Latest news with #US-aligned
The Age
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Albanese to put beef on the table in Trump trade talks
However, the US's mad cow outbreak subsided and Australia's ban on US beef was lifted in 2019. Biosecurity officials are still reviewing whether to permit cattle raised in Mexico and Canada but slaughtered in the US into Australia, as the Trump administration has demanded. 'Our farmers are blocked from selling almost anywhere ... Australia won't let us sell beef,' US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in April, in an oversimplification of the current situation. It is unclear whether the outcome of that review will be the card Albanese plays in his discussion with Trump, which another government source noted was not a 'deal-or-no-deal' moment and could lead to months of talks. The source added that ministers were wary of Trump's erratic approach and were unwilling to 'sell the farm' by giving in to US demands to water down the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or back away from charging tech giants for news. The prime minister's office was contacted for comment. Experts, including former inspector-general of biosecurity Helen Scott-Orr, told this masthead in April that they endorsed Australia's ban on US beef exports from cattle raised outside the US. Australia's disease-free status depended on strict biosecurity protocols, they said. 'We do not use them [biosecurity protocols] as non-tariff trade barriers. When other countries query our biosecurity requirements, we have to justify them and show that we are applying proper controls to allow trade to all those countries to continue,' Scott-Orr said. 'The requirements we have are very cautious because the consequences would be huge.' The Albanese government's consideration of permitting US beef imports suggests it has found a pathway through these complications. In April, Albanese said he would negotiate with the US but would never undermine biosecurity. 'We will not weaken the measures that protect our farmers and producers from the risks of disease or contamination,' he said in a separate statement. Agriculture sector consultant Patrick Hutchison, of Gibraltar Strategic Advisory, said while the US was a major competitor in the biggest markets for beef, like China, Japan and Korea, Australia's population of 27 million was likely too small to become a major target for Americans. 'US exports would only play a very niche role in the market here, like in food service or potentially, US-aligned supermarket chains,' Hutchinson said. The US is the biggest market for Australian beef, which is used in 6 billion hamburgers across the United States each year, and industry calculates tariffs would cost US consumers an additional $600 million a year. National Farmers Federation President David Jochinke said he welcomed Albanese's ongoing commitment not to compromise biosecurity rules to satisfy US demands. Loading 'The science-based, biosecurity assessment processes undertaken by the Australian government are crucial in ensuring imports are safe,' Jochinke said. Australia's historic trade with the US dipped into a deficit for the first time earlier this year, just as Trump was preparing to announce tariffs. However, it returned to surplus on Thursday, handing Albanese and Farrell a more powerful argument because most countries, unlike Australia, sell more to the US than they buy from it. The US hostility towards trade under Trump has forced its allies to open up new trading avenues. Australia is closing in on a long-delayed free-trade deal with the EU, with Trade Minister Don Farrell meeting European counterparts in Paris this week. Loading UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer secured a partial exemption from metals tariffs when he visited Washington, creating a precedent for such an arrangement and fuelling Coalition calls for Albanese to get the same outcome. The prime minister said on Tuesday he would 'certainly' raise metals tariff with Trump, and on Thursday argued the case for a long-delayed EU trade deal that Farrell is now negotiating was bolstered by the chaos caused by Trump's tariff spree.
Sydney Morning Herald
05-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Albanese to put beef on the table in Trump trade talks
However, the US's mad cow outbreak subsided and Australia's ban on US beef was lifted in 2019. Biosecurity officials are still reviewing whether to permit cattle raised in Mexico and Canada but slaughtered in the US into Australia, as the Trump administration has demanded. 'Our farmers are blocked from selling almost anywhere ... Australia won't let us sell beef,' US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in April, in an oversimplification of the current situation. It is unclear whether the outcome of that review will be the card Albanese plays in his discussion with Trump, which another government source noted was not a 'deal-or-no-deal' moment and could lead to months of talks. The source added that ministers were wary of Trump's erratic approach and were unwilling to 'sell the farm' by giving in to US demands to water down the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or back away from charging tech giants for news. The prime minister's office was contacted for comment. Experts, including former inspector-general of biosecurity Helen Scott-Orr, told this masthead in April that they endorsed Australia's ban on US beef exports from cattle raised outside the US. Australia's disease-free status depended on strict biosecurity protocols, they said. 'We do not use them [biosecurity protocols] as non-tariff trade barriers. When other countries query our biosecurity requirements, we have to justify them and show that we are applying proper controls to allow trade to all those countries to continue,' Scott-Orr said. 'The requirements we have are very cautious because the consequences would be huge.' The Albanese government's consideration of permitting US beef imports suggests it has found a pathway through these complications. In April, Albanese said he would negotiate with the US but would never undermine biosecurity. 'We will not weaken the measures that protect our farmers and producers from the risks of disease or contamination,' he said in a separate statement. Agriculture sector consultant Patrick Hutchison, of Gibraltar Strategic Advisory, said while the US was a major competitor in the biggest markets for beef, like China, Japan and Korea, Australia's population of 27 million was likely too small to become a major target for Americans. 'US exports would only play a very niche role in the market here, like in food service or potentially, US-aligned supermarket chains,' Hutchinson said. The US is the biggest market for Australian beef, which is used in 6 billion hamburgers across the United States each year, and industry calculates tariffs would cost US consumers an additional $600 million a year. National Farmers Federation President David Jochinke said he welcomed Albanese's ongoing commitment not to compromise biosecurity rules to satisfy US demands. Loading 'The science-based, biosecurity assessment processes undertaken by the Australian government are crucial in ensuring imports are safe,' Jochinke said. Australia's historic trade with the US dipped into a deficit for the first time earlier this year, just as Trump was preparing to announce tariffs. However, it returned to surplus on Thursday, handing Albanese and Farrell a more powerful argument because most countries, unlike Australia, sell more to the US than they buy from it. The US hostility towards trade under Trump has forced its allies to open up new trading avenues. Australia is closing in on a long-delayed free-trade deal with the EU, with Trade Minister Don Farrell meeting European counterparts in Paris this week. Loading UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer secured a partial exemption from metals tariffs when he visited Washington, creating a precedent for such an arrangement and fuelling Coalition calls for Albanese to get the same outcome. The prime minister said on Tuesday he would 'certainly' raise metals tariff with Trump, and on Thursday argued the case for a long-delayed EU trade deal that Farrell is now negotiating was bolstered by the chaos caused by Trump's tariff spree.
West Australian
03-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Everest ticks off extraction study to start Aussie rubidium industry
Everest Metals and Edith Cowan University (ECU) have achieved 97 per cent rubidium extraction in a joint engineering scoping study for Everest's Mt Edon project in Western Australia. The study is a key step in Everest's plans to pioneer a new rubidium industry in Australia. Everest plans to inject Australia onto the world rubidium stage by unlocking the nation's entry into a new and valuable critical mineral processing industry. The engineering study was completed at ECU's Mineral Recovery Research Centre, which Everest asked to help develop an innovative rubidium extraction process. The direct extraction process aims to extract the critical mineral in a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner from ore mined at the company's Mt Edon critical mineral project in WA's Mid West region. Demand for the rare mineral used in high-tech industries, such as defence, aerospace and communications, is expected to lift significantly. Research by global market research company Market Research Future projects global market usage to grow from US$4.46 billion (A$6.91B) in 2023 to US$7.2B by 2032 using a compound annual growth rate of 5.48 per cent. The study achieved exceptional results from phase three beneficiation and leaching testwork, which produced the outstanding 97 per cent recovery rate for rubidium oxide from Mt Edon's primary ore. Everest has elected to lock in a standard patent to protect its new-age technology, having realised the effectiveness of its extraction process. It jumped on a provisional patent for the process earlier this year. The company says the results confirm the project's potential commercial and technical viability, based on its plans for a processing plant capable of producing 750-1000 tonnes per annum rubidium chloride. Further studies are required to nail down an optimised process. Management believes the project can prosper from broad geopolitical initiatives, such as United States President Donald Trump's April executive order calling for an investigation into the national security risks associated with its dependence on imported processed critical minerals. The executive order outlines an urgent need to develop transparent, secure and US-aligned supply chains for required critical minerals. Rubidium has many high-technology applications and is listed as one of 35 critical minerals by several countries, including the US and Japan. Everest sees the current price of rubidium carbonate, near US$1170 per kilogram, as providing the project with strong potential to develop into a profitable operation. Downstream applications are fuelling rapid growth with an increase in demand for rubidium salts. With the engineering study complete, Everest has work underway to increase the efficiency of its extraction technology and reduce costs. During testwork, data from samples indicated the beneficiation process enhanced rubidium liberation and therefore its availability for downstream extraction, removing gangue minerals. Beneficiation led to higher leaching efficiency and improved outcomes, resulting in the 97 per cent recovery levels. The innovative extraction method is part of a process involving mining, beneficiation to concentrate the rubidium-bearing minerals, followed by roasting-leaching-crystallisation to produce rubidium chloride. Further analysis is required to evaluate the technical and economic risks for scalability and operational stability. The company plans to run additional bench-scale and pilot-scale testwork to validate its process before building a full-scale plant. Everest has an agreement with the CSIRO to enhance its understanding of rubidium, caesium and lithium mineralogy. The increased knowledge of the critical minerals is expected to improve the company's processing methods and overall recovery rates. Everest applied to the Minerals Research Institute of WA for funding under its METS Innovation program. The application sought matched funding to support upcoming metallurgical and purification testwork. The company expects to receive word on its application this month. It is also exploring grant funding opportunities and potential future funding options through domestic and international critical mineral initiatives to help scale up to a pilot plant next year. Mt Edon is 420 kilometres northeast of Perth and 5km southwest of the State's former gold rush settlement of Paynes Find. The project has an inferred mineral resource of 3.6 million tonnes grading 0.22 per cent rubidium oxide and 0.07 per cent lithium oxide. Management says the resource contains a world-class component of 1.3Mt at 0.33 per cent rubidium oxide and 0.07 per cent lithium oxide. The high-grade zone contains 56 per cent of the total contained rubidium tonnes at Mt Edon, which has 7900t of the rare critical mineral. Everest says its initial resource is based on drilling along 400 metres of strike within a 1.2km-long pegmatite corridor on a 192.4-hectare granted mining lease. Drilling was conducted to a vertical depth of 140m below surface, with 61 reverse circulation drill holes plunged in over 2779m to determine the estimated resource. Everest holds a 51 per cent stake in Mt Edon with the potential to take over the entire operation in a joint venture farm-in agreement with private company Entelechy Resources. The company is aiming big: It is looking to develop a fledgling industry locally, supply a growing market globally, and support the nation's defence needs with a reliable rubidium supply. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
India Today
28-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Dubai govt gifting free ChatGPT Plus to everyone? Is it real, what is the truth, and where is the catch
Yes, it is real. If you live in Dubai or any place else in the UAE, you'll soon get free access to ChatGPT Plus — the premium version of OpenAI's popular chatbot. This move makes the UAE the first country in the world to offer ChatGPT Plus — which usually costs $20 (roughly Rs 1,700) a month — to its entire population at no cost. The plan is part of a major agreement between OpenAI and the UAE government, under a programme called OpenAI for Countries. This programme is not just about free AI tools — the bigger goal is to help countries build local AI infrastructure while staying in line with US regulations and global what's the truth behind this? The deal is a big one. As part of the partnership, OpenAI and several global tech companies — including Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, SoftBank and G42 — are coming together to build a massive AI computing centre in Abu Dhabi. It's called Stargate UAE, and the first phase of the project — around 200 megawatts — is expected to be ready by next year. In total, the facility is planned to reach one gigawatt of computing power, which is huge. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, says the idea is to spread the benefits of AI — like improved healthcare, cleaner energy, and better education — to more people around the what about the catch? Honestly, there doesn't seem to be one — at least, not for the public. If you live in the UAE, you'll be able to use ChatGPT Plus for free, whether it's for writing, coding, studying, or simply getting answers to everyday questions. This version includes OpenAI's most advanced tools and models. For the general public, it's a win. But the real investment is happening behind the According to a report by The New York Times, the partnership includes a huge financial commitment: for every dollar spent by the UAE on local AI development, the same amount will be invested in US-based AI infrastructure. That figure could reach up to $20 billion in total. So, while people in the UAE get free access to advanced AI, the broader plan is to grow OpenAI's influence and ensure US-aligned AI systems become the global while the UAE appears to be leading the charge, this could just be the beginning. OpenAI says its Chief Strategy Officer, Jason Kwon, will be visiting other Asia Pacific nations to explore similar deals. If things go well, more countries may get access to ChatGPT and localised AI tools, customised to their languages, cultures and regulations.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine could be Trump's fall of Saigon
On April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon after a rapid-fire spring offensive. The fall of Saigon rendered the collapse of the US-aligned South Vietnamese regime inevitable and facilitated the unification of Vietnam under communist rule. This chain of events dealt a devastating blow to US prestige and marked an ignominious end to its two-decade-long struggle against communist expansion in Southeast Asia. The humiliation stemmed not just from South Vietnam's state failure but from the voluntary nature of the US's surrender to communism. President Richard Nixon's desperation to end the Vietnam War resulted in him declaring 'peace with honour' in January 1973 and set the stage for North Vietnam to militarily overwhelm its depleted southern neighbour. A half-century later, the US is at a similar inflection point. After more than three years of stoic resistance against Russian military aggression, Ukraine faces overwhelming headwinds. Russia is unevenly expanding its grip on eastern Ukraine and has structural war materiel and manpower advantages. If President Donald Trump stops US military aid to Ukraine, he risks repeating Nixon's fateful mistake and facilitating a Saigon-style fall of Kyiv. The events that immediately followed Saigon's demise underscore the grave consequences of such an abdication. Under Pol Pot's despotic tyranny, the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia perpetrated a genocide that killed three million people. The Pathet Lao movement leveraged North Vietnamese assistance to place Laos under communist rule in December 1975. While the much-feared domino effect of communist takeovers in Southeast Asia did not transpire, the US was a spectator to totalitarian consolidation and mass murder. If Russia can outlast US military assistance and capitalise on Europe's defensive limitations, it could eventually overthrow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and establish a puppet regime in Kyiv. President Vladimir Putin's neo-imperial delusions suggest that he will not stop there. President Alexander Lukashenko's retirement or death could trigger a Russian invasion of Belarus. Georgia and Moldova lack ironclad security guarantees and are sufficiently vulnerable that Russia could turn partial occupations into complete ones. Even if Russia does not test Nato's Article 5 by invading the Baltic States, the end of Ukrainian sovereignty would have harrowing spillover impacts. Given Russia's track record of levelling of major cities and gun-barrel cultural assimilation in Ukraine, the human costs of Putin's further aggression would be catastrophic. Taking the Saigon precedent a step further, the aftershocks of Trump's abandonment of Ukraine could lead to the unravelling of US primacy. After South Vietnam's collapse, the aura of invincibility that surrounded the US after World War II fell apart. The Soviet Union transcended economic stagnation and expanded its sphere of influence in Africa. China embarked on the course of economic reform that would make it the world's second most powerful country. Japan and West Germany continued their economic booms. A bipolar world where the US had material superiority over the Soviet Union became somewhat more multipolar. This shift also encouraged malign actors to carry out aggression with impunity. Sensing the US's Vietnam-induced crisis of confidence, Iran took fifty-three Americans hostage in November 1979 and the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan a month later. It took President Ronald Reagan's defence spending boom, the collapse of the Soviet Union and rapid-fire US triumph in the 1991 Gulf War to eviscerate these negative trendlines. A Saigon 2.0 in Kyiv would have even more disastrous consequences for US primacy and the world order. China's appeal as an alternative superpower partner would rise precipitously. Europe could eventually reconstitute itself as an independent pole detached from US hegemony. Russia's expanded territorial reach and India's economic dynamism could further erode US dominance. In the name of America-First, Trump risks overseeing the end of American exceptionalism and birth of a post-hegemonic multipolar world order. If Russia is rewarded for its neo-imperialism, China could follow a similar path in the Indo-Pacific region. Much like after Saigon, nuclear proliferation and proxy warfare would intensify. Trump's pledges to prevent World War III and make America safe again would ring alarmingly hollow. The US can still pull itself back from the brink of Saigon 2.0. Trump's periodic willingness to call out Russian obstructionism provides a glimmer of hope. Now is the time for these statements to transform into the reaffirmation of US support for Ukraine and peace through strength. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
