MI5 boss warns British businesses over Chinese spying risk October 18, 2023 British businesses need to be wary of the risk from Chinese spies, the boss of MI5 warned at an event in California.
UK spent over £46m on Australia and New Zealand trade deals August 20, 2023 The UK government spent more than £46m on negotiating just two trade deals last year, it has been revealed. Ministers shelled out £46.2m during 2022-23 securing and implementing new trade deals with Australia and New Zealand, according to a recent parliamentary written question. Concerns have been raised over the expected benefit from the Australian and [...]
Sporting rivalry between England and Australia unmatchable August 16, 2023 They’re two countries with shared values and an entwined history, and that’s why any fixture, in any sport, between Australia and England just matters. Earlier this summer we saw how the Ashes, with its peaks and troughs, captured both nations – even prompting some banter between Rishi Sunak and Anthony Albanese – as both the [...]
Is it time for the Commonwealth Games to move on and change tact? July 18, 2023 In the early hours of Tuesday morning a statement dropped announcing that the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games would not take place in the southern state of Australia. It triggered a crisis for the Commonwealth and what it perceives to be its legacy. Once the British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games encompasses a modern Britain and [...]
Sunak to meet Oz and NZ leaders as trade deal – which promises cheaper manuka honey and Jacob’s Creek – takes effect May 5, 2023 Rishi Sunak is set to welcome the leaders of Australia and New Zealand to No10 ahead of the UK’s landmark post-Brexit trade deals coming into force. The prime minister will meet Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Chris Hipkins, prime minister of New Zealand, in Downing Street today. It comes as the UK’s trade deals with [...]
Australia follows UK, US, Canada and New Zealand in banning TikTok from government devices April 4, 2023 Australia has become the last of the Five Eyes security partners to ban the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok from its federal government’s devices. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said in a statement on Tuesday that based on intelligence and security agencies’ advice, that ban would come into effect “as soon as practicable”. The so-called Five Eyes intelligence-sharing [...]
Is the UK about to tick one of its ‘Asia tilt’ boxes by joining CPTPP Indo-Pacific trade bloc this week? March 29, 2023 The UK is set to join the key CPTPP Indo-Pacific trade bloc later this week, according to reports. Negotiations have been ongoing to secure Britain’s entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) since early 2021. And sources have now said the UK’s entry into the pact is “agreed” and “confirmed”, according [...]
British designed BAE nuclear subs will power up Australian navy as part of AUKUS defence deal March 14, 2023 Australia will operate a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines based on British designs as both countries modernise their armed forces as part of the AUKUS defence deal. The new boats will be in operation in the late 2030s as part of the AUKUS deal – involving Australia, the UK and US. It will follow a [...]
MI5 spies to help firms counter China tech threats, says Sunak March 13, 2023 China poses the biggest “state-based” threat to Britain’s economic security, prime minister Rishi Sunak has said, as MI5 spies are set to help firms counter tech threats. UK organisations and businesses will receive expert security advice from the new National Protective Security Authority within MI5 to help them counter risks from hackers. It comes as [...]
King Charles will not appear on Australian banknote as Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait is replaced February 2, 2023 Queen Elizabeth II will no longer appear on the Australian $5 banknote and King Charles III will not replace her, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said on Thursday. Her Majesty’s portrait will be swapped for an updated design which “honours the culture and history of the First Australians”, according to a statement from the [...]