DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ NASA’s next stop: An asteroid named for the Egyptian god of chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —After a nearly 4 billion-mile round trip, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully delivered NASA’s first asteroid sample to Earth. Across the universeAn artist's rendering shows OSIRIS-APEX kicking up dust so it can study Apophis. The space rock — named for the Egyptian god of chaos and darkness — was once considered to be one of the most potentially hazardous asteroid threats to Earth. Courtesy Narin ChomphuphuangA newly described tarantula species looks like it would be right at home slinging webs alongside Spider-Man. The electric blue tarantula, named Taksinus bambus, was found living in tree hollows in southern Thailand last year.

Persons: REx, NASA’s, Brian May, OSIRIS, —, Thomas Dressler, Frank Rubio, Rubio, Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin, readjusting, “, ”, José Hernández, Taksinus bambus, Narin Chomphuphuang, James Webb, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Space Center, APEX, University of Arizona, Western, Soyuz, Space Station, NASA, Kaen University, CNN Space, Science Locations: Utah, Houston, Israel, Greece, Namibia, Southern, Spain, Thailand

☆ The 9 locations around the world where sharks attack most, from Florida to Western Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The risk of being bitten by a shark is low, and deaths from a shark attack are rare. Insider has taken a look at the locations where the most shark attacks occur across the globe. Insider has taken a look at some of the major shark attack hot spots around the world, from Australia to the Bahamas. The ISAF says that the US tops the charts for "confirmed unprovoked" shark attacks since 1580, with a recorded 1,604 incidents. Peter Unger/Getty ImagesA woman was killed in a second fatal shark attack in the area of Plettenberg Bay in 2022.

Persons: —, Walt Harden, Mark Sumersett, I've, Simon Nellist, Peter Unger, Kimon Bisogno, Sara Andreotti, Pawel Toczynski, Kim Mahbouli, Alexis Rosenfeld, Katarina Zarutskie Organizations: Service, Sunshine State, Florida, ISAF, Australia Australia, New, CNN, Getty, South, Palmetto State, Hilton Head Hospital, Hilton Head Island Government, New York Times, South Africa's Stellenbosch University, CBS News, Smithsonian Magazine, Daily Star, BBC Locations: Florida, Australia, Bahamas, Florida Florida, Smyrna Beach , Florida, Volusia County, ISAF, New Smyrna, New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria, Little Bay, Sydney, Hawaii, Pacific, South Carolina, Sea Pines, Hilton, Carolina, North Carolina, South Africa, California, Africa, Plettenberg Bay, Plettenberg, France, London, Brazil Brazil, Brazil, Caribbean, American

☆ Mysterious ‘fairy circles’ of Namibia and Australia aren’t so rare after all, study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Round discs of barren dirt known as “fairy circles” look like rows of polka dots that can spread for miles over the ground. Fairy circles were previously spotted only in the arid lands of Southern Africa’s Namib Desert and the outback of Western Australia. The results showed 263 dryland locations where there were circular patterns similar to fairy circles in Namibia and Australia. Fairy circles’ mysterious originsThe study authors also compiled environmental data where circles were spotted, collecting evidence that might hint at what causes them to form. But the question “What shapes fairy circles?” is complex, and factors that create fairy circles may differ from site to site, the study authors reported.

Persons: ”, Emilio Guirado, Guirado, “, Stephan Getzin, Getzin, Fiona Walsh, Walsh, ” Walsh, ” Guirado, Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN, National Academy of Sciences, Multidisciplinary Institute, Environmental Studies, University of Alicante, University of Göttingen, University of Western, “, Scientific Locations: Southern, Western Australia, Spain, Namibia, Australia, Africa, Western Sahara, of Africa, Madagascar, Midwestern Asia, Southwest Australia, Germany, University of Western Australia, Northern Territory

☆ 'A deaf whale is a dead whale': Activists fight huge Australian fossil fuel project
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Angus Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

According to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, the noise can reach 250 decibels, around a million times “more intense” than the loudest whale sounds. “So, a deaf whale is a dead whale.”Environmental campaigners say Australia should be making greater efforts to reduce its emissions, not build new fossil fuel projects. Campaigners say the projected emissions made a mockery of Australia’s stated commitment to reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. “Scarborough is a part of the Burrup Hub, and that is Australia’s largest fossil fuel project. If it goes ahead we’re looking at emissions equivalent to 12 years of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions,” said Greenpeace’s Richard George.

Persons: Woodside’s, “, Raelene Cooper, Cooper, ”, Richard George, Alex Westover, Scott Morrison, Anthony Albanese’s, it’s, Woodside, ” Woodside, Wendy Mitchell, ” Cooper, “ Woodside, Australia’s, Greenpeace’s Richard George Organizations: Sydney CNN —, Woodside Energy, Federal, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Energy, CNN, Greenpeace, Whales, ” Locations: Australia, Woodside, “ Scarborough, ”, Scarborough, Western Australia, Asia

☆ Qantas charter unit's pilots vote in favour of protected industrial action
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Three pilot groups, including pilots from aircraft charter company Network Aviation, have been negotiating with Qantas management over wage policy revisions. A spokesperson for QantasLink, an airline brand of Qantas, termed the step towards industrial action by the AFAP as "disappointing". "We have already reached in-principle agreement with the two other unions representing Network Aviation pilots, and we're continuing to negotiate in good faith to secure new agreements with our turboprop pilots." There are contingency plans in place to minimise disruptions to customers if the union proceeds with the industrial action, the spokesperson told Reuters. The AFAP also flagged the potential industrial action might impact certain charter flight operations to large mines and oil gas projects in Western Australia.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Rishav Chatterjee, Lewis Jackson, Aishwarya Nair, Rashmi Organizations: Qantas, Sydney Airport, REUTERS, Pilots, Network Aviation, Qantas Airways, Australian Federation of Air Pilots, Reuters, Network Aviation's, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Western Australia

She cited unpublished information from Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which did not respond to requests for comment. In recent years, Japanese investors Toyota Tsusho and Sojitz abandoned projects at Dong Pao after China ramped up supply, pummelling prices. Reuters GraphicsStill, rare earths at Dong Pao are relatively easy to access and are mostly concentrated in bastnaesite ores, according to the Hanoi University of Mining and Geology. The plant has capacity to process 5,000 tons of REO a year but the company plans to treble that to accommodate input from Dong Pao, Tuan said. The metallization process is controlled by China, which produces 90% of rare-earth metals, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Persons: Dong Pao, Blackstone, VTRE, Tessa Kutscher, Anh Tuan, Joe Biden, Kutscher, Sojitz, Dylan Kelly, Vingroup, Rivian, Dong, Tuan, David Merriman, John Rockhold, Dudley Kingsnorth, Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Khanh, Melanie Burton, Trevor Hunnicutt, Mai Nguyen, Phuong, David Crawshaw Organizations: REUTERS, Australia's Blackstone Minerals Ltd, Vietnam's Ministry of Natural Resources, Earth JSC, U.S, . Geological Survey, Reuters, Toyota, Terra Capital, Blackstone, Hanoi University of Mining, REO, White House, Department of Commerce, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Strategic, ASM, Reuters Graphics Reuters, U.S . Department of Energy, Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University, Thomson Locations: Nam, Lai Chau, Vietnam, Pao, HANOI, Dong, Beijing, China, Hanoi, U.S, Dong Pao, VTRE, South, Khanh Vu, Melbourne, Seoul, Washington, Phuong Nguyen

☆ A 7-year journey to deliver an asteroid sample to Earth will soon end in Utah
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The cargo van-size spacecraft arrived in orbit around the asteroid Bennu in December 2018, providing detailed views of the spinning top-shaped space rock. Other worldsA training model of the OSIRIS-REx mission's sample return capsule was released from an aircraft in August, simulating the upcoming recovery operations. Keegan Barber/NASAThe OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will fly by Earth this weekend and drop off its precious sample from Bennu. Watch as the sample capsule is set to plunge through Earth’s atmosphere and land in the Utah desert, with NASA’s live coverage beginning at 10 a.m. As the capsule parachutes down, OSIRIS-REx will keep going, embarking on a new adventure to explore the asteroid Apophis.

Persons: CNN —, REx, NASA’s, Keegan Barber, ”, Deutsches, Monopoly, you’re, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Rice University in Texas, Mechanical, Zimbabwe, Bochum, Iron, Swedish Museum of, Publishing, Andromeda Galaxy, CNN Space, Science Locations: Utah, Dürrnberg, Austria, Austrian, Zambia, Tasmania, Stockholm, Western Australia

Chevron/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Strikes end at Gorgon, Wheatstone LNG operationsUnions, Chevron accept proposals from industrial umpireUnions pushed Chevron to match Woodside pay dealSYDNEY, Sept 22 (Reuters) - An Australian union alliance on Friday called off strikes at Chevron's (CVX.N) two major local liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, agreeing to resolve disputes that had threatened to disrupt around 7% of global LNG supplies. The union alliance and Chevron accepted proposals on pay and conditions from the country's industrial arbitrator for the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG facilities, and workers suspended strikes that began two weeks ago. "The Offshore Alliance will now work with Chevron to finalise the drafting of the agreement and members will soon cease current industrial action," Offshore Alliance spokesperson Brad Gandy said in a statement. YEARS-LONG CAMPAIGNThe deal caps a years-long campaign by the Offshore Alliance for higher pay and better conditions at major Western Australian LNG sites. A 2022 agreement with Japan's Inpex at its Ichthys LNG operation set a benchmark for subsequent talks with Shell, Woodside and Chevron.

Persons: Brad Gandy, Japan's, Saul Kavonic, Yin, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Alasdair Pal, Florence Tan, Shri Navaratnam, Sonali Paul Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Unions, Woodside, SYDNEY, Offshore Alliance, Woodside Energy, Shell, Energy, North West Shelf, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Australian, Chevron's, Woodside, Chevron, Australia, Sydney, Singapore

[1/2] 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. The union alliance and Chevron accepted proposals on pay and conditions from the country's industrial arbitrator for the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG facilities, and workers were set to end strikes that began two weeks ago. "The Offshore Alliance will now work with Chevron to finalise the drafting of the agreement and members will soon cease current industrial action," Offshore Alliance spokesperson Brad Gandy said in a statement. No LNG shipments were disrupted by the industrial action, even after a fault at the Wheatstone plant. Energy analyst Saul Kavonic said the deal should see an end to most industrial action offshore Western Australia with union agreements, which last for around four years, now in place for most offshore LNG sites.

Persons: Brad Gandy, Saul Kavonic, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Alasdair Pal, Florence Tan, Shri Navaratnam, Sonali Paul Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Unions, Woodside, SYDNEY, Offshore Alliance, Woodside Energy, Energy, North West Shelf, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Australian, Chevron's, Australia, Sydney, Singapore

[1/2] 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. The agreement would resolve a wage fight that has roiled global gas markets since early August, amid fears strikes would disrupt output from Chevron's Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG projects that produce around 7% of the world's LNG supply. On Thursday, the Fair Work Commission (FWC), which has the power to impose a settlement, said it "strongly recommended" parties accept its proposals to end work stoppages. Chevron accepted arbitration terms late on Thursday to resolve all outstanding issues and finalise the agreements with the unions. No LNG shipments were disrupted by the industrial action, even after a fault at the Wheatstone plant.

Persons: Brad Gandy, Renju Jose, Lewis Jackson, Alasdair Pal, Shri Navaratnam, Sonali Paul Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, SYDNEY, Offshore Alliance, Woodside Energy, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Australian, Chevron's, Australia, Sydney

☆ Chevron Australia strikes called off by unions at Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG plants
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Union workers have called off strikes at liquefied natural gas facilities belonging to Chevron in Australia, ending a standoff that could have affected about 7% of global LNG supply. “The Offshore Alliance will now work with Chevron to finalize the drafting of the three agreements and members will soon cease current industrial action,” it added. Workers at Chevron’s Gorgon and Wheatstone facilities began walking off the job two weeks ago over pay and other conditions. “There has not been a material impact on global LNG supply. The region has become more dependent on global LNG supplies since deliveries of pipeline gas from Russia slumped following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Persons: Wheatstone, Daniel Toleman, Wood Mackenzie, “, ” Toleman Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Union, Chevron, Offshore Alliance, Australian Workers ’ Union, Maritime Union of Australia, Commission, Workers, Reuters, CNN, ” Locations: Hong Kong, Chevron, Australia, Wheatstone, Western Australia, Europe, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Chevron accepts Australian labour tribunal's terms to end strike at LNG plants
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A 3D printed natural gas pipeline is placed in front of displayed Chevron logo in this illustration taken February 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 21 (Reuters) - Chevron (CVX.N) said on Thursday it has the accepted recommendations from Australia's labor regulator to end its dispute with unions at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Western Australia. The Fair Work Commission of Australia, which has the power to impose a settlement, "strongly recommended" parties accept its proposals to end work stoppages that began on Sept. 8 at the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG operations. The workers at the facilities, which account for nearly 7% of global LNG supply, are backed by the Offshore Alliance - that combines the Maritime Union of Australia and Australian Workers' Union. Chevron had been negotiating with the workers for weeks alongside Australia's Woodside Energy (WDS.AX), which managed to avert the strikes last month after reaching a deal.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Sourasis Bose, Maju Samuel, Shinjini Ganguli, Eileen Soreng Organizations: Chevron, REUTERS, Offshore Alliance, Maritime Union of Australia, Australian Workers ' Union, Australia's, Energy, Thomson Locations: Western Australia, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Australia tribunal pushes Chevron, LNG unions to resolve wage fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A 3D printed natural gas pipeline is placed in front of displayed Chevron logo in this illustration taken Feb. 8, 2022. The commission's recommendations came a day after talks between Chevron and a union alliance over strikes at the Wheatstone and Gorgon facilities ended without a deal. "I strongly recommend that the parties adopt the recommendations ... which will hopefully resolve these disputes," FWC Commissioner Bernie Riordan said. The tribunal has the power to halt the strikes, which escalated to two 24-hour work stoppages over the weekend. Riordan said both Chevron and the unions "spent countless hours at the negotiating table" and the talks resulted in an agreement on the majority of provisions.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Bernie Riordan, Riordan, Saul Kavonic, Renju Jose, Alasdair Pal, Sonali Paul Organizations: Chevron, REUTERS, SYDNEY, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney, Western Australia

☆ Pink Diamonds Emerged Out of One of Earth’s Most Ancient Breakups
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Maya Wei-Haas | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Pink diamonds take the Barbiecore craze to another level, but the rosy color comes at a cost. These gems are among the most rare and valuable diamonds around. While all diamonds form under pressure, even more force turns once clear diamonds colorful. A slight extra squeeze turns a diamond pink, and a hard squash turns it brown. But out of every thousand gems, a couple would pop up in the rarer and more valuable pink.

Persons: “ They’re, ”, Hugo Olierook Organizations: Curtin University, Argyle Locations: Perth, Australia, Western Australia

☆ New research may offer clue in search for rare pink diamonds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Pink diamonds are extremely rare and coveted — a now-closed mine in Australia has been the source of 90% of the colored gemstones. The Argyle diamond mine is located in the remote Kimberley region in the far northeast of Western Australia. At Argyle, this process occurred around 1.8 billion years ago when Western Australia and Northern Australia collided, turning the once-colorless diamonds pink hundreds of miles below Earth’s crust. Pink diamonds from the Argyle diamond mine were formed when an ancient supercontinent was breaking up into fragments, according to a new study. This chain of events, according to the study, suggested that the junctures of ancient continents may be important for finding pink diamonds — and may guide exploration for other deposits.

Persons: ”, Hugo Olierook, Curtin, John de Laeter, Murray Rayner, Murray Rayner Supercontinents, Argyle, ” Olierook, “ Organizations: CNN, Western, Argyle, Nature Communications, Northern Australia, Rio Tinto, “ Argyle Locations: Australia, Argyle, Perth, Kimberley, Western Australia, Northern

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

☆ 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

☆ 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

"We've certainly seen Australia's reputation being affected as some existing buyers expressed interest in diversifying their suppliers for long-term supply," said Ryhana Rasidi, LNG analyst at analytics firm Kpler. "Australia is the closest gas supplier we can get. By far, Australia, U.S. and Qatar are the three pillars in LNG supply chain. As well as its political stability, its proximity to Asia might be Australia's saving grace, industry analysts say. "Ties are very strong between North Asia and Australia as a legacy supplier, so many participants are keen to continue the relationship," said Kaushal Ramesh, LNG analyst at Rystad Energy.

Persons: Inpex, Resources Madeleine King, We've, Ryhana, Jane Liao, Kaushal Ramesh, Emily Chow, Yuka Obayashi, Muyu Xu, Andrew Hayley, Joyce Lee, Lewis Jackson, Florence Tan Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Workers, Japan's Kyushu Electric Power, Chevron's, Woodside Energy, West Shelf, South, Resources, Taiwan, Tohoku Electric Power, Kyushu Electric Power, Osaka Gas, Rystad Energy, Thomson Locations: Chevron, Barrow Island, Australia, Rights SINGAPORE, TOKYO, Qatar, United States, Western Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, Oman, U.S, Asia, Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Sydney

Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action. The marine biologist and amateur photographer captured the photo on a blackwater dive – a night dive in the open ocean, which uses floodlights to attract the ocean nightlife. Thousands of entrants submitted underwater and coastal images, as well as pictures captured by drone, to the competition, organizers said. From world-class drone images of megafauna to breath-taking underwater images of deep-dwelling ocean wildlife, the full spectrum of ocean life is brought to life like never before. A selection of the winning and highly commended images can be seen in the gallery above.

Persons: Jialing Cai, Will Harrison, Blancpain Organizations: CNN, Oceanographic Magazine, Tourism Western, Australian National Maritime Museum Locations: Philippines, Arksen, Tourism Western Australia, Sydney

☆ SpongeBob Lives in a Pineapple. These Sharks Live in Sponges.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Darren Incorvaia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

John Pogonoski, an ichthyologist in Australia, wasn’t about to be fooled by any moray eels. He knew the serpentine fish like to hide among the nooks and crannies of large sponges. But as he surveyed sponges collected from a remote seabed off the coast of Western Australia, he stumbled on a complete surprise — a small shark tail poking out of a sponge’s cavernous body. “Sponges, though, this is new.”The word “shark” may conjure images of gargantuan great whites or hefty hammerheads. The banded sand catshark, maxing out around a foot and a half in length, is on the smaller end of the spectrum.

Persons: John Pogonoski, Atelomycterus, Pogonoski, ”, David Shiffman Organizations: Commonwealth Scientific, Industrial Research Organization, CSIRO, Fish Biology, Arizona State University Locations: Australia, Western Australia

Talks between Chevron and the workers' unions broke down last week without a deal, and the industrial action is scheduled to escalate to two weeks of 24-hour stoppages on Thursday. Chevron would have to demonstrate a sustained attempt to negotiate with unions for the tribunal to rule in its favour, he added. Strikes could actually demonstrate workers were so committed to bargaining that they were willing to stop work and forgo wages, she added. "Strike action is a legitimate form of action, workers have the right to do this," she said. Any party involved can contest a FWC ruling and seek judicial review, Charles Power, partner at law firm Holding Redlich said, although a court would not again hear the facts of the case.

Persons: Australia's, Steve Purvinas, Purvinas, Shell, Shae, McCrystal, Charles Power, Redlich, Lewis Jackson, Renju Jose, Alasdair Pal, Miral Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, CAN, Virgin Australia, Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers ’ Association, Virgin, Offshore Alliance, Shell, University of Sydney, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Federal, Shell, Woodside, Inpex, Sydney

☆ Gas markets are becoming 'extremely difficult' to predict. It's a big problem for Europe this winter
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Aerial view of the LNG storage and vaporization vessel "Höegh Esperanza" at the Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal. European gas markets have been constantly fluctuating in recent months, owing to extreme heat, maintenance at gas plants and, most recently, industrial action at major liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Australia. "Gas markets are becoming riskier — gas and LNG prices are increasingly volatile and greatly affected by global factors," Jaller-Makarewicz said. The EU reached its target of filling gas storage facilities to a 90% capacity roughly 2 1/2 months ahead of its Nov. 1 deadline. It means that we've got a pretty good buffer," Malek said, referring to Europe's filling of its gas storage facilities.

Persons: Ana Maria Jaller, seesaw, Makarewicz, Christyan Malek, Malek, CNBC's, we've, Filippo Monteforte Organizations: Getty Images Energy, Workers, LNG, Makarewicz Energy, Institute for Energy Economics, Gas, EU, Gas Infrastructure, International Energy Agency, European Union, Eurasia Group, JPMorgan, Afp, Getty Locations: Wilhelmshaven, Australia, Western Australia, Japan, China, South Korea, Asia, Europe, U.S, skyrocketing, Gas Infrastructure Europe, wean, Ukraine, Eurasia, Tuscany

☆ Australia Indigenous referendum set to fail as support dips, poll shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Yes23 volunteer holds pamphlets while speaking with commuters about the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum, in Melbourne, Australia August 30, 2023. Australians will vote in the referendum on Oct. 14, when they will be asked whether they support altering the constitution to set up an Indigenous committee to advise the federal parliament. The referendum requires a national majority of votes as well as a majority of votes in at least four of the six states in order to change the constitution. The survey, however, showed only the island state of Tasmania supported the Voice. The 'No' vote is strongest in Queensland and Western Australia with 61% set to reject the Voice.

Persons: James Ross, Anthony Albanese, Renju Jose, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Voters, Sydney Morning Herald, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, Australia's, Queensland, Western 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

Search resuls for: "Western Australia"

25 mentions found