malaysia Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
AUKUS at a crossroads: Testing the trust in trilateralism
As the U.S. reconsiders its AUKUS commitments, the alliance faces a defining test of trust, power and political will, writesVince Hooper. IN 2021, theAUKUSsecurity pact was hailed as a bold reconfiguration of 21st-century deterrence strategy a trilateral alignment between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States aimed at countering China's assertive rise and reasserting Western naval dominance in the Indo-Pacific. Fast forward to mid-2025 and this celebrated alliance finds itself at an uncomfortable juncture. TheBiden-to-Trumptransition has triggered a Pentagon-ledreview of AUKUS, casting a long shadow over one of the most ambitious military-industrial collaborations in recent memory. While effectively termed a routine review, the reassessment has resurrected old anxieties: Can the U.S. be trusted to honour long-term strategic commitments? Is AUKUS another casualty of transactional geopolitics under the revived America First doctrine? And what does this say about the future of U.S.-led alliances in an increasingly multipolar world? Labor talks tough as U.S. pushes for defence hike Albanese rejects U.S. calls to raise defence spending, but history suggests Labor folds when the strategic pressure starts to rise. America first, allies second? The Trump Administrations review of AUKUS is not unexpected. America First was never a slogan its a worldview. One that sees multilateralism not as a given, but as negotiable. Under this prism, alliances are not ends in themselves but levers of national advantage. AUKUS, with its projected $368 billion submarine program, nowfaces scrutinythrough this narrower lens: Is the U.S. giving more than it gets? Such reviews may be procedurally justifiable, but they are diplomatically disruptive. Congressional Democrats argue the review sends mixed signals, suggesting American alliances are only as enduring as the next presidential tweet. For middle powers like Australia and even nuclear-armed Britain, this unpredictability is a strategic risk in itself. Australias strategic gamble and domestic political tensions For Canberra, AUKUS isnt just a policy it's a bet. A bet on the permanence of American power projection in the Indo-Pacific and a belief that advanced submarines, AI collaboration and cyber deterrence will bolster sovereignty in an increasingly hostile region. Yet domestically, the pact faces increasing scrutiny. Opposition from the Australian Greens and factions within the Labor Party highlight concerns over strategic dependency, ballooning costs and the implications of hosting nuclear-powered vessels in the region. Should U.S. reliability waver, political pressures could intensify, potentially complicating Australia's long-term commitments. Britains calculus: Atlanticism vs Indo-Pacific tilt For the UK, AUKUS was a rare chance to prove thatGlobal Britainwas more than a slogan. It allowed London to stretch its strategic relevance eastward while deepening defence industrial ties with Washington and Canberra. Now, the review raises awkward questions in Westminster. Is Britain merely a symbolic participant in a deal shaped by Washington and paid for by Canberra? And if AUKUS begins to fray, where does that leave the UKs Indo-Pacific tilt? Budgetary pressures and growing public scepticism over overseas military engagements add complexity. Defence experts warn that Britain must reassess not just its contribution but its broader strategic dependencies if it is to maintain credible influence in the Indo-Pacific. AUKUS gets a Trump card Just when Australia needed a way out of its $368 billion submarine gamble, along comes the most unlikely escape hatch of all. Francis Tusa, a British defence analyst,puts it starkly: AUKUS was always about more than submarines it was a trust pact. Undermining it risks corroding the very credibility the West seeks to project. Beyond submarines: The tech race and industrial realities AUKUSs ambitions extendwell beyondnuclear submarines. It encompasses hypersonic missiles, quantum computing, cyber warfare and AI-driven command and control systems. These cutting-edge capabilities require deep collaboration in technology transfer and intellectual property sharing among the three nations. The Pentagon review raises doubts not only about submarine timelines but also about the industrial bases capacity to support its own military needs and those of allies simultaneously. American shipbuilding is bottlenecked by decades of underinvestment, producing just two nuclear subs per year, while the AUKUS plan demands far more. Could the UKs Barrow shipyard or Australian industrial initiatives fill these gaps, or is the programs scale simply unrealistic? Regional reactions: Allies and adversaries watching closely In Southeast Asia, AUKUS was already controversial, perceived by some as a provocative escalation in a fragile regional balance. Indonesia, Malaysia and others watch the U.S. review warily, concerned about an arms race or diminished U.S. engagement. Meanwhile, partners such as Japan, South Korea and India may question the durability of U.S. commitments, not just in AUKUS but across theQuadand other regional frameworks. Australia, the UK and the U.S. must therefore weigh the risks of sending mixed signals to allies at a critical geopolitical inflection point. Australian values key to rethinking defence strategy The re-elected Labor Government has a chance to adopt a defence strategy that values what's most important to Australians their very lives. Chinas strategic messaging and diplomacy From Beijings perspective, the U.S. review is a propaganda gift. It reinforces the narrative that America is unreliable and inward-looking. China may seize the opportunity to accelerate diplomatic overtures and security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, presenting itself as a steadier alternative to a wavering U.S.-led alliance. Broader lessons for alliance management AUKUSs moment of uncertainty illustrates a broader trend in alliance the Quad and theFive Eyesintelligence community all grapple with the challenges of maintaining unity amid divergent national priorities and rising populism. Are we entering an era of insurance multilateralism where partners hedge against U.S. unpredictability by forming parallel or redundant security frameworks? The answer to this question will shape the future of Western collective security architecture. Conclusion: Trilateral, not transactional The core logic of AUKUS shared threat perceptions, interoperable technologies and democratic alignment remains intact. But logic alone doesnt build submarines. Political will does. And that will is now on trial. If the U.S. proceeds with AUKUS but demands disproportionate cost-sharing or strategic concessions, it may preserve the alliance in name while hollowing it out in substance. If it retreats altogether, the message to allies worldwide will be chilling: that American partnership is a short-term contract, not a long-term covenant. Trust, not tonnage, is the true ballast of any alliance. If AUKUS founders on the rocks of short-termism, the ripple effect may stretch far beyond the Pacific. AUKUS was supposed to be the future of trilateralism. Whether it now becomes a footnote in transactionalism depends not on strategic doctrine but on political determination. It is time, once again, for Washington to decide what kind of ally it wants to be and for Canberra and London to prepare contingencies in case that answer is not the one they hoped for. Vince Hooperis a proud Australian/British citizen who is professor of finance and discipline head at SP Jain School of Global Management with campuses in London, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney. Related Articles Australian independence beckons as U.S. decays What's in store for Australia if we persist with AUKUS Australia's autonomy from the U.S. has never been more vital Flawed AUKUS pact sinking quickly AUKUS proves Australia and U.S. to be an Odd Couple
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Star power missing as Anzac side miss out on world's highest-paid player
The Australia and New Zealand Invitational side to face the British and Irish Lions seven days ahead of the first Test will lack serious star power with New Zealand five-eighth Richie Mo'unga to miss the game in Adelaide due to a broken hand. Mounga's agent Cameron McIntyre confirmed that the world's highest-paid player has not recovered from the injury sustained playing for Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus. Mo'unga, who is reportedly on a $2m deal, had previously spoken of his wish to play in the fixture after speaking to former New Zealand coach Ian Foster, who will be an assistant for the AUNZ side. 'I miss the big Test match setting, the big arenas, this (AUNZ game) will be the closest I'll get to it while I'm in Japan,' Mo'unga previously told The news of Mo'unga's unavailability comes on the back of former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper revealing that he turned down an invitation to represent the combined Australia and New Zealand side in Adelaide on 12 July. Speaking on Stan Sport's Inside Line Hooper stated that he would have liked to have seen a Barbarians style team with the best players possible from New Zealand and Australia, while also underlining the logistical difficulties in putting the team together. 'I would have loved to have seen it be an Australian New Zealand Barbarians trouble is trying to make it all work,' Hooper said. 'I mentioned around the length and the layover between games for some people, some guys are coming to the back end of the season. 'Maybe they don't want to keep training for another eight weeks because it's going to be a daunting task (to face the Lions).'
The Age
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Star power missing as Anzac side miss out on world's highest-paid player
The Australia and New Zealand Invitational side to face the British and Irish Lions seven days ahead of the first Test will lack serious star power after it was revealed New Zealand five-eighth Richie Mo'unga will miss the game in Adelaide due to a broken hand. Mounga's agent Cameron McIntyre confirmed that the world's highest-paid player has not recovered from the injury sustained playing for Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus. Mo'unga, who is reportedly on a $2m deal, had previously spoken of his wish to play in the fixture after speaking to former New Zealand coach Ian Foster, who will be an assistant for the AUNZ side. 'I miss the big Test match setting, the big arenas, this (AUNZ game) will be the closest I'll get to it while I'm in Japan,' Mo'unga previously told The news of Mo'unga's unavailability comes on the back of former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper revealing that he turned down an invitation to represent the combined Australia and New Zealand side in Adelaide on 12 July. Speaking on Stan Sport's Inside Line Hooper stated that he would have liked to have seen a Barbarians style team with the best players possible from New Zealand and Australia, while also underlining the logistical difficulties in putting the team together. 'I would have loved to have seen it be an Australian New Zealand Barbarians trouble is trying to make it all work,' Hooper said. 'I mentioned around the length and the layover between games for some people, some guys are coming to the back end of the season. 'Maybe they don't want to keep training for another eight weeks because it's going to be a daunting task (to face the Lions).'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Done deal: Florida legislators reach a budget agreement
House budget chief Rep. Lawrence McClure, left, and Senate budget chief Sen. Ed Hooper, right, answer budget questions on June 13, 2025. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Amid looming federal cuts, legislators finalized the state spending plan for the next fiscal year Friday, announcing they expect to take a final vote on the budget Monday evening. As of Friday evening, the budget had not been printed, but Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, told reporters the spending plan is about $500 million less than what Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposed $115.6 billion budget for state fiscal year 2025-26. Friday marked the 102nd day of this year's legislative session, which was extended because of the legislative leaders' failure to pass a budget. Disagreements over the size of the budget and what approach to take on tax cuts created a rift that pushed lawmakers to come back to Tallahassee to pass a budget before June 30 to avoid a government shutdown. House Budget Committee Chair Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, said the debate took longer than it should have, but put the blame in part on special sessions on immigration called prior to the start of the 2025 legislative session. 'That took a lot of bandwidth from both chambers, membership and staff. So I'm not excusing that we're delayed in getting this budget done, but there were contributing factors that largely were out of the control of either chamber,' he said. 'I'm glad we did the work on immigration. It was important work. But I'm thankful we were as thorough as we were,' on the budget. McClure also stressed the leaner budget. He emphasized the $1.5 billion set for reserves over the next two fiscal years, which the GOP-led Legislature is touting as an answer for a potential recession. 'For starters, it's a smaller supplemental list than many years prior,' McClure said, adding, 'we've put a bunch of recurring money in reserve stabilizing the long-term future.' Lawmakers last dipped into the Budget Stabilization Fund, which currently has $4.4 billion, during the Great Recession. Still, President Donald Trump's plan to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency after this year's hurricane season worried Hooper, he said. The Senate agreed to provide $23 million for the Florida State Guard — DeSantis had requested $62 million — keeping in mind the civilian volunteer force's role in responding to emergencies. 'We heard yesterday that, from our friends in Washington, after this hurricane season, there may be no more FEMA,' Hooper said. 'We may be on our own someday, and that would not be the time to start thinking about what should we plan ahead. … Just the state guard is an important part of making sure our state has the resources because the National Guard; it could be called anywhere.' The Florida State Guard has mainly been part of DeSantis' messaging against illegal immigration, particularly in sending troops to Texas' southern border. Hooper also expressed concerns about the multi-billion-dollar cut to Medicaid that Congress could enact. About 44% of federal funds coming into the state are for Medicaid. 'We hope they never change the formula of the Medicaid reimbursement,' he said. 'We're in trouble if they do.' Legislators earmarked nearly $560 million for local projects important to members. The supplemental funding was included on so-called sprinkle lists the chambers released Friday. But those hundreds of millions went to more than local projects. The powerful nursing home industry was able to secure significant Medicaid rate increases for long-term care facilities on both the House and Senate sprinkle lists. In the aggregate, the chambers agreed to a $176 million hike, of which about $18 million is recurring. That's on top of a near $110 million rate increase the chambers had already agreed to put in the budget. The increase in funds is expected to be coupled with new requirements on nursing homes that will be addressed in separate legislation, known as the conforming bill. It will be one of a spate of issues contained in SB 2514 the health care conforming bill. The House targeted $23.3 million in state and federal funds to a Medicaid managed care program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program is a priority of House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, who pushed this year to take the small pilot program available in two Medicaid regions statewide. Republican Senate President Ben Albritton, of Wachula, had to give up his dreams for a $200 million 'Rural Renaissance' to invest in the state's underdeveloped and economically challenged communities. But he managed to keep most of the money for tackling food insecurity. Before budget negotiations fell apart earlier in the year, the Senate's budget included two grant programs through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: $12 million to expand the infrastructure of food banks in rural communities, and another $38 million to help food banks buy products from Florida farmers. In this final deal, Albritton gets to keep $10 million for food bank infrastructure and $28 million for farmers to feed communities. Food bank networks across the state counted on this investment following the loss of millions in federal funds they used to buy fresh produce. The Senate included in its sprinkle list $300,000 for an 'Intellectual Freedom Survey,' half for the State University System and half for the Florida College System. The survey is meant to 'compile and analyze the annual intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity survey.' The House included $7.5 million for Florida Polytechnic University to increase its enrollment to 3,000 students. Its fall 2024 enrollment was more than 1,770. The chambers agreed to fund $42.4 million to Florida State University for operational funding, the most of any institution. Florida International University would receive $35 million under the proposed budget for operation enhancement. Between the two chambers' sprinkle lists, $10 million has been allocated to security for Jewish day schools. In its Friday offer, the Senate rejected a House proposal to require private universities to meet performance metrics to accept scholarships for in-state students. The House included in its sprinkle list $4 million for Florida State University, half for the newly created Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases and half for Sunshine Genetics Pilot Program. In the sprinkle list, the Senate was more amenable to DeSantis' requests. Aside from including funds for the State Guard, the upper chamber also included $25 million for the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, an initiative to encourage public infrastructure projects. In total, the budget includes $50 million out of the $75 million in DeSantis' proposed budget. Cancer funding has been a priority for the DeSantis administration which pushed this year for a number of changes to how the state funds cancer research. While the DeSantis administration fell short on its efforts to redirect $127 million in cancer funds it did succeed on other fronts. The Legislature agreed to appropriate $50 million for a research incubator for cancer and another $60 million increase in innovation funds awarded by the First Lady Casey DeSantis as part of her cancer initiative. The budget is complete but the tax reduction plan is not. Legislators are also expected to hammer out a tax cut package that will include a reduction in business rent taxes as well as other changes designed to assist Florida families. While the chambers have agreed to spending levels and the fine print that goes along with how the money should be spent they still haven't finalized the conforming bills. The Legislature is using budget conforming bills to pass substantive policy. Unlike the budget, which expires in a year, conforming bills change statutes. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
