Global Politics
Biden aces G7 exam with flying colours | TICKER VIEWS
President Joe Biden accomplished what he wanted to do in his first outing as America’s leader on the world stage: to demonstrate that America is back and that the United States is again the principal leader of Western democracies.
Biden was warmly welcomed, and all the heads of government – from G7 host Boris Johnson to Japan’s Prime Minister Suga – were clearly in concert and at ease with Biden’s embrace of a renewed agenda to make the world healthier, safer, more secure and more prosperous.
In his press conference at the conclusion of the meeting, Biden said:
“Over the past few weeks, the nations of the G7 have affirmed that democratic values that underpin everything we hope to achieve in our shared future, that we’re committed to put them to work: One, delivering vaccines and ending the pandemic. Two, driving substantial, inclusive economic recovery around the world. Three, in fueling infrastructure development in places that most badly need it. And four, in fighting climate change.”
Biden called out the threats and challenges posed by both Russia and China. In his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin, Biden will not be intimidated by Russian provocation. Where the US and Russia can work constructively together, they will.
Where they face divergent interests, those will be contested.
Biden brings in Western allies to have competitive stance towards China
With respect to China, Biden is determined that the Western allies be competitive with China on global infrastructure and meet China’s challenges on and actions on human rights and forced labour – Xinjiang and Hong Kong were explicitly mentioned – and the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea.
Biden believed it was essential to have in place these extensive consultations and the convergence on views that emerged before seeing Putin this week. This process will continue at NATO tomorrow.
However, it has also served as a predicate for a meeting with China’s President Xi, and we can now expect movement towards a Biden-Xi summit later this year.
Biden is intent to have in hand – and to use – the leverage of this alignment for the US with all the Western leaders in his discussions with Russia and China.
Behind the smiles, is America’s democracy under continuous pressure?
Behind the smiles and arm-in-arm walks Biden enjoyed with his colleagues, there remain significant doubts about how enduring America’s renewal as the indispensable Western leader will be.
The G7 and NATO leaders know that the forces of Trump and Trumpism – its isolationism, nativism, and nationalism – remain potent, and that America’s democracy is under continuous pressure.
Biden made the most of the moment, “I noticed there was a lot of coverage of my individual comments made by my colleagues about how we were all getting along together.
But the truth of the matter is: We did.
It wasn’t — I felt it wasn’t about me, but it was about America. I felt a genuine sense of enthusiasm that America was back at the table and fully, fully engaged.”
For the balance if his presidency, this is Biden’s road.
Author
New Zealand has suspended its travel bubble with Australia
The nation has halted its travel bubble arrangements for at least eight weeks as Australia continues to battle against the delta variant of COVID-19.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern fronted the media and stated that “the Delta variant has materially changed the risk profile”.
From 11:59pm tonight, Australians will be unable to travel to New Zealand on a quarantine-free flight
This restriction will be in place for at least the next eight weeks.
The trans-tasman route is already closed to travellers flying into New Zealand from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia as those states battle COVID-19 outbreaks.
“For New Zealanders in Australia, we are absolutely committed to getting you home,” Ms Ardern said.
Constant disruption to trans-Tasman travel bubble
Flights to New Zealand inside the bubble have been paused and restarted as different Australian states have experienced COVID-19 outbreaks.
“For the next seven days, we will have managed return flights for New Zealanders from all states and territories.
“Only New Zealand citizens and those ordinarily resident in New Zealand will be able to fly home.”
Author
Sydney has declared a national emergency as COVID-19 cases rise across the Australian city
Sydney and the state of New South Wales is calling on the Australian Federal Government to “refocus the national vaccination strategy”.
As the delta variant of the virus spreads throughout the city, Premier Gladys Berejiklian and her government have declared a national emergency.
New South Wales Government officials say that the spreading of the virus is “threatening the safety of other states.”
“This is not just a challenge for New South Wales – it’s a challenge for Australia”
They’ve encouraged people in virus-ravaged south-western and western Sydney to urgently “do their duty” and get vaccinated against coronavirus.
“The national emergency, every citizen has a duty to do what they can to defeat whatever is happening to us – in this case, it is a Delta variant of a virus,”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.
The Premier has stressed the importance of getting vaccinated as NSW records its highest daily number of COVID-19 cases today.
Dr. Kerry Chant says Australia urgently needs to correct the mythology about AstraZeneca
“We need to vaccinate younger people, between that 20 and 40-year-old age group,”
The Premier said.
Meanwhile, Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant says Australia urgently needs to “correct the mythology about AstraZeneca”.
“There is no doubt that if we want to contain this virus and stop it seeping out to other parts of Greater Sydney, stop it impacting our freedom and our economy, but also stop it spreading to other states, we need to have a discussion about refocusing the national vaccination strategy,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
The issue will be addressed at today’s National Cabinet, she said.
At least 53 of today’s NSW cases were infectious in the community
Author
As the race to combat the global chip shortage continues the Biden administration is big to end the crisis
US President Joe Biden is preparing to spend $52 billion to boost the worsening shortage of semiconductor chips.
The White House is still waiting for congressional approval on the big spend but is pushing ahead with plans of how to invest the money wisely.
The Commerce Secretary says America “needs to incentivise the manufacturing of chips” if the country wants the crisis to end.
She added that officials have been speaking with the impacted industries on a daily basis which has helped address the shortage from the ground up.
Whilst there have been reports that the sector is gradually improving, but the car manufacturing sector may still be impacted by delays.
Biden recently called for Semiconductor chips to be produced locally in the US, but this company is ignoring his plea.
Semiconductor manufacturer ‘Global Foundries’ has ignored US President Joe Biden’s request for new plants to be built locally amid the global chip shortage.
Construction will begin on the $4 billion Asian plant in 2023. This goes against the Biden administration’s wishes to return chip manufacturing to American soil.
The company will join rivals including ‘Samsung’ and ‘Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’ which are all also trying to address the current chip shortage.
The President has been under increasing pressure to secure a constant supply of this crucial tech that is used in so many modern devices.
Author
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