U.S., China both make it more difficult for nations to split economic ties with security partnership
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Bloomberg
a day ago
- Bloomberg
Nuclear Submarine Holdup Is a Gift to China
'AUKUS' might be the worst-sounding acronym in the long and undistinguished history of military acronyms: an awkward amalgam of Australia, the UK and the US. Yet it is vital to US national security and keeping China from dominating the Indo-Pacific. So why is the Donald Trump administration, which promised to make Asia the focus of its national security strategy, calling its future into question? At its heart, AUKUS is a tripartite agreement to jointly procure, operate and construct the apex predators of the oceans: nuclear-powered attack submarines. It is a clear warning to China, which continually expands its aggressive military behavior at sea in the western Pacific. Just as important, AUKUS is a belated recognition that one of the most-overlooked US allies, Australia, is now a vital partner in great-power competition.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Australia Birth Rate Warning Issued: 'Human Catastrophe'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Australia is now at a "tipping point," facing a reality in which the number of deaths outpaces the number of births, which could lead to "human catastrophe," an analysis shows. New data analysis from financial firm KPMG shows that while the number of births in 2024 increased from 2023, it is still dangerously low, behind pre-pandemic levels. "Australia, like much of the world, is facing a human catastrophe," Liz Allen, a demographer at the Australian National University (ANU) Centre for Social Policy Research, told Australia's Special Broadcasting Service. A file photo shows a crowd waving Australian flags at the Great Aussie Barbecue in Perth, Australia, on October 29, 2011. A file photo shows a crowd waving Australian flags at the Great Aussie Barbecue in Perth, Australia, on October 29, 2011. AP Why It Matters Australia's experience reflects a global pattern of plummeting fertility rates. Many developed countries, including the United States, are recording their lowest birth rates in generations—a shift that signals long-term workforce shortages, strains on public services and the dominance of aging populations. A continued decline could mean fewer people of working age supporting a growing number of elderly citizens, undermining the country's tax base and putting pressure on social welfare systems. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently called the falling global birth rate a "crisis," describing it as a threat to economic stability and social cohesion worldwide. What To Know Steep Drop in Australia's Birth Rate Australia's fertility rate hit a record low of 1.51 babies per woman in 2024, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This puts Australia far below the 2.1 replacement rate needed to sustain its population without migration. Some 292,500 births took place across Australia last year, which is more than the 285,000 births the previous year, but these are both well below the more than 300,000 births recorded every year between 2013 and 2019. Economic and Social Drivers Behind the Trend Key reasons for the decline include high living costs, unaffordable housing, and increased uncertainty about the future, according to KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley. Similarly, Allen said economic and environmental concerns were putting Australians off from having children. Regional Variations and the Urban-Rural Divide While birth rates are declining nationally, the KPMG analysis shows that urban areas are seeing a more dramatic drop than regional areas. "Rising rents, mortgage payments and childcare costs in the metro areas are putting a handbrake on people's plans to start or grow their family," Rawnsley said. "Instead, regional communities are continuing to emerge as popular places to live, work and raise a family, with affordability now top of mind for many Australians." The Global Context: Declining Fertility Worldwide Australia's situation mirrors an international trend. Global fertility rates have dropped dramatically since 1950 and are forecast to fall further, according to a study by medical journal The Lancet and recent data collected by Birth Gauge. The United States has seen its fertility rate decline to 1.58 in 2025 so far—down from 1.59 last year, 1.60 in 2023, 1.64 in 2020 and 1.84 in 2015. Countries in Eastern Europe and parts of Asia face even sharper drops, with some nations increasingly reliant on immigration to buffer population losses. What People Are Saying ANU demographer Liz Allen said: "We've essentially hit rock bottom, and trying to come back from that is going to be incredibly difficult. It will be a task that requires enormous policy and political intervention." UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem previously said: "We must create the conditions that enable people to exercise their reproductive rights, including gender equality and economic stability." U.S. Vice President JD Vance said in January: "Our society has failed to recognize the obligation that one generation has to another as a core part of living in society. So let me say very simply, I want more babies in the United States of America." What Happens Next Australian and international authorities are expected to closely monitor birth rate trends and continue policy debates on how to address the crisis. Long-term solutions are likely to require broad economic reforms targeting housing affordability, job security and childcare support. Without significant action, experts warn that shrinking workforces and aging populations will pose major challenges for future prosperity.
Geek Vibes Nation
2 days ago
- Geek Vibes Nation
BetPokies.org — The Most Comprehensive Casino Reviews On The Australian Marketplace
Currently, there's a fierce rivalry among gambling review sites in Australia. Nevertheless, emerged as one of the favoured websites in this industry. It was established by John Gold in 2020 who has more than 10 years of experience in gambling. Currently, the platform is operated and owned by ZehrMedia LTD. BetPokies is the best page not only for getting the full information about every gaming aspect but also for finding the most suitable casino for you via interesting reviews. All the Details About Before establishing BetPokies, John Gold was a gambler for many years. He always felt the void that an online casino all-in-one guide website is desperately needed. As of now, BetPokies is one of the most trustworthy pages for online casinos that most of the users around the world, especially Australians, like using. John says: 'The most important thing for our team is to provide the readers with the most detailed and informative content about the gambling sphere. I remember when I was only starting my own playing journey, there were not that many sources to learn the basics. It was hard to determine which casino was really worth my time and trust. Of course, when you're new to this, it's very easy to get lost in hundreds of options. At that time, I really felt a lack of reliable sources to learn how to choose the best casino and have a good time, instead of a bad experience. Unfortunately, I had to check everything on my own and learn from my mistakes, and I can tell you that unpleasant situations occurred more than once along the way. That's when I realised that I didn't want others to go through the same thing as I did. Long story short, that's how came to life. Me and my team, came up with a goal to make the most comprehensive online casino guides, so that users don't have a hard time looking for the best places for themselves. You don't need to wonder anymore about which platform is reputable, does that for you. Our website has everything you need.' How BetPokies Write Their Casino Reviews On the BetPokies' website, you can find everything related to the topic of gambling, from honest casino reviews to safe gambling tips, pieces of advice for newcomers, info about payment methods, and so much more. But today we want to explore in detail how writes their well-known articles about different casino brands. In the Casinos section, there are a lot of reviews about various gambling platforms. All of them are divided into categories like New, Real Money, Fast Payout, Top, Mobile, and Minimum Deposit Casinos. It makes the navigation on the website so much easier, this way you can search for casinos by their main feature. There is also a Blacklisted Casinos section, which gathers all the names of the places it's better to avoid and tips on how to identify a bad casino. The structure of every review is highly thoughtful and elaborate. That's what makes the BetPokies articles one of the best in the marketplace. The first thing that you see as soon as you open a review is the Pros & Cons of the chosen casino. It helps you evaluate the benefits and drawbacks right away, so you can immediately decide if it's the kind of place you would like to start your gambling journey in. Also, there are icons that indicate the casino's type of license, available languages, currencies, and payment methods. The next block of the article is dedicated to all the bonuses and special promotions that the casino provides. You can learn in detail about each offer, the deposit amount for its activation, wagering requirements, etc. After that, there's a section about providers that cooperate with the exact casino, the types of games they provide, and available search filters on the website. Also, the BetPokies team conducts in-depth research so that readers can have detailed information about all the payment methods that can be used in each casino. In the reviews, there is always info about the amounts of deposits and withdrawals you can make, as well as about payout time frames. No less importantly, BetPokies experts make sure to estimate the casino's website convenience and optimisation level. There are separate blocks for signing up and KYC processes where you can read how to create an account and verify it step by step. It's important to mention that everything is written in simple words, so it's very easy to understand. Also, reviews cover the topics of customer support, availability of the mobile application, and responsible gambling tools the casino provides. Last but not least is a section about possible problems you can meet in each casino. 'Our team undergo all the steps on their own, from the registration to funds withdrawal, to highlight all the shortcomings of each platform we write about. Also, we always check the reviews from other real players to see the whole picture. So, I can guarantee you that if you choose us as a source of information, you'll never regret it! As for me, the best people in the world are our readers, and it's all the time that we try to do our best for them.' — says John Gold, the head of BetPokies. Anyway, taking into account everything we said about BetPokies, it is not a surprise that they rank among the top gambling odds betting sites in Australia. Their experts aim to provide timely and relevant information to their audience. Lastly, do not forget that gambling information should only come from reliable sources, and BetPokies is one of them! Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect those of Geek Vibes Nation. This article is for educational purposes only.
