DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Global warming will hit Australian crop yields and GDP, treasurer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Harvesting machinery can be seen behind a wheat crop in a paddock located on the outskirts of the South Australian town of Jamestown, in Australia, December 1, 2017. Global warming is leading to hotter and more extreme weather in Australia, one of the world's largest exporters of agricultural products. "The latest analysis out of Treasury tells us that disasters and a warming climate have big, economy wide effects," Chalmers told an agricultural conference in Queensland dedicated to drought. "If further action isn't taken, Australian crop yields could be 4 per cent lower by 2063 – costing us about A$1.8 billion in GDP in today's dollars." ($1 = 1.5569 Australian dollars)Reporting by Peter Hobson; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Gray, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Peter Hobson, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Jamestown, Australia, Queensland, decarbonisation

☆ Australia's new submarines are still 2 decades away from delivery, but the Aussies are already looking out for spies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Australia is working with the US and UK to build nuclear-powered subs and other military technology. It can be intentional — for example, a foreign intelligence service spreading election conspiracies on social media — or unintentional, as when someone unwittingly shares the foreign intelligence service's social-media posts. Australian officials look at the Collins-class submarine HMAS Collins in September 2021. Those Australian intelligence officials echoed worries that US officials have about foreign efforts to compromise AUKUS. US intelligence officials estimate that Chinese espionage steals US economic secrets worth between $200 billion and $600 billion a year.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Anthony Albanese, Tayfun, Andrew Shearer, Mike Burgess, Burgess, CPOIS Damian Pawlenko, Azorian, PETER, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: US, Service, Australia, British, Australian, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Australian National Intelligence, of National Intelligence, US Navy, Australian Security Intelligence, ASIO, FBI, Collins, Royal Australian Navy, intel, China Aviation, of State Security, Western, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins School, International Studies, Boston College Law School Locations: Australia, France, China, Canberra, San Diego, Virginia, North Dakota, Canada , New Zealand, AUKUS, Soviet, Beijing

☆ India Stops New Visas for Canadians, Asks Ottawa to Downsize Missions as Spat Worsens
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

A blanket suspension of new visas by India for a Western country is unheard of and marks the lowest point of India-Canada relations. But Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Ottawa had been asked to reduce numbers at its diplomatic missions in India to bring parity between the missions of the two countries. Bagchi said India suspended issuing new visas to Canadian citizens due to "security threats" to its staff in its consulates in Canada. "You are aware of the security threats being faced by our high commission and consulates in Canada. Industry estimates show the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Canada and India could boost two-way trade by as much as $6.5 billion.

Persons: Krishn Kaushik, Rupam Jain, Rajesh NEW DELHI, Justin Trudeau's, Trudeau, Arindam Bagchi, Bagchi, Dominic LeBlanc, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Narendra Modi's, Sakshi Dayal, Shivam Patel, YP Rajesh, Alex Richardson Organizations: Rajesh NEW, Industry, YP Locations: India, Ottawa, New Delhi, Canada, Delhi, British Columbia, United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Washington, London, Canberra, Punjab

☆ Australia abandons efforts to eradicate deadly honey bee parasite
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Commercial crops including almonds, apples and avocados are dependent on pollination by European honey bees, with huge numbers of hives moved during spring flowering to bring bees to plants. "The potential to eradicate is no longer possible ... We now need to work collaboratively to manage and minimise the impact of Varroa." Varroa is a reddish-brown mite around 1 mm in diameter that attaches itself to European and Asian honey bees and feeds on them, weakening them and killing colonies. The mite also carries viruses and has caused the collapse of honey bee populations around the world. Varroa does not target native Australian honey bees.

Persons: Peter Hobson, Miral Organizations: CANBERRA, National Management Group, New South, South, Thomson Locations: Australia, New South Wales, South Wales

☆ Australia Abandons Efforts to Eradicate Deadly Honey Bee Parasite
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Persons: Peter Hobson, Miral Fahmy Organizations: CANBERRA, National Management Group, New South, South Locations: Australia, New South Wales, South Wales

The allegation was a bombshell: that India had been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil in June. Canada’s prime minister leveled the charge on Monday, and an all-out diplomatic war soon followed. Canada pressed its allies to come together to challenge India, with statements of concern issued in Washington and Canberra, Australia. India moved to expel a top Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move, and Indian officials lined up to air grievances with Canada. But behind the plunge in relations to what officials and analysts called the lowest point ever were years of diplomatic tension.

Persons: Canada’s, Canada — Organizations: Canadian Locations: India, Canada, Washington, Canberra, Australia, Canadian, Britain, United States, Punjab

Britain's Charles, Prince of Wales, greets France's President Emmanuel Macron ahead of their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain November 1, 2021. Charles had meant to make France his first royal visit after his coronation, but the March trip was abruptly cancelled by violent French protests over pension reforms, much to Macron's embarrassment. Charles and his wife Queen Camilla are scheduled to visit Paris before heading southwest to the vineyards of Bordeaux. The day after that, Charles and Camilla will visit the flower market named after Queen Elizabeth on Paris' Ile de la Cité. "The king is always very interested in the president's analysis of major international issues," an Elysee official told Reuters.

Persons: Britain's Charles , Prince of Wales, Emmanuel Macron, Jane Barlow, Charles, Camilla, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Elizabeth's, Elizabeth, René Coty, Queen Elizabeth, Boris Johnson, torpedoing, Macron seething, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, Prince Charles, Jeff Bezos, Macron, It's Prince Charles, Michel Rose, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Change, Notre, Dame, France, Windsor Castle, of Mirrors, European Union, Canberra, entente, Elysee, Reuters, Amazon, Thomson Locations: Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, France, Versailles, Bordeaux PARIS, Windsor, Paris, Bordeaux, Europe, Buckingham, of Versailles, la, United States, Australia, Ukraine, Africa

☆ Australia's first female central bank chief set to tackle reforms and cost of living crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Australia’s new central bank chief, Michele Bullock, took the helm Monday after a firestorm of criticism over rising living costs engulfed the tenure of her predecessor. Philip Lowe, former governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, speaking in Canberra in August. “Raising interest rates is never popular, but I think given the circumstances, the Reserve Bank had to do something,” noted Oliver. Within the bank, Lowe also faced questions about the culture he’d fostered since taking over in 2016. Should prices fall more slowly than expected, the central bank would face similar pressure to raise rates, Oliver predicted.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Michele Bullock, Bullock, Philip Lowe, Shane Oliver, ”, would’ve, wasn’t, Lowe, Oliver, Rohan Thomson, RBA, Nick McKim, ” McKim, “ It’s, ” Oliver, disempowered, ” Bullock, ” Lowe, — Hilary Whiteman Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Reserve Bank of Australia, AMP, CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Reserve Bank Locations: Hong Kong, Australian, Canberra, Ukraine, Australia, United States, Europe

☆ Bullock takes over at Australia central bank with soft landing in sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Incoming RBA Governor Michele Bullock delivers the Sir Leslie Melville Public Lecture at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, August 29, 2023 in this handout image. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been on hold for three months after raising interest rates aggressively for more than a year. The tightening has slowed Australia's growth, but analysts think the economy could still achieve a soft landing. If Australia avoids recession and delivers a soft landing, history may judge outgoing Governor Philip Lowe more kindly. In the search to replace Bullock as deputy, Chalmers has indicated the government is looking at candidates inside and outside the central bank.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Leslie Melville, Tracey Nearmy, Bullock, it's, Cherelle Murphy, Philip Lowe, Lowe, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Stephen Halmarick, Stella Qiu, William Mallard Organizations: Australian National University, ANU, REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of Australia, EY Oceania, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Canberra, Australia, Handout, New Zealand, Germany, Europe's, COVID

☆ Thousands in Australia rally for struggling Indigenous referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A depiction of the Australian Aboriginal Flag is seen on a window sill at the home of indigenous Muruwari elder Rita Wright, a member of the "Stolen Generations", in Sydney, Australia, January 19, 2021. REUTERS/Loren Elliott Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Thousands rallied in Australia on Sunday to support recognising the country's Indigenous people in the constitution, a proposal that is struggling ahead of a referendum next month. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates. To change the constitution, the referendum, backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government, would require a national majority in favour and majorities in at least four of Australia's six states. Most Indigenous people favour the referendum, but some, like prominent No campaigner Warren Mundine, say it is a distraction from achieving practical and positive outcomes and would not fully resolve the issues affecting them.

Persons: Rita Wright, Loren Elliott, Anthony Albanese's, Warren Mundine, we've, Mundine, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: Australian, REUTERS, Rights, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Anthony Albanese's Labor, ABC, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Brisbane, Sydney , Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin, Newcastle

☆ Thousands in Australia Rally for Struggling Indigenous Referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Thousands rallied in Australia on Sunday to support recognising the country's Indigenous people in the constitution, a proposal that is struggling ahead of a referendum next month. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates. To change the constitution, the referendum, backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government, would require a national majority in favour and majorities in at least four of Australia's six states. Most Indigenous people favour the referendum, but some, like prominent No campaigner Warren Mundine, say it is a distraction from achieving practical and positive outcomes and would not fully resolve the issues affecting them. "If we can do just three things - accountability, jobs and education - then we'll resolve most of the problems we've got," Mundine told ABC.

Persons: Anthony Albanese's, Warren Mundine, we've, Mundine, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Anthony Albanese's Labor, ABC Locations: Australia, Brisbane, Sydney , Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin, Newcastle, Sydney

☆ Brisbane International to return as Australian Open tune-up event
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Brisbane International will return to the calendar for the first time since 2020 as part of the build-up to next year's Australian Open, Tennis Australia said on Friday. It was dropped from the men's tour when the ATP Cup was introduced in 2019 and last contested as a women's event in 2020. The women's singles field has been expanded to 48 players, while the men's singles draw will feature 32. "The players love to come here, they love the atmosphere," Barty told Australian media. The Canberra International starts alongside the Brisbane event two days later, with tournaments in Adelaide and Hobart beginning on Jan. 8.

Persons: Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova, Ash Barty, Barty, Hritika Sharma, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Brisbane International, Tennis Australia, ATP, WTA, Queensland Tennis Centre, United, Canberra International, Hobart, Thomson Locations: Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hyderabad

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Qantas Airways lost its challenge to a court ruling on Wednesday that the Australian flag carrier had illegally fired 1,700 baggage handlers, cleaners and other ground staff at the height of pandemic travel disruptions. Seven High Court judges unanimously rejected Qantas’ appeal against a Federal Court full-bench decision. That court upheld a Federal Court judge’s ruling that the sacking of Qantas staff at 10 Australian airports in 2020 was illegal. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission initiated the Federal Court lawsuit two weeks ago for what it considers Australia’s most serious-ever breach of consumer law. As travel has ramped up, outsourcing of Qantas jobs has been blamed for a slew of problems including high rates of lost and mishandled luggage.

Persons: Alan Joyce, Michael Kaine, Kaine, Vanessa Hudson, ” Kaine Organizations: — Qantas Airways, Australian, Qantas, Federal, Competition, Consumer Commission, Court, Transport Workers ’ Union, Federal Court Locations: CANBERRA, Australia, Sydney

☆ Security raid on Chinese academic fuels concern over Australia-China exchanges
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Chinese academic, who specialises in foreign affairs research at a Beijing university, had visited universities in three Australian states in July and August. The Guardian first reported on Monday that the man had his accommodation raided and his laptop taken by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and Australian Federal Police in Perth, and was told his visa was being assessed for security reasons. A high-level dialogue between Chinese and Australian academic, industry and media delegations resumed in Beijing on Thursday after a four-year halt. It included a Chinese scholar who had his Australian visa revoked in 2020 by ASIO, amid concern over foreign interference in politics. "Any Chinese academic with an interest in relations with Australia would surely be re-assessing travel plans fearing the same thing could happen to them.

Persons: Florence Lo, Anthony Albanese, James Laurenceson, Greg McCarthy, McCarthy, Albanese, Kirsty Needham, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Guardian, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Australian Federal Police, Reuters, ASIO, China Relations Institute, University of Technology, University of Adelaide, Peking University, The Australian Federal Police, Thomson Locations: Australia, China, Western Australia, Beijing, Perth, Sydney, Canberra

☆ In U.S.-China AI contest, the race is on to deploy killer robots
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +26 min

In this high-tech contest, seizing the upper hand across fields including AI and autonomous weapons, like Ghost Shark, could determine who comes out on top. This could become critical if the United States intervened against an assault by Beijing on Taiwan. Cheap and expendableThe AI military sector is dominated by software, an industry where change comes fast. Still, the available disclosures of spending on AI military research do show that outlays on AI and machine learning grew sharply in the decade from 2010. The Costa-Mesa, California-based company now employs more than 1,800 staff in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Persons: America’s, Shane Arnott, Anduril, ” Arnott, Arnott, ”, “, Mick Ryan, Eric Schmidt, hasn’t, Lloyd Austin, –, Stuart Russell, Russell, Kathleen Hicks, “ We’ll, Palmer Luckey, Luckey, ” Arnott didn’t, Biden, Tsai Ing, Frank Kendall, Datenna, Martijn Rasser, Feng Yanghe, Feng, Palmer, ” Anduril, Arnott wouldn’t, David Lague, Edgar Su, Catherine Tai, Peter Hirschberg Organizations: Australian Navy, Ghost Sharks, Sharks, Reuters, Defense, Australian, Chinese Communist Party, Beijing, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Department of Defense, Pentagon, Australia’s Department of Defence, Australian Defence Force, Technologists, University of California, U.S ., U.S, Teledyne FLIR, Facebook, VR, Military, . Air Force, FH, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, Department, Statistics, Harvard University, Biden Administration, Special, Command, Ministry of Defense, Veteran Locations: China, Australia, United States, Sydney, Britain, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Europe, Asia, Ukraine, ”, America, U.S, Taiwan, East Asia, Beijing, Russian, Berkeley, Fort Campbell , Tennessee, Kenya, “, Russia, Colorado, Zhuhai, Netherlands, Costa, Mesa , California, United Kingdom, Virginia, Canberra, Washington

☆ China, Australia Hold First High-Level Dialogue in Three Years in Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Joe CashBEIJING (Reuters) - China and Australia should "seriously consider" what they have learned from halting their high-level dialogue over the past three years, Li Zhaoxing, a former foreign minister, said on Thursday, as the talks restarted in Beijing. China accounts for nearly one-third of Australian trade, while Australia is China's eighth-largest trade partner. Diplomatic exchanges have been ramping up since Australia elected a Labor government in May 2022 and China lifted tariffs on its barley exports. "Over the past decades... China has not posed any threat to Australia, and will not do so in the future. The Australian delegation also includes former Liberal foreign minister Julie Bishop, whose inclusion was to show bipartisan political support, the statement said.

Persons: Joe Cash, Li Zhaoxing, Li, Craig Emerson, Penny Wong, Julie Bishop, Emerson, Anthony Albanese, Li Qiang, Whitlam’s, " Albanese, Kirsty Needham, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Joe Cash BEIJING, Australia, Labor, Australian, Australian Foreign, Liberal, Australia's, ASEAN Locations: China, Australia, Beijing, Canberra, Jakarta, Sydney

From a survey data perspective, the countries’ moves up the Best Countries list come as they gained in some of the project’s 10 subrankings. In the Best Countries rankings, Neelam points to Australia performing well on an assessment of whether a country is perceived as corrupt. While she announced her resignation in January – before the Best Countries survey was fielded – Neelam says he “wouldn’t discount the Ardern factor” in New Zealand’s rankings rise. New Zealand does have other things going for it that mirror Australia in some ways. Murray, of Karamea, says the country – considered the most scenic among respondents to the Best Countries survey, with Australia at No.

Persons: Paul Murray, I’ve, he’s, ., –, Austin Billimack, he’d, “ Oz ”, ” Billimack, Zealand’s, Murray, Ryan Neelam, it’s, “, ”, Allan Behm, “ We're, Anthony Albanese, Scott Morrison, Albanese, Behm, Morrison, Morrison . New, Jacinda Ardern, – Neelam, Barack, Obama, Eric Crampton, Crampton, Ardern’s, Karamea Organizations: ” Global, U.S . News, FIFA, Australia, New Zealand, Lowy Institute, The Australia Institute, Labor Party, Best, New Zealand Initiative, Zealand Locations: Karamea, New, New Zealand, . Murray, Auckland, Wellington, Australia, Melbourne, Wisconsin, Australia’s, Oceania, Sydney, Australian, Canberra, Nauru, Morrison ., Christchurch , New Zealand, –, Canada

☆ Australia says Qatar strip-searches of women in 2020 a factor in blocking extra flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view shows the Qatar Airways' airbus A350 parked outside Qatar Airways maintenance hangar in Doha, Qatar, June 20, 2022. REUTERS/Imad Creidi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Australia said a strip-search of women at Qatar's main airport in 2020 played a part in its decision this year to stop Qatar Airways from selling more flights to Australia, denying it was acting due to pressure from rival Qantas Airways. The claim brings a new element to a controversy surrounding the Australian Labor government's relationship with Qantas (QAN.AX) which had lobbied against a Qatar Airways request to increase its flights. It was "nonsense" to suggest that adding more Qatar Airways flights would have put downward pressure on international fares, King added. Antitrust regulator the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has said more Qatar Airways flights would have lowered fares.

Persons: Imad Creidi, Catherine King, King, Alan Joyce, Vanessa Hudson, Byron Kaye, Kirsty Needham, Michael Perry Organizations: Qatar Airways, airbus, REUTERS, Rights, Qantas Airways, Australian Labor, Qantas, Australian, Hamad International Airport, Antitrust, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ACCC, Thomson Locations: Doha, Qatar, Australia, Qatar's, Canberra

☆ Qantas CEO’s exit will barely reduce turbulence
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Alan Joyce, Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, speaks in front of a Qantas 747 jumbo jet, before its last departure from the Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, as Qantas retires its remaining Boeing 747 planes early due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, July 22, 2020. In July Canberra rejected Qatar Airways’ request to add 21 flights a week to key Australian cities. Gina Cass-Gottlieb, the watchdog’s chair, is targeting a fine of at least A$250 million ($162 million), she told ABC’s RN radio programme. Qantas customers can now get a cash refund, while credits issued by the group’s budget airline, Jetstar, now last indefinitely. On Aug. 24 Qantas reported record pre-tax earnings for the year to June 30 of A$2.47 billion.

Persons: Alan Joyce, Loren Elliott, Vanessa Hudson, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Hudson, Richard Goyder, Buckle, Joyce, “, ABC’s, Una Galani, Katrina Hamlin Organizations: Qantas, Sydney Airport, Boeing, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Virgin Australia, Regional Express, Qatar Airways, Jetstar, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Canberra

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The boss of Australian airline Qantas said Tuesday he would leave his job immediately — two months earlier than planned — following a series of embarrassing revelations about the company, including allegations it sold tickets for flights that had already been canceled. The airline said Vanessa Hudson would take over as managing director and group chief executive from Wednesday. The announcement came after a difficult few weeks for Qantas and Joyce. Qantas previously acknowledged its standards had fallen well short of expectations as the airline emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline has since come under pressure to pay back the AU$2.7 billion it received from the Australian government during the coronavirus pandemic.

Persons: Alan Joyce, Vanessa Hudson, Joyce, Qantas “, ”, Vanessa, Richard Goyder, “ Alan, ” Goyder, Hudson Organizations: Qantas, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, “ Locations: CANBERRA, Australia

☆ Australia says it will send more police to Solomon Islands, extend mission
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The extended Australian police presence comes after the Solomon Islands upgraded ties with China, signing a policing agreement in July. Australia, New Zealand and the United States are concerned Chinese police could dislodge a long-standing security arrangement Canberra has with the Pacific Islands nation. The Solomon Islands said on Friday it had invited Australia to extend the police presence, originally due to end in December. Australia was the Pacific Islands nation's "primary security partner", a spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement on Sunday. The Solomon Islands last year signed a security pact with China, raising concern in Canberra and Washington about Beijing's naval ambitions.

Persons: Manasseh Sogavare, Kirsty Needham, William Mallard Organizations: Pacific Games, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Australian, Solomon, Solomon Islands Government, Solomons International Assistance Force, Thomson Locations: Australia, Solomon Islands, Solomon, China, New Zealand, United States, Canberra, Fiji , New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomons, Taiwan, Beijing, Washington

☆ Build up not out: the high density housing push for Australian cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Mahendran has joined the Sydney YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) group, a fledgling grassroots movement seeking higher density housing in opposition to those branded NIMBYs (Not In My Backyard) that fight new and large developments, particularly in gentrified inner-city areas. For a continent as large and sparsely populated as Australia, it is almost counter-intuitive there could be a housing shortage. While the YIMBY movement is in its infancy in Australia, it marks a shift in community attitudes towards development as affordability worsens and a push for shorter commutes and better facilities become features of post-pandemic urban living. "The future is up by way of density," said Liz Allen, a researcher at Australian National University in Canberra. Greater Canberra, the YIMBY group in Canberra, has received support from both Labor and Greens for its push to lift density across the Australian Central Territory.

Persons: Stella Qiu, Mahendran, Sydney YIMBY, Liz Allen, Justin Simon, they've, Simon, Philip Lowe, Lowe, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Simon Welsh, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Sydney, New South, New South Wales Productivity, Australian National University, Reuters, Labor, Greens, Australian Central Territory ., Senate, Redbridge, Thomson Locations: Parramatta, Sydney, today's Australia, Australia, New South Wales, Canberra, Greater Canberra, May, Victoria

SYDNEY, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Australian gig workers will be able to negotiate for minimum pay and conditions under a new law to be introduced next week in parliament by the centre-left Labor government. The law will define "employee-like workers" in the gig economy, a catch-all term including those who deliver food or drive for apps like Uber (UBER.N) or DoorDash (DASH.N). However, the umpire will have discretion to vary standards between workplaces and the laws will not mandate uniform pay or conditions. The issue of how to qualify the legal status of gig economy workers is being debated in many countries. "We welcome the minister confirming his commitment to protect the flexibility gig workers rely on and value, an Uber spokesperson said in a statement.

Persons: Tony Burke, Burke, Uber, Lewis Jackson, Robert Birsel Organizations: SYDNEY, Labor, Thomson Locations: Australia, Canberra

☆ Australia: Doctors remove 3-inch parasitic worm from woman's brain in world first
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The finding unleashed a mad scramble to find out what exactly the parasite was, Canberra Hospital infectious disease expert Sanjaya Senanayake told CNN. “We were able to send the live wiggling worm to him, and he was able to look at it and immediately identify it,” Senanayake said. In this case, the patient was likely an accidental host of the worm, Senanayake said. “There’s more opportunities for humans, domestic animals and wild animals to interact with each other and the vegetation that’s out there. And of those emerging infections, about 75% were zoonotic, meaning there has been transmission from the animal world to the human world – including coronaviruses.

Persons: Dr, Hari Priya Bandi, ” Bandi, Sanjaya Senanayake, “, ” Senanayake, ”, Senanayake, Hossain M, Kennedy KJ, Wilson HL Senanayake Organizations: CNN, Australian National University, Canberra Hospital, Wilson, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention Locations: Canberra, New South Wales, Australia

Since March, seaborne imports of thermal coal have exceeded 28 million metric tons every month, except for the 27.63 million from June, according to Kpler. In 2022, seaborne imports of thermal coal only once breached the 24 million metric tons level, in November, and were below 20 million for eight of the 12 months. China's July coal production was 377.54 million metric tons, which was down 6.3% from June, with the lower output coming as China increases mine safety inspections. China thermal coal imports from Australia, Indonesia and RussiaAUSTRALIAN IMPORTSChina has returned to buying Australian thermal coal after Beijing ended its unofficial ban on such imports, imposed in mid-2020 amid a political dispute with Canberra. China's imports of Australian thermal coal are estimated at 4.89 million metric tons in August, down from a three-year high of 5.41 million.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Stephen Coates Organizations: Huawei, REUTERS, Rights, Newcastle Port, Argus, Indonesia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shenmu, Yulin city, Shaanxi, China, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, Qinhuangdao, India, Indonesia, Russia AUSTRALIAN, Beijing, Canberra, Newcastle, Kpler

Search resuls for: "CANBERRA"

25 mentions found