Australia Activates Blackrock's A$1B Super Battery Which Will Be World's Most Powerful
With 350 megawatts already online, the 850-megawatt battery operated by Blackrock Inc. -owned Akaysha Energy will help buffer grid shocks during outages, according to a statement by the New South Wales Government.
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Skift
an hour ago
- Skift
U.S. Tightens Visas, Oyo Enters Australia and Europe Flies Bigger and Farther
Today's pod looks at the U.S.'s latest attempt to scare away visitors, Oyo's latest acquisition, and Europe's longer flights. Skift Daily Briefing Podcast Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Listen to the day's top travel stories in under four minutes every weekday. Skift Travel Podcasts Good morning from Skift. It's Tuesday, August 5. Here's what you need to know about the business of travel today. Some visitors to the U.S. might face a new financial challenge. The U.S. plans to require bonds of up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a pilot program slated to start on August 20, reports Associate Editor Rashaad Jorden. The 12-month program would give U.S. consular officers the discretion to require bonds for travelers from countries with high rates of visa overstays, according to a Federal Registry notice published on Monday. The notice said the rule is a key part of the White House's efforts to tackle threats posed by visa overstays and deficient screening and vetting. The State Department estimates that 2,000 travelers will be required to post the bond. Officers are expected to set the bond at $10,000, but they can increase that figure to $15,000 if they don't believe it's enough to ensure a timely departure. Listen to This Podcast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube | RSS Next, Indian hospitality company Oyo has bought Australian short-term rental platform MadeComfy in a deal valued at more than $50 million, reports Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia. Oyo's acquisition represents its entry into the Australian and New Zealand markets. MadeComfy currently manages more than 1,300 properties with nearly 100 real estate agencies. Bhutia writes Oyo's goal is to expand MadeComfy across Australia and New Zealand and possibly into other countries where Oyo already operates. Finally, new data has revealed that flights in Europe are getting longer and planes on the continent are bigger, reports Airlines Editor Gordon Smith. The average flight distance in Europe hit just over 1,000 nautical miles last year, according to air traffic control organization Eurocontrol. Although the 2024 figure is a modest increase from the previous year, Smith notes it's part of a much larger structural shift as domestic and regional routes are in decline. In addition, the average maximum take-off weight of an aircraft jumped to just over 90 tonnes, up from both 2023 and 2018. Smith notes the increase is a sign of airlines emphasizing larger planes over regional jets.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Japan wins £4.9bn deal to build Australian warships
Japan has secured a landmark AU$10 billion (£4.9bn) agreement to build Australia's next generation of warships. It marks Tokyo's most significant defence sale since ending a military export ban in 2014 and signalling a notable shift from its post-war pacifism. Under the deal, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will supply the Royal Australian Navy with upgraded Mogami-class multi-role frigates from 2029. Designed to hunt submarines, strike surface ships, and provide air defences, these highly automated warships can be operated by just 90 sailors – less than half the crew needed for current vessels. Australia plans to deploy the new ships to defend critical maritime trade routes and its northern approaches in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where China has been increasing its presence and activity. "It's going to be really important in terms of giving our navy the capability to project, and impactful projection is at the heart of the strategic challenge," Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Tuesday. For Japan, the frigate sale is a further step in its efforts to forge security ties beyond its alliance with the US as it seeks to counter China's expanding military power in Asia. "The benefits include enhanced joint operations and interoperability with both Australia and the United States. This is a major step forward in Japan's defence cooperation efforts," Japan's Minister of Defence Gen Nakatani said at a briefing in Tokyo. The successful bid helps ease the sting of 2016, when Australia rejected a Japanese submarine programme in favour of a French design. Canberra scrapped that project in 2023, opting instead to build nuclear-powered submarines with the United States and Britain under the AUKUS pact. The initial contract for three Japanese-built frigates will be Australia's largest naval purchase since the nuclear submarine agreement, while the remaining eight ships are expected to be constructed by Austal in Western Australia. "The broad-based participation of industries from both Japan and Australia in general-purpose frigates is expected to strengthen human resource development in science and technology, as well as the foundations of the defence industry, in both countries," MHI, which also designed the submarine rejected by Australia in 2016, said in a press release. Shares in MHI rose more than 3 per cent and Austal shares rose more than 5 per cent. Pricing, sustainment, and the transfer of production to Australia remain key issues for further negotiation, officials from both countries said. They said they aimed to conclude a contract early in 2026. MHI's Mogami frigate was selected over German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems' MEKO A-200 in a meeting of the Australian government's national security committee. The upgraded Mogami-class frigate can launch long-range missiles, and has a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles, compared to Australia's current Anzac Class frigates, which can sail around 6,000 nautical miles, Mr Marles said.
Wall Street Journal
2 hours ago
- Wall Street Journal
Australia Considers Critical Minerals Price Floor to Help Support New Projects
Australia is considering establishing a price floor for critical minerals such as rare earths, to help shore up supply of commodities essential to defense and strategic technologies, said Resources Minister Madeleine King. The U.S. recently surprised commodity markets by guaranteeing a price floor for rare-earth minerals produced by American supplier MP Materials, helping to protect that company from swings in prices. Analysts and traders speculated that other Western governments might follow suit, as the U.S. and its allies seek to undercut China's dominance in refining many key minerals.
