TRANSCRIPT
- Government to limit the number of international student places for next year...
- Singapore Airlines to become first international carrier to operate out of Western Sydney airport...
- Alexei Popyrin has become the first Australian winner at the US Open.
The government will limit the number of international student commencements to 270,000 next year, with 145,000 places for publicly funded universities.
Minister Jason Clare says the caps will ensure the sector is sustainable into the future whilst the government tries to limit overseas migration to Australia after a 73 per cent increase on arrivals in the last financial year.
Universities have strongly opposed the creation of caps, saying it will hurt their institutions and the broader Australian economy.
Peter Dutton says the characterisation of him by Treasurer Jim Chalmers is an attempt to distract from his economic failings.
Dr Chalmers labelled opposition leader Peter Dutton the "most divisive" major party leader in Australian history during an address to the John Curtin Research Centre.
The Treasurer said while Australian politics was relatively free of political violence, it can't be taken for granted and relies on leadership that avoids the politics of division.
Mr Dutton says there's no evidence to back up the claim.
"There's nothing he can point to. Apart from the fact that he wants to talk about anything but his failure in the economy. Now if Australians were doing so well and the economy was running as great as Jim Chalmers claims it is, why is he dedicating the speech to me? It seems, when you have a look at the Labor party at the moment you've got Tony Burke saying look at me, you've got Tony Burke saying look at me, and now you've got Jim Chalmers saying look at me."
Singapore Airlines will be the first international airline to operate out of Western Sydney Airport.
Qantas has already committed to operating out of the airport that is expected to open in late 2026.
Up to 10 million passengers will travel through the airport each year which is expected to operate 24 hours a day, without a curfew.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the airport will boost the economy in Western Sydney.
"Well this is an exciting day. Because Western Sydney International Airport is ready for takeoff. Western Sydney International Airport will drive jobs and the economy here in Western Sydney. If you want a catalyst for investment, build an airport."
The United Nations says the burst dam which resulted in flooding and left at least 30 people dead is also expected to impact critical water supplies.
Torrential rains overwhelmed the Arbaat Dam, wiping out at least 20 villages, just 40 kilometres north of Port Sudan.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric addressed the incident in a press briefing.
"Our humanitarian partners and local authorities are assessing the affected areas and will have additional clarity on the extent of the damage in the coming days. The Arbaat Dam is a crucial facility in Port Sudan, serving as a primary source of freshwater for the city. The reported damage is expected to have a substantial impact on water supplies to Port Sudan, worsening the humanitarian situation."
The dam was the main source of water for Port Sudan, which is home to the country's main Red Sea port and working airport, and receives most of the country's much-needed aid deliveries.
The conflict between Sudan's army and paramilitary forces has worsened the northeastern African country's already crumbling infrastructure.
The government has announced a $1 billion investment in recycling which looks to cooperate with private industry and states and territories to rebuild Australia's recycling capacity.
It's expected to enable 1.3 million tonnes a year of extra recycling capacity in Australia, and the creation of around 3 thousand jobs.
The government has already committed to around 60 plastics recycling facilities, 16 of which are already in operation.
The Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek was in Victoria to announce three new projects that are specifically aimed at hard to recycle plastics such as soft plastics which she says are too frequently ending up in landfill.
"As well as increasing our capacity to recycle soft plastics, we have to use less virgin material in the first place, and that's why we're working with the industry on tough new packaging laws that will mandate a share of recycled content that will look at the design of packaging in the first place."
The three projects in Victoria are set to recycle 43 thousand tonnes of soft plastics and create around 100 jobs.
And in tennis,
Alexei Popyrin has become the first Australian winner on day one of the US Open in New York.
Popyrin cruised past Sonwoon Kwon, eventually arriving safely in the second round with a 7-5 6-2 6-3 win in just over two hours.
Seeded for the first time at a grand slam, Popyrin's victory edged the 25-year-old to within one more win of a likely third-round blockbuster with defending champion Novak Djokovic.
The day wasn't as lucky for Kim Birrell who was the first Australian to be knocked out of the tournament, falling 6-4 6-4 to Paris Olympics silver medallist Donna Vekic - the women's 24th seed.
