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An NIO ET7 car model is presented at the NIO House, the showroom of the Chinese premium smart electric vehicle manufacture NIO Inc. in Berlin, Germany August 17, 2023. The company raised $500 million in a six-year put-four convertible bond and the same amount in a seven-year put-five bond. The shorter dated bond has a 3.875% interest rate, while the seven year bond's rate is 4.625%, Nio said in a Hong Kong Stock Exchange announcement. Nio posted a net loss of 6.12 billion yuan ($839.51 million) in the second quarter, versus a loss of 2.75 billion yuan in the corresponding period a year ago. Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Annegret, Nio, Scott Murdoch, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Nio, HK, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Sydney

☆ Spanish women’s players agree to end national team boycott after striking deal with federation and Spain government
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( George Ramsay | Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Earlier this week, 20 players named to the national team squad reiterated their refusal to play in two upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures, including against Sweden on Friday. A Mixed Commission featuring representatives for the players, RFEF and CSD will also be created to implement further changes in the future. How we got hereWednesday’s announcement is the latest development in a long-running saga between the Spanish women’s team players, who won a first Women’s World Cup title last month, and RFEF. Spanish midfielder Alexia Putellas runs with the ball against Japan at the Women's World Cup. Marty Melville/AFP/Getty ImagesOf the 15 players who signed the letters, only three were in Spain’s World Cup squad: Mariona Caldentey, Aitana Bonmatí and Ona Batlle.

Persons: Víctor Francos, Mapi León, Patricia Guijarro, ” Francos, ”, …, we’ve, ” Amanda Gutiérrez, FUTPRO, Montse Tomé, Jorge Vilda, Rafael del Amo, Tomé, del Amo, “, ” Tomé, León, it’s, “ We’ve, Guijarro, you’re, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, Alexia Putellas, Marty Melville, Mariona, Aitana, Ona Batlle, RFEF Organizations: CNN, Spanish, soccer, Royal Spanish Football Federation, government’s, of Sport, UEFA Women’s Nations League, Sweden, Barcelona, women’s, RFEF, Guijarro, World, Spanish women’s, Japan, England, Federation Locations: Sweden, Switzerland, Spanish, Sydney, AFP, Australia, New Zealand, women’s soccer

REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/SYDNEY, Sept 20 (Reuters) - A cross-party delegation of Australian lawmakers that traveled to the United States seeking the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said they had a productive discussion in Washington with the U.S. Justice Department. The group of Australian lawmakers urged U.S. officials to drop their attempts to extradite Assange from a British prison to the United States, where he is wanted on charges over WikiLeaks' release of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables. "We had a fair hearing and we had a productive discussion," Australian Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said after the meeting. The delegation included lawmakers from the Labor government, the opposition Liberal and National parties, and the Greens. Labor Member of Parliament Tony Zappia said Australians believed Assange, an Australian citizen, had been punished enough and that his charges should be dropped.

Persons: Julian Assange, Alkis, Assange, Peter Whish, Wilson, Tony Zappia, Zappia, Assange's, Anthony Albanese, May, Albanese, Penny Wong, Kanishka Singh, Kirsty Needham, Stephen Coates, Michael Perry Organizations: WikiLeaks, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, U.S . Justice Department, U.S, Labor, Liberal, National, Greens . Labor, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Australian, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Britain, U.S, Athens, Greece, SYDNEY, United States, Washington, Australian, Afghanistan, Iraq, Australia, New York, Sydney

☆ Strong winds fan bushfires as Australia battles spring heatwave
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Strong winds and a rare, intense heatwave in early spring fanned dozens of bushfires across Australia's southeast, prompting extreme fire danger warnings on Wednesday for the greater Sydney region, home to more than 5 million people. Parts of Australia are sweltering in an unusual five-day burst of spring heat, forecast to last until Wednesday, pushing temperatures well above the September average. After three years of heavy rains and frequent flooding, Australia is bracing for a warm and dry southern hemisphere spring and summer in 2023. On Tuesday, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology declared an El Nino weather pattern, typically associated with wildfires and droughts, was underway. Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Renju Jose, Sonali Paul Organizations: NSW Rural Fire Services, Greater, Sydney, Meteorology, El, Fire, Thomson Locations: Australia's, Sydney, New South Wales, NSW, Greater Sydney Region, Australia, Tasmania, El Nino, Sydney's, Turkey

☆ Sydney issues total fire bans as spring heatwave grips Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Parts of Australia are sweltering in a five-day burst of uncommon spring heat, forecast to last until Wednesday, pushing temperatures up by as much as 16 degrees Celsius (60 Fahrenheit) above the September average. More than 500 firefighters and emergency personnel are trying to tame 61 fires across New South Wales state as of Tuesday morning, with 13 not yet contained, authorities said. Twenty-one schools in New South Wales, mostly in the state's south, have been closed. "Due to hot, dry and windy conditions forecast throughout the day and overnight, several parts of (New South Wales) will experience high fire danger," fire services said on Facebook. Temperatures could reach 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 F) in Sydney on Tuesday, just shy of the September record of 34.6 degrees Celsius (94.28 F) in 1965.

Persons: Renju Jose, Michael Perry Organizations: Sydney, Facebook, Meteorology, Thomson Locations: Australia's, Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, El Nino

☆ Strong Winds Fan Bushfires as Australia Battles Spring Heatwave
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Renju JoseSYDNEY (Reuters) - Strong winds and a rare, intense heatwave in early spring fanned dozens of bushfires across Australia's southeast, prompting extreme fire danger warnings on Wednesday for the greater Sydney region, home to more than 5 million people. Parts of Australia are sweltering in an unusual five-day burst of spring heat, forecast to last until Wednesday, pushing temperatures well above the September average. There have been no reports of property damage or injuries though more than 100 people had to sleep in their cars, media reported. After three years of heavy rains and frequent flooding, Australia is bracing for a warm and dry southern hemisphere spring and summer in 2023. On Tuesday, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology declared an El Nino weather pattern, typically associated with wildfires and droughts, was underway.

Persons: Renju Jose SYDNEY, Renju Jose, Sonali Paul Organizations: NSW Rural Fire Services, Greater, Sydney, Meteorology, El, Fire Locations: Australia's, Sydney, New South Wales, NSW, Greater Sydney Region, Australia, Tasmania, El Nino, Sydney's, Turkey

☆ Former Pacific leaders hope Australians 'find conscience' to pass First Nations referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Passing the referendum should be a "first step" towards a treaty with First Nations people, they added. It has also pointed to historical trade by the country's First Nations people with Pacific Islands as a basis for strong modern ties, amid competition for influence with China. He added that whatever the outcome, his work would continue to highlight that Australia's First Nations people had been linked by trade to the Pacific Islands for centuries. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates. Some Indigenous Australians want stronger action, including a treaty with the government.

Persons: Rita Wright, Loren Elliott, Anote Tong, Tommy Remengesau, Hilda Cathy Heine, Anthony Albanese's, Justin Mohamed, Julie Bishop, Kirsty Needham, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Australian, REUTERS, Rights, Former Pacific Islands, First Nations, Kiribati, Marshall, Pacific Elders Voice, Reuters, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Nations, Vanuatu, VBTC, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Palau, Pacific, China, Islands

The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield hit 4.399% overnight in Asia, its highest rate since early November 2007, and the two-year yield rose further above 5%. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe (.MIWD00000PUS) shed 0.27%, while the pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) lost 1.05%, hit by lowered growth outlooks. CENTRAL BANKSGlobal central banks take stage, with five of those overseeing the 10 most-heavily traded currencies holding rate-setting meetings this week. A swathe of emerging market central banks including Turkey and South Africa will also meet. The Swedish crown sank to a record low against the euro on Monday, days before the Riksbank is expected to raise interest rates again.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, BOE, Brent, Marc Chandler, Chandler, Saira Malik, France's, Stocks, Xi, Kazuo Ueda, Herbert Lash, Nell Mackenzie, Dhara, Stella Qiu, Philippa Fletcher, Alexander Smith, Christina Fincher Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Treasury, Global, Federal, United Auto Workers, Detroit Three, Bannockburn Global, U.S, Societe Generale, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, China Evergrande, HK, CENTRAL, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, Bannockburn, New York, Asia, Turkey, South Africa, Swedish, London, Sydney

China property woes, geopolitical tensions and ongoing strikes also stoked worries about global growth. CENTRAL BANKSGlobal central banks take centre stage, with five of those overseeing the 10 most heavily traded currencies holding rate-setting meetings this week. A swathe of emerging market central banks such as Turkey and South Africa will also meet. In currency markets, the dollar drifted lower with the dollar index last down a touch at 105.24 but within sight of recent six-month highs. The euro gained about 0.1% to $1.0663, after slumping to a 3-1/2 month low of $1.0632 last week as the European Central Bank signalled its rate hikes could be over.

Persons: BOE, BOJ, France's, Taiwan's TSMC, Xi, James Rossiter, Rossiter, Marc Chandler, Goldman Sachs, Kazuo Ueda, Nell Mackenzie, Stella Qiu, Dhara, Philippa Fletcher, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, Societe Generale, China Evergrande, HK, Technology, Reuters, TD Securities, Japan's Nikkei, Brent, . West Texas, Federal Reserve, Bannockburn Global, CENTRAL, Global, Fed, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Treasury, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, China, United States, Japan, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Britain, Asia, U.S, London, Bannockburn, Turkey, South Africa, Europe, SYDNEY

☆ Chinese AI firm Fourth Paradigm leads Hong Kong IPO surge to raise $280 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Fourth Paradigm (also known as 4Paradigm) sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Three Chinese firms, led by AI software company Beijing Fourth Paradigm, are aiming to raise up to $280 million in Hong Kong initial public offerings launched on Monday. Beijing Fourth Paradigm, an AI startup, is aiming to raise up to $144 million by selling 18.4 million shares in a price range of HK$55.60 to HK$61.16 each, according to its regulatory filings. Separately, Chinese cloud hospital platform Neusoft Xikang is aiming to raise $81 million to $101 million by selling 133.8 million shares, regulatory filings showed. ZX Inc, the mobile games operator, is selling 18.97 million shares in a range between HK$11 to HK$14 each to raise between $27 million and $34 million, according to its prospectus.

Persons: Aly, Scott Murdoch, Stephen Coates Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Rights, HK, New China Capital Management, Commerce Department, ZX Inc, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Beijing, Hong Kong, Sydney

A general view of Chevron's Wheatstone LNG facility in Pilbara coast, Western Australia, as seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on September 8, 2023. Chevron/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies No changes to scheduled LNG deliveries, Chevron saysLNG exports continued over the weekend - LSEG EikonStrikes extended until mid-OctSYDNEY, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Chevron (CVX.N) said on Monday full production had resumed at its strike-hit Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Western Australia after a fault last week cut production by about one-fifth. "During (the fault), LNG continued to be produced at approximately 80% of usual rates, and vessel loading continued," a Chevron spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "There has been no change to scheduled LNG deliveries. Wheatstone has an export capacity of 8.9 million tonnes a year and Gorgon has an export capacity of 15.6 million tonnes a year.

Persons: Wheatstone, Eikon, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Florence Tan, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Tanker, Offshore Alliance, Saturday, South, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, SYDNEY, Japan, Australia, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Sydney, Singapore

MADRID (AP) — The new coach of Spain’s women’s team included 15 of the World Cup-winning players in her squad on Monday even though they have not publicly announced an end to their boycott of the national team. Spain coach Montse Tomé said she talked to Hermoso and decided not to include her as a way to protect her. “I'm believe this was the best way to protect her.”The new coach, who was an assistant at the Women's World Cup to former coach Jorge Vilda, did not say whether it was Hermoso who asked not to be called up. They called for deep reforms and new leadership after Rubiales refused to resign for kissing Hermoso at the World Cup awards ceremony in Sydney. Tomé said she talked to the World Cup-winning players that she selected and expected them to report to training camp on Tuesday.

Persons: Spain’s, Jenni Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, Montse Tomé, Hermoso, Rubiales, Jenni, ” Tomé, “, Jorge Vilda, Ballon, Alexia Putellas, Tomé, Vilda, It's, Pedro Rocha, Rocha, ___ Organizations: MADRID, Spanish national, Nations League, Sweden Locations: Spain, Spanish, Sydney, Switzerland

☆ Sydney Marathon runners hospitalized as Australia swelters in unusual spring heat wave
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —A sweltering heat wave in Australia took its toll on runners in the Sydney Marathon on Sunday, with 26 people taken to the hospital and about 40 treated for heat exhaustion by emergency services. Large parts of Australia’s southeast, including Sydney, are experiencing a spring heat wave, the national weather bureau said, with temperatures Monday expected to peak at up to 16 degrees Celsius (60 Fahrenheit) above the September average. The rising heat wave has been building in the country’s outback interior over the weekend and is likely to last until Wednesday across the states of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Temperatures in Sydney’s west are expected to hit 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 Fahrenheit) on Monday before dropping to about 22 degrees Celsius (71 Fahrenheit) on Thursday, the weather bureau forecasts showed. Scientists warn that extreme weather events like heat waves are only going to become more common and more intense unless the world stops burning planet-heating fossil fuels.

Persons: ”, Sydney Marathon Steve Markham, El Niño, El Organizations: Reuters, Sydney Marathon, Meteorology, Opera House Locations: Australia, Australia’s, Sydney, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Sydney’s

ASEAN, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, includes Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. For investors seeking emerging market exposure, Southeast Asia fits the bill, because of the region's strong economic growth and increasing population, analysts say. Some Southeast Asia companies seeking listings in the U.S. look to raise between $300 million and $1 billion, with valuations ranging from $1.5 billion to $8 billion, bankers said, without naming any firms. "International investors are seeing the value of portfolio diversification that Southeast Asia provides," Tay added. The expected pickup in Southeast Asian listings, however, could get derailed by share volatility and stringent investor scrutiny, analysts say.

Persons: DoubleDragon, Leif Schneider, Sunil Khaitan, Kelvin Teo, Andrew Lim, Tay Hwee Ling, Tay, Anuruk Karoonyavanich, Yantoultra Ngui, Scott Murdoch, Sumeet Chatterjee, Miral Organizations: Nasdaq, REUTERS, U.S, IPOs, Gushcloud International, Sunday, Reuters, VNG Corp, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Carsome, Southeast, Bank, America's, U.S ., Deloitte, International, DBS, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Asia, SINGAPORE, SYDNEY, United States, Singapore, New York, Philippine, Washington, Beijing, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Southeast, Southeast Asia, China, Sydney

☆ Australia swelters in spring heat wave, temperatures set to break records
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Crowds of people enjoy the beach as parts of Australia's east reached their hottest day in more than two years amid temperatures which rose to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, March 6, 2023. Australia is baking through a rising heat wave which has been building in the country's outback interior over the weekend and is likely last until Wednesday across the states of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. The Bureau of Meteorology said it expected several early spring records were likely to be broken over the next few days, calling the heat "very uncommon for September". Temperatures in Sydney's west are expected to hit 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 F) on Monday before dropping to about 22 degrees Celsius (71 F) on Thursday, the weather bureau forecasts showed. The heat wave has also elevated the risks of fires with several regions given 'high' fire danger ratings, and authorities urging residents to prepare for bushfires.

Persons: Jaimi, El Nino, Renju Jose, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Meteorology, Sydney, Thomson Locations: Australia's, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Sydney's

☆ Spanish court throws out Rubiales' pre-kiss defamation lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales is pictured after leaving the high court in Madrid, Spain - September 15, 2023 REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Sept 18 (Reuters) - A Spanish court has dismissed a lawsuit by disgraced ex-soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales against coach Javier Clemente who had called Rubiales a "dangerous and ambitious guy" seeking "to get rich", qualifying his comments as free speech. Rubiales declined to comment, and Clemente, who was Spain national men's team coach during the 1990s, was not available for comment. Rubiales sued Clemente in 2022 after the outspoken coach said in an interview that Rubiales' "goal was to make a fortune" at the helm of the RFEF. At the Aug. 20 medal ceremony following Spain's World Cup victory in Sydney, Rubiales grabbed player Jenni Hermoso's head and kissed her on the lips, triggering a furore over sexism in Spanish sport and society. Reporting by Emma Pinedo; additional reporting by Fernando Kallas, editing by Andrei Khalip and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Isabel Infantes, Luis Rubiales, Javier Clemente, Rubiales, Clemente, Jenni Hermoso's, Hermoso, Emma Pinedo, Fernando Kallas, Andrei Khalip, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Royal Spanish Football Federation, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Spain national men's, UEFA, Athletic Bilbao, La Liga, Libya national, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Sydney, Serbia, Cameroon

☆ Australia's Costa Group gets lower buyout offer from PE firm Paine Schwartz
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Under the proposal, Costa's shareholders would receive A$3.20 apiece for the remaining 85.16% stake PSP does not already own, lower than the A$3.50 apiece offer received in July. The latest offer still represents a 8.8% premium to Costa's last closing price. Costa, Australia's leading grower, packer and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables, said it is considering the lower offer and is continuing to engage with PSP regarding the terms and conditions. PSP paid A$2.60 a share for a 13.78% stake in Costa in October, which it increased to 14.84% in late March. Costa had given PSP access to its books on a non-exclusive basis for eight weeks after receiving the initial offer in July.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Paine Schwartz, packer, Costa, Himanshi, Lisa Shumaker, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Costa Group Holdings, Monday U.S, Paine Schwartz Partners, PSP, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Costa, Bengaluru

☆ 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

☆ Legendary investor Jeremy Grantham rang the alarm on stocks and recession, warned about the housing market, and hailed Elon Musk's Tesla. Here are his 10 best quotes from a recent event.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jeremy Grantham issued grim warnings about the US stock market and economy this week. Grantham touched on meme stocks, banking risks, real estate, commodities, and Elon Musk's Tesla. GMO's cofounder and long-term investment strategist also reflected on his inadvertent investment in a meme stock, advised against buying real estate or commodities, and touted Elon Musk's Tesla and other companies fighting climate change. "I would be very careful with real estate. So I wouldn't touch real estate."

Persons: Jeremy Grantham, Grantham, Elon Musk's Tesla, There's, it's, dopey VWs, they've Organizations: Service, Livewire Markets, General Motors, Panasonic, dopey, Grantham Locations: Wall, Silicon, Sydney, craziness, Grantham

☆ Union starts further 24-hour stoppage at Chevron's Australian LNG facilities
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chevron/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Australia's Offshore Alliance union said on Sunday that workers had begun a second 24-hour strike at Chevron's liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Western Australia. "Another 24hr stoppage has been applied across all 3 facilities with 15% of Downstream members enacting rolling stoppages/bans after midday today," an Offshore Alliance representative, who declined to be named, said. Offshore Alliance on Saturday said it intended to extend industrial action for a further two weeks to mid-October. Prior to this weekend there have been more limited work stoppages at the remote LNG facilities after pay and condition talks between the union alliance and Chevron broke down this month. Chevron has asked Australia's industrial tribunal to intervene in the dispute and cancel the strikes.

Persons: Sam McKeith, William Mallard, Tom Hogue Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Australia's Offshore Alliance, Offshore Alliance, Workers, . Offshore Alliance, Thomson Locations: Chevron, Barrow Island, Australia, Western Australia, U.S, Sydney

☆ 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

☆ Chevron Australia LNG workers begin 24-hour strike, flag action until mid-Oct
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The full strike comes after workers on Thursday escalated what had been six days of limited action. The company's Gorgon and Wheatstone Australian LNG facilities account for over 5% of global supply. "Chevron’s 3 West Coast facilities are descending into chaos as Offshore Alliance members lock all 3 Chevron facilities down for the next 24-hours," the union said in a Facebook post. An union representative, who declined to be identified, said the strike would run until 8am WST on Sunday (0000 GMT). Unions have said they will vary strikes according to "industrial strategy", targeting LNG exports in particular.

Persons: Sam McKeith, Lewis Jackson, Sandra Maler, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Australia's Offshore Alliance, Offshore Alliance, Wheatstone, Facebook, Analysts, Thomson Locations: Chevron, Barrow Island, Australia, Coast, Sydney

☆ Australia swelters in 'uncommon' spring heat ahead of likely El Nino event
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Large parts of Australia were in the grips of "uncommon" spring heat on Saturday, the nation's weather forecaster said, forecasting that record temperatures could be set on Sunday. The heat burst came after the forecaster said this week that indicators of an El Nino weather event had strengthened and it would likely develop between September and November, bringing hotter, drier conditions to Australia. The weather bureau said the "early period of heat" in many parts of the country was "very uncommon during September". "Record September daytime and nighttime temperatures are expected from Sunday through Thursday across inland areas of South Australia, New South Wales and northeast Victoria." Another local, Danielle Vangou, was worried about runners in the Sydney marathon, set to take place on Sunday.

Persons: El Nino, Bella Callaghan, Danielle Vangou, Sam McKeith, Cordelia Hsu, Tom Hogue Organizations: New, Kingsford Smith Airport, Meteorology, Facebook, Sydney, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney, Australia's, New South Wales, El Nino, South Australia, Victoria, Bondi, Turkey

☆ Restraining order imposed on ex-Spain soccer boss after testifying in assault probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales is pictured after leaving the high court in Madrid, Spain - September 15, 2023 REUTERS/Isabel Infantes Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Sept 15 (Reuters) - An investigating judge at Spain's High Court has imposed a restraining order to prevent former soccer chief Luis Rubiales approaching national team player Jenni Hermoso, after he appeared in court to be investigated for sexual assault for kissing her on the lips. The incident, which occurred at the medal ceremony after Spain's women's team won the World Cup in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 20, has triggered a furore over sexism in Spanish sport and society and prompted protests similar to the "Me Too" movement. Reporting by Emma Pinedo; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Charlie DevereuxOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Isabel Infantes, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Spain's women's, Emma Pinedo, David Latona, Charlie Devereux Organizations: Royal Spanish Football Federation, REUTERS, Rights, Spain's, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, Sydney, Australia

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