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☆ Elon Musk vs Australia: Fight heats up over Sydney church stabbing video on X
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The country’s e-safety commissioner ordered social media giants to take it down. Australia wants X to remove the video completely, not just hide it from Australian users who could circumvent a local ban by using virtual private networks. With her message to Musk, Australian Senator Jacqui Lambie posted an image of herself in army fatigues taken at a Veteran Mentors' Junior Leadership camp in January. President David Adler told CNN he hadn’t been asked to take it down, either by X or Australia’s e-safety commissioner. In a statement Wednesday, Australia’s eSafety commissioner said the takedown request wasn’t designed to stifle discussion about the church attack.

Persons: Elon Musk, that’s, X, ’, Anthony Albanese, Jacqui Lambie, “, hadn’t, ”, fatigues, AJA, David Adler, Adler, AJA hasn’t, Krissy Barrett, Reece Kershaw, Marcus Hoyne, Bishop, Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, Joanne Gray, Grzegorz Wajda, Gray, Musk, Musk’s, Australia’s, Lambie’s Organizations: Australia CNN, Christian Church, Australian, Leadership, Australian Jewish Association, CNN, ” CNN, Joint Counter, Counter, New South Wales Police Seven, Australian Federal Police, AFP, Australia’s Security Intelligence Organisation, National Press Club, Musk, Court, Bishop Mar, Good Shepherd, University of Sydney, European Jewish Association, X Corp Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Sydney, Tasmania, United States, New, Australia’s, Krakow, Poland

☆ Scientists identify three new species of ancient kangaroo—and one was more than 6.6 feet tall
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

One species – P. viator – would have weighed up to 170 kilograms (375 pounds), making it around twice as heavy as the largest male red kangaroos living today. Flinders UniversityThe largest specimens would have stood more than 2 meters (6.6 feet) tall, Kerr told CNN on Monday. By around 40,000 years ago Protemnodon had become extinct on mainland Australia, despite the differences between the various species. This extinction, however, did not affect similar animals such as wallaroos and grey kangaroos, for reasons scientists do not fully understand. “There is a species of Protemnodon present in the formation we’ll be digging at, Protemnodon otibandus, and I’m hoping for a complete skull of this very interesting species,” he said.

Persons: Isaac Kerr, South Australia Aaron Camens, viator, Kerr, ”, “, ’, Thylacoleo, mamkurra, ” Kerr, Protemnodon, Protemnodon otibandus Organizations: CNN —, Flinders University, Volunteers, CNN Locations: South Australia, Lake Callabonna, Australia, Callabonna, Tasmania, New Guinea, Papua New Guinea

☆ Bondi Junction: Five dead in mass stabbing at Sydney shopping center
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Sandi Sidhu | Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Five people have been killed in a mass stabbing at a busy shopping center in Sydney, Australian police said. Police were called to Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon local time following reports of multiple people stabbed. Videos shared on social media show shoppers running from multiple exits of the shopping center, while police helicopters can be heard overhead. “The baby got stabbed and the mum got stabbed.”“We were holding the baby and trying to compress the baby. At least four people were killed and one injured in a mass shooting in Darwin, northern Australia in 2019.

Persons: Anthony Cooke, ”, Cooke, Anthony Albenese, Tragically, – Organizations: CNN, Police, New, New South Wales Police’s, NSW Ambulance, News Sydney Locations: Sydney, Westfield, New South, Bondi, Australia, Darwin, Arthur, Tasmania

☆ Australia: A man complained about a ‘women only’ art exhibit. Now a tribunal has ruled the museum must admit male visitors
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A museum in Australia is being forced to allow men into art exhibit originally conceived for women only, after a tribunal ruled it “discriminatory,” following a complaint by a disgruntled man who was denied entry. During proceedings, Kaechele told the tribunal that denying men entry to the mysterious room is indeed part of the art — giving them a taste of the discrimination and exclusion many women have experienced through history. “Because the requirement is that it will have to open to men, and that’s not happening,” she said. After Tuesday’s ruling, MONA’s official spokesperson told CNN that the institution was “deeply disappointed” by the tribunal’s decision. It was beautiful, the room, the art installation, the meaning of it all.”

Persons: MONA, Kirsha Kaechele, —, ” Jason Lau, Lau, ”, Kaechele, “, Jesse Hunniford, ” Kaechele, Charlotte Vignau Kaechele, Tuesday’s Organizations: CNN, Tasmania’s, of, Tasmanian Civil, KK Locations: Australia, New South Wales, Lau’s

☆ I'm a Gen Z mom. DINKs showing off their splurging and traveling gave me FOMO, but I don't regret having kids.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

He really wanted kids but said it was fine if I didn't, as he loved me and just wanted to be with me. I thought having a family with him would be amazing. I don't think we would have planned far ahead enough to do a trip like that before having kids. I don't regret having kids youngI really enjoy being a mom. I didn't want to get to a point in my career where I was doing really well and then take a big break.

Persons: —, Megan Pagel, Michael, DINK —, Pagel, Covid, it's, I'm, DINK, I'd, I've Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Tasmania, Australia

☆ Australian farmers rip out millions of vines amid wine glut
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

About two-thirds of Australia’s wine grapes are grown in irrigated inland areas such as Griffith, its landscape shaped by vine-growing techniques brought by Italian migrants arriving around the 1950s. That would destroy more than 20 million vines across 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres), Reuters calculations based on Wine Australia data show, or about 8% of Australia’s total area under vine. “If half the vines in Australia were ripped out, it still might not solve the oversupply,” said a wine maker in Western Australia. When China blocked imports during a political dispute in 2020, Australia lost its biggest wine export market by value. And unlike Europe, it offers farmers no financial aid to help them destroy vines and excess wine.

Persons: “, ”, James Cremasco, Griffith, TWE.AX, Carlyle Group’s, Andrew Calabria, Cremasco, Jeremy Cass, Tim Mableson, Bill Calabria, Andrew’s, There’ll Organizations: CNN, Accolade, Wine, Riverina Winegrape Growers, Growers, KPMG Locations: Australia, China, Griffith, Calabria, Riverina, Wine Australia, Western Australia, Chile, France, United States, Bordeaux, Europe, Tasmania, Yarra, Victoria

☆ The 'World's Ugliest Lawn' winner says the animals that visit every day 'think it's beautiful'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An Australian woman won a Swedish competition for the "World's Ugliest Lawn." AdvertisementNot everyone would consider it a compliment, but an Australian woman is thrilled after an international panel gave her the "World's Ugliest Lawn" award. As a prize, the Swedish competition awarded Kathleen Murray of Tasmania with a "Proud owner of The World's Ugliest Lawn" t-shirt. The press release noted that all contestants had "a lot of ugliness to be proud of" in their dry yards. For that, the planet, and its dwindling stockpiles of life-giving liquid, thanks you, Kathleen," the press release said.

Persons: Kathleen Murray, —, –, Kathleen Murray of, Kathleen Murray's, Kathleen, Murray, bandicoots Organizations: Service, Washington Locations: Australian, Swedish, Gotland, Ireland , New Zealand, Australia, Kathleen Murray of Tasmania

☆ 19 photos show how Queen Mary of Denmark's style has evolved through the years
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewThe newly-crowned Queen Mary of Denmark has been a public figure since she married Prince Frederik in 2004. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. It's typical for Mary to wear formal attire, such as the white belted gown and sash she wore to her husband's accession to the throne as King Frederik X on Sunday. These photos show how Mary's style has evolved since joining the Danish royal family.

Persons: —, Queen Mary of, Prince Frederik, Mary, King Frederik X, didn't, Mary Donaldson, Frederick Organizations: Service, Business, Financial Times, Danish Locations: Queen Mary of Denmark, Tasmania, Australia, Sydney

☆ Crown Prince Frederik to become King of Denmark as Queen Margrethe II abdicates
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —For many in Denmark, Queen Margrethe II is the only monarch they’ve ever known. But on Sunday, a new era will get underway when she hands over to her son, Crown Prince Frederik. This means that she will be able to perform duties as head of state when both King Frederik or Crown Prince Christian are not able, such as if they were overseas. King Frederik X will rule alongside his Australian-born and hugely popular wife, Queen Mary – which will undoubtedly delight her proud admirers back home. “The story of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark is one Australians have followed closely and hold dear to their hearts,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

Persons: Queen Margrethe II, they’ve, Crown Prince Frederik, King Charles III’s, of, Martin Sylvest Andersen, Frederik, Mary, Christian, Frederik VIII’s Palace, Margrethe, Kongens, Jørgen’s, King Frederik X, Queen Mary, King Frederik, Prince Christian, Frederik’s, Prince Joachim, Princess Benedikte, Mette Frederiksen, Frederik VIII, X, Christiansborg, Sixtus, Mads Claus Rasmussen, Ritzau Scanpix, Trine Villemann, Jens Otto Krag, Margrethe II, ”, Birgitte Borup, Berlingske, “, Danes, King Eric III, Borup, Queen Mary –, Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, Justin Tynan, King, Queen of, Anthony Albanese, Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary of, MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN, Isabella, Vincent, Josephine, Mary’s, she’s Organizations: CNN, Guard, Squadron, State, Danish Royal House, Danish, Getty, “, Danes, British Locations: Denmark, Danish, Europe, Christiansborg, Copenhagen, of Denmark, Greenland, Faroe, Amalienborg, Frederiksgade, d’Angleterre, Holmens, Holmen, AFP, Sydney, Hobart , Tasmania, Darling Harbour, Queen of Denmark, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Tasmania, Australia

☆ Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth: Why Denmark will give the world the first Australian-born Queen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-02 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Brisbane, Australia CNN —The fairy tale rise of an Australian sales executive to the upper ranks of European royalty is set to be completed Sunday when Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth of Denmark becomes the country’s Queen Consort. Margrethe’s eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, will become King, while his wife, Crown Princess Mary, will become the first Australian to become Queen, a development that has delighted her supporters back home. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Australian born Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth Donaldson married in May 2004. I will hand over the throne to my son Crown Prince Frederik,” Margrethe said. Danish Crown Princess Mary photographed during the Copenhagen Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 18 on January 30, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Persons: Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth of, Consort, Queen Margrethe II, It’s, hasn’t, King Eric III, Margrethe’s, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, it’s, King, Mary, Prince Frederik of Denmark, Princess Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, Bjarke, Jeremy Rockliff, Princess Mary, ”, King Frederik, ” Rockliff, Prince Christian, “, –, Queen of, Prince Frederik, ” Margrethe, ” Kristian Ring, Hansen Holt, Juliet Rieden, Margrethe, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Margrethe, Reiden, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, didn’t, Rieden, Frederik, she’d, Christian Vierig, She’s, she’s, Prince Frederik’s, Genoveva Casanova, Casanova, ‘, Britain’s King Charles III, ” Reiden Organizations: Australia CNN, Crown, Royal House, Getty Images Tasmanian, CNN, Ukraine, ABC, Australian, Monarchs, Copenhagen Cathedral, Mary Foundation, Lecturas, Royal, of State, CNN’s Royal Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth of Denmark, Tasmania, Denmark, Sydney, Danish, Copenhagen, Hobart, AFP, Gaza, Queen of Denmark, Scottish, British, Houston , Texas, Europe, Mexican, Spanish, Christiansborg Palace, Mary

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Dec 4 (Reuters) - The two main spot prices for iron ore diverged last week, with Singapore-traded contracts gaining but China's domestic futures posting a decline. The exchange said on Nov. 30 that it will continue to strengthen its supervision of iron ore futures to maintain what it termed the safe and stable operation of the market. But despite the travails of the property sector, China's iron ore imports have been relatively robust so far in 2023. In the same week last year iron ore stockpiles were 137.5 million metric tons and were 155.4 million in the same week on 2021. History suggests that the authorities can cool iron ore prices, but only for a relatively short period, especially if the market conditions are supportive for stronger prices.

Persons: Sonali Paul Organizations: Singapore Exchange, Dalian Commodity Exchange, National Development, Reform, it's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Singapore, Beijing, Dalian

What the group did agree was total production curbs of 2.2 million bpd from eight members, a figure that includes an extension of the existing voluntary Saudi and Russian cuts of 1.3 million bpd. This is up 1.86 million bpd from the figure of 40.10 million bpd for 2022, according to Kpler. China's crude imports were 11.36 million bpd in the first 10 months of the year, up 1.21 million bpd from the level for 2022 as a whole. India saw arrivals of 4.62 million bpd in the first 10 months of the year, according to LSEG data, up 462,000 bpd on the 4.14 million bpd for 2022. Asia's crude imports in the first 10 months of the year were 26.93 million bpd, according to LSEG data, up 1.34 million bpd on the 25.59 million bpd recorded for the whole of 2022.

Persons: It's, Stephen Coates Organizations: Organization of, Petroleum, Brent, OPEC, International Energy Agency, world's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, OPEC, Russia, Saudi, United States, Brazil, Guyana, Asia, China, India

☆ Research unveils gruesome history of Tasmanian tiger skins in British museum’s collection
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Warning: This article contains disturbing descriptions about the practices of colonial settlers in Tasmania and violence against Tasmanian Aboriginal peoples. “In all, Allport shipped five Tasmanian Aboriginal skeletons to Europe, proudly identifying himself as the most prolific trader in Tasmanian bodily remains,” according to the study. The colonial government allowed settlers to murder Tasmanian Aboriginal people without punishment and, in 1830, even established a bounty for the capture of Indigenous humans and Tasmanian tigers, or thylacines. Some Aboriginal Tasmanian people did survive colonial persecution, Ashby added, though at brutal costs. Their descendants make up today’s Tasmanian Aboriginal community, Ashby said.

Persons: Jack Ashby, Morton Allport, Allport, Ashby, It’s, ” Ashby, Mortan Allport, ”, incentivized Allport, William Lanne, William Crowther, Crowther, Truganini, thylacines, “ We’re, Rebecca Kilner, ” Kilner Organizations: Tasmanian Aboriginal, CNN, Cambridge University’s Museum of Zoology, Tasmanian, Allport Library, Museum of Fine Arts, State, of, Royal Society of Tasmania, Royal Society, British Museum, University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, University of Cambridge Grappling Locations: Tasmania, United Kingdom, Europe, Belgium, of Tasmania, Great Britain, London, Bass, ”, Brussels, Tasmanian, Cambridge

A woman picks a gold earring at a jewellery shop in the old quarters of Delhi, India, May 24, 2023. While India's gold demand has been solid so far in 2023, matching strength in the domestic economy, it appears that some momentum may be coming out of the market. The high price of gold for consumers in China may further crimp demand in the fourth quarter, after the World Gold Council reported a decline in third. The recent price rally is likely to trim demand growth in India in the current quarter. But countering the positive drivers are signs that high prices are undermining demand growth in the key markets of China and India.

Persons: Anushree, they're, Hong Kong, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Federal Reserve, Hong, Hong Kong Census, Statistics Department, Gold, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Delhi, India, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Hong, Central

China's imports are being driven by increased arrivals from Indonesia, the world's largest exporter of thermal coal, with Kpler estimating 18.03 million metric tons will arrive this month. This is up from imports from Indonesia of 16.70 million metric tons in October, according to Kpler data. Imports from Indonesia are expected to decline to 10.92 million metric tons in November from 12.19 million in October. Thermal coal arrivals from Australia are forecast to be 1.11 million metric tons in November, up slightly from the 1.02 million in October. Overall, its possible that China's increased appetite for imported thermal coal ahead of the northern winter is crowding out some demand in India, which tends to be a more price-sensitive buyer.

Persons: Stephen Coates Organizations: Argus, CHINA, Atlantic, Indonesian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Indonesia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Beijing, Canberra, South Africa, Asia, Europe

A flexible tube for CO2 is pictured at a a pilot project for carbon capture and storage (CCS). REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke Acquire Licensing RightsNov 23 - Carbon capture and underground storage (CCUS) is touted by proponents of fossil fuel production and consumption as the technology that will keep oil and gas in the global energy mix. The IEA produced some sobering numbers in its report, The Oil and Gas Industry in Net Zero Transitions. While the IEA said more than $3 billion was invested in CCUS projects in 2022, only 5% of the ventures have reached final investment decisions, representing only 10 million metric tons of carbon capture and 20 million of storage. There is little doubt that the oil and gas industry will learn from experience and get better at doing CCUS.

Persons: Hannibal Hanschke, CCUS, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, International Energy Agency, IEA, and Gas Industry, Chevron, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Chevron's, Western Australia

☆ 9 passenger airliners that have landed on Antarctica's rugged runways made out of blue ice
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

These planes land on rugged, unpaved runways mostly made of blue ice and compacted snow. PrivatAir's Boeing 737 and Smartwings' Boeing 737 MAXA Smartwings 737 MAX on Antarctica in January 2022. It was the first time the jet type landed on one of the continent's blue ice runways. Another Loftleider 757 is set to ferry Antarctic Ice Marathon runners to Union Glacier this December. Loftleider Icelandic Airlines' and Titan Airways Boeing 767Titan Airways' Boeing 767 on Antarctica.

Persons: —, George Hubert Wilkins, Glenn Jacobson, PrivatAir, NPI, Tim Hewette, Troll, Fang, Patrick Woodhead Organizations: Atlantic Airways, Boeing, Service, Lockheed Vega, Airbus, Australian Antarctic, Australian, Skytraders, Australian Antarctic Program, McMurdo, AAP, Norwegian Polar Institute, Swiss, NPI, Boeing's, Airlines, Titan Airways, Antarctic Logistics, Expeditions, Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions, Antarctic Ice, Russian Antarctic, Titan Airways Boeing, Norse Atlantic Airways, Emirates, White Desert Locations: Antarctica, Skytraders, Christchurch , New Zealand, Hobart, Australia's, Tasmania, Cape Town , South Africa, Czech, Chile, Russian, NPI, Norway, Cape Town, Russia's

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A surge of diesel and gasoline exports from China in the last northern winter eased then-prevailing fuel shortages in Asia but a repeat performance this year is unlikely. Diesel exports peaked at 2.39 million metric tons in January this year, before dropping to just 290,000 by June, according to official customs data. Since then they have eased back, dropping to 1.18 million metric tons in September and 1.11 million in October. November exports are expected to less than 700,000 metric tons, according to an estimate by LSEG based on ship-tracking and port data. Shipments this month are likely to be around 600,000 metric tons, according to LSEG, which would be the weakest month this year.

Persons: LSEG, Kpler, Robert Birsel Organizations: Diesel, LSEG, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Asia, Russia, Ukraine, Beijing, Singapore, Europe

China's refiners processed 63.93 million metric tons of crude in October, equivalent to 15.05 million bpd, according to National Bureau of Statistics data released on Nov. 15. Crude imports were 48.97 million metric tons and domestic output was 17.33 million, giving a total of 66.3 million, equivalent to 15.61 million bpd. Subtracting the refinery throughput from the total crude available leaves a surplus of 560,000 bpd to be put into commercial or strategic reserves. China total crude available vs refinery processingFORECASTS TOO BULLISH? China's imports for the first 10 months of the year are 11.36 million bpd, which is 1.19 million bpd higher than for the whole of 2022.

Persons: refiners, China doesn't, Stephen Coates Organizations: National Bureau, Statistics, OPEC, International Energy Agency, BP, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Qingdao, Shandong province, LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Asia, Saudi Arabia

The strength in iron ore is being driven by renewed optimism that China's vast property sector is emerging from the gloom of recent months. However, there are some fundamental reasons supporting iron ore, chief among them the low port inventories. Stockpiles at China's ports rose to 108.8 million metric tons in the week to Nov. 10, according to data from consultants SteelHome. This was up a modest 3.9 million metric tons from the previous week's 104.9 million, which was the lowest since October 2016. Stockpiles were 136 million metric tons in the same week in 2022 and 147.6 million in 2021, according to SteelHome data.

Persons: Ping, SteelHome, haven't, Miral Organizations: Dalian, Ping An Insurance, HK, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, China, Singapore, Beijing

Snow covered transfer lines are seen at the Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Lusby, Maryland March 18, 2014. The November figure will also be a slight increase from the 21.41 million metric tons from the same month last year. India, Asia's fourth-biggest LNG buyer, is expected to import 1.3 million metric tons in November, down from 1.85 million in October. More U.S. LNG is also heading to Asia, with November imports slated at 1.97 million metric tons, up from 1.83 million in October. This leaves the spot price at the mercy of demand, and while there has been some uptick in both Asia and Europe, it hasn't been enough to drive spot prices higher.

Persons: Snow, Gary Cameron, Europe hasn't, Asia's, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, world's, LNG, U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Lusby , Maryland, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Asia, Europe, United States, October's, China, Japan, India, Russia, Ukraine, Qatar, U.S, Western Australia

☆ Extraordinary photos reveal the secret kingdom of the soil
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It’s a scene most of us might associate with an open savannah in a nature documentary, but photographer Andy Murray is watching the drama unfold from his back garden in Somerset, UK. To Murray, these microscopic soil animals are as fascinating as the lions and zebras you might see on safari – just far more accessible, if you know where to look. “They live in this tiny world; it works like our world, it’s just on a really small scale,” he tells CNN. Andy MurrayYet despite this wealth of life, the creatures living in the soil beneath our feet are relatively unknown. “He captures moments of soil life doing interesting and cool things,” says Anthony, such as laying eggs in a place where we would never expect.

Persons: Andy Murray, He’s, Murray, ”, “, Mark Anthony, Anthony, they’ve, it’s Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Food, Agricultural Organization, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Research Locations: Somerset, Mexico City, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania

☆ Australia records driest October since 2002 due to El Nino
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

In its regular drought report, the Bureau of Meteorology said last month was Australia's driest October since 2002, with rainfall 65% below the 1961–1990 average. It said every part of Australia except the state of Victoria had below-average rainfall and Western Australia state -- by far the biggest grain-exporting region -- saw its driest October on record. After three years of plentiful rain, the El Nino weather phenomenon has brought hot and dry weather to Australia, with September the driest since records began in 1900. "Areas of (rainfall) deficiency have generally expanded and become more severe in south-west Western Australia, south-eastern Queensland, and parts of the Top End in the Northern Territory and far north Queensland. Its long range forecast predicts below-median rainfall through to at least January in northern, western and southern Australia.

Persons: Jill Gralow, Peter Hobson, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Meteorology, El, Thomson Locations: Moree, Australia, El Nino, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, Tasmania

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia made two recent decisions that on the surface seem to indicate a steady crude oil market outlook but may point to a ticking up in concern over the state of demand. It's also likely that softer demand for refined products in Asia amid economic uncertainty led to Aramco's decision to keep the Arab Light OSP unchanged. The extension of the additional 1 million bpd cut is perhaps a tacit admission that crude oil demand isn't as strong as OPEC has been expecting. Asia's crude imports showed some resilience in October, rising to 27.36 million bpd from 26.60 million bpd in September, according to data compiled by LSEG. China, the world's biggest importer, saw arrivals of 11.90 million bpd in October, up from September's 11.18 million bpd, but both these months were down on August's 12.49 million bpd.

Persons: It's, Brent, Robert Birsel Organizations: Saudi Aramco, refiners, Aramco, Brent, West Texas Intermediate, OPEC, LSEG, world's, Saudi, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Oman, Dubai, Asia, Singapore, Israel, Gaza, Atlantic, refiners, China, Russia

Asia's imports of seaborne thermal coal climbed to 75.77 million metric tons in October from 70.29 million in September, according to data compiled by commodity analysts Kpler. The October volume was also above the 69.63 million metric tons imported in the same month last year. While physical demand for seaborne thermal coal is solid in Asia, the same can't be said for prices. China mainly buys thermal coal from the two biggest exporters, Indonesia and Australia. Overall, the combination of weaker Chinese domestic prices and waning European demand may prove sufficient to keep pressure on seaborne thermal coal prices in Asia, even if volumes remain solid.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Rights, Argus, Newcastle, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Owen, Ravensworth, Australia, Rights LAUNCESTON, Asia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Beijing, Canberra, Europe, Ukraine, Turkey, South Africa, U.S

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