VOUX MAG

MELBOURNE, May 4 (Reuters) - Australia and Japan have beefed up their cooperation around critical minerals amid a state visit by Japan's prime ‌minister, with the countries providing A$1.67 billion ($1.20 billion) in support for ‌the sector and flagging more to come.

Australia and Japan will focus on strategic projects to address ​the most urgent supply chain vulnerabilities in mining, refining and manufacturing in the two countries, the Australian government said in a statement.

Australia plans to provide up to A$1.3 billion, while the government of Japan has provided approximately A$370 million ‌in investments and grants, and ⁠plans to provide further investments and grants as projects develop, the statement said.

The projects build on the long-time backing by ⁠Sojitz and Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) for Australia's Lynas Corp, the world's largest producer of rare earths outside China.

Projects that may be in line ​for government ​funding include:

• Alcoa, with Sojitz and ​the Japanese government, is working to ‌develop gallium recovery at one of its operating alumina refineries in Western Australia, for use in semiconductors, LEDs, and solar cells.

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• Magnium Australia, in Western Australia, plans to produce high purity magnesium used in the automotive and aerospace sectors

• Tivan's Speewah Fluorite project in Western Australia is set to produce acid‑grade ‌fluorite, a key raw material for hydrofluoric ​acid used in semiconductors, electric vehicles, and other ​advanced applications

• The Copi Critical ​Minerals Project in New South Wales is a mineral sands ‌project looking to supply critical minerals ​and rare earth ​elements. The project is owned by RZ Resources, with participation from JX Advanced Metals and Marubeni.

• Ardea Resources' Kalgoorlie Nickel project, Goongarrie, is one ​of the largest nickel ‌cobalt resources in Australia. It is being developed as a joint ​venture with Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi.

($1 = 1.3877 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by ​Melanie Burton; Editing by Sonali Paul)

Spirit Airlines shuts down after failing to secure government bailout 03:06

TheSpirit Airlines shutdownwill ripple through commercial aviation, likely raising higher fares as the budget carrier exits the market, industry experts said.

"Any time you have a reduction in capacity and demand increases, airfares have nowhere to go but up. And that doesn't count the fares that are already rising because of the spike in fuel prices," CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg told CBS News Boston.

Spirit announced early Saturday that it had "started an orderly wind-down of operations, effective immediately," after efforts to obtain a $500 million federal bailout stalled. All Spirit flights have been canceled.

Losing Spirit, known for its ultra-low fares, will likely mean costlier tickets on other airlines. A CBS News analysis of Cirium data, a provider of aviation analytics, found average fares jumped 23%, or roughly $60, for a round-trip flight when Spirit exited a route. Overall passenger volume also fell 20% after the carrier left a market.

Spirit's failure could boost fares at a time when ticket prices are already elevated due tohigher jet fuel costsfrom theIran war.

What if I have a ticket for a future Spirit flight?

Customers with tickets for future Spirit flights are entitled to full refunds if the airline goes out of business.

Spirit on Saturday said it would automatically process refunds for any flight that was purchased through the airline with a credit or debit card. The airline hasset up a websiteto answer questions regarding its shutdown.

"If you're holding a Spirit ticket for a flight that hasn't happened yet, you'll get that back from your credit card company under federal credit laws," Greenberg said.

Still, travelers may encounter obstacles obtaining their refunds.

"Watch what happens very closely, and if the airline ceases operation, call the credit card you used to buy the ticket and dispute the charge," Eric Rosen, director of travel content at The Points Guy, told CBS News. "The result is a non-delivery of service, which is grounds for disputing a charge."

Spirit customers who paid cash or used airline loyalty points could be out of luck, Rosen said, noting that those points cannot be transferred to other airlines' loyalty programs.

In Saturday's announcement, Spirit said that "compensation for guests who booked flights" using a voucher, credit or free Spirit points "will be determined at a later date through the bankruptcy process."

Still, Julian Kheel, founder of Points Path, advises against canceling a ticket for an upcoming Spirit flight.

"Canceling your ticket now without a promise of a refund will eliminate all protections. Instead, hang on to your ticket and file a chargeback with your bank," he said.

Other airlines to the rescue?

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An abrupt shutdown means some travelers will have to turn to other airlines for a flight home. Many carriers announced special short-term offers to help Spirit passengers.

"To access these special prices, individuals will need to provide at a minimum a Spirit flight confirmation number and proof of payment," the U.S. Department of Transportation said in a statement.

Deltasaid it will offer "reduced rescue fares in impacted markets to support those with near-term travel needs."

United Airlines said it will cap prices on one-way fares for travelers who have Spirit tickets over the next two weeks for most cities where Spirit flew, mostly capped at $199, with longer flights up to $299. More information atUnited.com/specialfares.

United said Saturday evening that in the span of 12 hours, it had rebooked about 14,000 Spirit flyers onto United flights.

American Airlines said in a statement to CBS News, "we immediately implemented fare caps on Main Cabin tickets for Spirit routes where we also offer nonstop service and will continue to support as many customers as possible." Passengers can through the American Airlines app or onaa.com.

Southwest Airlines said special fares for Spirit travelers will be available at Southwest ticket counters at their departure airport for eligible routes through 11:59 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, May 6.

JetBlue is offering $99 rescue fares "to assist stranded travelers with immediate travel planned," available for 72 hours, and said it will cap fares to provide more affordable rebooking options. Affected customers can call1-800-JETBLUEfor information.

The discount carrierFrontierposted a statement saying it is ready to assist affected travelers, and the Department of Transportation said Allegiant, Avelo and Breeze have also agreed to assist.

Fare caps would limit prices but could still force Spirit customers to pay more than they expected.

"They said they'll offer rescue fares to Spirit passengers, but it's unclear if they'll be offered on every route Spirit served," industry analyst Henry Harteveldt, founder of Atmosphere Research Group, told CBS News.

Harteveldt urged customers to keep copies of their Spirit itineraries in case another airline requires them.

"These rescue fares may be less expensive than the normal fares these airlines would charge, but would probably be more expensive than the Spirit fares," Harteveldt added.

More pressure on fares

Harteveldt said Spirit's collapse would affect airfares depending on how quickly other airlines fill those routes, but expanding operations could prove difficult before the busy summer season.

"Airlines' plans have already been committed for the summer. But over time, within three to six months, I would not be surprised to see Froniter, Avelo, Breeze and Allegiant all take steps to enter markets that Spirit served," Harteveldt said, citing some of Spirit's low-cost competitors. "I do expect a lot of budget airlines will try to backfill Spirit somehow."

Kheel said Spirit helped keep airfares in check, even if it wasn't the most popular with consumers.

"With them soon to be gone, I think we're likely to see an increase," he said. "That's on top of the airfare increases we're already seeing from the increase in jet fuel prices. This is only going to make that situation worse."

Georgiawas already going to see plenty of anglers thissummer, but now they have even more reason to go fishing this season.

On Friday, President Donald Trump announced onTruth Socialthat his administration approved state permits for the 2026 red snapper season with much larger windows for fishing.

"For years, our Great Fishermen have been punished with very short federal fishing seasons despite record high fish populations and the states begging to oversee these permits," Trump wrote. "We love and respect our fishermen and, unlike the Democrats, will only do good for them."

When is Georgia red snapper season 2026?

Georgia anglers will be able to fish for red snapper from July 1 through Aug. 31. The state's department of natural resources said vianews releasethat, traditionally, the season has been limited to just a few days due to data uncertainty. But, if Georgia can show proficiency in data collection, the longer season could be extended for two more years.

Red snapper fishing laws

Anglers may keep only one red snapper per day. They must register their trips prior to departure using the Georgia DNR app, which will be released at a later date. They must also report their catch within 24 hours.

Georgia DNR coastal resources director Doug Haymans said "This is a major step forward for Georgia anglers....If anglers want longer, more reliable seasons, we need better data—and that comes directly from them. Reporting through the app is how anglers can help shape the future of red snapper fishing in Georgia."

Reactions to expanded red snapper fishing season

Gov. Brian Kemp said on his social media platforms "Thank you to President Trump for putting the power to conserve and manage this key fish population back where it belongs - in the hands of those who know the region best. Looking forward to Red Snapper season opening soon!"

Florida and the Carolinas' governors have shared similar statements of excitement and praise.

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However, when these moves were being considered in February, the US-based advocacy groupOcean Conservancyput out a statement of opposition, writing as a group "Overfishing drove the red snapper population to just 11% of its historical abundance; in response, seasons were reduced as part of a rebuilding plan set to last through 2044. These new exemptions risk undermining the progress made to restore this stock and allow sustainable fishing opportunities."

Where are red snapper in Georgia?

According toNOAA, red snapper are generally found 30-620 feet deep in the Gulf of America and along the east coast. They are rare north of the Carolinas.

Larval red snapper swim freely within the water column. Juveniles live in shallow waters over sandy or muddy bottom habitat. Adults live on the bottom, usually near hard structures on continental shelf that have moderate to high relief (rocks, ledges, reefs, etc), sloping soft-bottom areas, and limestone deposits.

What do red snapper eat?

Red snapper eat fish, shrimp, crab, worms, cephalopods (octopus or squid), and some plankton (tiny floating plants and animals).

Best way to cook red snapper

Chef and host of Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods" Andrew Zimmern posted a video on TikTok of a recipe idea using red snapper:

How big are red snapper?

Red snapper may grow up to 40 inches long and weighing up to 50 pounds.

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email atmlegoas@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News:Red snapper fishing 2026 season in Georgia expanded by Trump. Why?

An Alabama special session that's focused on congressional and legislative districts led over 150 people to protest what some referred to as "Jim Crow 2.0."

Alabama Gov. Kay Iveysaid in a statement Friday the special session was meant to focus on procedures for conducting special primaries if district lines change for the next election cycle. Currently, there is an injunction on Alabama barring the state from redrawing its congressional maps before 2030, an injunction Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed emergency motion asking the court to lift on Thursday.

Ivey said in a statement on Friday that Alabama's ongoing litigation on the matter could be impacted by the recent 6-3 decision in aLouisianaredistricting case that limited how Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act can be applied in map-drawing disputes.

Should the lines change, Ivey in a statement said the plan was for the state to revert back to the maps drawn by the Legislature for congressional districts in 2023 and state senate districts in 2021, the maps that prompted the injunctions in the first place.

'Taking power away'

Many people, both regular Alabamians and a collection of nonprofit organizations — including Alabama Arise, the ACLU of Alabama, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the NAACP, Faith in Action Alabama and more — protested the potential changes and the meaning of those changes leading up to the start of the special session at 4 p.m. on May 4.

Randy Kelley, chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party, said that Alabama's "long history of discrimination, gerrymandering and every other trick in the book" makes the situation even more significant.

"People in Alabama, they were beaten," Kelley said. "...We came this far because we walk across a carpet painted with blood, especially that of Black people, and particular white people of goodwill that helped us fight for the right to vote."

Kelley said he thought the Republicans in power would "try to eliminate all of [the Alabama Democrats in the delegation]," given that the districts most impacted by potential redistricting would be majority-Black districts currently represented by Democratic U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell of Birmingham and Shomari Figures of Mobile.

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"The thing is, the political climate is at first, to the Republicans, regressive policies," Kelley said. "You've got all these people, all these No Kings marches, people are dissatisfied with the Trump administration, so they're desperate. They're gonna do anything in their power to stay in power."

'They are trying to erase us'

Many local Alabamians, such as Auburn resident Damarius Nolan-Watts, said that the potential change to the districting is concerning due to a sense of "complacency" among the public that needs to be addressed.

"A lot of things are at stake, there's a lot on my mind," Nolan-Watts said. "Our very existence is at stake right now. A certain group of people are trying to erase us, erase our voice. ... We need this [protest] energy to keep going consistently, not just for like, a day, or like, a week, or even days, days and days. We need years."

Ida Gary, lead organizer of Black Voters Matter, said the mobilization of Alabamians protesting and using their voices reflects the larger issue of what's at stake — everyday aspects essential to quality of life.

"Power is about fair representation, and it is about resources," Gary said. "This is about healthcare. This is about school funding. This is about equity, jobs and the resources that communities have, and them being able to pretty much force their own destiny. Every community should have a say-so in those resources. ... That's what this is about. That's what's at stake."

Sophy Shore, another Alabama resident, said that she hopes that Alabama will be "going in better directions" after the special session concludes.

"All Alabamians have a stake in this because when everyone has their vote represented as it should be, we're able to make the state the way it should be, pass policies that are gonna be good for the people," Shore said. "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."

Sarah Clifton covers business for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can reach her at sclifton@montgome.gannett.com or follow her on X @sarahgclifton and TikTok @sarahgclifton.To support her work, pleasesubscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser:Alabama crowds hold mass protest against redistricting

Gabriella Pizzolo said Natalie Portman inspired her to pursue a psychology degree alongside music, calling it a “smart” alternative to studying drama

NEED TO KNOW

• The Stranger Things actress balanced filming with college life on campus, saying the experience helped her grow and meet people outside the industry

• Pizzolo also said she still keeps in touch with her former costars, especially Gaten Matarazzo

Stranger Thingsstar Gabriella Pizzolo revealed thatNatalie Portmaninspired her to pursue a psychology degree.

Pizzolo, 23, who played fan-favorite Suzie Bingham on the Netflix sci-fi series, recently caught up exclusively with PEOPLE at the Broadway premiere ofBeachesin New York City on April 22. During the conversation, the actress shared that she holds two college degrees.

“I have a degree in psychology and music,” she said, before sharing that Portman, 44, was the reason she chose to major in psychology.

“I remember I was looking for what to study, and I saw Natalie Portman studied psychology, and not necessarily anything in the world of drama,” Pizzolo said.

“And I was like, ‘That's actually really smart.' It's an alternative to drama and theater, but you still learn a lot about people and how they interact through that,” she explained.

Portmanattended Harvard Universityfrom 1999 to 2003 while working on severalStar Warsfilms in her off-time.

Pizzolo went on to say that she also continued her work as an actress while attending school.

“I was filming all the time at night and then going to school during the day. And I think the best part of that is that I didn't do it from home or anything. I was on campus,” she said.

Pizzolo said that campus life helped open her up to people and experiences that she never would have encountered had she just stuck to acting.

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“I kind of got to get to know new people that I would've never known, and they kind of got to share all of that stuff with me while I was going out and doing those things,” she said.

“I feel like it's a very Suzie track to go to school, and be in school while everyone else is out saving the world, doing their things, demogorgons, all that,” she added, referring to her brainy character onStranger Things.

As for what she plans to do next?

“I feel like theater is where I am, and film and acting,” Pizzolo said. “But I feel like psychology helps a lot of actors.”

Pizzolo also told PEOPLE that she still keeps in touch with many of her formerStranger Thingscostars since the series ended — something which she says has “been great.”

“I have gotten to see the people from the show, and it's been great to get to reunite and go over everything after [the show ended], and be people together who aren't on the same show anymore, but still have that connection,” she explained.

She added that she andGaten Matarazzo, who played her on-screen love interest Dustin on the series, “talk all the time.”

“He's doing a lot of theater now, so it's really, really exciting to get to see,” she said.

Read the original article onPeople

By Nick Carey

FILE PHOTO: Auto China show in Beijing

BEIJING, May 5 (Reuters) - China's carmakers are hunting for their own "Yaris moment" - the kind of locally tailored breakthrough that helped Toyota conquer Europe - as they race to turn booming exports into lasting overseas growth.

After early attempts that largely involved exporting China-designed cars with minor tweaks, automakers are now re-engineering vehicles from the ground up for foreign buyers, driven as ‌much by fierce margin pressure at home as by opportunity abroad.

China's overcrowded domestic market has been locked in a bruising price war for years, leaving many manufacturers struggling to make money. Overseas ‌markets, by contrast, offer room to grow - and to charge more - if Chinese brands can persuade consumers they understand local tastes.

Major carmakers including BYD, Chery, Changan, SAIC's MG brand and FAW's premium Hongqi all have models in the pipeline designed specifically for export markets - from ​small hatchbacks for Europe to pickup trucks for Australia and Mexico.

At home, Chinese automakers cram cars with technology and sell them cheaply to compete. In Western markets such as Europe, they can often sell at double the price and still undercut established brands.

At the Beijing Auto Show in late April, Hongqi unveiled a small "global SUV" targeted for sale in 80 countries. But the vehicle was primarily designed for urban European buyers, design chief Giles Taylor told Reuters.

"That's the reason why that car exists," Taylor said.

BYD's Dolphin G hatchback was designed specifically for Europe and will launch in June. Stella Li, the electric vehicle maker's No. 2 executive, said the model was critical because hatchbacks account for more than ‌40% of new car sales in parts of southern Europe - a segment ⁠that barely exists in China.

"If we don't have the right car in this sector, we lose," Li told Reuters.

A SURVIVAL STRATEGY

For many Chinese carmakers, exports are a matter of survival as analysts predict consolidation will thin an industry crowded with more than 100 manufacturers. Vehicle sales in China are expected to remain flat or decline.

That excess capacity has ⁠already helped make China the world's largest vehicle exporter, overtaking Japan in 2024.

Gartner analyst Pedro Pacheco described the push to design cars for export as Chinese automakers' "Yaris moment", referring to Toyota's Yaris hatchback, designed in Europe for European buyers and credited with helping the Japanese carmaker gain a foothold on the continent after its 1999 launch.

Dan Hearsch, global co-leader for automotive at consultancy AlixPartners, said globally relevant models are "the Holy Grail for automakers," because scale lifts margins.

In Britain, Chinese brands doubled their ​market ​share in the first quarter to 14.2%. Across Europe, they nearly doubled their share last year to 6% from 3.5% ​in 2024, according to consultancy Inovev.

DESIGNING FOR EUROPEANS

Chinese automakers' rapid export growth risks stalling ‌if it remains heavily reliant on vehicles designed for Chinese tastes.

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"In China, they're quite experimental with expressions of colour," and material, said Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan's senior vice president for global design. Nissan's N7 EV in China features options - including a "pinkish mauve" interior - unlikely to resonate elsewhere.

The average Chinese car buyer is also far younger than consumers in Europe or the U.S., shaping design choices and optional features, said Francois Roudier, secretary general of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.

For younger Chinese consumers, "karaoke in the car is certainly important", he said. "But for my dad - he's 95 - no."

Analysts say matching regional preferences will increasingly determine success as European rivals respond to Chinese competition.

"Just competing on price works first time around," said Phil Dunne, a managing director at consultancy Grant Thornton Stax. "But the Europeans are fighting back on cost."

He added: "The Chinese need to take it to the next level," by designing ‌cars in Europe for Europeans.

For Europe, that also means going smaller.

Chery, China's biggest vehicle exporter, is heavily skewed towards SUVs, which ​accounted for 2.3 million of the 2.8 million vehicles it sold globally in 2025. But Ivan Dulanovic, head of design at Lepas - ​Chery's new international brand - said a Europe-focused hatchback, the Lepas 2, is in development.

"We have recognised ​a need in the market," he said, "and we are tackling that."

SAIC's MG also plans an MG2 hatchback for Europe where consumers "don't like huge cars", design chief Jozef Kaban said.

BYD ‌aims to roll out more Europe-specific models and has told investors it wants half ​of sales to come from overseas by 2030.

LAUNCH PLANS

Pressure to ​grow overseas sales is also reshaping launch strategies.

Jetour, an SUV brand owned by Chery, designed its first fully electric car - the compact TX - with European buyers in mind, said Jetour International President Ke Chuandeng. Its upcoming F700 pickup will target markets such as Australia and Brazil and will launch in Mexico ahead of China, he said.

Chery will also bring a plug-in diesel hybrid pickup to Australia this ​year, said local managing director Lucas Harris.

"We're not kind to our utes," Harris ‌said, using the local name for pickups. "So if it can survive here, it could probably survive anywhere."

State-owned Changan is developing a range of hatchbacks, compact SUVs and pickups for Europe and ​other markets, with launches expected from late 2027, design chief Klaus Zyciora said.

"The competition is so fierce and the investments are very high," Zyciora said. "So you need to make sure you ​get enough scale."

(Reporting By Nick Carey. Additional reporting by Qiaoyi Li. Editing by Brian Thevenot and Mark Potter)

A tree surgeon who was electrocuted by a 11,000 volt powerline has recalled fearing for his life.

CCTV footage shows Josh Pocknell maintaining some hedges shortly after midnight on 19 January, 2024, when he suffered a powerful electric shock after making contact with an overhead cable.

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He was quickly rushed to hospital after suffering from life-threatening injuries. “My whole body locked and I felt hot and cramping,” he later recalled.

“I could hear the electricity in my head and thought I was going to die.”

Mr Pocknell’s employer, Upton Specialised Tree Services Ltd, was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £6,237 in costs atBristol Magistrates' Courton Friday (1 May) after the company wad determined to have failed to assess the dangers of overhead power lines.