China crude oil imports fall in January from record high China’s crude oil imports fell 20 percent in January from record high volumes the previous month to their lowest level since October, official customs data showed on Monday. China took advantage of low global oil prices last year to add up to 185 million barrels …
Education Talking Points 16/02/2016
Is ATAR a failing system? Australian university vice-chancellors have called for ATAR admissions process to be scrapped, describing it as “inefficient” and “unfair” despite admitting a record number of students through the system. The Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham has found the practice of admitting students with lower than the minimum ATAR into university courses …
Food & Agribusiness Talking Points 15-02-2016
Bargaining power pork-barrel Accusations of pork-barrelling have erupted over the Coalition government’s delivery of a $13.8 million federal program to try and enhance farmers’ collective bargaining powers in agricultural supply chains. Labor attacked the government for “deviating” from its original plan in a move they say aims to deliver political benefits for the Page electorate …
Healthcare and Life Sciences Talking Points 05-02-2016
05-02-16 2016 health industry summit The 2016 Health Industry Summit to be held in Shanghai on 17-20 April is expected receive almost double the attendance of last year’s inaugural summit. Estimated to host 300,000 visiting & exhibiting professionals, investors and conference delegates from 150 countries, investors will be eyeing the summit as an opportunity to …
JingJobs Beijing Start Up Job Fair 12th March
Are you looking for an opportunity to make a change in your career in a unique and stimulating environment? Interested in hearing from leading entrepreneurs and exploring start- up and SME prospects in Beijing? Then join us for the JingJobs & SCHSAsia Generation Y not? Job Fair- Be Inspired! Time: 1:00-5:00pm Date: Saturday March 12th …
Financial Services Talking Points 04-02-2016
Joyce adamantly denies rumours of a GST increase Senator Barnaby Joyce, in response to rumours of a GST increase in the near future, has said that “there is no change to the GST. There is not even a concrete plan of something to consider in regards to changes to the GST.” Despite Treasurer Scott Morrison ruling out giving …
Energy & Resources Talking Points 03-02-2016
ChemChina nearing buying Syngenta According to sources for a deal worth around $42.2 billion, Chinese State Owned ChemChina is on the verge of buying Swiss seeds and pesticides group Syngenta. This marks an increased shakeup of the world’s agrochemicals industry, with China looking to increase domestic productivity. ChemChina previously bought Italy’s Pirelli, and German machinery …
Education Talking Points 02-02-2016
Literacy and numeracy below standard A new OECD comparison of adult literacy and numeracy, published in Britain yesterday, reveals 10 per cent of Australia’s 16 to 19-year-olds fall below the minimum standard for literacy. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development statistics, based on global testing in 2012, reveal alarmingly low literacy and numeracy levels …
Food & Agribusiness Talking Points 01-02-2016
Global pork prices to hit 10 year lows Sufficient supply and modest demand development means the Rabobank five-nation hog index will reach 10 year lows in the first 3 months of 2016. Chinese demand is expected to rise in 2016, however with the Russian pork industry picking up and exports from the US and Brazil …
Update: Research and Education Division, Australian Embassy Beijing
Message from the Minister Counsellor 2015 closed with the release of Australia’s National Innovation and Science Agenda which includes a Global Innovation Strategy to improve Australia’s international innovation and science collaboration. We also had the release of the 2015 results of the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA), which demonstrates the continued research excellence of …