This is our daily list of posts on @acenewsservices that are shared across Twitter, Facebook & Tumblr and Shared here on My.Daz.blog

‘Todays selection of posts from across our publishing panel, Twitter & Telegram with Kindness & Love’ 

February, 24, 2021:

• (TOKYO, Japan.) USCG REPORT: Ships of the Coast Guard concluded a joint law-enforcement exercise Sunday with the Japanese in the Philippine Sea, furthering interoperability in performing law-enforcement missions #AceNewsDesk report23/02/2021#AceNewsReport – Feb.23: This weekend, ships from the U.S. Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard conducted exercises near the Ogasawara Islands of Japan. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball and Japan Coast Guard Ship Akitsushima, two of the respective services’ newest and most capable vessels, operated alongside helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles to practice interdicting […]
• (NEWCASTLE, U.K.) Crown Court Appeal Report: Three men, members of the same family, have had their sentences increased following an intervention by the Solicitor General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP #AceNewsDesk report23/02/2021#AceNewsReport – Feb.23: Their sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme: On 23 February 2021, in a joint hearing at the Court of Appeal, their sentences were each found to be unduly lenient and increased to 9 years’ imprisonment: ‘Three Newcastle men David […]
• (MALTA) Court Report: Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Case: One of three men accused of assassinating investigative journalist in 2017 has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty #AceNewsDesk report23/02/2021#AceNewsReport – Feb.23: Vincent Muscat admitted involvement on Tuesday in the car bombing that killed the reporter: Many suspect it was ordered by top Malta establishment figures: Called a “one-woman Wikileaks”, Caruana Galizia uncovered networks of corruption in the country and abroad: Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Case: ‘Suspect pleads guilty: Muscat changed his plea on […]
• (WASHINGTON) JW REPORT: Professor charged with stealing $1.75-million in ‘Research Grants’ according to a ‘criminal indictment’ reported in ‘ Corruption Chronicles’ blog #AceNewsDesk report23/02/2021#AceNewsReport – Feb.23: Communist China has long benefitted from American-funded research stolen by Chinese academics who infiltrate colleges throughout the United States: ‘Professor Charged with Stealing $1.75 Million in Research for China: A recent criminal indictment, reported in our Corruption Chronicles blog, illustrates how this theft is too often enabled with your tax dollars’ ‘Judicial […]
• (DENVER, Colo.) Boeing777 Report: Operated by United Airlines had to make an emergency landing at the weekend after one of its engines blew apart #AceNewsDesk report23/02/2021#AceNewsReport – Feb.23: The explosion resulted in huge chunks of wreckage crashing down across suburban neighbourhoods: Passengers captured video of the crippled engine, wobbling and still on fire, as pilots made a safe return to the airport minutes after the plane bound for Hawaii took off: Now the investigation into the explosion is focusing on […]
• (WASHINGTON) Justice Dept Report: Operation Rock Bottom and Operation Borinquen Chisel: Sentence a former owner of ‘Aquarium Business’ sentenced for illicit trafficking of protected reef creatures during 2013 – 2016 to a year and a day in prison #AceNewsDesk report23/02/2021#AceNewsReport – Feb.23: In 2013 through 2016, Aristides Sanchez, of Arecibo, was the owner of the Arecibo-based saltwater aquarium business, Wonders of the Reef Aquarium. A large part of the business was devoted to the sale of native Puerto Rican marine species that are popular in the saltwater aquarium trade: ‘The Justice Department announced today […]
• (AURORA, Colo.) Aurora PD Elijah McClain Report: Independent investigation into the death in 2019 and have released a 157-page-document #AceNewsDesk report23/02/2021#AceNewsReport – Feb.23: An independent investigation into the death of Elijah McClain recommends major changes to how the Aurora Police Department handles use of force cases. The report released Monday morning does not, however, provide a recommendation about whether the two of the officers who were involved in the arrest should lose their jobs: Independent […]
• (VIRGINIA) JUST IN: The wife of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, leader of a Mexican drug trafficking organization known as the ‘Sinaloa Cartel’ ,was arrested today in Virginia on charges related to her alleged involvement in international drug trafficking #AceNewsDesk report23/02/2021#AceNewsReport – Feb.23: Emma Coronel Aispuro, 31, a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen, of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, was arrested today at Dulles International Airport. She is scheduled to make her initial appearance in federal court tomorrow in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia via video conference: Wife of “El Chapo” Arrested on International Drug […]
• (CAPE TOWN, S.A.) JUST IN: Leading Rwandan opposition politician Seif Bamporiki has been shot dead in the Rwandan country where he lived in exile for all those years #AceNewsDesk report22/02/2021#AceNewsReport – Feb.22: Preliminary investigations showed he had been killed in a robbery, police said. But Mr Bamporiki’s party, the Rwansa National Congress (RNC), said the motive was still unclear. ‘Rwandan Seif Bamporiki killed in South Africa: Mr Bamporiki was pulled from his vehicle in a township in Cape Town before being killed, police said’ […]
• (VIRGINIA) NASA Report: Cargo Launches on 15th Northrop Grumman resupply spacecraft is on route to the ‘International Space Station’ with approx 8,000-pounds of cargo after launching on Saturday around 12:36pm #AceNewsDesk report22/02/2021#AceNewsReport – Feb.22: A Northrop Grumman Cygnus resupply spacecraft is en route to the International Space Station with approximately 8,000 pounds of science investigations and cargo after launching at 12:36 p.m. EST Saturday from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. About three hours after launch, the spacecraft’s solar arrays successfully deployed to collect sunlight to […]

Posts being added daily to see the latest please click this link here:

#AceNewsDesk report ………Published: Feb.24: 2021:

Editor says #AceNewsDesk reports by https://t.me/acenewsdaily and all our posts, also links can be found at here for Twitter and Live Feeds https://acenewsroom.wordpress.com/ and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and free help and guidance tips on your PC software or need help & guidance from our experts AcePCHelp.WordPress.Com

#AceNewsReport – Feb.24: The UK and Australia share future ambitions for space and have similar plans to increase the size and job creation potential of the sector:

‘Space Bridge’ across the world will help UK and Australia get ahead in global space race and the world’s first Space Bridge will unlock improved access to trade, investment and academic research opportunities, better advice to businesses and innovative bilateral collaborations’

UK Space Agency

‘This agreement will further develop the longstanding relationship between the two countries which dates back to the 1970s when the Prospero satellite built in Farnborough, UK, launched from Woomera, South Australia’ hand in hand across space with Kindness & Love’ 🇦🇺 & 🇬🇧

The arrangement enhances cooperation between the UK Space Agency, UK Department for International Trade, Australian Trade & Investment Commission, and the Australian Space Agency, coordinating opportunities for the UK and Australian governments and companies to work on space-related activities, including sharing Earth Observation data to collaborating on robotic and artificial intelligence.

UK Science Minister Amanda Solloway said:

The signing of today’s Space Bridge partnership, a world’s first, with one of our closet international allies, is another step forward in our ambition for the UK to become a globally-competitive space power.

The bond will allow our most innovative space businesses and universities to collaborate and share best practice more effectively than ever. I’m excited to see how this partnership will unlock new space jobs in both countries while driving forward new ideas that could enrich all of our lives.

Minister for Exports, Graham Stuart MP said:

Space exports hit £5.5 billion in 2017 and it is this international demand for our space goods and services which is driving the development of the UK’s vibrant and innovative space industry.

Like the UK, Australia recognises the enormous potential of space science and recognises that closer partnership and alignment between our two sectors can boost progress and jobs in both countries. I believe that UK exports to Australia could grow by £900 million as a result of a Free-Trade Agreement and the Space Bridge programme can play a critical role in space contributing to this growth, and further strengthening our UK-Australia relationship.

The UK boasts strong Foreign Direct Investment levels into its space sector and the Australian space sector reports a strong appetite to expand operations into the UK. Leaders for Australia and UK’s space agencies recognise the importance of stronger space ties between both countries, as the UK ramps up plans to become a leading global player in space.

The announcement comes as the UK and Australia begin the fourth round of negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement this week. We have already made good progress in several chapter areas including digital, telecommunications, customs, rules of origin, and procurement in previous rounds.

Australia is influential in the Indo-Pacific and a Free-Trade Agreement will help us pivot towards this dynamic area of the world. This will help diversify our trade, make our supply chains more resilient, and make the UK less vulnerable to political and economic shocks.

Dr Graham Turnock, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Space Agency, said:

As the UK extends its ambitions in space, it’s only right that we forge new and stronger alliances with new and existing partners all across the globe. 

This agreement has the potential to unleash innovation, promote knowledge exchange and build relationships that will help both the UK and Australia maximise the vast economic and scientific potential that the space sector offers. It will help create better opportunities and greater security for people in both nations.

Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency.

The Space Bridge Framework Arrangement will help propel the Australian civil space industry into its next phase of growth, opening doors to build local capability, as well as significantly boost our collaboration with the UK Space Agency.

The space sector is one of the fastest-growing UK sectors with 30,000 new jobs expected by 2030. The Australian space sector is also growing with up to 20,000 new Australian jobs expected by 2030.

The Space Bridge Framework Arrangement was signed on Tuesday, 23 February 2021 at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Canberra, Australia, and at Westminster, in London, United Kingdom.

The arrangement was signed by the Australian Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews, UK Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Amanda Solloway, in the presence of British High Commissioner to Australia Vicki Treadell CMG MVO, High Commissioner to the UK The Hon George Brandis QC, Australian Space Agency Head Enrico Palermo, UK Space Agency Chief Executive Officer Dr Graham Turnock, UK Space Agency International Director Alice Bunn, Chair of UKSpace Nick Shave and Space Industry Association of Australia Chief Executive Officer James Brown, who joined the signing virtually.

#AceNewsDesk report ………Published: Feb.24: 2021:

Editor says #AceNewsDesk reports by https://t.me/acenewsdaily and all our posts, also links can be found at here for Twitter and Live Feeds https://acenewsroom.wordpress.com/ and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and free help and guidance tips on your PC software or need help & guidance from our experts AcePCHelp.WordPress.Com

#AceNewsReport – Feb.24: The outbreak continues to heavily impact the fishing and aquaculture industries in the Moreton Bay and Logan River area because the virus continues to be detected in the wild and strict biosecurity measures remain in place:

‘Local industries outraged over the potential lasting impact of ‘dodgy’ Chinese importers who violated biosecurity laws’

White spot is harmless to humans but deadly for prawns, crabs and crayfish, and an outbreak of white spot disease in 2016 devastated prawn farms in south-east Queensland, causing an estimated $50 million in production and associated losses.

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EB Ocean’s shipment was months before the outbreak and the infected product was re-exported out of Australia, but those in the aquaculture and fishing industries are outraged by this close call.

They say anyone who is not careful about white spot are “dodgy operators” who deserve a jail term as white spot threatens their livelihoods.

“It’s a disgrace, it could ruin the livelihood of an entire seafood industry,” said Matt Poile from bait company Tweed Bait.

Company under investigation in 2017

7.30 first revealed the company — then called Sino Dilin — was under investigation in January 2017 when then-agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce accused it of swapping prawns to pass inspections, comparing the conduct to sports drug cheats swapping urine to pass drug tests.

“There’s a strong case that people have been swapping prawns,” Mr Joyce told 7.30.

“If they’ve done it, it’s a criminal event and we’ll nail them.” 

Secret inspection undertaken

Through court documents and a freedom of information application which included obtaining photo and CCTV video evidence, 7.30 can reveal details about the prosecution of EB Ocean.

According to the prosecution, a secret inspection by Border Force and officers from the Department of Agriculture took place at the Container Examination Facility after the prawn shipment arrived in Melbourne.

Officers took photos and samples of raw prawns, which later tested positive for white spot.

Shortly afterwards, the prawns were delivered to EB Ocean’s warehouse in Brooklyn in Melbourne’s western suburbs and biosecurity officers turned up to inspect the shipment again.

The company gave them prawns in different boxes to the ones photographed at the secret inspection.

These new prawns would test negative and were kept in white cartons with no branding.

Labels from the original shipment had been put on them which officers claim was to make it appear as though they were the correct prawns.

Two days later, inspectors came back demanding to see the correct prawns — and that’s when the excuses made by the company started.

Attempts to hinder inspectors 

First, the company said the cartons had fallen and could not be accessed.

Then, the power and lights went out and an electric freezer door stopped working, so a technician was called.

Court documents reveal that company director Jack Zhang was seen by officers driving a forklift to move cartons between freezers until they told him to stop.

When a service technician arrived to fix the freezer door, he was allegedly told not to fix it, which, according to the court documents, prompted the technician to ask whether the freezer contained “dead bodies or something?”

It took seven and a half hours for inspectors to finally access all the prawns from the shipment.

$80,000 fine ‘unacceptable’

EB Ocean pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching the Biosecurity Act for hindering the inspection and storing prawns outside a biosecurity area, and was convicted and fined $80,000 in the County Court of Victoria on the 11th of December 2019.

But for the industries that face the potential cost of another outbreak, that fine is not enough.

“I think it’s unacceptable, really,” said prawn farmer Dan Rossman, who found white spot in his ponds in 2016 and again last year.

“$80,000, that’s not a fine for what they’ve done.

“We’ve invested a lot more than $80,000.”

Gaping holes in the system easy to exploit

Former inspector-general of biosecurity Helen Scott-Orr said there were concerns about whether penalties for importers who breach biosecurity laws were sufficient to deter rogue players.

“Certainly the fine pales into insignificance compared to the potential profits, and those fines needed to be strengthened,” she said.

In a review of Australia’s biosecurity defences following the 2016 outbreak, Helen Scott-Orr found there was a major failure to stop the systematic rorting by importers because the Department of Agriculture had left gaping holes that were easy to exploit.

Her recommendations included much stronger penalties for serious breaches of biosecurity laws by importers.

The Morrison government is yet to do that, however Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said beefing up penalties is a priority.

“I have deep concerns, not only about the penalties and around the convictions and the ability for these companies to continue to operate, but I also have some concerns around some of the protocols that we’ve put in place,” he said.

In a statement, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment confirmed penalties were currently under review.

“The department strongly supports a penalty system that reflects the seriousness of any breach of the law,” it said.

EB Ocean has ‘ceased trading’

In a statement, EB Ocean said it “was never accused of infecting any Australian seafood stocks”, and “had nothing to do with the outbreak of white spot disease in Queensland”.

The company also disagreed with the suggestion the $80,000 fine was inadequate, stating: “This small family company has ceased trading, with the loss of the jobs of its nine employees and income for its owners.”

EB Ocean’s director Jack Zhang declined to be interviewed.

Public deserves a ‘level of transparency’ 

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment declined to answer specific questions about EB Ocean, including how many shipments of imported seafood it had brought into Australia prior to the August 2016 shipment and whether it could continue importing seafood.

According to evidence in the County Court of Victoria, the Department suspended the company’s import permits in September 2016.

The department said in a statement: “Should an importer undertake imports on behalf of an entity deemed as not a ‘Fit and Proper person’, the department is open to consider the variation, suspension and or revocation of import permits.”

The department argued it could not answer the ABC’s questions because they contained commercial-in-confidence information and the ABC should consider submitting another Freedom of Information application.

Minister David Littleproud told 7.30 he was concerned by the department’s stance, saying it showed a lack of transparency.

“I’ve challenged the department around this. I think there is a level of transparency that needs to come forward, particularly when there is a conviction that has been recorded. I think the public deserves that,” Mr Littleproud said.

“If they’re doing the job, the department’s doing the job, they should have nothing to hide, nothing to fear, and they should be upfront with the Australian community about that.

“I expect that to be rectified.”

Import conditions under review

Increased inspection and testing measures are now in place, resulting in 26 shipments of imported prawns infected with white spot being detected and the product being exported out of Australia.

The Morrison government has also asked a scientific advisory group to examine whether current protections are adequate to prevent another outbreak.

Currently, wild-caught prawns from Moreton Bay in south-east Queensland — where the virus has been detected — must be cooked before they can be moved out of a biosecurity area, which has increased the cost on the fishing industry.

However, prawn farmer Dan Rossman believes the risk of another outbreak remains too high unless imported prawns are also cooked to kill the virus.

“I believe that green prawns should not be imported into the country, just due to the risk of bringing in white spot,” Mr Rossman said. 

“If it’s cooked, it’s not a problem.”

‘It doesn’t even pass the pub test’

Independent scientist and aquatic disease expert Ben Diggles argues there is an unfair double standard in place.

“It just doesn’t even pass the pub test to have one rule for Australian businesses — law-abiding, hardworking Australian businesses — and another rule for importers that is set at a much lower standard,” Mr Diggles said.

Farmer Dan Rossman is harvesting another season of prawns to be sold in supermarkets.

And despite investing heavily in extra biosecurity measures, he fears another major outbreak of white spot in his ponds would make it hard to survive.

“White spot being in the area now, yeah, it’s a bit nerve-wracking,” Mr Rossman said. 

“It is pretty worrying. I worry a lot about what could happen.

“It was one of those terrible things that didn’t need to happen, but it happened, and now we’re living with the consequences of someone else’s mistakes, I guess.”

ABC/

#AceNewsDesk report ………Published: Feb.24: 2021:

Editor says #AceNewsDesk reports by https://t.me/acenewsdaily and all our posts, also links can be found at here for Twitter and Live Feeds https://acenewsroom.wordpress.com/ and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and free help and guidance tips on your PC software or need help & guidance from our experts AcePCHelp.WordPress.Com

#AceNewsReport – Feb.24: BHP President for Minerals Australia Edgar Basto said the company discovered fallen rocks near its mining operations on Banyjima land in January, but he said it was unclear whether mining caused the damage:

‘BHP reports damage to Aboriginal heritage site near Pilbara iron ore mine according to the mining company BHP who has reported damage to a culturally significant site in Western Australia’s iron ore-rich Pilbara region, months after Rio Tinto drew international criticism for destroying ancient rock shelters at Juukan Gorge’ putting #ProfitB4People says Kindness & Love’

updated 4h ago

“On 29 January 2021, as part of monitoring in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, we identified a rock fall at a registered Banyjima site,” Mr Basto said: “ This site is not part of current mining operations — the cause of the rock fall is not known.” The damage was located near the $4 billion South Flank mine site, about 130 kilometres north-west of Newman in WA’s north.

A Banyjima Native Title Aboriginal spokesperson said traditional owners were working with BHP to investigate the incident: “ Banyjima’s South Flank Heritage Committee met with BHP executives on 11 February to process the investigation,” they said.

It comes after Rio Tinto’s Juukan Gorge blast, which drew international condemnation when it destroyed the site in May 2020:

#AceNewsDesk report ………….Published: Feb.24: 2021:

Editor says #AceNewsDesk reports by https://t.me/acenewsdaily and all our posts, also links can be found at here for Twitter and Live Feeds https://acenewsroom.wordpress.com/ and thanks for following as always appreciate every like, reblog or retweet and free help and guidance tips on your PC software or need help & guidance from our experts AcePCHelp.WordPress.Com