logo
Lammy and Healey to sign bilateral Aukus deal during trip to Australia

Lammy and Healey to sign bilateral Aukus deal during trip to Australia

David Lammy and John Healey will meet their counterparts at the annual Australia-UK ministerial meeting, or Aukmin, in Sydney, and then travel on to Melbourne to meet businesses involved in the Aukus submarine programme.
They will also visit Darwin as the Carrier Strike Group docks in the Northern Territory.
The Aukus partnership between the UK, US and Australia involves building nuclear-powered attack submarines – including Australia acquiring its first such fleet – and co-operating in other areas of defence.
It was agreed by the three countries in 2021, but the Trump administration has put it under review, raising fears it could pull out.
The deal now being signed by the UK and Australia sets out the bilateral aspects of the partnership and how the two countries will work together to deliver their Aukus submarine programmes over the next half century.
Defence Secretary Mr Healey said: 'Aukus is one of Britain's most important defence partnerships, strengthening global security while driving growth at home.
'This historic treaty confirms our Aukus commitment for the next half century.'
He said people 'not yet born' will benefit from jobs secured through the deal.
More than 21,000 people in the UK are expected to be working on the programme at its peak.
Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy said the UK-Australia relationship is 'like no other'.
He added: 'In our increasingly volatile and dangerous world, our anchoring friendship has real impact in the protection of global peace and prosperity.
'Our new bilateral Aukus treaty is an embodiment of that – safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific whilst catalysing growth for both our countries.'
The UK's Carrier Strike Group – an international formation of Royal Navy warships, submarines and aircraft – has been taking part in the Talisman Sabre military exercise hosted in Australia.
The Australia and US-led military exercise involves more than 35,000 military personnel from 19 countries.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: 'Aukus was a landmark achievement of the last Conservative government and it's essential that Labour keeps up the momentum, including on industrial collaboration.
'We welcome further progress but this must deliver in practice, both in terms of jobs and strengthened mutual security, at a time of heightened threats.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Matcha latte prices set to soar as global craze and record-breaking heatwave fuel supply chain crisis
Matcha latte prices set to soar as global craze and record-breaking heatwave fuel supply chain crisis

The Independent

timea few seconds ago

  • The Independent

Matcha latte prices set to soar as global craze and record-breaking heatwave fuel supply chain crisis

Record temperatures and an increasing global demand has stretched Japan 's supply of matcha this year, leading prices to rocket. Farmers and industry officials have spoken out as they struggle to meet the ever-increasing demand for the bright green tea drink from Japan, which has peaked in popularity this year. Matcha's popularity has been growing over recent years, with sales soaring by 202 percent in the UK in 2023 alone according to Orion Market Research. The antioxidant rich beverage has reached its apex this year, driven by social media and Japan's post-pandemic tourism boom. The Kyoto region, which accounts for a quarter of Japan's production of tencha - the stemmed leaves dried and ground into matcha - was hit by severe heatwaves last summer during Japan's hottest year on record, which led to weak yields in the recent April-May harvest. US-based tea importer Lauren Purvis told the BBC her customers were seeing what was once a month's supply run out in days: "Some cafes are even asking for a kilo a day. They're desperate to keep up," the Mizuba Tea Co. owner said. Masahiro Yoshida, a sixth-generation farmer, was only able to harvest 1.5 tons of tencha this year, down a quarter from his typical harvest of two tons. 'Last year's summer was so hot that it damaged the bushes, so we couldn't pluck as many tea leaves,' he told Reuters from his storefront in Uji, south of Kyoto. Traditionally, the tencha leaves are kept under shade for weeks while growing in order to develop the tea's 'umami' taste. The leaves are then harvested, dried and ground into powder using stone mills. Tealife founder Yuki Ishii told Reuters that it saw a ten-fold increase in demand for matcha from customers, despite the amount available from Japan declining. 'I'm basically always out of stock," he said. Japan produced 5,336 tons of tencha in 2024, nearly three times more than a decade before as more farmer's switch to the crop, according the Japanese Tea production Association. Despite this, the association expects lower matcha output this year. As well as surging demand and lesser tea crops this year, US tariffs on Japan have pushed up matcha prices. On Tuesday, Washington and Tokyo announced a trade deal which means there will be a 15 per cent import tax on Japanese products going into the US. The move has led matcha distributors to brace for the impact, with Ms Purvis saying orders surged by more than 70 per cent in early July ahead of a deadline for the two countries to reach a trade agreement. 'As Japanese tea is not grown in the US, there is no American industry under threat that tariffs need to protect,' she told the BBC. 'We hope there will be a realisation that specialty tea should be exempt.'

Business news live: FTSE 100 to open near record high and latest bitcoin price after fall
Business news live: FTSE 100 to open near record high and latest bitcoin price after fall

The Independent

timea few seconds ago

  • The Independent

Business news live: FTSE 100 to open near record high and latest bitcoin price after fall

The FTSE 100 rose to new highs once again last week, tipping the scales well above 9,100 points after a particularly strong day on Thursday which saw the likes of BT Group rise ten per cent. The British companies index is up more than 11 per cent this year, outpacing the key US benchmarks. Meanwhile, key upcoming UK economy data this week includes mortgage approvals and the Nationwide House Price Index. Additionally, there is likely to be more news emerging on how the government may tackle pension reform, amid debate over what age the state pension should be and whether the tax relief rate on pension contributions may be altered. In other markets, bitcoin fell towards the end of last week, from the highs above $123,000 down to around $115,000, with gold also retreating as investors took a risk-on approach once more.

UK emergency alert to be sent to millions in new test
UK emergency alert to be sent to millions in new test

The Independent

timea few seconds ago

  • The Independent

UK emergency alert to be sent to millions in new test

The UK government has released the text of a national emergency alert, set to be broadcast as part of a crucial system test. Millions of phones will vibrate and emit a siren for around 10 seconds when the message arrives at approximately 3pm on September 7. The alert, under 100 words, will assure recipients they "do not need to take any action" and will be delivered in both English and Welsh. This pre-publication is part of a public awareness campaign by the Cabinet Office, designed to prepare citizens for the drill, including those with hidden phones due to domestic abuse. The message will reach mobile phones on 4G and 5G networks across the UK. On Monday, the Cabinet Office said the text message will include both English and Welsh and be sent to mobile phones on 4G and 5G networks in the UK. It will read: 'This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK government service that will warn you if there's a life-threatening emergency nearby. 'You do not need to take any action. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. 'Find simple and effective advice on how to prepare for emergencies at 'Visit for more information or to view this message in Welsh. Ewch i am ragor o wybodaeth neu i weld y neges hon yn y Gymraeg.' Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said: 'Just like the fire alarm in your house, it's important we test this system so that we know it will work if we need it. 'The alerts have the potential to save lives.' Since the first national test of the system in April 2023, five alerts have been sent, including during major storms such as Storm Eowyn in January when lives were at risk. Other activations have took place when an unexploded Second World War bomb was discovered in Plymouth, as well as during flash floods in Cumbria and Leicestershire. Some MPs have called on ministers to use different modes of communication for the alert in order to ensure it reaches people who do not have access to a phone. Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman Sarah Olney has suggested the Government follows Scandinavian examples where the public have been handed pamphlets about preparing for emergencies.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store