The Life News Australian Oct 1, 2019

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Vol. 02 Issue 15, October 01, 2019

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North Korea, Afghanistan, Canada address U.N. on last day of UNGA

UK welcomes new sanctions against Maduro regime

A week when its temperature change Action Summit featured 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg, the 74th global organization General Assembly can conclude Monday with addresses from the leaders of a dozen nations -- as well as Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and North American nation.

Monday’s speakers are the last to deal with the overall dialogue, that began Sept. 24. the ultimate session began at nine a.m. EDT. The list of countries to talk Monday were, in order: Eritrea, Sultanate Darussalam, Togo, Thailand, Burundi, Uruguay, TimorLeste, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Afghanistan, Canada, African Country.

North Korean Ambassador to the global

The UK has welcomed new EU sanctions on seven more Venezuelan officials involved in torture and human rights violations. The individuals, who are members of the security and intelligence forces, have been added to the EU’s Venezuela Sanctions Regime, taking the total number of those targeted to 25.

There remains deep concern among the international community at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Venezuela and the increasing repression of the opposition by the Maduro regime. The death of Captain Rafael Acosta Arevalo in June whilst detained

by Venezuela’s Military Counter Intelligence organisation demonstrated this deeply disturbing trend. A UN report on Human Rights in Venezuela, published in July, described the appalling scale of violations, from extrajudicial killings to grave disregard of fundamental rights under Maduro’s rule.

TL Bureau, New York/UN Hq

U.S. Targets Russian Actors Involved in Efforts to Influence U.S. Elections TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Today, the United States continues to take action in response to Russian attempts to influence U.S. democratic processes by imposing sanctions on four entities and seven individuals associated with the Internet Research Agency and its financier, Yevgeniy Prigozhin. This action increases pressure on Prigozhin by targeting his luxury assets, including three aircraft and a vessel.

Let this serve as a warning: any actors who continue to engage with these individuals, companies, aircraft, or vessel may also be subject to future sanctions. The U.S. government will continue to work to ensure that Prigozhin and others like him find no refuge or comfort as long as they carry out destabilizing activities that threaten the interests of the United States and its allies and partners.

We have been clear: We will not tolerate foreign interference in our elections.

The United States will continue to push back against malign actors who seek to subvert our democratic processes and we will not hesitate to impose further costs on Russia for its destabilizing and unacceptable activities

organization Kim Song recommended in his address the US. isn’t upholding the terms of Associate in Nursing agreement enclosed within the Singapore Summit of 2018.

“More than one year has passed,” Kim aforementioned through Associate in Nursing interpreter. “However, the relations between North Korea and also the US. have created very little progress to this point.”

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump aforementioned a second summit between he and North Korean leader Kim Erica Jong UN “could happen before long.” At the global organization Monday, Kim attributable the North Korean leader for advancing “economic construction” in Associate in Nursing “increasingly hostile situation” In his address last week, South Korean

President Moon Jae-in concerned Associate in Nursing “international peace zone” and nuclear disarming on the Korean Peninsula. Moon pledged to “guarantee the safety of North Korea” and expressed hope that capital of North Korea can do an equivalent for the South. The Afghan representative is scheduled to talk in the future when a series of terrorist attacks noncontinuous national elections. a minimum of four folks were killed and eighty dislocated in bomb and mortar attacks at polling locations. Turnout was low attributable to worry of violence. Results from the election are proclaimed in regarding 3 weeks. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was ab initio scheduled to talk for Ottawa Monday, however scandal has unsuccessful his trip to the big apple town.

TL Bureau, London

NATO Deputy Secretary General visits Berlin TL Bureau, Brussels

NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller wrapped up a two-day visit to Germany on Friday (27 September 2019).

She addressed Germany’s contributions to NATO missions and operations, and fairer burden-sharing with German members of Parliament. The meeting was arranged at the invitation of the Foreign Policy Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Groups of CDU/CSU and SPD. During her visit, she also had meetings with high level officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence.

On Thursday (26 September 2019), the Deputy Secretary General delivered a keynote address at an event hosted by RAND Europe and the German Marshall Fund of the United States entitled “Security Through Deterrence: A Need for New Vision”. Gottemoeller

discussed how changes in the security environment and new technologies can impact NATO’s defence and deterrence.

Earlier on Thursday, the Deputy Secretary General participated in a high-level roundtable discussion hosted by the German Council on Foreign Relations. The discussion focused

on strategic stability in Europe following the demise of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty due to Russia’s deployment of SSC-8 intermediate range missiles. She stressed that NATO Allies remain firmly committed to the preservation of effective arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.

4 TONNES OF COCAINE AND €2 MILLION IN CASH SEIZED BY SPANISH AUTHORITIES

TL Bureau, The Hague

A joint investigation, coordinated by Spain and involving law enforcement authorities from Colombia, France, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom and supported by Europol, led to the dismantling of the largest organised crime group in the Spanish Levante area, involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.

Operation Beautiful started in 2018 with an investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering. International

cooperation and information exchange, which Europol made possible, between the seven countries involved contributed to the success of this complex investigation.

More than €1 million found in a panic room at the ringleader’s house On 26 September, after extensive planning, the final stage of the operation took place. On the action day in Spain, more than 200 police officers carried out 13 house searches and arrested 42 individuals. The whole investigation led to the arrests of 81 individuals and

various seizures including 4 000kg of cocaine, €2 million in cash, three firearms, jewellery, precious gems, luxury watches, 42 vehicles and a 25-metre-long yacht. Properties worth €20 million and 800 bank accounts were frozen. At present, those arrested are charged with laundering over €7 million.

A well-structured and violent group The criminal group used different methods of transportation including cargo in boats, lorries, trailers and cars with hidden compartments and a clandestine laboratory.

2

Brexit (a portmanteau of “British” and “exit”) is that the regular withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the eu Union (EU).

Following a June 2016 vote, during which fifty one.9% voted to depart, the united kingdom government formally declared the country’s withdrawal in March 2017, beginning a biennial method that was because of conclude with the United Kingdom retreating on twenty nine March 2019. because the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland parliament thrice voted against the negotiated withdrawal agreement, that point in time has been extended double, and is presently thirty one October 2019. An Act of Parliament needs the govt to hunt a 3rd extension if no agreement is reached before nineteen October.

Withdrawal is advocated by Eurosceptics and opposed by pro-Europeanists, each of whom span the political spectrum. the united kingdom joined the eu Communities (EC) in 1973, with continuing membership supported in an exceedingly 1975 vote. within the Seventies and Eighties, withdrawal from the world organization was advocated chiefly by the political left, e.g. within the Labour Party’s 1983 election declaration.

From the Nineties, the eurosceptic wing of the Conservative Party grew, and junction rectifier a rebellion over commendation of the 1992 Maastricht pact that established the EU. On twenty nine March 2017, the united kingdom government invoked Article fifty of the pact on global organization, formally beginning the withdrawal.

Could known as a snap election in June 2017, that resulted in an exceedingly Conservative minority government supported by the Democratic trade unionist Party.

UK–EU withdrawal negotiations began later that month. the united kingdom negotiated to depart the EU union and single market. This resulted within the November 2018 withdrawal agreement, however the united kingdom parliament voted against

Brexit Brexit but Nothing yet till Now ratifying it 3 times.

The EU has declined a renegotiation that omits the backstop. In March 2019, the united kingdom parliament voted for could to raise the EU to delay Brexit till October.

Having did not pass her agreement, could resigned as Prime Minister in July and was succeeded by Boris Johnson. He sought-after to interchange components of the agreement and vowed to depart the EU by the new point in time, with or while not associate agreement.

Boris Johnson says he has been “a model of restraint” once it involves language round the Brexit dialogue.

The PM was defendant of dismissing abuse fears of feminine MPs as “humbug” throughout a heated Commons dialogue in the week.

Mr Johnson aforesaid there had been a “misunderstanding” over his intention - that he apologised for.But he claimed there was a “cloud of indignation” round the use of terms like “surrender” to distract from MPs’ need to frustrate Brexit.

Labour’s Angela Rayner aforesaid mister Johnson ought to be “absolutely, completely embarrassed of himself”.

The shadow education secretary aforesaid the PM had “a direct strategy to divide our country”, that she known as “really damaging”, however additional that MPs on each side of the Commons required to “dial down that language and act responsibly”.

Mr Johnson spoke to the BBC’s Saint Andrew Marr sooner than the beginning of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.

The annual gathering follows a turbulent week for the PM - facing stormy scenes in City of Westminster once a ruling by the Supreme Court that his suspension of Parliament was unlawful.

Rows later bust out over mister Johnson’s Commons conduct - which of his professional General

Geoffrey Cox - and queries are continued over his links with US bourgeois Jennifer Arcuri. But he can use the conference to do to specialise in delivering Brexit and creating funding guarantees for public services.

On the gap day, ministers have secure to pay billions on hospital comes across European nation within the next decade.

I cannot recall a additional important week in British politics. it’ll decide whether or not parliament, the law and vox populi will hold the prime minister, Boris Johnson, to account, or whether or not a replacement poison has entered public life. we’d like perpetually to recollect that GB faces no menace to its security or prosperity. It may by currently be outside the EU with in agreement terms of trade. This crisis is entirely the result of 1 man’s device to seize management of his party.

From the instant Johnson began his final climb to power, his charm has been artlessly advocate. He has discarded the core Tory tradition of commercial enterprise integrity with a welter of paying pledges and tax cuts, and plans for immigration management and toughness on crime. On Brexit, he has distorted a close to trivial “freedom to trade with the remainder of the world” with rant concerning slavery, sovereignty and nationalism. the thought that Brexit can

editorial

bring a replacement dawn of national wealth is absurd. it’s merely however Johnson became prime minister.

Currently i’m wondering if maybe Johnson’s gift could also be simply a nasty dream, a sick and costly Bullingdon brawl So far, therefore acquainted. what’s novel concerning this upheaval is that the tried disruption of political convention. This has very little to try to to with Johnson however together with his flaky aide, saint e. e. cummings, whose management over his on the face of it disoriented boss seems total. Cummings’ plan of action is brittle, dissentious and unforgiving, although its effectiveness can’t be underrated. Polls showed scant support for Johnson over his supreme court defeat, however his party remains a full thirteen points sooner than Labour.

Michael Gove has raised the prospect of Boris Johnson being toppled if he fails to strike a Brexit deal, to get replaced by “a new Labour or different prime minister”.

Asked concerning the weakening prospects for associate agreement, with an important EU summit simply seventeen days away, the cupboard workplace minister argued the EU should recognise “this method can involve compromise for everyone”.

He then added: “I can’t believe that the EU would desire a scenario wherever we tend to are frequently negotiating a deal, with a replacement Labour or different prime minister, and this method is endlessly delayed.”

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3

world

UK supports military transparency by hosting visit of 22 countries

Bahraini foreign minister meets Turkmen, This week representatives from 22 countries - including from France, Yemeni counterparts Russia and the USA – have visited military sites in the UK as part of steps TL Bureau, New York Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov on the sidelines of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs commended the growing bilateral relations in all fields.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also met Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Yemen Mohammed Abdullah Al-Hadhrami.

Shaikh Khalid expressed pride in the solid brotherly relations with the Republic of Yemen, affirming its keenness to enhance these relations in all fields

to increase transparency and to reduce the risk of misunderstanding or miscalculation regarding the UK’s military activity.

TL Bureau, London

An Army colonel delivers a presentation to an international delegation of military inspectors. The British Army has shown its transparency and commitment to international arms control agreements by hosting an international delegation of inspectors at 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Representatives – from participating states of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) – have been to 16 Air Assault Brigade in Colchester and RAF Marham in in Norfolk. The programme also included a day at RAF Lakenheath, hosted by the USA. The visitors, largely arms control experts, were given the opportunity to see front line units operating the latest equipment and platforms including air assault demonstrations and the F35 Lightning.

The visit is intended to promote mutual trust and transparency, and allows participating states to verify that there are no undeclared military capabilities or activities of concern.

Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said: We can reduce the risk of mistakes and strengthen Euro-Atlantic security by increasing military transparency. In so doing we reinforce the European security order which has benefited the UK – and kept our country safe and prosperous – for decades.

The UK is unequivocally committed to the rules based international system, of which the OSCE is an important part, and that of course means always meeting our international obligations – whether it is hosting or visiting other countries.

The UK hosts such visits every five years, in accordance with the requirements of the

GCC and ASEAN hold Talks TL Bureau, New York

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) led by Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Chairman of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) led by, Dato Erywan Yusof, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, held a session of talks on Saturday, 28 September 2019, at UN headquarters in New York, on the margins of the meetings

of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council and delegations from the GCC Member States.

The meeting issued a joint statement clarifying that the two sides discussed regional and international issues of common interest such as terrorism, violent extremism, regional conflicts, sustainable development and climate change. The statement noted that the two sides stressed the need to

strengthen joint cooperation to face common challenges, as well as strongly condemned the attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia on 14 September 2019, as it’s an attack not only on the Kingdom, but on international peace and security, and the stability of international oil markets.

The statement pointed out that the two sides are studying close relations between the GCC and ASEAN countries based on historical and cultural ties and decades of friendship between the Middle East and Southeast Asia

Missing But Not Forgotten:

Vienna Document – a political agreement between the 57 countries that make up the OSCE. The Vienna Document contains a set of confidence-building measures designed to provide assurances on military activities and facilitates dialogue between the militaries of those 57 countries. OSCE participating states are obliged to accept a number of visits and inspections by other members each year: the UK regularly conducts its own visits to military sites of fellow member states.

The OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organisation - with its genesis in the Cold War – and which includes the entirety of Europe, Russia, and North America. Representatives from the Joint Arms Control Implementation Group (JACIG) escorted the visitors throughout their time in the UK.

Houthi terrorist militia fired a ballistic missile from Sana’a Governorate using civilian facilities for launching

TL Bureau, Riyadh Spokesman of the Coalition Forces “Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen” Colonel Turki Al-Maliki stated that the Houthi militia fired a ballistic missile from Sana’a Governorate on Sunday morning 29/9/2019, using civilian facilities for the launch, but it fell afterwards in Saada Governorate, inside the Yemeni territory. Colonel Al-Malki explained that the Houthi militia continued to violate the international humanitarian law by firing ballistic missiles which fall indiscriminately on civilians and civilian facilities, directly affect housing complexes and threaten the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians inside Yemen.

Five Years After the Kidnapping of the Chibok Girls, Communities Continue to Heal TL Bureau, Abuja

At the age of 14, Hajja* and 275 of her classmates were kidnapped from her all-girls secondary boarding school in Chibok, Borno State in north-east Nigeria on 14 April 2014. Eventually she and 163 other girls were released or managed to escape, but the aftermath of the abduction left a trail of uncertainty and despair among the families of the abductees and the entire Chibok community.

Around the world, the tragedy caught the attention of prominent personalities including Michelle Obama who joined the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ movement advocating for the release of all the girls.

Five years later, little is known of the whereabouts or living conditions of the other 111 girls. Despite international efforts, their parents still wonder if their daughters are alive while other families now strive to support their rescued daughters’ return to normalcy.

According to a UNICEF report, since 2013, more than 3,500 children have been recruited and used by non-

state armed groups in north-east Nigeria, warning that the exact figures are likely to be higher. In addition to these children, in 2018, 432 children were killed and maimed, 180 were abducted and 43 girls were sexually

abused in the region, the report reads. The tragedy in Chibok prompted the start of the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programme in May 2014.

4

world

Guinea-Bissau spotlights threats of organized crime, Sahel terrorism in speech to UN Assembly

US message on Passing of Former French President Jacques Chirac TL Bureau, Washington DC

On behalf of the American people, I wish to offer my deepest condolences to the Chirac family and the people of France on the passing of former French President Jacques Chirac.

Having dedicated his life to public service, former President Chirac worked tirelessly to uphold the values and ideals that we share with France.

President Chirac studied and worked in the United States as a young man. He called the United States “a country that I love, that I admire, that I respect, and that I know rather well.” We will never forget that President Chirac was the first head of state to travel to the United States after the horrible attacks of September 11, 2001. The United States and France have stood side-by-side to promote democracy and peace around the globe, an enduring relationship that continues today.

TL Bureau, Ma’reb, Yemen

Support counter-terrorism in the Sahel Turning to the wider region, Ms. Barbosa appealed for international financing for the G5 Sahel to ensure its operational readiness.

The joint force brings together five countries – Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad – committed to combating jihadist groups in the region.

“The Sahel region is a perfect illustration of the devastating danger that terrorism poses to the world,” she said. “More than a regional threat, it affects the whole continent and may adversely impact world peace.”

Appeal for African representation in the UN Security Council Ms. Barbosa joined other speakers who advocated for greater African representation in the UN Security Council.

Currently, only five countries – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – are permanent members of the body, possessing the right to veto.

Ten countries are also appointed as nonpermanent members, serving two-year terms.

Ms. Barbosa called for the Council to be expanded so that Africa would have two permanent seats “with veto power” as well as five non-permanent seats.

Yemeni Defense Minister General Mohammed Al-Magdashi today lauded the efforts and positions of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen in assisting the Yemeni people and standing by the side of the Yemeni national army in the battle for joint interests to repulse dangers and ward off plots being designed by enemies to destroy Yemen’s security and stability as well as that of the region.

The Yemeni news agency quoted Al-Magdashi as saying while chairing a meeting of military senior officers in Ma’reb that proceeding with the battle against the Houthi militias is inevitable, adding that Yemenis would never accept any kind of retreat or revolt against the gains of the Yemeni revolution, the republic, national fundamentals and consensus.He vowed that the military institution is committed to protect the country’s security and stability, restore its legitimacy and usurped rights and continue the liberation battle against the Houthi militias and fight extremism, terrorism and subversive plots

Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla painted a grim picture of the foreign trade obstacles, banking and financial restrictions, and travel limitations which he said are part of Washington’s “steady and qualitative” increase in hostilities against Havana.

Meanwhile, he stressed that the USimposed economic, commercial and financial blockade continued to be the main obstacle to the country’s development.

With companies transporting fuel, flag States, States of registration, as well as shipping and insurance companies all being “threatened and persecuted” by the US, Cuba has been “facing severe difficulties” and forced to adopt temporary emergency measures. He rejected all such target measures, saying the US itself is “drowning in a sea of corruption, lies and immorality.”

He also denounced the country for allocating tens of millions of dollars toward political subversion and denying the First Secretary of Cuba’s Communist Party an entry visa on the basis of “gross slanders”.

The Americas Moreover, Mr. Rodríguez Parrilla pointed out that earlier this week, in its “anti-Cuban obsession”, the US

had blamed Cuba for “the failed plan to overthrow the Venezuelan Government.”

“Bilateral relations between Cuba and Venezuela are based on mutual respect and true solidarity”, he stressed, affirming his country’s support for “the legitimate Government headed by comrade Nicolas Maduro Moros”.

The Foreign Minister condemned the US for “the encouragement of coup d’etats, assassination of the country’s leaders, economic warfare and sabotage to power generation plants”. Noting that the US and a few other countries recently decided to activate the “obsolete” Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, which he said “envisages the use of the military force”, Mr. Rodríguez Parrilla criticized the “absurd decision” as jeopardizing regional peace and security while justifying interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs.

in the EU. It is also necessary to intensify cooperation between the Member States, the different EU institutions, the private sector and the civil society. The new Commission is well placed to do this,” says Thomas Blomqvist, the Minister responsible for equality issues.

Under the leadership of Finland, the Council is also preparing conclusions on the EU’s future gender equality policy and equitable economies. The Council’s conclusions are to be adopted by the Employment, Social Policy, Health and

Consumer Affairs Council in December.

Gender impacts to be part of the EU’s economic and budgetary policy According to international studies, gender equality and women’s employment contribute to sustainable economic growth.

Economic and budgetary policies should be further developed to take gender impacts into account. In practice, this would mean mainstreaming of gender perspective in different policy areas, strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation and developing investments and budgeting to support

equality objectives, for example.

Gender equality is an integral part of the EU’s fundamental values and policies.

However, the impact of the EU’s decisions on gender equality should be assessed in more detail. Examples of advances and challenges in equality in the EU are analysed in the fifth evaluation report on the implementation of the UN Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in the EU. The Beijing Platform for Action was adopted at the World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.

TL Bureau, New York/UN Hq

Although criminal gangs have used the country as a transit point for illicit drugs, she reported that recent police operations have resulted in record seizures.

“This demonstration of our Government’s political will and determination to combat this scourge has deeply affected the political structures that sustain these businesses,” she said.

“It is clear that organized crime takes advantage of the fragility of our State with respect to entrenched local interests. In this regard, it is essential that we strengthen the mechanisms that our main partners use to monitor the political process in Guinea-Bissau.”

Following legislative elections held in March, a new Government was inaugurated in July under Prime Minister Aristides Gomes.

Prior to the vote, Guinea-Bissau had been caught in a constitutional crisis which began in 2015 when President José Mário Vaz replaced the Government of Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira. As a result, there had been seven different Heads of Government.

Ms. Barbosa outlined the current administration’s priorities, which include promoting inclusive dialogue to consolidate political stability and

Yemeni Defense Minister lauds Efforts and Positions of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen

consensus around key issues such as institutional reform and revision of the Constitution.

“In addition to strengthening the democratic legitimacy of our political institutions, we intend to build the foundations for a better structured and more united society,” she said.

Guinea-Bissau will hold a Presidential election in November, and the Foreign Minister underlined the need for technical and financial assistance.

The UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) is working to ensure the smooth completion of the electoral process.

At UN, Cuba slams US ‘criminal’ practices undermining country’s development

TL Bureau, New York/UN Hq

Stronger connection needed between gender equality policy and economic policy in the EU TL Bureau, Helsinki

Finland’s objective as President of the Council of the European Union is to strengthen gender equality in the EU’s decision-making and make the links between economic issues and gender equality more visible.

“We need stronger political commitment in the EU so that gender equality can be taken forward with ambition in all EU decision-making. For this reason, a highlevel gender equality strategy is needed

5

australia

Queensland green ammonia plant could use renewable hydrogen

The dangers of monopolists without constraint

On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has today provided $1.9 million in funding to Queensland Nitrates Pty Ltd (QNP) to assess the feasibility of the construction and operation of a renewable ammonia plant at its existing facility near Moura in Central Queensland. The consortium, led

by QNP and partners Neoen and Worley, proposes to produce 20,000 tonnes per year of ammonia from 3,600 tonnes of renewable hydrogen. The new plant would provide up to 20 per cent of Queensland Nitrates’ current ammonia requirements, which is presently manufactured from natural gas.

The renewable hydrogen would also fill an ammonia production gap that QNP currently procures from third party suppliers. The aim of the study is to determine the technical and economic feasibility of producing renewable ammonia at a commercial scale, helping to further progress the commercialisation of renewable hydrogen production for both domestic and international use.

If proven feasible, QNP would produce hydrogen via electrolysis for one fifth of

The Port of Newcastle is at risk of becoming a monopolist without constraint, said ACCC Chair Rod Sims.

Mr Sims was speaking at the Australasian Transport Research Forum on the ACCC’s perspectives on a number of transport issues. Mr Sims noted the NCC’s recent recommendation to revoke the declaration of the shipping channel service at the Port of Newcastle, which has now occurred.

“A monopolist that controls this type of bottleneck infrastructure, operating without any regulation, has a clear incentive to maximise profits by raising prices even if this means reduced volumes or less use of their service,” ACCC Chair, Rod Sims said.

“It is bad for the economy when bottleneck infrastructure, at the end of a crucial value chain, is in the hands of a company with unfettered market power.”

“How is it that Australia, much more so than other countries we compare ourselves to, allows this?

TL Bureau, Canberra

its ammonia production. The electrolysers would be powered by a hybrid supply of wind, solar and stored renewable energy from facilities owned and operated by Neoen.

According to Bloomberg, over 50 per cent of deliberate hydrogen production is used for ammonia. Ammonia production accounts for 1 per cent of global emissions. Domestic and international markets for renewable hydrogen are emerging. Australia holds a competitive advantage to play a global role in the emerging hydrogen export market due to the existing expertise and infrastructure in energy export supply chains, proximity to key emerging hydrogen markets in Asia and an abundance of renewable energy resources. ARENA CEO Darren Miller said: “Companies looking at creating hydrogen via electrolysis will help establish a local economy for hydrogen and ammonia production in Australia. This is the first step in the country tapping into the huge potential of a renewable hydrogen export industry.” “ARENA is helping to create a market for hydrogen and to ensure that Australia remains at the front of this shift to renewable energy. ARENA is helping industry

Joint Australia-Indonesia maritime patrols in Timor Sea

TL Bureau, Canberra/Jakarta Australian and Indonesian maritime security and fisheries management agencies have completed Operation GANNET, a week-long joint patrol of the Timor Sea targeting illegal fishing and the movement of illicit goods.

The Australian Border Force (ABF), through Maritime Border Command (MBC), Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (BAKAMLA) and Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) each contributed assets to the air and sea patrol. MBC is a multiagency taskforce within the ABF. In support of this operation, AFMA officers were embarked on board ABF Cutter (ABFC) Cape Leveque and onboard the KKP vessel KP Orca 04 as a sea-rider for the duration of the patrol.

The operation patrolled an area of the Timor Sea in the vicinity of Jabiru Shoals, Fantome Shoal and Hibernia Reef. In this area, Australian and Indonesian surface assets patrolled both sides of the shared

maritime boundary.

ABFC Cape Leveque operated alongside BAKAMLA patrol vessel KN Pulau Nipah 321 and KKP patrol vessel KP Orca 04, with aerial support from an ABF Dash-8 aircraft, BAKAMLA Brittan Norman aircraft and KKP Beach King Air aircraft. Each aircraft had an air-rider from each from the other agencies.

The joint patrol was the second of two held this year under Operation GANNET, which is an amalgamation of previously separate civil maritime security activities conducted in the area.

Commander MBC, Rear Admiral (RADM) Lee Goddard, RAN CSC, said these joint operations complement the already strong collaboration between Australia and Indonesia and the four agencies involved. “This operation demonstrates the resolve of MBC to work closely with our international partners to enhance civil maritime security cooperation in the shared maritime domain to detect, deter and respond to illegal activities. The collaboration in planning and execution has been first class,” RADM Goddard said.

produce hydrogen at a price, quality and reliability point where it can be competitive with natural gas.”

ARENA has also recently launched new investment priorities which includes accelerating hydrogen as an alternative fuel source. Previously, ARENA has supported Toyota’s hydrogen centre at their Altona former car manufacturing plant, ATCO’s hydrogen microgrid in Western Australia, Jemena’s power-to-grid gas demonstration in western Sydney and BOC’s renewable hydrogen refuelling project at Bulwer Island.

Last year, ARENA also awarded $22.1 million to 16 hydrogen research projects. ARENA is also contributing to the National Hydrogen Strategy being led by Chief Scientist Alan Finkel. Last year ARENA commissioned a report by ACIL Allen Consulting to look into the opportunities for Australia from hydrogen exports. The report found that Australia is in a strong position to become a leading exporter of hydrogen, as global demand increases over the next decade, predicting Australia’s hydrogen export industry could be worth $1.7 billion annually to the economy and create 2,800 jobs by 2030.

TL Bureau, Canberra

Tasmania’s West Coast set for a mobile coverage boost TL Bureau, Canberra significant benefits to people living in Works have begun on the West Coast of Tasmania to improve mobile coverage in the region as part of the Federal Government’s joint project with Telstra.

The Morrison Government is contributing $790,000 towards the $5.2 million project which is increasing mobile network capacity throughout the West Coast of Tasmania.

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government, Mark Coulton, and Member for Braddon, Gavin Pearce today announced the funding agreement has been executed and the project is now underway. “This project will bring

regional communities on the Western Tasmanian Coast,” said Minister Fletcher.

“It includes a new mobile base station to Tullah and 4GX service upgrades to Rosebery, Queenstown, Savage River, Strahan, Zeehan and Waratah. This is great news as 4GX can go further than previous 4G frequencies, extending coverage for these communities.”

Telstra has commenced work on the project and expects to have the first 4GX upgrades coming online around 12 months from now.

Minister Coulton said Telstra, the West Coast Council and Waratah-Wynyard Council had worked with the Federal Government to improve service for Tasmanians and visitors to the Apple Isle.

Resources and energy exports continue to set new records TL Bureau, Canberra

Australia’s resource and energy export earnings are continuing to grow, accounting for almost 60 per cent of Australia’s total export earnings exceeding $279 billion in 2018–19, and helping deliver Australia’s first current account surplus in 44 years.

Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan said the record results were expected to continue, with the latest Resources and Energy Quarterly publication from the Office of the Chief Economist suggesting the peak for the resources sector was yet to come. “The report highlights the importance of our mining industry in supporting our overall economic growth. It directly accounted for a third of the growth in Australia’s GDP

in the year to the June quarter 2019, and resource and energy export earnings are expected to reach $282 billion in 2019– 20,” Minis ter Canavan said.

“Those record earnings are underpinned by rising export volumes of iron ore and LNG, and strong prices for iron ore and gold.

“Oil and gas extraction has been the largest contributor to mining industry value-added growth in the last few years, propelled by our rapidly growing LNG exports.”

Minister Canavan said the report flagged that as Australian LNG projects were now in production, new investment in gas production was required to maintain growth in output.

6

NZ

FMA launches managed funds guide for World Investor Week TL Bureau, Wellington

and Other Oceania

NZ On Air’s latest $12 million investment in stimulating content for tamariki robotics; Morgan Lives In A Rocket Ship TL Bureau, Wellington New Zealand tamariki have much to be excited about, with just under $12.5 million in funding confirmed for a raft of new screen and music content including a new daily kids quiz show.

NZ On Air’s latest funding round has backed new and returning shows for broadcast on TVNZ 2, and for the funded ad-free children’s platform HEIHEI. Something new to stimulate young brains is Brain Busters, to screen on weekday afternoons on TVNZ 2. The family-friendly show will pit 10-14 year olds against each other in games that will test their bodies and brains.

A live-action drama series, to be executive produced by Cliff Curtis, will be developed from the award-winning novel The Legend Of The Bone Tiki. Perennial favourite What Now also returns, as the show continues to take the fun out of the studio and to the kids, with live broadcasts from the road.

Ramping up pre-school content, factual series Code Fun will engage our youngest viewers with digital technology and

will engage with a new 3D animated series; and the charming Darwin And Newts animation series extends to a third and final season.

Meanwhile on HEIHEI there’ll be seven entirely new projects for kids to explore, and five new seasons of projects that launched this year and delighted child and parent audiences.

Among the new content is Science On Ice, showcasing the importance of NZ’s work in Antarctica; a celebration of the popular K-Pop music genre will teach kids some cool new dance moves in K-Pop Academy, and a Rautaki Māori series that investigates the science, technology, engineering and mathematics behind traditional Māori practices, in Puta Mōhio.

A member of the What Now alumni, Jason Fa’afoi, returns to screens as he pairs talented young performers with well-known musicians to write and record an original song on the ukulele, in Uke Can Do It!, and it’s ‘Scooby-Doo’ meets Māoritanga in a new animated mysteryadventure series set in early Aotearoa, in Island Of Mystery.

The FMA has published a new guide to managed funds following research suggesting more New Zealanders are considering alternative investments because of low interest rates.

An FMA survey of 195 term deposit investors last month found that 43% of them were likely to invest less in term deposits because of low interest rates. Of these, a quarter of them were considering managed funds or exchange traded funds to get better investment returns.

The findings are in line with the May 2019 results of the FMA’s annual investor confidence survey, which found 56% of New Zealanders were considering making changes to their investments in the coming year.

With this in mind, the FMA has produced a guide to managed funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) in time for World Investor Week (September 30-October 6).

FMA Investor Capability Manager Gillian Boyes said: “When interest rates fall, it’s

natural that people start to look for alternatives to term deposits. With more people expressing interest in managed funds, we’ve developed a guide to these types of investment to help people make more informed decisions.”

The new guide “Funds for Everyone” provides simple explanations of how managed funds work, including an overview of the fast-growing ETFs market. The guide is a companion to the FMA’s “Share this” guide to investing in shares released earlier this year.

Ms Boyes said it was great to see investors thinking about how to diversify their investments, but it was important to ensure they did their homework and did not chase risky, unregulated investments promising high returns.

“With more people thinking about investing for the future, we want to ensure investors have access to good quality, independent information on how different investments work and what investors should consider,” said Ms Boyes.

Deeper trade, business and government links on agenda for Fiji visit

New rules to help Construction begins on key Waikato walking and cycling link construction

Stronger business and trade links between New Zealand and Fiji will be the focus of Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker’s visit to Fiji later this week.

Fiji is an important market for New Zealand companies, with roughly $700 million in goods and services exported to Fiji last year.

“Fiji is New Zealand’s 19th largest trading partner and there is scope to further deepen the economic ties between our two countries,” David Parker said. “The visit will be an opportunity to advance issues of economic importance and to support New Zealand businesses in the Fiji market.”

Another focus will be on developing deeper links with the Fiji Government, building on the positive progress in New Zealand’s relationship with Fiji in recent years.

Walkers and cyclists in the Waikato received a boost today as Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter announced the start of construction on the first section of the 20km Cambridge to Hamilton Te Awa shared path.

Julie Anne Genter said while the path, which runs from Hamilton Gardens to Cambridge’s Avantidrome, will be an important link for the Tamahere community, it’s also significant in linking together the existing routes that will make up the full 60km Te Awa River Ride. “In addition to providing safer cycling and walking links to key facilities such as the school, shops and the church for the Tamahere community,

TL Bureau, Wellington

TL Bureau, Wellington

this final link in the Te Awa shared path will bring further recreational and tourism opportunities to communities along the mighty Waikato River.

“It’s estimated the Cambridge to Hamilton shared path may be used by up to 225 walkers and cyclists each day.”

The path will be predominantly offroad and will follow the banks of the Waikato River in places. It will also include bridges over stream gullies and boardwalks.

Funding of $7.9 million has been confirmed for the Transport Agency delivered section of the path. In total the cost of the full 20km shared path between Hamilton and Cambridge is estimated to be approximately $20 million.

Foreign Minister visits Australia and PNG TL Bureau, Wellington

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters is travelling to Australia and Papua New Guinea this week. The Minister will be Sydney to attend the regular six monthly Foreign Ministers Consultations with his counterpart Marise Payne.

“This scheduled meeting is an

important part our calendars, and is useful to maintaining the Trans-Tasman friendship. Our discussions will span a wide range of international events, and well as the bilateral relationship,” said Mr Peters. The Minister will also be visiting Port Moresby for discussions with Prime Minister Marape and Deputy Prime Minister Davis Steven.

“Refreshing links and building rapport with PNG is part of New Zealand’s ongoing Pacific Reset policy. We are also likely to discuss a range of regional issues and the PNG electrification project which we are working on,” said Mr Peters. The Minister leaves this evening and will returning to the New Zealand on 5 October.

Government backs action on regional banking

TL Bureau, Wellington

New Zealand’s largest banks will trial regional banking hubs and have agreed not to close any branches outside of main centres while the trial is under way. Finance Minister Grant Robertson says the announcement is fantastic news for people in smaller towns who have been left feeling cut off as more banking moves online.

“I hope this will provide a solution for both the banks and local communities where it may not be economical for individual banks to maintain a branch.

“I’d like to thank the banks and the

Bankers’ Association for working with the Government on this initiative which will be implemented in early 2020,” Grant Robertson says.

Minister for Regional Economic Development Shane Jones says this Government is committed to supporting the regions and the announcement is the first sign of hope for regional communities that have lost their face to face banking facilities.

“Whānau, personal and business finances require close contact with a bank and many Kiwis prefer face to face contact over online services to manage their financial matters. For many people

in regional New Zealand that choice had been taken away from them.

“I think the participating banks will be surprised by the enthusiasm with which these four communities embrace the regional banking hubs that will open next year and I am optimistic these hubs are the first of many,” Shane Jones says. The hubs will be trialled in Martinborough, Opunake, Stoke and Twizel starting early 2020.

The participating banks – Kiwibank, BNZ, TSB, ANZ, ASB and Westpac – will not close regional branches during the trial. This excludes co-located Kiwibank/ NZ Post premises.

companies TL Bureau, Wellington

New government procurement rules coming into force this week will help keep construction companies afloat by promoting better practices when awarding multi-million dollar construction projects, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Building and Construction Minister Jenny Salesa say. Phil Twyford said the “lowest price model” approach used across the sector resulted in construction companies cutting costs and under cutting each other so intensely that some projects became financially unviable. “In the worst cases, companies collapsed before construction was completed, resulting in sub-contractors not being paid. “The new rules move away from a ‘lowest price model’ to a ‘broader outcome model’ which has to take into account the financial health of the construction company, the health and safety of its workers and the environmental health of the building,” he said. The new wide-ranging Government Procurement Rules come into effect on October 1 and use the Government’s annual procurement spend to achieve better public value, by targeting ways to improve cultural, social, economic and environmental outcomes. The rules refer to new Construction Procurement Guidelines which require government departments to consider factors including skills development and training undertaken by construction companies and their subcontractors, whether there is strong governance over the project and sustainable building practices such as using sustainable materials and minimising waste. Jenny Salesa said the new guidelines help address some of the key concerns raised through the Construction Sector Accord, including a focus on the whole of life public value and reducing financial risk.

7

BUSINESS

Developing the future of flight: take part in the challenge Businesses are invited to join the workshop, find partners and apply for funding - to help revolutionise aviation as part of a £125 million challenge.

TL Bureau, London

Saul Goldblatt, Computer Vision Engineer, and Dimitris Nikolaidis, COO, of Perceptual Robotics New technologies including electrification, digital services and autonomy could revolutionise aviation.

They could help to power a new generation of flying taxis, drones delivering goods and services and small, all-electric aircraft.

The UK has played a leading role in aviation over the last 100 years and is well-placed to take advantage of a new generation of aircraft that could help to ease congestion and reduce the carbon footprint of the industry.

Individuals from businesses and research organisations with an interest in this field are invited to apply to attend a workshop to develop ideas to meet the challenges posed by future flight.

The invitation is the first phase of a £125 million government investment in the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Future Flight Challenge. It will be matched by a £175 million investment from industry.

Find out more about the Future Flight Challenge.

Demonstrate green flight and new services The aim of the Future Flight Challenge is to demonstrate innovative ways to achieve greener flight, new services and ways to travel, increased mobility,

better connectivity and reduced congestion.

Individuals applying to attend the 2-day workshop in February 2020 can come from a wide range of disciplines.

They must show how they would attempt to solve one or more of 6 problem statements: the full range of drone applications is stifled by the absence of the physical and data infrastructures needed to exploit the potential of the global market current air traffic management systems are not scalable there is a need to develop autonomy

while maintaining high levels of safety there is a need to move towards more electric flight by moving technology between urban, sub-regional vehicles and larger aircraft there is a need to develop use cases and operational frameworks for the adoption of autonomous air vehicles there is no aviation innovation or development environment that will allow real-life demonstration and evaluation of the issues presented in the first 5 problem statements The aim of the discovery workshop is to help participants form consortia that will apply for funding in future phases

of the competition.

Competition information Phase one discovery workshop the workshop will be held in Birmingham, 4-5 February 2020 no grant funding is available at this stage but costs will be covered the application process is open and closes on 13 November 2019 it is open to UK businesses and research and technology organisations a briefing event will be held on 7 October 2019 Phases 2 and 3 we expect future projects to range in size between £5 million and £20 million

Crucial final agreements signed as Tina River Hydropower Project moves closer to construction in Solomon Islands

TL Bureau, SYDNEY

A series of crucial final agreements have been signed today to bring the start of construction closer on the long-awaited Tina River Hydropower Development Project in Solomon Islands.

Key commercial agreements signed today in Sydney included the Onlending Agreement between the Tina River Hydropower project company and Solomon Islands’ Ministry of Finance & Treasury, as well as agreements related to the funding support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), who yesterday confirmed a commitment of US$30m to the project. The ADB now joins the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the Australian Government (DFAT), Green Climate Fund and the Korea-EX-IM Economic Development Cooperation Fund, all of whom, alongside World Bank Group, have all committed to supporting this key nation-building project in Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands has a near-total reliance on expensive diesel petrol for electricity generation and has among the highest electricity costs in the world – at

US$0.82/kW, almost double the average for Pacific Island countries – placing a huge burden on families, communities, businesses and government services.

Only 16 percent of Solomon Islanders have access to the country’s electricity grid.

The planned Tina River Hydropower Project, when up and running, is expected to significantly reduce the cost of electricity for Solomon Islanders. It is also expected to dramatically reduce Solomon Islands’ greenhouse gas emissions – and cut Solomon Islands’ reliance on expensive diesel petrol for energy in favor of clean, renewable sources. It is expected to shift Honiara’s grid from 3% renewable in 2017 to 68% at the time the project is commissioned; expected in 2024.

Solomon Islands Minister for Finance & Treasury, the Hon. Harry Kuma, was joined for the signing in Sydney by officials from K-water and Hyundai Engineering Company, a major shareholder in Tina Hydropower Limited, together with the World Bank and its sister organization, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – both members of the World Bank Group – and the Asian Development

Bank.

“Tina River Hydro is a project rooted in our history and with branches that will grow into our future,” said Minister Kuma. “The signing of these agreements today will further enhance the Public Private Partnership that the Solomon Islands government is adapting for the financing of the Tina River Hydro Project; the first such arrangement for infrastructure in the Solomon Islands.”

“For over 10 years, we have been supporting Solomon Islands to address one of its key development challenges – a near total reliance on diesel fuel for power. From detailed environmental and feasibility assessments, to supporting the Solomon Islands build momentum and funding support for this major nation-building project, we’re proud to have been a vital partner along this journey,” said World Bank Country Director for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, Michel Kerf. “In addition to our $20m investment in solar power and increasing electricity access across the country, we’re proud that when it is up and running, Tina River Hydropower will help Solomon Islanders access cheaper, greener power that will provide

massive benefits for education, health and daily life.”

“This is a project yielding multiple benefits for Solomon Islanders from more jobs to lower prices for power through the dramatic shift from virtually 100 percent reliance on diesel to majority renewable energy,” said IFC’s Country Manager for the Pacific, Thomas Jacobs. “With the support of Australia, New Zealand and the multidonor facility, DevCo, IFC has been proud to play a role as the government’s transaction advisor in spurring private sector investment and showing what’s possible in small island nations.”

“This transformational project will deliver clean, reliable, affordable electricity to the capital, Honiara,” said Director General of ADB’s Pacific Department, Carmela Locsin. “We look forward to working with our partners on this project which features a large capital investment, a public private partnership structure and multi-partner co-financing which together will underpin a paradigm shift in the country’s power generation.

We are pleased that ADB’s Office of Public Private Partnership will assist the government in managing the project.

8

Feature

Stanford researchers discuss changes to Endangered Species Act

America’s signature legislation for saving species faces a major overhaul. Conservation and legal experts examine likely impacts of the new rules and legal options for challenging them.

TL Bureau BY ROB JORDAN, California

On Sept. 26, the most powerful tool for protecting animals and plants in the U.S. will lose some teeth. That’s when new rules will alter the Endangered Species Act – credited with rescuing iconic creatures, such as the bald eagle and the Florida manatee – to make it easier to remove species from the list, and weaken protections for species classified one step below endangered, among other changes.

Proponents of the changes say they will bring greater transparency to the rules, and ease the regulatory burden on mining companies, oil and gas drilling outfits and others in areas where protected species live. Opponents say the changes will make it significantly harder for endangered species to recover.

A bald eagle perched on a tree branch in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.

The Endangered Species Act helped bring the bald eagle back from the brink of extinction in the continental U.S. (Image credit: pxhere.com) A number of environmental groups have filed a lawsuit to stop the changes, and several state attorneys general have done the same.

Stanford biologist Elizabeth Hadly and legal expert Michael Wara discuss likely impacts of the new rules and legal options below. Why are these revisions to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) a priority for the Trump administration?

Wara: The ESA is viewed by many rural western landowners as a significant limitation on the use of their land. Their view is that the law unfairly levies costs on them or even expropriated their property. This revision of the ESA has long been a priority for conservative Republicans in rural states – a core component of Trump’s base.

What are the major strengths and weaknesses of the act, as it was originally written?

Hadly: The Endangered Species Act, passed by bipartisan votes in both the Senate and House and put into place by Republican President Richard Nixon in 1973, is a powerful and important piece of legislation. It has balanced the needs of species against the local, regional, national and international drivers of development and

resource extraction. It is imperfect in that it puts the onus of protection onto individual species, not the ecosystems on which they depend.

However, the ESA has served to educate the public, and scientists as well, about how ecosystems work and how they can come unraveled by removal of particular species and why. Over the past 46 years, the ESA has protected more than 200 species, yet many more need its protection now, more than ever.

How will the changes affect the way that regulators make decisions about listings, delisting, reclassifications and critical habitat designations?

Wara: The final rules enact a diverse set of changes to all of the activities required by the endangered species act. In general, the rules require tighter causal links between protections and threats to the listed species. This may mean that it is harder to protect species that are imperiled by our changing climate – although precisely how this impact is incorporated into decisions remains to be seen. In addition, the changes seek to accelerate the consultation process that other federal agencies must engage in before they take actions that may jeopardize a listed species.

Hadly: The most critical changes are that regulators will now be able

to weigh the economic costs of protecting species, and that climate change will be a less important consideration. The latter will make it harder to list species that increasingly face anthropogenic threats such as degraded habitats and barriers to migration just as a changing climate forces them to seek new habitats. The revision will make it more difficult for regulators to factor in the effects of climate change on wildlife. What animals stand to lose the most from this change (e.g., birds whose migration patterns are shifting because of temperature changes)?

Hadly: Particularly salient examples include the northward movements of species such as the grizzly bear, which is moving into Arctic environments occupied by the polar bears, who cannot move further north. Or the forest species now threatened by the eradication of vast swaths of our coniferous forests in the Sierras and Rocky Mountains because of the increased reproduction and survival of pine and bark beetles made possible by warmer winters.

The revision allows regulators to factor economic assessments into species protection decisions.

Is there a precedent for that in environmental regulations? What is

the likely impact?

Wara: Regulations have long forbid consideration of cost, consistent with both the statute and its interpretation by the courts. Now, the implementing agencies will “compile” and “present” costs of a listing, but will not use these as a factor in evaluating whether to list. Courts will likely scrutinize this approach closely. The reality is that economic impacts already enter into many listing decisions, just not explicitly. A recent example is the decision not to list the Sage Grouse because of its impact on western oil and gas extraction. It remains to be seen how this change will modify the practice (as opposed to the theory) of listing under the ESA. What legal and legislative avenues might opponents of the changes pursue?

Wara: The most promising avenue for challenging the regulatory changes will be the courts. In order to prevail, the Trump administration will have to provide a reasoned basis for the changes and show that they are consistent with the underlying law. Particularly on costs, this will require a court to overrule longstanding Supreme Court precedent forbidding consideration of costs under the Endangered Species Act.

9

life and real estate

Technical Extravaganza and Mind-Blowing Theatrics to Cruise Month Debut in New Video Gamine-Themed 5-SKIES Production heralds a busy Show Onboard Sky Princess & Enchanted Princess summer season TL Bureau, Chatswood

Guests Drawn Into Virtual Reality World as the Show Comes to Life Through Technology, Acrobatics & Music in Original Production Show Princess Cruises, a cruise industry innovator in offering guests original production shows, today announced yet another new theatrical experience with the debut of 5-SKIES onboard Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess. This technologically enhanced production show features a virtual gaming world, spectacular digital effects and acrobatics, intricate sets and contemporary music for one of the cruise line’s most visually advanced shows ever. Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess guests enter the greatest virtual reality game of all-time with main character “Gamer 1” attempting to complete a series of five increasingly difficult levels, meeting different personalities along the way in an attempt to reach the highest level where the Sky Princess character resides. Performed in cadence with a contemporary song list, 5-SKIES is set amongst digital effects, spectacular acrobatics, dazzling costume designs and complex backdrops.

“Our team of creators and collaborators have once again pushed the boundaries

of theatrical entertainment design at sea and 5-SKIES will take our guests on a musical journey through a digital universe of spectacle, sight and sound,” said Denise Saviss, Princess Cruises Vice President of Entertainment Experience. “Our dedicated team is passionate about connecting new experiences to our guests and with the advance of technology and spectacular visual effects, 5-SKIES will surely wow our audiences.”

5-SKIES is scheduled to debut onboard Sky Princess November 2019.

The 5-SKIES creative team includes:

Director and Choreographer Danny Teeson – choreographed for Grammy Award-winning artists Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Paula Abdul and Brit Award winners Robbie Williams and Tom Jones, with whom he won the VH1 Best Video Award for Sex Bomb. Teeson has acted as Carrie Underwood’s creative director, conceptualising and directing her Carnival Ride Tour, ACM Awards performance and was seen on Oxygen Networks hit show Dance Your Ass Off as a resident judge. Teeson also created and choreographed the award-winning show for

Princess Cruises - Fantastic Journey which won a Themed Entertainment Association award for Outstanding Achievement.

Musical Arranger Nelson Kole – began his career on the Las Vegas strip where he accompanied headliners such as Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight and the Pips and soon became musical director/arranger for Don Rickles and Ben Vereen.

As arranger and musical director of the 2009 Academy Awards, Kole worked with Beyoncé, Hugh Jackman, Vanessa Hudgens, Zac Efron and Queen Latifah.

Scenic Designer John Iacovelli – won the Emmy Award for his production design of the A&E presentation of Peter Pan, staring Cathy Rigby, which was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival.

His television production design credits include The Old Settler, The Gin Game, Ed, Babylon and Resurrection Blvd. He’s received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle for Lifetime Achievement in Scenic Design and is a member of The Art Directors Guild. Costume Designer Jackson Lowell – has designed costumes for many celebrities and concert tours including Katy Perry, Pink, Paula Abdul, Jennifer Aniston, Cate Blanchett, Cindy Crawford, Elton John, Brad Pitt, Barbra Streisand and Usher.

TL Bureau, Sydney

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) launches its annual Cruise Month this week, heralding the start of a busy season of summer cruising in Australasian waters.

Over coming weeks CLIA and its cruise line members will mount a packed program of marketing initiatives that showcase the best that cruise has to offer Australian and New Zealand travellers.

This year’s Cruise Month will help reinforce the benefits of booking through a CLIA-accredited travel agent, telling consumers about the additional skills and education that dedicated cruise specialists have invested in.

This message will also feature in new resources available in CLIA’s Cruise Month toolkit, which offers travel agents a wealth of downloadable materials that can be used in their own marketing and social media efforts.

Taking place throughout October, Cruise Month with involve weekly themes based on ocean cruising, river cruising, luxury cruising and expedition cruising.

It will also celebrate the world’s wider cruise community as part of CLIA’s #WeAreCruise campaign, highlighting some of the many social and economic benefits that cruising brings to communities globally.

CLIA travel agents will be able to share their own #WeAreCruise stories in a competition that gives them a chance to win a seven-day Alaska cruise for two thanks to Holland America Line.

To take part, CLIA members need to create a short #WeAreCruise video that explains their inspirational or lifechanging cruise story, then post it on Facebook or Instagram during October with the hashtag #WeAreCruise, tagging @CLIAAustralasia.

World Tourism Day 2019 Celebrates “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future For All”

TL Bureau, New Delhi

Tourism’s potential to build a “better future for all” is the central message of World Tourism Day 2019, which has been officially celebrated at a high-level summit in New Delhi. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, was joined by World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili to mark the global observation day aimed at raising awareness of the tourism sector’s social, cultural and economic value and its unique contribution to the Sustainable Development Agenda.

Held as UNWTO recognizes 2019 as its year of “Employment, Skills and Jobs”, representatives of more than 100 countries came together in New Delhi to recognize and celebrate the sector’s ability to create more and better jobs, including for women, youth and minorities. At present, tourism accounts for 10% of global GDP and provides around one in 10 jobs worldwide. Given this, India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, was identified as the ideal host for World Tourism Day 2019, and the presence of Vice

President highlighted the country’s commitment to UNWTO’s mandate to guide the sector’s growth in a sustainable and responsible manner.

Opening the event, Mr Pololikashvili said: “The true potential of tourism, both as a creator of jobs and as a driver of equality and sustainable development, is only just being realized. Providing decent work opportunities and contributing to developing professional skills are at the heart of this, and so on World Tourism Day 2019, we call on nations and public and private sector stakeholders around the world to ensure the many benefits that come with rising tourist arrivals are shared as widely as possible.”

M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India, added: “India is committed to culture and tourism.

Tourism means transformation. It can benefit people and is a tool for the empowerment of communities. Progress, harmony and peace: this is our shared goal, and tourism can help us reach it.”

The opening ceremony, which saw the best of the sector recognized through the Indian National Tourism Awards, was followed by a special

workshop on Tourism Jobs of the Future, with a special focus on helping small enterprises and entrepreneurs scale-up their ideas to disrupt the sector and promote sustainability and inclusivity.

The importance of innovation was further emphasized during the World Tourism Day 2019 Plenary event. With the theme of “Maximizing Tourism’s Potential to Create More and Better Jobs”, this featured contributions from public and private sector leaders and was moderated CNN International anchor Andrew Stevens.

Also within the framework of World Tourism Day, UNWTO’s Affiliate Members – an international network comprising civil society organisations, private sector stakeholders, NGOs and academia held the “Outlook Responsible Tourism Initiative”, a workshop aimed at helping the private sector work more closely with the UN agency to enhance sustainable and responsible tourism practices.

This workshop in New Delhi was the first time UNWTO’s Affiliate Members have participated in an official World Tourism Day event, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to building closer ties with its private sector partners.

10

Sports

Difficult Sunday for the BMW Motorrad Lamborghini keep historic WorldSBK Team at Magny-Cours.

Triple Crown of Blancpain GT Series at the season

TL Bureau, Magny-Cours.

Following the podium finish for Tom Sykes (GBR) on Saturday, the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team endured a difficult Sunday at Magny-Cours (FRA).

Sykes finished eighth on his BMW S 1000 RR in both the Superpole Race and the second main race. Team-mate Markus Reiterberger (GER) came home 17th and 15th. Magny-Cours was the venue for round eleven of this season’s FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).

Sykes started the morning’s Superpole race from sixth place. As in the opening race on Saturday, he soon worked his way into fourth place. This time, however, he was unable to mix it with the frontrunners and eventually had to settle for eighth place. Consequently, Sykes started the second main race on Saturday afternoon from eighth place. He initially climbed to sixth place, but then dropped back through the field over the course of the race, eventually crossing the finish line eighth after 21 laps of racing.

Reiterberger started the Superpole race and race two from 19th place. He was 17th in the morning, before finishing 15th to score one point in the afternoon race.

The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team now travels to San Juan in Argentina, where the penultimate round of the season will take place in two weeks’ time (11th to 13th October). The finale will be held in Qatar at the end of October.

Quotes after race two at Magny-Cours.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “Sunday was disappointing for us. The set-up changes we tried out in the warm-up did not have the desired effect for Tom. We were unable to back up the performance we showed on Saturday. The track temperatures were significantly higher, even in the earlier Superpole race. After

TL Bureau, Sant’ Agata Bolognese/ Barcelona

a strong start, we fell back through the field. We also started strongly in race two, but then lost roughly a second per lap to our rivals, which meant we had no chance of challenging for a spot on the podium. We are lacking mechanical grip when accelerating in the lean position.

This becomes all the more important as soon as the track temperature starts to rise. We must now see whether we can react in time for the next races, in order to learn as much as possible and to end the season strongly.”

Shaun Muir, Team Principal BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “The Superpole race was quite difficult for all of us. Tom struggled a bit on the faster parts of the circuit. He settled into a position we had to be happy with although it was a bit disappointing after yesterday. Markus really struggled and overall it has been a difficult event for him. In the main race, Tom got a really good start and was with the front guys but sadly he could not find the confidence and performance he had yesterday. He was a second per lap slower

and finished way off the top-3 or top-4.

The whole team needs to have a look at the data and the information and try to understand why this happened. After such a great Saturday it was disappointing to take a step backwards and we need to try to rectify this for Argentina.”

Tom Sykes: “I am obviously a bit disappointed with today but we were struggling in certain areas with the bike and I really tried to ride around some of the issues. But we certainly made some progress in terms of a couple of things and feel quite confident in some areas and just need to work again now on another part of the chassis to enable us to be stronger over the distance. So it was a slightly disappointing day given the result on paper but also a day where we got a lot of information so hopefully we can build on this and move forward.

There are a couple of difficult rounds coming up for us but we keep our head down, keep trying to progress and just keep the information coming before we go into the winter break.”

Lamborghini secured an historic triple crown of Blancpain GT Series titles at the final round of the season at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, as Andrea Caldarelli and Marco Mapelli added both the Endurance Cup and Overall series titles to their World Challenge Europe triumphs.

The Orange1 FFF Racing duo took victory in the last Endurance race of the season alongside stand-in team-mate Albert Costa in the #563 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo, beating the #4 Black Falcon MercedesAMG of Maro Engel and Luca Stolz. Dubbed

by Orange 1 FFF Racing team owner Fu Sanyong as “the most important race of the season”, the Barcelona weekend began strongly for the #563 crew as International GT Open regular Costa qualified an impressive third on the grid, just onethousandth of a second behind the points leading Black Falcon.

Costa started the race and briefly held the lead after leapfrogging both the #4 and the polesitting #98 Porsche before the first corner. The #563 was however requested to hand back these two places after gaining an advantage on the grass at the start. Costa then held station in third on the other side of a lengthy safety car period, following a big crash for another Porsche on the opening lap.

All three leaders made their first stops towards the end of the first hour, with Costa handing over to Mapelli.

WBSC announces softball field of teams for Tokyo 2020 as Australia qualifies for Olympic Games

Australia joins host Japan, USA, Italy, Mexico and Canada as the qualified nations for the six-team Tokyo 2020 Olympic Softball event TL Bureau, SHANGHAI, China

The Australian Softball National Team earned a place in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, defeating host China, 9-3, in the final game of the WBSC Women’s Softball Asia/ Oceania Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020, and completed the field of teams for Tokyo 2020.

Australia joins host nation Japan; the 2018 WBSC Softball World Champions, USA; the winner of the Europe/ Africa Qualifier, Italy; and the top two teams of the Americas Qualifier, Mexico and Canada, to compete in the six-team Tokyo 2020 Olympic softball competition.

It will be the fifth time that Australia will participate in an Olympic softball event, the pinnacle of the sport.

Australia has won a softball medal in all the previous four Olympic events.

“Congratulations to the Australian National Team, Softball Australia, and the Australian National Olympic Committee for earning the right to compete in the Olympic softball event at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Finally the world knows the six partic-

ipating teams in the Olympic softball event, that promise to be the most exciting softball tournament in history,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. “I want also to congratulate the local organizing committee, who did a great job hosting this tourna-

ment.”

The qualifier in Shanghai included the top softball nations across Asia and Oceania, including Australia, China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Korea, New Zealand, Philippines and Chinese Taipei.

Softball will have the honour of kicking off next year’s Olympic Games on 22 July with special opening games at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium.

Two-time Olympic Medallist and Australian National Team Captain, Stacey Porter, said: “I waited for 12 years to return to the Olympics and it is so rewarding to be back at the Tokyo Olympics. It was not an easy path but the girls stuck in there and we worked hard to qualify. They fully deserve the slot.

“Having won a silver at the Athens Olympics and the bronze in Beijing, I am looking forward to the gold medal in Tokyo. It is not going to be easy, but we are determined to emerge tops this time around.

“I may be 38, but I am far from quitting the game. I simply love the game too much. I will be around as long as I can contribute”.

11

tech/auto

QUT students’ dream designs for social impact

Designers of the building site fence mesh, students Aella MacDonald, Allegra Nobilio, Upekha Gamage, Daniel Fisher and Nick Laxto at the Fishburners pitch night.

TL Bureau, Brisbane More than 650 students, operating in groups, were connected with six state capital community and charitable partners and tasked to return up with style ideas to support them and their add a variety of areas, from fundraising to service delivery.

“It’s a social entrepreneurship program to showcase however style are often wont to build a positive social impact through providing real-word solutions,” same faculty of style educational program Director Dean Brough.

“Designers ought to be ready to communicate with purchasers, to be sympathetic to their wants, and perceive the briefs that they’re provided, therefore it’s conjointly concerning militarisation students right from the beginning of their degrees with those skills, and conjointly different skills, like cooperation.

“We were excited to partner with such terrific state capital community teams that embraced the project, and one amongst the adscititious bonuses has been students expressing interest in changing into volunteers for the organisations.”

The community partners were TradeMutt (men’s mental health), Red Frogs Australia (supporting and safeguarding young people), youngsters Helpline (phone counselling), third area (homeless support), Multicap (high-needs incapacity support), and A Brave Life (helping young and young mothers).

With the scholars from all of the college of Design’s study areas – design, interior design, architecture, fashion, communication, industrial style and interaction design – their inventive solutions were numerous. ideas enclosed apps, games, promotional merchandise, moveable structures made of canvas and

shipping containers, a solar-powered phone charging station, interactive donation and academic billboards, and ideas for face-to-face workshops and online coaching modules.

From 124 ideas given, the community partners selected twenty three to be pitched to them once more at a night event at Fishburners start-up hub in Brisbane’s CBD. TradeMutt founders, carpenters Dan Allen and male erecticle dysfunction Ross, same they were blown away by the students’ initiatives to assist them get a lot of men, notably tradies, to open up concerning mental state.

They started TradeMutt once an in depth mate of Dan’s took his own life in 2015.

Profits from the colorful, attention-

grabbing workwear they manufacture visit support mental state and suicide bar programs. Students broached into the TradeMutt vogue and came up with promotional collateral, from coasters and a tradie esky to a conveyable canvas MuttHut to use at events, and fence mesh to wrap around building sites (pictured).

They conjointly advised apps for creating social connections, and adding mandatory on-line mental state coaching for construction staff as a part of the protection white card.

“Our transient to the scholars was pretty broad,” Dan said. “How will we have a tendency to extend our work, begin a lot of conversations, and build a lot of of a bearing within the mental state area we have a tendency to are in?

12

world

Guterres welcomes conduct of Afghan elections, commends ‘all who braved security concerns to uphold their right to vote’ TL Bureau, New York

“[The Secretary-General] congratulates them on their commitment to selecting their leaders through the ballot box,” according to a statement issue by a UN spokesperson on Sunday.

The UN chief encouraged all stakeholders to enable the electoral institutions to exercise their responsibilities in full, “including by addressing any complaints through the appropriate channels and procedures.”

In a similar vein, as the polls closed on Saturday, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) tweeted: “Patience and level-headedness now required for Afghanistan electoral bodies necessary time to conduct their work counting votes, reviewing complaints and announcing results. Parties must

Radical protests took place in various districts on Hong Kong Island yesterday (September 29). A large number of violent protestors participated in unlawful assemblies on Hong Kong Island, in which they blocked roads illegally, hurled petrol bombs at police officers and set fire at multiple locations. Police strongly condemn such continued violent acts which seriously threatened the safety of Police officers and other members of the public.

Some people earlier called on protestors on the Internet to participate in an unauthorized public possession on the Hong Kong Island yesterday. Without complying with the law by notifying the Police, a large number of protestors gathered illegally in Causeway Bay, blocking Hennessy Road, East Point Road, Great George Street and Yee Wo Street starting from around 1pm yesterday.

Later on, radical protestors escalated their violence. Starting from around

TL Bureau, Jeddah

A fire at the roof of Al-Haramain train station in Sulaimaniyah neighborhood in Jeddah on Sunday was brought fully under control. Eleven injured people were taken to hospitals, where some cases were treated and 8 cases remained under medical care.

Investigations are underway to find out the fire’s causes.

TL Bureau, Hong Kong

meet their obligations, respecting codes of conduct and helping ensure stability in period ahead.

“UNAMA commends all voters who cast their ballots … and all the Afghan

actors who helped make it possible. The mission condemns those who resorted to intimidation and violence to try and derail democracy,” the mission said earlier on Twitter.

Police strongly condemn continued violent protests TL Bureau, Hong Kong

Fire at Al-Haramain Train Station in Jeddah under control

3pm, radical protestors blocked roads and committed destructive acts extensively in Admiralty and Wan Chai, and charged Police cordon lines.

Radical protestors vandalised facilities at various MTR stations. They set fires at the entrances and exits of Causeway Bay and Wan Chai MTR Stations and nearby streets. They also set fire on banners and miscellaneous objects on Queenway, threw hard objects at police vehicles and Government buildings, and hurled numerous petrol bombs at police officers. Having given repeated warnings but in vain, officers conducted dispersal operations with appropriate force, including tear gases, rubber bullets, bean bag rounds and 40mm react rounds. The specialised crowd management vehicle was deployed to stop the violent acts of the protestors. At about 5.30pm, while executing duties near Wan Chai MTR Station, some police officers were surrounded and attacked by a large group of violent protestors. With their lives under serious threat, an officer

fired one warning shot into the sky to protect their own safety.

Radical protestors continued to gather in the vicinity of Causeway Bay at night. A number of dispute, assault and fighting incidents ensued after people expressed different views. As a result, a number of people were assaulted causing serious injuries.

At night, many protestors gathered outside Mong Kok Police Station and hurled petrol bombs at the police station. After giving warnings, police used appropriate force to stop the acts.

Radical protestors set fire at nearby streets afterwards. Therefore, police conducted dispersal operation.

In the past months, radical protestors escalated their violent acts and their illegal acts have no regard to the laws of Hong Kong. Police reiterate that no violent acts will be tolerated. Police strongly condemn radical protestors for their violent acts. Police will continue to take resolute enforcement action so as to safeguard the city’s public safety and bring all lawbreakers to justice.

Multiple protesters assembled and blocked the roads in Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Admiralty today, paralysing traffic in various districts and seriously affecting people’s lives. A number of radical protesters had gone on a rampage since the afternoon, vandalising numerous public property and the facilities of several MTR stations. They set fires at various places, which were fierce at one point, and hurled petrol bombs on the streets as well as into a MTR station and at the Mong Kok police station, posing a grave threat to police officers, MTR staff and members of the public at the scene. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government severely condemns the radical protesters who completely disregard law and order and whose acts seriously undermine social order. The police will continue to take law enforcement actions resolutely to protect the safety of members of the public and restore public order.

FSO - Record number of lists, affiliations and partial lists for the 2019 National Council elections

TL Bureau, Neuchâtel A total of 511 lists have been registered in the cantons with a proportional system in preparation for the 2019 National council elections. This is 21% more than four years ago. There are still many lists grouping candidates by age, and those of older people have almost doubled since the previous elections. These are some of the results of the latest publication from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

PNG special envoy At UN, Yemen Foreign Minister demands appointed in Australia end to ‘Iranian-Houthi coup d’etat’ TL Bureau, Brisbane.

TL Bureau, New York/UN Hq

Renowned educationist, philanthropist, and businessman, Dr. Bernard Malik, has been appointed as the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Trade, Investment, and Education.

The office of the PNG PM, Hon James Marape, made the appointment on September 17, saying it was in recognition of Dr. Malik’s longstanding relationship with PNG and his strong interest in promoting trade, investment, and education in the country.

In his appointment letter, Mr. Marape said: “My Government is endeavoring to attract genuine private investors to partner in developing Papua New Guinea and you have shown interest

“My heart is full of sorrow” considering the ongoing crisis in his country. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Hadhrami, Minister for Foreign Affairs, told the General Assembly.

Yemen had a long proud history as a cradle of Arab civilization, but in just a few years, it had been all but destroyed.

“My country has been deeply wounded by sectarians and terrorists trying to achieve their own ends,” he said, adding that the Houthi militias, supported by Iran, have proved to be “capable of untold destruction.”

Condemning Iran as “the main sponsor of terrorism throughout the world,” Mr. Al-Hadhrami said Tehran’s “expansionist agenda” led it to wage proxy wars through militias like the Houthis “who have destroyed everything that was

in this area.”

Dr Malik said he was honoured by the appointment and would be soon holding investment seminars around the world to promote PNG as an attractive business and investment destination.

Dr. Malik, who is also known as Reverend Malik, is a pathbreaking innovator in the field of education and a warrior for noble causes. After a successful career in the United States of America, Dr. Malik moved to Australia in 2009.

beautiful in my country: homes, places of worship, hospitals, and [they have] asphyxiated all forms of descent.” “In just a few years [militias] had been able to destroy all the dreams of Yemen and its people,” he said, demanding an end to the “Iranian-Houthi coup d’etat in Yemen.” Denouncing Iran as a “rogue State that does not respect international law” or its obligations as a UN Member State, he said Iran and its “military

arms in the Arab region, including Houthis and Hezbollah, pose a serious threat to our national security.”

Yet, he said that despite the difficulties, and the sacrifices of the Yemeni armed forces, Yemen had been able to put up a resistance to the Iran-backed threat, thanks largely to Saudi Arabia “a fraternal Kingdom” that had helped Yemen to contain the untold violence of the militias.

Saudi Arabia’s support; UN push for peace The Yemeni Government, Mr. AlHadrami continued, has endeavored to improve the economic situation and jumpstart development, with the implementation of an economic strategy. Indeed, it was sparing no effort to alleviate the suffering of all its people, who were “facing a humanitarian disaster on a daily basis.”