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Pilbara Minerals cuts exports as lithium delays bite hard

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 18-Jun-19

Pilbara Minerals has advised that production at its Pilgangoora lithium mine in Western Australia will be reduced until at least the end of July, due to delays in the commissioning of battery metals chemical conversion plants in China. Pilbara Minerals is seeking a partner to help finance the second and third stages of its expansion plan for the mine, which is slated to increase annual output to 1.2 million tonnes of spodumene concentrate. The company is also seeking to sell a stake of up to 49 per cent in the mine.

CORPORATES
PILBARA MINERALS LIMITED – ASX PLS, GENERAL LITHIUM CORPORATION, GANFENG LITHIUM COMPANY LIMITED, POSCO

Williams top shoe store ahead of The Athlete’s Foot

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-Jun-19

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey shows that Williams has Australia’s most satisfied shoe store customers, with a customer satisfaction rating of 88% in April 2019, ahead of The Athlete’s Foot on 86% and Spend Less Shoes on 78%. Overall, some 1.4 million Australians shop at a shoe store in an average four-week period, and 82% are satisfied with their experience. Analysis by gender shows that about 880,000 women and 580,000 men shop at shoe stores in an average four weeks. Meanwhile, analysis by generation reveals that 470,000 Australians in Generation X shop at shoe stores in an average four weeks, nearly a third of all shoe store shoppers, and easily the largest market by generation for Australian shoe stores. Generation X also represents the largest share of customers for Williams, The Athlete’s Foot and Payless Shoes.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, WILLIAMS, THE ATHLETE’S FOOT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SPENDLESS SHOES PTY LTD

Ranger rated a potential catastrophic risk by Rio

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 24 : 13-Jun-19

Rio Tinto has advised that 19 of its tailings facilities in Australia have a high hazard rating under a system established by the Australian National Committee on Large Dams. Two of the tailings dams at the Ranger uranium mine have a ‘high B’ rating, which signifies that there is a ‘catastrophic’ risk of damage to the environ­ment and people if they collapse. The Ranger mine is operated by Rio-controlled Energy Resources of Australia, and is slated to be closed in 2021. A dam at Rio Tinto’s Weipa bauxite mine has a ‘high A’ rating.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX ERA, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, GLENCORE PLC, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON LARGE DAMS INCORPORATED, CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Media demands legal shake-up, not an inquiry

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Original article by Rosie Lewis, Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 12-Jun-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison held talks with the ABC’s MD David Anderson and chair Ita Buttrose on 11 June, in the wake of a controversial police raid on the public broadcaster’s Sydney offices. Morrison has signalled that the federal government is open to holding a parliamentary inquiry into press ­freedom. However, News Corp Australia executive Campbell Reid argues that an inquiry is not necessary; instead, he says that legislation governing freedom of the press should be reviewed by a working group comprising politicians, legal experts and media representatives.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, LAW COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

Seven content deal ads to Facebook’s TV reputation

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Original article by Zoe Samios
The Australian – Page: 22 : 10-Jun-19

‘My Kitchen Rules’ and ‘Better Homes & Gardens’ are among the Seven Network’s shows that will be featured on Facebook Watch. Seven West Media has struck a deal to provide Facebook’s streaming service with digital content based on some of its most popular TV shows. Seven Studios CEO Therese Hegarty says new content will be published on Facebook Watch every day, including some exclusive content. She notes that some of the content will be ad-supported.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN STUDIOS, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK WATCH, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Coalition to move on press freedom

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Original article by Olivia Caisley, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 2 : 11-Jun-19

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has advised that the federal government will shortly issue a public response to the Australian Federal Police’s recent media industry raids. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has indicated that she would support a parliamentary inquiry into freedom of the press, although she adds that journalists tend to be biased and there should be some restrictions on press freedom. A spokesman for shadow home affairs minister Kristina Keneally says Labor is still considering whether to support an inquiry.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AL JAZEERA, NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION

Risk of criminalising media

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Original article by Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 7-Jun-19

The fallout from police raids on the ABC’s Sydney office and the home of newspaper journalist Annika Smethurst is continuing. The Australia Federal Police’s acting commissioner Neil Gaughan says the AFP is investigating criminal allegations, and it is too soon to know whether charges will be laid as a result of the raids. He adds that journalists and media companies should not assume that they are immune from criminal prosecution. News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller has stressed the importance of professional news reporting, and he has warned of the implications for democracy if journalism is criminalised.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, AUSTRALIAN SIGNALS DIRECTORATE

Facebook, Google unlikely to steal TV sport: Marks

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 6-Jun-19

There is speculation that digital platforms such as Facebook could bid for exclusive broadcasting rights to key sports when existing deals expire. However, Nine Entertainment Company CEO Hugh Marks says digital players are unlikely to seek exclusive rights to sports such as the Australian Football League and the National Rugby League in the near-term. Broadcasting right for both codes expire in 2022.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, TWITTER INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

ABC raid sparks battle between government and media

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Richard Ferguson
The Australian – Page: Online : 6-Jun-19

There are further concerns about freedom of the press following an Australian Federal Police raid on the Sydney offices of the ABC on 5 June. AFP officers were seeking document relating to the public broadcaster’s 2017 report on allegations of misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. The report was based on secret Defence documents that were leaked to the ABC. The AFP has indicated that the raid was not linked to a separate raid on the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst on 4 June. The Greens have called for a Senate inquiry into the decline of press freedom in the wake of the police raids.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Rare Earths Battle Looms as U.S. Aims to Counter China Export Threat

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Original article by
Bloomberg – Page: Online : 6-Jun-19

The US-China trade war may escalate after China’s National Development & Reform Commission signalled that it will look at imposing export controls on rare earths. The US Commerce Department has responded by releasing a report which outlines a range of options to ensure continued supply of rare earths minerals, which are used in many consumer goods. China accounts for more than 70 per cent of global production of rare earths.

CORPORATES
CHINA. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM COMMISSION, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE, CITIGROUP INCORPORATED, MP MATERIALS, LYNAS CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX LYC, CHINA RARE EARTH HOLDINGS LIMITED, CHINA NORTHERN RARE EARTH GROUP HIGH-TECH COMPANY LIMITED, JL MAG RARE-EARTH COMPANY LIMITED