The Life News Australia December 1, 2019

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Vol. 02 Issue 19 December 01, 2019

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Islamic State claims responsibility in London bridge stabbing

TL Bureau, London

The Islamic State on Saturday guaranteed obligation regarding a fatal assault that killed two on London Bridge by means of its Amaq news organization.

The dread gathering additionally distinguished as Daesh, ISIS and ISIL - didn’t give any proof to its statement that suspect Usman Khan, 28, of Staffordshire, was one of its warriors. Police say they have so far discovered no proof that any other individual was associated with the assault.

Khan spent time in jail in jail

for a 2012 conviction for fear based oppression offenses, London police said Saturday.

Metropolitan Police said they shot Khan while he wore a phony suicide vest and he kicked the bucket at the area of the assault that killed a man and lady Friday.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said in an announcement Friday that Khan started the assault during a gathering the University of Cambridge sorted out inside Fishmongers’ Hall close to the extension’s north end.

The principal casualty of the

assault has been named as Jack Merritt, 25, who functioned as the course organizer for Learning Together, a

United Nations: 11 deaths from Rift Valley Fever in Sudan

TL Bureau, Khartoum The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan said the Sudanese Ministry of Health reported 345 suspected cases of Rift Valley Fever,

including 11 deaths. In a report published today, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the 345 suspected cases were reported in different parts of the country

Suriname President Bouterse sentenced to 20 years for killings TL Bureau, Paramaribo

Suriname’s President Desi Bouterse has been condemned to 20 years in jail for the execution of 15 political rivals.

The choice by a board of three judges on Friday denoted the finish of a noteworthy preliminary that started in November 2007, despite the fact that it was not quickly clear what occurs straightaway. The judges didn’t give a capture request, and Bouterse’s lawyer, Irvin Kanhai, promptly bid against the choice, considering it a “political decision”. Bouterse drove the South American nation through the 1980s as leader of a military government, at that

point expected office again in 2010 and verified re-appointment five years after the fact. The court decided that Bouterse had regulated an activity in which warriors under his order kidnapped 16 driving government pundits - including attorneys, columnists and college educators - from their homes and murdered 15 of them at a provincial post in the capital Paramaribo in 1982.

Bouterse, 74, is at present on an official excursion in China and gave no quick remark. The pioneer was relied upon to profit to Suriname for Saturday or Sunday, avoiding an arranged excursion to Cuba, the VP of his National Democratic Party (NDP) told nearby paper De Ware Tijd.

TL Bureau, New Delhi Mr. Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Taro Kono, Minister of Defense of Japan, who are paying a visit to India to attend the inaugural meeting of India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2),

called on Prime Minister today. The Prime Minister welcomed the visiting Ministers and expressed his satisfaction at the two sides being able to accomplish this goal set by Prime Minister and Prime Minister Abe during the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan in October 2018.

Foreign Minister and Defense Minister of Japan call on Prime Minister

criminology program for the University of Cambridge. He had been going to a gathering at Fishmongers’ Hall by London

Bridge and was portrayed as a “champion for longshots all over.”

Police accept the aggressor went to the Learning Together meeting and that the assault started inside the structure, before he left the structure and was stood up to and shot by officials.

Jack Merritt’s dad, David Merritt, composed on Facebook that his child, a supporter for detainee recovery, “would not want his passing to be utilized as the appearance for progressively draconian sentences or for keeping individuals pointlessly.”

Dutch police arrest stabbing suspect

TL Bureau, The Hague Dutch police on Saturday captured a 35-year-elderly person associated with wounding three adolescents on a bustling shopping road in The Hague on Black Friday. Police said the suspect, who had “no fixed spot of habitation,” will be moved to a police headquarters for addressing.

The suspect was not distinguished by name.

The assault happened Friday in the Grote Masksraat Shopping region, police said.

A man propelled the assault outside the Hudson’s Bay retail establishment as the avenues were packed for Black

Friday deals, Dutch News announced.

The harmed adolescents, a 13-year-old kid from The Hague and two 15-yearold young ladies from Alphan aan nook Rijn and Leiderdorp, were treated in a clinic and discharged Friday evening, a police explanation said.

“The unfortunate casualties don’t have any acquaintance with one another,” the announcement said. “The exact idea of the occurrence is as of now indistinct.

All situations are along these lines still open to the police.”

The occurrence happened after a different blade assault in London slaughtered two individuals and harmed three others.

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Japan has a hope to restart Fukushima nuclear plant

I

t’s an ideal opportunity to have some inspiration to begin atomic reactor in Japan after just about 8 years which was pulverized by common catastrophe.

Specialists have approved an atomic reactor that was harmed eight years prior during the occasions that caused Japan’s most noticeably awful ever atomic mishap, yet the unit still needs neighborhood endorsement before it can return on the web.

The No. 2 unit at Tohoku Electric Power’s Onagawa plant was cleared to restart by Tokyo’s atomic guard dog Wednesday. The power organization is burning through $3.1 billion on security gauges that incorporate a seawall that runs for a half-mile and reaches around 95 feet above ocean level.

“We’ve arrived at a key achievement,” Tohoku Electric President Hiroya Harada said in an announcement, including that other security measures and tests are in progress. In spite of the fact that the unit got endorsement from Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority, it currently should pass nearby investigations and fulfill uplifted security guidelines.

The Onagawa plant was the nearest atomic office to the focal point of the 2011 quake and torrent that caused three separate center emergencies at the Fukushima control plant in March 2011. The atomic catastrophe was the most serious since the mishap at the Chernobyl control station in advanced Ukraine. The tremor caused a programmed shutdown of the plant’s three reactors.

Around 80 percent of the homes in Onagawa were harmed.

“Atomic reactors regarded to have fulfilled the new guideline prerequisites, the world’s strictest, can continue activities subsequent to verifying neighborhood assent,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said. “There’s no adjustment in our position.”

In the event that it passes all assessments, the Onagawa plant will turn out to be only the subsequent reactor harmed by the 2011 catastrophe to return on the

web. A reactor at the Tokai No. 2 plant in Ibaraki Prefecture has just cleared the more stringent benchmarks received after the Fukushima mishap.

How about we examine how it began.

The mishap was begun by the Tōhoku seismic tremor and tidal wave on 11 March 2011. On distinguishing the tremor, the dynamic reactors consequently shut down their parting responses. As a result of the reactor trips and other matrix issues, the power supply fizzled, and the reactors’ crisis diesel generators naturally began. Fundamentally, they were driving the siphons that circle coolant through the reactors’ centers to evacuate rot heat, which proceeds after splitting has stopped. The seismic tremor created a 14-meterhigh torrent that cleared over the plant’s seawall and overwhelmed the plant’s lower grounds around the Units 1–4 reactor structures with ocean water, rounding the cellars and taking out the crisis generators. The resultant loss-of-coolant mishaps prompted three atomic emergencies, three hydrogen blasts, and the arrival of radioactive sullying in Units 1, 2 and 3 somewhere in the range of 12 and 15 March.

The spent fuel pool of recently shut-down Reactor 4 expanded in temperature on 15 March because of rot heat from recently included spent fuel poles, yet didn’t come down adequately to uncover the fuel. In the days after the mishap, radiation discharged to the climate constrained the administration to proclaim an ever bigger departure zone around the plant, coming full circle in a clearing zone with a 20-kilometer range. On the whole, nearly 154,000 inhabitants emptied from the networks encompassing the plant because of the ascending off-site levels of surrounding ionizing radiation brought about via airborne radioactive pollution from the harmed reactors.

A lot of water polluted with radioactive isotopes were discharged into the Pacific Ocean during and after the calamity. Michio Aoyama, a teacher of radioisotope geoscience

at the Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, has evaluated that 18,000 terabecquerel (TBq) of radioactive caesium 137 were discharged into the Pacific during the mishap, and in 2013, 30 gigabecquerel (GBq) of caesium 137 were all the while streaming into the sea consistently. The plant’s administrator has since fabricated new dividers along the coast and furthermore made a 1.5-kilometerlong “ice divider” of solidified earth to stop the progression of polluted water.

While there has been continuous contention over the wellbeing impacts of the calamity, a 2014 report by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) and World Health Organization anticipated no expansion in unnatural birth cycles, stillbirths or physical and mental issue in babies brought into the world after the mishap. A progressing serious cleanup program to both disinfect influenced regions and decommission the plant will take 30 to 40 years, plant the board gauge.

On 5 July 2012, the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission (NAIIC) found that the reasons for the mishap had been predictable, and that the plant administrator, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), had neglected to meet fundamental security prerequisites, for example, chance evaluation, planning for containing inadvertent blow-back, and creating clearing plans. At a gathering in Vienna, a quarter of a year after the fiasco, the International Atomic Energy Agency blamed remiss oversight by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, saying the service confronted a natural irreconcilable situation as an administration organization accountable for both directing and advancing the atomic power industry. On 12 October 2012, TEPCO conceded just because that it had neglected to take essential measures inspired by a paranoid fear of welcoming claims or fights against its atomic plants.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant included six separate bubbling water reactors initially structured by General Electric (GE) and kept up by the Tokyo Electric

editorial

Power Company (TEPCO). At the hour of the Tōhoku seismic tremor on 11 March 2011, Reactors 4, 5, and 6 were closed down in anticipation of re-powering. In any case, their spent fuel pools still required cooling. The 9.0 MW seismic tremor happened at 14:46 on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the focal point close to Honshu, the biggest island of Japan. It delivered most extreme ground g-powers of 0.56, 0.52, 0.56 at units 2, 3, and 5 individually. This surpassed the seismic reactor plan resiliences of 0.45, 0.45, and 0.46 g for proceeded with activity, yet the seismic qualities were inside the structure resistances at units 1, 4, and 6.

Following the tremor, the power creating Reactors 1, 2, and 3 consequently shut down their supported parting responses by embeddings control bars in a wellbeing system alluded to as a SCRAM, which parts of the bargains running conditions, by shutting down the splitting response in a controlled way. As the reactors were presently incapable to create capacity to run their very own coolant siphons, crisis diesel generators came on the web, as structured, to control gadgets and coolant frameworks. These worked ordinarily until the torrent demolished the generators for Reactors 1–5. The two generators cooling Reactor 6 were flawless and were adequate to be squeezed into administration to cool the neighboring Reactor 5 alongside their own reactor, turning away the overheating issues different reactors endured. At the point when the seismic tremor struck, units 1, 2, and 3 were working, however units 4, 5, and 6 had been closed down for a booked examination. One of the two associations with off-site control for units 1–3 additionally fizzled, so 13 on location crisis diesel generators started giving force.

The stature of the tidal wave that struck the station around 50 minutes after the seismic tremor.

A: Power station structures B: Peak stature of tidal wave C: Ground level of site D: Average ocean level E: Seawall to square waves The biggest tidal wave was 13–14 meters (43–46 feet) high and hit around 50 minutes after the underlying quake, overpowering the plant’s seawall, which was 10 m (33 ft) high. The snapshot of effect was recorded by a camera.

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String of tractor satnav thefts brought to an end

by France and Lithuania

TL Bureau, The Hague

On 26 November, the French National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie nationale) and the Lithuanian Police (Lietuvos Policija) supported by Europol, have dismantled an organised crime group involved in the theft of navigation systems from tractors.

The investigation led to the identification of 47 criminal cases associated with the same organised crime group. It is estimated that the criminal network has caused damage worth more than €575 000. During the operation, four individuals were arrested in Panevėžys, Lithuania, where the network was based.

Operating in rural areas through France since 2018, the criminal syndicate is suspected of stealing GPS systems to then resell them mainly outside the EU. Depending

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Finnish Winter War. The war began when the Soviet Union invaded Finland without declaring war on 30 November 1939.

The war ended on 13 March 1940, after 105 days of hostilities.

Finland paid a high price for defending its independence. More than 25,000 Finns died in the war effort and about 44,000 were wounded.

Civilian casualties numbered over 1,000. Soviet

on the type of system, each navigation system is worth between €10 000 and €20 000.

Europol supported the exchange of operational information, provided

analytical and coordination support.

On the action day, Europol experts supported the operation by crosschecking real- time operational information against Europol’s databases.

losses in the war were many times higher.

Finland preserved its independence, but had to cede 11% of its territory to the Soviet Union.

As a result, some 430,000 Finns, or 12% of the population, lost their homes and had to be resettled elsewhere in Finland.

Winter War and defenders of Finnish independence honoured at memorial ceremony in Helsinki The outbreak of the Winter War was commemorated in a public ceremony on Kasarmitori square in Helsinki, where state

leaders laid a wreath at the National Memorial to the Winter War. This was followed by the lighting of 105 candles, one for every day of the war, in homage to the Finns and international volunteers who fought in the war and to the friends of Finland abroad.

The ceremony was attended by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö, Vice-President of Parliament Tuula Haatainen, Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen, Mayor of Helsinki Jan Vapaavuori and Chief of Defence Command, Lieutenant­General Eero Pyötsiä.

2014-2018 - Over The European Council appoints new Commission a million people TL Bureau, Brussels

The European Council today appointed by written procedure the new Commission for the period from 1 December 2019 to 31 October 2024.

The new President of the Commission will be Ursula von der Leyen (Germany) and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will be Josep Borrell (Spain), who will also be one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission (Article 18(4) TEU).

The other members of the Commission will be; Thierry BRETON (France) Helena DALLI (Malta) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS (Latvia) Elisa FERREIRA (Portugal) Mariya GABRIEL (Bulgaria) Paolo GENTILONI (Italy) Johannes HAHN (Austria) Phil HOGAN (Ireland) Ylva JOHANSSON (Sweden) Věra JOUROVÁ (Czech Republic) Stella KYRIAKIDES (Cyprus) Janez LENARČIČ (Slovenia)

Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation Ibrahim Baylan to take part in State Visit to India TL Bureau, Stockholm

Winter War began 80 years ago today TL Bureau, Helsinki

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Didier REYNDERS (Belgium) Margaritis SCHINAS (Greece) Nicolas SCHMIT (Luxembourg) Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ (Slovakia) Kadri SIMSON (Estonia) Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS (Lithuania) Dubravka ŠUICA (Croatia) Frans TIMMERMANS (Netherlands) Jutta URPILAINEN (Finland) Adina VĂLEAN (Romania) Olivér VÁRHELYI (Hungary) Margrethe VESTAGER (Denmark) Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI (Poland) This follows the consent of the European Parliament to the new Commission as a body on 27 November 2019.

The Treaty on the European Union (TEU) provides that: “The President, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the other members of the Commission shall be subject as a body to a vote of consent by the European Parliament.

On the basis of this consent the Commission shall be appointed by the European Council, acting by a qualified majority.” (Article 17(7) TEU).

in Switzerland are employed in multinational enterprises TL Bureau, Neuchâtel

At the end of 2018, 28 622 enterprises in Switzerland were part of a multinational enterprise group. They employed approximately 1.4 million people, i.e. just over a quarter of total employment. Regarding the economic activities in which multinationals are involved, regional differences can be seen within Switzerland. From 2014 to 2018, major shifts took place between the countries of ultimate control of foreign multinationals.

These are some of the latest findings of the enterprise groups statistics, produced by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation Ibrahim Baylan will travel to India on 1 December to take part in the State Visit by the King and Queen.

The Innovation Partnership and Sweden and India’s economic exchange are two of the areas that Mr Baylan will highlight during the visit.

Mr Baylan will meet Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan and Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal for discussions on current bilateral issues and cooperation.

Since 2018, Sweden and India have had a joint innovation partnership to deepen cooperation between the two countries and contribute to sustainable growth and new job opportunities. During the State Visit, a high-level dialogue will be held on innovation policy, involving Swedish and Indian representatives from government agencies, academia and business. The dialogue, which will be attended by the King and Queen and by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is an important step in developing the Innovation Partnership. “Sweden and India have a great deal to gain from cooperation on innovation if we are to be able to tackle the challenges of the future, for a sustainable society and for our countries’ competitiveness. I look forward to discussing these issues with high-level Indian representatives,” says Mr Baylan. At the Climate Action Summit in New York in September, Sweden and India launched a global leadership group to drive the climate transition in heavy industry. During the State Visit, Mr Baylan will discuss this work and other important issues with Indian decision-makers and business leaders.

Two Saudi researchers receive Laurel-UNESCO Fellowship Program for Women Prizes TL Bureau, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Two Saudi researchers: Dr. Wafa Al-Talhi, and Dr. Asma Al-Amoudi, affiliated with the Saudi University of Taif, have recently won LaurelUNESCO Prizes for Women in Science in the Middle East. The program, initiated 21 years ago, has honored 3200 female exceptional scientists from 115 countries and 97 laureates of prizes of excellence in science, out of whom three scientists were granted Nobel prize. The award aims to recognize and support outstanding women who have contributed to stimulating scientific progress in the Middle East

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After ISIL, Agricultural Production Struggles to Recover in Parts of Iraq

TL Bureau, Erbil

The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) occupied large swathes of Iraqi territory between 2014 and 2017. The consequences of this occupation are still being felt in many rural areas where agricultural production was used as both a source of political propaganda and income, or destroyed as the group was forced out, a new IOM report says.

It is estimated that the group’s brutal three-year occupation reduced Iraq’s agricultural capacity by 40 per cent.

“It is necessary to prioritize the recovery and development of rural areas as part of our reconstruction and stabilization efforts,” said Siobhan Simojoki, Head of IOM Iraq’s Community Stabilization Unit. “Agriculture should be considered as an essential facet of the stabilization process and focus on this area can help balance out longstanding rural-urban economic inequalities.”

The report, Rural Areas in Ninewa: Legacies of Conflict on Rural Economies and Communities in Sinjar and Ninewa

Plains, published on 28 November focuses on agricultural output in Iraq’s third-largest governorate. Ninewa, in north-western Iraq, is also one of the country’s most fertile areas and has historically been the source of much of its grain and produce.

ISIL benefitted from the 2014 harvest completed in the months before taking over Ninewa; the group then profited from sales of the harvest and rain-fed crops, while forcing workers to continue operating agricultural infrastructure.

Finally, as ISIL was being pushed out, fighting, abuse, and revenge destruction caused severe lasting damage to the agricultural sector in the governorate.

ISIL purposely targeted rural areas for strategic purposes, i.e., access to their own steady food supply and the option to sell off agricultural produce for financial gain, but their overuse and, in some cases, deliberate destruction of agricultural land has had long-term consequences on many rural areas. Almost two years after the military defeat of ISIL in Iraq, livestock are still missing in Ninewa,

agricultural lands remain contaminated with explosives, and necessary machinery is lost or destroyed.

To date, many stabilization and postcrisis development efforts have targeted urban areas. Ninewa’s role in Iraq’s agricultural industry suggests that rebuilding agricultural livelihoods is an essential component to achieving successful stabilization in Iraq.

The presence of historically marginalized minorities in Ninewa’s rural areas is also of great importance, given the sensitivities of ethno-religious tensions related to land ownership; Ninewa Governorate is one of the most diverse in Iraq in terms of the number and prevalence of minorities. The new also report considers tensions in rural areas that have been worsened or ignited due to land and water policies, and agricultural decline under ISIL. The studies conducted for this report were funded by USAID, within the framework of the project Supporting the Return of Displaced Populations in the Ninewa Plains and Western Ninewa.

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Defence Expenditure of NATO Countries (2013-2019) TL Bureau, Brussels

NATO collects defence expenditure data from Allies on a regular basis and presents aggregates and subsets of this information. Each Ally’s Ministry of Defence reports current and estimated future defence expenditure according to an agreed definition of defence expenditure.

The amounts represent payments by a national government actually made, or to be made, during the course of the fiscal year to meet the needs of its armed forces, those of Allies or of the Alliance. In the figures and tables that follow, NATO also uses economic and demographic information available from the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs of the European Commission (DG-ECFIN), and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

NATO Secretary General EU justice ministers to push announces increased for stronger rights for victims defence spending by Allies TL Bureau, Helsinki/Brussels

TL Bureau, Brussels

The Secretary General also confirmed that more Allies are meeting the guideline of spending 2 % of GDP on defence. This year, 9 Allies will meet the guideline, up from only 3 Allies just a few years ago. The majority of Allies have plans in place to reach 2 % by 2024. Mr Stoltenberg said: “Allies are also investing billions more in new capabilities and contributing to NATO deployments around the world. So we are on the right track but we cannot be complacent. We must keep up the momentum.”

NATO Heads of State and Government will meet in London on 3-4 December and the Secretary General said he expected they will take decisions to continue NATO’s adaptation, including more improvements to the readiness of Allied forces; recognising space as an operational domain; and updating NATO’s action plan against terrorism.

Leaders are also due to have a strategic

discussion on Russia, the future of arms control, as well as the rise of China.

The Secretary General highlighted how NATO continues to be the bedrock of peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. He acknowledged that while there were sometimes disagreements among Allies, they have always been able to overcome their differences and unite round their core task; protecting and defending each other.

Joint statement on joining Instex by Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden

TL Bureau, Oslo

Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden are in the process of becoming shareholders of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (Instex), they say in a joint statement. Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden attach the utmost importance to the preservation and full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) on Iran’s nuclear programme by all parties involved. The nuclear agreement

was unanimously endorsed by the UN Security Council and is a key instrument for the global non-proliferation regime and a major contribution to stability in the region.

In light of the continuous European support for the agreement and the ongoing efforts to implement the economic part of it and to facilitate legitimate trade between Europe and Iran, we are now in the process of becoming shareholders of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (Instex) subject to completion of national procedures.

The last official Justice and Home Affairs Council of Finland’s Presidency will convene in Brussels on 2–3 December 2019. The justice ministers’ session on Tuesday, 3 December, will be chaired

by Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson.

The aim of this meeting is to adopt Council conclusions on victims’ rights.

The conclusions call on the European Commission to draw up a new EU strategy to ensure that victims’ rights apply in practice and regardless of which member state the crime has occurred in. As part of the strategy, the Council invites the Commission to evaluate the existing EU legislation on victims’ rights, focussing on a review of the current rules on compensation.

Over their working lunch, the justice ministers will discuss strengthening the rule of law within the EU, pursuing a debate launched at the informal meeting of ministers in Helsinki last July. The topic was raised in a recent communication from the Commission, announcing that it

would start publishing an annual report on rule of law developments in the member states. The justice ministers will discuss their own role in this context and the key rule of law issues to focus on in the future. “I am happy to be able to say that Finland’s Presidency has provided us with the opportunity to put the rule of law on the justice ministers’ agenda in a more systematic and comprehensive way. Smooth judicial processes and an independent judiciary are a must for citizens to be able to enjoy their rights.

The fight against corruption also needs to be intensified. In all EU countries, the justice ministers play a key role in making this happen,” Minister Henriksson said.

In the field of civil law, Finland’s Presidency has promoted the role of digital solutions aimed at speeding up cross-border cooperation in the taking of evidence and in the service of writs of summonses and other judicial documents in another member state. To promote this goal, the Council is now hoping to reach agreement on amendments to the two regulations on the service of documents and the taking of evidence.

Technical Cooperation with Switzerland on Climate Change TL Bureau, New Delhi

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of India represented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Government of Switzerland represented by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs on Technical Cooperation in the field of Climate Change and Environment was signed on 13.09.2019. The MoU will remain in effect for a five-year period, and may be renewed for similar periods, as agreed upon by the Parties.

The MoU identifies several areas of cooperation including capacity building on Climate Change and sustainable water management; sustainable forest management; sustainable development of mountainous regions; environmentally sustainable and resilient urban development; air, land and water pollution; clean and renewable energy and climate change risk management. The objective of the MoU is to enhance technical cooperation between India and Switzerland in the fields of Climate Change and Environment on a basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.

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australia

GFP purchase of Tasmanian Migrants’ total income exceeds forestry assets not opposed $112 billion in 2016-17

TL Bureau, Hobart

The ACCC will not oppose the proposed acquisition of the Tasmanian forestry assets of funds managed by Resource Management Service LLC (RMS) by funds advised by Global Forest Partners LP (GFP).

Both GFP and funds managed by New Forests bid for the RMS assets. On 26 September 2019 the ACCC raised preliminary concerns with both parties’ bids. “Our strongest concerns related to New Forests bid, particularly the impact on competition for hardwood logs from private growers in north-western Tasmania,” ACCC Commissioner Stephen Ridgeway said.Following the release of the ACCC’s concerns, New Forests withdrew from the sale process. “The acquisition by GFP also raised some preliminary competition concerns, but only in north-eastern Tasmania. However,

after closely considering further information received from market participants, our view is that it is unlikely to substantially lessen competition,” Mr Ridgeway said.

“We had concerns the GFP acquisition could impact the viability of competing exporters of hardwood plantation chips in north-eastern Tasmania, which had the potential to lower prices paid to private growers of plantation logs.”

“After further investigation we found that there is likely to be enough supply of chipping logs from private growers to provide a third export operator with sufficient volumes to attract international buyers,” Mr Ridgeway said.

“We also found that the volumes of private plantation logs for sale should increase over the next couple of years, giving competing buyers even more scope to increase their volumes.”

TL Bureau, Canberra

Australia’s 1.9 million migrant taxpayers generated $112.3 billion in total personal income in 2016-17 according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today. ABS Migration and Small Population Insights Director, Jenny Dobak said most of this migrant income ($102 billion, or 91 per cent) was earned by employees.

“With new data for 2016-17 now available, we have a better understanding of the personal income earned by migrants,” she said. “For example the data shows the median employee income of all migrant taxpayers in 201617 was $49,438, which was slightly higher than the median employee income for all Australian taxpayers ($49,412)”.

Skilled migrant taxpayers The 2016-17 data shows that 61 per cent of migrant taxpayers held a skilled visa and they

Summer Outlook shows warmer and drier conditions likely to continue into TL Bureau, Canberra The Bureau of Meteorology will today release its 2019/20 Summer Outlook, showing large parts of the country are likely to see a continuation of the warmer and drier than average conditions experienced throughout spring.

The climate outlook shows a high likelihood of warmer than average days and nights for most of the country, while rainfall is likely to be below average for large parts of the nation’s east.

Only coastal areas of Western Australia, stretching from the Midwest to the Kimberley are showing increased odds of wetter than average conditions.

Bureau of Meteorology head of long-

range forecasts Dr Andrew Watkins said Australia’s outlook was being influenced by one of Australia’s main climate drivers.

“The key culprit for our current and expected conditions is one of the strongest positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events on record,” Dr Watkins said.

“A positive IOD means we have cooler than average water pooling off Indonesia, and this means we see less rain-bearing weather systems, and warmer than average temperatures for large parts of the country. “The positive IOD means we’re also expecting a delayed onset for the northern monsoon, one of the key drivers for tropical rainfall during the summer months. “At this stage we’re expecting the onset of the northern monsoon by

Australia signs new screen agreement with Malaysia

New reports into the wellbeing of serving and former Australian Defence Force members TL Bureau, Canberra personnel: 2019 update, is the second

TL Bureau, Canberra

The Morrison Government has entered into a new agreement with Malaysia that will boost the film and television production industries in both countries.

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, welcomed the agreement with Malaysia under the Australian International CoProduction Program, which encourages creative exchange between partner countries, the development of screen projects of cultural significance, and collaboration on feature films, TV dramas, animations and documentaries.

“This agreement builds on an already strong partnership between Australian and Malaysian producers and helps drive the development of ambitious new projects,” said Minister Fletcher.

Three reports released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) provide greater insight into the health and welfare of serving and contemporary (at least 1 day of service since 2001) ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.

The reports, which are part of an ongoing body of work commissioned by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, include an annual update on suicide monitoring, the results of research into medications dispensed and the use of homelessness services. ‘This monitoring will inform improvements in suicide prevention and other services for serving and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families,’ said AIHW spokesperson Mr. Michael Frost.

Suicide monitoring National suicide monitoring of serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force

mid-summer, which should see the odds for closer to average rainfall increasing from January and into February.”

Dr Watkins said the outlook was an important reminder for communities to be alert to the potential severe weather risks over the coming months.

“We’ve already seen significant bushfire activity during spring, and the outlook for drier and warmer than average conditions will maintain that heightened risk over the coming months.

“This outlook also means the risk of heatwaves is increased, so it’s important the community stays up to date with the latest information and advice from authorities and the Bureau’s heatwave forecasts and warnings.

annual update of this study, which looks at suicide deaths among serving, reserve and contemporary ex-serving ADF personnel.

This report builds on last year’s update with the inclusion of new suicide information for 2017.

‘Between 2001 and 2017, there were 419 suicide deaths among serving, reserve and contemporary ex-serving ADF personnel,’ Mr. Frost said.

‘The rate of suicide in both serving and reserve men was lower than the rate for all Australian men, while for ex-serving men it was higher.

‘Suicide rates for ex-serving women have been reported for the first time in this report. The suicide rate for exserving women was higher than the rate for Australian women, but still lower than the rate for ex-serving men.’

Women bring the WOW factor to Queensland Festival

TL Bureau, Brisbane Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, former Governor General Quentin Bryce and singer and performer Christine Anu will be among high-profile participants of WOW Australia 2020 Festival announced in Brisbane today.

Also appearing will be the musical collaboration Spinifex Gum featuring Felix Riebl (Cat Empire).

Speaking at the launch of the four-day women of the world festival, to be held at the Brisbane Powerhouse 2-5 April next year, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

said she was proud to support the event returning to Queensland for the next three years. “WOW is helping to remove the obstacles women and girls face throughout their lives by re-imagining the world where gender bias doesn’t exist, and arriving at solutions for change,” the Premier said.

reported $81 billion in total personal income, an increase of 5.8 per cent in real terms on 2015-16. “We also know that migrants from the skill steam had the highest median employee income of migrant taxpayers ($59,304)” said Ms Dobak.

Family migrant taxpayers Migrant taxpayers with family visas reported $25 billion in total income, and were most commonly born in the United Kingdom (13 per cent) and China (12 per cent).

Humanitarian migrant taxpayers The data also showed that migrants with humanitarian visas reported $3.4 billion in total income and had a median employee income of $32,792, below the Australian taxpayer median employee income ($49,412).

However, humanitarian migrant taxpayers had the highest median own unincorporated business income of migrant taxpayers ($16,852).

Defence Task Group visits Fiji TL Bureau, Canberra/Suva The Australian Defence Force (ADF) completed its latest round of regional engagement in the Southwest Pacific with a week-long visit to Fiji. A Joint Task Group of ADF personnel, supported by HMA Ships Adelaide and Larrakia, conducted a series of activities with the Fijian military and communities in Suva, as part of the ADF’s ongoing contribution to the Australian Government’s Pacific Stepup. Commander of Joint Task Force 637, Major General Justin Ellwood said this most recent engagement with Fiji reflected the enduring and multifaceted relationship between our two nations.

“Our latest visit continues to build upon an extensive partnering program already established between the ADF and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF),” Major General Ellwood said.

The Rat Trap: international cybercrime investigation shuts down insidious malware operation

TL Bureau, Canberra A tool allowing cybercriminals to remotely and secretly gain control over a victim’s computer is no longer available as a result of an Australian-led operation targeting hackers allegedly using the Imminent Monitor Remote Access Trojan (IM-RAT). An investigation led by the Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) Cybercrime Investigations teams, with international activity coordinated by Europol, resulted in an operation involving more than a dozen law enforcement agencies in Europe and Australia. Once installed upon a victim’s computer the, now defunct, IM-RAT software allowed a remote user to access and view documents, photographs and other files, record all the keystrokes entered and even activate the webcam on the victim’s computer – all of which could be done without the victim’s knowledge.

6

NZ AND OTHER OCEANIA

Launch of the National Emergency Management Agency

TL Bureau, Wellington Civil Defence Minister Hon Peeni Henare today announced the establishment of the new National Emergency Management Agency from 1 December 2019.

The National Emergency Management Agency will replace the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management.

It will be an autonomous departmental agency, hosted by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Minister Henare welcomed the establishment of the National Emergency Management Agency as an important step in a significant programme of change for the emergency management system.

“The National Emergency Management Agency will provide strong, national leadership, putting people and their communities at the heart of our national emergency management system. The National Emergency Management Agency will help New Zealand better prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies by boosting the performance and capability of the system across all hazards and all risks,” Peeni Henare said.

“Emergencies impact people and

communities. They also impact property, critical infrastructure, economy and the environment. The National Emergency Management Agency will work together with central and local government, communities, iwi/Māori and the business sector to reduce those impacts.

It will take a system-wide approach to reducing risk, strengthening readiness, and quickly and effectively responding to and recovering from emergencies,” Peeni Henare said.

The Ministry’s current emergency management responsibilities will be transferred to the National Emergency Management Agency.

The Deputy State Services Commissioner has appointed Carolyn Schwalger as the Chief Executive of the National Emergency Management Agency for an interim period.

The decision to establish the National Emergency Management Agency is part of the Government’s response to a Ministerial review into New Zealand’s civil defence system, commissioned after the 2016 Kaikōura-Hurunui earthquake and tsunami and the 2017 Port Hills fire.

P-8A Poseidon base works commence

TL Bureau, Wellington

Minister of Defence Ron Mark turned the first sod of earth on the infrastructure works for the new P-8A Poseidon fleet at RNZAF Base Ohakea today.

“The Coalition Government’s investment in Ohakea will ensure the Royal New Zealand Air Force can manage, maintain and task the new fleet efficiently ahead of the first aircraft’s arrival in 2023,” says Ron Mark.

“The purchase by the Coalition Government of these aircraft to replace the aging 1960s-era P-3K2 Orions demonstrated a strong commitment to the security of New Zealand, and reinforced our foreign policy interests through enabling stronger defence contributions to Pacific and global security,” “The Coalition Government will make the once in a generation decisions required, after years of under-investment leading to aging equipment and infrastructure,” says Mr Mark.

“Basing the P-8A fleet at Ohakea will be a boost for the economy and vitality of Manawatu and the surrounding region through the construction phase, and over

the long term as around 270 members of the Air Force’s 5 Squadron bring their families to the area,” “The works I am starting today will feed into the region in the form of engagement of local services, manufacturing, equipment and materials industries. At its peak the construction project will be employing around 300 people, many of whom will be recruited from the local area,” says Mr Mark. The project’s infrastructure includes crew and maintenance simulators, an operations centre and hangar, warehousing and maintenance facilities.

There will be two phases of work. The first stage, which Ron Mark commenced today, has been awarded to Fulton Hogan and involves site preparation, roads, utilities and runway aprons, at a cost of $64.5 million. The second phase, focused on building construction, will be subject to a separate procurement process, with work expected to start in the second quarter of 2020. The total cost across both phases is estimated to be over $200 million. All infrastructure work is expected to be finished by early 2022.

Cost less of a Porirua housing partnership NASA 2020 factor for Kiwis to improve housing in the city Internship seeking GP care applications TL Bureau, Wellington

TL Bureau, Wellington

Health Minister Dr David Clark says new data showing a sharp drop in the number of people who can’t afford to visit their GP is a sign of real progress.

One year after the Government made it cheaper for about 600,000 Kiwis to visit their doctor, results of the New Zealand Health Survey show that 57,000 fewer adults are now putting off visiting the doctor due to cost compared to the year before. That’s close to a ten per cent reduction. There was more good news, with 33,000 fewer adults putting off after-hours visits and 50,000 fewer reporting cost as stopping them from picking up their prescriptions.

Health Minister Dr David Clark says those results show that Government policies are making a positive difference in people’s lives. “In a country like New Zealand no one should have to put off going to the doctor when they’re sick, and it’s heartening to see we’re making progress.

“We know cost has been a barrier to health care for many. That’s why from 1 December last year we cut the cost of going to the GP for more than 540,000 Community Services Card holders by an average of $20-30. Another 61,000 13-year olds also became eligible for free general practice visits.

“Ministry of Health data shows CSC card holders are benefiting from this.

In the seven months since 1 April this year around three-quarters of Māori, Pacific and high needs patients have engaged with their local general practice at least once. “At the same time as we’ve made it cheaper for so many to visit their GP, our Economic Plan also means working New Zealanders have more money in their back pockets.

A partnership signed today between the Crown and local iwi, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangātira (Ngāti Toa), will improve the quality of state housing in western Porirua, says the Associate Minister of Housing, Kris Faafoi.

Contracts have been signed at a ceremony at Takapūwāhia Marae, in Porirua, between Ngāti Toa, Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to confirm the partnership. This will see Ngāti Toa’s new community housing provider, Te Āhura Mōwai, manage properties and tenancies for over 900 state homes in western Porirua for 25 years, starting on 1 July 2020. Over time, the partnership will see these homes upgraded to make them warmer and drier.

“We know that a place to call home is fundamental to people’s wellbeing.

“Housing is a basic human right, which provides stability, security and the opportunity to establish connections in a community,” Kris Faafoi says.

“This Government and Ngāti Toa are united in wanting to improve public housing in Porirua. “This partnership with Ngāti Toa is also significant as it deepens the CrownMāori relationship,” Mr Faafoi says.

As mana whenua of Porirua, Ngāti Toa holds an important position in the local community, with strong understanding of local needs. The partnership with Ngāti Toa is part of the Porirua Development, which was announced by the Government and the iwi last November. he Development project includes the delivery of an additional 150 new state homes in the city.

New Zealand to send more medical staff and essential supplies to Samoa TL Bureau, Wellington

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further support to Samoa in the wake of an ongoing measles outbreak in the country. Additional medical supplies and personnel, including a third rotation of New Zealand’s emergency medical assistance team (NZMAT), further nurse vaccinators, intensive care (ICU) specialists and Samoan-speaking medical professionals, will be deployed from today. “The Samoan health system is under serious strain with growing numbers of people, many of whom are very young, needing complex care as a result of the measles outbreak,” Mr Peters said.

“We have been working closely with the Samoan Government to ensure we are providing the resources that are needed.

“This latest package of support includes

funding a further 100,000 Measles and Rubella vaccines and a machine to support oxygen production to help meet the unprecedented demand for oxygen in Samoan hospitals.

“Samoan health workers have been grappling with the outbreak for a number of weeks. New Zealand will deploy up to 15 ICU specialists, as well as additional Samoan-speaking doctors and nurses, to work alongside medical staff from Samoa and other partners and provide relief.

“New Zealand is also looking to provide psychological support for health workers in Samoa, who have been confronted with some distressing cases in very demanding conditions, and communities that have been affected by the health crisis.

“This is a very difficult time for Samoa, and our sympathies are with everyone affected,” Mr Peters said.

open

TL Bureau, Wellington New Zealand tertiary students with top grades and a passion for space will once again be offered the opportunity to work with the world’s best and brightest at NASA, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford announced today.

Recipients of the New Zealand Space Scholarship are nominated by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to take part in NASA’s International Internship Programme. If accepted, the cost of their participation is paid by the Government.

“These scholarships give our students the opportunity to learn from the best in the space technology field and bring the skills and experience they gain back to New Zealand,” Phil Twyford said.

Seven students this year have already received the New Zealand Space Agency scholarship and travelled to NASA’s Ames Research Centre in California to work with NASA’s expert mentors on cutting-edge research.

“Through the New Zealand Space Scholarship the Government is providing high-achieving students the opportunity to work in NASA’s advanced research facilities. They will be involved in the development of world-leading technology such as robotics and sensors for planetary exploration.

“New Zealand’s space sector is already contributing around $1.7 billion annually to our economy and the Government is working to make New Zealand a hub for new space activities powered by a highly-skilled workforce.

7

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid discusses trade with the Finnish business community TL Bureau, Male

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid participated in a roundtable discussion organised by Finland Chamber of Commerce today, for the Finland business community on investing in the Maldives.

Minister Shahid stated that the Maldives is open for business and emphasized on the importance of increasing and developing a robust cooperation mechanism between the Maldives and the private sector of Finland. Finnish companies, according to the Minister, provide innovative, sustainable solutions, especially involving renewable energy, which is important for low lying island states like the Maldives. Minister Shahid’s remarks were followed by a presentation on “investing in the Maldives” by the Minister of State for Economic Development, Mohamed Iaad Hameed.

At the discussion, several businesses from Finland expressed their interest in exploring investment opportunities in the Maldives. Earlier today, Minister Shahid also met with Marinetek Finland, who provide floating solutions, and discussed on developing sustainable marinas to cater for the diversifying tourism industry. Minister Shahid also attended a luncheon hosted by Wärtsilä, a global leader in smart technologies for the marine and energy markets.

BUSINESS

Failed Bill hits small business hardest

TL Bureau, Canberra The decision by the Australian Senate to reject the Ensuring Integrity Bill will suffocate small businesses who don’t have the money or muscle to withstand repeated attacks from lawless unions.

“This is terrible news for small businesses and small sub-contractors,” ACCI CEO James Pearson said.

“Union exaggerations and misinformation have trumped the real concerns of not only thousands of small businesses but also a succession of judges who have repeatedly implored the Government to update the current workplace laws.

“Small businesses don’t stand a chance against pressure from the worst fringes of the union movement. Individual workers don’t stand a chance if they don’t want to

join a union. “People in small business across the country thought the Senate was going to protect them. Instead, they woke up this morning to the news that unions such as the CFMEU have been given the green light to continue their deliberate business model of threats of violence and intimidation, and other breaches of the law, to force small employers and workers who choose not join unions to roll over.”

Mr Pearson said that comparisons between corporate Australia and the worst fringes of the union movement overlooked the fact that some unions seemed to be able to break the law with impunity and some union bosses thumb their noses at the law, while CEOs and executives who do the wrong thing lose their jobs.

“When there’s a Royal Commission in

other areas, Australians expect action.

We expect banks to be held to account for the way they treat their customers and we expect institutions to be held to account for the people in their care.

“There have been four Royal Commissions into union behaviour and still the Parliament has refused a law that would protect people in small businesses when some unions threaten, coerce and bully them and their workers. “ACCI applauds the Coalition’s efforts to tackle unjust elements of our workplace relations laws.

They have tried, and we encourage them to continue to try, to reform Australia’s workplace relations system, and to hold wrongdoers, be they in unions or employer groups, properly to account through the Ensuring Integrity Bill.”

TL Bureau, Canberra

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Kate Carnell says high growth small and mediumsized businesses will get the boost they need, with the big four banks backing the $540 million Australian Business Growth Fund. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has confirmed ANZ, CBA, NAB and Westpac will each commit $100 million to the fund, while HSBC and Macquarie Bank will each contribute $20 million.

The federal government has pledged $100 million. “We welcome both the government investment in the fund, which has now been matched by the

major banks.

“The Australian Business Growth Fund was a recommendation in our Affordable Capital for SME Growth report, which identified the need to address a critical funding gap for longterm capital to enable high growth potential SMEs to flourish. “This fund will benefit high growth SMEs with annual turnovers of between $2 million and $50 million. “Importantly the fund will be managed by private sector expertise and will invest between 10% and 40% in the chosen businesses, allowing the business owner to maintain their controlling interest, while giving them the funds they need to invest in growth.

“Similar models in the UK and

Canada have proven successful, giving businesses the chance to thrive with much-needed access to affordable capital. “We also support the government’s ongoing discussions with other financial institutions that are considering investing in the fund. “This initiative comes at a time when many respected economists, including those at the RBA, are publicly recognising one of the biggest barriers to growth for SMEs is access to affordable capital and this has been a critical factor holding the economy back. “The Australian Business Growth Fund will significantly encourage business growth and promote economic expansion.”

measures means there will be no change in the workplace relations system.

“No change means bullying, thuggery, corruption and intimidation will continue.

“No change impacts on workers who simply want to be represented by union officials acting with integrity arguing in their bests interests.

“And, no change means the enterprise bargaining system, which is the way workers have historically received better wages and conditions, will continue to fall apart because there is no integrity underpinning it.’’

“We understand the community’s

legitimate anger at recent behaviour from some of Australia’s biggest companies. I share that anger and we all need to do better.

“When business does not live up to community expectations it should fix those problems and do it quickly but that is no reason to punish all Australians with a workplace relations system that leaves them worse off.

“Australians deserve a productive, thriving business community so they can get a good job, stay in a job, and get the skills and training they need.

They need strong businesses to prosper.

“We urge all Senators to be cautious

about unleashing policies that won’t just harm people in boardrooms, but all Australians.

“Over the past few years parliament has passed over 40 laws and regulations targeting business conduct.

“These include measures to jail directors, set wages for bank executives, ensure the banks pay a special levy, and give regulators far reaching powers including to intervene in energy prices.

“While the senate has taken action on corporate Australia, it has decided to turn a blind eye to harassment, thuggery, corruption and bullying in the union movement.’’

High growth SMEs to get a boost from Business Growth Fund

Senate turns a blind eye to bullying and thuggery

TL Bureau, Canberra

The senate’s decision to turn a blind eye to harassment, thuggery, corruption and bullying in the union movement has let hard working Australians down, Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott said today.

“The senate needs to revisit the government’s integrity measures as quickly as possible and decide whether they are acting in the long-term interest of all Australians or in the short-term interest of a few.’’

“Yesterday’s short-sighted decision to block the government’s integrity

8

FEATURE

Is the world ready to end the coal era and embrace clean energy

TL Bureau, UN Hq

But, despite the United Nations calling urgently for an end to fossil fuels, hundreds of new coal-fired power stations are still being built, and hundreds more are in the pipeline. Is the world ready for a new era of clean, cheap and accessible energy for all?

Kick the coal habit, and put a price on carbon, urges UN chief An array of motorbikes cross Long Bien Bridge on the Red River in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The UN is ramping up pressure on countries to end their reliance on coal, with Secretary-General António Guterres unambiguously spelling out the Organization’s position in his recent declarations.

The UN chief has called for taxes to be placed on carbon emissions, an end to the trillions of dollars’ worth of estimated subsidies for fossil fuels, and for the construction of coal-fired power stations to be halted by 2020, if we are to stand a chance of ending the climate crisis.

Many countries, particularly developed economies, are starting to heed the UN’s message. However, Southeast Asia, one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the world, appears to be stuck on fossil fuels as the answer to its energy needs: In November, Mr. Guterres told a meeting of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) group in Thailand that coal “remains a major threat in relation to climate change”, adding that countries in Southeast Asia are some of the most vulnerable to climate change. Asian development still fueled by coal A layer of smog can be seen as the sun sets over Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. According to studies by the International Energy Agency, the region is expected to become a key driver of world energy trends over the next 20 years. Millions of people in Southeast Asia have gained access to electricity since 2000, and the region is on the way to achieving universal

access by 2030.

The UN-backed Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), has compiled data showing that the region has the third highest number of coal power plants in the pipeline after China and India.

Indonesia, Viet Nam and the Philippines have the largest coal plant pipeline of all South East Asian countries, with Malaysia and Thailand not far behind.

The wealthier Asian countries are also bankrolling coal beyond their borders: State-owned financial agencies in China, Japan, and South Korea are now, respectively, the largest sources of funding for coal plants in other countries: research from SEforALL shows that

China was the largest international source international source of finance for coal, committing more than $1.7 billion in 2015/2016. Nevertheless, the world, as a whole, is slowly moving in the right direction, and the number of plants currently being planned is falling.

The amount of permits of new coal plants has dropped to record lows, and over a thousand have been cancelled, a reflection of a tougher economic climate for coal plant developers, and the growing consensus for the need to limit global warming, and protect human health.

In November 2019, four years after the Paris Agreement, a key UN climate

conference at which countries committed to step up efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures and boost climate action financing, the UN Secretary-General convened a Climate Action Summit in New York, where many nations announced beefedup measures to combat the climate crisis, including putting limits on the amount of electricity produced from coal-based sources. “Despite more than two decades of climate policy making, fossil fuel production levels are higher than ever,” Måns Nilsson, head of the Stockholm Environment Institute, one of the organizations that produced the study, said in a press release.

being fully aware of the difficulties of the journey and the violence they would be subjected to.” While Senegal is a key transit country for many West Africans traveling to Europe, it is also a sending country. In recent years, almost 20,000 Senegalese migrants reached Italy by sea

(over 10,000 in 2016 and 6,000 in 2017) in search of better economic opportunities.

In 2018, the route from West Africa to Spain became the most frequently used route into Europe: Senegal was ranked fifth in the total number of West African arrivals after Guinea, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia. “I saved 500,000 FCFA (USD 1,000) to leave but after tonight, I’m so scared that I am going to tell everyone in my family what is happening outside of Senegal,” said Khady, after the debate organized the first evening. Getting clear, reliable information out to remote areas is a challenge, said Mia Barrett, Head of IOM’s Awareness Raising Unit at IOM Regional Office for West and Central Africa.

“Some of the key migration-prone areas in West Africa are so remote that information on the risks of irregular migration don’t reach those that need it most,” Barrett said.

Mobile Cinema Initiative Starts Tour in West Africa

TL Bureau, Dakar

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) this week launched its mobile cinema caravan CinemArena which will tour across West Africa for five months highlighting the risks of irregular migration.

The caravan started its regional tour in Tambacounda, Southern Senegal, one of the main source regions for irregular migration. It aims to inform Senegalese youth about the risks of irregular migration by bringing outdoor cinema events to more than 25 villages, reaching at least 8,000 people through 22 December.

The activities include screenings of awareness-raising films on irregular migration, followed by workshops, Q&A sessions, theatre performances and other activities.

“Returned migrants, local partners and artists have been working closely with IOM for a month to bring people together around cinema,” said Laurence Hart, Director of the IOM coordination office for the Mediterranean. “Some of the migrants who arrived in Italy told us they left without

9

life and real estate

145 Nationalities and a Kaleidoscope of Cultures Come Together to Make History on EK 2019

TL Bure, DUBAI, UAE Celebrating the unique unifying power of diversity in the UAE, the historic one-off Emirates A380 flight marking the 48th UAE National Day and the UAE Year of Tolerance has returned to Dubai International Airport. With over 540 passengers celebrating a shared sense of place and pride to call the UAE their home, the one-of-a-kind flight, unprecedented in the industry, was an impactful initiative to showcase the UAE’s spirit of unity and inclusiveness.

The flight welcomed passengers from different backgrounds, ethnicities, religions and cultures and included families and children, Emirates Group employees, as well as People of Determination. Passengers were encouraged to come in their national dress, and throughout the flight, their colourful costumes became a vibrant

collage honouring their different heritages and traditions.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group said: “The UAE has become a remarkable symbol of tolerance and coexistence, welcoming people from over 200 nationalities and backgrounds, all living together in solidarity and harmony. It is in fact the diversity of the citizens and residents of the UAE that unite us and make us stronger through mutual respect and opening bridges of common dialogue, and today’s flight is a celebration of that spirit which is very much a part of our everyday lives here in the UAE.” EK 2019 was commanded by UAE Nationals Captain Abbas Shaban and Captain Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum, and First Officer Karin Arning from Germany. The 22 cabin crew on flight

EK 2019 hailed from 18 countries, and were led by flight purser Jafar Hamad, a UAE National. On an average flight, Emirates cabin crew represent up to 15 nationalities, proudly serving customers across the airline’s network. An average Emirates flight typically carries more than 50 nationalities onboard. The airline attempted to welcome as many nationalities as possible onto flight EK2019, for a special flight journey across all seven emirates.

After passengers checked in, they were welcomed by Emirates cabin crew and were invited to take keepsake photos to mark the special event. Passengers were also able to write their names and wishes for the Year of Tolerance on a special message wall. Before boarding, a bespoke stamp to mark this special flight was put on each boarding pass as an added keepsake for passengers. Once onboard and ready for take-off, special

Year of Tolerance content was available on ice for viewing by all passengers.

Just before descent, an Official Adjudicator from GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™, who was onboard verifying nationality counts, officially announced a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for most nationalities on an aircraft.

On his part Talal Omar – Director MENA, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ said: “We congratulate both the UAE and Emirates Airline for making history today. This achievement reflects the keen to spread the spirit of tolerance and show the real image of moderation.

The UAE has always been a place of peace and coexistence for people from different backgrounds regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or gender. It is inspiring to see all these people coming together to create an environment that celebrates diversity and understanding.

Air New Zealand crowned Airline of the Year The World Tourism Organization Launches Its

Air New Zealand has been named 2020 Airline of the Year by AirlineRatings.com.

TL Bureau, Wellington This is the sixth time the airline has received the top honour in AirlineRatings. com’s Airline Excellence Awards.

AirlineRatings.com’s panel of seven judges, who have more than 200 years of aviation experience between them, assess airlines on 12 key criteria for the awards each year.

This includes customer reviews, product offerings, safety, fleet age, profitability and environmental leadership.

The judges come from the United States, France, United Kingdom and Australia.

AirlineRatings.com editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas says Air New Zealand remains on top in virtually every category, which is an extraordinary achievement.“Air New Zealand is a clear industry leader which is remarkable when it is up against much larger global carriers. The airline is committed to excellence in all areas of its business with its employees across the globe consistently delivering exceptional customer service.”

Air New Zealand Acting Chief Executive

Jeff McDowall says the airline is honoured to take out AirlineRatings.com’s top award for a record sixth time.

“Our 12,500 employees both on the ground and in the air are committed to offering the best travel experience on the 17 million customer journeys we facilitate every year, so it’s fantastic to have these efforts recognised by such an esteemed global judging panel. We’d also like to thank our customers for their ongoing loyalty to Air New Zealand.

“While we are extremely proud to receive this award, 2020 marks Air New Zealand’s 80th year and we are focused on delivering some great new initiatives, as well as launching our non-stop Auckland-New York service in late October.” In addition to being named Airline of the Year, Air New Zealand has also won the AirlineRatings.

First Shopping Tourism Pilot Project in León

TL Bureau, León, Guanajuato

León, Guanajuato, Mexico 28 November 2019 - The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has joined with the Municipality of León (Guanajuato, Mexico) to present the first UNWTO project on Shopping Tourism, with the aim of boosting the local economy, creating jobs and driving sustainable and inclusive development.

The pilot project is the result of more than a year’s collaboration between the United Nations specialized agency and the Municipality of León, carried out with support from the Ministry of Tourism of the State of Guanajuato. The initiative aims to maximize the benefits of tourist activity in the city of León and promote it as a shopping destination, both within Mexico and around the world. The project focuses on several key areas, namely: attracting visitors, the creation of tourism products, the efficient use of tourism attractions and the quality of infrastructure. Alongside these, attention is also given to community involvement in tourism as well as local socio-economic wellbeing and the promotion of employment.

Around 65 interviews were conducted with actors from the tourism, commerce and design sectors, as well as with public sector and government representatives.

Two participatory workshops were then conducted to identify, create and validate proposed initiatives. As a result a total of 21 initiatives were identified, out of which 10 were selected based on different criteria, such as their contribution to the Sustainable

Developments Goals (SDGs), their impact and the timeline.

Initiatives include the development of tourism products and services such as the León Shopping Card as well as urban interventions such as the León Design districts, which involves the conversion of emblematic areas and the installation of designer ateliers, boutiques or the House of Innovation and Trends, a unique public interactive space, open to all, where local designers can interact with visitors and come up with the design trends of the future Gloria Cano de la Fuente, director general of Hospitality and Tourism of León said “Being a leading destination requires us to create a new culture of visitor service, based on the creation of innovative and value-added experiences, this is how this Shopping tourism prototype will define us” León, the capital of footwear and leather, was the selected destination because 27% of its visitors come to the city to shop, mainly for leather. With this project and the support of the UNWTO, León aims to position itself as a destination for value-added shopping tourism through innovative experiences in shopping tourism. At the same time, it aims to promote the integration of companies and individuals from different areas in the value chain of tourism and commerce in León and its surroundings (artisans, agriculture, leather, footwear, design, automotive, among others), while stimulating the creation of employment and new opportunities based on the promotion of high value-added shopping tourism and local development.

10

Emerging athletes to join elite alumni

TL Bureau, Sydney

SPORTS

LECLERC: VETTEL SHOULD NOT HAVE MADE COSTLY INTERLAGOS MOVE

TL Bureau, Abu Dhabi

a new strategic direction, in combination with enhanced governance that have created an environment to expedite the overall performance and results of PA. Layne Beachley (Surfing): As chair of Surfing Australia, Laynehas driven change whilst inspiring others as a legend of her sport. She has provided oversight across Board governance, digital and partnerships, high performance and participation/community programs.

In 2003, Layne founded the Layne Beachley Foundation to support women in pursuing their passion by providing financial and mentoring support. After 15 years and 500 life-changing scholarships distributed, the foundation announced it would be closing it’s door in June 2019. Robyn Smith (Sport Inclusion Australia): In addition to being CEO at Sport Inclusion Australia, Robyn was CEO of the 2019 Global Games Organising Committee for the successful INAS Global Games in Brisbane. The Games attracted more than 1,000 athletes and saw broadcast and corporate partners affirm their commitment to celebrating diversity and inclusion and bring a different perspective of sport to Australian audiences. The Games showcased the power of sport to break down barriers and stigmas around intellectual impairment.

Charles Leclerc said Sebastian Vettel knows he should not have made the move that resulted in the Ferrari team-mates crashing at the Brazilian Grand Prix and is not expecting a repeat.

Both drivers were unable to finish at Interlagos after they clashed with just five laps remaining.

Vettel moved across the Monegasque’s line before they reached Turn 1, causing contact between the two as they battled it out in a dramatic finale. Mattia Binotto revealed the duo had cleared the air ahead of the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi this weekend after what the Scuderia team principal described as an “unacceptable” incident. Leclerc confirmed he talked to Vettel during a visit to Maranello headquarters and the 22-year-old is eager to move on from a crash which he believes could have easily been avoided. “I was there [at Maranello] for the simulator, so on this occasion we also took the day to discuss a little bit and I’m pretty sure it won’t happen again,” Leclerc said during the drivers’ media conference on Thursday. “We called with Seb and we tried to understand both of our situations. I think Seb probably shouldn’t

The draw for the Euro 2020 finals takes place tomorrow and with two home nations already confirmed to be taking part in the competition next summer, the FCO is once again launching ‘Be on the Ball’, a campaign providing advice and information to British football fans planning to travel overseas.

‘Be on the Ball’ gives travelling supporters simple advice and information to help keep problems to a minimum and to enhance their enjoyment of the tournament.

The campaign sees the launch of the FCO’s Euro 2020 travel advice page as well as 10 top tips for travelling British fans which they can download and keep.

Julia Longbottom, Consular Director, FCO, said:

Euro 2020 will be a unique tournament with overseas matches taking place in ten cities from Dublin to Baku. We anticipate that British fans will travel in numbers to each of the host countries at different stages of the competition.

The FCO’s ‘Be on the Ball’ campaign aims to give practical advice and information for each destination. We encourage every British supporter to make arrangements early in order to avoid problems and ensure they have a safe and enjoyable visit. This includes staying up to date with our Euro 2020 travel advice and social media channels ahead of, and during the tournament.

Kevin Miles, Chief Executive of the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), said: Euro 2020 has arguably the most diverse

range of cities and venues in football tournament history, with 12 different host countries involved. That is one of many reasons for supporters to ‘Be on the Ball’ - it’s best to plan early and research whichever city you plan on visiting.

Top tips To help travelling fans ‘Be on the Ball’ the FCO has compiled the following 10 top tips: Be prepared: Check out the latest travel advice for each host country you plan to visit. Plan ahead: Book travel and accommodation in advance as demand will be high. Be aware that longer stays in Russia and Azerbaijan may require you to register your stay on arrival.

Tickets: Get your tickets from an official source. Tickets bought through unofficial channels may not be valid.

TL Bureau, Jerez de la Frontera In preparation for the 2020 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team has completed its first test of the winter at Jerez de la Frontera (ESP). The team, with riders Tom Sykes (GBR) and new addition Eugene Laverty (GBR), spent two days evaluating a host of new components for the BMW S 1000 RR on Thursday and Friday. The extensive test programme saw the team work on areas such as the chassis, electronics and ergonomics.

Sykes and Laverty enjoyed good test conditions in dry and sunny weather.

Laverty took to the track on the 2019

version of the RR on the first morning, in order to familiarise himself with the BMW Superbike. He then switched to the version for the 2020 season, complete with new components, in the afternoon.

The team will now use the information gathered by Sykes and Laverty at the

Jerez test, in order to continue the further development of the RR for the 2020 WorldSBK season. The next tests are scheduled for January, firstly at Jerez de la Frontera, then at Portimão (POR).

The opening round of the 2020 season takes place from 28th February to 1st March on Phillip Island (AUS).

Four outstanding young athletes are finalists for the Emerging Athlete of the Year award at this year’s AIS Sports Performance Awards (#ASPAs) and in line to follow in the footsteps of international basketball stars Lauren Jackson and Ben Simmons as a winner of this prestigious award.

Layne Beachley’s transformation from a world champion surfer to a leading sports administrator has seen her named as a finalist in the Award for Leadership category which recognises an individual’s broader contribution to the high performance system.

The #ASPAs are the annual celebration of Australian high performance sport and the winners will be announced at a black-tie function at The Star, Sydney, on Tuesday 10 December 2019.

Finalists for the Award for Leadership are: Lynne Anderson (Paralympics Australia): Lynne is CEO of Paralympics Australia (PA) and has led a management team that has made significant progress addressing organisational reform, including rebuilding its financial strength and consolidating its position in the sports marketplace as Australia’s peak body for disability sport. She has driven

Be On The Ball’ for Euro 2020

TL Bureau, London

BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team at Jerez de la Frontera for the first test of the winter.

have gone to the left, and he knows it.

“And I probably could have done a better job of avoiding him going to the left. So both of us have a bit of responsibility.

But I think the most important is that everything is clear with Seb now and we move forward.” Leclerc said the costly smash will not stop the colleagues from racing each other. “I think this doesn’t change – we’ll be able to race together,” he added. “Obviously Seb and myself are very competitive. We both want to win but we also need to find the right compromise. “As a team, we probably should try and be a bit less aggressive [with] each other for these things to not happen again.

CARDINALS JOSH SHAW SUSPENDED THROUGH AT LEAST THE FULL 2020 SEASON FOR BETTING ON NFL GAMES THIS SEASON TL Bureau, New York

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell today suspended JOSH SHAW of the Arizona Cardinals indefinitely through at least the conclusion of the 2020 season for betting on NFL games on multiple occasions this season. Shaw is currently on Injured Reserve.

A league investigation uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way.

Nor was there evidence suggesting any awareness by teammates, coaches or other players of his betting activity.

“The continued success of the NFL depends directly on each of us doing everything necessary to safeguard the integrity of the game and the reputations of all who participate in the league. At the core of this responsibility is the longstanding principle that betting on NFL games, or on any element of a game, puts at risk the integrity of the game, damages public confidence in the NFL, and is forbidden under all circumstances.” said Commissioner Goodell. “If you work in the NFL in any capacity, you may not bet on NFL football.” Shaw may petition for reinstatement on or after February 15, 2021. Pursuant to the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, he may appeal his suspension by filing notice within three days.

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tech/auto

Regular Chassis Checks on Trucks Prevent Expensive Repairs

TL Bureau, Friedrichshafen

Steering and suspension parts as well as dampers are tested during safety inspections and general inspections If damage becomes apparent there, an unscheduled workshop visit follows, and the downtime of the truck is extended With the help of ZF expert tips problems can be spotted before they reach critical condition The suspension and steering components of modern trucks are designed for a long operational life.

Nevertheless, the tough conditions in freight traffic can lead to wear and tear or damage. Defects in these vehicle systems are one of the most frequent reasons for truck breakdowns. ZF Aftermarket therefore recommends an exact chassis inspection shortly before the semi-annual safety inspection and the annual general inspection to prevent unscheduled repairs. There are many indications of damage to the suspension and steering components. But not all can be seen with the naked eye; some require the use of measuring and testing equipment. The first step should therefore be to clean all connecting parts with a dry cloth (without solvent). Make sure that the sealing sleeves are not damaged. Furthermore, the experts at ZF Aftermarket recommend the following test steps in order to detect any damage to the chassis: Track rods Any clearance in the thread of the tube or the adjustment sleeve suggest that

the thread could be damaged. Then the tie rod must be replaced. This also applies if the tube is damaged or deformed. When checking the clamp and the clamping screw, make sure that the screw is straight and that both the screw head and the nut are firmly seated on the clamp. Corrosion residues on the bolt, nut or clamp should not be deeper than 0.5 mm. If one of these criteria is not met, the tie rod must be replaced.

Ball joints On these parts, the mechatronics engineer should first check the sealing bellows for holes or cracks. If water and dirt have penetrated into the defective bellows, they cause increased wear and tear and rapid failure of the component.

Clamping and retaining rings must be

undamaged and should seal the sealing ring correctly against the housing and/or the bolt. A slight escape of grease at the opening of the sleeve is permitted if the sealing bellows are carefully compressed by hand to check the seal. However, if grease escapes from holes or cracks, the joint must be replaced.

The housing, shaft and end cap of the ball joint should not have corrosion marks greater than 1.0 mm deep. Particular attention should be paid to the flanged edges and the end cap walls. They exist in two different designs: Lemförder ball joints in the former joint design (cover with recess) are spring-loaded.

They may have an axial clearance of 2.0 mm, measured at the ball journal.

If the clearance is greater, the joint must be replaced. To measure the axial

clearance, the workshop expert can use a dial gauge mounted on a tripod with a magnetic base. However, the Lemförder angle joints in the new joint design (curved cover) are not preloaded with a spring, but with a molecular ring. If an axial clearance is detected manually when testing the joint, the joint must be replaced.

V-link / axle strut The first step is a visual inspection of the molecular bearing for damage, possibly followed by a manual inspection without tools. The mechatronics technician moves the axle strut or the handlebar by hand when installed. The sliding centre bushing of the V-link is susceptible to damage if the cap leaks.

The penetration of water, salt and/or dirt leads to accelerated bush wear and thus to failure. Obvious defects require replacement.

Oil leaks in the chassis suspension or driver’s cab suspension Significant traces of oil on the vibration damper can be traced back to wear on the piston rod seal, which may have been caused by very long operational life or hard use. A loss of damping force leads to reduced driving stability and tyre grip, which is why the damper must be replaced. Workshops can find the right replacement shock absorber for their application via the Sachs online catalog at aftermarket.zf.com or with the ZF Part Finder App. Another important aspect is the correct adjustment of the load balancing systems (if available).

Production anniversary for the S-Class: half a million Mercedes-Benz luxury saloons “made in Sindelfingen”

TL Bureau, Sindelfingen

The 500,000th current-generation S-Class saloon has rolled off the production line at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant. The Sindelfingen S-Class team from body-in-white, paintshop and assembly celebrated this milestone together with Michael Bauer, Head of Production at the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant and Site Manager, and the site’s Works Council Chairman, Ergun Lümali. The current model of the Mercedes-Benz flagship has been produced exclusively at the tradition-steeped site in Sindelfingen for the global market since 2013.

“Our Mercedes-Benz S-Class sets global standards - and this is also reflected in its production. The top quality of the S-Class, which rolls off the assembly line here in Sindelfingen, inspires our customers around the world. State-of-the-art Industry 4.0 solutions ensure flexible, efficient processes and support our people in their daily work”, explains Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG, Production and Supply Chain Management.

Innovative power is the major constant in S-Class production.

Many new technologies are initially tested as part of pilot projects. In 2017, for example, a Mercedes-Benz S- Class was the first vehicle to drive off the line autonomously during a pilot trial.

“In each of the 500,000 S-Class models there is a large portion of heart and soul from the entire Sindelfingen team. The many years of experience and the specialist knowledge of our employees have made a decisive contribution to this production success.

As the Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen plant, we are proud to be the centre of competence for our premium and luxury class,” says Michael Bauer.

S-Class production is characterised by manifold digital technologies: state-of-the art data transmission and the latest hardware solutions facilitate the “paperless factory”, for example. The employees find out about each vehicle’s scope of specification via a screen. Mobile devices support them in individual work steps. Every vehicle can be precisely located at all times in a virtual representation of the factory.

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Iraq: UN ‘deeply concerned’ at continued protester deaths

world

International crackdown on RAT spyware which takes total control of victims’ PCs TL Bureau, Worldwide Cities

TL Bureau, UN HQ This has led to a rising number of deaths and injuries, Mr. Guterres said in a statement – including in the southern city of Nasiriyah.

“The Secretary-General reiterates his call on the Iraqi authorities to exercise maximum restraint, protect the lives of demonstrators, respect the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, and swiftly to investigate all acts of violence,” said the statement, issued late Thursday evening. Mr. Guterres also reminded the Iraqi authorities of their obligation to protect diplomatic and consular facilities and personnel, as well as public and private property.

Echoing the UN chief’s appeal to protect

the lives of demonstrators, respect the rights to freedom of expression and assembly and investigate the violence, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on Friday that United Nations staff in Iraq had confirmed that at least 24 people had been killed and more than 210 were injured in Nasiriyah.

Others were also killed and injured in Naj af, the OHCHR spokesperson said, while the overall number of casualties verified by the UN since protests began at the beginning of October now stands at 354 dead and 8,104 injured.

“Once again, we urge the Iraqi authorities to take much firmer and more effective action to ensure security

forces do not employ excessive use of force, and in particular use of live ammunition, as they have been doing repeatedly since the protests began.

There must also be investigations and prosecutions of those responsible for unlawful killings.

Earlier on Friday, the head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said on Twitter that the increasing numbers of deaths and injuries in the country cannot be tolerated.

“The presence of spoilers, derailing peaceful protests, places Iraq on a dangerous trajectory,” warned Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, who also announced that she will be in New York Tuesday, 3 December, to brief the UN Security Council on the latest developments.

650 traffic lights resume operation In Hong Kong after situation becomes normal

TL Bureau, Hong

The Transport Department today said about 650 sets of traffic lights have resumed normal operation after months of continual repair works.

The department noted about 730 sets of traffic lights in various districts have been damaged to varying degrees since June.

It said the damage to the traffic lights in October and November was more serious than in the past. A number of controllers and components were damaged or even burnt, and the repair progress has been affected due to cables having to be replaced.

As at 4pm today, about 80 sets of traffic lights were still under urgent repair.

Relevant departments are working closely and will strive to complete the repair of about 40% of the traffic lights currently out of order within the next week, including those at major road junctions in Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long.

The department will implement temporary traffic arrangements on the affected road sections depending on the situation and actual traffic conditions. Motorists and

pedestrians are urged to be patient and pay attention to road safety when passing through the affected junctions. The

department again appeals to members of the public to stop damaging traffic lights and other road facilities.

A hacking tool that was able to give full remote control of a victim’s computer to cybercriminals has been taken down as a result of an international law enforcement operation targeting the sellers and users of the Imminent Monitor Remote Access Trojan (IM-RAT). The investigation, led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), with international activity coordinated

by Europol and Eurojust, resulted in an operation involving numerous judicial and law enforcement agencies in Europe, Colombia and Australia.

Coordinated law enforcement activity has now ended the availiblity of this tool, which was used across 124 countries and sold to more than 14 500 buyers.

IM-RAT can no longer be used by those who bought it.

Search warrants were executed in Australia and Belgium in June 2019 against the developer and one employee of IM-RAT. Subsquently, an international week of actions was carried out this November, resulting in the takedown of the Imminent Monitor infrastructure and the arrest at this stage of 13 of the most prolific users of this Remote Access Trojan (RAT). Over 430 devices were seized and forensic analysis of the large number of computers and IT equipment seized continues.

Actions were undertaken this week in the framework of this operation in the following countries: Australia, Colombia, Czechia, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. A powerful computer highjacking tool This insidious RAT, once installed undetected, gave cybercriminals free rein to the victim’s machine. The hackers were able to disable anti-virus and antimalware software, carry out commands such as recording keystrokes, steal data and passwords and watch the victims via their webcams. All that could be done without a victim’s knowledge.

This RAT was considered a dangerous threat due to its features, ease of use and low cost. Anyone with the nefarious inclination to spy on victims or steal personal data could do so for as little as US$25. Victims are believed to be in the tens of thousands, with investigators having already identified evidence of stolen personal details, passwords, private photographs, video footage and data.

Steven Wilson, Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), said: ‘We now live in a world where, for just US$25, a cybercriminal halfway across the world can, with just a click of the mouse, access your personal details or photographs of loved ones or even spy on you. The global law enforcement cooperation we have seen in this case is integral to tackling criminal groups who develop such tools. It is also important to remember that some basic steps can prevent you falling victim to such spyware: we continue to urge the public to ensure their operating systems and security software are up to date.’

Daniela Buruiana, National Member for Romania at Eurojust and Chair of its Cybercrime Team, said: ‘The cybercriminals selling and using the IMRAT affected the computers of tens of thousands of victims worldwide.

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