France sends ambassador back to Australia to 'redefine' relations
October 7, 2021, 4:53 am

France sends ambassador back to Australia to 'redefine' relations

Flag of France-Paris/Pixabay

The BBC reported, France will send its ambassador back to Australia to "redefine" relations, after Canberra reneged on a deal to buy French submarines and sparked a row.

In last September, Australia formed the Aukus security pact with the US and the UK - aimed at maintaining Western influence in the Asia-Pacific.

That saw Australia end a $65bn (£48bn) deal with France to instead access US nuclear-powered submarine technology.

According to the BBC, Paris called the deal a "stab in the back".

Following the shock announcement, France recalled its ambassadors from Canberra and Washington DC in protest.

But while it has sought to mend the rift with the US, France has continued to freeze out Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to take his calls. Australia's trade minister has also been shunned by his French counterpart.

Last week, negotiations over an Australia-EU trade deal were also pushed back, in what was widely interpreted as a result of the row.

French officials have said they were blindsided by Canberra, which had maintained talks about the French submarines while working to secure an alternative deal.

France's contract to build a fleet of conventionally powered submarines for Australia, dating to 2016, was to be a key part of France's regional engagement.

Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Wednesday that while his country would "start afresh" with Australian relations, it would "not have an impact in our determination to remain engaged in the Pacific".

The returning ambassador to Australia would also "defend our interests" over the scrapped submarine contract.

Canberra has already spent over $900m on the French programme and is expected to pay a minimum $288m exit fee for breaking the contract.

Australia has said it understands France's "deep disappointment".

"Australia values its relationship with France, which is an important partner and a vital contributor to stability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. This will not change," Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said last month.

The BBC said, Aukus is widely seen as a response to the growing power of China.

Source: BBC

Germany's FDP and Green party want to start coalition talks with SPD UK dairy farmers pour tens of thousands of litres of milk away due to HGV driver shortage

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.