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US-North American Health Advocacy Groups Support Mexico in GMO Trade Dispute

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Ace Business Desk – More than a dozen North American organizations have weighed in to support Mexico in its trade dispute with the United States over Mexico’s ban on genetically modified (GM) corn, agreeing that the nation has the right to protect human health from food ingredients it considers hazardous.Β 

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published: May.01: 2024: The New Lede By Jonathan Hettinger AprilΒ 24Β 2024: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News LinkΒ https://t.me/YouMeUs2Β 

β€œThe burden of proof, so far generated for Mexico, [should] be reversed. It should be the United States that proves that there is no long-term risk to human health from the direct consumption of [genetically modified corn], in the particular case of the Mexican consumption pattern,” Mexico-based El Poder del Consumidor, a consumer rights association, wrote in comments filed earlier this month.

In the series of recent filings submitted to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement secretariat, only one group, the US-based Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) defended the United States’ position that Mexico is violating trade agreements by banning the corn for foods for human consumption. Bayer AG, which bought GMO crop developer Monsanto in 2018, is a BIO member as are other companies that make and sell GMO seeds and agrochemicals. 

The Canadian government also defended the US position. Both Canada and the US accuse Mexico of failing to base its decision on GMO corn on valid scientific research. The governments say science shows GMO corn is not a threat to human health. Mexico disagrees, and says that solid research does show risks to humans from foods made with genetically altered corn. Mexico also objects to GMO corn for environmental and cultural reasons. 

β€œThere is a basis in the Mexican legal framework that makes it necessary for the Mexican government to transition away from GM corn to protect its people,” Javier ZuΓ±iga, an attorney with Mexico-based El Poder del Consumidor, said in a webinar held on Tuesday. β€œIt guarantees the right to live in a healthy way.”

Mexico is also working to ban glyphosate, the active ingredient in Bayer’s Roundup weedkiller and other herbicides. Glyphosate is commonly used on genetically modified crops, including corn. The ban on glyphosate in Mexico was set to go into effect April 1, but was delayed indefinitely last month.

The two moves by the Mexican government are separate, though they both arise out of human health concerns. Genetically modified corn is generally altered to tolerate being sprayed with weed killers such as glyphosate and to manufacture toxins that repel pests. This results in crops often having high levels of pesticides in them.

Five of the groups commenting were from Mexico, six were from the US and three were from Canada. Many of the Mexican groups commented about the history of maize in Mexico and argued that the government is right to protect that rich cultural history and local producers. The groups say that the cultural maize leads to a more healthy diet for Mexican citizens.

Those groups supporting Mexico largely argue that there is no scientific consensus that GM foods are safe and that the Mexican government’s concerns about adverse health impacts associated with GM corn are valid. 

The US-based Center for Food Safety (CFS) commented about how Mexico is right not to trust the US regulatory system. Bill Freese, the science director for CFS, said in the webinar that US regulation of GMOs was designed by Monsanto, is not mandatory and is full of loopholes.

For example, the Food and Drug Administration has a voluntary consultation program for GMOs, through which it asks companies if their products are similar to other GM varieties and safe for human consumption. 

β€œThe whole idea is to reassure people and have a government rubber-stamp to help make people feel better about eating GMOs, not health and safety,” Freese said in the Tuesday webinar. 

In 2020, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a new rulelargely deregulating GMOs, asking companies to self-determine if their crops are exempt from regulation. So far, 79 crops have been exempted.

Freese pointed out that in Nebraska, GM corn called Enogen has contaminated non-GM white corn, and farmers are suffering huge losses because tortillas made from masa flour that has been contained with Enogen’s starch-degrading enzymes are sticky, gooey and fall apart. 

β€œWhat we have in the US is a Wild West of GMOs,” Freese said.

Freese also said that the way the United States subsidizes corn farmers makes the crops artificially cheap, which can undercut Mexico’s domestic farmers and drive them out of business. 

In contrast, BIO said in its filed comments that for decades, Mexico has regulated genetically modified food products to protect the safety of its consumers, and the reversal by the AndrΓ©s Manuel LΓ³pez Obrador administration is not based on science, but politics. 

β€œThis system functioned in a relatively predictable and science-based manner, and was protective of Mexican consumers, for over two decades,” BIO’s comments stated.

β€œFrom BIO’s perspective, the primary issue at hand is that there is no scientific justification for the Mexican government to prohibit the use of GE corn in tortillas, or, for that matter in any other food or feed product,” the group wrote in its comments.

Mexico does not currently have a framework for allowing GM crops to be grown in the country. BIO pointed out that the issue at hand is consumption of GM corn, not cultivation. 

β€œBIO member companies do not sell, nor have they ever sold, [GM] corn seed for cultivation in Mexico,” the group stated in its comments.

For Freese, he said that shows how imperialistic the US goals are. 

β€œIt’s actually the government people who are unreasonable. They insist as a matter of faith that GMOs are the greatest thing since sliced bread,” Freese said. β€œMexico is saying, we don’t want genetically engineered white corn, and that’s too much for the United States to take.”

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Australian News

Australia signs deal worth almost $1b with PsiQuantum to build world’s first ‘useful’ quantum computer

AceBusinessDesk – Australia will invest almost a billion dollars in a bid to build the world’s first commercially useful quantum computer in Brisbane.

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published:Apr.30: 2024: ABC Brisbane News: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News LinkΒ https://t.me/YouMeUs2Β 

A closeup photo of a computer chip
Quantum computers can easily bypass existing cybersecurity measures.(Supplied: UNSW)normal

The Queensland and Australian governments have set aside $470 million each in grants, loans and share purchases for the company PsiQuantum.

PsiQuantum will attempt to build the world’s first large “fault-tolerant” quantum computer, free from the errors and instabilities that render other quantum computers impractical. The company said this would be the world’s first “useful” quantum computer, capable of being used in industry, research and defence without significant errors.

A woman with short brown hair and black long-sleeved shirt sitting in a laboratory
Cathy Foley says the new quantum computer will be the most complex machine ever built. (Supplied: CSIRO)

Australia’s Chief Scientist Cathy Foley told ABC Radio Brisbane that quantum computers would soon be a part of everyone’s everyday life.

“It’s going to be the most complex machine ever built by humanity,” Dr Foley said. β€œ Quantum computing is going to revolutionise computing power because it can use different principles of physics that we previously couldn’t access,” she said. β€œ We’ll be able to solve complex problems that we just can’t do β€” even very basic ones like how to work out the best route for trucking or organising ports and even high school timetables.”

She said the Queensland government had set aside $5 million to research how quantum computing could help organise the logistics of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

PsiQuantum was co-founded by two Australian University of Queensland graduates, Jeremy O’Brien and Terry Rudolph, in America’s Silicon Valley. As part of the deal, the company will relocate to Brisbane, where it will build its warehouse-sized supercooled quantum computer. Dr Foley said the Australian scientific community was “very excited” to see Australian governments invested in developing its technology within its borders. She said Australian scientists wanted to avoid a repeat of what happened with photovoltaic cells, which were invented at the University of NSW but then exported and commercialised in China.

A man in a university hall
Professor Andrew White says the new quantum computer will harness the power of nature itself. (Supplied: University of Queensland)

University of Queensland Professor Andrew White said the first breakthroughs in quantum mechanics were made by Brisbane researchers at least 20 years ago.

Professor White said the new quantum computer will have immediate uses in industry and scientific research. But in the next 30 to 40 years, the technology will become more widely available and “change everything”, much like the personal computer did, he said.

How do they work?

Professor White says quantum computers use the principles of nature to perform many more calculations than a classical computer is capable of doing. He said quantum computers harnessed the “weird” power of quantum mechanics to solve problems that were too complex for any classical computer. β€œ In quantum mechanics, things can genuinely be in two places at once β€” we call that superposition,” Professor White said. β€œ There’s a thing called entanglement where quantum systems correlate with each other and it looks like nature’s cheating. β€œ So what we’re trying to do with quantum computers is hack nature, do the stuff that she’s doing all the time and use it to our advantage.”

A man next to flags
Ed Husic said Australian governments have previously declined to invest in technology industries, prompting them to go overseas.(ABC)

The Federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said the government did not wish to repeat the mistakes of the past by allowing this technology to go overseas.

He said Australia’s historical failures to support a local chip manufacturing industry had meant those industries had moved to Asia. 

“[PsiQuantum] left our shores because they didn’t think that we’d had an interest or a desire to back this type of technology,” Mr Husic said.

“Now these Australians want to come home to ensure that we can become a tech manufacturing powerhouse.”

Australia can be home to a “strong quantum ecosystem”, said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government wanted Australia to become a centre for quantum growth for the rest of the planet.

“We are proud to be working with the Queensland government to make visionary investments in the future of our nation,” he said.

β€œ This investment shows we are serious about building a strong quantum ecosystem here in Australia.”

PsiQuantum’s Terry Rudolph told ABC Radio Brisbane that Queensland researchers had been uncovering the physics behind quantum computing over the last 25 years.

However, Professor Rudolph said that it was only since 2015 that the practical engineering problems began to seem solvable.

He said the company was confident that Queensland had the expertise in engineering, manufacturing, science, and technology to pull it off.

There’s many problems we know that, even if we turned all the silicon in the solar system into a classical computer, we would never be able to solve those problems,” he said.

“The cool thing is for some of those same problems we know we would never solve with a classical computer, the total number of steps it’s going to take on a quantum computer is vastly less.”

Queensland Premier Steven Miles said the state should not lose another opportunity to support a burgeoning industry. 

“By being early adopting … we can ensure that industry develops here, and we’re not trying 20 or 30 years later to play catch-up,” he said. 

“This is all about adding an additional capacity to our state that will be recognised globally and draw investment to Queensland from right around the world.”

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Australian News

Bonza has entered voluntary administration. What’s happening with the flight cancellations across Australia? Here’s what we know so far?

AceBusinessDesk – Many Australians have been left stranded at airports across the country after budget airline Bonza “temporarily” suspended all flights today. The company entered voluntary administration within hours of the cancellations,Β and the administrators have since confirmed the fleet will remain grounded until Thursday, May 2. Here’s what we know so far.

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published:Apr.30: 2024: ABC Business News: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News LinkΒ https://t.me/YouMeUs2Β 

A "Flair"-branded aircraft flies through a grey sky.
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First up, what is Bonza?

Bonza Aviation was set up as a budget regional airline and its first flight took off in January 2023.

The airline aimed to target the regional routes that weren’t serviced by the larger carriers like Virgin, Qantas or, more recently, Rex Airlines. 

For example, with Bonza you were able to fly from the Sunshine Coast to Mildura without having to stop in a capital city.

The Transport Workers’ Union said there were roughly 150 Bonza workers between the Sunshine Coast and Melbourne.

Who owns Bonza?

The airline was the brainchild of Tim Jordan, who held senior commercial roles with Virgin Australia. He was the chief executive of Bonza.

A man stands on an airport runway with his hands in his pockets.
Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan said increased competition would lead to lower prices.(Supplied: Bonza)

Back in 2023, Mr Jordan he said the airline would lead to cheaperΒ ticket pricesΒ due to greater competition.

“I think in any industry anywhere in the world, additional competition is positive for downward pressure,” he said at the time.

The airline has the backing of a US investment firm called 777 Partners.

Based in Miami, the firm describes itself as “investment platform that helps bold entrepreneurs transform visions into enduring value”.777 Partners is linked to Canadian budget carrier Flair Airlines.(Supplied: Flair Airlines)

Among other things the firm owns an “ultra-low cost” airline in Canada called Flair Airlines and a minority stake in the Melbourne Victory A-League team.

What’s happening with the Bonza flight cancellations?Β 

Customers arrived at airports across Australia to learn their flights had been cancelled. 

Mr Jordan released a two-line statement just after 8am saying all services would be temporarily halted:

“Bonza has temporarily suspended services due to be operated today (Tuesday 30th April), as discussions are currently underway regarding the ongoing viability of the business.

“We apologise to our customers who are impacted by this and we’re working as quickly as possible to determine a way forward that ensures there is ongoing competition in the Australian domestic aviation market.”

Basically, Mr Jordan said he was in talks about whether the business can continue.

But within hours a notice was filed to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) stating that the company had entered voluntary administration.

This means there is an opportunity for the director or a third party to rescue Bonza, or for the company to be restructured.

The airline is yet to provide any update, but administrators Hall Chadwick released a statement late this afternoon saying that it is: “currently considering the continued trading of the company’s operations during the course of the administration period including the continuation of employment of all employees of the company”.

“The company’s fleet is currently grounded pending discussions with relevant parties and key stakeholders,” the statement reads.

“The grounding of the fleet is currently up to and including Thursday 2 May 2024, and customers with bookings during this period are advised not to travel to the airport.”

Have the cancellations come out of nowhere?

It’s not the first time the airline has cancelled flights. Roughly 1,600 customers were left in the lurch when its Darwin-Gold Coast flights were cancelled in December.

An airliner soars above a stretch of coastline.
Bonza customers have faced multiple cancellations.(Supplied: Bonza)

That cancellation was extended toΒ March this year, flights were cancelled out ofΒ Mount IsaΒ and the airline has been facing ongoing questions aboutΒ the timeliness of its arrivals.

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Aviation expert Keith Tonkin said analysts felt it was difficult for the airline to make a profit.

He says that’s because routes it took “had relatively thin margins” β€” but he says it’s not impossible to break into a market dominated by Qantas and Virgin Airlines.

“Where there’s a will there is a way,” Mr Tonkin says.

“But Bonza’s model has seemingly proven to be difficult to sustain.”

Aviation analyst Geoffrey Thomas, the editor-in-chief of the website Airline Ratings, said he understood the airline’s backers, 777 partners, had made changes to the leasing and financing of its aircraft.

He said the budget carrier may have been caught off guard.

777 Partners has been contacted for comment.

“I think that the problem of Bonza is overseas, with leasing companies, and not the local management, not the business model,” Mr Thomas said.

plane on tarmac with man walking down
The federal transport department says a hotline is being set up for Bonza customers.(ABC Sunshine Coast: Owen Jacques)

Has the government said anything?

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King says she’s looking into it. She says she’s spoken to the chief executives of Qantas and Virgin.

Catherine King standing speaking wearing a bright red blazer.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King expects Bonza to deal with its customers in a transparent fashion.(ABC News: Luke Stephenson)

β€œ Both airlines stand ready to assist stranded passengers needing to get home,” Ms King says.

The Transport Department has established a hotline for stranded passengers – 1800 069 244 β€“ that will be operating until 10pm on Monday.  Ms King says she expects Bonza to deal with its customers in a transparent fashion. β€œ My department has reached out to Bonza and our expectation is that they keep passengers informed of their options and their consumer rights,” she says.

Can I get a refund from Bonza?

Affected customers received text messages today directing them to fill in an online form, which states:

“We will be issuing you a refund for this flight and, if you no longer wish to travel on them, any other flights on the same booking reference as this cancelled flight.

“To allow us to process your refund as quickly as we can, please fill in the details below within the next 24 hours and note the form may close for responses after that time.

“Once you have completed the form, you can expect the refund to appear in your account within 21 days. The refund will be paid to the payment method you used at the time of making the booking.

“Sorry again for the inconvenience and we hope to welcome you onboard a Bonza flight in the future.”

Customers whose flights have been cancelled in the past say they have had difficulty getting refunds from Bonza.

But the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has protections in place for airline customers.

According to the ACCC, a travel service provider must give the option of a refund if it can’t provide a replacement service for a cancelled flight in a reasonable amount of time.

If you booked a now-cancelled Bonza flight using a credit or debit card online, you may be able to have that transaction reversed through your bank or financial institution, but it’s unlikely to be a speedy process.

The Transport Department’s hotline is focusing on helping stranded Bonza customers book Qantas, Virgin, or Jetstar flights.

The airlines have offered passengers stranded mid-journey today complimentary seats, where available, on flights to the airport nearest to their final planned Bonza destination.

Bonza has not responded to requests for comments.

At Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency, we value transparency and accountability. We want to inform you that we are not responsible for any external content, links, or posts. Nonetheless, we are dedicated to providing exceptional services and sincerely appreciate your support. Thank you.

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Australian News

Australia Kalbarri locals fight planned Murchison Hydrogen Renewables Project saying it will ruin ‘natural beauty’

AceBusinessDesk – As Australia and the world chase a target of net zero global emissions, a new renewable technology is at the forefront β€” green hydrogen.

Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published:Apr.30: 2024: ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt Local News: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News LinkΒ https://t.me/YouMeUs2Β 

Aerial view over rivermouth and foreshore lined with trees
Kalbarri is located on the WA coast next to where the Murchison River meets the Indian Ocean.(ABC Midwest Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis)normal

But a small, coastal town in Western Australia’s Midwest is pushing back against a planned green hydrogen production plant nearby, with some locals saying it will destroy the region’s natural beauty and serenity.

The Murchison Hydrogen Renewables Project would see the construction of large-scale facilities, as well as hundreds of wind turbines and thousands of hectares of solar panels to power them. The project would be built just north of Kalbarri, a town about six hours north of Perth, where the local economy depends on tourists who are attracted by its picturesque landscape and laid-back vibe.

What’s the catch?

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and it can be used as a fuel β€” but there is a catch. On Earth, hydrogen does not naturally exist as a pure element, meaning technology is required to isolate the hydrogen from whatever other element it is attached to. The most common way to do this is to split hydrogen from oxygen in water through a process called electrolysis, in which an electric current is passed through water, splitting the two elements and allowing them to be collected.

This process is often powered by fossil fuels and is extremely polluting.

The difference with “green hydrogen” is the electrolysis process is instead powered by renewable energy such as wind and solar, meaning there are no greenhouse gas emissions.

Untapped potential

Liam Wagner, an energy economist and associate professor in sustainable energy systems at Curtin University, says Australia is in a unique position to capitalise on the push towards green hydrogen.

Industrial factory with sunset in background.
The electrolyser facility at Gladstone, Queensland, which is the largest electrolyser manufacturing plant in Australia.(Supplied: Queensland government)

Australia has the highest incidence of solar power β€” so photons, hitting our continent β€” of any other continent,” he said.

 “And we have an enormous potential to install solar electricity generation. And one way to obviously use and store the electricity that would generate is via either hydrogen or ammonia. β€œ We could be, again, an energy superpower, we could be exporting more energy in terms of joules than we do for LNG and coal combined. β€œ The potential is absolutely enormous.”

The perfect spot?

Viewing platforms extending out over cliff face overlooking gorges and river.
The Kalbarri Skywalk, which offers unobstructed views of Murchison River gorge. Wind turbines would be visible in the background, should the Murchison Hydrogen Project go ahead.(ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Samille Mitchell)

The Murchison Green Hydrogen (MGH) backed projectΒ would see the construction of an electrolysis plant, desalination factory, an ammonia conversion plant, and marine export facilities.

More than 500 wind turbines and up to 10,000 hectares of solar panels would also be constructed to power the buildings. MGH chief executiveΒ Shohan Seneviratne said Kalbarri’s natural characteristics of wind and solar energy potential, as well as its coastal location, made it a perfect site for the project as all these attributes were essential.Β 

It has access to sea water which which will be desalinated and used in the electrolysis process, with the water also providing a means for exporting the green ammonia overseas via ship.

“The combination of these factors makes the location an ideal location for the production of green hydrogen,” Mr Seneviratne said. Construction could start mid-way through 2026, pending planning and environmental approval.

The project will be reviewed by the Western Australia Environmental Protection Authority before a recommendation is made to theΒ state government.

There are eight total submissions as part of the review process, and the project will also undergo a four-week public consultation period.

A view of the landscape from Kalbarri Skywalk showing wind turbines off in the distance.
An artist’s impression of the view from Kalbarri Skywalk showing wind turbines in the distance.(Photo: Supplied)

Community concern

However, a local group named Keep Kalbarri Beautiful is opposing the project, saying it would ruin the environment and natural beauty of the area. Wind turbines would be visible from major tourist points, and residents are concerned about the town’s water supply during the construction period.

An online petition to stop heavy industry development has garnered more than 3,000 signatures so far.

The group’s leader, Mick Mcintyre, said there was no place in the world like Kalbarri.

Keep Kalbarri Beautiful leader Mick Mcintyre wearing one of the group's t-shirts in Kalbarri near the beach.
Keep Kalbarri Beautiful leader Mick Mcintyre says the region’s beauty is unique.(Photo: Supplied)

Kalbarri has got this brand of nature that is raw and you are not going to get it anywhere else,” he said.

Mr Mcintyre said the project would take up a “massive” tract of land that is otherwise pristine coast. β€œ I’m all for green energy and all that sort of stuff and there has to be a way forward somehow, but to do it in places where you have got pristine beauty?” he said.

Rock forms a natural archway through which sweeping views of the gorge can be seen. Date unknown.
“Why would we want to destroy that in one fell swoop? It just doesn’t make sense.”Nature’s Window at Kalbarri National Park. (Supplied: DPAW)

Mr Seneviratne saidΒ MGH was working with community members, but conceded some of their concerns β€” like visible wind turbines β€” could not be avoided.

β€œ We are in the development phase of the project and in line with that, we are able to take in feedback from the community into our development and design decision-making process,” he said. β€œ Will that eliminate all of those things? That’s unlikely to happen. β€œ However, our primary aim is to ensure that community have accurate and up-to-date information about the project on which they’re basing their views.” MGH said the project would create an estimated 3,000 jobs during construction, with 450 ongoing local roles.

Striking the right balance

Dr Wagner says consultation and parties working together is the key. β€œ It’s extremely important for proponents of these types of facilities to engage with the community and to ensure that people in the community understand the benefits to them, and the benefits to the country and the rest of the world, in this case,” he said. β€œ If people, particularly the proponents, don’t engage with them, that’s why they find it difficult to accept a new industry moving in. β€œ The infrastructure, I think should be built in parallel with community development and … the proponent’s manufacturing side, and I think that there needs to be all the co-benefits built into these types of projects.”

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Ace Business News

Spain Places Ban on polluting vehicles from ‘Low Emission Zone’ in Torremolinos set to come into force: This is how it will work

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AceBusinessDesk – Although the regulation should have come into force on 1 January, by Spain’s Climate Change Law for municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, the town hall requested a six-month moratorium

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published:Apr.29: Β 2024: SUR English News By J. R. C. JosΓ© RodrΓ­guez CΓ‘mara Torremolinos: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News LinkΒ https://t.me/YouMeUs2Β 

One of the information panels placed by Torremolinos Town Hall, in this case, outside the ZBE, at the exit to BenalmΓ‘dena.Β 

The plenary council session in Torremolinos has initially approved the municipal ordinance regulating the creation and management of low emission zones (ZBE) in the town. Although this regulation, which involves restrictions on vehicle traffic, came into force on 1 January, in accordance with Spain’s new law on climate change, the local administration of the Costa del Sol town requested a six-month moratorium, with the aim of informing the population and setting up the necessary regulatory framework, without imposing fines.

In the final stretch of this grace period, what is clear is that the focus of the limitations will be, on the one hand, on vehicles that do not have an environmental badge and, on the other, on those with the eco-sticker (B) on the windscreen. The former, as a general rule, will not be allowed to enter the ZBE; the latter will be allowed if they are a resident of the area, for loading and unloading, or to enter a car park.

The councillor for traffic, Sandra Jaime, claimed during the plenary debate that the regulation includes “a fairly extensive system of exceptions to the restrictions”, which is key, for example, in allowing those registered in this area to circulate normally. The same applies to emergency, maintenance and cleaning vehicles and taxis. With regard to car parks, the area of the ZBE is accessible and also, for example, for hotel establishments. If it is not for any of these reasons, driving through the zone will be an offence between 8am and 9pm.

The zone is open to cars with 0 (electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles), ECO and C labels, whether or not they are registered in Torremolinos, municipal sources said.

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The control of traffic flow is monitored by number plate reading cameras, while vertical and horizontal signage will mark the limit of the restricted area. In order to organise all these changes, the council has set up an electronic management system, with a mobile application, information on the website, and in-person and telephone assistance, which will facilitate and speed up the request for access authorisations. In this preliminary phase, information has also been key and has been aimed, to a large extent, at facilitating the issuing of the corresponding environmental labels, which are essential in any case, unless there is express authorisation for justified reasons.

Streets Affected:

Therefore, non-compliance with the measures already announced, which will have an ordinance to back them up, will entail economic sanctions, once the trial period is over. Fines may be imposed for failure to comply with the ZBE in a section of Calle Hoyo (between Calles Eduardo Aguilera and Maestra Miret), Calle RΓ­o Aranda, Calle Eduardo Aguilera, Calle Maestra Miret, Avenida de Los Manantiales (between Plaza Picasso and Avenida Isabel Manoja), Calle RΓ­o Salazar, Calle RΓ­o Arba, Calle RΓ­o SubordΓ‘n, Calle Madre del Buen Consejo, and a section of Calle MarΓ­a Barrabino and Calle RΓ­o Mesa. The heart of this zone with traffic restrictions is the Plaza Costa del Sol.

When the mayor, Margarita del Cid, announced the future ZBE at the end of 2023, she spoke of complementary measures, such as parking in “saturated neighbourhoods”, like El Calvario or La Carihuela, and a new ordinance that regulates and concentrates loading and unloading in the early hours of the morning. The aim is none other than to reduce polluting emissions and achieve a “friendlier” town.

Information panels and consultation period

The council is holding a consultation period on the low emission zone every Wednesday until 29 May. This possibility has been offered since it came into force on 1 January. In addition, information panels have been installed throughout the municipality, and not only in the low emission zone, which will warn drivers about new developments in traffic. This intervention is part of the implementation of this traffic restricted area, co-financed with Next Generation-EU funds within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. With the initial approval of the regulatory ordinance, which was supported by the PP and IU-Podemos, with Vox voting against and PSOE abstaining, the town hall is moving towards effective compliance with the Climate Change Law, which provides for ZBEs for municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants.

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Australian News

Australias Supermarket giant Woolworths has been fined more than $1.2 million for underpaying hundreds of staff more than $1 million in long service leave entitlements.

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AceBreakingNews – Woolworths fined $1.2 million for underpaying Victorian workers’ extended service leave

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published:Apr.28: 2024: ABC Business News: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News LinkΒ https://t.me/YouMeUs2Β 

a zoomed in woolworths sign
Woolworths admits it failed to properly pay long service leave to more than a thousand Victorian workers, blaming discrepancies in its IT system.(AAP: Mick Tsikas)normal

Woolworths admitted in a Melbourne court last week that it had short-changed at least 1,227 Victorian employeesΒ up to $1.24 million due to an error in its payroll system, which went undetected for years.

Up-close shot of hands pushing trolleys.
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The underpayments ranged from a few hundred dollars to $12,000 over multiple years.

Today, Magistrate Nahrain Warda described the payroll error as a “systematic and widespread failure” by one of the nation’s largest private employers. β€œ It is gross failure on their part for not ensuring that such errors don’t exist and any irregularities are stamped out early,” Ms Warda said. β€œ It is expected that such a large corporation, that expands across all of Australia, would consequently have thorough payroll systems in place.”

Woolworths logo__18030c2add7b2052afb4efe93ca9e1bd1b035eab
The magistrate said the large number of victims was an aggravating circumstance.(ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe)

The court heard Woolworths updated its payroll system in 2014 but didn’t undertake an audit until 2020 after “red flags” emerged in 2019.

Woolworths self-reported the underpayment errors to Victoria’s Wage Inspectorate after the discrepancies were detected during the review.

In sentencing, Magistrate Warda said the large number of victims and the amount of the underpayments were “significant aggravating features” but said Woolworths had taken “proactive steps” to fix the payroll errors and had self-reported the underpayments. She fined the Woolworths Group $1,227,000 and its subsidiary Woolstar $36,000.

The company would have been fined $2.2 million if it had not pleaded guilty. The court heard Woolworths had faced a maximum penalty of more than $10 billion.The court heard Woolworths had been proactive in addressing the payroll errors.

Woolworths has agreed to pay back its workers what they are owed, plus interest.

In response to the judgement, Commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria, Robert Hortle, said Woolworths’ miscalculation of long service leave meant staff also lost out on time, not just money.

Underpayments were as much as $12,000, which, calculated using the minimum wage, is equivalent to over 500 hours or 67 days leave,” Mr Hortle said.

“It’s disappointing that Woolworths, with its significant resources, has underpaid staff to such an extent.”

Front entrance of Woolworths
Woolworths could have been fined up to $10 billion.(ABC News)

Today’s sentence should be a warning to businesses across the state, huge, well-resourced corporations. There are significant penalties for breaking long service leave laws, and the Wage Inspectorate and the court take underpayment of entitlements exceptionally seriously.” In 2019,Β Woolworths admitted it had underpaid 5,700 workers up to $300 million in unpaid wages and entitlements over a decade.

The company posted a full-year profit of $1.6 billion last year, an increase of 4.6 per cent.

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Hey there! I just came across an interesting piece of news that I thought you might want to know about. Did you know that the company behind POM juice, marketed as a healthy and sustainable drink, is among California’s top paraquat sprayers? This means that they use a highly toxic herbicide that has been linked to Parkinson’s disease and other serious health issues. It’s pretty surprising to learn that a company that claims to be sustainable is using such harmful chemicals.

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AceBusinessDesk – The Wonderful Company, which has been recognised for its sustainability initiatives and owns POM pomegranate juice, Fiji Water, and other popular brands, was among California’s top sprayers of the toxic weedkiller paraquat in 2021, according to a new analysis.

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Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published:Apr.27: 2024: The New Lede By Shannon KelleherΒ 0Β AprilΒ 18Β 2024: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News LinkΒ https://t.me/YouMeUs2Β 

The major agricultural company, which grows pistachios, almonds, and pomegranates, was California’s second largest sprayer of paraquat, which has been linked to Parkinson’s disease. Wonderful accounted for over 13% of the state’s paraquat use, applying almost 57,000 lbs to its fields, according to the analysis published Thursday by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which drew from data obtained from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and county agriculture commissioners. The company’s website states that β€œenvironmental sustainability is at the center of our work” and that the company, β€œin all its operations, must be a deeply responsible steward of the environment, and lead by example to create a sustainable future.” Wonderful has invested $400 million in sustainable agriculture, according to its website.

The Wonderful Company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Just ten farms and companies in the top agricultural state sprayed 40% of all paraquat used in California in 2021, the analysis found. The biggest paraquat user in the state was the J.G. Boswell Company, a major producer of cotton, tomatoes for paste, and seed crops, which also accounted for over 13% of California’s paraquat use that year. β€œ Folks have known about paraquat for a while…but I think it’s clear the public doesn’t fully appreciate where these pesticides are being applied and how close it is to their communities,” said Geoff Horsfield, a policy director at the Environmental Working Group who works on pesticides and other agricultural issues.

Many countries initially banned paraquat because it is incredibly lethal when ingested even in tiny amounts, said Horsfield, noting that the herbicide was widely used as aΒ method of suicideΒ in South Korea and other countries. But the primary way people are exposed to paraquat is by inhaling it; he saidβ€”farmworkers and community members whose homes border farm fields are at risk from paraquat exposure.

β€œIf you live near an almond grove, a vineyard or a cotton field, we know that especially now, given drought and weather changes, pesticide drift can be a real threat,” said Horsfield.

Latinos living in low-income California communities are disproportionately exposed to the toxic weedkiller, according to another recent EWGΒ analysis.

The analysis of California’s top paraquat sprayers comes on the heels of a bill recently introduced in the California State Assembly that, if passed, would ban paraquat in California beginning in 2026. While over 60 countries have banned paraquat, it was reapproved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2021. A recent draft reportsuggests the agency continues to conclude that the controversial herbicide is safe despite dozens of peer-reviewed studies linking it to Parkinson’s disease.

In October 2022, The New Lede, in collaboration with The Guardian, revealedΒ internal documentsΒ from the agricultural company Syngenta that exposed years of corporate efforts to cover up evidence that paraquat can cause Parkinson’s disease, as well as evidence of efforts to influence the EPA and published scientific literature.

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There are plenty of alternatives to paraquat, noted Horsfield. While the weedkiller is sprayed on some California vineyards, for example, it is banned in France and Italy – both famous for their wines.

Did you know that according to Horsfield, these products can be grown successfully in California without using paraquat? It’s incredible how we can achieve great results while being mindful of our environment!

At Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency, we value transparency and accountability. We want to inform you that we are not responsible for any external content, links, or posts. Nonetheless, we are dedicated to providing exceptional services and sincerely appreciate your support. Thank you.@acenewsservices

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Cryptocurrency Bitcoin completes ‘halving’ process, reducing rewards earned by miners

Gold coins with B on them.
The real inventor of bitcoin remains a mystery.(Reuters: Dado Ruvic/Illustration)normal

AceBusinessDesk – Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, has completed its “halving”, a phenomenon that happens roughly every four years, according to CoinGecko, a cryptocurrency data and analysis company. Bitcoin was fairly stable immediately afterwards, falling 0.47 per cent to $99,340.

Ace Press News From Cutting Room Floor: Published:Apr.25: 2024: Reuters News Agency: TELEGRAM Ace Daily News LinkΒ https://t.me/YouMeUs2Β 

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Gold coins with B on them.
The real inventor of bitcoin remains a mystery.(Reuters: Dado Ruvic/Illustration)normal

What is it?

Bitcoin enthusiasts had eagerly waited for the halving β€” a change to the cryptocurrency’s underlying technology designed to reduce the rate at which new bitcoins are released into circulation. The halving was written into bitcoin’s code at its inception by pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto. Chris Gannatti, global head of research at asset manager WisdomTree, which markets bitcoin exchange-traded funds, called the halving “one of the biggest events in crypto this year”. For some crypto fans, the halving will underscore bitcoin’s value as an increasingly scarce commodity. Nakamoto capped bitcoin’s supply at 21 million tokens. But sceptics see it as little more than a technical change talked up by speculators to inflate the virtual currency’s price.

How does it work?

The operation works by halving the rewards cryptocurrency miners receive for creating new tokens, making it more expensive for them to put new bitcoins into circulation. It follows a surge in bitcoin’s price to an all-time high of $73,803.25 in March BTC=, having spent much of 2023 slowly recovering from 2022’s dramatic plunge. On Thursday the world’s biggest cryptocurrency was trading at $99,462. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have been supported by excitement around the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision in January to approve spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds, as well as expectations that central banks will cut interest rates. Previous halvings occurred in 2012, 2016 and 2020.

No price increase expected

Some crypto fans point to price rallies that followed them as a sign that bitcoin’s next halving will boost its price, but many analysts are sceptical. β€œ We do not expect bitcoin price increases post halving as it has been already priced in,” JP Morgan analysts wrote this week. They expect bitcoin’s price to fall after the halving because it is “overbought” and venture capital funding for the crypto industry has been “subdued” this year. Financial regulators have long warned that bitcoin is a high-risk asset, with limited real-world uses, although more have begun to approve bitcoin-linked trading products. Andrew O’Neill, a crypto analyst at S&P Global, said he was “somewhat sceptical of the lessons that can be taken in terms of price prediction from previous halvings”. β€œ It’s only one factor in a multitude of factors that can drive price,” he said. Bitcoin has struggled for direction since March’s record high and fallen in the last two weeks as geopolitical tensions and expectations that central banks will keep rates higher for longer unnerved global markets.

At Sterling Publishing & Media Service Agency, we value transparency and accountability. We want to inform you that we are not responsible for any external content, links, or posts. Nonetheless, we are dedicated to providing exceptional services and sincerely appreciate your support. Thank you.

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