Australian PM, G-G lead Australian service in memory of Prince Phillip

12/4/2021

(See Translation in Arabic Section)

Sydney - M E Times Int'l: Australian dignitaries have commemorated the life of Prince Philip at a church service in Sydney.

The Duke of Edinburgh died on Friday, two months before his 100th birthday and a short time after a month-long stay in hospital.

Australian Governor-General David Hurley, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny, and NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian were among those who prayed for the royal family at St Andrews Cathedral in Sydney.

The Very Reverend Kanishka de Silva Raffel, who led the Sunday service, praised the duke as a loyal and loving husband, father, and grandfather.

"On Prince Philip's many visits to Australia, we have come to know him as a man of compassion and service, personal warmth, intellectual curiosity and generous spirit," he said.

Australians was deeply saddened by his passing, and are praying for the Queen and her family in their grief, he said.

St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne and St Peter's Cathedral in Adelaide will hold special services in coming days.

The husband of Queen Elizabeth II was lauded as a man of candour, compassion and service to others by past and present leaders in Australia.

Australians have sent thousands of condolence messages online via the government website pmc.gov.au, which will be forwarded to Buckingham Palace.

The duke's death was marked with a 41-gun salute in Canberra in keeping with tradition.

Flags were flown at half-mast across the country and will be again for Prince Philip's funeral in the UK.

Anecdotes and fond memories of Prince Philip flowed from Australian leaders including former prime minister John Howard, who said his death marked the end of a "partnership for the ages" - his marriage to the Queen - that lasted more than 70 years.

"Prince Philip was always destined to be two or three steps behind (the Queen), but he did that with extraordinary grace and flair and intelligence," Mr Howard said.

Prince Philip visited Australia 21 times, the first in 1940, before his marriage.

Some of his trips to Australia drew international headlines for controversial comments. But Mr Howard said it was his so-called 'gaffes' that made people warm to him, particularly Australians.

Prince Harry to leave UK quarantine for funeral service of his grandfather, Prince Phillip

Despite arriving in the UK from one of the world's worst COVID-19 hotspots, Prince Harry will be allowed out of isolation to attend Prince Philip's funeral in just days. 

The Duke of Sussex landed at Heathrow Airport but the UK's quarantine rules will allow him to attend his grandfather's funeral — and he might not even have to return to isolation.

As one of Prince Philip's grandchildren and sixth in line to the throne, Prince Harry is expected to attend the funeral service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the Duke married Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, three years ago.

Prince Harry will be able to quarantine at a private residence, as the UK's hotel quarantine system only requires entries from certain countries to enter a hotel. The US isn't one of those countries.

The UK also has built-in exemptions meaning people can be let out to attend the funeral of a "close family member".

The Duchess of Sussex is pregnant and did not accompany her husband to the UK.

NSW resumes AstraZeneca vaccine rollout

Sydney: Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed New South Wales has resumed administering the AstraZeneca vaccine after pausing the rollout this morning. “The only reason we took a pause this morning was to update all of our clinicians, update all of our workers to make sure they had the latest advice which came out very late yesterday evening,” she said. "From Monday, those under 50 who wish to receive the jab will be able to do so with “informed consent". “Obviously that paperwork and that advice will depend on the Commonwealth information which will be updated I understand today and over the weekend,” Ms Berejiklian said. “The best advice we have is people over the age of 50 should feel confident in getting the AstraZeneca vaccine and those who are under 50 can assess the risk themselves and make that decision.” The premier also flagged she still intended to receive her second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Israel sees Iran’s nuclear policy as an ‘existential threat’

Curtin University Professor Joe Siracusa says Israel views Iran’s nuclear policy as an “existential threat” and do not want to see their neighbours obtain weapons of mass destruction.

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has arrived in Israel as the Biden administration continues to negotiate with Iran to re-join the Iran nuclear deal.

Mr Siracusa said, “the Biden administration which needs some kind of a victory in foreign policy because it is not doing well in other places, wants to cut this deal with the Iranians”.

The US diplomatic envoy is visiting Israel in order to “settle” the nation down and “get them on the same page,” he told Sky News.

 However, Mr Siracusa noted the US would be hard pressed to get Israel onside because the nation had adopted a “very hard view” when it came to Iran. “They don’t want any other competitors in the nuclear area”.

 “They see the future of Iran’s nuclear policy as very dangerous and as a basic threat to them, so they reserve the right to act.”

Sir Peter Cosgrove: The memory of Prince Philip ‘resonates with Australians’

Sydney: Former Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove has told media the memory of Prince Philip “resonates with Australians” and reflected on his numerous meetings with the Duke and the Queen.

Prince Philip died on Friday at the age of 99 as the longest serving consort to a monarch, and after 73 years of marriage.

Sir Peter said the world is now “celebrating a life well lived” and that the Duke resonated with Australians.

“He came back here with joy each time he came,” Sir Peter said. “He liked us, and Australians are shrewd enough to know that.”

International travel for Australians likely won’t return until 2024

Sydney: Australians hoping for the full return of overseas travel will have to wait another three years for things to get back to normal, according to a pessimistic new forecast by economists.

Deloitte Access Economics’ latest quarterly business outlook predicts international travel won’t fully return until 2024, as international borders open slowly until then.

On top of that, Deloitte said quarantine for arrivals would likely remain in some form for years, as efforts continue to stop the virus being imported back into the country.

Deloitte economist Chris Richardson said that would have a bearing on overseas travel getting back to what it was pre-COVID.

“That keeps international travel – both inbound and outbound – pretty weak in 2022, and it may not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024,” he said, according to 7 News.

Deloitte’s quarterly forecast was prepared prior to Australia’s national vaccine rollout hitting a setback last week, which could further dampen expectations about the return of overseas travel.

On Thursday, federal health authorities recommended Australians under 50 avoid the AstraZeneca vaccine due to a blood clot risk, and take the Pfizer vaccine instead.

There are now concerns Australia will not reach its October 31 target to complete the national rollout, potentially putting in limbo airlines’ plans to resume overseas flights on that date.

However, Australians are on the cusp of travelling quarantine-free to New Zealand, with the long-awaited trans-Tasman travel bubble set to open from April 19.

The travel corridor means Australians can fly to New Zealand without needing to enter mandatory hotel quarantine.

It will begin on at 11.59pm April 18, with major airlines including Air New Zealand and Qantas able to take bookings from April 19.

The announcement of the travel bubble was dubbed by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as a world first of sorts, and an “important step” in post-pandemic recovery.

Singapore could be the next destination for Australian travellers, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison hinting at the possibility of a travel bubble with the city-state last week.

Labor's NSW conference 'extravaganza' delayed over Upper Hunter by-election

Sydney: New South Wales Labor has delayed its state conference “extravaganza” and moved it from June to October due to the upcoming Upper Hunter by-election says Political Editor Andrew Clennell.

Political tension over the by-election for the tightly contested seat is escalating given the Coalition won the seat in the previous election by a very small margin.

 Mr Clennell also suggested there were two further reason behind the date change including financial troubles relating to the ICAC Chinese donations fiasco and a Senate seat fight between Deborah O’Neill and Kristina Keneally.

 “As one Labor source said to me ‘the party is absolutely completely broke and the cost of running a party conference is more than we would spend on a by-election’,” he said.

“After the Health Services Union disaffiliated from the party last month, there is more trouble within the Electrical Trades Union with the Left National office, led by secretary Alan Hicks, on the brink of taking the NSW branch over from the Right faction. “State secretary Justin Page is on leave with his future in doubt and chief Operating Officer George Houssos, the husband of upper house Labor MP Courtney Houssos, has quit the union over the split.”

Mr Clennell said with the NSW Labor branch in a state of “turmoil” a key question would be could the once all-powerful branch and its poor performance be the thing which prevents Labor winning the next federal election?

NSW premier celebrates completion of public 'harbour foreshore' walk

Sydney: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has celebrated the completion of the last “missing link” of an 11 kilometre walk from Woolloomooloo to Anzac Cove.

 “This is public space going back to the community,” she said.

“We’ve made a conscious effort as a government to really give back to the community those parts of our state that we can all enjoy.”

The 300-metre section of walkway is the last part of a continuous foreshore park space for members of the public to use for leisure.

Newly released book about PM says he 'intends to leave' after winning 2022 election

Sydney: A book written about Prime Minister Scott Morrison has raised questions after reporting the prime minister intended to hand over power after the next election before completing another term according to Political Editor Andrew Clennell.

 Mr Morrison’s achievement as leader of Australia have come under review with Peter Van Onselen and Wayne Errington releasing a book called 'How good is Scott Morrison?' The book reads, "A Morrison confidant told us that the prime minister plans to hand over power after the next election, retiring before completing another full term".

Mr Clennell said he “had a similar conversation with a cabinet minister who said Scott Morrison wants to go out on top and would not want to stick around forever".

“But prime ministers have been known to change their minds about their future.”

 Mr Clennell said if Mr Morrison is re-elected in 2022 he would have served almost four years in the job and been elected to serve seven.

Christian Democratic Party founder Fred Nile, 86, to retire from NSW parliament

Sydney: Christian Democratic Party founder Fred Nile will retire from the NSW parliament after 40 years – and has nominated Queenslander and conservative lobbyist Lyle Shelton to replace him.

Mr Nile, 86, the longest-serving current member of the state parliament, will retire in November.

“It has been the privilege of my life to represent Christ’s values in the NSW parliament on behalf of the citizens of this great state,” he said.

Vietnam makes claim on disputed territory amid naval build-up

China muscling in with missile boats. The Philippines is sending aircraft. But another player is deploying its military to stake a claim on the South China Sea – Vietnam.

As Beijing’s fishing “militia” moved in on the Spratly Islands and Manila sent reconnaissance aircraft to observe, Hanoi had one of its warships conduct “combat drills” nearby.

The modern anti-submarine frigate Quang Trung exercised its capabilities in plain view of heavily militarised Chinese installations.

Vietnam also claims historical ownership of the strategic fishing grounds.

The “activities of Chinese ships … seriously violate Vietnam’s sovereignty,” declares Hanoi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One of its coast guard cutters is moored at Whitsun Reef, monitoring the swarm of up to 220 Chinese “militia” active there.

Meanwhile, China deployed Type 022 fast-attack catamarans to the region. One of these missile-armed naval vessels forced a Philippines charter boat carrying media away from the contested area.

“Beijing’s pretence about just using “white hulls” (Coast Guard vessels) to promote South China Sea peace and stability is well over,” says Nanyang University in Singapore maritime security analyst “What’s evident is that the PLA Navy is now engaging in active patrols alongside the (Coast Guard) and maritime militia in those so-called ‘waters under national jurisdiction’ which include ‘other relevant waters’. That should be interpreted to mean waters enclosed by (Beijing’s) nine-dash line.”

Vietnam and China fought a brief war in 1979. Hanoi repulsed an invasion of Vietnam’s north. But China managed to take control of much of the Paracel Islands positioned between the two nations.

Vessels from the two sides have regularly clashed throughout the South China Sea since then.

Manila also has experience of Beijing’s “creeping expansion”.

China assembled structures on Mischief Reef in 1994. Four years later, it began turning the reef into an artificial reef fortress, complete with airfield, harbour and weapons systems.

“The continued presence of Chinese maritime militias in the area reveals their intent to further occupy features in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea),” Philippine national Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana stated.

The swarm of Beijing’s “militia” had dispersed to other reefs and features in the Spratleys. But about 44 remain anchored in the shelter of Whitsun Reef.

But the arrival of Chinese naval vessels in the region has prompted the US to issue a stark warning.

“An armed attack against the Philippines’ armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea, will trigger our obligations under the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

“We share the concerns of our Philippine allies regarding the continued reported massing of PRC maritime militia near the Whitsun Reef”.