Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes Canberra siding with Washington to address China’s growing power, Papua New Guinea calling on Australia’s help to curb clan conflict, Australia’s Orica buying US-based Cyanco for $640 million, and ex-bishop Christopher Saunders being charged with historical child sex abuses.
Politics
Canberra sides with Washington to address China’s growing power
Historically balancing interactions with Beijing and Washington, Australia recently began favouring the United States, driven by rising apprehensions about China’s escalating power. Despite Beijing’s economic allure, Canberra’s fears have swayed governmental decisions towards an increasingly committed alignment with the United States due to a lack of viable alternatives, the cornerstone of its defence policy, the ANZUS alliance and overwhelming public support, EastAsia Forum reports.
https://eastasiaforum.org/2024/02/22/canberra-ties-the-knot-with-washington/
Papua New Guinea asks for Australia’s help to curb clan conflict
Papua New Guinea has called for Australian Federal Police assistance amid devastating tribal conflicts in the country’s highlands, the South China Moring Post has reported. Analysts have warned that economic strife and cultural violence have intensified, threatening national stability. The governor of Papua New Guinea’s Enga province, where the fighting occurred, asked lawmakers to call on Canberra to send in Australian Federal Police forces to help stem extreme tribal violence in the restive Highlands region.
Business
Orica obtains Cyanco for $640 million
Australia’s Orica said it would acquire U.S.-based chemical company Cyanco Intermediate 4 Corp for $640 million to expand its geographical reach in the mining chemicals business, Reuters reported. Orica will fund the buy mainly through an underwritten institutional placement worth $400 million, along with existing cash and debt facilities. Cyanco produces NaCN, a specialised chemical required for gold processing, at its Nevada and Texas plants in the U.S. and supplies it primarily to gold mining industries across parts of the Americas and Africa.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/australias-orica-buy-us-based-cyanco-640-mln-2024-02-20/
Religion
Australian ex-bishop charged with historical child sex abuse
Former Catholic bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders, has been charged over historical child sex abuse allegations, 9News reports. The 74-year-old is scheduled to face Broome Magistrates Court on Thursday. He was charged with 19 offences after Western Australian police arrested him at his home in the famous holiday town yesterday. The charges include two counts of sexual penetration without consent between 2010 and 2012 and three counts of a person in authority indecently dealing with a child between 2008 and 2010. The former cleric has also been charged with 14 counts of unlawful and indecent assault between 2010 and 2014.
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