Jamu Barokahs

Sabtu, 15 Februari 2020

Huawei row: Australian MPs cancel UK trip amid tensions over leak - BBC News

Senior Australian MPs have cancelled a planned trip to the UK as tensions heighten over the role of Huawei in building Britain's 5G network.

Lawmakers from the intelligence and security committee had been expected to travel to the UK next month.

But the trip has been postponed amid reports of a diplomatic rift.

The decision follows a reported complaint from the UK over leaked details of a high-level meeting where Huawei was discussed.

Australia has banned the Chinese telecommunications giant from building its next-generation 5G mobile internet networks but Britain last month decided the company could continue to play a role in its system, despite pressure and warnings from Washington.

Last week, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab visited Australia, where he met members of the parliament's intelligence committee.

Details of the meeting were later leaked to the Sydeny Morning Herald, which said an MP had rebuked Mr Raab in the meeting over Britain's Huawei decision, saying Australia was very disappointed.

According to Australian media that report prompted a formal complaint from Vicki Treadell, the UK's High Commissioner to Australia, to the heads of two Australian parliamentary committees.

Australia and the UK are both part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which also includes the US, New Zealand and Canada.

Australia's parliament on Saturday confirmed the trip to the UK had been delayed but said it was due to the fact that the counterpart parliamentary committee in the UK was yet to be appointed following December's election.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, in the meeting with Mr Raab, Anthony Byrne, the deputy chair of Australia's intelligence committee, said that allowing China to build the UK's 5G telecoms infrastructure was equivalent to letting Russia construct it.

"How would you feel if the Russians laid down infrastructure in your own networks? That's how we feel about Huawei," Mr Byrne was quoted as telling Mr Raab.

In a Twitter post at the time, he said the meeting had involved a "full and frank discussion" over 5G and strategic challenges. Ms Treadell was present.

There's been no official response to the reports from the British and Australian governments. The BBC has contacted the UK High Commission in Australia and the Foreign Office in London for comment.

In her letter to Australian MPs, Ms Treadell expressed her disapproval of the leak, ABC News reported.

One unnamed committee member was quoted by the Australian broadcaster as describing Ms Treadell's intervention as "foolish".

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg however sought to scotch suggestions of a rift, saying "our relationship with the United Kingdom couldn't be stronger".

Why is there a row over Huawei?

Australia and other intelligence allies of the UK are concerned about its decision to give the Chinese firm access to communication networks.

Washington has pressured allies to exclude Huawei from 5G networks, arguing that its equipment could allow the Chinese state to spy via "back-doors". The firm strongly rejects that it poses any security threat.

On a visit to the UK last month after Britain's decision, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the Five Eyes partnership would remain in place despite previous warnings from Washington that it could be affected.

The UK has only given Huawei partial access to its 5G network, banning it from supplying kit to "sensitive parts", known as the core.

Last week, China's ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, said those opposed to Huawei playing a role in the UK's 5G network were conducting "a witch-hunt".

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2020-02-15 12:33:29Z
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Australia weather: How much rain did it take to put out NSW fires? - BBC News

Since July there have been fires - sometimes hundreds at once - burning across New South Wales, Australia's most populous state.

Firefighters have battled mammoth blazes daily during the state's longest bushfire season. More than five million hectares have burned, in conditions worsened by years-long drought and record heat. Dozens of people have died across the country.

Things finally changed though when rain arrived in NSW last weekend.

A massive dump of water - more than 400mm (15.7in) in some places - caused flooding and transport chaos, but also helped finish off many of the fires.

On Thursday, authorities announced with delight that every single fire in the state had been contained. This means the perimeters of the fires have been "boxed in" and while some areas are still alight, the blaze is under control and won't travel freely.

The majority of fire grounds up and down the coastline received the heavy drenching that was much needed - with many getting over 300mm in just one weekend.

Take for example the town of Nowra, in the state's south, which was the scene of ferocious blazes back in January.

Rainfall (mm) across Nowra

NSW south coast

The rain has been described by some as a miracle - particularly given the long-term forecast for the summer had predicted an 80% chance of below-average falls.

Three years of severe drought across the state had left forests tinder dry, making it too easy for fires to race into new areas.

While there had been some rain before last weekend, those isolated showers couldn't effectively dampen the ground and reduce the risk of fires re-igniting.

"Even when we did have some significant falls of 30 or 50mm, it wasn't enough," Simon Heemstra from the Rural Fire Service (RFS) told the BBC.

"Generally if you get even 20mm, you'd be happy about it slowing down and putting out a lot of the fire.

"But because it was so dry you could be getting 50mm and that rain would just be absorbed very quickly. And within a couple of days that vegetation had dried out again and started burning again."

The RFS's fleet of water-bombing aircraft, up against "megafires" the size of small countries, could only have limited impact on such a landscape. At least two of the fires had scorched more than 500,000 hectares by the time they went out.

But because the rain was heavy and came down steadily over the weekend, it could soak into parched vegetation and seep deep into the soil, rather than just running off.

Firefighters watched a bushfire in New South Wales

Getty

NSW bushfires

2,439homes destroyed
11,264bush or grass fires
24mlitres of fire retardant used

Source: NSW RFS

"Because it was sustained over a long period of time, we're seeing it broadly throughout the landscape," said Mr Heemstra.

"You'd probably need hundreds, even thousands of drops from planes to achieve the equivalent of a good amount of 30-50mm rain.

"The quantity you would need to address those burning materials across those grounds is just enormous."

Furthermore, a water drop from a plane is just "one short, sharp drop" - meaning the ground can't properly absorb it. Sometimes that water would also blow away because of winds around the fire.

While the rains caused intense flooding and whipped up surf that damaged areas along the shore, the downpour did help fill up reservoirs and dams desperately needing it.

Sydney - the nation's largest city - has been under water restrictions since late last year, when its dams fell below 45% capacity.

But the city could see an easing of some of these limits now the dam at Warragamba, which supplies 80% of its water, has filled up.

Getty

Warragamba dam

Supplies 80% of Sydney's water

Source: WaterNSW

More heavy rains are expected this weekend, with forecasts saying many of the state's rivers will burst their banks again, while inland areas may even receive hail.

Severe storms are also set to batter neighbouring states of Queensland and Victoria with cyclonic winds and more damaging surf. However, firefighters will be looking to the silver lining in this cloud.

Already, the NSWRFS command headquarters in Sydney has been turned into the chief station for storm relief operations. More firefighters were out last week working on rescues than at fire grounds.

"From now on, we're hoping all this continued rain will just benefit everything we've already done," said Mr Heemstra.

"Here's hoping that we cross that finish line."

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2020-02-15 04:59:28Z
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Australia weather: How much rain did it take to put out NSW fires? - BBC News

Since July there have been fires - sometimes hundreds at once - burning across New South Wales, Australia's most populous state.

Things finally changed though when rain arrived in NSW last weekend.

A massive dump of water - more than 400mm (15.7in) in some places - caused flooding and transport chaos, but also helped finish off many of the fires.

The majority of fire grounds up and down the coastline received the heavy drenching that was much needed - with many getting over 300mm in just one weekend.

Take for example the town of Nowra, in the state's south, which was the scene of ferocious blazes back in January.

Rainfall (mm) across Nowra

NSW south coast

The rain has been described by some as a miracle - particularly given the long-term forecast for the summer had predicted an 80% chance of below-average falls.

Three years of severe drought across the state had left forests tinder dry, making it too easy for fires to race into new areas.

While there had been some rain before last weekend, those isolated showers couldn't effectively dampen the ground and reduce the risk of fires re-igniting.

"Even when we did have some significant falls of 30 or 50mm, it wasn't enough," Simon Heemstra from the Rural Fire Service (RFS) told the BBC.

"Generally if you get even 20mm, you'd be happy about it slowing down and putting out a lot of the fire.

"But because it was so dry you could be getting 50mm and that rain would just be absorbed very quickly. And within a couple of days that vegetation had dried out again and started burning again."

But because the rain was heavy and came down steadily over the weekend, it could soak into parched vegetation and seep deep into the soil, rather than just running off.

Getty

NSW bushfires

2,439homes destroyed
11,264bush or grass fires
24mlitres of fire retardant used

Source: NSW RFS

"Because it was sustained over a long period of time, we're seeing it broadly throughout the landscape," said Mr Heemstra.

"You'd probably need hundreds, even thousands of drops from planes to achieve the equivalent of a good amount of 30-50mm rain.

"The quantity you would need to address those burning materials across those grounds is just enormous."

Furthermore, a water drop from a plane is just "one short, sharp drop" - meaning the ground can't properly absorb it. Sometimes that water would also blow away because of winds around the fire.

While the rains caused intense flooding and whipped up surf that damaged areas along the shore, the downpour did help fill up reservoirs and dams desperately needing it.

Sydney - the nation's largest city - has been under water restrictions since late last year, when its dams fell below 45% capacity.

But the city could see an easing of some of these limits now the dam at Warragamba, which supplies 80% of its water, has filled up.

Getty

Warragamba dam

Supplies 80% of Sydney's water

Source: WaterNSW

More heavy rains are expected this weekend, with forecasts saying many of the state's rivers will burst their banks again, while inland areas may even receive hail.

Already, the NSWRFS command headquarters in Sydney has been turned into the chief station for storm relief operations. More firefighters were out last week working on rescues than at fire grounds.

"From now on, we're hoping all this continued rain will just benefit everything we've already done," said Mr Heemstra.

"Here's hoping that we cross that finish line."

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Australia weather: How much rain did it take to put out NSW fires? - BBC News

Since July there have been fires - sometimes hundreds at once - burning across New South Wales, Australia's most populous state.

Things finally changed though when rain arrived in NSW last weekend.

A massive dump of water - more than 400mm (15.7in) in some places - caused flooding and transport chaos, but also helped finish off many of the fires.

The majority of fire grounds up and down the coastline received the heavy drenching that was much needed - with many getting over 300mm in just one weekend.

Take for example the town of Nowra, in the state's south, which was the scene of ferocious blazes back in January.

Rainfall (mm) across Nowra

NSW south coast

The rain has been described by some as a miracle - particularly given the long-term forecast for the summer had predicted an 80% chance of below-average falls.

Three years of severe drought across the state had left forests tinder dry, making it too easy for fires to race into new areas.

While there had been some rain before last weekend, those isolated showers couldn't effectively dampen the ground and reduce the risk of fires re-igniting.

"Even when we did have some significant falls of 30 or 50mm, it wasn't enough," Simon Heemstra from the Rural Fire Service (RFS) told the BBC.

"Generally if you get even 20mm, you'd be happy about it slowing down and putting out a lot of the fire.

"But because it was so dry you could be getting 50mm and that rain would just be absorbed very quickly. And within a couple of days that vegetation had dried out again and started burning again."

But because the rain was heavy and came down steadily over the weekend, it could soak into parched vegetation and seep deep into the soil, rather than just running off.

Getty

NSW bushfires

2,439homes destroyed
11,264bush or grass fires
24mlitres of fire retardant used

Source: NSW RFS

"Because it was sustained over a long period of time, we're seeing it broadly throughout the landscape," said Mr Heemstra.

"You'd probably need hundreds, even thousands of drops from planes to achieve the equivalent of a good amount of 30-50mm rain.

"The quantity you would need to address those burning materials across those grounds is just enormous."

Furthermore, a water drop from a plane is just "one short, sharp drop" - meaning the ground can't properly absorb it. Sometimes that water would also blow away because of winds around the fire.

While the rains caused intense flooding and whipped up surf that damaged areas along the shore, the downpour did help fill up reservoirs and dams desperately needing it.

Sydney - the nation's largest city - has been under water restrictions since late last year, when its dams fell below 45% capacity.

But the city could see an easing of some of these limits now the dam at Warragamba, which supplies 80% of its water, has filled up.

Getty

Warragamba dam

Supplies 80% of Sydney's water

Source: WaterNSW

More heavy rains are expected this weekend, with forecasts saying many of the state's rivers will burst their banks again, while inland areas may even receive hail.

Already, the NSWRFS command headquarters in Sydney has been turned into the chief station for storm relief operations. More firefighters were out last week working on rescues than at fire grounds.

"From now on, we're hoping all this continued rain will just benefit everything we've already done," said Mr Heemstra.

"Here's hoping that we cross that finish line."

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Australia weather: How much rain did it take to put out NSW fires? - BBC News

Since July there have been fires - sometimes hundreds at once - burning across New South Wales, Australia's most populous state.

Things finally changed though when rain arrived in NSW last weekend.

A massive dump of water - more than 400mm (15.7in) in some places - caused flooding and transport chaos, but also helped finish off many of the fires.

The majority of fire grounds up and down the coastline received the heavy drenching that was much needed - with many getting over 300mm in just one weekend.

Take for example the town of Nowra, in the state's south, which was the scene of ferocious blazes back in January.

Rainfall (mm) across Nowra

NSW south coast

The rain has been described by some as a miracle - particularly given the long-term forecast for the summer had predicted an 80% chance of below-average falls.

Three years of severe drought across the state had left forests tinder dry, making it too easy for fires to race into new areas.

While there had been some rain before last weekend, those isolated showers couldn't effectively dampen the ground and reduce the risk of fires re-igniting.

"Even when we did have some significant falls of 30 or 50mm, it wasn't enough," Simon Heemstra from the Rural Fire Service (RFS) told the BBC.

"Generally if you get even 20mm, you'd be happy about it slowing down and putting out a lot of the fire.

"But because it was so dry you could be getting 50mm and that rain would just be absorbed very quickly. And within a couple of days that vegetation had dried out again and started burning again."

But because the rain was heavy and came down steadily over the weekend, it could soak into parched vegetation and seep deep into the soil, rather than just running off.

Getty

NSW bushfires

2,439homes destroyed
11,264bush or grass fires
24mlitres of fire retardant used

Source: NSW RFS

"Because it was sustained over a long period of time, we're seeing it broadly throughout the landscape," said Mr Heemstra.

"You'd probably need hundreds, even thousands of drops from planes to achieve the equivalent of a good amount of 30-50mm rain.

"The quantity you would need to address those burning materials across those grounds is just enormous."

Furthermore, a water drop from a plane is just "one short, sharp drop" - meaning the ground can't properly absorb it. Sometimes that water would also blow away because of winds around the fire.

While the rains caused intense flooding and whipped up surf that damaged areas along the shore, the downpour did help fill up reservoirs and dams desperately needing it.

Sydney - the nation's largest city - has been under water restrictions since late last year, when its dams fell below 45% capacity.

But the city could see an easing of some of these limits now the dam at Warragamba, which supplies 80% of its water, has filled up.

Getty

Warragamba dam

Supplies 80% of Sydney's water

Source: WaterNSW

More heavy rains are expected this weekend, with forecasts saying many of the state's rivers will burst their banks again, while inland areas may even receive hail.

Already, the NSWRFS command headquarters in Sydney has been turned into the chief station for storm relief operations. More firefighters were out last week working on rescues than at fire grounds.

"From now on, we're hoping all this continued rain will just benefit everything we've already done," said Mr Heemstra.

"Here's hoping that we cross that finish line."

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Australia weather: How much rain did it take to put out NSW fires? - BBC News

Since July there have been fires - sometimes hundreds at once - burning across New South Wales, Australia's most populous state.

Things finally changed though when rain arrived in NSW last weekend.

A massive dump of water - more than 400mm (15.7in) in some places - caused flooding and transport chaos, but also helped finish off many of the fires.

The majority of fire grounds up and down the coastline received the heavy drenching that was much needed - with many getting over 300mm in just one weekend.

Take for example the town of Nowra, in the state's south, which was the scene of ferocious blazes back in January.

Rainfall (mm) across Nowra

NSW south coast

The rain has been described by some as a miracle - particularly given the long-term forecast for the summer had predicted an 80% chance of below-average falls.

Three years of severe drought across the state had left forests tinder dry, making it too easy for fires to race into new areas.

While there had been some rain before last weekend, those isolated showers couldn't effectively dampen the ground and reduce the risk of fires re-igniting.

"Even when we did have some significant falls of 30 or 50mm, it wasn't enough," Simon Heemstra from the Rural Fire Service (RFS) told the BBC.

"Generally if you get even 20mm, you'd be happy about it slowing down and putting out a lot of the fire.

"But because it was so dry you could be getting 50mm and that rain would just be absorbed very quickly. And within a couple of days that vegetation had dried out again and started burning again."

But because the rain was heavy and came down steadily over the weekend, it could soak into parched vegetation and seep deep into the soil, rather than just running off.

Getty

NSW bushfires

2,439homes destroyed
11,264bush or grass fires
24mlitres of fire retardant used

Source: NSW RFS

"Because it was sustained over a long period of time, we're seeing it broadly throughout the landscape," said Mr Heemstra.

"You'd probably need hundreds, even thousands of drops from planes to achieve the equivalent of a good amount of 30-50mm rain.

"The quantity you would need to address those burning materials across those grounds is just enormous."

Furthermore, a water drop from a plane is just "one short, sharp drop" - meaning the ground can't properly absorb it. Sometimes that water would also blow away because of winds around the fire.

While the rains caused intense flooding and whipped up surf that damaged areas along the shore, the downpour did help fill up reservoirs and dams desperately needing it.

Sydney - the nation's largest city - has been under water restrictions since late last year, when its dams fell below 45% capacity.

But the city could see an easing of some of these limits now the dam at Warragamba, which supplies 80% of its water, has filled up.

Getty

Warragamba dam

Supplies 80% of Sydney's water

Source: WaterNSW

More heavy rains are expected this weekend, with forecasts saying many of the state's rivers will burst their banks again, while inland areas may even receive hail.

Already, the NSWRFS command headquarters in Sydney has been turned into the chief station for storm relief operations. More firefighters were out last week working on rescues than at fire grounds.

"From now on, we're hoping all this continued rain will just benefit everything we've already done," said Mr Heemstra.

"Here's hoping that we cross that finish line."

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Jumat, 14 Februari 2020

Google ordered to reveal author of Australian dentist's bad review - BBC News

An Australian court has ordered Google to identify the person behind an anonymous bad review of a dentist.

Dr Matthew Kabbabe, a teeth-whitening specialist in Melbourne, sought the order so he could sue for defamation.

He claimed user CBsm 23 had damaged his business by telling others to "STAY AWAY" from a procedure criticised as "extremely awkward and uncomfortable".

The ruling forces the hand of the tech giant, which has previously defended allowing negative reviews on its site.

Under the order, Google will be required to pass to Dr Kabbabe any personal details such as any names, phone numbers, location metadata and IP addresses linked to the account.

International law allows for people to seek documents from overseas parties that they need for their case.

'Groundbreaking' case

Google had previously rejected the dentist's requests for the review to be removed, or to share information about its author.

According to his affidavit, Google had told Dr Kabbabe: "[W]e do not have any means to investigate where and when the ID was created."

However, Justice Bernard Murphy ruled that Dr Kabbabe had grounds to pursue a defamation case and that Google was "likely to have or have had control of a document or thing that would help ascertain that description of the prospective respondent".

Mr Kabbabe's lawyer described the ruling as a "groundbreaking" win for small businesses, and argued Google had a duty of care in providing a platform for potentially defamatory postings.

"If you're out there trying to hide by anonymity, even via VPN, I think the court system's catching up now and there are ways and means of obtaining that information," Mark Stanarevic told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Google is yet to reply to queries about the ruling. The firm has previously been reluctant to remove bad reviews, but has done so in several instances following court orders.

Last year, it told Australian law reform experts that defamation cases over online reviews could lead to the suppression of consumer rights and free speech.

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2020-02-14 10:37:00Z
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