Ben Butler

Wigan

Health Reporter at Wigan Observer

Senior reporter for @wigtoday, Wigan Post, Wigan Observer. Contact 01942 506394 or [email protected]

Articles

Australia has ramped up its travel warnings for the USA three times since April

3 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Ben Butler

By Ben Butler, ABCThe Department of Foreign Affairs has toughened its travel advice for the USA three times in just over a month in response to the Trump administration's increasingly harsh border controls. While DFAT has not changed the USA's overall rating from green, which means "exercise normal safety precautions", it has beefed up warnings about being detained at the border and requirements to carry identification while travelling within the country.
Australia has ramped up its travel warnings for the USA three times since April

3 weeks ago | radionz.co.nz | Ben Butler

By Ben Butler, ABCThe Department of Foreign Affairs has toughened its travel advice for the USA three times in just over a month in response to the Trump administration's increasingly harsh border controls. While DFAT has not changed the USA's overall rating from green, which means "exercise normal safety precautions", it has beefed up warnings about being detained at the border and requirements to carry identification while travelling within the country.
Premier Forest Products acquires trade and assets of Bitus UK (formerly Continental Wood Products)

Nov 4, 2024 | treefrogcreative.ca | Ben Butler |Bob Brash |Robert McKellar |David Elstone

Premier Forest Products acquires trade and assets of Bitus UK (formerly Continental Wood Products) By Ben Butler Insidermedia.com November 4, 2024 Category: Business & Politics Region: International NEWPORT, UK — Premier Forest Products has bought the trade and assets of Bitus UK Ltd from Bergs Timber.
Flood victims need to be protected from unfair cash settlements from insurance companies, report says

Aug 26, 2024 | abc.net.au | Ben Butler

Government action is needed to stop flood victims worn out from fighting long battles with insurers from accepting unfair low-ball cash settlements for their damaged homes, the author of a new report says. Antonia Settle said victims of the 2022 Victorian floods were forced to accept cash, instead of having their homes rebuilt by their insurer, after "long and bitter disputes with their insurer and they've ultimately lost trust in the insurer to undertake repairs".
Calls for major Meta change to stop scams

Jun 12, 2024 | weeklytimesnow.com.au | Ben Butler

The federal government should force Facebook owner Meta to operate from inside Australia so that it can no longer use US law to dodge responsibility for scam ads and other misconduct on its platform, experts say. Meta currently claims that it can only be sued over content on Facebook in the US, where a powerful law known as “Section 230” protects it from liability over posts by users.
‘Save Bonza’: Airline’s future in limbo

Apr 18, 2024 | goldcoastbulletin.com.au | Stephen Drill |Ben Butler

Opposition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie has called on the Albanese government to do everything it can to save budget airline Bonza following concerns over its future. Backers of Bonza’s US owners have called in heavyweight advisory firm KordaMentha to run the ruler over the finances of the airline, which runs cheap flights between Australian holiday destinations.
Ecuador ‘at war’ with drug gangs, says president

Jan 10, 2024 | theaustralian.com.au | Stephen Gibbs |Ben Butler |Nick Evans

Ecuador’s president says his country is “at war” with the drug gangs that have plunged the nation into its most serious security crisis in recent years as he gave sweeping powers to the country’s army. Daniel Noboa, who took office in November, said that the country was in a “state of internal armed conflict” and authorised security services to “neutralise” the threat from criminal gangs.
Finance: ASX posts solid gains snapping four-day losing streak; Xero, Wisetech, Megaport, NAB, CBA, WEstpac, ANZ, Dominos, JB Hi-Fi, Woodside, Crude Oil, Karoon Energy, Alumina, Worley | The Australian

Jan 9, 2024 | theaustralian.com.au | Jack Quail |Nick Evans |Ben Butler |David Rogers

Australian shares posted solid gains on Tuesday, easing traders’ fears following a rough start to the year. Following a four-session slide, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 added 0.9 per cent, or 69 points, to reach 7,520.5, as all sectors bar energy finished in the green.
MinRes sniffing around Bald Hill mine, near where Torque Metals has intersected high-grade lithium

Jan 8, 2024 | theaustralian.com.au | Cameron Drummond |Nick Evans |Ben Butler |Jack Quail

Juniors are rushing to prove up lithium resources around Mineral Resources’ rejuvenated Bald Hill mine, with the newly listed Kali Metals entering the fray in the same vein as Torque Metals – which is already drilling lithium targets at its own mine-adjacent tenements.
Bellevue heroes jump on board with mission to make Firefly soar

Jan 8, 2024 | theaustralian.com.au | Nick Evans |Ben Butler |Jack Quail

The talent-stacked team which transformed Bellevue (ASX:BGL) into one of Australia’s biggest, highest grade gold miners now has its sights set on the copper mid-tier. Since January 2017, BGL’s share price has rocketed from 2.5c to around $1.52c per share as it fast tracks one of Australia’s highest-grade gold mines back into production.