Latest news with #NewsCorpAustralia
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Aussie passport losing its power
Australia has fallen from sixth to seventh place in the latest Henley Passport Index, trailing countries such as Singapore, New Zealand and the UK. The Henley Passport Index ranks passports according to the number of places travellers can enter without a visa or with visa-on-arrival access. Australia now shares seventh place with Czechia, Hungary, Malta and Poland. Singapore is the world's most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227. Japan and South Korea are in equal second place, each giving citizens access to 190 destinations visa-free. Australia now shares seventh place with four other countries. NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar Credit: NCA NewsWire Seven countries are in third place including France, Germany, Ireland and Italy. They have access to 189 destinations. In fourth place there are also seven countries including Belgium, Sweden, Norway and Portugal. They have visa-free entry to 188 destinations. New Zealand is in fifth spot, along with Switzerland, while the UK is in sixth place. The US has slipped to 10th place and is close to falling out of the top 10 for the first time since the index began almost 20 years ago. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, with its citizens able to access just 25 destinations without a prior visa. Australians are still able to enter many countries without needing a visa beforehand. Australians can still enter many countries without a visa. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia The data shows a general global shift towards more openness, mobility and passport strength. Over the past decade, more than 80 passports have climbed at least 10 places, and the global average number of destinations travellers can access visa-free has almost doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025. Notably, China has climbed 34 places from 94th to 60th since 2015. China has granted visa-free access to more than a dozen new passports since January, bringing its total to 75. These include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia. In the past decade, more than 80 passports have climbed at least 10 places. NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia Henley and Partners chief executive Juerg Steffen said Americans were leading the demand worldwide for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also among the top five. 'As the US and UK adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, we're witnessing a marked rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security,' he said. 'Your passport is no longer just a travel document – it's a reflection of your country's diplomatic influence and international relationships. 'In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever.'
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Extra $800m for AUKUS was scheduled, PM
Australia has sent another $800m to the US as part of the AUKUS deal, which the Trump administration has under review, but the Prime Minister says it was simply a part of the 'schedule'. Anthony Albanese was asked about the new payment that took the total to $1.6bn, which was reported in Nine newspapers on Wednesday. 'There is a schedule of payments to be made, we have an agreement with the United States as well as with the United Kingdom,' Mr Albanese told ABC's Afternoon Briefing. 'It is about increasing the capacity, their industrial capacity, and as part of that, we have Australians on the ground, learning the skills so that when it comes to the SSN-AUKUS, the submarines being built here in Australia, we have those skills.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the $800m sent to the US for AUKUS was a scheduled payment. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Defence Minister Richard Marles earlier confirmed the report saying 'the payments are occurring in line with Australia's commitment to contribute US$2bn by the end of 2025, which underscores our commitment to the successful delivery of AUKUS Pillar I outcomes'. The US' review was announced in June and is being headed up by Elbridge Colby, the US undersecretary of defence. Mr Colby recently made headlines when it was revealed he was pressuring the Australian and Japanese governments to reveal what they would do if China invaded Taiwan. The nuclear submarines are set to be built in Australia. NewsWire / Morgan Sette Credit: News Corp Australia The AUKUS deal is a long-term arrangement that will cost upwards of $268bn, and as much as $368bn, over the next 30 years. Australia would buy nuclear submarines from the US, while developing our own capacity to build submarines in Adelaide. The new payment came as Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said he was 'worried' about the government's position on defence. 'I worry that the government – I think it's not just me worried, I think every expert looking at this is making these comments – they're deeply worried that we're not on our way to having the defence force we need in such an uncertain time,' Mr Taylor said. 'We've got authoritarian regimes around the world flexing their muscles.'
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Alleged Miznon protester seeks bail
The alleged actions of a man charged with four offences after an affray outside an Israeli restaurant were not motivated by anti-Semitism, a court has been told. Antwany Arnold, 50, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link on Wednesday for a second bail application after his first bid was denied earlier in July. Mr Arnold was charged with assault, affray, riotous behaviour and criminal damage after allegedly throwing food and chairs outside Miznon restaurant on Hardware Lane on July 4. CCTV footage shown in court captures a group of protesters chanting 'Death, Death to the IDF' and activating a siren among the outdoor tables. Police allege Mr Arnold knocked a table over and threw a pair of chairs, before having a verbal altercation with a female and throwing a chair in her direction. Mr Arnold has spent 15 days in custody. Vic Pol Credit: Supplied The court was told Mr Arnold was already on bail at the time for an earlier alleged incident, and his previous bail application was refused due to breaching a condition which prohibited him from entering the CBD. 'While police support the right to free speech, the way the accused goes about it is aggressive, violent, confrontational, and against community standards,' Detective Senior Constable Daniel Sanderson said. Mr Sanderson said Mr Arnold represented an unacceptable risk as he showed a 'complete disregard for court imposed bail'. Tim Hutton, acting for Mr Arnold, said elements of the alleged offending had been 'unfairly exaggerated' by police in their summary. The court was told Mr Arnold was a 'familiar face' in the pro-Palestine movement, with a group of supporters present in court and online. CCTV shown to the court captured protesters outside Miznon restaurant. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia Chloe Campbell, who knows Mr Arnold from their involvement in protests, gave evidence she had never seen Mr Arnold act or behave violently. 'He's always been a joy to see when we see them at the rallies,' she said. Mr Hutton said Mr Arnold's long history of peaceful involvement in the protest movement signalled the alleged offending was 'not the norm' and was not motivated by a hatred of Jewish people. 'It's proposed the offending has been driven by anti-Semitism, I oppose this as strongly as possible,' Mr Hutton said. 'It is the most passionate condemnation of an organisation, the IDF, it is a condemnation of the atrocities and war crimes they've committed. 'That chant is not specifically calling for the murder of individual IDF soldiers but calling for the end of that organisation.' Mr Arnold's supporters leave Melbourne Magistrates Court. NewsWire / Diego Fedele Credit: News Corp Australia Prosecutor Alex Turner said police allege the offending was politically motivated and the community's safety was being compromised by the actions of Mr Arnold. 'Politically motivated offending is rife in the community currently,' he said. Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz rejected the claim there was no intention of violence in the alleged offending. 'In the circumstances I have to say I completely disagree with that,' she said. 'Regardless of the purpose of the protest … I have to consider the allegations of Mr Arnold's behaviour on that day.' Mr Arnold's lawyer said delays to court proceedings could keep him in custody longer than any possible period of imprisonment that might be imposed. 'Many of these matters are likely to be heading to contest, if he was held in custody that would be an injustice given how significant the delays might be,' the court was told. 'We're looking at January, by that time Mr Arnold would have spent six months in custody, this offending would not warrant a term of imprisonment of that length.' Mr Turner said claiming to be involved in a protest should not absolve a person of criminal responsibility for their actions, submitting that a term of imprisonment would be the 'only course of action'. No decision on bail was reached and Ms Mykytowycz will hand down her decision on July 30.
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
STI update on childcare kids
All children tested for sexually transmitted infections in connection with an accused childcare pedophile have so far tested negative, the Victorian government said. About 2000 children required testing as part of a police investigation into alleged child abuser Joshua Dale Brown. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll told reporters on Wednesday that the latest advice came from health authorities. 'I think they've tested just about everyone — but I can get that clarified — and all the tests have been negative,' he said. 'This is something we hoped for and wished for.' Mr Brown, 26, is facing more than 70 charges, including sexual activity in presence of a child under 16, sexual assault of a child under 16 and possessing child abuse material. He has yet to enter pleas to the charges. The charges involve eight children, aged between five months and two years, between April 2022 and January 2023. As a precaution, testing was required for children who attended all of the centres where he worked. Mr Brown worked at 23 childcare centres in Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025. Joshua Dale Brown's lawyer Rishi Nathwani has flagged more charges could be laid. NewsWire / Diego Fedele Credit: News Corp Australia It was revealed on Tuesday in court that more charges could be laid. High-profile barrister Rishi Nathwani appeared in court as prosecutors requested additional time to prepare a hand-up brief of their evidence against Mr Brown. Mr Brown did not appear in court for the brief hearing. Magistrate Donna Bakos approved the request for police to provide their case to Mr Brown's lawyers by December 4. The court was told police had provided a sworn affidavit in support of the delay, which was unopposed by Mr Nathwani. The barrister said the affidavit was 'helpful and detailed' in setting out the significant investigational steps police still need to undertake. Mr Nathwani also flagged the informant — the detective who laid the charges — had written that there was the potential for further charges and amendments to the existing charges. Mr Brown is expected to return to court in February.
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
ASX jumps as Trump talks trade deals
Australia's sharemarket jumped in line with the Asian markets, after US President Donald Trump announced a 'massive deal' with Japan. The benchmark ASX 200 gained 60 points or 0.69 per cent to finish trading on Wednesday at 8,737.20, while the broader All Ordinaries climbed 59.90 points or 0.67 per cent to close at 9,001.49. Australia's dollar rose 0.13 per cent and at the time of writing was buying 65.62 US cents. In an agreement between the US and Japan, the US will impose a 15 per cent levy on Japanese imports, down from 25 per cent. Japan in return will invest $US550bn into the United States. Asian markets jumped on the US-Japan trade deal. NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers Credit: News Corp Australia Stocks on Japan's Nikkei index rallied and the yen leapt on the news the country was able to sort a trade deal with Mr Trump, including on the critical car manufacturing sector. Last year, cars shipped to the US were around 28 per cent of Japan's 21.3 trillion yen of total exports to the world's largest economy. Global X senior investment strategist Billy Leung said Japanese equities hit a record high on Wednesday on the back of the announcement. 'This isn't just about a one-day rally. Japan is the world's largest robot manufacturing country and its role in global tech supply chains especially in high-precision manufacturing and automation makes it a key beneficiary of both tariff clarity and the broader reconfiguration of US-aligned production,' he said Australia's sharemarket followed with 10 of the 11 sectors gaining, led by the miners, banks and energy sector. The big three iron ore miners all finished in the green, with BHP up 0.9 per cent to $41.85, Rio Tinto gaining 1 per cent to $119.47 and Fortescue gaining 2.3 per cent to $18.21. Woodside Energy shares were up 1.45 per cent to $25.21, Yancoal Australia jumped 2.81 per cent to $6.58 and Whitehaven Coal soared 6.53 per cent to $7.18. On an overall strong day for the financial sector, three of the four major banks gained during Wednesday's trading. Ten of the 11 sectors on the ASX finished in the green. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia Commonwealth Bank shares finished 0.51 per cent higher trading at $173.30, Westpac shares gained 1.41 per cent to $33.11 and ANZ soared 2.52 per cent to $30.57. NAB slipped 0.05 per cent to $37.20. In company news, shares in Telix Pharmaceuticals plunged 15.13 per cent to $21.32 after it told the market it had received a subpoena from the US Securities and Exchange Commission for various documents primarily related to the company's disclosure regarding its prostate cancer therapy. Shares in Australia's top fuel retailer Ampol Limited rallied 3.27 per cent to $27.77 despite telling the market it forecasts weaker half yearly earnings on the back of sea-freight conditions impacting its supply chains. Iluka Resources jumped 4.05 per cent to $5.39 after the global critical minerals business after telling the market it achieved its full-year production guidance for Zircon by June 30.
