- March 31st, 2014
- Posted by EU Australia
The International Court of Justice at The Hague has ruled emphatically against Japan, and in favour of Australia, in their dispute over whaling in the Antarctic region.
The court found Japan was in violation of obligations under the international Whaling Convention , by taking large numbers of whales for commercial use, on a justification that this was for scientific purposes.
The panel of judges determined 12 to 4, that Japan’s whaling permits are to be revoked and no new ones are to be issued to it; the decision binding, no appeals to be permitted.
New Zealand was joined in the case on Australia’s side. … Read More »
- February 19th, 2014
- Posted by EU Australia
The London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade fired the first shots, 13.2.14, in what is being announced as a stepped-up, and desperate new campaign to save world wildlife from heavy, increasing, and terminal poaching.
It named and confronted Asian markets for the trivialised use of objects from animals that have now become precious and almost unimaginably expensive – as status symbols, and ingredients for obscure special foods. … Read More »
- January 1st, 2014
- Posted by EU Australia
The European Union has started its giant-scale research drive – €1.2-billion ($A1.85-billion; xe.com, 1.1.14) over ten years — to create the best and most true understanding yet of the human brain. … Read More »
- December 30th, 2013
- Posted by EU Australia
Gatherings in Warsaw and Colombo kept the international community’s focus on anxiety about climate change and sustainability, at the year’s end, though the Australians started to march out of step.
Actions on the home front in Australia show clear trends in a ‘non-environmentalist’ direction.
… Read More »
- March 24th, 2013
- Posted by EUEditor
Software services becoming all-but-indispensable to the world, on the strength of a good idea, have trouble from time to time with the idea of being regulated as businesses.
Microsoft has had a second tussle with the European Commission, reminiscent of the long contest that ended in 2007, which cost the company €497-million (then $A826-million) — while the EU itself now gears up for future challenges in a “digitised†economy.
See background from 2007, involving objections to such practices as locking-in purchasers of packages, to use only Microsoft products: EUAustralia Online, “Court confirms: Microsoft must shareâ€, 18.9.07; also “EU to probe Googleâ€, 1.12.10.
At the same time this year, an attempt at regulation by customers, instigated by Choice consumer magazine in Australia, has seen Adobe, Microsoft and Apple jumping to justify higher prices being charged for their services in that country. … Read More »
- February 5th, 2013
- Posted by EUEditor
The skeleton found under a Leicester car park, in England, has been identified “beyond reasonable doubt†as that of King Richard III.
The man was killed in a civil war battle close to the city in 1485, and buried by monks at a church that was later demolished, during the religious purges of Henry VIII. … Read More »
- January 15th, 2013
- Posted by EUEditor
“Wotch out for the chunder from down under!â€, British tabloids are screaming *; more prosaic but also to the point is this warning from the Eurosurveillance public health service:
“Healthcare institutions are advised to be prepared for a severe norovirus season.†… Read More »
