Emirates Stops Flights to 3 Major Australian Cities

FILE PHOTO - An Emirates Airbus A380-800 plane is seen at Nice International airport in Nice, France, September 19, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
FILE PHOTO - An Emirates Airbus A380-800 plane is seen at Nice International airport in Nice, France, September 19, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
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Emirates Stops Flights to 3 Major Australian Cities

FILE PHOTO - An Emirates Airbus A380-800 plane is seen at Nice International airport in Nice, France, September 19, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
FILE PHOTO - An Emirates Airbus A380-800 plane is seen at Nice International airport in Nice, France, September 19, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Dubai-based Emirates has suspended flights to Australia's three largest cities.

The carrier was one of the last to maintain routes into and out of the country's east coast throughout most of the pandemic but on Friday evening told travelers a handful of planned flights next week would be the last.

"Due to operational reasons, Emirates flights to/from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne will be suspended until further notice," Emirates said on its website.

The airline will still run two flights a week to Perth.

Australia's borders have effectively been closed since March to curb the spread of the coronavirus, with the government even limiting the number of citizens allowed to return.

Last week travel restrictions were further tightened, with arrival numbers slashed and all travelers into the country requiring a negative Covid-19 test before flying.

In making the changes, Prime Minister Scott Morrison cited a growing number of people in quarantine testing positive for new strains of Covid-19.



Taiwan Expects Small Impact from Trump Tariffs on Chip Exports

A chip is pictured at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) at Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan, September 16, 2022. Reuters/Ann Wang/ File Photo
A chip is pictured at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) at Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan, September 16, 2022. Reuters/Ann Wang/ File Photo
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Taiwan Expects Small Impact from Trump Tariffs on Chip Exports

A chip is pictured at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) at Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan, September 16, 2022. Reuters/Ann Wang/ File Photo
A chip is pictured at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) at Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan, September 16, 2022. Reuters/Ann Wang/ File Photo

Taiwan only expects a small impact from any tariffs imposed by the incoming government of US President-elect Donald Trump on semiconductor exports given their technological superiority, Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei said on Friday.
Home to the world's largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the island is a key link in the global technology supply chain for companies such as Apple and Nvidia, according to Reuters.
But Taiwanese policymakers have warned new US tariffs against all countries from the Trump administration could curb economic growth this year for the export-dependent economy.
Trump has pledged a blanket tariff of 10% on global imports into the United States and a far higher 60% tariff on Chinese goods.
In late November, he specifically pledged a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico when he takes office on Jan. 20.
Asked at a news conference about the impact on Taiwan's export orders of Trump's tariffs, Kuo said it would not much affect the chip sector.
“For our semiconductors and advanced processes, there is an advantage of technological leadership and that cannot be replaced, and so the impact will be small,” he added.
Taiwan will also help companies relocate supply chains to the United States as needed, away from where there might be high import tariffs, Kuo said.
“Now we see that we should be able to develop the aerospace supply chain industry in the United States, and do some joining up with the US aerospace companies, so that some of Taiwan's aerospace research and development centres can be moved there,” he added.