Jill Biden Drops B-52s from White House Dinner
Jill Biden announced that the B-52s, the famous US pop band known for their hit song “Love Shack,” will not be performing at the White House state dinner for the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. This decision was made in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which has caused significant sorrow and pain. Instead of their performance, presidential military bands will play instrumental music. The B-52s will still attend the dinner as guests.
The First Lady made this announcement during a preview of the dinner, where various elements of US and Australian cultures will be incorporated. During his state visit, Prime Minister Albanese is expected to discuss important international issues with President Joe Biden, such as matters related to China, Ukraine, and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Additionally, during his visit, Prime Minister Albanese unveiled a $2 billion boost in government credit for projects related to critical minerals. These minerals are essential for products like electric car batteries, wind turbines, and smartphones. The Australian government aims to transform the country into a renewable energy superpower, and the domestic supply of critical minerals plays a crucial role in achieving this goal.
Australian businesses investing in critical minerals projects may also be eligible for financing or loans from the Export Finance Australia (EFA) agency, which manages the critical minerals facility. Critical minerals, including rare-earth elements, are primarily sourced from China. China currently dominates about 63% of the world's rare earth production, while Australia is a leading global producer and exporter of lithium.
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