Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement on international borders after National Cabinet this afternoon.
Those who have had both doses of a TGA-approved vaccine will be allowed out of Australia and then will be able to quarantine inside their homes on their return for seven days.
There will be no restrictions on which countries will be open for travel.
Sydney International Airport will become the first to see flights take off en masse due to the high rates of vaccination in NSW.
The Prime Minister first announced the border closure on March 20, 2020 to all non-citizens and nonresidents. Even Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family needed to apply for an exemption to travel and to quarantine at a hotel for 14 days on arrival at a cost of more than $3000.
Christmas comes early for Qantas / Image: File
Qantas responds to reopening news
Qantas will bring forward the restart of its international flights to 14 November 2021, following the Federal Government’s announcement that Australia’s borders will open in November.
The national carrier will operate three weekly return flights between Sydney and London and three weekly return flights between Sydney and Los Angeles with its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. These two destinations have been the most searched on qantas.com in recent weeks. More flights will be added to meet demand, if needed.
Sydney will become first city to see flights depart for overseas travel / Image: File
Fares are now on sale for Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families and some visa holders. Fares start from $1662 return for Sydney-Los Angeles and $1869 return for Sydney-London.
All flights on both routes for the first week will be ‘Points Planes’, meaning frequent flyers can access uncapped Classic Flight Reward seats across all cabins. Seats on these flights will also be available as regular flight bookings.
Once the Federal Government announces the exact date that Australia’s international borders will reopen in November, the commencement dates for these two routes may need to be updated. Flights will be brought forward if its earlier than 14 November or moved to later in the month if necessary. Customers booked on these flights will have the flexibility to make ‘fee free’ date changes for travel until 31 December 2022 (a fare difference may apply). If flights are cancelled customers may also be eligible for a refund or credit voucher.
As previously indicated, all passengers on Qantas’ international flights will be required to be fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved or recognised vaccine (some exemptions for medical reasons and children). They will also be required to return a negative PCR COVID test 72 hours prior to departure.
Customers on these flights will be required to home quarantine for seven days on arrival into Australia, in accordance with the requirements from the Federal and New South Wales governments.
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.”