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☆ Chevron begins mediation talks to avert Australia LNG strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Chevron logo is pictured after the U.S. government granted a six-month license allowing Chevron to boost oil output in U.S.-sanctioned Venezuela, in Caracas, Venezuela, December 2, 2022. Reuters first reported on Friday that Chevron had filed a request for mediation with the FWC. Any industrial action would disrupt Australia's LNG exports and increase competition for the super-chilled fuel, forcing Asian buyers to outbid European buyers to attract LNG cargo. Reuters GraphicsGorgon, Australia's second-largest LNG plant, has an export capacity of 15.6 million tonnes a year and Wheatstone 8.9 million. A similar dispute between the union alliance and Woodside-operated (WDS.AX) North West Shelf LNG facility, Australia's biggest, was resolved last month after workers approved a deal.

Persons: Gaby Oraa, Australia's, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Chevron, U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Offshore Alliance, South, Wheatstone, West Shelf, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Caracas, Australia, Western Australia, Perth, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Woodside, Sydney

A sign at the approach road leads to Albemarle's lithium evaporation ponds at its facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S., January 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 4 (Reuters) - Australia's Liontown Resources (LTR.AX) shares shot 11.5% higher after the lithium developer's board on Monday backed a refreshed A$6.6 billion ($4.26 billion) bid from Albemarle Corp (ALB.N), the world's biggest lithium producer. The news prompted Liontown shares to shoot up 11.5% to A$2.92, the highest since July 14. Liontown controls two major lithium deposits in Western Australia, including its flagship Kathleen Valley project slated for first production in mid-2024, which is among the world's largest and highest-grade hard rock lithium deposits. Albemarle's latest offer for Liontown was its fourth, having also proposed A$2.20 per share on Oct. 20 last year and A$2.35 per share earlier in March before its rejected A$2.50 a share offer was made public.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Liontown, Albemarle, Kathleen, Greenhill, Scott Murdoch, Poonam, Jamie Freed, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Albemarle Corp, Australia, Ford Motor, LG, Co, UBS, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Australian, Chile, Western Australia, South, Albemarle, Sydney

☆ More than half of Australians oppose Indigenous panel in constitution, poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A Yes23 volunteer holds pamphlets while speaking with commuters about the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum, in Melbourne, Australia August 30, 2023. AAP Image/James Ross via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 4 (Reuters) - More than half of Australians would reject the inclusion of an Indigenous advisory panel in the constitution, a newspaper poll showed on Monday, as the government struggles to lift support for the landmark proposal ahead of a vote in about six weeks. The centre-left Labor government is under pressure to improve its messaging amid a steady fall in support for the referendum in opinion polls. On a two-party preferred basis, Labor still enjoys a lead of 53-47%, though that was down from 55-45% in the previous poll. Over the weekend, opposition leader Peter Dutton said he would hold a second referendum on Indigenous recognition if the Voice referendum fails but would not support a constitutionally-enshrined body, drawing criticism from the Voice support group.

Persons: James Ross, Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton, " Albanese, Renju Jose, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, The Australian, Labor, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Sydney

☆ Luis Rubiales: As under-fire soccer chief stands firm, women's soccer in Spain may be preparing for new beginnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Spain won the Women’s World Cup for the first time last month yet, just two weeks on, no one is talking about the success. In that intoxicating, finite pocket of time, Spain’s players had the freedom to lose themselves in the victory of their lives. The decades-long battle for equality in women’s soccer, and society, has a way to go but nothing changes in silence. But beyond the headlines, this is a story which symbolizes the problems within women’s soccer and society, of women not being respected or listened to. England women’s head coach Sarina Wiegman dedicated her UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year award to the Spanish national team.

Persons: wasn’t, “, ”, Luis Rubiales ’, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso’s, Hermoso, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Spain’s, ’, there’s, Ballon d’Or, Alexia Putellas, Maddie Meyer, –, Aitana Bonmatí, hasn’t, Jorge Vilda, England, Sarina Wiegman, ” Wiegman, Putellas Organizations: CNN, Spain, country’s, United, Human, Spain soccer, England, FIFA, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spanish, soccer, TUDN, UEFA, Liga, “, Spanish national Locations: Spanish, Spain, Sydney, Eurasia, Rubiales

☆ Australian delegation heading to Beijing for dialogue, government says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 2 (Reuters) - An Australian industry, government, academic and media delegation will travel to Beijing for dialogue with Chinese counterparts on Thursday, another step in stabilising ties, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Saturday. Australia's former Labor trade minister Craig Emerson will head the Australian delegation, which will include former Liberal foreign minister Julie Bishop, to show bipartisan political support, a statement from Wong's office said. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Jan Adams, who attended the last dialogue in Beijing as Australia's ambassador to China, will also be in the delegation. "This is first time the Dialogue has been held since early 2020 and it represents another step towards increasing bilateral engagement and stabilising our relationship with China," Wong's statement said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to visit Beijing this year, although a date has not been set.

Persons: Florence Lo, Penny Wong, Craig Emerson, Julie Bishop, Li Zhaoxing, Jan Adams, Emerson, Anthony Albanese, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Labor, Australian, Liberal, Trade, Department of Foreign Affairs, Australia, Thomson Locations: Australia, China, Australian, Beijing, Sydney

☆ Top Ukrainian commander, famed for fighting alongside his troops, killed in action near Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Colnel Serhii Ilnytskyi, a commander who fought alongside his soldiers, has died in battle. Colonel Serhii Ilnytskyi was killed in combat for Kurdiumivka, a Donetsk town seven miles south of Bakhmut. The 53-year-old, whose call sign was "Sokil" ("falcon" in English), was the deputy commander of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army and oversaw its operations in the Bakhmut area. The Ukrainian Volunteer Army wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "RIP to our beloved Serhii Ilnytskyi "Sokil" that was such an outstanding commander of the South Detachment." A member of the honor guard carries a portrait of Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhii Ilnytskyi, during his funeral on August 28, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Persons: Colnel Serhii, Serhii Ilnytskyi, Ilnytskyi, Serhii Bratchuk, hasn't, Ilyntskyi, Oleksii, Michael's, Ilnytskyi's Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Kyiv Independent, Ukrainian Volunteer Army, army's Southern Division, Kyiv, Detachment, Kyiv City Council, European Solidarity, Armed Forces of, Getty Locations: Kyiv, Wall, Silicon, Donetsk, Bakhmut, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia, Sydney, Australia, St

Hozon's IPO plan comes after it announced a 7 billion yuan pre-IPO fundraising late on Tuesday in a social media statement. More banks could be added to the syndicate working on the IPO as the deal progresses, they said. Local Hong Kong media reported earlier this week Hozon could raise up to $1 billion in a local listing. Hozon is building its first overseas plant in Thailand and aims to start production there in January 2024. Reporting by Kane Wu in Hong Kong and Scott Murdoch in Sydney; Additional reporting Zhang Yan; Editing by David HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Morgan Stanley, CICC, Kane Wu, Scott Murdoch, Zhang Yan, David Holmes Organizations: Hozon, Beijing International Automotive, Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Zhejiang, New Energy Automobile Co, HONG, Hozon Auto, China International Capital Corporation, Hong, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: Auto China, Beijing, China, HONG KONG, SYDNEY, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Sydney

☆ Australian regulator seeks 'hundreds of millions' in fines for Qantas
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The maximum penalty Qantas faces is 10% of annual turnover, which was A$19.8 billion in the year to June, according to Australian consumer laws. Cass-Gottlieb said the ACCC would seek a fine for Qantas that was "significantly more than" the record A$125 million ($81 million) automaker Volkswagen was fined in 2019 for breaching Australian consumer laws. "We consider these penalties have been too low, we think the penalty should be in hundreds of millions, not tens of millions", she added. The regulator has said that Qantas kept selling tickets for an average of 16 days after it had cancelled flights for reasons often within its control. ($1 = 1.5420 Australian dollars)Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; editing by Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Cass, Renju Jose, Miral Organizations: Qantas, Sydney Airport, REUTERS, Rights Companies Qantas Airways Ltd, Qantas Airways, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Australia, ABC Radio, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney, Francisco

☆ Spanish government urges soccer boss suspension after mild court ruling
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rubiales caused a storm when he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain's victory in the women's World Cup in Sydney. He also grabbed his crotch while standing feet away from Spain's Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter. World soccer governing body FIFA has already suspended Rubiales from all football-related activities for three months while it investigates, but the CSD said it would move ahead with its own case regardless. Hermoso has said she did not consent to the kiss and felt "vulnerable and the victim of an aggression". Spain's Olympic chief said on Friday Rubiales' actions were "inappropriate, unacceptable" and did not represent Spanish sport as a whole.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Juan, TAD, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Letizia, Miquel Iceta, Hermoso, Luis de la Fuente, Jessica Jones, Fernado Kallas, Emma Pinedo, David Latona, Andrei Khalip, Frances Kerry, Peter Graff Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Spain's, Moncloa, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Sports Council, Administrative, El Mundo, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Madrid, Spain, MADRID, Sydney

☆ Spanish Olympics chief says Rubiales kiss scandal an 'isolated incident'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The head of Spain's Olympic Committee on Friday said the actions of soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales, who unleashed a furore by grabbing and kissing a female footballer, were an "isolated incident" that did not represent Spanish sport as a whole. It is unacceptable that an isolated incident should take the limelight away from our sportsmen and women," Spanish Olympic Committee President Alejandro Blanco told a news conference in Madrid. "I refuse to accept that the image of a complicated, difficult moment, which should never have happened, should distort the reality of Spanish sport," he added. Blanco said the gestures by Rubiales - whom he described as a personal friend - were "inappropriate, unacceptable" and could not be tolerated. Blanco added that he had advised Rubiales in a phone call after the final to apologise, highlight the success for Spanish women's football and offer his resignation.

Persons: Alejandro Blanco, Marcos Brindicci, Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso's, Blanco, Rubiales, Letizia, Emma Pinedo, David Latona, Andrei Khalip, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Spain's, Prosecutors, Spanish Olympic, Spanish, FIFA, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Buenos Aires, Rights MADRID, Sydney, Spain

That implies a potential $2.5 billion investment will be equivalent to a 2.5% stake in the company. "Several marquee global strategic and financial investors have shown strong interest in Reliance Retail. Ambani said in 2019 that the group planned to list the retail business in five years. Reliance Retail has more than 18,000 retail outlets, but also a growing e-commerce operation where it competes with the likes of Amazon (AMZN.O) and Walmart's (WMT.N) Flipkart. Reliance Retail reported a consolidated net profit of 91.81 billion Indian rupees ($1.11 billion) for the financial year that ended in March 2023, on revenue of 2.6 trillion rupees.

Persons: Ambani, Mukesh Ambani's, Reliance, Morgan Stanley, QIA, Ambani's, Isha Ambani, Aditya Kalra, Scott Murdoch, Sriram, Munsif Vengattil, Susan Fenton Organizations: Retail Ventures, Reuters, Qatar Investment Authority, India's, Burberry, Reliance, Reliance Retail, KKR, Saudi Public Investment Fund, General Atlantic, United Arab, Unilever, Thomson Locations: SYDNEY, Qatar, U.S, China, United Arab Emirates, New Delhi, Sydney, Mumbai

☆ Spain's sport court opens case against soccer boss in World Cup scandal - El Pais
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Rubiales sparked a storm when he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain's win in Sydney. He also grabbed his crotch while standing feet away from Spain's Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter. World soccer governing body FIFA has already suspended Rubiales from all football-related activities for three months while it investigates, but the CSD said it would move ahead with its own case regardless. Hermoso has said she did not consent to the kiss and felt "vulnerable and the victim of an aggression". Reporting by Jessica Jones, Jesús Aguado and David Latona, Editing by Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Juan Medina, TAD, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Letizia, Hermoso, Jessica Jones, Jesús Aguado, David Latona, Frances Kerry Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Spain's, Moncloa, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales REUTERS, Rights, National Sports Council, Sydney, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Madrid, Spain, Rights MADRID, El Pais

☆ 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

☆ Australia regulator sues Qantas alleging sale of tickets on cancelled flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Qantas aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Australia, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Qantas Airways Ltd FollowSYDNEY, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Australia's competition regulator sued Qantas Airways (QAN.AX) on Thursday, accusing it of selling tickets to thousands of flights after they were cancelled, putting the airline at risk of huge fines and reputational turbulence. The airline kept selling tickets for an average of 16 days after it had cancelled flights for reasons often within its control, such as "network optimisation", the ACCC added. Qantas kept selling tickets to one Sydney-to-San Francisco flight 40 days after it had been cancelled, the regulator said. At the Senate hearing, Joyce confirmed Qantas had written to the federal government in 2022 asking it to deny a request from Qatar Airways, a Qantas competitor on international routes, to increase flights to Australia.

Persons: Phil Noble, Rico Merkert, Alan Joyce, Joyce, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Byron Kaye, Poonam, Shailesh Kuber, Rashmi Aich, Gerry Doyle, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Qantas, Melbourne International Airport, REUTERS, Rights Companies Qantas Airways Ltd, SYDNEY, Qantas Airways, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ACCC, Sydney University's Institute of Transport, Logistics Studies, Australia, Senate, Qatar Airways, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Sydney, Francisco, Bengaluru

☆ Aussie home price downturn over, to rise this year and next
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Devayani Sathyan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Aug. 14-29 Reuters survey of 14 analysts forecast home prices will rise 4.4% this calendar year, a significant upgrade from the flat-lining predicted in a poll published in June. In 2024, average house prices were forecast to drift up another 5%, in line with the latest New Zealand home price poll forecast and a slight increase from 4.5% in the previous poll. With many aspiring homebuyers kept away from ownership and remaining in the rental market, average lease prices were also expected to rise sharply. "Unfortunately, most indicators suggest the squeeze has longer to run with additional supply unlikely to come onto the rental market anytime soon." Home prices in Sydney were forecast to rise 6.9% this year and 5.0% next, while prices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth were expected to rise between 3% and 6% in 2023 and 2024.

Persons: Michelle Ciesielski, Knight Frank, Ciesielski, homebuyers, Matthew Hassan, Devayani Sathyan, Susobhan Sarkar, Hari Kishan, David Holmes Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, Westpac, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Australia, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth

[1/5] Children study the Dharug language at Lethbridge Park Public School in Sydney, Australia May 8, 2023. "Opening our own schools, that's sovereignty in action," said Webb, one of those seeking to revive the Indigenous language spoken in Coffs Harbour, a coastal town about 500 km (310 miles) north of Sydney. Authorities often relocated Indigenous people from their traditional lands, known as Country, and forcibly separated Indigenous children from their families, resulting in a "stolen generation" because of policies that ran from the mid-19th century to the 1970s. As late as the 1980s, authorities punished Indigenous people for speaking their languages. At the time of European colonisation, more than 250 Indigenous languages, including 800 dialects, were believed to have been spoken continent-wide, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) says.

Persons: Alasdair Pal, Clark Webb, Webb, Jayalaani, Ray Ingrey, Captain James Cook, you've, you'll, Ingrey, Jasmine Seymour, Maria Lock, Seymour, James Redmayne, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Lethbridge Park Public School, REUTERS, Freedom, Torres, Authorities, Australian Institute of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Gujaga Foundation, Lethbridge Park Public, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, COFFS HARBOUR, Australian, Coffs Harbour, Australia’s, New South Wales, Torres Strait, Great Britain, Dharawal, British, Lethbridge, Sydney's

☆ Spanish women team's coach Vilda to be sacked - federation source
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The RFEF, which speaks for Vilda while he remains its women's team coach, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. During the World Cup, he said the team's success would not have been possible without RFEF backing for him. He praised Vilda for presiding over the World Cup win, offering him a fresh, four-year contract with an annual salary of 500,000 euros. The RFEF source said players were now being consulted as to whether the removal of Vilda would change their minds. Del Amo has been nominated to speak to players on the pledge that the RFEF will renew the team's staff, the source said.

Persons: Jorge Vilda, Luis Rubiales, Vilda, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Rafael del Amo, Del Amo, Aislinn Laing, Andrei Khalip, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: FIFA, Vilda's, Spain, World, Madrid Bureau, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Australia, Sydney

☆ Rubiales' behaviour 'inappropriate', says UEFA's Ceferin
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Rubiales over the incident with player Jenni Hermoso last Sunday in Sydney that has caused an uproar among players and fans. Rubiales said he would use the FIFA probe to show his innocence. This is enough for the moment because the independent disciplinary bodies will decide," UEFA President Ceferin told French newspaper L'Equipe on Wednesday. Ceferin said there was no need for UEFA to take separate measures against Rubiales. The UEFA chief added that he was saddened that the incident had overshadowed Spain's World Cup victory.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Royal Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, Juan, Aleksander Ceferin, Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Ceferin, Hermoso, Tommy Lund, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Spain's, Moncloa, Royal Spanish Football Federation, European, Spanish Football Federation, UEFA, French, L'Equipe, International Federation, Rubiales, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Madrid, Spain, Sydney, Rubiales, Spanish, Gdansk

SYDNEY, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday that a referendum to recognise the country's Indigenous people in its constitution will be held on October 14. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who represent about 3.2% of Australia's nearly 26 million population, are not mentioned in the constitution. Here are five things to know about the referendum:PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTIONThe Parliament in August agreed to propose adding a new chapter, Chapter IX-Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to the Constitution. The referendum question would be: "A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The election commission has said the referendum will see more voting services delivered to remote communities than any other vote in Australia's history.

Persons: Praveen Menon, Alasdair Pal Organizations: SYDNEY, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Torres Strait Islander Peoples, First Peoples of, Torres Strait Islander, Executive Government, Peoples of Australia, Australian Capital Territory, ACT, Thomson Locations: Australia, Australia's, First Peoples of Australia, Commonwealth, Northern Territory, Sydney

REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura Acquire Licensing RightsMADRID, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Spanish society must break a "pact of silence" and stop normalizing sexist behaviour as well as better support women brave enough to speak out when it happens, acting Equality Minister Irene Montero said on Wednesday. "Spain is a feminist society in which sexism still exists, but it is determined to end sexism," Montero said. "Perhaps it would have been desirable for this pact of silence to be broken with more force and forcefulness. Spain is now under a caretaker government after an inconclusive election in July that was marked by heated debate over women´s rights. However, Vox called for Rubiales to resign, citing behaviour incompatible with the presidency of a federation.

Persons: Irene Montero, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Violeta Santos Moura, Montero, Jenni Hermoso, Rubiales, Hermoso, Pedro Sanchez, Vox, Queen Letizia, Miguel Gutierrez, Belen Carreno, Charlie Devereux, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Reuters, Spanish FA, REUTERS, Rights, Spanish Football Association, FIFA, England, Hermoso, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Spanish, Rubiales, Sydney

REUTERS/Loren Elliott Acquire Licensing RightsAug 30 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Australian inflation, Japanese consumer confidence and German inflation figures later in the day are the main data points on Wednesday's economic calendar that could move Asian markets, which have started the week on a roll. A series of measures from China aimed at boosting domestic stock markets have had an immediate effect - China's benchmark index of blue chip stocks on Tuesday posted back-to-back gains of 1% or more for the first time since January. Money markets quickly swiped off the table expectations of another rate hike this year, short-dated yields plunged and stocks boomed. Put all that together and there is every reason to believe Asian markets will open in the green on Wednesday.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Jamie McGeever, Cryptocurrencies, Gina Raimondo, Michele Bullock, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Money, Nasdaq, Securities and Exchange, Stock Connect, U.S . Commerce, Bank of China, Incoming, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Sydney, Australia, China, U.S, Japan, Germany

☆ China rally runs on hope; bonds bet on slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

European futures rose 0.2% and FTSE futures rose 0.8% to point to a positive return from a day's holiday in London. SLOWINGElsewhere in Asia, investors' focus was on U.S. data that may determine whether or not interest rates need to rise further. U.S. Treasuries extended overnight gains, driving two-year yields down five basis points (bps) to 5% and 10-year yields down two bps to 4.1922%. The Australian dollar inched 0.3% higher to $0.6440, with incoming central bank governor Michelle Bullock due to speak later in the day. The yen remained pinned near Monday's 10-month low, for a loss of some 10% on the dollar this year.

Persons: Ryan Felsman, Michelle Bullock, Jason Xue, Sam Holmes, Kim Coghill Organizations: Foreigners, Treasury, Workers, of America, Financial, HK, Traders, Benchmark, Commonwealth Bank, Thomson Locations: China, Australia, SINGAPORE, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Hong Kong, London, U.S, Sydney . U.S, Shanghai

☆ New Zealand plans digital services tax for multinationals from 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 29 (Reuters) - New Zealand said on Tuesday it would introduce legislation for a digital services tax on large multinational companies from 2025 after talks for a global rollout did not reach consensus at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). But the proposal was pushed back last month after countries with digital services taxes, with the exception of Canada, agreed to hold off applying them for at least another year. The proposed digital services tax will target multinational businesses that earn income from New Zealand users of social media platforms, search engines, and online marketplaces. The tax would be payable by businesses that make over 750 million euros ($812 million) a year from global digital services and over NZ$3.5 million a year from digital services provided to New Zealand users. The tax would be applied at 3% on gross taxable New Zealand digital services revenue, a similar rate adopted by comparable countries like France and the United Kingdom.

Persons: David Gray, Grant Robertson, Renju Jose, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, Apple, Finance, Kiwis, NZ, Thomson Locations: Wellington, New Zealand, Canada, Zealand, France, United Kingdom, Sydney

☆ Bonds rally, stocks drift as China boost fades
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The yen remained an outlier and within a whisker of Monday's 10-month low, which has traders on edge about the risk of intervention. Over the weekend, China announced a halving in stock-trading stamp duties and had on Friday approved some guidelines for affordable housing. Hong Kong's Hang Seng (.HSI) closed less than 1% higher on Monday and was 1% firmer in early trade on Tuesday. On Tuesday in New Zealand shares in Tourism Holdings (THL.NZ), the world's largest campervan rental company, surged 13% after the company reported a record underlying profit. On Tuesday, U.S. job openings figures are due, ahead of Friday's broader labour market data and the ISM manufacturing survey.

Persons: Damian Rooney, Kazuo Ueda, Goldman Sachs, Ryan Felsman, Jason Xue, Sam Holmes Organizations: Nikkei, Argonaut Securities, HK, Bank of Japan, Tourism Holdings, New, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, U.S, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Perth, New Zealand, Sydney, Shanghai

☆ Luis Rubiales: Spain's government presses for suspension of soccer chief Luis Rubiales after unwanted kiss. What's next?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( George Ramsay Benjamin Brown Patrick Sung | George Ramsay | Benjamin Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The Spanish government has taken further steps toward suspending beleaguered soccer chief Luis Rubiales after submitting all necessary documentation to the country’s Court of Arbitration of Sport (TAD). The development comes as pressure continues to mount on Rubiales ever since he gave an unwanted kiss to soccer star Jennifer Hermoso after Spain won the World Cup final on August 20. A government statement released on Tuesday said that Rubiales displayed “unacceptable behavior” at the Women’s World Cup final and called his actions “very serious” violations of the country’s Law of Sport. On Monday, all 19 regional presidents called for Rubiales to resign while also offering unanimous support for Rocha, who stepped into the role following Rubiales’ suspension by FIFA. Along with mounting public pressure to resign, Rubiales also faces an investigation that could end in sexual aggression charges from Spanish prosecutors.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, TAD, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales, “, ”, Hermoso, Miquel Iceta, Iceta, Pedro Rocha, Rocha, Víctor Francos, ” Francos, ” Paloma Torres, ” Inés, Isabel Fuentes, Fuentes, Ángeles, Rubiales ’ Organizations: CNN, Spain, FIFA, Spanish, of Sport, country’s, England, ’, Rubiales, ” Locations: country’s, Madrid, Spain, Sydney, ”, Spanish, Rubiales, Motril

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