News

Sunak calls for Australia to find solution to Comm Games cancellation

Published

2 years ago

July 19, 2023

ticker NEWS

The UK downplays the idea of hosting the event again after the Victorian Government abruptly cancelled the 2026 event citing a cost blowout

Downing Street expressed optimism in finding a “viable solution” for the 2026 Commonwealth Games originally planned in Australia, but dismissed the idea of the UK stepping in to host the event.

Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, expressed interest in exploring the possibility of hosting the games as part of a multi-country UK bid.

Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, had announced the state’s withdrawal due to escalating staging costs.

“This is a disappointing outcome for both fans and athletes,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said.

“We hope that the Victoria state government, the Games federation and Commonwealth Games Australia will now work together to find a viable solution to hosting the event in 2026.”

In 2017, Birmingham took over the hosting rights for the 2022 Commonwealth Games after the Federation stripped Durban, South Africa, of the opportunity.

The event’s cost in Birmingham was £778m (AU$1.5bn), with funding shared between the central government and Birmingham City Council. An independent report highlighted the positive contribution of £870.7m (AU$1.7bn) to the UK economy.

When asked about encouraging a home nation to host the 2026 event, the government spokesperson advised against rushing into decisions.

“In the first instance it’s for those bodies and groups I’ve just mentioned to have those discussions and see if a solution can be found,” said the spokesperson.

“Obviously the UK has been honoured to host the Games twice in the past decade (Birmingham 2022 and Glasgow 2014) so we will see what comes out of those initial discussions.”

Katie Sadleir, the chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, welcomed the possibility of Scotland being part of a multi-city, multi-country host.

“The UK are fantastic hosts and we would be very open to having a conversation with them about it, if that’s something they would be interested in doing,” she said.

Humza Yousaf expressed interest in exploring the possibility, while England, Scotland, and Wales’ national Commonwealth federations were disappointed by Victoria’s withdrawal, stating it was unsettling for athletes.

News

Trump slams Musk’s ‘America Party’ as ridiculous

Trump calls Musk a “train wreck,” dismisses new America Party as “ridiculous” amid escalating feud reshaping US politics.

Published

9 hours ago

July 8, 2025

ticker NEWS

Trump calls Musk a “train wreck,” dismisses new America Party as “ridiculous” amid escalating feud reshaping US politics.

Donald Trump is taking direct aim at Elon Musk, branding the billionaire a “train wreck” and dismissing his new America Party as “ridiculous.”

The fallout comes after Musk launched the third party in protest over Trump’s trillion-dollar spending bill, warning it could bankrupt the nation.

Once allies, the two are now locked in a bitter feud that could reshape Washington’s political landscape.

#TrumpVsMusk #AmericaParty #USPolitics #TickerNews

News

Erin Patterson found guilty of mushroom murders

Erin Patterson sentenced for murdering three relatives and attempting to kill a fourth in notorious mushroom lunch case.

Published

9 hours ago

July 8, 2025

ticker NEWS

Erin Patterson sentenced for murdering three relatives and attempting to kill a fourth in notorious mushroom lunch case.

Erin Patterson has been convicted of killing three family members and attempting to murder a fourth in the now-infamous mushroom lunch case that gripped Australia and stunned the world.

After a week of deliberations, the Supreme Court jury found Patterson guilty of murdering Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and of the attempted murder of the lone survivor, Ian Wilkinson.

#ErinPatterson #Mushroom #TrueCrime #TickerNews

News

Multiple flights Australia-Bali cancelled due to volcano eruption

Multiple Australia-Bali flights cancelled as Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupts again, disrupting travel for the second time in two months.

Published

12 hours ago

July 8, 2025

Ahron Young

Multiple Australia-Bali flights cancelled as Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupts again, disrupting travel for the second time in two months.

In Short:
International flights between Australia and Bali have been cancelled again due to the recent eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Indonesia. This marks the second eruption in two months.

Multiple return international flights between Australia and Bali have faced cancellations following the recent eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano. It marks the second time in as many months that volcanic activity has disrupted travel plans for passengers heading to the popular tourist destination.

Observations from drones showed lava filling the crater, indicating deep movement of magma that set off volcanic earthquakes.

“An eruption of that size certainly carries a higher potential for danger, including its impact on aviation,” Mr Wafid told The Associated Press.

“We shall re-evaluate to enlarge its danger zone that must be cleared of villagers and tourist activities.”

Flight delays

“Some Virgin Australia Bali services have been cancelled following the eruption of Mount Lewotobi earlier today,” a Virgin Australia spokesperson said.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority and our team of expert meteorologists are closely monitoring the situation and ash cloud activity.

“We regret the impact of this on guests’ travel plans and encourage guests travelling to or from Bali to closely monitor their flight status via the Virgin Australia website or app.”

Qantas flights QF43 from Sydney and QF45 from Melbourne to Denpasar, Bali have been delayed.

Bali, known for its stunning landscapes and cultural attractions, relies heavily on international tourism, particularly from Australia. With flight cancellations, many are left scrambling to adjust their itineraries or seek alternative destinations. The situation has put a spotlight on the challenges that natural events can pose to the tourism sector.

Authorities in Indonesia are working to assess the situation and manage the impact of the volcano’s activity. Updates on travel advisories and safety measures are expected to be communicated to the public as conditions evolve.