US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers keynote speech in Melbourne

Published

4 years ago

February 10, 2022

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has delivered a keynote speech in Melbourne just moments ago after arriving in Australia on Wednesday

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a keynote speech at the University of Melbourne on Thursday, ahead of his planned Quad meeting with foreign ministers.

Mr Blinken spoke of the challenges brought on by the pandemic, getting vaccines into Asia and the current relationship between Australia and the United States.

He highlighting the closeness in values between the two nations.

Mr Blinken said it was imperative for Australia and the United States to work together to tackle challenges such as climate change and the COVID pandemic.

He sat down with students at the university, telling them Australia had showed it was capable of the best of humanity.

Mr Blinken is in Melbourne for the Quad meeting of foreign ministers which will take place on Friday, where he will meet with counterparts from India, Japan and Australia.

He does head out of the country over the weekend and will fly over to Fiji for another meeting with officials there.

Blinken plans to reassure Pacific island leaders that Washington and its allies are committed to providing security and COVID-19 vaccines, as China steps up its aid and influence in the region.

Shoppers cut back this Black Friday as budgets tighten

UK shoppers are tightening budgets for Black Friday, expecting to spend £622—4% less than last year—favoring discounts.

Published

8 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Harvey Vargas

UK shoppers are tightening budgets for Black Friday, expecting to spend £622—4% less than last year—favoring discounts.

Shoppers across the UK are revising their Black Friday game plan, tightening their budgets as economic pressures reshape spending behaviour. Many are approaching the sales season far more cautiously than before.

Consumers expect to spend an average of £622 this year — a 4% drop from last year — with many relying on discounts and promotions to stretch their budgets. Value is king, with 38% of shoppers saying they’ll only buy items that are at least 50% off.

Rising inflation and income disruptions are adding pressure, and even higher-income households plan to scale back spending across Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Brands and retailers will need to work harder to earn every pound this shopping season.

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News

National Guard ambush: Afghan man charged after D.C. shooting

Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal arrested for shooting two National Guard members; FBI probes potential terrorism link.

Published

8 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal arrested for shooting two National Guard members; FBI probes potential terrorism link.

An Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been arrested after allegedly shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Authorities say Lakanwal previously worked with CIA-backed military units in Afghanistan before coming to the United States.

The victims, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, remain in critical condition. Officials warn that if either victim dies, the charges could escalate to first-degree murder as the investigation intensifies.

The FBI is now examining the case as a potential act of terrorism, while the Department of Homeland Security has announced a review of all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration.

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News

Hong Kong construction bosses arrested after city’s deadliest fire in decades

Hong Kong arrests construction bosses after deadly fire kills 83; 279 still missing as investigation intensifies.

Published

8 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Hong Kong arrests construction bosses after deadly fire kills 83; 279 still missing as investigation intensifies.

Hong Kong has been shaken by the arrest of construction company bosses following the city’s most devastating fire in almost 80 years, which claimed at least 83 lives. The blaze erupted at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po, where renovation work was underway.

Authorities report that more than 4,600 residents lived in the high-rise blocks, with most victims found within two of the towers. Shockingly, 279 people remain unaccounted for nearly 24 hours after the fire first broke out.

The Hong Kong government has announced a HK$300 million emergency fund to support survivors and affected residents. Meanwhile, police are deepening their investigation, seizing documents and equipment from the company’s headquarters.

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