1. Biden says that Australia is the closest ally of the US

US President Joe Biden said that the US "has no closer or more reliable ally than Australia" during a meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in New York. "The United States and Australia are working in lockstep on the challenges that I laid out today in my speech to the United Nations: ending COVID, addressing the climate crisis, defending democracy, shaping the rules of the road for the 21st century," Biden said.

2. Daniel Andrews calls construction worker protests "appalling"

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has criticised the violent protests by construction workers and anti-vaxxers in Melbourne this week as "appalling" and "unlawful" ahead of further protests expected today. "What we saw yesterday was an insult to the vast majority of people who are not about wrecking, they're about building," Andrews said.

3. Australia and Austria set to sign strategic partnership

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will sign a new strategic partnership with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz during his time in New York according to The Australian, which reported that the deal includes a commitment for the two countries to work together on negotiations for a free trade agreement between Australia and the EU, along with "a raft of trade, industry, education and security agreements".

4. UK soft drink manufacturers running out of fizz

The effects of Brexit have continued to effect the UK's food and drink industry with the British Soft Drinks Association warning that some manufacturers "only have a few days of CO2 supply left in reserve". The carbon dioxide shortage is also affecting the UK's meat industry, where the gas is used to stun pigs and chickens prior to slaughter.

5. Nasdaq rises 0.2% on Tuesday

The Nasdaq rose by 32.49 points or 0.22% to 14,746.40 on Tuesday while both the Dow Jones and S&P 500 moved lower. The Dow was down 50.63 points or 0.15% to 33,919.84 and the S&P lost 3.54 points or 0.08% to 4,354.19.