Latest news with #NationalPressClub
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Albanese government throwing $9 billion per year at net zero climate targets, new IPA findings reveal
The federal government's spending on climate change and net zero has soared to more than $9 billion a year, new research has found. Analysis from the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) has shown that spending on climate-related programs has increased fifteenfold over the past decade. According to IPA's analysis of federal budget papers, spending on net zero has risen from about $600 million to $9 billion annually since 2015. At the same time, the Albanese government has seen emissions actually rise year on year to figures higher than under the former Morrison government. IPA deputy executive director and economist Adam Creighton said the array of 'programs' and 'funds' related to climate change and net zero was 'ridiculous'. 'Spending on climate change and net zero in the most recent federal budget has reached around $9 billion annually,' he said. Mr Creighton said the true cost was likely even higher once state-level and private sector compliance costs were considered. Despite this, Energy Minister Chris Bowen has repeatedly claimed renewables to be the 'cheapest and cleanest form of energy'. Meanwhile, the Australian Energy Regulator's default market offer has rise by as much as 50 per cent in parts of the country since 2022. Mr Bowen and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have still not conceded that they did now lower power bills by $275 as promised at the 2022 election. 'We have never denied that energy prices are higher than we would like,' Mr Bowen said at the National Press Club energy debate ahead of the election. 'If we keep the path we're on, energy prices will fall by 13 per cent over the next 10 years.' According to the IPA, the high energy prices in Australia have been caused, at least in part, by the ambitious net zero target. 'Decades of poor decision making, based on flawed and misleading advice and ideology, is crushing … household budgets,' Mr Creighton said. The Albanese government has reaffirmed its commitment to net zero since winning its mandate in the 2025 federal election. However, Environment Minister Murray Watt recently gave approval to the North West Shelf gas project, which Mr Albanese said was needed to address energy reliability. 'You don't reduce emissions and take action on climate change by just having good wishes,' Mr Albanese said on Tuesday. 'We need to make sure that there is security of energy supply at the same time as we support the transition which reduces our emissions. 'What you do is have a target, which is what we have with net zero.' Sky News understands the Albanese government won't support a climate trigger in national environmental laws, as proposed by the Greens. Mr Albanese is not expected to announce Australia's 2035 climate target until closer to September, Sky News recently revealed. The new climate target could be put as high as a 75 per cent emissions reduction by 2035 from 2005 levels as internal deliberations and departmental advice continue. The growing price tag has renewed political pressure on the opposition, with internal divisions surfacing over the future of the Coalition's commitment to net zero by 2050. Senior Coalition figures have been openly debating whether to revisit or abandon the net-zero target. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said it was necessary to 'take the time to get this right' on net zero, and that the joint party room would evaluate its position. 'We have to play—as a country—our part in the global response to climate change,' she told reporters at Parliament House last Thursday. 'Net zero, Paris targets, gas—all of the resources conversations around critical minerals, they're all part of that. 'We have to get this right. We have to play our part, but we have to make sure that we don't do it at any cost.' The Nationals nominally reaffirmed support for net zero by 2050 but leader David Littleproud confirmed that the commitment is now under review.
Express Tribune
9 hours ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Geologist claims he predicted Karachi earthquakes four days in advance
Listen to article A Pakistani geologist says he predicted the Karachi earthquakes well before they occurred. Shahbaz Laghari, CEO of the Earthquake News & Research Centre, has claimed that his team had predicted the recent tremors in Karachi four days in advance, a forecast he says is supported by prior documented evidence. While speaking at a news conference at the National Press Club in Islamabad on Tuesday, Laghari insisted that his earthquake warnings are grounded in scientific research. He further claimed that the proprietary system developed by his centre can issue early warnings up to 128 hours (more than five days) before an earthquake occurs. The geologist further revealed that countries like the UK, Canada, and Bangladesh have invited him to collaborate, recognising the potential of his early-warning technology. He also claimed that his team correctly predicted a series of earthquakes in Greece, and that the Greek government took precautionary measures based on their alerts. However, Laghari expressed frustration over the criticism he faces in Pakistan, saying that some local officials discourage him from issuing early warnings, fearing they may cause public panic. During the press conference, a TV clip of government seismology officer Ameer Haider was played, in which the official advised against creating fear through early alerts. Laghari defended his position, going as far as saying, 'If my system is proven wrong, hang me.' He made a direct appeal to the president, prime minister, and Punjab CM, urging them to recognise his research before the country loses out on an international breakthrough. 'This might be my last press conference,' he warned. He claimed that he has received job offers from abroad, but his ultimate goal is to serve Pakistan. He expressed confidence in his ability to develop world-class instruments and software that could bring global recognition to the country. Laghari also turned his attention to recent seismic activity in Karachi, questioning why the small tremors being felt across the city are being ignored. 'These tremors will occur five to ten more times,' he warned, adding that the nights of Friday and Saturday are particularly critical and the Sindh government should warn the public in advance. Recalling a recent incident, he said that the collapse of the Malir Jail wall was the result of a 10-kilometre-deep earthquake. 'Had the tremor originated from a depth of seven or eight kilometres, the entire prison could have been destroyed,' he said. 'Our research shows that a series of small tremors often signals a major earthquake is on its way,' he added.
West Australian
20 hours ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Australia's Domestic Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin to address National Press Club
Australia's Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin will address the National Press Club alongside Australian Law Reform Commission president Justice Mordy Bromberg on Wednesday. The pair are expected to discuss a 12 month inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence which was tabled earlier this year and found justice systems have failed victim-survivors. It made 64 recommendations to improve their experiences and outcomes, including providing independent legal advisers or justice system 'navigators', creating safe places to disclose, and addressing barriers to engage with justice. During the Inquiry, the commission received 220 submissions from individuals and organisations, and undertook 126 consultations, involving more than 384 consultees. 'The justice system has a critical role to play in ending this harm by providing people who have experienced sexual violence with a safe, informed, and supported way of accessing justice; and by holding perpetrators of sexual violence to account,' Justice Bromberg said. Ms Cronin added: 'We must also recognise that rates of sexual violence are getting worse, and our response is not improving fast enough – it is one of the most harmful, under reported, and under prosecuted crimes'. 'Our shared goal under the National Plan is, and should be, to end domestic, family and sexual violence in one generation. 'This report helps us on that path, now we must act.' Their address comes after a report into men's violence against women released on Tuesday found mental ill health and poor father-son relationships are key factors that could contribute to the issue. The damning new research, which has surveyed more than 16,000 boys and men since 2013, found more than one third of Australian men admitted they've either scared or intimidated their own loved ones. Ms Cronin described that study as a 'world first' which provided important insight into the prevalence of intimate partner violence from the perspective of men's use. 'It's very important that we've got this longitudinal study. It also gives us some really good insights into where we should be looking to support,' she told ABC on Tuesday. 'I'm really hoping that this research will help to inform evidence-based, interventions that will reduce violence, that will help work and focus on what it is that we can do to stop domestic family and sexual violence. 'We need to understand, intervene and prevent men's use of violence because we know that 93 percent of the perpetrators of violence are men and boys. 'We need to be talking about men and boys and how we can support them. Are we at critical times in their lives when they're struggling? Where are all of the intervention points?' Ms Cronin added the study also showed the cost of delayed action: 'What we've seen in this study is an increase in prevalence in the period in the 10 years since it was first conducted'. 'Every next incidence (of violence) in which we haven't acted to protect has lifelong, often harmful impacts on the community and individuals,' she said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Indian Lawmakers to Speak at National Press Club Newsmakers event on June 4
WASHINGTON, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Press Club will host four members of an all-party delegation from India for a National Press Club Newsmakers event on Wednesday, June 4 at 3:00 p.m. on Operation Sindoor, regional security and India's diplomatic outreach to the United States. The speakers—Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Mr. Milind Deora and Mr. Tejasvi Surya—represent a cross-section of Indian political leadership. They will be joined by former Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Taranjit Singh Sandhu to bring insight into India's foreign policy. This Headliners event is open to credentialed media and National Press Club members. Registration is essential. Register to attend at the following link: To submit questions in advance for the speaker, put INDIA on the subject line and email to headliners@ WHAT: National Press Club Headliners Newsmaker Event with Delegation from IndiaWHEN: Wednesday, June 4, at 3:00 Holman Lounge in the National Press Club, 529 14th St NW, Washington, Shashi Tharoor is an author, politician and former international diplomat. A four-term member of Parliament, he represents Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in the Lok Sabha. A member of the Indian National Congress, he has served as minister of state for external affairs and minister of state for human resource development during the second United Progressive Alliance government. He currently chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Surya, elected to the 17th Lok Sabha at 28, represents Bengaluru South in Parliament. Since September 2020, he has also served as national president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Murli Deora is a former Union minister and member of Parliament from Mumbai South. He has held key roles in the State Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the State Ministry of Shipping. He also led the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee. Elected to Parliament at 27, he also serves on the dean's advisory board at Boston University's Pardee Taranjit Singh Sandhu is a retired Indian diplomat who was Ambassador of India to the U.S. from February 2020 to January 2024 and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka from January 2017 to January 2020. PRESS CONTACT: Cecily Scott Martin for the National Press Club; cscottmartin@ (202) 662-7525 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE National Press Club Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
UPI
a day ago
- Politics
- UPI
Missing reporter Austin Tice detained by Assad regime, documents show
1 of 2 | Debra Tice (R), mother of Austin Tice, speaks beside the National Press Club President Emily Wilkins during a news briefing in Washington, D.C., on May 3, 2024, about the status of the missing U.S. journalist. File photo by Michael Reynolds/EPA-EFE June 2 (UPI) -- Missing American journalist Austin Tice was imprisoned by the regime of the since-deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2012 with his whereabouts now not known, according to top secret intelligence files uncovered by the BBC. Former Syrian officials also have confirmed Tice's detention to the BBC. The material was part of a BBC investigation more than one year ago for a Radio 4 podcast series in accompanying a Syrian investigator to an intelligence facility. The Assad regime had denied they had imprisoned him, and didn't know where he was. The U.S. government believes he had been held by the Syrian government. Tice was a freelance journalist, a former U.S. Marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a law student at Georgetown University. He had gone to Syria to report on the civil war. Tice vanished near the Syrian capital of Damascus in August 2012, just days after his 31st birthday. About seven weeks later, a video posted online showed him blindfolded and with his hands bound. He was also forced to recite an Islamic declaration of faith by armed men. U.S. officials and analysts doubt he was abducted by a jihadist group and the scene "may have been staged." Instead, Tice allegedly was held by members of a paramilitary force loyal to Assad called the National Defence Forces. The files, which are labeled "Austin Tice," include communication from different branches of Syrian intelligence. Law enforcement verified their authenticity. In one "top secret" communication, he was held in a detention facility in Damascus in 2012. A Syrian official confirmed to the BBC he was there until at least February 2013. The BBC reported Tice briefly escaped by squeezing through a window in his cell, but he was later recaptured. Tice had developed stomach issues from a viral infection. A man who visited the facility told the BBC that Tice "looked sad, and that the joy had gone from his face." A former member of the NDF told the BBC that Tice was a "card" that could be played in diplomatic negotiations with the United States. After Assad's ouster in December 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden and mother, Debra Tice, said they believed he was alive. She said he was "treated well," according to a "significant source." Rebel forces stormed his regime-run jails in Damascus and other Syrian regions and freed them. Tice was not among them. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it has registered 35,000 cases of people who have gone missing in Syria in the past 13 years. Syria's Network for Human Rights put the number of Syrians "in forced disappearance" at 80,000 to 85,000 killed under torture in Assad's detention centers. Only 33,000 detainees have been found and freed from Syria's prisons since Assad's ouster, according to human rights network. On May 14, Trump met with the Syrian Arab Republic's new president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Trump told reporters, "Austin has not been seen in many, many years," and gave no other details.
