Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, Cllr Ruth Bennett, outlines the Council’s priorities in setting this year’s budget…
In the next few weeks, we’ll be setting our 2025/26 budget at Liverpool City Council. It’s been many months in preparation, with a lot of detailed work and careful planning.
We are acutely aware that, whether it is a government grant or money raised locally, it is your money we are spending.
At the heart of every decision we make is a commitment to ensure we make the most of every pound, and that it is invested in delivering good quality services. Our priority has been to make sure that we are continuing to invest in the things we know you care about.
Over the last year, we have been spending more in our neighbourhoods, joining-up services by bringing our Streetscene service back in-house, and placing staff on the ground to work with local Councillors and community organisations to direct our resources at specific issues in particular wards, such as fly-tipping, waste or match day parking. It’s already delivering success, with a 5.7 per cent reduction in the reports about fly-tipping and a drop of around 25 per cent in both street cleaning and weeding requests. We’ve also halfway through recruiting 40 new parking enforcement officers to tackle inconsiderate drivers.
At the same time, our drive to make sure we bring in as much of our owed income continues. Our in-year council tax collection rate is currently much improved and better than other big ‘core’ cities, and we’re on with being far more robust with businesses who owe money to us and you – the residents of Liverpool.
We’ve reviewed our Council Tax Support Scheme for the first time in a decade to make sure it is fit for purpose, and a review of single person Council Tax discount is bringing in hundreds of thousands of pounds extra a year. We’re getting into an annual cycle of reviewing fees and charges so that it becomes business as usual, because these make an essential contribution to our overall budget.
We’ll also be rolling out improvements in customer services, including the introduction of a new case management platform. In simple terms, it will enable you to access more services online, over the phone, or in-person, and get real-time updates and information, in the same way as you would expect from your internet or energy provider.
Along with many other councils up and down the country, we face demand pressures in areas such as social care, homelessness and SEND transport, but we have plans in place to deal with this and, where necessary, mitigate the financial impact.
This year we have received a greater amount of money from the Government as they changed the funding arrangements to target deprived areas. In the longer term, they are carrying out a Comprehensive Spending Review which will give us more certainty over our finances by letting us know how much we will receive in the coming years. This will help us greatly in planning for the future, helping us build on the progress we have made in the last 18 months.
The right to repair movement aims to give consumers, businesses and independent repair providers access to the resources needed to maintain essential products and technologies.(Shutterstock)
Canada’s economy has long relied on open trade and cross-border supply chains, but as tariff threats and market protectionism rise from the United States under President Donald Trump, so do Canada’s economic vulnerabilities.
What happens when crucial imports — farm machinery, medical devices, home appliances — become harder to access or more expensive?
The current crisis has unveiled deep weaknesses and dependencies in Canada’s economy. In 2023, 77 per cent of Canada’s exports went to the U.S., while nearly half of its imports came from its southern neighbour. For decades, this interdependence was viewed as a diplomatic success, but it’s now clear that this has come with risks and vulnerabilities too.
Political leaders across party lines recognize that Canada needs a plan for bolstering its economic resilience. This will require strengthening domestic manufacturing, expanding trade diversification and building new diplomatic and economic alliances. But this plan must also develop workforce resilience, domestic capacity and innovation right here at home.
The solution lies in strengthening Canadians’ right to repair the products and devices we rely upon. The right to repair is not just about environmental sustainability, it’s a matter of economic resilience; it can increase the number of well-paying Canadian jobs and reduce Canada’s dependence on unpredictable global markets.
The right to repair
The right to repair movement seeks to ensure that consumers, businesses and independent repair providers have access the parts, tools, information and software needed to repair and maintain essential products, devices and technologies.
That means not only the smartphones in our pockets and the cars we drive to work, but also the machinery that harvests our food and the medical devices that hospitals rely on to save lives.
Consumer devices and home appliances are also overwhelmingly imported into Canada, making them susceptible to tariffs and trade barriers — all with the potential to make Canada’s cost-of-living crisis more dire than it already is.
A path to economic resilience
The right to repair movement offers a way for Canada to reduce both its economic vulnerabilities and U.S. dependency.
Extending the lifespan of products is crucial not only for environmental sustainability and reducing waste, but also for strengthening the economy. It can also help communities be more resilient by supporting local businesses, creating jobs and boosting productivity.
Canada has made significant progress in advancing the right to repair in recent years. Bill C-59 introduced amendments to the Competition Act aimed at cracking down on manufacturers’ refusal to provide independent businesses with the parts, tools and information necessary for repair.
And, in 2024, Canada amended its Copyright Act to allow repairers to break digital locks used by manufacturers of digital goods to restrict access to repair and diagnostic information.
But these are only the first steps in a full-fledged right to repair — more needs to be done to support the right to repair in Canada.
Governments must step up
Canada’s provinces need to strengthen consumer protection laws to ban planned obsolescence and oblige manufacturers to provide access to essential repair resources.
Provinces should also prevent manufacturers from voiding warranties on products and devices that are repaired outside of authorized networks. Québec has taken a leading role in this area, but inter-provincial co-ordination will be crucial going forward.
Extending the lifespan of products is crucial not only for environmental sustainability and reducing waste, but also for strengthening the economy. (Shutterstock)
The federal government’s job also remains unfinished. It needs to regulate repair restrictions in critical technology sectors like agriculture and health care by developing technical standards and minimum repairability requirements for equipment and devices that are purchased through public procurement processes.
Canada is also in need of federal leadership in enacting a repairability index, which scores products and devices based on their ease of repair. Such an initiative would provide consumers with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions.
Advancing the right to repair is a cost-free policy move that will strengthen Canada’s economy in an era of trade uncertainty. Unlike subsidy programs or industry bailouts, right to repair legislation focuses on consumers and independent businesses.
By enabling workers and businesses to repair rather than replace, Canada can maximize the value of existing goods, reduce dependence on volatile global supply chains and make the country more self-sufficient, all without added government spending.
Anthony D Rosborough has received Doctoral Award funding from Canada’s Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and is a Policy Lead with Dalhousie University’s MacEachen Institute for Public Policy & Governance. Anthony is a Co-Founder of the Canadian Repair Coalition and the Principal Investigator of the Unlocking Healthcare research project (www.unlockinghealthcare.ca).
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By David J Hornsby, Professor of International Affairs and the Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic), Carleton University
Recent events have been nothing short of shock therapy for many Canadians. The threat of economically devastating tariffs by the United States at the behest of President Donald Trump have only reinforced that the time is ripe for Canada to diversify its foreign engagements and collaborations — like with the African region.
Africa’s geopolitical and economic trajectory is reshaping the global order. With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) poised to become the world’s largest single market, a youthful population driving innovation and vast renewable energy potential, the continent is no longer a peripheral player — it’s a cornerstone of the 21st-century economy.
Yet Canada, despite years of consultations and pledges, has delayed the release of a comprehensive Africa trade strategy. The time for hesitation is over.
AfCFTA window is closing
The AfCFTA, which spans 54 countries and 1.3 billion people, is projected to boost intra-African trade by 52 per cent by 2035. For Canada, this represents a significant opportunity to diversify exports beyond traditional partners like the U.S. and China.
Canadian sectors from agri-food to clean tech are well-positioned to meet Africa’s demand for value-added goods and infrastructure.
Global competitors are already moving: China’s trade with Africa surpassed $200 billion in 2023, while the European Union and India have accelerated trade pact negotiations across the continent.
Without a formal strategy, Canada risks losing access to a market that could define the next decade of economic growth.
Geopolitical stakes have never been higher
Russia and China have deepened their influence across Africa, often at the expense of democratic governance and transparency. Canada’s absence isn’t just an economic miss — it’s a strategic void.
By aligning with African priorities like Agenda 2063, which emphasizes self-reliance and sustainable development, Canada can counterbalance exploitative partnerships with ones rooted in mutual benefit.
As Agenda 2063 identifies, African leaders are refocusing their agendas from the struggle against apartheid and political independence to “inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security.” Africa faces a collective US$100 billion annual infrastructure deficit following centuries of colonial incursion and extraction.
Recent Canadian investments in peace and security, good governance, people-to-people ties ($54 million) and economic empowerment ($176 million for women and youth empowerment) signal intent, but without a unified strategy, these
efforts are fragmented.
Aligning perfectly with Africa’s needs
Canada’s world-class engineering firms and institutions like the Canada Infrastructure Bank could partner with African states and institutions like the African Development Bank and replicate successes achieved in projects like Ghana’s renewable energy grid.
Projects like the Lobito Corridor, offer a chance for Canadian firms to contribute to rail and transport development that could be transformative.
With significant solar and other renewable energies potential, Africa is critical to the net-zero transition. Canadian mining firms and clean energy innovators are natural partners for lithium and cobalt projects, despite the dubious human and environmental rights track record of some Canadian mining companies in the region.
A Canada-Africa strategy needs to signal a support for mandatory adherence to environmental and human rights standards for mining firms, such as Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining framework, while strengthening accountability through mechanisms like independent oversight and legal consequences for violations that already exist. By prioritizing partnerships with African governments and local communities, such a strategy could ensure ethical practices through transparent agreements, community consent protocols, and shared governance models foster a future of more ethical behaviour.
From aid to equity
Decades of humanitarian aid have fostered good will, but Africa’s leaders increasingly demand collaboration
But a true partnership requires reciprocity, like South Africa’s significant investments in Canadian mining and climate research collaborations. The African diaspora community, numbering over 1.2 million in Canada, is a bridge to these opportunities.
The forthcoming G20 gatherings of finance ministers and central bank governors in Cape Town offers a perfect moment to demonstrate an actual plan to diversify Canadian foreign policy engagements and interests while positioning the country to rally allies behind a renewed set of initiatives that exist across the continent.
To delay any further will not only frustrate business and diaspora groups alike, but will continue to relegate Canada to a marginal role in the continent’s economic and social development.
The EU’s public and private investments in the green and digital transitions in Kenya and Ghana’s lithium deal with Australia underscore the urgency for a co-ordinated and concerted approach. Canada’s reputation as a reliable partner hangs in the balance.
A call for cohesion
A Canadian Africa strategy is critical now more than ever. To fully engage, any plan will need to articulate pan-African trade and streamlined export opportunities. It should leverage soft power by expanding diplomatic missions across regional economic communities.
Investing in mutual growth via joint ventures in mining, agri-processing, and digital infrastructure is also crucial. Embedding climate justice by linking critical mineral exports to African renewable energy projects will foster sustainable development — all the while maintaining key imperatives of gender equality, one health and the exchange of knowledge through things like the South Africa-Canada Universities Network.
Africa’s rise isn’t a distant future — it’s unfolding now. Canada has the tools, the values and the economic imperative to act. Delaying further isn’t just a missed opportunity; it’s a generational misstep.
The strategy is drafted, the stakeholders are ready. All that’s missing is the political will to hit “publish” and get started.
David J Hornsby 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.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jeffrey To, Psychology PhD Researcher, Intergroup Relations and Implicit Biases, McGill University
This week, Google announced it’s halting its DEI hiring initiatives. But DEI training is fleeting and hiring practices need to address systems, not individuals. (Tom Barrett/Unsplash), CC BY
In Canada, however, some companies remain committed to DEI. For example, KPMG Canada conducted 50 DEI training sessions for its 35,000 employees in 2022 and plans to continue its DEI efforts into 2025.
But is this the best way forward?
As a PhD student researching implicit bias, I am examining how DEI training and programs can go awry. For example, one study suggests that while DEI programs can reduce prejudice in some cases, programs that exert control over people may backfire. This happens because they place responsibility for bias and discrimination on individuals when research suggests it is the biased systems that deserve more scrutiny.
We’ve all experienced a moment where we met someone and perhaps without thinking, felt a sense of threat or unfamiliarity. These spontaneous reactions are known as implicit biases. Over the years, researchers have linked these biases to unfair treatment of individuals who differ from us.
Historically, psychologists have considered bias intrinsic to oneself, similar to personality or IQ. However, newer approaches are challenging this view.
Personality tests such as the Big Five show reasonable forecasting ability for job outcomes. However, Implicit Association Tests — a common tool used to measure implicit biases — show only weak relevance to actual discriminatory behaviour. In other words, a white person who holds implicit biases against racialized immigrants, for example, might not necessarily act on those biases.
Recent studies now suggest that biases are better understood as environmental factors, not individual traits. For example, one study demonstrated that implicit biases correlate with behaviour. But this connection only holds when analyzing groups of people within a specific region. In regions where anti-Black biases are more prevalent among white residents, higher rates of police violence against Black individuals are observed.
One key takeaway from implicit bias research is that interventions targeting individual biases often provide only temporary results because bias is embedded within systems.
So, what can organizations do to address systemic bias more effectively?
Let’s look at hiring as an example.
Instead of requiring hiring managers to participate in diversity training, organizations could implement hiring criteria that minimize the influence of race and gender bias in the hiring process. Some research suggests tailoring job descriptions to appeal to underrepresented groups. For example, HR postings that increase the transparency of qualifications or focus on benefits can attract more women for roles in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Policing is another area where systemic change can mitigate bias. Studiesshow police officers are more likely to stop, question, arrest or use force against Black people than white people.
Rather than mandating police officers undergo diversity training to educate them about their biases — something that has only a fleeting effect — a restructuring of the policies and procedures around stops and frisks would reduce bias’s impact.
As DEI programs face increasing scrutiny and skepticism, and many employees feel frustrated by ineffective and repetitive online training, there is a growing need to reframe DEI as systems-focused work. If diversity, equity and inclusion are truly the goals, the solution lies in rebuilding the systems that shape our society.
Jeffrey To receives funding from The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Creating a genuine sense of belonging can reshape workplace culture, boost engagement and overall business success.(Shutterstock)
Longstanding workplace issues such as mistreatment, the normalization of toxic behaviour and a lack of accountability for workplace culture have fuelled a growing trend known as revenge quitting.
This phenomenon, on the rise since the 2000s, sees employees leaving their jobs not just for better opportunities, but as a form of protest and self-preservation against unfair treatment.
Companies that want to address this issue have much to gain, but they must go beyond diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) or human resources strategies. Creating a genuine sense of belonging can reshape workplace culture, boost engagement and overall business success.
When employees resign as a final act of protest against toxic workplace conditions, the impact on organizations can be significant. One of the most obvious consequences is financial loss. Sudden departures lead to expenses related to recruiting, hiring, training, as well as lost productivity and project disruptions.
The abrupt departure of employees also sends a powerful message to remaining staff, potentially leading to decreased morale, trust and engagement.
Employees who ‘revenge quit’ do so not just for better opportunities, but as a form of protest and self-preservation against unfair treatment. (Shutterstock)
High-profile cases of revenge quitting can also damage an organization’s reputation, affecting customer relationships and investor confidence.
My research has found that when employees feel a genuine sense of belonging, they are more engaged and loyal, they produce more innovative and creative solutions, and they are more reliable and productive.
Moreover, belonging buffers against workplace stressors that lead to toxic behaviours by reducing feelings of isolation, mitigating burnout and encouraging active listening before making decisions. This, in turn, decreases the likelihood of employees making abrupt, retaliatory exits.
Employees want to work for companies that respect their individuality and value their contributions. High-performing teams thrive when there is clear accountability, fair conflict resolution and a culture of feedback and learning. Addressing toxic behaviours early helps maintain trust and reduces the risk of retaliatory quitting.
It’s also essential to distinguish between belonging and merely fitting in. True belonging is a reciprocated behaviour between employees and the organization, not solely the employee’s responsibility. Organizations that focus only on forcing employees to “fit in” overlook the systemic changes required to foster true benefits.
Belonging requires an active commitment to the five core indicators of belonging: comfort, connection, psychological safety and well-being. Each indicator is essential in reducing the desire to disengage or quit out of frustration or retaliation.
Pillar 1: Comfort
Workplace comfort is essential for focus, cognitive function and productivity. While physical factors like temperature, noise and ergonomics matter, social comfort is more critical. Social comfort comes from clear expectations, defined workflows and recognizing individual talents within a team.
Unprecedented inequality and other geopolitical risks are causing an increase in revenge quitting and similar behaviours. (Shutterstock)
When the economy becomes volatile, it can force organizations to deviate from their original strategic plans in an effort to stay afloat. When this happens, comfort is the first thing to erode in a workplace, which allows toxicity to go unchecked.
For example, when economic shifts force leaders to pivot, employees may have to scrap their work. If leadership lacks alignment in the new strategic actions, expectations will rise while clarity drops, creating stress and conflict. Leaders should reset expectations, restore social comfort and ensure collaboration rather than competition.
Pillar 2: Connections
Strong social relationships in the workplace can buffer against stress and enhance resilience. Connection is fostered through mentorship programs, collaboration and informal networking.
In remote and hybrid work settings, ensuring employees feel connected to their teams through structured check-ins and virtual social space is critical.
Connections increase engagement and build emotional attachment, which reduces the risk of employees leaving. Employees who experience meaningful interactions with colleagues and leaders are more engaged and less likely to feel alienated.
Pillar 3: Contributions
Employees need to feel that their work is meaningful and valued. Recognition activates the brain’s reward system, which reinforces motivation and increases engagement. When employees feel unappreciated, resentment builds. When this happens repetitively, it can lead employees to disengage from their work, and eventually depart.
Equally important is offering opportunities for employees to contribute beyond their job descriptions, whether through special projects or mentoring. A workplace that values and acknowledges contributions fosters commitment and decreases the likelihood of employees resigning.
Pillar 4: Psychological safety
Ensuring employees’ ideas and concerns are met with curiosity and understanding is crucial for retention. In fear-based workplaces, stress inhibits cognitive function and creativity.
The workforce has changed, with employees now prioritizing workplaces where they feel respected, valued and safe. Companies that fail to adapt will continue to lose experienced, talented workers — not because the job market is more competitive, but because employees refuse to tolerate environments that undermine their dignity.
Leaders need to recognize that creating a culture of belonging isn’t about checking a DEI box — it’s about ensuring employees have every reason to stay and grow within their organizations.
Andrea Carter 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.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Tohid Didar, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Nano-biomaterials, Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University
More than 30 per cent of the world’s food is wasted each year.(Shutterstock)
Outdated, imprecise and often incorrect labelling systems — such as printed expiry dates — contribute to these huge problems, leading to the unnecessary disposal of safe, healthy food, increased greenhouse gas emissions and financial losses.
Addressing these crises requires bold investment in sustainable technologies that are already tested and available. These include smart food-packaging innovations that provide real-time food quality monitoring in every package. This would allow producers, retailers and consumers to receive up-to-date information through the package itself.
Real-time information
Unlike traditional expiration-date labels that communicate only time, food packaging innovations use advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to measure spoilage indicators such as pH balance, bacterial growth and biogenic amines. This allows for dynamic and up-to-the-minute tracking of food freshness.
These systems would increase food safety and prevent food fit for consumption from being thrown out. The early and highly specific warnings they provide would also reduce the need for costly and labour-intensive testing when problems occur.
Despite the promise of these scientifically proven systems, getting them into the marketplace is a significant challenge.
Corporations often resist smart packaging due to higher costs and tight profit margins in the highly competitive food sector.
Applying smart technologies in food packaging design can help consumers make more informed choices. (Shutterstock)
By quantifying the potential savings — such as reduced spoilage, fewer recalls, less food-related illness and lower legal liabilities — public and private stakeholders can understand why it’s valuable to share the cost of these innovations.
These technologies also align nicely with growing consumer demand for sustainability and transparency in food systems.
Reducing food waste through smart food packaging would lower greenhouse gas emissions, conserve agricultural resources and reduce the strain on global supply chains.
Such innovations can help improve food availability, especially in underserved regions where food insecurity is most acute, fostering healthier and more resilient communities.
Governments can further incentivize smart food-packaging adoption through tax benefits, subsidies, or funding for companies to integrate real-time monitoring technologies. Such measures would make this beneficial change more economically viable for corporations.
Empowering consumers
Smart food packaging would also empower consumers to make informed decisions. Innovations such as AI-enabled apps that predict food freshness from smartphone photos can help households reduce waste by determining the safety of food without needing to open the package.
Smart packaging and apps could take the guesswork out of predicting food freshness. (Shutterstock)
Smart packaging platforms should prioritize universal applications that work across food types, rather than niche, highly customized systems.
For developing nations disproportionately affected by food insecurity, smart packaging technologies can be transformative, extending shelf life and improving distribution efficiency.
Collaboration across industry, academia and government is vital to getting these solutions into broad use.
Profit and societal benefits
Researchers and innovators must work with corporations to develop proven prototypes into cost-effective, high-performance technologies, while policymakers need to create frameworks to incentivize adoption. Investments must prioritize not just economic returns but also long-term societal benefits.
As a researcher developing smart food packaging platforms, I have seen firsthand how interdisciplinary partnerships accelerate the translation of bold ideas into practical solutions. I have led research teams that have developed technologies such as Lab-in-a-Package and sprayable bacteriophage microgels. These innovations simultaneously improve food safety and reduce waste.
Addressing food insecurity demands a holistic, sustainable approach that brings together technological innovation, supportive policies and societal awareness. By investing in smart, scalable solutions, we can transform our food systems to ensure less food is wasted.
Tohid Didar receives funding from MITACs and NSERC to develop smart food packaging technologies.
Chief Executive John Lee today met Director of the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC) Gao Zhidan and cheered on Hong Kong athletes as he took in some of the action at the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025.
In meeting Mr Gao, Mr Lee was accompanied by Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law.
He extended to Mr Gao his warmest congratulations on Harbin’s successful hosting of the games and expressed his gratitude to the GASC for supporting sports development in Hong Kong.
Highlighting that the Mainland has rich resources in winter sports, Mr Lee said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to promote exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and the Mainland in winter sports.
He outlined that the Hong Kong SAR Government will draw reference from the Mainland’s wide-ranging experience in holding large-scale sports events and will promote sports development under a five-pronged approach. This involves promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports, promoting Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, enhancing professionalism, and developing sports as an industry.
Mr Lee added that the Hong Kong SAR Government will work closely with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Macau Special Administrative Region Government to stage a safe and successful 15th National Games.
Mr Lee and Miss Law also took the opportunity to cheer for Hong Kong’s curlers as they watched a curling event at the games.
Mr Lee remarked that this is the first time the Hong Kong, China Delegation has sent a curling team to compete in an international multi-sport event, marking a milestone for the city’s athletes.
He said he believes that Hong Kong athletes can gain valuable experience and enhance their skills through participating in various international competitions and through exchanges with athletes from other countries.
Mr Lee also visited a well-known snow sculpture art exhibition, the Taiyangdao Island International Snow Sculpture Expo, and a famous ice and snow theme park, the Harbin Ice & Snow World.
The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.
Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L
Connect with the U.S. Army online:
Web: https://www.army.mil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
#USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Stronger
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CHENGDU, Feb. 9 — Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has stressed all-out efforts to search for and rescue the missing and prevent secondary disasters after a landslide hit southwest China’s Sichuan Province on Saturday.
Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, underscored the importance of minimizing the casualties to the greatest extent possible.
The landslide occurred at 11:50 a.m. in Jinping Village, which is located in Junlian County in the city of Yibin.
The vice premier rushed to the disaster site on Saturday night to guide the rescue operations and emergency response efforts. Upon his arrival, Liu inspected the landslide scene, checked the rescue progress, and reviewed follow-up arrangements.
At a meeting on Sunday, Liu called for a well-coordinated rescue operation and the deployment of advanced equipment and monitoring instruments to ensure safe rescue work. He stressed the need for accurate verification of the missing persons and thorough risk assessment to ensure the prompt evacuation of at-risk residents.
He urged thoughtful assistance for the bereaved, adequate support for relocated residents, as well as timely and accurate information dissemination to address public concerns.
Liu also visited the injured at a local hospital on Sunday, stressing the importance of mobilizing quality medical resources to minimize casualties.
Press statements
Gitanas NAUSĖDA, President of Lithuania
Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission
Andrzej DUDA, President of Poland
Alar KARIS, President of Estonia
Edgars RINKĒVIČS, President of Latvia
Follow us on:
-X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/
-Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission
Street traders play an important role in tourism in South Africa. They provide affordable goods to tourists while generating employment for others. Some even source products locally, such as beadwork, traditional masks, woven baskets and various other souvenirs, creating linkages with domestic producers.
Most of these traders are migrants from outside South Africa.
South Africa is regarded as the preferred destination for migration in Africa. Migrancy scholars Jonathan Crush and Vincent Williams point to tourism and entry statistics from Statistics South Africa, visa overstay and deportation data, and refugee figures from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to support the new movements of refugees since the fall of apartheid.
On arriving in the country, many enter the informal economy to make a living. Often this involves taking up self-employed entrepreneurial activities such as selling goods on street corners.
South Africa’s tourism hubs present significant trading opportunities. In 2023, the country attracted 8.48 million international tourists. Though still 41.1% below pre-pandemic levels, this was an improvement. Tourism contributed 3.5% to GDP in 2022, when it outperformed industries like agriculture and construction.
But traders face tough conditions. The sector’s informality means policymakers can easily overlook it. Traders lack formal recognition and have limited access to resources.
This should change.
To improve their conditions, several measures could be helpful, including:
well-maintained designated trading areas that are equipped with essential amenities like shelter and storage
simplifying the process for obtaining the necessary permits and licences to increase their legal protections and operational stability.
These measures must be the result of discussions with the traders.
Our view is informed by research we conducted on informal traders over two years (2022 and 2023) in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Our focus was on the ability of the traders to adapt during times of crisis and economic downturn.
We found that the traders showed high levels of resilience and ingenuity to survive under tough conditions. But resilience can’t conquer all. The long-term sustainability of informal trading ventures hinges on external factors. They include government support and functioning institutions such as law and order that can help them manage challenges such as xenophobia.
The traders
Our study involved 35 qualitative interviews and 363 completed quantitative questionnaires. Three quarters of the respondents were foreign.
Traders from east and west Africa were dominant in Cape Town while Zimbabwean traders were dominant in Johannesburg.
Most informal traders (67%) were the sole income earners for their families, supporting multiple dependants. Before starting their businesses, only 47.5% had formal employment in roles like teaching, cleaning, or sales. Most traders had been operating for over 14 years. Monthly gross incomes averaged US$580, with Johannesburg traders earning more than those in Cape Town and Durban.
On face value these amounts seem higher than earnings of informally employed wage workers such as day labourers. However, these are gross figures, so comparisons with other occupations or cost of living must be treated with caution.
Resilience and ingenuity
The stories the traders shared with us are a testament to resilience and ingenuity. Migrant traders’ adaptability and joint commitment underscore their resilience, a key factor in overcoming economic and social crises.
Informal trading in the tourism sector drives local economies by providing tourists with authentic cultural experiences through locally crafted products. Traders’ activities create employment opportunities, including jobs for individuals working at the stalls and trolley pushers assisting with setup. Their incomes also support entire families.
Migrant traders also bring an entrepreneurial spirit to South Africa’s economy. Our research revealed that, unlike some of their South African counterparts who may access social grants, migrant traders often diversify their product offerings quicker and more extensively to adapt to changing market demands. This included introducing clothing alongside crafts or selling locally sourced goods (like items used by traditional healers) during economic downturns.
Their ability to adapt and innovate, even in difficult circumstances, contributes to the resilience of the broader tourism sector. Migrant traders quickly resumed operations after the pandemic. They used strategies like shared payment devices to improve efficiency, and community networks to weather economic shocks, so that tourism-related goods and services remained available.
Blind spot for policy makers
The sector’s informality leaves it overlooked by policymakers.
During the pandemic, formal businesses received government relief, but informal traders were largely excluded. For migrants, the absence of support was even more pronounced, as they lacked access to social safety nets available to South African citizens.
By supporting informal traders, particularly migrants, South Africa can enhance the sustainability of its tourism sector. This support could take various forms:
Policy recognition: Acknowledging the vital role of informal traders in tourism and integrating them into local economic development plans.
Practical policy responses: Examples include improving visible policing and cleaning up beach precincts, especially in Durban. This would reduce crime, increase tourist visits and improve the lives of street traders.
Access to resources: Providing grants or loans tailored to informal businesses.
Skills development: Offering training programmes to strengthen business acumen and innovation.
Community engagement: Promoting social cohesion to reduce xenophobic attitudes and fostering partnerships between local and migrant traders.
Next steps
The stories of South Africa’s informal migrant traders are ones of perseverance and potential. They remind us that resilience is not only an individual trait but a communal effort.
By recognising and supporting these traders, South Africa would be investing in a more inclusive, robust tourism sector.
As South Africa seeks to revive its tourism industry through the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan, the contributions of informal traders, local and migrant alike, cannot be overlooked. These entrepreneurs are shaping the fabric of the industry, one craft and one customer at a time. Supporting them is not just an act of kindness; it is a strategic move for the nation’s economic future.
– Migrant traders play a key role in South African tourism: it’s time policy makers protected them – https://theconversation.com/migrant-traders-play-a-key-role-in-south-african-tourism-its-time-policy-makers-protected-them-247244
Street traders play an important role in tourism in South Africa. They provide affordable goods to tourists while generating employment for others. Some even source products locally, such as beadwork, traditional masks, woven baskets and various other souvenirs, creating linkages with domestic producers.
Most of these traders are migrants from outside South Africa.
South Africa is regarded as the preferred destination for migration in Africa. Migrancy scholars Jonathan Crush and Vincent Williams point to tourism and entry statistics from Statistics South Africa, visa overstay and deportation data, and refugee figures from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to support the new movements of refugees since the fall of apartheid.
On arriving in the country, many enter the informal economy to make a living. Often this involves taking up self-employed entrepreneurial activities such as selling goods on street corners.
South Africa’s tourism hubs present significant trading opportunities. In 2023, the country attracted 8.48 million international tourists. Though still 41.1% below pre-pandemic levels, this was an improvement. Tourism contributed 3.5% to GDP in 2022, when it outperformed industries like agriculture and construction.
But traders face tough conditions. The sector’s informality means policymakers can easily overlook it. Traders lack formal recognition and have limited access to resources.
This should change.
To improve their conditions, several measures could be helpful, including:
well-maintained designated trading areas that are equipped with essential amenities like shelter and storage
simplifying the process for obtaining the necessary permits and licences to increase their legal protections and operational stability.
These measures must be the result of discussions with the traders.
Our view is informed by research we conducted on informal traders over two years (2022 and 2023) in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. Our focus was on the ability of the traders to adapt during times of crisis and economic downturn.
We found that the traders showed high levels of resilience and ingenuity to survive under tough conditions. But resilience can’t conquer all. The long-term sustainability of informal trading ventures hinges on external factors. They include government support and functioning institutions such as law and order that can help them manage challenges such as xenophobia.
The traders
Our study involved 35 qualitative interviews and 363 completed quantitative questionnaires. Three quarters of the respondents were foreign.
Traders from east and west Africa were dominant in Cape Town while Zimbabwean traders were dominant in Johannesburg.
Most informal traders (67%) were the sole income earners for their families, supporting multiple dependants. Before starting their businesses, only 47.5% had formal employment in roles like teaching, cleaning, or sales. Most traders had been operating for over 14 years. Monthly gross incomes averaged US$580, with Johannesburg traders earning more than those in Cape Town and Durban.
On face value these amounts seem higher than earnings of informally employed wage workers such as day labourers. However, these are gross figures, so comparisons with other occupations or cost of living must be treated with caution.
Resilience and ingenuity
The stories the traders shared with us are a testament to resilience and ingenuity. Migrant traders’ adaptability and joint commitment underscore their resilience, a key factor in overcoming economic and social crises.
Informal trading in the tourism sector drives local economies by providing tourists with authentic cultural experiences through locally crafted products. Traders’ activities create employment opportunities, including jobs for individuals working at the stalls and trolley pushers assisting with setup. Their incomes also support entire families.
Migrant traders also bring an entrepreneurial spirit to South Africa’s economy. Our research revealed that, unlike some of their South African counterparts who may access social grants, migrant traders often diversify their product offerings quicker and more extensively to adapt to changing market demands. This included introducing clothing alongside crafts or selling locally sourced goods (like items used by traditional healers) during economic downturns.
Their ability to adapt and innovate, even in difficult circumstances, contributes to the resilience of the broader tourism sector. Migrant traders quickly resumed operations after the pandemic. They used strategies like shared payment devices to improve efficiency, and community networks to weather economic shocks, so that tourism-related goods and services remained available.
Blind spot for policy makers
The sector’s informality leaves it overlooked by policymakers.
During the pandemic, formal businesses received government relief, but informal traders were largely excluded. For migrants, the absence of support was even more pronounced, as they lacked access to social safety nets available to South African citizens.
By supporting informal traders, particularly migrants, South Africa can enhance the sustainability of its tourism sector. This support could take various forms:
Policy recognition: Acknowledging the vital role of informal traders in tourism and integrating them into local economic development plans.
Practical policy responses: Examples include improving visible policing and cleaning up beach precincts, especially in Durban. This would reduce crime, increase tourist visits and improve the lives of street traders.
Access to resources: Providing grants or loans tailored to informal businesses.
Skills development: Offering training programmes to strengthen business acumen and innovation.
Community engagement: Promoting social cohesion to reduce xenophobic attitudes and fostering partnerships between local and migrant traders.
Next steps
The stories of South Africa’s informal migrant traders are ones of perseverance and potential. They remind us that resilience is not only an individual trait but a communal effort.
By recognising and supporting these traders, South Africa would be investing in a more inclusive, robust tourism sector.
As South Africa seeks to revive its tourism industry through the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan, the contributions of informal traders, local and migrant alike, cannot be overlooked. These entrepreneurs are shaping the fabric of the industry, one craft and one customer at a time. Supporting them is not just an act of kindness; it is a strategic move for the nation’s economic future.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Most Australians can look forward to a comfortable retirement. More than three in four retirees own their own home, most report feeling comfortable financially, and few suffer financial stress.
But our new Grattan Institute report paints a sobering picture for one group: retirees who rent in the private market. Two-thirds of this group live in poverty, including more than three in four single women who live alone.
Retirees who rent often have little in the way of retirement savings: more than half have less than A$25,000 stashed away. And a growing number of older Australians are at risk of becoming homeless.
But our research also shows just how much we’d need to boost Commonwealth Rent Assistance to make housing more affordable and ensure all renters are able to retire with dignity.
Today’s renters, tomorrow’s renting retirees
Home ownership is falling among poorer Australians who are approaching retirement.
Between 1981 and 2021, home ownership rates among the poorest 40% of 45–54-year-olds fell from 68% to just 54%. Today’s low-income renters are tomorrow’s renting retirees.
Age pensioners need at least $40,000 in savings to afford to spend $350 a week in rent, together with the Age Pension and Rent Assistance. That’s enough to afford the cheapest 25% of one-bedroom homes in capital cities.
But Australians who are renting as they approach retirement tend to have little in the way of retirement savings. 40% of renting households aged 55-64 have net financial wealth less than $40,000.
Rent assistance is too low
Our research shows that Commonwealth Rent Assistance, which supplements the Age Pension for poorer retirees who rent, is inadequate.
A single retiree needs at least $379 per week to afford non-housing essentials. marikun/Shutterstock
A typical single retiree needs at least $379 per week to afford essential non-housing costs such as food, transport and energy.
But we found a single pensioner who relies solely on income support can afford to rent just 4% of one-bedroom homes in Sydney, 13% in Brisbane, and 14% in Melbourne, after covering these basic living expenses.
With Rent Assistance indexed to inflation, rather than low-income earners’ housing costs, the maximum rate of the payment has increased by 136% since 2001, while the rents paid by recipients have increased by 193%.
A boost is needed
Our analysis suggests that to solve this problem, the federal government should increase the maximum rate of Rent Assistance by 50% for singles and 40% for couples.
The payment should also be indexed to changes in rents for the cheapest 25% of homes in our capital cities.
These increases would boost the maximum rate of Rent Assistance by $53 a week ($2,750 a year) for singles, and $40 a week ($2,080 a year) for couples.
This would ensure single retirees could afford to spend $350 a week on rent, enough to rent the cheapest 25% of one-bedroom homes across Australian capital cities, while still affording other essentials.
Similarly, retired couples would be able to afford to spend $390 a week on rent, enough to rent the cheapest 25% of all one- and two-bedroom homes.
Unlikely to push up rents
One common concern is that increasing Rent Assistance will just lead landlords to hike rents. But we find little evidence that this is the case.
International studies suggest that more than five in six dollars of any extra Rent Assistance paid would benefit renters, rather than landlords.
In Australia, there’s little evidence that recent increases in Rent Assistance have pushed up rents.
Our analysis of NSW rental bond lodgement data suggests areas with higher concentrations of Rent Assistance recipients did not see larger rent increases in the year after the payment was boosted.
That’s not surprising. Rent Assistance is paid to tenants, not landlords, which means tenants are likely to spend only a small portion of any extra income on housing.
Since rates of financial stress are even higher among younger renters, we propose that any increase to Rent Assistance should also apply to working-age households.
Boosting Rent Assistance for all recipients would cost about $2 billion a year, with about $500 million of this going to retirees.
Grattan Institute began with contributions to its endowment of $15 million from each of the federal and Victorian governments, $4 million from BHP Billiton, and $1 million from NAB. In order to safeguard its independence, Grattan Institute’s board controls this endowment. The funds are invested and contribute to funding Grattan Institute’s activities. Grattan Institute also receives funding from corporates, foundations, and individuals to support its general activities, as disclosed on its website.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Snow scenery of Helan Mountains in China’s Ningxia
Updated: February 9, 2025 17:30Xinhua
An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 9, 2025 shows the snow-covered Helan Mountains seen from an amusement park in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 8, 2025 shows the snow-covered Helan Mountains seen from an amusement park in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 9, 2025 shows the snow-covered Helan Mountains seen from a wetland park in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 8, 2025 shows the snow-covered Helan Mountains seen from a ski resort in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
Major new plans to modernise home buying and selling to save people time and money and further measures to improve the lives of leaseholders
Millions of people are set to benefit from improvements to the way homes are bought and sold, saving them both time and money by helping stop property transactions from falling through.
Under major new plans, the government has announced today [February 9] it will modernise the way the process works to bring down current delays of almost five months. One of the key reasons the buying and selling process can be long and frustrating is a lack of digitalisation and join up in the sector, which is why the government is opening up key property information, ensuring this data can be shared between trusted professionals more easily, and driving forward plans for digital identity services to slash transaction times.
These reforms will make home buying fit for the 21st Century and give much-needed certainty to everyone involved in property transactions, with one million taking place in the UK every year. By making information available at people’s fingertips, it will be far less likely for surprises to be encountered later on in the process. This will make it easier for people to get onto the housing ladder, reduce the requirement to share ID in-person in the long-term, and decrease the number of transactions collapsing.
Currently, fall throughs – which impact one in three transactions – cost people around £400 million a year, on top of the four million working days lost by conveyancers and estate agents alone which is equivalent to £1 billion. By bringing the process into the digital age, and learning from success stories such as Norway where transactions complete in around one month, the government is putting more money into the pockets of hardworking people and delivering on our Plan for Change to grow the economy.
Meanwhile changes to improve the lives of leaseholders – who have already achieved the dream of homeownership but found it falls short of what they were promised – will also be introduced from next week, with secondary legislation for the Right to Manage measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 being laid tomorrow – ahead of the schedule the government committed to last year.
These changes, which will come into force on 3rd March, will empower more leaseholders to take control of their buildings more easily, giving them power over how their service charges are spent, and removing the requirement for leaseholders to cover the legal fees of their freeholder when making a Right to Manage claim – potentially saving them up to £3,000 for the most costly claims, and reducing the incentive for landlords to obstruct the process.
Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said:
“We are streamlining the cumbersome home buying process so that it is fit for the twenty-first century, helping homebuyers save money, gain time and reduce stress while also cutting the number of house sales that fall through.
“Our modernisation of the system sits alongside further reforms to improve the lives of leasehold homeowners across the country, allowing them to more easily and cheaply take control of the buildings they live in and clamp down on unreasonable or extortionate charges.
“These reforms build on the government’s Plan for Change to deliver higher living standards and 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament, and our ongoing efforts to protect leaseholders suffering from unfair and unreasonable practices as we work to end the feudal leasehold system for good.”
Currently, information such as building control and highways information is predominantly paper-based or recorded in non-machine-readable formats. On top of this, where data is available electronically, there are not established protocols for accessing, sharing and verifying that data which leads to more delays.
But under a fully digitalised home buying and selling process, the information key parties need – from mortgage companies to surveyors – will be within reach immediately, with the necessary identity checks carried out once. Clear information early on will mean there are no surprises late on in the transaction which might cause it to fall through, so instead the transaction is completed smoothly without unnecessary time, energy or money spent.
That’s why the department is working hand-in-hand with the property market, supported by HM Land Registry (HMLR), and is today announcing a 12-week project to identify the design and implementation of agreed rules on data for the sector, so that it can easily be shared between conveyancers, lenders and other parties involved in a transaction. HMLR will also build on its work in digitising property information and lead 10-month pilots with a number of councils to identify the best approach to opening up more of their data and making it digital, whilst the government pushes ahead with plans for digital identity verification services including in the property sector.
This will all be carried out in conjunction with the Digital Property Market Steering Group – a collection of industry and government experts committed to digitalising the home buying and selling process and delivering this change.
The government has already:
Launched a New Homes Accelerator to unblock thousands of homes stuck in the planning system.
Set up an independent New Towns Taskforce, as part of a long-term vision to create large-scale communities of at least 10,000 new homes each.
Awarded £68 million to 54 local councils to unlock housing on brownfield sites.
Awarded £47 million to seven councils to unlock homes stalled by nutrient neutrality rules.
Announced an additional £3 billion in housing guarantees to help builders apply for more accessible loans from banks and lenders.
Extended the existing Home Building Fund for next year providing up to £700 million of vital support to SME housebuilders, delivering an additional 12,000 new homes.
Notes to editors:
More than 300,000 property transactions fall through in the UK every year at a cost to sellers of £400 million, according to a survey commissioned by the HomeOwners Alliance (HOA) and online homebuyer IMMO.co.uk in 2018.
Almost a third of adults surveyed by the Homeowners Alliance in 2024, when asked how the conveyancing process could be improved, said it should be faster.
MHCLG has recently taken over the chairing of the Digital Property Market Steering Group. The group consists of organisations that represent the various professions involved in the buying and selling process and is committed to driving digitalisation of the home buying and selling system.
Right to Manage is the only way for leaseholders to take back control over extortionate fees and mismanagement of their homes, without being forced to buy the freehold.
The Right to Manage Statutory Instrument will be laid in parliament on Monday, and will come in to effect from 3rd March 2025
The weekend byelection in the outer suburban seat of Werribee saw the widely-anticipated slap-in-the-face to Victorian Labor, which is absolutely on the nose. The question is: to what degree were electors venting against federal Labor too?
With an abundance of caution, the Albanese government would do best to assume it was being given a substantial kick.
Even if the largest slice of the about 10% two-party swing was prompted by state factors, including the sheer arrogance of the byelection (a state treasurer departing mid-term), we know federal Labor is doing badly in Victoria.
There is certainly enough of a message in the result in Werribee (which on present numbers Labor is expected to just retain) to flag a potential serious erosion of federal seats come the national election.
One challenge for federal Labor is to turn Victorian voters’ attention away from state matters, to focus squarely on the choice between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton.
Labor needs to minimise the extent to which Victorians use the federal election to take out their anger towards the Allan government. So far, only the Werribee voters have had the chance to get some of that frustration out of their systems. The federal opposition will seek to milk feelings about the Allan government.
Regardless of that, we know Dutton has become more acceptable in Victoria than he was a couple of years ago.
As things stand, Labor is set to lose federal seats in this state where the Liberals have struggled, and the state Liberal organisation has been a shambles. It is a matter of how many.
While the Liberals will be delighted with the Werribee result, the hardheads will note that although the Labor primary vote fell nearly 17% the Liberal vote only rose 3.7%. Partly this might reflect the fact that in Labor heartland, the disillusioned voters wanted to protest but not jump the aisle to the Liberals. Nevertheless, there is the message, applicable federally, that the Liberals need to be attracting more primary votes, not just relying on Labor losing them to independents and small parties.
Once again, we see reflected in this byelection the relative collapse of the two party system. Labor polled 28.7% of the primary vote; the Liberals 29%. fewer than six in ten voters supported one of the major parties.
Depending on your viewpoint, you can see the decline of the two party system as a portend of future instability in our politics, or the continued indication of a fresh new direction. Federally, the present money is on minority government.
In Saturday’s other Victorian byelection, the Liberals wrested the inner city seat of Prahran from the Greens. There was no Labor candidate.
The Greens, on 36.2% of the vote, attempt to take comfort that the swing against them on primary votes was only 0.6%. But a loss is a loss, whatever the margin, and this setback, on top of those in the recent ACT and Queensland elections, must put fears into the party about the fate of the three Queensland federal seats it won in 2022.
With some Labor supporters deeply pessimistic and some Liberals wildly optimistic, both sides are trying to manage expectations about where the election battle stands nationally.
Labor finds some heart from comparing Newspoll’s now and at comparable points before changes of government.
The Dutton opposition in the first Newspoll of 2025 was on 51% of the two-party vote.
By contrast, in the first Newspoll of 1996, the Howard opposition had a two-party vote of 54%.
Newspoll in August 2007 (about 100 days before the election) saw the Rudd opposition on 56%. In May 2013, with about 100 days to voting, the Abbott opposition was polling 55% in two-party terms. The first Newspoll of 2022 had the Albanese opposition on 56%.
Governor Michele Bullock will deliver the next big marker on the political calendar when the Reserve Bank announces next week whether it will cut interest rates.
If it does, there will be a frenzy of speculation about the election being held in April, which would mean scrapping the scheduled March 25 budget.
Quite how Albanese would explain this, when he and his ministers say every other day how much work is being done on that budget, is unclear. Those in Labor who are in the camp of a May election say the government needs time for an interest rate cut to flow through.
Only one man determines the timing, and he’s on record recently saying the date remained “fluid”.
Michelle Grattan 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.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
LANZHOU, Feb. 9 — For Gao Feng, a shutterbug and bird lover, setting forth on a journey to wetlands and taking snaps of migratory birds in such locations serves as a treat in his golden years.
The 62-year-old has captured more than 100,000 images of nearly 300 bird species over the past four years in the wetlands, forests, rivers and lakes in northwest China’s Gansu Province.
“I love photographing birds in wetlands. The diversity and size of waterbirds always delivers surprises,” Gao said. His lens has recorded rare moments of crested ibises dancing and Chinese mergansers gliding across the water.
Gansu has wetlands covering nearly 1.19 million hectares. In recent years, creative and scientific conservation efforts have transformed these areas into thriving sanctuaries for migratory birds.
Located at the northeast edge of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, the Gahai-Zecha National Nature Reserve attracts flocks of migratory birds in June and November every year to reproduce and spend their winter here.
Fan Long, an official with the reserve administration, said that 40 artificial nests and infrared cameras have been set up on the center island to facilitate foraging, breeding and nesting.
“The utilization rate of these artificial nests has reached 99 percent,” said Fan. “The nests not only provide safe feeding grounds but also protect the birds from predators.”
Notably, this reserve is a crucial breeding site for the black-necked crane — the only crane species that breeds and lives on plateaus.
In 2024, the reserve for the first time managed to successfully tag two black-necked cranes, thereby allowing researchers to track their habitats and migration routes in real-time, yielding invaluable data in support of conservation efforts.
Since late 2012, more than 1 million hectares of wetlands have been created or restored in China, with the country’s total wetland area remaining stable and now at over 56.35 million hectares. More than 2,200 wetland nature reserves have been established nationwide, and major wetlands have seen notable ecological improvements.
Further north, Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve in the city of Zhangye in Gansu has become a stronghold for the endangered black stork.
A total of 675 black storks were recorded in the reserve according to a survey of its population in 2024 — marking one of the largest known populations in China.
Shan Guofeng, head of the wildlife protection department at the reserve, has dedicated years to monitoring black stork breeding and nesting sites. His team has compiled over 330,000 characters in observation logs and more than 10,000 photographs.
“From relying on binoculars and hiking through mountains to using infrared cameras, smart management platforms and electronic fences, our monitoring and protection methods have become increasingly diversified,” Shan said.
The reserve now hosts 82 black stork nests, including over 30 breeding nests, with numbers rising annually. To ensure sufficient food during breeding seasons, the reserve has created feeding areas by controlling water levels, planting vegetation and releasing fish to mimic the storks’ natural foraging environment.
Such conservation efforts have also sparked a growing interest in birdwatching among the public, with wetlands offering rich bird resources and ideal platforms for enthusiasts.
Increasingly, younger generations are exploring new models of birdwatching by combining it with science education and outdoor sports.
To meet this rising interest, many wetlands are developing birdwatching bases, which showcase their unique natural and biological resources while also raising public awareness of bird conservation.
“The involvement of multiple stakeholders and diverse approaches to biodiversity surveys have not only enriched our conservation strategies but also unveiled the mysteries behind bird migration,” said Zhang Lixun, head of the wildlife biodiversity monitoring and protection team at Lanzhou University.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Vitaly Savelyev congratulated civil aviation workers on their professional holiday during a ceremonial event at the National Center “Russia”
February 9, 2025
Vitaly Savelyev congratulated civil aviation workers on their professional holiday during a ceremonial event at the National Center “Russia”
February 9, 2025
Vitaly Savelyev congratulated civil aviation workers on their professional holiday during a ceremonial event at the National Center “Russia”
February 9, 2025
Vitaly Savelyev congratulated civil aviation workers on their professional holiday during a ceremonial event at the National Center “Russia”
February 9, 2025
Previous news Next news
Vitaly Savelyev congratulated civil aviation workers on their professional holiday during a ceremonial event at the National Center “Russia”
The Deputy Prime Minister congratulated civil aviation workers on their professional holiday.
On the eve of the holiday, a ceremonial event dedicated to the Civil Aviation Worker’s Day was held at the National Center “Russia”. Vitaly Savelyev addressed the participants with a ceremonial speech. He thanked the aviators for their tireless work and loyalty to their work and wished them success and new achievements for the benefit of Russia!
Special words of gratitude were addressed to veterans.
“We are especially proud of our civil aviation veterans who trained, educated and inspire us to new achievements.
This year we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The country’s civil aviation made a significant contribution to the defeat of the enemy.
Today, Russia is strengthening its status as a great aviation power. Civil aviation successfully solves important tasks in the interests of the state and citizens, makes a significant contribution to achieving national development goals,” noted Vitaly Savelyev.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Henning Melber, Extraordinary Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria
Sam Nujoma was an outstanding Namibian leader who personified more than anybody else the country’s liberation struggle history and independence. His death at the age of 95 marks the end of an era. But his legacy will live on.
Together with Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, he was central in the foundation of the national liberation movement, South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo).
Samuel (Sam) Shafishuna (“lightning”) Daniel Nujoma was born on 12 May 1929 at Etunda near Okahao in northern Namibia in today’s Omusati region, the eldest of 11 children. His childhood was devoted to helping care for his siblings, the family cattle and cultivating the land. From 1937 to 1943 he completed primary school at the Finnish Missionary School at Okahao.
Namibia was then South West Africa, a former German colony, administered by apartheid South Africa since December 1920. Aged 17, he became a contract worker in the harbour town of Walvis Bay. From 1949 he worked as a cleaner at South African Railways in Windhoek. For most of his age group, contract labour in the settler economy was the only way out of subsistence agriculture.
In 1959 Nujoma co-founded the Ovamboland People’s Organisation, marking a new chapter of organised resistance against settler-colonial rule. At the time, African residents in the capital Windhoek lived mainly in the so-called Old Location. It was close to the centre of town, while contract workers were accommodated in a separate compound.
Their residents were supposed to relocate to a distant new township, Katutura. Protests against the forced removal escalated on 10 December 1959. Police opened fire, killing 11 and seriously wounding 44.
This was a turning point in the organised resistance. Political activists faced increased repression. Nujoma left for exile in February 1960 to campaign internationally, not least at the United Nations in New York.
In April 1960 the Ovamboland People’s Organisation became Swapo and Nujoma its first president. He remained in office until 2007. In 1967, Swapo resorted to armed resistance against the South African occupation.
The organisation became the family and Nujoma its patriarch. As Raymond Suttner, a scholar and political analyst, observed:
Any involvement in a revolution has an impact on conceptions of the personal.
A warfare of more than 20 years cost thousands of lives. The military component played a big role in Swapo’s struggle history. This is illustrated in the movement’s official narrative To Be Born A Nation.
While never trained for combat, Nujoma liked to pose as the military leader. Testimony to this is the dominant statue of the “unknown soldier” at the Heroes Acre, modelled as Nujoma.
Just as enlightening is Nujoma’s autobiography, ending with independence on 21 March 1990. Its title Where Others Wavered is from one of his statements in the late 1970s:
When the history of a free and independent Namibia is written one day, Swapo will go down as having stood firm where others have wavered: that it sacrificed for the sacred cause of liberation where others have compromised.
(Nujoma’s account) brings into sharp relief the career of a formidable political activist who displayed enormous courage, determination and will to survive against considerable odds.
Heading the state
Nujoma was appointed Namibia’s first head of state by the Constituent Assembly. His initial term (1990-1995) was characterised by efforts to build the nation and foster reconciliation in a deeply divided settler colonial society.
He accepted a constitutionally enshrined status quo when it came to the privileges of the white minority. Continued socioeconomic disparities under political majority rule signified a process in which political power was traded and transferred while fundamental social inequalities were guarded by the protection of existing property relations.
In August 1999 Nujoma declared a first state of emergency when a failed secession in what was then called the Caprivi Strip came as a shock attack. The subsequent treatment of the suspected secessionists was anything but reconciliatory. It resulted in the country’s only political refugees so far.
To allow Nujoma a third term in office (2000-2005), the National Assembly adopted a first constitutional amendment in late 1998. The justification was that his initial appointment was not based on a direct vote by the electorate. The clause was restricted to Nujoma.
Handing over the torch
There were doubts if Nujoma would vacate office. In 2004 he declared:
One cannot ignore the call by the people, because the people are the ones who make the final decision.
This fuelled speculations that he might be tempted to opt for a referendum, banking on an anticipated majority willing to grant him another term.
Facing internal Swapo opposition, Nujoma opted for the party’s unity and announced his retirement at the end of his term. This paved the way for three candidates competing for his replacement.
But, he was adamant that his long-time confidante Hifikepunye Pohamba would become his successor. A heavy-handed approach to bulldoze him through resulted in a break-away new party.
In such a context retirement is a foreign word. One can leave office but remain a leader. Nujoma’s word and view counted in policy implementation – both at party and national government levels. Although his direct impact gradually subsided, he remained an iconic influencer.
Achievements despite the limits to liberation
Many leaders of African countries were shaped by resistance to colonial oppression. This was no romantic picnic, but required perseverance and tough decisions. It came at a cost. Military mindsets and strict hierarchies were fostering authoritarian tendencies.
These are not the best ingredients for civilian rule. But achieving sovereignty elevated the struggle to new levels. Since the end of white minority rule and South African occupation, Namibian people are governed by those they elected democratically.
Nujoma was on the commanding heights of Namibia’s liberation struggle for over half a century. He decided to retire as captain in time. Namibians owe it to him and others for paving the way for a democratic state guided by the rule of law.
This is adequately symbolised in his statue erected at Windhoek’s Independence Museum. Dressed in civilian clothes, Nujoma proudly holds up the Namibian constitution. It might be the best visual recognition of all of his ultimate contribution to Namibian society.
Since independence, the struggle for more equality continues by civil means. Tatekulu (big man) Sam Nujoma deserves credit for his role in this remarkably peaceful transition towards a multi-party democracy in which politically motivated violence rarely occurs. He will always have centre stage in Namibia’s hall of fame.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Henning Melber, Extraordinary Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria
Sam Nujoma was an outstanding Namibian leader who personified more than anybody else the country’s liberation struggle history and independence. His death at the age of 95 marks the end of an era. But his legacy will live on.
Together with Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, he was central in the foundation of the national liberation movement, South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo).
Samuel (Sam) Shafishuna (“lightning”) Daniel Nujoma was born on 12 May 1929 at Etunda near Okahao in northern Namibia in today’s Omusati region, the eldest of 11 children. His childhood was devoted to helping care for his siblings, the family cattle and cultivating the land. From 1937 to 1943 he completed primary school at the Finnish Missionary School at Okahao.
Namibia was then South West Africa, a former German colony, administered by apartheid South Africa since December 1920. Aged 17, he became a contract worker in the harbour town of Walvis Bay. From 1949 he worked as a cleaner at South African Railways in Windhoek. For most of his age group, contract labour in the settler economy was the only way out of subsistence agriculture.
In 1959 Nujoma co-founded the Ovamboland People’s Organisation, marking a new chapter of organised resistance against settler-colonial rule. At the time, African residents in the capital Windhoek lived mainly in the so-called Old Location. It was close to the centre of town, while contract workers were accommodated in a separate compound.
Their residents were supposed to relocate to a distant new township, Katutura. Protests against the forced removal escalated on 10 December 1959. Police opened fire, killing 11 and seriously wounding 44.
This was a turning point in the organised resistance. Political activists faced increased repression. Nujoma left for exile in February 1960 to campaign internationally, not least at the United Nations in New York.
In April 1960 the Ovamboland People’s Organisation became Swapo and Nujoma its first president. He remained in office until 2007. In 1967, Swapo resorted to armed resistance against the South African occupation.
The organisation became the family and Nujoma its patriarch. As Raymond Suttner, a scholar and political analyst, observed:
Any involvement in a revolution has an impact on conceptions of the personal.
A warfare of more than 20 years cost thousands of lives. The military component played a big role in Swapo’s struggle history. This is illustrated in the movement’s official narrative To Be Born A Nation.
Nujoma, centre, as the historic 1989 elections were announced. With him: Hage Geingob, left, Hidipo Hamutenya, Theo Ben Gurirab Moses Garoeb and a bodyguard.HENNING MELBER
While never trained for combat, Nujoma liked to pose as the military leader. Testimony to this is the dominant statue of the “unknown soldier” at the Heroes Acre, modelled as Nujoma.
Just as enlightening is Nujoma’s autobiography, ending with independence on 21 March 1990. Its title Where Others Wavered is from one of his statements in the late 1970s:
When the history of a free and independent Namibia is written one day, Swapo will go down as having stood firm where others have wavered: that it sacrificed for the sacred cause of liberation where others have compromised.
(Nujoma’s account) brings into sharp relief the career of a formidable political activist who displayed enormous courage, determination and will to survive against considerable odds.
Heading the state
Nujoma was appointed Namibia’s first head of state by the Constituent Assembly. His initial term (1990-1995) was characterised by efforts to build the nation and foster reconciliation in a deeply divided settler colonial society.
He accepted a constitutionally enshrined status quo when it came to the privileges of the white minority. Continued socioeconomic disparities under political majority rule signified a process in which political power was traded and transferred while fundamental social inequalities were guarded by the protection of existing property relations.
In August 1999 Nujoma declared a first state of emergency when a failed secession in what was then called the Caprivi Strip came as a shock attack. The subsequent treatment of the suspected secessionists was anything but reconciliatory. It resulted in the country’s only political refugees so far.
To allow Nujoma a third term in office (2000-2005), the National Assembly adopted a first constitutional amendment in late 1998. The justification was that his initial appointment was not based on a direct vote by the electorate. The clause was restricted to Nujoma.
Handing over the torch
There were doubts if Nujoma would vacate office. In 2004 he declared:
One cannot ignore the call by the people, because the people are the ones who make the final decision.
This fuelled speculations that he might be tempted to opt for a referendum, banking on an anticipated majority willing to grant him another term.
Statue of the unknown soldier modelled on Sam Nujoma.Henning Melber
Facing internal Swapo opposition, Nujoma opted for the party’s unity and announced his retirement at the end of his term. This paved the way for three candidates competing for his replacement.
But, he was adamant that his long-time confidante Hifikepunye Pohamba would become his successor. A heavy-handed approach to bulldoze him through resulted in a break-away new party.
In such a context retirement is a foreign word. One can leave office but remain a leader. Nujoma’s word and view counted in policy implementation – both at party and national government levels. Although his direct impact gradually subsided, he remained an iconic influencer.
Achievements despite the limits to liberation
Many leaders of African countries were shaped by resistance to colonial oppression. This was no romantic picnic, but required perseverance and tough decisions. It came at a cost. Military mindsets and strict hierarchies were fostering authoritarian tendencies.
These are not the best ingredients for civilian rule. But achieving sovereignty elevated the struggle to new levels. Since the end of white minority rule and South African occupation, Namibian people are governed by those they elected democratically.
Nujoma was on the commanding heights of Namibia’s liberation struggle for over half a century. He decided to retire as captain in time. Namibians owe it to him and others for paving the way for a democratic state guided by the rule of law.
This is adequately symbolised in his statue erected at Windhoek’s Independence Museum. Dressed in civilian clothes, Nujoma proudly holds up the Namibian constitution. It might be the best visual recognition of all of his ultimate contribution to Namibian society.
Since independence, the struggle for more equality continues by civil means. Tatekulu (big man) Sam Nujoma deserves credit for his role in this remarkably peaceful transition towards a multi-party democracy in which politically motivated violence rarely occurs. He will always have centre stage in Namibia’s hall of fame.
Hamba Kahle (go well), tate Sam.
– Sam Nujoma personified Namibia’s struggle for freedom – https://theconversation.com/sam-nujoma-personified-namibias-struggle-for-freedom-158904
Changes to investor visa settings will make New Zealand more attractive as an investment destination, says BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich.
We welcome the next move in the government’s foreign investment strategy to attract high net wealth individuals and their families. Investors bring international business networks, unique skills and expertise as well as capital to our country, says Mrs Rich.
A broader range of investment opportunities and internationally comparable settings will open the doors for investors that want to call New Zealand home. There is an opportunity for New Zealand businesses to leverage these networks for investment and international trade. We welcome these visa changes and look forward to continued efforts by the government to attract foreign investment and expertise.
The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.
The NZSA Youth Mentor Programme seeks Emerging Young Writers
Four secondary school students will have the opportunity to be mentored by one of New Zealand’s best professional authors in order to develop their craft and hone their writing skills.
The NZSA Youth Mentorship Programme offers aspiring young writers aged 15 -18 a mentorship, from May to November. The intent of the mentor programme is to foster and develop emerging writing talent with the support of established authors. There are 4 places awarded each year in the youth programme, and it is a game-changing opportunity for young writers.
NZSA has been running successful assessment and mentoring programmes since 1999 that aim are to nurture, encourage, inspire and develop emerging writers with the support of established writers through mentoring and assessment.
Comments from previous youth mentees Leo Reid from Hamilton had award-winning author Kyle Mewburn as their mentor in 2024 and had this to say: “Through the NZSA Youth Mentorship Program, I have developed my skills as an author outside of simply writing. My mentor Kyle was endlessly kind and patient with me and I feel I have grown into myself using her help. Kyle offered me the experience of working with a seasoned author as well as providing me with extremely beneficial feedback. I know I can apply these newfound skills to projects outside of the one I had been working on with Kyle. I will look back on this shared time with her as one of immense value to myself, on both a personal level and as a writer.”
“I feel that I improved my skills as a writer and made a great deal of progress in terms of my project — I now have a clear structure, a plan moving forward and many smaller pieces to work with and develop further. Michelle has helped me build confidence in my work and consider things I previously didn’t, such as pacing and specific characterisation, as well as highlighting my strengths,” said Stella Weston who was partnered with writer and editor, Michelle Elvy.
Yiyang Cao of Auckland had award-winning poet Siobhan Harvey for her mentor and said this about her experience, “I feel that I’ve developed significantly as a poet this year, a process that was well aided by the feedback exchanged with my mentor. Her suggestions on form and craft have been intriguing and helpful to me as I worked towards finding my own poetic voice. I’ve also achieved the goal I had entering the mentorship, of writing and compiling a personal anthology of 40 of my poems in 2023.”
The Youth Mentor Programme is run by the NZSA, the principal organisation representing writers in Aotearoa. We offer memberships for writers at all stages of their careers including students. Our assessment and mentorship programmes, such as our annual Youth mentorships, are offered with the support of Creative New Zealand.
About NZSA The NZSA represents over 1,800 writers in New Zealand. We offer support through advocacy and representation, professional development, information and guidance on publishing and the literary arts, administer prizes and awards and contract and business advice. We work to protect authors incomes and offer memberships for writers at all stages of their careers including students. Our many assessment and mentorship programmes, such as our annual Youth mentorships, are offered with the support of Creative New Zealand. NZSA is affiliated to International PEN, a voice that upholds freedom of speech and protests against writers falsely silenced and imprisoned around the world. www.authors.org.nz
New Zealand should be robust in its response to the “unacceptable” situation in Gaza but it must also back its allies against threats by the US President, says an international relations academic.
Otago University professor of international relations Robert Patman said the rest of the world also “should stop tip-toeing” around President Donald Trump and must stand up to any threats he makes against allies, no matter how outlandish they seem.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters told RNZ that New Zealand would not comment on the plan until it was clear exactly what was meant, but said New Zealand continued to support a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
Dr Patman said the president’s plan was “truly shocking and absolutely appalling” in light of the devastation in Gaza in the last 15 months.
It was not only “tone deaf” but also dangerous, he added, with the proposal amounting to “the most powerful country in the world — the US — dismantling an international rules=based system that [it] has done so much to establish”.
“This was an extraordinary proposal which I think is reckless and dangerous because it certainly doesn’t help the immediate situation. It probably plays into the hands of extremists in the region.
“There is a view at the moment that we must all tiptoe round Mr Trump in order not to upset him, while he’s completely free to make outrageous suggestions which endanger people’s lives.”
Professor Robert Patman . . . Trump’s plan for Gaza “truly shocking and absolutely appalling”. Image: RNZ
Winston Peters’ careful position on a potential US takeover of Gaza was “a fair response . . . but the Luxon-led government must be clear the current situation is unacceptable” and oppose protectionism, he said.
“[The government ] wants a solution in the Middle East which recognises both the Israeli desire for security but also recognises the political right to self determination of the Palestinian people — in other words the right to have a state of their own.”
New Zealand should also speak out against Trump’s threats to annex Canada, “our very close ally”, he said.
He was “not suggesting New Zealand be provocative but it must be robust”, Dr Patman said.
Greens also respond to Trump actions The Green Party said President Trump had been explicit in his intention to take over Gaza, and New Zealand needed to make its position crystal clear too.
Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the Prime Minister needed to stand up and condemn the plan as “reprehensible”.
“President Trump’s comments have been pretty clear to anybody who is able to read or to listen to them, about his intention to forcibly displace, or to see displaced, about 1.8 million Gazans from their own land, who have already been made refugees in their own land.”
France, Spain, Ireland, Brazil and other countries had been “unequivocal” in their condemnation of Trump’s plan, and NZ’s Foreign Affairs Minister should be too, she added.
“New Zealanders value justice and they value peace, and they want to see our leadership represent that, on the international stage. So [these were] really disappointing and unfortunately unclear comments from our Deputy Prime Minister.”
Yesterday Foreign Minister Winston Peters told RNZ that New Zealand still supported a two-state solution, but said he would not comment on Trump’s Gaza plan until officials could grasp exactly what this meant.
Dozens of countries have expressed “unwavering support” for the ICC in a joint statement, after the US President imposed sanctions on its staff.
The 125-member ICC is a permanent court that can prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression against the territory of member states or by their nationals.
The United States, China, Russia and Israel are not members.
Trump has accused the court of improperly targeting the US and its ally, Israel.
Neither New Zealand nor Australia had joined the statement, but in a statement to RNZ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had always supported the ICC’s role in upholding international law and a rules-based system.
University of Victoria law professor Alberto Costi said currently New Zealand is at little risk of sanctions and there’s no need for a stronger approach.
“At this stage there is no reason to be stronger. New Zealand is perceived as a state that believes in a rules-based order and is supportive of the work of the ICC.
“So there’s not much need to go further but it’s a space to watch in the future, should these sanctions become a reality.
“But as far as New Zealand is concerned, at the moment there is no need to antagonise anyone at this stage.”
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
China’s consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, was up 0.5 percent year on year in January, the National Bureau of Statistics said Sunday.
The figure was up from the 0.1-percent increase registered last month, largely due to the influence of the Spring Festival holiday, said NBS statistician Dong Lijuan.
The core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.6 percent from a year ago in January, up from the 0.4-percent increase in December 2024.
On a monthly basis, the CPI expanded 0.7 percent in January, the data showed.
The NBS data also showed the country’s producer price index (PPI), which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, went down 2.3 percent year on year in January, flat with that in December last year.
On a month-on-month basis, the PPI dropped 0.2 percent in January.
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk announcing that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be making significant, illegal cuts to funding for lifesaving research at Universities. The NIH announced that it is arbitrarily capping indirect cost rates at 15%, which will slash funding that helps research institutions, like the University of Wisconsin, operate their facilities, operate labs, pay staff, and buy equipment needed for groundbreaking work to find cures for diseases and treatments for patients.
“The President and Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, are illegally cutting funding that families rely on for groundbreaking research that is finding cures for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes,” said Senator Baldwin. “Abruptly slashing this funding will mean people might not get the treatments they are relying on, workers from custodians to research trainees to scientists are likely to be laid off, and we will be further away from finding the cures to diseases that plague all of our families. Elon Musk and Donald Trump are finding every which way they can to cut programs and funding that families in Wisconsin rely on – all in service to making room for their tax cut for the biggest corporations and themselves. Wisconsin families will pay the price for this illegal cash grab, and I’m going to fight it.”
“UW-Madison is one of the world’s leading engines of biomedical research. This proposed change to NIH funding – UW-Madison’s largest source of federal support – will significantly disrupt vital research activity and delay lifesaving discoveries and cures related to cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, diabetes, and much more,” said the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “In addition, these reductions will have an inevitable impact on student opportunities to engage in research activities, from undergraduates to Ph.D. and medical students. Medical innovation will be slowed, delaying the creation of new treatments, new technologies, and new health workers. The so-called ‘indirect costs’ go to support many aspects of the educational and research work of the university. Indirect costs contribute to everything from utilities charges to building out the laboratories where science is done, to infrastructure for clinical trials of new medicines and treatments. Drastic reduction to this funding will not only disrupt the day-to-day important work of the university but will ultimately harm the livelihoods of real people across Wisconsin and the country, harm the innovation economy and will make our nation less competitive.
Indirect costs are necessary expenses for universities that support research, including paying key support staff, maintaining equipment, and operating labs, among other things. Slashing this funding will shift billions of dollars in burdens to states and their taxpayers, who often cannot afford to pay the difference. Research institutions in Wisconsin, including the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, among other University of Wisconsin System schools, will be impacted by these funding cuts.
As Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies, Senator Baldwin is responsible for writing the bill that funds the NIH, which explicitly prohibits NIH from taking this arbitrary action.
Western sanctions on Iran will fail to bring the country to its knees, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday, stressing the importance of Iran’s self-reliance.
“They think that if they impose deprivation and a blockade on us, we will starve to death. If we have the will, we will find the way,” Pezeshkian said at a ceremony to inaugurate a number of projects in southeastern Iran’s Kerman province.
“If we rely on ourselves, we will achieve what we want. We want to rank first in the region in the areas of science, economy and technology. This will not be achieved easily, but through making considerable efforts,” he was quoted as saying by a statement published by his office.
U.S. President Donald Trump took an executive action Tuesday to restore the so-called “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran aimed to prevent the Islamic Republic from what he claimed “obtaining nuclear weapon.”
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced sanctions on more than a dozen people and firms accused of facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
February 08, 2025
[CHICAGO, IL] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee who still receives her own health care services through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton visited the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Chicago (IVHC) to reaffirm their unwavering support for our state’s Veterans. After visiting with residents, Duckworth, Pritzker and Stratton held a roundtable discussion with leadership from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) to talk about their shared goals for the facility as well as some of the ways we can better ensure our Veterans receive quality, timely care. Photos from today’s visit are available on the Senator’s website.
“It was a pleasure to be back at the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Chicago—a dream of mine that I’m proud to have helped establish to care for our brave heroes,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m thankful for the IDVA’s tireless work to help ensure the Veterans who reside here receive the high-quality support they’ve earned through their service, and I will continue to do everything I can at the federal level to assist in these efforts. Today, my message alongside Governor Pritzker and Lieutenant Governor Stratton was clear: We will always have our Veterans’ backs.”
“I was proud to join a hero of our state Senator Tammy Duckworth and my partner-in-governing Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton to thank the veterans and staff of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As we visit the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Chicago, I continued to be inspired by the patriotism and sacrifice of Illinois veterans who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Taking care of our veterans is one our most important duties in public service and we will continue standing up for those who have always stood up for America.”
“Our veterans answered the call to serve and brought safety, comfort and prosperity to so many,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. “The very essence of duty is to put the needs of others before your own. For that, they deserve nothing less than the very best and in Illinois, we will continue to do everything possible to prioritize the care and support they receive.”
“IDVA and Veterans across Illinois are grateful for the continued support of Senator Duckworth, Governor Pritzker, and Lt. Governor Stratton and for their commitment to Illinois Veterans,” said IDVA Director Terry Prince. “The investment in the Chicago Home and our homes in Anna, LaSalle, Manteno, and Quincy demonstrate the state’s gratitude and respect for Veterans’ service to our nation and our promise to protect them as they have protected us through their service.”
Throughout her tenure in Congress, Duckworth has been a fierce supporter of and an effective legislator for our Veterans. During the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee’s confirmation hearing for President Trump’s VA Secretary nominee Doug Collins last month, Duckworth pressed Collins to oppose any effort to privatize VA health care, which would place many Veterans at risk of receiving less effective and less cost-efficient care. In her remarks, Duckworth underscored that VA health care professionals are better positioned to provide the best care possible for our Veterans due to specialized training that informs providers with a unique understanding of Veterans’ experiences and comprehensive medical needs—something that is not replicated in the civilian health care system.
In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA) that was signed into law, Duckworth secured several important provisions that support our servicemembers and their families, enhance strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, improve logistics to bolster readiness and energy resiliency as well as continue to restore American competitiveness.
The IDVA founded the Illinois Veterans’ Home at Chicago in 2022, the first of its kind in Chicago by the IDVA and only one of five total in Illinois. This is a Long-Term Care Facility specifically for Veterans. Illinois Veterans and eligible spouses seeking skilled and domiciliary care are offered five Veterans’ homes located across Illinois: Anna, Chicago, LaSalle, Manteno and Quincy.
