Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The Ministry of Education has issued a guideline to promote science education in elementary and high schools, and support the nation’s ongoing drive to boost its self-reliance and strength in science and technology.
The guideline, released on the ministry’s website on Jan 22, asks local education authorities to ensure the availability of sufficient science teachers in elementary schools.
The release came days after China publicized a sweeping plan to turn itself into a leading country in education by 2035, which elaborated on measures needed for improving students’ science literacy.
Junior and senior high schools should have enough science teachers, as well as teachers for other related subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, geography and information science and technology, the guideline said.
To ensure that schools stay committed to improving science education, the ministry requires them to have at least one “vice-principal of science”, and encouraged scientists and experts from high-quality universities and research institutions to take on the role.
These vice-principals are tasked with making full use of their resources and professional backgrounds, and lead their schools’ science education by conducting lectures, participating in the design of curricula and overseeing students’ science projects.
Normal universities — universities that train teachers — should improve the curricula and programs of their science education majors, the guidance said, while emphasizing the cultivation of science literacy for elementary and high school teachers.
Resources at universities, research institutions and science museums should be fully mobilized to develop a training system to improve science teachers’ abilities, including the ability to design and carry out experiments and projects, it said.
Students’ performance in experiments should be tested in proficiency exams before they graduate from junior high school, and their performance in daily experiments and science projects should also be assessed at school, the guideline said.
Schools should enhance their science education facilities, set up laboratories and let students participate in more open inquiry experiments, it said.
It also called for schools to explore experiments with teaching using artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
More science courses should be included in school after-class activities to meet the needs and interests of students in different school years, the guideline said.
The guideline also urges schools to tap into natural resources such as rivers, ponds, farmland and woods, and introduce knowledge about nature by setting up signs and posters and displaying specimens.
It also called on universities, research institutions and the National Natural Science Foundation of China to work together to conduct research in educational theories and strengthen international cooperation in the field.
Local authorities should carry out surveys to determine the level of science literacy of students, and make policies to improve science education based on the surveys, it said.
There has been a crash on SH6 QEII Drive, near the intersection with Nelson’s Atawhai Drive (near Founders Park). If possible, people should delay their journeys through this area.
SH6 Queen Elizabeth II Drive between Trafalgar Street and Malvern Avenue is closed, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
A detour route around SH6 is in place but it is currently not HPMV approved.
HPMV vehicle drivers will need to park up and wait until SH6 QEII Drive/SH6 Atawhai Drive is open again. Next update 3 pm.
Detour
Northbound traffic is being detoured right off SH6 QEII Drive onto Trafalgar Street, left onto Wainui Street, continue on to Weka Street, left onto Atawhai Drive, curve right and continue on Atawhai Drive, left onto a short unnamed road opposite 330 Atawhai Drive, and right onto SH6 QEII Drive/SH6 Atawhai Drive.
Southbound traffic is being detoured left off SH6 QEII Drive/SH6 Atawhai Drive onto Malvern Ave, right onto Atawhai Drive, curve left and continue on Atawhai Drive, right onto Weka Street, continue on Wainui Street, right onto Trafalgar Street, left back onto SH6 QEII Drive.
Please note the difference between the northbound and southbound detour routes.
Detour map
The attached detour is not suitable for HPMV vehicles.
Please note: There’s SH6 Atawhai Drive (State Highway) and also Atawhai Drive (Nelson City Council local road). SH6 QEII Drive becomes SH6 Atawhai Drive at approximately 330 Atawhai Drive (NCC local road).
Follow the directions of emergency services on site. If possible, please delay your journey through this area.
A Total Fire Ban (TFB) has been declared for the North Central, South West and Central regions tomorrow, Thursday 13 February 2025.
Tomorrow’s hot and windy conditions will see temperatures reach mid to high 30s statewide before a gusty cooler south westerly wind change in the early afternoon, likely to hit the Grampians by 2pm and Ballarat by 5pm.
The northerly winds will bring early damaging gusts of 80 to 90km/hr around western and central areas in the morning and early afternoon before possible showers and a severe thunderstorm behind the change across the eastern and central districts.
A Total Fire Ban means no fire can be lit in the open air or allowed to remain alight from 12.01am to 11.59pm on the day of the Total Fire Ban.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the TFB has been declared due to the elevated fire risk that will come with the damaging afternoon winds, high temperatures and underlying dryness.
“Tomorrow’s conditions in the central and south western parts of Victoria will make it difficult for firefighters to supress a fire should one start,” Jason said.
“There is potential for dry lightning to come with the thunderstorms, and although we are anticipating rainfall to follow them, there is still a risk of strikes causing new fire starts.
“While the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park and Little Desert National Park fires were contained over the weekend, we will continue to monitor containment lines for hot spots tomorrow both on the ground and in the air.
“We’re asking people to follow the strict conditions associated with the TFB declaration, stay well informed with warnings through the VicEmergency app and understand how the increased fire risk will impact you, ensuring your fire plan covers all possible contingencies.”
Victorians can find out if it is a Total Fire Ban on the CFA website www.cfa.vic.gov.au, where it is usually published by 5pm the day before a Total Fire Ban.
For more information on what you can and can’t do visit the Can I or Can’t I page on the CFA website.
Victorians should also make sure they have access to more than one source of information.
They include:
ABC local radio, commercial and designated radio stations of Sky News
Two people were arrested for drug trafficking after a traffic stop at Port Augusta yesterday afternoon.
About 3.45pm on Tuesday 11 February, police pulled over a vehicle on Elsie Street, Port Augusta.
Officers instructed the occupants to exit the car, as it was about to be searched. The front passenger was allegedly seen removing an item from her handbag and throwing it underneath the vehicle.
The car was searched and the item, a cloth zip-up bag, was retrieved from under the car. It will be alleged the bag contained approximately 20 grams of suspected methamphetamine, scales, cash and other items.
A 28-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man, both from Port Augusta, were arrested and charged with trafficking in a controlled drug.
They were bailed to appear in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on 31 March.
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) Complete COVID Collections Act to extend the life of the watchdog tasked with tracking down criminals who stole COVID relief designed for small businesses.
“During the pandemic, small business owners in need of financial assistance were turned away because criminals, gang members, and drug traffickers stole money from the relief program,” said Senator Blackburn. “This legislation would help ensure we recoup every penny of funding that was wrongly awarded to criminals who gamed the system.”
“I will not allow fraudsters to get away with stealing hundreds of billions of dollars from taxpayers,” said Senator Ernst. “We are going to recoup every cent and end the cycle in Washington of shrugging off a few billion here and a few hundred million there. That irresponsible mindset is why the federal government is more than $36 trillion in debt. I’m proud to lead this step forward to treat tax dollars like a family treats its budget instead of like a bottomless slush fund.”
“Programs designed to provide relief to our small businesses were repeatedly taken advantage of, leaving small businesses hurting and taxpayers on the hook,” said Senator Young. “I’m glad to see this effort to recover taxpayer dollars and protect Americans from fraud and abuse pass out of committee. I look forward to voting for this bill on the Senate floor.”
“Family-owned businesses in Utah played the rules and used COVID-19 relief funds as intended, but bad actors exploited the system and defrauded taxpayers,” said Senator Curtis. “By extending oversight authority over these programs, our legislation strengthens enforcement efforts and holds criminals accountable for stealing from the American people. I’m proud to see our bill pass out of the Small Business Committee.”
BACKGROUND:
While SBA ran the relief programs on a “first come, first serve” basis, the money ran out quickly, and many qualifying businesses were turned away as felons, gang members, and drug traffickers raked in cash. Some swindlers uploaded pictures of Barbie dolls as photo identification on SBA loan applications that were approved.
One alleged fraudster took home $8 million while nearly 2,000 struggling restaurants in Iowa were left empty-handed.
Senators Blackburn and Ernst led several of their Republican colleagues in introducing the bill after the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) warned its authority was expiring and con artists would get away with stealing more than $200 billion.
CO-SPONSORS:
The bill is cosponsored by Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), and John Curtis (R-Utah).
NATARSHA BELLING: Taxpayers could soon own Rex Airlines. The Federal Government says it’s open to acquiring the regional carrier and making it state owned if administrators can’t sell. And joining us live this afternoon is Transport Minister Catherine King. Minister, good afternoon. Thank you for joining us. Now, you’ve said it is a last resort, but at this stage there are no real bidders emerging. So is it likely?
CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing is the second sale process is about to start. There were no bidders on that expedited first sale process. What’s become evident, if we are to continue to have strong regional carriers and a strong Rex Airlines, is that it will require some support from the Commonwealth. We’ve indicated today that we are working very closely with the administrators on that second sale process, that we are willing to step in with support for our bidders, for the airline. We hope very much there is a market based solution and that the second sale process is successful. But we also want to say really clearly that it is too important to have a regional carrier of this nature- for this to fail. So we are also signalling that we will start the work to ensure that if the second sale process is not successful, then we will look to work with the states and territories around the possible acquisition by the Commonwealth.
But we’re not there yet. What we’re at the moment is really saying, we are doing everything we can to make sure that there is a successful second sale, and to make sure that we continue to provide those services that are much needed in regional communities.
NATARSHA BELLING: So why should taxpayers pay for it if you can’t find any other solutions at this stage?
CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing I’d say is that regional aviation is an incredibly important public good. Being able to make sure that we can get regional communities to medical appointments in our capital cities, or making sure that tourism actually operates in our regions, that is a really important part of our economies. But also remember, we already have seen $150 million plus JobKeeper provided to this airline by the Liberal and National Party with no strings attached, and we’re now in the position that we’re in. So where we are going to have to step in and provide support in order to make sure a second sale process is in place, we want to make sure that there is guarantees around regional routes, guarantees around regional services, guarantees about good governance to make sure we’ve got a strong regional aviator into the future.
NATARSHA BELLING: All right, Minister. Hope it works, especially for regional people across the country. Thanks for joining us this afternoon.
CATHERINE KING: Absolutely. Thank you so much for your interest.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugeescalled onSunday for greater international support to stem the “humanitarian catastrophe” now engulfing Lebanon following a massive escalation in Israeli airstrikes and a “limited” ground invasion there targeting Hezbollah militants.
According to the Lebanese health ministry over 2,000 Lebanese have been killed and nearly 10,000 wounded since the start of Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza a year ago.
Israel intensified its bombing campaign across the whole of Lebanon following the killing of Hezbollah’s leader last month, and Iran’s ballistic missile assault on Israeli cities, in a bid to allow some 60,000 Israelis to return to their homes in the north where rocket fire across the UN-patrolled Blue Line of separation has caused mass evacuations on both sides.
UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi, who arrived in the capital Beirut on Saturday, said hundreds of thousands have been made destitute in recent days and appealed for an immediate ceasfire.
Two weeks of deadly Israeli airstrikes have forced over a million people to flee their homes. Mr. Grandi visited Beirut to express his solidarity with Lebanon and to mobilize more support for all those affected, both Lebanese and refugees.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visits Lebanon on a solidarity mission as humanitarian needs grow.
Tragic toll
The conflict ravaging the country is disrupting urgently required supply shipments, said UNHCR, calling for supply routes within and into Lebanon to be preserved, so the flow of relief items can continue.
During his visit, Mr. Grandi met Prime Minister Najib Mikati and other senior officials, together with senior humanitarians, UNHCR staff, and displaced families.
“I’ve witnessed today the tragic toll this war is taking on entire communities,” said Mr. Grandi.
“International humanitarian law must be respected and cannot be ignored. Families have been left homeless, stranded in the open air with traumatized children unable to understand what’s happening. They all told me how desperate they are to feel safe, and for the airstrikes to stop so they can return to their towns and villages.”
He said it was an “urgent moral imperative to help the people affected by this recent escalation. They should not pay the price for the abysmal failure to find political solutions and end this vicious cycle of violence. Now, in this hour of overwhelming need, the world must come to Lebanon’s aid.”
With large numbers displaced within the country in just two weeks, government-run shelters are overwhelmed and UNHCR is working with humanitarian partners and the authorities to urgently find safe shelter for those forced to flee.
UNHCR relief
UNHCR is also providing people with essential relief items, cash assistance, shelter assistance, medical care and other support. But the international community must significantly increase funding in order for humanitarians to respond adequately, the agency said on Sunday.
UNHCR has launched an appeal for $111 million to assist one million displaced people in Lebanon through the end of 2024, as part of a wider UN appeal for $425.7 million.
Mr. Grandi’s visit to Lebanon included meeting displaced Syrian refugees in Beirut’s Nabaa neighbourhood.
“I deeply appreciate Lebanon’s generosity in hosting so many refugees over the years – including those forced to flee Syria – despite the considerable challenges the country has faced. These refugees are now forced to flee again with scant resources and nowhere safe to go.”
UNIFIL alert
The UN peacekeeping mission that patrols the Blue Line and offers support to civilians in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, has expressed deep concern over military activity by the Israeli Defense Forces close to one of the mission’s positions inside Lebanese territory.
UNIFIL has said all its Blue Helmets are remaining in place at observation points and bases along the line of separation in accordance with their UN mandate.
“The IDF has been repeatedly informed of this ongoing situation through regular channels. This is an extremely dangerous development,” said UNIFIL in a tweet.
“It is unacceptable to compromise the safety of UN peacekeepers carrying out their Security Council-mandated tasks.”
UNIFIL reminded all combatants of their obligations to protect UN personnel and property.
In an update on the situation facing Irish military personnel serving with UNIFIL, the Irish Defence Forces said in a post on X that despite the “tough conditions”, personnel remain steadfast in their determination and resilience to fulfill the mission.”
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has concluded an urgent visit to Syria, highlighting the plight of 250,000 people who have crossed into the country fleeing airstrikes in Lebanon.
“Families I spoke with had run for their lives and have no idea what tomorrow may bring after an exhausting, dangerous journey to the border. They arrive with few means and in need of urgent relief,” UNHCR chief Mr. Grandi said, visiting the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing.
The exodus comes as the conflict between Israel and Lebanon escalates, forcing Lebanese refugees to seek safety across the border.
The arrival of refugees in Syria adds another layer of complexity to an already strained humanitarian situation. The Syrian civil war which began in 2011 has resulted in one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
The country continues to face significant challenges which the UN human rights office, OHCHR, warns is falling deeper into a humanitarian crisis that threatens to spiral out of control.
Only a quarter of this year’s humanitarian needs in Syria have been funded, while needs are at their highest since the start of the conflict: 13 million Syrians face acute food insecurity and over 650,000 children show signs of stunting from severe malnutrition.
Dangerous journey amid destruction
With the main road between Lebanese and Syrian border posts destroyed by an airstrike, refugees are forced to make the journey on foot, with their children and whatever belongings they can carry.
UNHCR – in collaboration with the Syrian Red Crescent, other UN agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), and NGOs – are providing immediate assistance at the border, including water, food items, and blankets. Teams are also supporting the new arrivals with legal assistance, documentation and advising them on administrative and other procedures.
Calls for increased support
Mr. Grandi emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating that: “The new influx of people comes at a time when millions of Syrians are living in hardship and themselves need humanitarian assistance. We must scale up support for the new arrivals and the vulnerable host communities receiving them”.
The High Commissioner underlines the critical need to mobilise humanitarian aid and substantial resources for early recovery activities, as stipulated in Security Council Resolution.
Emergency Appeal
Earlier in Damascus, Mr. Grandi launched an inter-agency emergency appeal for $324 million to support all those fleeing into Syria and their host families over a six-month period.
UNHCR is expanding its humanitarian programmes across Syria to address the needs of both new arrivals and host communities. The agency is also strengthening its legal support programmes.
Five trailblazing women – a nun, an activist, a social entrepreneur, a volunteer aid worker, and an advocate for ending statelessness – have been named the winners of this year’s UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award.
This year’s global laureate for the UN refugee agency award, Sister Rosita Milesi, is a Brazilian nun, lawyer, social worker and movement builder who has championed the rights and dignity of people on the move for nearly 40 years. The four others have been named regional winners.
“All too often, women face heightened risks of discrimination and violence, especially when forced to flee,” said UNHCR Filippo Grandi.
“But these five winners show how women are also playing a critical role in the humanitarian response and in finding solutions,” he underscored.
Mr. Grandi praised their dedication to driving action in their own communities, building grassroots support and even shaping national policies.
Sister Rosita has personally assisted thousands who have either been forced from the homes or gone in search of new opportunities – helping them access legal documentation, shelter, food, healthcare, language training and access to the labour market in Brazil.
As a lawyer, she has also been instrumental in shaping public policy, the refugee agency said.
Her work on Brazil’s 1997 refugee law, for example, helped to amplify refugee rights in line with the 1984 Cartagena Refugee Declaration, ensure that it does more to protect, include and empower people forced on the move within the Central America region, in line with international standards.
Life of dedication
“I decided to dedicate myself to migrants and refugees. I’m inspired by the growing need to help, to welcome, and to integrate refugees,” said Sister Rosita, aged 79.
“I’m not afraid to act, even if we don’t achieve everything we want to. If I take something on, I will turn the world upside down to make it happen,” she added.
Regional winners
Maimouna Ba, the regional winner from Africa this year, is an activist from Burkina Faso. She has helped more than 100 displaced children return to the classroom and put over 400 displaced women on a path to financial independence.
Meanwhile, Jin Davod, the winner from Europe, drew on her own experience as a Syrian refugee to build an online platform that has connected thousands of trauma survivors with licensed therapists providing free mental health support.
Sudanese refugee Nada Fadol, the winner from the Middle East and North Africa region, has mobilized essential aid for hundreds of refugee families fleeing to Egypt in search of safety.
Lastly, Deepti Gurung, the winner from the Asia-Pacific region, campaigned to reform Nepal’s citizenship laws after learning that her two daughters had become stateless – opening a path to citizenship for them and thousands more in similar straits.
The people of Moldova will also receive honourable mention for acting as a beacon of humanity. Setting aside their own economic challenges, they rapidly transformed schools, community spaces and homes into sanctuaries for more than one million people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed its deep concern over disturbing reports that Iranian border police opened fire on a group of Afghan migrants, resulting in deaths and injuries.
The alleged attack occurred on 14 to 15 October in the Kala Gan border area of Iran’s Sistan Province near the Iran-Pakistan border.
The organisation Haalvsh, which focuses on Baloch rights in Iran, has claimed that up to 260 civilians may have been killed or wounded. However, these figures remain unconfirmed.
Afghanistan’s de facto authorities stated that an investigation into the incident has begun. UNAMA’s Human Rights Service is in contact with the DFA regarding the matter.
UNAMA has called for a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the reported attack. The mission emphasised that the “rights, of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are protected by international law.”
Families are being displaced from their homes in Jenin in the northern West Bank due to an escalation of violence.
West Bank Palestinians facing deadly ‘war-like tactics’, warns OCHA
Palestinians continue to face “war-like tactics” used against them by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Friday.
According to OCHA, from 8 to 14 of October, Israeli forces in the West Bank killed nine Palestinians, including a child. Another 104 were injured, including nine youngsters.
“Israeli forces accused most of those fatalities of being involved in attacking Israelis,” said OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke.
The olive harvest which takes place during October and November and is “an economic lifeline for tens of thousands of Palestinian families in the West Bank” has also been targeted, Mr. Laerke warned, with hundreds of olive trees and saplings “vandalized, sawed off, or stolen”.
Killed picking olives
“Yesterday, a Palestinian woman was reportedly killed while she was harvesting olives in Jenin. This follows 32 attacks by Israeli settlers this month on Palestinians engaged in the ongoing olive harvest happening right now.”
The woman was with her family and other community members on land near the Wall separating Israel and the West Bank.
According to information gathered by the UN rights office, OHCHR, the harvesters were not posing any threat whatsoever when Israeli security forces fired multiple shots at them without prior warning.
The arbitrary killing comes in the context of intensified, organized attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian harvesting teams to sabotage the olive harvest, along with use of force by Israeli security forces to block Palestiniansˈ access to their lands in an apparently arbitrary manner.
During the first week of the official Palestinian olive harvest season OHCHR recorded dozens of incidents of violence against Palestinian harvesters and disruption of access to olive groves.
Among other alarming incidents, on 13 October, Palestinian landowners from Qusra, Nablus, found 115 of their trees cut down with a chainsaw after resisting harassment and threats by settlers and security forces to vacate their groves.
Mr. Laerke said that although there has been settler violence for “a very long time, this year is extraordinary”.
He noted that about 160,000 people have had their work permits for Israel cancelled, depriving families of livelihoods and income.
Senior official underscores UN support for Somalia
The UN political affairs chief concluded a two-day visit to Somalia on Friday where she reaffirmed the world body’s support for the country’s efforts towards peace- and state-building.
Rosemary DiCarlo said the UN has been a longstanding partner to Somalia and remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the Government and people.
“Together, we aim to build on the commendable achievements and priorities agreed upon to address key development challenges facing the country – we stand ready to work alongside the Federal Government of Somalia to accomplish this,” she added.
Achievements and transitions
While in the capital, Mogadishu, Ms. DiCarlo met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and senior members of his team for wide-ranging discussions, in addition to meeting with representatives of civil society, international partners and the diplomatic community.
In her meeting with the President, Ms. DiCarlo noted Somalia’s many achievements in the past year, including debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, the accession to the East African Community, and the lifting of the arms embargo.
Looking forward, she offered her congratulations on Somalia taking up a seat on the UN Security Council starting next year. She also underscored the commitment of the UN to continue to support Somalia in the period ahead and to work closely on the proposed transition of the UN mission in the country, UNSOM.
Ms. DiCarlo also met with Ambassador Mohammed El-Amine Souef, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission for Somalia and Head of the AU Transition Mission there, ATMIS.
They discussed ATMIS’s upcoming transition to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) which begins in January.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has called for “urgent international support” as the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reaches 123 million, with ongoing conflicts in Lebanon, Sudan and other areas driving further displacement.
In a statement to the Third Committee of the General Assembly, Mr. Grandi highlighted the “catastrophic” humanitarian situation in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes have caused massive civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, including schools, hospitals and roads.
“The humanitarian consequences are overwhelming and require urgent international support,” he stated, noting that 470,000 people have crossed into Syria in recent weeks.
In Sudan, the situation has also reached critical levels, with more than 11 million people displaced since the conflict began 18 months ago.
“Conditions in Sudan defy description – wanton violence, sexual atrocities, starvation, floods, disease. We are witnessing in real time the collapse of a nation’s social infrastructure,” he warned.
Call for new approach
Mr. Grandi expressed particular concern about the increasing trend of governments implementing restrictive measures that focus on border controls and sometimes attempt to “outsource, externalize or suspend asylum.” He emphasized that such approaches are “not only ineffective but also breach their international legal obligations”.
He called for a more comprehensive and effective approach to addressing displacement, urging countries to look beyond border control and consider “entire displacement routes”.
He urged countries to “look for opportunities in countries of origin” to “strengthen the resilience of communities at risk of climate displacement”.
He encouraged Member States to “look for opportunities to expand legal stay and regularisation programmes in countries of asylum or transit, creating access to services and to employment”, and to establish more “pathways so people can move legally and safely.”
Addressing funding challenges, Mr. Grandi revealed that the UN refugee agency UNHCR, had to reduce 1,000 positions and freeze critical life-saving activities due to recent financial constraints. He noted that “funding levels for 2025 and beyond remain uncertain, further jeopardising our and host countries’ ability to respond to refugee and displacement crises in a predictable and flexible manner”.
“We must be able to act – together – even in difficult times,” he concluded, emphasizing the need for continued international solidarity with displaced and stateless people worldwide.
UN agencies and their humanitarian partners are providing life-saving relief to families in Nigeria who lost their homes during recent flooding.
Heavy rains have ravaged 30 of the country’s 36 states, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Tuesday.
The Government has reported 269 deaths so far, while over a million people have been affected and more than 640,000 are now displaced.
Major dam breach
Nigeria is among a handful of West African countries that have been hit by torrential rains that have triggered devastating flooding, impacting millions across the region.
The northeastern town of Maiduguri, capital of Borno state and a major humanitarian hub, is at the epicentre of the crisis there.
Rains caused a breach in nearby Alau Dam, causing severe flooding that has uprooted more than 400,000 people in recent days.
Half of Maiduguri has been submerged and most residents have lost everything. Many had already been displaced by conflict or the effects of climate change.
Displaced once again
The UNHCR Representative in Nigeria, Arjun Jain, said the floods have compounded years of prior displacement, food insecurity and economic hardship, with disastrous consequences.
“Communities which, after years of conflict and violence, had started rebuilding their lives were struck by the floods and once again displaced,” he told journalists attending the regular UN humanitarian briefing in Geneva.
Assistance to families
In response to the crisis, UNHCR and partners have been working tirelessly to support those affected.
Staff are providing tarpaulins, blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets and other essential items. Emergency cash assistance is also being given to single-parent families, people with disabilities and families with young children to help them purchase food and other necessities.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) has set up food kitchens in four camps in Maiduguri, where families can get nutritious meals of rice and beans.
WFP is ramping up support across West Africa, where torrential rains have unleashed catastrophic floods impacting over four million people in 14 countries.
The agency is providing people in hard-hit areas in Chad, Liberia, Mali and Niger with emergency cash and food assistance.
At the same time, WFP is calling for investments in early warning systems, disaster risk financing and other measures to help mitigate flood and climate risks.
Urgent action required
Back in Nigeria, UNHCR warned, however, that supplies there are quickly depleting meaning the agency can only meet less than 10 per cent of the urgent needs.
“When the floodwaters finally recede, thousands of families will face the daunting task of returning to homes that have been destroyed. They will need significant support to rebuild homes, livelihoods, and a sense of normalcy,” said Mr. Jain.
In the meantime, the UN and partners are collecting more data to help assess and address the overall needs.
“But we cannot afford to wait,” he warned. “The urgency of this crisis requires immediate action and increased support for flood-affected families, in Maiduguri and elsewhere in Nigeria.”
Mr. Jain said there are currently 3.6 million internally displaced people in Nigeria, mostly in the northeast, and the country hosts almost 100,000 asylum-seekers and refugees.
UNHCR is seeking $107.1 million for operations there this year, but he said the appeal was just 28 per cent funded by the end of August.
Action is needed now to stop the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea from “becoming mass graves for migrants”, two UN agencies warned the Security Council on Monday.
“The scale of this tragedy, its impact on survivors, families and communities and the frequency with which we witness deaths in transit constitute an intolerable and utterly soluble, humanitarian crisis,” said Pär Liljert, director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Office to the UN, referring to one of the world’s most deadly routes for migrants and refugees, as they attempt to reach countries of the European Union.
In 2023, IOM recorded 8,542 migrant deaths globally – the highest since it began collecting this data in 2014 – with 37 per cent of these deaths occurring in the Mediterranean, he said.
Echoing that message, Sivanka Dhanapala, who directs the New York office of the UN refugee agency, UNCHR, told the Council the tragedies of lives lost on sea and land routes continue “with no end in sight”.
He said UNHCR has registered more than 350,000 refugees and asylum-seekers so far this year, many of them Sudanese refugees, seeking protection in North Africa.
Between January and August, over 134,000 refugees and migrants departed by sea from North and West Africa towards Europe, a 24 per cent drop from last year.
As of 17 September, the IOM Missing Migrants Project reported that 1,450 people were accounted as dead or missing during the crossing, a 44 per cent drop from 2023, he said, adding that in Libya, over 97,000 Sudanese refugees have arrived in the last year, with 300 to 400 people continue to arrive daily as the recent conflict in Sudan has triggered many to flee.
While numbers may be dropping, concerns remain, he continued.
Dearth of protection, safety and refuge
Mr. Dhanapala said there has been no improvement in access to protection along key routes alongside an increase in challenges relating to access to territory and asylum, evidenced by an increase in interceptions and collective expulsions.
A UN refugee agency report highlights major gaps in access to protection and humanitarian assistance along the routes and people moving are facing high risks of deaths, gender-based violence, kidnapping for ransom, trafficking, robbery and other physical violence, he said, citing a new joint report by UNHCR, IOM and the Mixed Migration Centre.
To remedy this dire situation, he offered a set of recommendations, including that human rights safeguards must be upheld, strengthening access to protection, prosecuting smugglers and increased search-and-rescue at sea.
“Saving lives at sea and providing humanitarian assistance is one of the most basic obligations of humanity, and those performing rescue operations or helping in good faith should not be penalised for doing so,” he said, adding that efforts must centre on inclusion, resettlement and complementary pathways for refugees and migrants while addressing the root causes.
IOM: Conflict among main drivers
IOM’s Mr. Liljert said the primary drivers are economic reasons (44 per cent), war and conflict (29 per cent) and the desire to escape from personal or targeted violence (26 per cent), according to the agency’s displacement tracking matrix (DTM) data from 2023 and 2024.
Compounding these hardships is the devastation caused by disasters, exacerbated by climate change, as well as challenges in host countries, he said, pointing to Libya as an example.
Almost 70 per cent of migrants IOM interviewed in Libya in June and July stated that high food prices were the main shock experienced prior to leaving the country while 63 per cent cited low or decreased daily wages.
At the same time, a UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission in Libya found that the country is not considered a safe place for disembarkation, with reports of rights violations, including detention, torture and trafficking.
Ever more dangerous routes
Mr. Liljert said migrants are pursuing even more dangerous pathways to reach Europe as is evident in the sharp increase of arrivals on the Western African Atlantic route.
The international community should not allow the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea to “continue becoming mass graves for migrants”, he cautioned, calling for ensuring search-and-rescue operations have a stronger focus on saving lives.
“We must move beyond reactive measures…with a holistic approach that tackles the adverse drivers of irregular migration,” he said, strongly encouraging the expansion of humanitarian pathways for those in search of safe refuge, including temporary protection permits, private sponsorships and family reunification, among others.
“By adopting these measures,” he said, “we can not only reduce the immense human suffering associated with irregular migration, but also create sustainable, long-term solutions that promote peace, stability and shared responsibility.”
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
On 13 November 2024, UNECE organized the Deforestation-free trade dialogue. We invited everyone from the wood, cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber and soy sectors as well as those involved in the leather, chocolate, tires and pulp and paper trade and industry to this discussion.
The special focus of this dialogue was the European Union’s Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on deforestation-free products (EUDR) and its implications.
ADB logo Asian Development Bank North American Representative Office 30 Years of Partnership
Samuel Tumiwa, NARO Representative:
[Music] The North American Representative Office was established 30 years ago, in 1995. Our main job is to maintain a strong relationship with the US government and the Canadian government. One of the things that’s become more and more important is that we also share with the people here in the US and Canada what we do in the developing countries in Asia and the Pacific.
Alain Borghijs, NARO Deputy Representative:
It’s crucial that we work closely with our government partners because they guide us on their development policy priorities. I should also mention our close collaboration with other financial institutions based here in DC: the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and International Monetary Fund. Our corporate-level work here complements the on-the-ground collaboration that we have in the developing countries.
Scott Morris, Vice-President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific):
If I look at the US in particular, they have been a key architect of the broader MDB Evolution agenda, which is enabling us as an institution to up our game and provide more resources to these countries. When I look to Canada, I see critical intellectual leadership, particularly in providing us a course to follow on a gender-based strategy.
Roberta Casali, Vice-President (Finance and Risk Management):
Thought leadership and important policy dialogues in the US and Canada have strengthened our innovative finance and balance sheet optimization solutions.
Yingming Yang, Vice-President (South, Central and West Asia):
Both the US and Canada have worked to support telecommunication activities and small businesses. US and Canadian technology and innovation have been essential to our work in Asia and the Pacific.
Xinning Jia, Director General of Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships:
The United States is a founding member of ADB and the co-largest shareholder, promoting excellence in ADB’s strategy and policy direction. Canada is a founding member of ADB, always promoting gender equality. Canada is supporting ADB’s climate finance through the Canadian Climate Fund for the private sector in Asia.
Suzanne Gaboury, Director General of Private Sector Operations:
Both the US and Canada are great supporters of the private sector, which is really important for us. As a consequence, we have many Canadian clients and many US clients that come to visit us in the Philippines. It’s also really important that we come here to North America to visit them in their home countries. Last year, for every dollar that we invested, we mobilized another $2.7. I think that’s remarkable because we need to mobilize capital into the private markets and help capital market development. Part of our job is to be a financial intermediary in these markets.
Steve Goldfinch, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist:
NARO provides an important link across ADB’s developing member countries in Asia and the Pacific and the governments of the US and Canada. Partners and organizations such as the World Bank and think tanks based here in DC make DC not only a center of development finance but also of development thinking. From the MDBs headquartered here to the think tanks and policy centers, NARO’s role is really that of a convener, broker, and connector. This is critical in serving ADB’s member countries.
When I think about the theme of partnerships in line with the 30th anniversary, I see that as not just financial partnerships but also knowledge collaboration. We can do more in terms of coming together and convening power, bringing networks together, whether it be academia, civil society, government, private sector, or diaspora communities. I think there’s a lot that we can do in terms of the theme of partnerships, but again, really trying to drive progress on our shared goals within the region. The last 30 years have seen incredible innovation with partnerships between Canada, the US, and the ADB, and we’re really looking forward to seeing what the future holds.
To ensure Bhutan’s food security, it is essential to adopt strategies to increase farm productivity and decrease food loss in the supply chain. The study proposed three pilot solutions: (i) adoption of best practices to improve crop productivity, (ii) creation of modern greenhouse farms, and (iii) improvements in post-harvest management (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Proposed Solutions for Food Security Challenges in Bhutan
ICT = information and communication technology. Source: Author.
Adoption of best practices to improve crop productivity
Improving self-sufficiency through increased productivity of staple crops is a top priority. In particular, increasing the productivity of main crops, such as rice and potatoes, is critical.
Rice is an important cereal in Bhutan and its availability directly impacts national food security and stability. However, rice production is continuously decreasing due to the reduction in cultivated areas, labor shortages, limited irrigation water, and climate change. To address this, an integrated approach is needed, involving the following:
farmland configuration (farmland consolidation and mechanization)
research and development on new seed variety and seed system development
promotion of mechanization and information and communication technology (ICT), such as use of drones for sowing, pesticide spraying, remote diagnosis of diseases
water-saving irrigation systems to ensure sustainable water management, mitigate drought risks, and improve crops
harvest and post-harvest management through effective and efficient implementation of harvesting techniques
establishment of proper storage facilities (e.g., warehouses and silos equipped with climate control systems to maintain grain quality and prevent pest infestations)
It is also important to promote gender and youth capacity development through specialized training programs focused on gender-sensitive and youth-friendly agricultural practices.
Potatoes are one of Bhutan’s cash crops, but production has suffered a significant drop due to the aging and declining quality of potato seeds. Mainstreaming disease-free potato seeds is essential because potato is a highly degenerated crop easily infected with virus. Immediate interventions should focus on the following:
improve agricultural practices (e.g., adequate irrigation, fertilization, and pest management)
intensify disease-free potato seed production systems and seed supply
introduce post-harvest management system
adoption of new varieties
Creation of modern greenhouse farms
The establishment of modern greenhouse farms are proposed to reduce dependency on imported vegetables. Traditional farming methods limit year-round production and hinder competitiveness, forcing the country to rely on imported vegetables during the winter season.
Modern greenhouse farms—integrated with ICT—can produce and supply vegetables year-round and reduce import dependence. ICT, such as sensor systems, automated control systems, remote monitoring and control, fertilizer application systems, and weather forecasting would help monitor and control temperature, irrigation, and fertilizer application.
Development of farm operational manuals customized to Bhutan’s conditions is also an innovative and systematic approach of knowledge transfer. While greenhouse infrastructures are being built, enhanced capacity development through trainings and workshops, collaboration with industry partners, technology providers, agricultural experts and study tours are crucial technical assistance components.
Improvements in post-harvest management
Effective post-harvest management is crucial to minimizing food loss and ensuring food supply. Food loss occurs due to inadequate management of the value chain, from crop harvesting to storage, processing, and packaging. To tackle these issues, several steps are necessary:
activation of an agricultural products processing center, which would play a key role in the efficient production and distribution of local crop production areas and post-harvest management. The center can supply foods that meet the needs of consumers, using facilities for pre-cooling, sorting, packaging, processing, storage, and carrying out shipping and distribution.
development of post-harvest management manuals for each crop to ensure a more aligned and systematic approach
commercialize customized products by route, grade, specification, and packaging materials to meet the needs of various consumers
Sales and delivery management should also be enhanced through strategic marketing segmentation, expanded market channels (e.g., wholesale markets, large distributors, and exporters), and integrated value chain logistics (e.g., installation of cooling transportation facilities linked to cold storage to maintain marketability, unit load system, and traceability system).
French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls has announced he will travel to New Caledonia later this month to pursue talks on the French territory’s political future.
These discussions on February 22 follow preliminary talks held last week in Paris in “bilateral” mode with a wide range of political stakeholders.
The talks, which included pro-independence and pro-France parties, were said to have “allowed to restore a climate of trust between France and New Caledonia’s politicians”.
Those meetings contributed to “a better understanding” of “everyone’s expectations” and “clarify everyone’s respective projects”, Valls said.
Between February 4 and 9, Valls said he had met “at least twice” with delegations from all six parties and movements represented in New Caledonia’s Congress.
The main goal was to resume the political process and allow everyone to “project themselves into the future” after the May 2024 riots.
The riots caused 14 dead, hundreds of injured, arson and looting of hundreds of businesses and an estimated damage of some 2.2 billion euros (NZ$4 billion).
‘Touched all topics’ “We have touched on all topics, extensively and without any taboo, including the events related to the riots that broke out in New Caledonia in May 2024.”
Valls said in this post-riot situation, “everyone bears their own responsibilities, but the French State may also have a part of responsibility for what happened a few months ago”.
New Caledonia’s key economic leaders Mimsy Daly and David Guyenne with French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls. Image: MEDEF NC/RNZ
At the weekend, as part of the week-long talks, Valls and French Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin hosted a three-hour session dedicated to New Caledonia’s “devastated” economy.
High on the agenda of the conference were crucial subjects, such as France’s assistance package, the need to reform and reduce costs in New Caledonia (including in the public service workforce) — as well as key sectors such as the health, tourism sectors and the nickel mining and processing industry — which has been facing an unprecedented crisis for the past two years.
Unemployment benefits There was also a significant chapter dedicated to the duration of special unemployment benefits for those who have lost their jobs due to the riots’ destruction.
Another sensitive point raised was the long and difficult process for businesses (especially very small, small and medium) damaged and destroyed for the same reasons to get insurance companies to pay compensation.
Most insurance companies represented in New Caledonia have, since the May 2024 riots, cancelled the “riot risk” from their insurance coverage.
This has so far made it impossible for riot-damaged businesses to renew their insurance cover under the same terms as before.
French assistance to post-riot recovery in New Caledonia includes a 1 billion euros (NZ$1.8 billion) loan ceiling and a special fund of some 192 million euros (NZ$350 million) dedicated to the reconstruction of public buildings, mainly schools.
New Caledonia’s students are returning to school next week as part of the new academic year.
French Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin speaking from Paris to New Caledonia audience via a vision conference during the Economic Forum last Saturday. Image: NC la 1ère TV/RNZ
Economy and politics closely intertwined Valls stressed once again that “there cannot be an economic recovery without a political compromise, just like there cannot be any lasting political solution without economic recovery”.
“(France) needs to be there so that the economic slump (caused by the riots) does not turn into a social disaster which, in turn, would exacerbate political fractures”.
“The government of France will be on your side. No matter what happens. We are absolutely taking charge of our responsibilities.”
The “economic Forum” was also the first time delegations from all political tendencies, even though they did not talk to each other directly, were at least sitting in the same room.
“Thank you all for being here, this is a beautiful picture of New Caledonia. Maybe the economy can do more than politics”, Valls told the Economic Forum last Saturday.
Next step: ‘trilateral’ meetings The next step, in New Caledonia, is for Valls to attempt holding “trilateral” meetings (involving all parties, pro and anti-independence and France) around the same table, which was not the case in Paris last week.
The format of those Nouméa talks, however, “remains to be determined”.
Valls said he could stay in New Caledonia for as long as one week because, he said, “I want to take time”, including to not only meet politicians, but also economic and civil society stakeholders.
The 62-year-old French minister, who is also a former Prime Minister, as a political adviser to the then French Socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard, was involved in the signing of the Matignon Accord, signed in 1988 between France, pro-independence and pro-France parties, which effectively put an end to half a decade of quasi civil war in the French Pacific archipelago.
He also stressed that any future discussion would be based on the “foundation and basis” of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords which, he said, was “the only possible way”.
The Nouméa Accord, signed in 1998 between the same parties, paved the way for a gradual transfer of powers from France to New Caledonia as well as a status of wider autonomy, often described in the legal jargon as “sui generis”.
Until now, under the Nouméa Accord, the key powers remaining to be transferred by France were foreign affairs (shared with New Caledonia), currency, law and order, defence and justice.
New Caledonia’s authorities have not requested the implementation of the transfer for another three portfolios: higher education, research, audiovisual communication and the administration of communes.
An exit protocol But the 1998 deal also included an exit protocol, depending on the results of three referendums on self-determination.
Those referendums were held in 2018, 2020 and 2021 and they all yielded a majority of votes against independence.
However, New Caledonia’s pro-independence movement largely boycotted the third poll and has since contested its validity.
Pro-France and pro-independence camps hold radically different views on how New Caledonia should evolve in its post-Nouméa Accord (1998) future status.
The options mentioned so far by local parties range from a quick independence (a five-year process to begin in September 2025 following the anticipated signature of a “Kanaky Accord”) to some sort of yet undefined “shared sovereignty” that could imply an “independence-association”, or a status of “associated state” for New Caledonia.
Pro-France parties, however, have previously stated they were determined to push for New Caledonia to remain part of France and, in corollary, that New Caledonia’s three provinces (North, South and Loyalty Islands) should be granted more separate powers, a formula sometimes described as “internal federalism” but criticised by pro-independence parties as a form of “apartheid”.
Complicating factor Another complicating factor is that both sides — pro-independence and pro-France camps — are also divided between moderate and radical components.
Last week, during question time in Parliament, Valls expressed concern at the current polarised situation: “People talk about racism, civil war. A common and shared project can only be built through dialogue.
“The (previously signed, respectively in 1988 and 1998) Matignon and Nouméa Accords, both bearing the prospect of a decolonisation process, are the foundation of our discussions. I would even say they are part of my DNA,” the minister said.
Referring to any future outcome of the current talks, he said they will have to be “inventive, ambitious, bold in order to build a compromise and do away with any radical position, all radical positions, in order to offer a common project for New Caledonia, for its youth, for concord and for peace”.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lee Morgenbesser, Associate Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University, Griffith University
Many Americans have watched in horror as Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has been permitted to tear through various offices of the United States government in recent weeks. Backed by President Donald Trump, and supported by a small team of true believers, he has successfully laid siege to America’s vast federal bureaucracy.
On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order giving Musk even more power. It requires federal agencies to cooperate with his “Department of Government Efficiency” (known as DOGE) in cutting their staffing levels and restricting new hires.
In his first comments to the media since joining the Trump administration as a “special” government employee, Musk also responded to criticism that he’s launching a “hostile takeover” of the US government.
The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what people are going to get.
Are Musk’s actions akin to a “hostile takeover” of government, or a coup? I argue it’s more a form of “state capture”. Here’s what that means.
Why it’s not a coup or self-coup
Under the pretence of maximising government efficiency and productivity, DOGE has amassed quite a bit of power. It has:
penetrated the massive system responsible for virtually all government payments
A popular argument, supported by some historians and commentators, is that Musk’s actions amount to a coup. They argue this is not a coup in the classic sense of a takeover of the physical centres of power. Rather, it’s a seizure of digital infrastructure by an unelected group seeking to undo democratic practices and violate human rights.
This term, however, is not technically correct. The most widely accepted definition of a coup is:
an overt attempt by the military or other elites within the state apparatus to unseat the sitting head of state using unconstitutional means.
Since Musk and Trump are bedfellows in this plot, the tech billionaire is clearly not trying to violently unseat the president.
Another possible explanation: this is a self-coup. This describes a situation in which
the sitting national leader takes decisive illegitimate action against countervailing institutions and elites to perpetuate the incumbent’s power.
In December, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted a self-coup when he declared martial law in order to ostensibly protect the country from opposition forces. He quickly reversed his decision amid elite defections and mass public demonstrations.
Though self-coups are becoming more common, Musk is doing the dirty work in the US – not Trump. Also, Musk’s chief target – the bureaucracy – does not nominally offset presidential power (except in conspiracy theories).
What is ‘state capture’?
More accurately, Musk’s siege amounts to a form of “state capture”. This refers to:
the appropriation of state resources by political actors for their own ends: either private or political.
By this logic, Musk’s aim could be to capture different pieces of the US government and turn the state into a tool for wealth extraction.
State capture is a relatively simple but extremely destructive process. This is how it has played out in countries like Indonesia, Hungary, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka and South Africa (Musk’s birthplace):
First, political and corporate elites gain control of formal institutions, information systems and bureaucratic policy-making processes.
Then, they use this power to apply rules selectively, make biased decisions and allocate resources based on private interests (rather than the public good).
In captured states, strongman leaders often use economic policy and regulatory decisions to reward their political friends. For instance, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Russian President Vladimir Putin and former South African President Jacob Zuma have helped their allies by:
making government anti-trust decisions
issuing permits and licenses
awarding government contracts and concessions
waiving regulations or tariffs
conferring tax exempt status.
State capture is fundamentally a predatory process.
By taking over how the American government does business, Musk could be seeking to enrich a small but powerful network of allies.
The first beneficiary would be Trump, who is no stranger to using his office to expand his family’s business empire. With a more fully captured state, Trump can take an active role in determining how public wealth is dispersed among corporate and political elites. This decision-making power often goes hand-in-hand with “personalist” regimes, in which everything is a transaction with the leader.
The second beneficiary would be Musk himself and other Silicon Valley mega-billionaires who have bent a knee to Trump. By positioning their tech companies as the solution to what allegedly ails the federal government, particularly when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence, they stand to secure lucrative contracts handed out by the “new” state.
The third beneficiary would be the small army of engineers and technicians working with Musk to upend the American government. As loyal foot soldiers, these individuals will be compensated with career advancement, financial gains and networking opportunities, while also enjoying legal impunity. This kind of quid pro quo is how authoritarian regimes work.
What this could mean for the US
As Musk continues his assault on the federal bureaucracy, the American people will suffer the consequences.
The most immediate impact of state capture: worse decisions are made. By purging experienced civil servants, cancelling government contracts and accessing sensitive information systems, Musk’s actions will likely degrade the standard of living at home and endanger American lives abroad.
State capture also means there would be less accountability for the Trump administration’s public policy decisions. With a lack of congressional and independent oversight, key decisions over the distribution of economic benefits could be made informally behind closed doors.
Finally, state capture is inseparable from corruption. Doing business with the US federal government could soon require one to pass a loyalty test rather than a public interest test.
Trump’s enemies will encounter more hurdles, while his allies will have a seat at the table.
Lee Morgenbesser receives funding from the Australian Research Council (DP220103214). He is also a member of the Australian Labor Party.
Sudan’s displaced have endured “unimaginable suffering” in their search for shelter from the country’s ongoing war, UN humanitarians warned on Friday.
Nineteen months since conflict erupted between rival militaries the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the transfer of power to civilian rule, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) expressed deep concern that more than three million people have now been forced to flee the country in search of safety.
“It’s been over a year and a half of unimaginable suffering, brutal atrocities and widespread human rights violations,” said Dominique Hyde, UNHCR Director of External Relations. “Every day of every minute, thousands of lives are shattered by war and violence away from the world’s attention.”
Speaking in Geneva after visiting displaced communities sheltering in neighbouring Chad, Ms. Hyde described Chad as “a sanctuary, a lifeline” for 700,000 war refugees.
Unimaginable testimony
“I spoke to people who watched while their families were murdered,” she said. “People are targeted on the basis of their ethnicity. Men and boys are killed and their bodies are burned. Women raped while fleeing. People told me over and over again how they remember the bodies they saw abandoned by the road as they were fleeing.”
The UNHCR official explained that in the face of massive needs, the UN agency and partners had relocated more than 370,000 refugees in Chad “to six new-build settlements and 10 extensions of pre-existing settlements, all completed in record time. But tens of thousands of families are still waiting for that opportunity to start over”.
Forgotten emergency
The exodus from Sudan has put pressure on surrounding countries to provide assistance to all those in need of shelter and basic services.
“Other countries neighbouring Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Central African Republic have gone above and beyond their means, not only providing safety for people to flee, but extending a chance to refugees to start rebuilding their lives while in exile,” the UNHCR official said.
“Continuing bloodshed” in Sudan’s Darfurs and across the country has created the world’s worst civilian protection crisis in decades, but “the world is not paying any attention”, Ms. Hyde insisted.
In October alone, some 60,000 Sudanese arrived in Chad following an escalation of fighting in Darfur and as floodwaters receded.
The border town of Adre used to be home to 40,000 people, but it now hosts around 230,000 Sudanese refugees; many spend months in harsh conditions while waiting to be relocated inland.
“The exodus from Sudan continues, reaching levels not seen since the beginning of the crisis,” explained Ms. Hyde. “People are arriving in desperate conditions, carrying nothing but memories of unimaginable violence they witnessed and survived – things no one should have to endure.”
As UNHCR continues to register new arrivals in Chad, it reported that a full 71 per cent of suffered human rights violations in Sudan while fleeing.
Of 180 people who fled the Darfur city of El Geneina towards Chad, all but 17 were “massacred”, Ms. Hyde said, recounting the testimony of one young woman who escaped. “Of the 17 that survived, all of the women were raped…six of the women who survived the rape committed suicide.”
The $1.5 billion Refugee Response Plan for Sudan’s displaced which aims to assist 2.7 million people in five neighbouring countries is only 29 per cent funded. “Chad and its people…have been more than generous, more than welcoming,” Ms. Hyde said.
“I heard over and over again that they felt one with the Sudanese community. But we need that support. We need support now.”
UN refugee agency, UNHCR, on Thursday launchedthe Refugees for Climate Action initiative in a bid to mobilise the world’s forcibly displaced to join the fight against global warming.
Actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Theo James kicked the campaign off at the COP29 Climate Conference in Baku, alongside a group of eight displaced people with first-hand knowledge of how the climate crisis is impacting families.
The actor has been lending his voice to UNHCR’s urgent call to address the impact of record rising temperatures on displaced communities.
Passionate about climate activism, the refugees taking part in the initiative will be advocating for climate justice and demanding a voice in policy discussions.
The Refugees for Climate Action group was initially convened in 2023 by UNHCR to create a space where refugees and displaced communities on the frontlines of climate change could share their unique experiences and knowledge.
Theo James calls for more action
Following a recent visit to Mauritania, Mr. James said he was committed to supporting their efforts. His own grandfather was a refugee who fled Europe for the safety of Syria during World War Two: “I’ve seen the profound injustice of the climate crisis on refugees, and the urgency is real,” he said.
“Yet, I’ve also seen the resilience of those affected – refugees are finding solutions, and they must be heard”, he added, calling on leaders to put the displaced at the centre of the conversation.
Refugee climate activists
The network brings together refugees and displaced people from countries including Afghanistan, Yemen, Haiti, Bangladesh and Brazil, each with lived experiences of displacement interlinked with conflict and climate change, and who are already driving climate action initiatives in their communities.
“We refugees are on the frontlines of the climate crisis,” said Najeeba Wazefadost, a member of the group and founder of the Asia Pacific Network for Refugees (APNOR) who empowers Afghan women through solar energy to support their businesses.
“For us, climate change is not an abstract threat. It is a daily fight for survival, stability and dignity. We urge leaders to listen to our stories and to take decisive action that includes us, supports our resilience and empowers refugee-led solutions”, added Ms. Wazefadost, who fled Afghanistan in 2000.
Najeeba Wazefadost, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees.
Impacts or war and climate emergency
Other members of the group include Mohammed Anowar, a Rohingya refugee based in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, who trains fellow refugees on flood resilience; Eman Al-Hamali, an internally displaced woman from Yemen, who leads a solar microgrid project providing affordable energy to vulnerable households in her community; and Ermano Prévoir, from Haiti, now living in Brazil, who is an agronomist looking at sustainable farming techniques to improve food security.
“As refugees and displaced people, we have intimately witnessed the profound impacts of war on our lives and communities – and now a global climate emergency,” said Opira Bosco Okot, a refugee climate activist living in Uganda, who uses communication technologies to advocate for refugee access to climate policy discussions.
In its first ever climate report released on Tuesday, UNHCR said three out of four forcibly displaced people worldwide – 90 million out of 120 million – lived in countries exposed to high to extreme climate change impacts.
UNHCR commitment
The initiative embodies UNHCR’s commitment to place displaced communities at the centre of climate action. The group will serve as a consultative body on climate issues, contribute to key global and local climate events, and work to ensure that the voices and perspectives of refugees and displaced people are integrated into UNHCR’s work and international climate discussions.
UNHCR provides members of the group with opportunities for training and capacity building, helping them sharpen their advocacy skills and expand their influence in key climate events such as COP29.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has launched a $10 billion appeal for 2025 to meet critical needs and implement sustainable solutions for millions of refugees, displaced persons and stateless people worldwide.
Announced earlier this week, the agency’s Global Appeal comes amid escalating humanitarian crises, as conflict, persecution and the growing impacts of climate change continue to force millions from their homes.
“We live in an era of relentless emergencies. Of crises without end,” High Commissioner Filippo Grandi said, emphasising the scale of the challenges in a foreword accompanying the appeal.
He highlighted recent and ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine and Lebanon, which have driven massive displacement, while also noting the protracted nature of many refugee situations, including those involving displaced populations from Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Fully funded, the appeal aims to support more than 139 million refugees and other vulnerable groups in some 136 countries and territories.
Three primary areas
The appeal focuses on three primary areas: emergency response, inclusion, and long-term solutions.
UNHCR remains committed to its frontline role in emergencies, providing life-saving aid to displaced individuals, Mr. Grandi said, adding: “When conflict breaks out, UNHCR is among the first to respond.”
The appeal also goes beyond immediate assistance, calling for sustainable approaches that integrate displaced individuals into local and national systems.
UNHCR aims to work with governments, civil society and development actors to promote inclusion in education, healthcare, and employment.
Numbers breakdown
Of the 139.3 million targeted beneficiaries, 34 million (24 per cent) are refugees, 68 million (48 per cent) internally displaced, 12 million are returnees, and about 4.5 million are stateless people under the agency’s mandate.
Around $2.1 is required for UNHCR programmes in Middle East and North Africa, $1.2 billion in Europe, $957 million in Asia and the Pacific, and $815 million in the Americas.
Across the African continent, $2.1 billion is needed in East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes, $1.2 billion in West and Central Africa and $451 million in Southern Africa.
Worries for Asia and the Pacific
UNHCR anticipates that the Asia-Pacific region in 2025 could face increased displacement due to conflict, persecution, climate change impacts and yet more disasters. It projects a rise in the complexity and scale of emergencies, compounded by diminishing donor support, which threatens to fall short of escalating needs.
In response UNHCR will focus on fulfilling the pledges from the Global Refugee Forum, including more than 60 commitments from States to strengthen protections and find solutions for Afghan refugees and stateless Rohingya populations.
Afghanistan remains the top country of origin for the region’s displaced, where over nine million forcibly displaced are located. Neighbouring nations Iran and Pakistan bear the brunt, sheltering 3.9 million and 2.4 million Afghan refugees respectively.
Similarly, Bangladesh continues to host over one million stateless Rohingya driven from their homes in neighbouring Myanmar over several years.
Driven from their homes in Myanmar, over a million Rohingya refugees have sought refuge in Bangladesh.
Working together
Mr. Grandi also highlighted the importance of innovation and collaboration, reiterating that addressing forced displacement requires a united global effort.
“We do not work alone. Reaching those in need – both displaced people and their hosts – requires partnerships with governments, local actors, academia, and the private sector.”
UNHCR plans to build on the progress made at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, where thousands of pledges were made to support displaced populations.
A key focus for 2025 will be turning these promises into tangible action, supported by technical expertise and funding from the international community.
Unpredictable times
Mr. Grandi also acknowledged the unpredictable nature of global crises, expressing confidence in UNHCR’s readiness.
“Our determination and experience enable us to face the future – as uncertain as it may be – with conviction,” he said.
With forced displacement reaching record levels, he stressed the importance of global solidarity, urging governments, donors, and the private sector to contribute to the $10 billion target.
There have been significant advances in addressing the worldwide internal displacement crisis, but urgent action is still needed as numbers continue to rise, topping 76 million people worldwide, the top UN official on the issue said on Wednesday.
UN Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement Robert Piper was delivering his final press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York before concluding his mandate.
“There are around 76 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in the world today, 76 million people who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their assets, their community because of wars, because of disasters, because of criminal violence,” he told correspondents.
Internally displaced people are “relatively invisible despite their numbers, unlike refugees and migrants,” Mr. Piper emphasised. Their numbers have doubled in the last ten years.
“Tens of millions of displaced people do not get home quickly, especially when they’ve been displaced by conflict,” Mr Piper emphasised, adding that “they get stuck in displacement”.
‘Major milestone’ in investments
The Secretary-General commissioned a high-level panel to advise him in 2021, focusing on this growing pattern of protracted displacement. To fix this issue, the panel insisted that only national governments can provide long term fixes.
“The right kind of investments, more development, more capacity building, less substitution, less short-term fixes,” said Mr. Piper.
In a positive development, governments have demonstrated increased commitment to addressing the crisis, he continued.
Iraq, Libya, Columbia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Somalia have collectively pledged to help over 11.5 million internally displaced persons find solutions. Some countries have backed these commitments with substantial funding – Iraq and Libya will fully fund their solutions processes, while Columbia is committing approximately $1 billion annually.
Reaping the rewards
“We are starting to see the results when governments take that responsibility seriously,” the Special advisor noted, pointing to recent initiatives such as Somalia’s commitment of $140 million for land purchases to facilitate displaced people’s integration.
In Nigeria’s northeastern states, governances have allocated specific portions of their revenue to address displacement, with the Governor of Borno state, committing 15 per cent of revenue for the next five years to this cause.
New laws and policies on internal displacement have been implemented in various countries – from Chad to Nigeria to the Philippines – demonstrating growing national ownership of the issue.
Challenges amid rising numbers
Despite progress, significant issues remain. The number of IDPs has doubled in just a decade with approximately 20 million new IDPs joining the long-term displaced since 2019.
The Special Adviser also highlighted specific areas where solutions cannot currently be implemented: “We cannot apply our model in Myanmar at the moment, for example, or in Gaza, where 85 percent of the population has been deliberately, repeatedly displaced by Israeli government acts”.
Strengthened response
Prevention tools need strengthening, particularly in light of climate change impacts and the need for better conflict prevention and disaster risk reduction.
Mr Piper said new ideas were being put into motion to address internal displacement including a solutions fund, strengthened country teams and increased development and peacebuilding assets. International financial institutions have also stepped up their involvement, with both the World Bank and The African Development Bank introducing IDP solutions indicators into their corporate scorecards.
The issue has gained increased visibility in international forums, including the climate COPs, the World Bank’s Fragility Forum, and the World Urban Forum. A group of 30-member states has formed to support these efforts, while Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and UN migration agency, IOM, have released new analyses on children and climate displacement.
Return to normal
Additionally, the humanitarian response remains robust, with UN operations reaching 50 million IDPs with assistance in 2023, while country-based pool funds assisted nearly 12 million displaced people.
However, reflecting on his tenure and the path forward, the Special Advisor warned that “we need to get better at preventing new displacements. Our prevention tools are not up to task”.
He concluded that “the core task is to keep saving lives, while we also help governments wherever possible, to build exit ramps for their displaced citizens back from crises to some sense of normality and stability”.
Migration is one of the defining issues of our time, with migrants accounting for 3.6 per cent of the global population, the UN Deputy Secretary-General said on Thursday, urging coordinated action to find better solutions that prioritise safety, equity and opportunity for migrants.
“Migration is not just a statistic; it is the lived experience of women, men and children, each with unique identities and vulnerabilities – pursuing better lives and opportunities. But along their journeys, they face unimaginable violence, hardship and risk,” Amina J. Mohammed said, addressing an informal meeting of the General Assembly on the subject.
Last year was the deadliest on record for migrants. Nearly 8,600 deaths were documented along migration routes, pushing the total recorded since 2014 to almost 70,000 and many more remaining unaccounted for.
At the same time, xenophobia and anti-migrant sentiments are on the rise in societies, with women and girls at heightened risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
Transformative potential
“This is not only inhumane – it is counterproductive,” Ms. Mohammed said, stressing that failure to govern migration inclusively undermines societal equity and human rights, ultimately stalling sustainable development.
The Deputy Secretary-General underscored the transformative potential of migration, stating that when well-governed, it serves as a vital enabler of sustainable development, contributing to inclusive growth and social cohesion.
“The persistence of migrants in seeking a dignified life speaks to our universal drive for hope,” Ms. Mohammed said.
IOM/Gema Cortés
With close to half a million Venezuelan nationals, Ecuador hosts the third largest Venezuelan migrant population worldwide.
These include strengthening search and rescue efforts on land and at sea, fostering international cooperation nations along migration routes, and supporting affected families with legal, administrative or economic assistance.
Alongside, justice, accountability and redress mechanisms must be strengthened to uphold migrants’ rights, and data and forecasting improved to enable more effective humanitarian responses.
“These recommendations are not abstract ideals – they are a practical roadmap for action,” Ms. Mohammed emphasised, urging Member States to commit to implementation ahead of the next International Migration Review Forum in 2026.
Alignment with Global Goals
Director-General of the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Coordinator of the UN Network on Migration Amy Pope also addressed the General Assembly, stressing the interconnected nature of the Global Compact’s objectives, calling for a holistic approach that engages all stakeholders.
She highlighted some key achievements, including a new voluntary framework.
“After extensive consultations with States and other stakeholders, we now have a new voluntary framework to support governments measure their progress, develop evidence-based policymaking and align their policies with [the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development],” she said.
The new voluntary framework, she added, would foster more accountability, as well as help integrate migration into national plans and innovative solutions for legal identity and safe pathways.
Ms. Pope urged Member States to adopt these indicators in their national GCM reviews and make actionable ideas a reality.
The number of injuries has risen to 25 as a high-speed train collided with a semi-trailer at a railway crossing in Hamburg, Germany, on Tuesday.
The accident occurred on the outskirts of Hamburg when an InterCity Express (ICE) train en route from Hamburg to Munich crashed into the semi-trailer at high speed. One passenger, a 55-year-old man, sustained critical injuries and died shortly after the collision.
Among the injured, six are reported to have sustained moderate injuries, according to German public broadcaster ARD’s Tagesschau program. Eyewitnesses stated that the force of the collision shattered windows, particularly in the front carriages.
Reports suggest that the truck was attempting to cross the tracks when the crash occurred, and the driver managed to jump out just before the impact. The collision caused a large debris field, with heavy iron and track parts scattered around, as the semi-trailer was reportedly carrying railway tracks.
Despite the severity of the crash, fire department officials confirmed that the approximately 300 remaining passengers aboard the long-distance train were unharmed and have safely disembarked. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.
The oral contraceptive pills Yaz and Yasmin will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from March 1 2025, meaning Australian women will pay less for them.
This listing follows advice from the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, which recommended adding these pills to the PBS so women who find other contraceptive pills unsuitable have more options. These contraceptives also help manage acne and some other hormone-related conditions.
So how do Yaz and Yasmin work? And how much will they cost once they’re on the PBS?
What makes Yaz and Yasmin different?
From March, a three-month box of Yaz or Yasmin will cost $31.60 (or $7.70 with a concession card). Nial Wheate
Oral contraceptive pills prevent pregnancy primarily by stopping ovulation – the release of an egg from the ovaries.
They also thicken mucus in the cervix, making it harder for sperm to reach an egg. And they thin the lining of the uterus, reducing the likelihood of implantation.
Most combination oral contraceptive pills contain an oestrogen-based hormone (typically ethinylestradiol) and a progestogen hormone.
Both Yaz and Yasmin contain ethinylestradiol and a synthetic progestogen, called drospirenone. They both contain 3 milligrams of drospirenone.
They differ from each other in the amount of ethinylestradiol they contain. Yaz has 20 micrograms and Yasmin has 30 micrograms of the hormone. They also differ in the number of active and placebo pills a pack contains. Yaz has 24 active pills and 4 placebo pills while Yasmin has 21 active pills and 7 placebos.
Both contraceptives are just as effective in preventing pregnancies as other oral contraceptives. The chance of getting pregnant while taking either medication is around 9%.
In deciding which one is most suitable, a doctor will consider how their patient has responded to hormone treatment in the past and any other hormone-related conditions they have.
Both Yaz and Yasmin have benefits beyond birth control. Drospirenone is thought to help reduce hormone-related acne and hirsutism (excessive facial hair growth).
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that causes intense mood swings, depression, anxiety, and irritability before menstruation. The hormonal stability provided by Yaz, with its short hormone-free interval, can help alleviate PMDD symptoms.
Things to look out for if taking them
All combined oral contraceptive pills have common side effects that women may experience, including nausea, vomiting, break-through bleeding, absent or missed periods, headaches, irritability and breast tenderness.
There are some additional risks for the Yaz and Yasmin products. The drospirenone in the contraceptives has been associated with a slightly higher risk of blood clots when compared with other progestogens. The risk is low but may be higher in women who smoke, are over 35, or have other risk factors for clots.
All contraceptive pills can cause side effects such as nausea, headaches and irritability. Mart Production/Pexels
Drospirenone can also cause a build up of potassium in the blood. This is a particular risk for women with kidney problems, and for those who also take diuretics or blood pressure medications, which can also raise potassium levels.
Elevated potassium can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, dizziness and an irregular heart rhythm.
What’s changing? How much will they cost?
These approvals are the first contraceptive pills to be added to the PBS in 30 years and are part of a larger package of women’s health measures the government announced on the weekend.
The government will also provide incentives for doctors and nurses to bulk bill services for implanting long-term contraceptives such as IUDs (intrauterine devices).
Currently, pharmacies advertise three-months’ supply of Yaz and Yasmin for around A$79 dollars ($316 per year).
Come March, the price women will pay will drop to $31.60 per box, or $126.40 per year. Concession card holders will pay $7.70 per box, or $30.80 per year.
But the price of Yaz and Yasmin will still be higher than other combined oral contraceptives (containing the hormones levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol) on the PBS, which start at $22 for a four-month supply or $66 per year.
How can you switch?
If you are considering Yaz or Yasmin, speak to your doctor. They will take your medical history and discuss your lifestyle and any other specific health needs.
They will also explain the potential side effects to watch out for and any precautions you may need to take.
If you proceed, your doctor will outline a process for transitioning to the new medication, including timing and where to start in the pill sequence.
Nial Wheate in the past has received funding from the ACT Cancer Council, Tenovus Scotland, Medical Research Scotland, Scottish Crucible, and the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance. He is a fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, a member of the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Nial is the chief scientific officer of Vaihea Skincare LLC, a director of SetDose Pty Ltd (a medical device company) and was previously a Standards Australia panel member for sunscreen agents. Nial regularly consults to industry on issues to do with medicine risk assessments, manufacturing, design, and testing.
Shoohb Alassadi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Do policies aimed at making people healthier also make them happier? And to what extent do they infringe on personal autonomy are questions central to a new book by Martin Wilkinson from the University of Auckland.
Many of us accept public health policies relating to things deemed harmful, like alcohol, vapes, fatty or sugary food or cigarettes, without question.
However a new book by Martin Wilkinson, a professor of politics and international relations and former chair of the New Zealand Bioethics Council, concludes that many public health interventions probably make people worse off, infringe on their autonomy and don’t have compensating benefits for others.
Free to access, The Ethics of Public Health Paternalism (Oxford University Press, 2025) examines the various ways of making people healthier, according to whether they make it harder to be unhealthy, easier to be healthy, influence beliefs, or ‘nudge’ people towards certain choices.
The book covers measures like taxes, label warnings, age limits and bans on sales and marketing, as well as health promotions like ‘five plus a day’, subsidies to gyms, enticements to stop unhealthy behaviour, product placement in stores and the provision of walking and cycling infrastructure.
It features examples like the prohibition of alcohol in the US (from 1920 to 1933) or the Danish fat tax, a tax on saturated fat in food products, introduced in 2011, repealed in 2012, and the first of its kind in the world.
It also defines the concept of ‘paternalism’ in relation to health policies.
A main reason often given for the state to intervene in citizens’ health is because people would, if left to their own devices, make unhealthy choices that are bad for them, says Wilkinson.
“But trying to stop people harming themselves sounds paternalistic, and paternalism in public health raises two main questions: Why think that getting people to make healthier choices would make them better off? And should people not be free to choose for themselves?”
He specifies that adults, rather than children, are the focus of the book and that smoking is the one area where he believes the sheer weight of evidence supports efforts to discourage it.
Otherwise, he is on a collision course with the majority of public health advocates, he admits.
“I’m doubtful about the merits of many of the interventions they want. I argue that adults ought to be free to run their own lives, and that some, but not all, public health interventions would infringe on their autonomy.”
He says the book engages with ideas that writers and public health advocates have offered, found not only in books and academic articles but also in blogs, pamphlets, interviews, and health promotion campaigns.
He believes public health advocates who want to steer people into healthier behaviour have not been good at giving convincing reasons for doing so.
“They generally assume that to be healthier is to be better off, but this assumption is often wrong, because health is neither the only value nor the supreme value.
“To decide when people would benefit from being healthier, we must consider the value of health in their lives, how their unhealthy behaviour might be mistaken, and the evidence about whether it is or not.”
While the book is obviously critical of public health, Wilkinson says he’s not taking a free market or libertarian position . “I take no view about the size of the government, its role in the economy, or its duties to redistribute or to support a welfare state. Nor do I believe that paternalism towards adults is always wrong, only that it is questionable.”
He believes in fact that perhaps paternalistic influences on people’s choices would make them better off, perhapsthey wouldn’t infringe upon people’s autonomy after all, or perhaps the infringement is justified.
“Finally, however, I remain unconvinced,” he says. “A persistent theme of the book is that we often don’t have very good, or in fact competing, evidence on these issues. Because the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, I don’t conclude that public health interventions are unjustifiable, only that they have not been justified.”
The Ethics of Public Health Paternalism (Oxford University Press, 2025) by T M Wilkinson is open access and now published online and in print. (ref. https://academic.oup.com/book/59451 )