Blow the Truth

  Secretary of state Antony J. Blinken SECRETARY BLINKEN:   There is obviously a tremendous amount of focus on what’s happening in Europe, in particular Russia’s ongoing buildup of forces near Ukraine.  And that remains front and center in what we’re doing and indeed what I continue to do even as we’re heading to Australia. I’ve been on the phone during a chunk of this trip talking to various counterparts with some focus on Russia-Ukraine.  I spent some time talking to the National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as well.  And this is part of, as we’ve tabulated, with foreign counterparts something like 200-plus engagements just in recent weeks – phone calls, video conferences, in-person meetings, where we have been working to coordinate all of our partners in standing up to this Russian aggression directed toward Ukraine. And as you all know, we have been engaged in a two-track strategy where we have, on the one hand, been pursuing diplomacy, by far the preferab...

Vladimir Putin held talks in Beijing with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. The talks focused on the bilateral agenda and trade and economic cooperation. The President of China mentioned the intention to increase bilateral trade to US$250 billion. The President of Russia spoke about promoting the use of national currencies in mutual settlements, which the Chinese side supported. They also discussed bilateral military-technical cooperation, mutual recognition of coronavirus vaccines and the opening of border s depending on the epidemiological situation. During the working lunch, the two leaders discussed the international situation and regional issues, in particular, the circumstances surrounding the security guarantees proposed by the Russian Federation. Xi Jinping thanked Vladimir Putin for...

Is it time to rethink vaccine mandates for dining, fitness and events? We asked 5 experts The requirement to show proof of two doses of a COVID vaccine to do things such as eat out, go to the pub and visit sporting events is still in place across parts of the country including Victoria , Queensland and Western Australia . Part of the rationale for such mandates is to limit transmission of the virus, and therefore also protect vulnerable people who may be at risk of severe disease. But the arrival of the Omicron variant has changed the COVID landscape in Australia. Emerging evidence suggests two doses of COVID vaccine provides little protection against infection against the highly-infectious Omicron variant – though they’re still effective against severe disease. So we asked five experts, is it time to rethink vaccine mandates for dining, fitness and events? Here’s what they said. Li...

Cairns Western Arterial Road   Photo and Info   https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/N... The preferred upgrade option for Cairns Western Arterial Road between Redlynch Connector Road and Captain Cook Highway has been finalised. The Cairns Western Arterial Road Duplication is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments with the Australian Government contributing $240 million and the Queensland Government $60 million. It will support an estimated 185 jobs over the life of the project. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Western Arterial project will duplicate the remaining, single-lane sections to address safety and capacity issues on Cairns Western Arterial Road. “These upgrades show that the Australian Government is getting the job done for Queenslanders through our record $110 billion infrastructure investment plan,” the Deputy Prime Minister said. “This project is helping...

  DAF researchers Aiden Mellor (left) with Sydney rock oyster spat and Max Wingfield with Blacklip rock oyster spat from DAF’s Bribie Island Research Centre oyster hatchery Queensland Government scientists at a new oyster hatchery have laid the bed for a mouth-watering expansion of Queensland’s oyster industry. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said scientists at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Bribie Island Research Centre had, for the first time, successfully produced and settled 500,000 blacklip rock oysters at the centre’s bespoke oyster hatchery. “Blacklip rock oysters are notoriously difficult to successfully settle in a hatchery, so this breakthrough achievement has the real potential to develop extensive farming of native tropical oyster species,” Mr Furner said. “This is a game-changer for Queensland’s oyster farming industry allowing the industry to expand beyond the current South-East c...

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fled Ottawa hiding in  Diefenbunker  upon the arrival of Hundreds of thousands of truckers and their supporters into Ottawa  Covid   freedomconvoy22   heroes Convoy is a rally against Insane and illegal vaccine mandates Tens of thousands of truckers have driven their giant rigs into the Canadian capital Ottawa to protest against the Dictator Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Insane COVID-19 vaccine mandates and stealing people freedoms The massive “ Freedom Convoy ” – coming from all parts of Canada is a rally against vaccine Mandates requirement has turned into a demonstration against government Dictatorship during the pandemic with strong anti-vaccination laws. The protest   started on Saturday, the streets of Ottawa’s city centre were packed with Huge trucks and Semi Trailers   Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has left his home in the country's capital and shifted to a  Diefenbunker  at a secret ...

Across NSW, more than 95 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 93.9 per cent have received two doses to Tuesday 25 January 2022. Of people aged 12 to 15, 83 per cent have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 78.4 per cent have received two doses. Of people aged 5 to 11, 33.1 per cent have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 15,463,827 with 4,741,026 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 10,722,801 administered by the GP network, pharmacies and other providers to 11:59pm on Tuesday 25 January 2022. NSW Health encourages everyone who is eligible to receive a vaccination or their booster dose to book into a NSW Health vaccination clinic or another provider without delay through the COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder. Sadly, NSW Health is reporting the deaths of 29 people with COVID-19;   NSW Health expresses its sincere condolences to their l...

The first massive wind turbine blades for the $373 million Kaban Green Power Hub have arrived at the Port of Cairns. The 79-metre, 32-tonne blades are part of the wind farm construction that is supporting more than 250 jobs in far north Queensland and will deliver enough renewable energy to power 96,000 Queensland homes. Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the wind farm construction came on the back of a $40 million investment by Queensland’s publicly-owned Powerlink to upgrade the transmission line between Cairns and Townsville from 132kV to 275kV. “This wind farm will help power the North and keep Queensland on track to meet our 50 per cent renewables target by 2030 as well as creating jobs for Queenslanders,” Mr Miles said. Mr Miles said Powerlink’s investment in upgrading power infrastructure had enabled the 28-turbine project to power ahead and would also open up further investment. “This critical infrastructure has...

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Peter Dutton host the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace at AUKMIN. UK and Australian ministers concluded vital defence and security talks following the first AUKMIN meetings since the COVID-19 pandemic began. UK and Australian minsters concluded vital defence and security talks today following the first Australia UK Foreign and Defence Ministerial meetings (AUKMIN) since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Discussions focussed on key geopolitical challenges, including concerns around the situation in Ukraine. Ministers agreed on the vital need to defend freedom in the face of Russia’s growing aggression and underpinned their steadfast solidarity with Ukraine. The ministers agreed to step up collaboration to deter malign threats, promote positive critical technology standards and to support the development of quality infrastructure and standards. They reiterated their commitment to support...