The Australian Olympic committee has slammed the decision to impose a 28 day period for some returning athletes
The AOC says the South Australian Government’s decision to ignore expert medical advice poses a significant mental health risk for those athletes.
The AOC says the South Australian Government's decision to ignore expert medical advice and the decision of National Cabinet by imposing a 28 day period for returning Australian Olympians poses a significant mental health risk for those athletes.https://t.co/V1Xk6StO0X
The fully vaccinated Australian Olympic Team has returned home and is currently undergoing the mandatory quarantine arrangements at hotels and facilities around Australia
However, the South Australian Government will impose a further mandatory quarantine period when South Australian athletes return from hotel quarantine in Sydney… totalling 28 days in isolation.
South Australia is the only state to do this.
There are 56 team members returning to South Australia with 16 currently quarantined in Sydney.
The SA government has rejected AOC appeals to grant exemptions for the returning Olympians, who will isolate at their homes rather than at quarantine hotels.
Adelaide’s Belinda White, a member of Australia’s Olympic softball team, will be the first athlete impacted.
Softball Australia’s chief executive officer David Pryles worried at her wellbeing during her next 14 days of isolation in Adelaide.
“To force Belinda to undergo an extra 14 days by herself upon returning to her hometown of Adelaide frankly gives us concern for the mental well-being of our returning Olympian,” Pryles said.
Many fans and athletes have taken to social media to express their concern.
Ridiculous decision. What a terrible way to treat our Olympians. Two weeks is enough.
AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll says the decision flies in the face of the expert medical advice of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Chief Medical Officer Dr David Hughes that the mental health of athletes can be severely challenged after returning from a highly constrained Tokyo Games environment into the further isolation of extended lockdown.
“While other countries are celebrating the return of their athletes, we are subjecting ours to the most cruel and uncaring treatment. They are being punished for proudly representing their country with distinction at the Olympic Games,”
“We are all promoting the obvious benefits of vaccination, but this important layer of protection is not working in favour of these athletes, given this decision. By any measure, this group of returning Olympians is extremely low risk.
“Not only are our Olympians fully vaccinated, but they have also been living in a highly controlled bubble in Tokyo, taking the upmost precautions – tested daily over many weeks.
Mr Carroll says the AOC has expressly followed the South Australian Health Department’s Exemption process, submitting medical evidence based on highly qualified advice.
“We have received no explanation as to why our application on behalf of these athletes has been rejected. If you run an exemption process, presumably that includes the prospect than exemptions can be granted based on scientific advice. We have received no response related to the expert advice we have provided,” Mr Carroll said.
AIS Chief Medical Officer Dr David Hughes says while he respects the South Australian process is designed to keep the state safe, the decision to reject the athletes’ application is profoundly flawed.
“To have individuals quarantined for such a lengthy period of time is in my opinion unreasonable and cannot be scientifically justified. It poses a significant risk to the physical and mental wellbeing of the individuals concerned,” Dr Hughes said.
Mr Carroll says numerous attempts to resolve this matter over some weeks without success.
“National Cabinet took a position that a double quarantine arrangement was unacceptable. Every COVID-safe procedure we have asked the Olympians to undergo, they have complied with. They can safely transfer to their home states after the mandatory hotel quarantine period without interacting with the public.
The AOC wrote formally to the South Australian Chief Medical Officer after weeks of discussions with departmental staff. Today the AOC was informed of the decision that the Olympians would be required to home quarantine, on top of the two weeks hotel quarantine just completed.
Mr Carroll says the home quarantine option is no less impactful. First the athletes are required to apply for home quarantine, with no certainty of approval.
“Athletes subject to home quarantine will not be permitted a welcome home hug. Either the athlete’s family must move away, the athlete must find a way of isolating from the family or the entire family goes into quarantine. That is not an acceptable option for someone who is fully vaccinated and who has already just completed two weeks’ quarantine,” Mr Carroll concluded.
In Short:
– Coldplay concert kiss-cam moment increased interest in IT company Astronomer.
– Astronomer is investigating the incident while providing AI data integration infrastructure.
How a Viral Coldplay kiss-cam moment recently drew attention to a lesser-known IT company, Astronomer. Following an incident at a Coldplay concert where CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot were caught on the kiss cam, interest in the company surged.
Post-incident, searches for “What is Astronomer” spiked as Byron’s unexpected appearance prompted comments from Coldplay’s Chris Martin. The company confirmed that Byron is married. By the week’s end, Astronomer had gained unprecedented visibility.
Astronomer has stated its board is conducting a formal investigation into the incident, emphasising accountability in leadership conduct.
Founded in 2018, Astronomer provides critical infrastructure for AI data integration, having worked with prominent companies like Apple and Ford. With over 300 employees and substantial funding, Astronomer leverages Apache Airflow to enhance data orchestration capabilities.
Publicity Impact
Experts suggest the publicity may have mixed effects on the company’s reputation, which is vital in the tech industry.
“On the plus side, we’ve all heard of Astronomer now, right?” Liz Leslie, a San Francisco-based digital marketing director wrote on LinkedIn.
“While the visibility puts a spotlight on who Astronomer is, this is not usually the kind of publicity that brings in new customers,” said Peter Davenport, senior strategic consultant at brand, marketing and communications specialist Definition. “In fact, it threatens to erode trust and authority built over years, especially in industries where reputation and reliability matter most.”
In Short:
– A new $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ will apply to all non-immigrant visa applicants in the U.S.
– The fee could deter tourists and international students due to increased costs and budget concerns.
Visitors to the United States will soon face a new $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ as mandated by the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This fee applies to all non-immigrant visa applicants, including tourists, business travellers, and international students, and cannot be waived. There are possibilities for reimbursement, contingent on visa compliance.
The fee will be applicable during the U.S. fiscal year 2025 and is subject to inflation adjustments thereafter. It must be paid in addition to existing fees, bringing total costs significantly higher for many visa applicants. Implementation details are unclear, including the process for fee collection and reimbursement, which may take years to establish.
Impact Expected
The new fee could deter B visa holders and international students over budget concerns, particularly as the U.S. prepares for major events in 2026. Furthermore, funding cuts to Brand USA, the organisation responsible for promoting U.S. travel, jeopardise inbound tourism efforts. The U.S. Travel Association indicates additional fees complicate the travel process.
Trump threatens legal action against Murdoch over Wall Street Journal’s report linking him to Epstein’s birthday letter
In Short:
– Trump plans to sue Murdoch and News Corp over a false report regarding a letter to Epstein.
– He requests Bondi to release grand jury testimony, but some supporters have mixed reactions.
US President Donald Trump has announced plans to sue Rupert Murdoch and News Corp following a report from The Wall Street Journal. This report alleges Trump wrote a sexually suggestive letter to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003.In a post on Truth Social, Trump rejected the claims, labelling the letter “FAKE” and criticising the newspaper’s coverage. He stated that he had previously alerted Murdoch to the letter’s inauthenticity, but the publication proceeded with the story.
Trump further requested Attorney-General Pam Bondi to release any relevant grand jury testimony concerning Epstein, a move that some believe does not meet the expectations of his supporters. Bondi confirmed that the Justice Department is prepared to seek the unsealing of these documents.
Client List
Trump’s commentary on the Epstein allegations highlights a growing division within his supporters regarding Epstein’s supposed client list. Despite claims by many, the FBI has stated it will not release additional documents related to Epstein’s case.
Trump has previously downplayed concerns about the allegations, attributing them to partisan attacks by “Radical Left Democrats.”