Rhode Island
Reed to Welcome Australian Ambassador to Rhode Island Next Week, Deepening U.S.-Australia Ties – Newport Buzz
Rhode Island is preparing for a high-profile diplomatic visit next week, as U.S. Senator Jack Reed announced that he will be hosting Dr. Kevin Rudd, the Australian Ambassador to the United States, for a two-day tour of the Ocean State. The visit, slated for October 15 and 16, will focus on expanding economic, academic, and defense partnerships between Australia and Rhode Island, particularly as part of the broader U.S.-Australia alliance.
Dr. Rudd, a former Prime Minister of Australia, will accompany Senator Reed on visits to several key sites, including defense manufacturing facilities, universities, and local businesses. The visit comes as the United States and Australia deepen their ties through AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership involving Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, aimed at strengthening defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
“I look forward to welcoming Ambassador Rudd to Rhode Island,” Senator Reed said in a statement. “Australia and the United States are steadfast allies, and through AUKUS, we are not only enhancing our national defense but also creating economic opportunities for our citizens. I hope this visit will increase the flow of business, commerce, and tourism between our nations, and particularly here in Rhode Island.”
Rhode Island plays a crucial role in the U.S. defense landscape, with facilities such as Electric Boat’s submarine manufacturing site in Quonset Point, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, and the Naval War College. These sites, along with the state’s growing defense manufacturing sector, contribute to Rhode Island’s booming Blue Economy, fostering technological advancements and innovation.
Senator Reed, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been a leading advocate for U.S.-Australia defense collaboration. He recently helped pass AUKUS-related legislation enabling the sale of advanced U.S.-made submarines to Australia’s Royal Navy, a move that is expected to bolster the industrial bases of all three AUKUS partners.
During the visit, Senator Reed plans to highlight Rhode Island’s contributions to U.S. defense capabilities. On October 15, Reed and Rudd will hold a media event outside Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility, where they will discuss the significance of the AUKUS partnership and the role Rhode Island plays in strengthening the defense alliance.
The U.S. and Australian armed forces have a long history of collaboration, having fought side by side in every major conflict since World War I. Australia, which hosted more than 150,000 U.S. troops during World War II, remains a key U.S. ally in the Pacific.
Economic ties between the two countries are also robust. According to the International Monetary Fund, Australia is the 13th-largest economy in the world, and in 2023, total trade between the U.S. and Australia reached $47.1 billion. U.S. exports to Australia support over 172,000 American jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Ambassador Rudd’s visit aims to reinforce these diplomatic, defense, and economic relationships, further integrating Rhode Island into the evolving U.S.-Australia alliance.
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(WJAR) — Thirty-two years ago was the commissioning of a Navy submarine named after the Ocean State.
Maria Stephanos was on board the USS Rhode Island on July 9, 1994.
Rhode Island was the Navy’s 15th Trident class ballistic submarine.
It was commissioned in Newport and was the first to be christened in its namesake state.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — They come from all walks of life, including many professionals in the community, taking time out of their busy days to welcome students to school with enthusiasm and handshakes.
“We learn a lot of new handshakes, too,” Kobi Dennis said. “High-fives. Pounds with an explosion. We get a little bit of everything.”
It’s the Handshake Initiative, the brainchild of now Central Falls Police Chief Anthony Roberson.
Everybody can use some encouragement, and students in Rhode Island get that the minute they head toward the school building.
Initially, the students and parents didn’t know what to think.
“I was confused because I thought it was going to be a normal day,” said one student.
“Their parents were getting out of their cars trying to see what’s going on,” Reservoir Avenue School Principal Cynthia Torres said.
But now, they crave it.
“It makes me feel motivated,” another student said.
Dennis adds in an etiquette component.
“Teaching the kids how to shake hands, look one another in the eyes with a firm grip — girl or guy — firm grip and say ‘hello’ and introduce yourself, that’s part of the initiative as well,” Dennis said.
Providence school superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez said it sends a strong message.
“We hear you, we see you, and we’re here for you,” Montañez said.
Torres strategically uses them on standardized test days.
“They say, ‘I’m going to do really good today,’” she said.
“It makes me feel encouraged to do better in school,” a student said.
They’ve connected with thousands of students across Rhode Island.
“It’s about shaking hands and building relationships, but it’s also about letting young people know that there are professionals in the community cheering for them every single day,” Dennis said.
Do you know of a nonprofit organization or volunteers doing great work in your community? Fill out a short nomination form for “Community Treasures.”
A man was critically hurt in a stabbing in Providence on Tuesday, NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports.
Police were first called to Smith Street around 7 p.m. for the reported stabbing. They found the victim on Chalkstone Avenue.
He was taken to the hospital where he remains in critical condition.
The case remains under investigation and no arrests were announced.
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