International

The region is set to enjoy a boost to economic, cultural and educational opportunities as The Barossa Council gears up to enter into a formalised sister-city agreement with the City of Grapevine, Texas which is the fifth largest wine producing state in the United States. Barossa Mayor Bim Lange said as major wine and food destinations, the two regions share many similarities and a global reputation for premium wine, food and events.

Carly Brisby of Yanchep was among those to attend the Anzac Day service in the Yanchep National Park earlier on 25 April 2023. “My grandfather fought in World War II and was a prisoner at Changi I believe so I’m just here to remember him and the other soldiers that fought in all the wars" ... In his Anzac Day address Yanchep Two Rocks RSL president Bill Jones said in the very early morning 108 years ago the landing of allied troops took place along the rocky shores and headlands of the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey.

As Australia looks towards exploring new export markets, the MENA region presents a wealth of trading and investment potential for Australian regional businesses ... This inaugural event on 4 May 2023 will be co-hosted by the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Regional Development Australia in Central Coast, with a guest speaker and participants joining from the MENA region and Australia.

Para dressage riders have their heads well and truly turned towards Paris next year. At the Dressage Spectacular at Boneo Park last weekend, both Dianne Barnes and Maddison Cooke gained the first of their necessary “minimum eligibility requirement” (MER) for a place on the team.

Local band ‘Artifact’ based in Wagga Wagga have progressed onto the grand final of the Wacken Metal Battle. The competition sees metal bands from all over Australia and New Zealand compete to win a once in a lifetime chance of performing at the largest Metal Festival in the world, Wacken Open Air.

For now, the orange juice market is staying tight for at least another season, unless there is a significant supply-side surprise for the 2023/24 harvest in Brazil or a much sharper contraction in global demand in 2H 2023. According to a recent Rabobank report, record-high orange juice (OJ) prices in 2023 are a consequence of a very tight market, with smaller-than-expected production and low inventories.

Cup stacking competitor Jaydyn Coggins has continued his 2023 winning form while at the World Championships in Singapore. Jaydyn, who set a new world record earlier this year during auditions for Australia’s Got Talent under the supervision of a Guinness World Record official, has now taken out a divisional clean sweep and finished second overall in the world.

An estimated record number of spectators tartaned up and headed to the riverside community of Maclean on April 7 and 8 to experience a jubilant, colourful, and cultural celebration of all things Scottish during the 118th Maclean Highland Gathering. Amidst the dominant humming of bagpipes, Chief Peter Smith from the Lower Clarence Scottish Association declared the crowd was the largest he had seen in more than 20 years...

Pony Club Australia congratulates its members selected to compete in the 2023 World Clubs Tournament in France in July 2023. This event is scheduled every year during the French National Championships ... It is one of the largest equestrian gatherings in the world ... Lalwa May was the only NT rider to compete in the last PCA Nationals in 2021 ..

Nine scientific research papers published ... in the world-renowned journal Animal Frontiers have confirmed the critical role red meat and livestock play in society, arguing that animal agriculture is key to the challenges around climate change and global food security.

In Ukraine, the largest horticultural centre has been destroyed ... In the vicinity of Bakhmut, a fifth of the specialised gardens for growing new trees and flowers in Ukraine was concentrated ... only one person, Danilenko Andrey Yuryevich, the owner of the "Artemsad" company, could find in himself the strength to answer questions about what happened.

Australian honey exporters will benefit from new digital reforms that streamline the export certification process to Great Britain and the EU. On 30 March 2023, certification for honey and apiculture exports for human consumption became available via NEXDOC for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and the European Union.

The Australian Government has reached an agreement with China that creates a pathway towards resolving the dispute over Australian barley. Since 2020, China’s 80.5 per cent duties on Australian barley have effectively blocked exports to that market ... Following recent constructive dialogue at all levels, we welcome China’s agreement to undertake an expedited review of the duties over a three-month period, which may extend to a fourth if required.

Aleph Farms, the first company to grow cultivated steaks directly from non-modified cow cells, announced that it has joined the United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible business practices. As a Participant in the UN Global Compact, Aleph Farms will publish an annual Communication on Progress (COP) to demonstrate the company’s ongoing commitment to responsible business action in support of broader societal goals.

It was a lifelong dream of a lifelong sailor and though it was to be a solo journey, his waking and sleeping hours were spent in the ‘company’ of his memories and erstwhile companions and friends ... When at his lowest ebb, along came the ghost of Sam, a friendly old sailor who kept Peter entertained through the long, lonely hours of the dog watch.

South Korea’s flag carrier and largest airline, Korean Air, is taking South Australia’s premium wines to the air – now serving local drops on its flights. The deal secured by South Australia’s Department for Trade and Investment will see Dandelion Vineyards and Murdoch Hill Wines join Henschke as premium South Australia wine offerings on Korean Air flights.

Australia’s state-of-the-art avian quarantine facility is filling the role of midwife to nearly 3000 turkey poults in Victoria. The team at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility in Mickleham together with industry experts have nurtured 2900 turkey eggs from Canada during their minimum 13-week quarantine period.

Last week, Harmony celebrations all over Australia reminded us that everyone is different, everyone belongs and we all bring something unique to our communities.

Australia is negotiating amendments to the Australia-European Community Agreement on Trade in Wine (Wine Agreement). As part of the negotiation the Australian Government is running a public objections process on wine geographical indications (GIs) proposed by the EU.

Shannon Uren, the General Manager and Director of Nursing at Maldon Hospital, had a problem last year when in the process of replacing Hospital beds & what to do with the old beds ... One group, Melbourne-based FESIDEV (Federation of International Seniors for Development), was very interested in the beds...