Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Washington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Derik Carothers, 29, pleaded guilty to Count Four of the Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about October 20, 2019, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Carothers possessed numerous firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. Carothers was previously convicted on November 7, 2013, in the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas of burglary and carrying a firearm without a license, and, on March 20, 2017, of carrying a firearm without a license. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Carothers.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
GREENVILLE, Miss. – Dennis Vernandale Phillips, 42, was sentenced today to over 15 years in prison for his possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the controlled substance.
The investigation began when law enforcement purchased over 30 grams of methamphetamine from Phillips using a confidential informant. During a subsequent search of Phillips’ residence in Preston, Mississippi, officers located methamphetamine, two firearms, and other narcotics. In total, Phillips’ conduct involved over a kilogram of methamphetamine that impacted the Choctaw Indian Reservation in Winston, Kemper, and Neshoba counties.
On October 30, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Phillips to 188 months imprisonment followed by a 48-month term of supervised release for possessing the methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
“Meth indiscriminately kills children, men and women and it ravages our communities, including the Choctaw Indian Reservation,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “This prosecution and sentence are the result of outstanding cooperation between our federal law enforcement partners and the tribal police to achieve a straightforward goal – to reduce the supply of illicit drugs while seeing to it that those who poison communities with narcotics are held to account.”
Phillips’ drug distribution was a threat to the community,” said Whitney Woodruff, Regional Agent in Charge of the Southeast Region for the Division of Drug Enforcement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. “He was poisoning Indian Country for his personal gain and now he will pay the price. I am proud of our partnerships with the other law enforcement agencies involved.”
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case in partnership with the Choctaw Police Criminal Investigations Division, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Howell Addison prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Samsung Electronics today reported financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024.
The Company posted KRW 79.1 trillion in consolidated revenue, an increase of 7% from the previous quarter, on the back of the launch effects of new smartphone models and increased sales of high-end memory products. Operating profit declined to KRW 9.18 trillion, largely due to one-off costs, including the provision of incentives in the Device Solutions (DS) Division.
The strength of the Korean won against the U.S. dollar resulted in a negative impact on company-wide operating profit of about KRW 0.5 trillion compared to the previous quarter.
In the fourth quarter, while memory demand for mobile and PC may encounter softness, growth in AI will keep demand at robust levels. Against this backdrop, the Company will concentrate on driving sales of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and high-density products. The Foundry Business aims to increase order volumes by enhancing advanced process technologies. Samsung Display Corporation (SDC) expects the demand of flagship products from major customers to continue, while maintaining a quite conservative outlook on its performance. The Device eXperience (DX) Division will continue to focus on premium products, but sales are expected to decline slightly compared to the previous quarter.
For 2025, the Company will remain focused on enhancing competitiveness in advanced technologies and strengthening leadership in premium products and AI capabilities amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties. The DS Division will address demand for differentiated products based on advanced technologies and high value-added products such as HBM and server SSDs. In addition, the Company plans to leverage the mass production on the 2 nanometer (nm) Gate-All-Around (GAA) process to win new clients. SDC will aim to maintain leadership in the high-end product category and broaden its product portfolio. The DX Division will continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences through enhanced AI features and product connectivity.
With over 500 million diverse products being delivered to consumers globally every year, the Company is tailoring its AI technology in each product to help lead the market. By leveraging the SmartThings platform with 360 million users and capabilities in product intelligence, spatial intelligence, and personalization, the Company plans to firmly establish itself in the home of the future, where AI will be widespread. In the AI era for the home, the Company will focus on the security of its products, convenience in device connectivity, intelligent technology to save energy and time, and the health and well-being of users and their families.
Memory Achieves Revenue Growth in Q3
The DS Division posted KRW 29.27 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 3.86 trillion in operating profit in the third quarter.
For the Memory Business, demand for AI and conventional servers was strong, as major datacenter and technology companies continued to invest. But mobile demand was relatively soft due to inventory adjustments by some customers, and the supply-demand situation was impacted somewhat by the increasing supply of legacy products in the China market.
The Company focused on actively responding to the demand for AI and server products while depleting aging inventories of legacy products to further improve the inventory level and mix. Therefore, compared to the previous quarter, the Company achieved significant revenue growth in HBM, DDR5 and Server SSD.
However, performance decreased due to a reduced reversal of inventory valuation loss compared to the previous quarter, one-off expenses such as the provision of incentives, and currency effects due to a weak dollar.
For the fourth quarter, the demand trends experienced in the previous quarter are expected to continue. The Company plans to accelerate the conversion of cutting-edge nodes in legacy lines and aims to strengthen its business fundamentals by completing the normalization of the inventory level and mix by the end of the year.
For DRAM, the Company plans to expand sales in line with the increase in HBM capacity, accelerate the transition to 1b nanometer1 for server DDR5 and actively expand the sales portion of high-density modules based on 32Gb DDR5. For NAND, the Company will expand sales of 8th generation (V8) based PCIe Gen5 and plans to mass-produce the 64TB product for the quad-level cell (QLC) market, which has high growth potential.
Looking ahead to 2025, datacenter and enterprise investments are likely to remain strong in association with AI, and build demand for conventional servers, in addition to AI servers, is expected to be steadily strong.
For DRAM, the Company plans to expand the sales of HBM3E and the portion of high-end products such as DDR5 modules with 128GB density or higher for servers and LPDDR5X for mobile, PC, servers, and so on. For NAND, the Company will proactively respond to the high-density trend based on QLC products — including 64TB and 128TB SSDs — and solidify leadership in the PCIe Gen5 market by accelerating the tech migration from V6 to V8.
The System LSI Business posted modest sales growth, but earnings declined due to increased one-off costs. System-on-chip (SoC) shipments increased as flagship products were adopted for new models by a major customer. Sales of image sensors were affected by H1’s inventory accumulation, resulting in some adjustments, while display driver IC (DDI) sales expanded with new model launches by key customers.
In the fourth quarter, supply of the Exynos 2400 will continue to expand with higher customer adoption, but weak demand for image sensors is expected to continue. For DDIs, the System LSI Business is focusing on growth areas, such as the expansion of IT-oriented OLED products.
Looking ahead to 2025, the momentum of on-device AI is expected to remain strong, and the Company will focus on capturing opportunities in areas such as SoCs and cameras. The System LSI Business plans to concentrate on supplying SoCs for flagship products of a major customer while preparing for next-generation 2nm products. Image sensors will aim to maximize new product supply through HDR, low-power and zoom features, while DDIs will seek to develop low-power products using advanced processes.
The Foundry Business saw its overall earnings decline compared to the previous quarter due to the impact of one-off costs. Still, the Foundry Business successfully met its order targets — particularly in sub-5nm technologies — and released the 2nm GAA process design kit (PDK), enabling customers to proceed with their product designs.
While mobile and PC demand may remain weak in the fourth quarter, high performance computing (HPC) and AI-related demand will continue to be robust. The Foundry Business will strive to acquire customers by improving the process maturity of its 2nm GAA technology, and it will continue to develop competitive technology and design infrastructure to expand additional business opportunities.
For 2025, the overall foundry market is expected to show double-digit growth, driven by HPC and AI applications in advanced technology nodes. The Foundry Business aims to expand revenue through ongoing yield improvements in advanced technology while securing major customers through successful 2nm mass production. In addition, integrating advanced process nodes and packaging solutions to further develop the HBM buffer die is expected to help acquire new customers in the AI and HPC sectors.
Mobile Display Records Solid Results; Will Maintain Leadership in the High-End Market
SDC posted KRW 8.0 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 1.51 trillion in operating profit for the third quarter.
For the mobile display business, SDC achieved sequential improvements in both sales and profits thanks to the flagship product launches of major customers. For the large display business, SDC reported a slight weakening in operating profit, but sales volume improved from the previous quarter, driven by the stable demand of TV and monitor products.
In the fourth quarter, SDC expects continued demand for flagship products from major customers, and sales growth of IT and automotive products. However, SDC’s performance outlook is quite conservative compared to the previous quarter, due to headwinds from rising competition among panel makers.
For the large display business, SDC will keep striving to expand sales by meeting the fourth quarter demand of major customers through improved production efficiency, and it aims to respond to the demand for new products in 2025 with timely supply.
In 2025, SDC will continue to maintain its leadership in the foldable and high-end smartphone markets, based on innovative OLED technologies optimized for AI devices and accelerate the expansion of IT and automotive products to further diversify its business portfolio.
For the large display business, SDC will continue to leverage the performance advantage of QD-OLED panels to strengthen its position in the premium TV market. And for monitors, SDC will broaden its lineup by adding high-resolution products and diverse refresh rate options, aiming not only to solidify its competitive edge in the gaming monitor market but also to actively enter the B2C monitor market.
MX Business To Achieve Double-Digit Annual Sales Growth in Flagships
The MX and Networks businesses posted KRW 30.52 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 2.82 trillion in operating profit for the third quarter.
Overall market demand for smartphones grew modestly as the residual effects of global inflation slowed the recovery in consumer spending.
The MX Business recorded sequential growth in both revenue and operating profit, bolstered by the launch of new smartphone, tablet and wearable products. Sales increased — with a focus on flagship models — and profitability neared double digits, despite rising material costs as product specifications improved to boost competitiveness.
In the fourth quarter, seasonal factors are expected to lead to sequential growth in the smartphone market. At the same time, competition in the mass market segment is expected to increase as a result of rising demand, particularly in emerging markets.
The MX Business will continue to maintain solid sales of its AI smartphones, such as foldables and the S24 series, with various sales promotions in anticipation of the holiday season, aiming for annual flagship sales growth of double digits. In addition, the MX Business will expand sales linked to year-end seasonality for tablets and wearables, especially on new premium products with significantly enhanced performance, to contribute to the MX Business’ sales and profits.
In 2025, the macroeconomic environment is expected to stabilize to a degree as a result of interest rate cuts, leading to slight growth in the smartphone market. The mass market segment is expected to grow, along with demand for ecosystem products, and the smartwatch and true wireless stereo (TWS) markets will expand with broader applications of AI capabilities.
The MX Business will drive sales growth and improve profitability with a focus on flagship products, including smartphones, foldables, tablets and wearables, based on further advancements of Galaxy AI.
Visual Display To Focus on Premium Models and Service Expansion
The Visual Display and Digital Appliances businesses posted KRW 14.14 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 0.53 trillion in operating profit in the third quarter.
The Visual Display Business saw improved profitability both from the previous quarter and a year earlier by prioritizing sales of strategic products such as Neo QLEDs, OLEDs, and big TVs. Additionally, service business sales increased.
In the fourth quarter, overall demand in the TV market is expected to recover due to year-end peak seasonality amid intensifying competition. The Visual Display Business plans to capture peak season demand by enhancing sales programs through strategic collaborations with major retail partners, and will focus on expanding sales and securing profitability by emphasizing the competitiveness of TVs in terms of security, design, and content.
In 2025, the overall TV market is expected to post modest growth, with strategic products like QLEDs, OLEDs, and big TVs continuing to gain market share. To solidify its leading position globally, the Visual Display Business will continue to differentiate AI functionalities and innovate its products centering on premium and Lifestyle screens.
By utilizing AI, the Company aims to enhance core TV features such as picture and sound quality, while also improving the overall user experience within the SmartThings ecosystem. The Company plans to drive sales of premium products centered on Neo QLED, OLED and super big TVs, and it will maintain leadership in the Lifestyle screen category by leveraging well-established competitive advantages.
Furthermore, by capitalizing on the extensive installed base that has been established through hardware leadership, the Visual Display Business will continue to expand the service platform business through advertisement and media such as Samsung TV Plus.
1 Refers to Samsung’s fifth-generation 10nm class DRAM
Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Safe Travel
Reviewed: 7 June 2023, 08:45 NZST
Still current at: 31 October 2024
Related news features
If you are planning international travel at this time, please read our COVID-19 related travel advice here, alongside our destination specific travel advice below.
Exercise increased caution in the United States due to the threat of terrorism (level 2 of 4).
United States of America
Terrorism The United States Department of Homeland Security regularly issues terrorism-related advice and updates. For current alerts, see the US National Terror Advisory System webpage.
The United States remains a target of terrorist interest, both from international terror groups and from domestic-based individual’s adhering to various forms of violent extremist ideologies. Credible information assessed by US authorities indicates that individuals or groups have developed both the intent and capability to conduct terrorist attacks in the US. Attacks could be indiscriminate, targeting law enforcement officials, government buildings and areas frequented by foreigners including transport hubs and major events.
New Zealanders in the United States are advised to keep themselves informed of potential risks to safety and security by monitoring the media and other local information sources. Follow any instructions issued by the local authorities and be aware of your surroundings in public places such as shopping malls, markets, monuments, places of worship, tourist destinations, demonstrations, large gatherings and on public transport.
In the event of an attack, leave the area as soon as it is safe to do so. Avoid the area in case of secondary attacks.
Crime Petty crime such as theft and pickpocketing can occur, particularly in urban centres, tourist locations and on public transport. New Zealanders should stay alert to their surroundings, stay vigilant on public transport and avoid leaving belongings unattended, including in rental vehicles.
There is a higher incidence of violent crime and firearm possession than in New Zealand. In many states, it is legal for United States citizens to openly carry firearms in public. Violent crime has targeted individuals and groups from the LGBTQIA+ community and those with diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. However, crime rates vary considerably across cities and suburbs and while tourists are rarely targeted, there is always a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. New Zealanders should take care when travelling in unfamiliar areas including on public transport. Research your destination before travelling and seek local advice if you are concerned about levels of criminal activity.
Active shooter incidents occur in the United States. For advice on how to respond to an active shooter situation, please see the US Department of Homeland Security website.
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Be aware of rental and financial scams via websites and social media. Credit card and ATM fraud including debit card cloning is also a risk to travellers.
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Tornados are most frequent and at their highest intensities across the Central Plains and parts of the Midwest. While tornadoes can form at any time of year, conditions are most favourable in the spring and summer months (March to September).
Severe snowstorms during winter can cause disruptions to critical infrastructure, including power cuts. Winter storms may also lead to widespread flight delays and cancellations.
Many parts of the US are also prone to earthquakes including Alaska, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington state and the US Virgin Islands.
Contact your travel operator or airline for the latest departure information, and monitor local weather forecasts. If there is a severe weather event, or natural disaster, follow the advice of the local authorities and keep your family and friends back in New Zealand informed of your safety and well-being.
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Travel tips
The New Zealand Embassy Washington DC, United States of America
New Zealand Consulate-General Honolulu, United States of America
Street Address 733 Bishop Street, 2020, Honolulu, HI 96813 Telephone +1 808 675 5555 Fax +1 808 675 5561 EmailHLUEnquiries@mfat.govt.nz
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Motorists using the southbound lanes of Waterview Tunnel are advised to expect delays while emergency services respond to a serious crash involving a motorcycle and a vehicle.
One southbound lane is blocked and motorists are advised to use extra caution in the area and to expect delays for some time.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
Work to improve the quality of Launceston’s biggest waterway has reached a new milestone, with construction of a giant storage tank at Ti-Tree Bend underway, following the recent completion of upgrades to the Margaret Street Pump Station and Western Rising Main.
The 10-megalitre concrete tank will be connected to the new pipeline under the Kanamaluka / Tamar Estuary riverbed – boosting the storage capacity of Launceston’s combined sewage and stormwater system, and significantly reducing untreated overflows.
Ahead of construction, mass soil mixing works of more than 28,000 cubic metres of soil – the equivalent to filling 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools – were undertaken, along with the installation of 120 concrete piles to a depth of 20 metres.
With these essential ground improvement and foundation works completed, TasWater is now beginning construction of the new 10-megalitre covered storage facility and supporting infrastructure, with the project expected to be completed in 2026.
The project is supporting up to 80 jobs during construction, and includes the services of local Tasmanian contractors, One Earth Excavations.
It is part of the $140.7 million Tamar Estuary River Health Action Plan, with the Albanese Government providing $49 million, the Tasmanian Government $47.5 million, TasWater $33.2 million, and the City of Launceston $11 million – an initiative of the $609.4 million Launceston City Deal.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Kristy McBain MP:
“It was fantastic to be back in Launceston to see this infrastructure continuing to take shape, with construction of this 10-megalitre tank marking an exciting milestone in this region-shaping project.
“Upgrading Launceston’s sewage and stormwater system will not only ensure it keeps pace with the city’s growing population, it will significantly boost the health of the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary, supporting commercial and recreational opportunities on this waterway into the future.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Eric Abetz:
“Alongside the recently completed pipeline, this latest milestone will continue improvements in the overall health of the Estuary.
“The work being conducted under the Launceston City Deal and Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce demonstrates once again what can be achieved when the three levels of government collaborate.
“The Tamar Estuary is a major asset for Launceston and Northern Tasmania and the more focus we have on its health and amenity, the better.”
Quotes attributable to Senator for Tasmania, Helen Polley:
“Improving the health of the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary is something that people in Launceston have long called for, which is why we’re getting on with the job of delivering these critical upgrades to the city’s sewage and stormwater system.
“With work kickstarting on this storage tank installation, we’re another step closer to this estuary becoming a recreational waterway, which will really transform how this part of Launceston is utilised by locals and visitors long into the future.”
Quotes attributable to Simon Wood, Liberal Member for Bass:
“We appreciate the river’s importance to Launceston and the wider community, which is why we are making investments today to ensure its health for future generations.
“The health of the Tamar is a daily topic of conversation around Launceston.
“People can be confident that the Tasmanian Government, as part of the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce and through the Launceston City Deal, is helping to protect this waterway.”
Quotes from City of Launceston Council Mayor Matthew Garwood:
“The City of Launceston is proud to work alongside our Launceston City Deal partners to continue to make improvements to the health of our waterways,” Mayor Garwood said.
“The work TasWater has been undertaking to progress new and improved sewage infrastructure is phenomenal and is going to make a really positive difference to the natural environment over coming decades.”
BEIJING, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (31 October 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $50 million loan (in yuan equivalent) with Canvest Environmental Protection Group Company Limited (Canvest) to promote efficient municipal solid waste management and waste-to-energy (WTE) in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
ADB’s funding will help Canvest develop, construct, and operate a WTE plant at Huizhou City in Guangdong province, and to expand municipal solid waste management services in Quyang County in Hebei province. Canvest provides a range of services across the municipal solid waste value chain including cleaning, segregation, collection, transportation, sorting, recycling, and energy generation.
“Segregating and recycling solid waste has been a challenge in the PRC, so cities have turned to the private sector for an efficient and integrated approach to waste management,” said ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury. “However, private sector participation in waste management is still nascent in the PRC. This project can demonstrate the viability of sector while contributing to low-carbon development.”
The PRC is one of the world’s largest sources of municipal solid waste, with a total volume of 244 million tons in 2022 which is expected to reach 332.4 million tons a year by 2025. The project’s WTE plant is expected to treat at least 300,000 tons of municipal solid waste a year, generating at least 93 gigawatt-hours of energy annually. This will help reduce at least 346,700 tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions. The project will also support the annual collection of at least 147,825 tons of waste by 2026.
“Canvest helps cities to better manage their solid waste problem in a more cost-effective and sustainable way. We value ADB’s support in enhancing the environmental, social, and gender impacts of our operations,” said Canvest Chair Lee Wing Yee Loretta. “We are pleased to collaborate with ADB to share with the wider waste management community the benefits of integrated waste management solutions and the lessons learned.”
Established in 2003, Canvest is a leading provider of waste management services in the PRC. As of June 2024, the company operated 33 WTE projects, with a total treatment capacity of 43,690 tons per day. Additional projects with a daily capacity of 10,850 tons are under development. Canvest also has 22 municipal solid waste management projects.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
Launch of the October 2024 Regional Economic Outlook for the Middle East and Central Asia
The Regional Economic Outlook (REO) report provides comprehensive insights into recent economic developments and future prospects specifically for countries in the region. It analyzes the impact of economic policy changes on performance, highlighting key challenges faced by policymakers in navigating complex economic landscapes.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2 AM ET/10 AM GMT+4: Full report release with press briefing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates The report will be available for download on this page starting on October 31. Stay tuned for updates!
RECENT EVENT
2024 Annual Meetings Press Briefing:Regional Economic Outlook for the Middle East and Central Asia
Jihad Azour, Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF
Moderator: Angham H. Al Shami, Communications Officer, IMF
Source: New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
31 Oct 2024
Two ocean trawlers in the Northern Rivers and a river trawler on the Hawkesbury River have become the first in Australia to trial a low carbon renewable fuel solution as part of a NSW Government research project on sustainable energy usage in the commercial fishing sector.
The $920,000 Beyond Fossil Diesel Program is a collaboration between the NSW Government and the Decarbonisation Innovation Hub initiative which supports collaboration between researchers and industry to increase the uptake of new technologies in decarbonising NSW.
Renewable diesel is used as a drop in replacement and offers industry a 70% – 90% reduction in their normal fuel related emissions and as part of the project, more than 6,000 litres of renewable diesel will be blended with fossil diesel at 30% of the mix.
Research Officer Michael Cashen said after 18 months of research, the Beyond Fossil Diesel Program has hosted a series of renewable fuel demonstrations in both the Clarence and Hawkesbury regions.
“The aim of the Beyond Fossil Diesel at Sea project is to provide practical examples that will inspire confidence and drive adoption of practical decarbonisation solutions within the marine sector,” Mr Cashen said.
“We appreciate Yamba commercial fisher Steve Everson and Paul Aquilina from Spencer for participating in this landmark demonstration.
“Their involvement will show other fishermen what is possible with these evolving low-carbon liquid fuels and how they work in their vessels.”
Mr Cashen continued by saying renewable diesel can be made from biological feedstocks including tallow, oilseed crops and sugar cane and has been used extensively in both the US and Europe in hard to abate sectors that have limited practical options to decarbonise.
“Currently, the price of renewable diesel is too high for widespread adoption, however, with the development of an Australian Low Carbon Liquid Fuel industry, we expect prices to decrease over time, making it easier for the industry to adopt renewable diesel as stakeholders become more familiar with the product,” Mr Cashen said.
“Raising awareness of low carbon liquid fuels as a replacement for fossil fuels was initially done in the agriculture sector, as part of the Beyond Fossil Diesel project.
“With potential demand for low carbon liquid fuels growing worldwide, NSW has a significant opportunity to help build feedstock supply and potentially production capacity that can create regional employment and reduce reliance on imported fuel.
Low Carbon Liquid Fuels such as renewable diesel is a practical way for industry to reduce carbon emissions without having to make changes to existing machinery or supply chains.
“By using renewable diesel, we can directly cut emissions and contribute to NSW target to net zero emissions by 2050.”
NSW Northern Rivers commercial fisherman Steve Everson said:
“I’m excited to be part of this Australian-first demonstration.
“Using renewable diesel in my trawlers not only supports our local industry but also showcases the potential for reducing emissions without making changes to our equipment.”
NSW Hawkesbury River fishermen Paul Aquilina said:
“By showcasing the effectiveness of renewable diesel, we hope to inspire other fishermen to adopt these innovative fuels when they become more affordable in Australia.
More than 50 senior enlisted leaders from the Republic of Korea and United States militaries engaged in Mangudai 2024, which ran from Oct. 22-24, and included events spanning the lengths of Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, Camp Casey, and Camp Bonifas.
Mangudai is an annual three-day training exercise that evaluates senior enlisted leaders’ mettle in a grueling series of events, testing their physical fitness, adaptability, discipline, and mastery of core Soldiering tasks in an environment where sleep is sparse, and the weather is constantly adverse.
“Mangudai goes back to the 13th Century with the Mongolian Warriors. The leader of that force would select his most elite special forces through a training competition, which was called Mangudai,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jack Love, Tri-Command Senior Enlisted Advisor.
“The US military has been executing Mangudai since the former U.S. Forces Korea Sergeant Major, Sgt. Maj. John Wayne Troxell started it at Joint Base Lewis McCord when he was the 1st Corps Command Sergeant Major,” said Love. “I think it’s critically important for all senior enlisted leaders to participate for a number of reasons. First and foremost, we can never forget that we, all of us, whether you’re in for twenty years or thirty years, we must earn our place in the formation every day.”
“We need to be able to do what we expect our young Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Guardians to do,” explained Love. “We may not be able to do it as fast as we used to be able to, but we must be able to train, fight, and win in any conflict, in any environment. And so, this exercise really gets after that, and it tests a lot of grit.”
Key events for Mangudai include: live fires, patrol base activities, land navigation, rendering casualty care under threat of mortar fire, a hand-to-hand combat challenge in a waist deep mud-pit, and miles upon miles of foot-marching through rain and the frigid cold.
“We all got soaking wet from the rain and it was extremely cold to the point we were shivering; However, we were still motivated, which is the most meaningful part to me,” said Republic of Korea-Army Master Sgt. Hyun-Beom Lim, company executive officer, Special Task Infantry. “I think it is fascinating that ROK and U.S. personnel manage to overcome hardships by working as a team, and it made me enjoy all the tough tasks that need to be done through the exercise.”
While the training focuses on pushing competitors to their limits and potentially to their breaking points, it’s also an opportunity to build trust and strong relations between partners, according to 1st Sgt. Gerald L. Harness, a competitor hailing from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 6-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion.
“Mangudai is a test of intestinal fortitude and of our ability to communicate with our allied partners who we’re teamed up with. It’s all about teamwork. When you’re in charge, be in charge, and when you’re not, be a good follower,” said Harness. “My biggest takeaways from participating in Mangudai are, understanding my limits and the capabilities of our host nation allies, expanding both my comfort zone and my capabilities to not only lead with my peers, but follow them as well.”
When all is said and done, the core focus of Mangudai, like all military training, is grounded in warfighter readiness and instilling confidence in the tactics, techniques, and procedures Soldiers will employ on the battlefield.
“General LaCamera has four lines of operation and two lines of effort. Line of Operation number three is Combat Readiness,” said Love. “We have to be ready on the Peninsula, and though we pray for peace and want to maintain the current armistice state, should crisis or conflict arise, we have to be ready to fight tonight and win, so these skills really are the foundation of everything we do, regardless of your service, whether you’re from the United States or a Republic of Korea service member, winning is the only option.”
“When I watch these first sergeants and master sergeants across our combined forces command and the grit and determination they’re pushing through, I’ve never been prouder,” Love added. “I would go to combat any day, anywhere with any one of them because they’re warriors.”
We are aware of the DPRK’s ballistic missile launch and are consulting closely with the Republic of Korea and Japan, as well as other regional allies and partners. The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts. While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or territory, or to our allies, we continue to monitor the situation. The U.S. commitments to the defense of the ROK and Japan remain ironclad.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
UK MOBILIST and PSE strengthen ongoing partnership with IPO Forum and Policy Reform Dialogue to boost Philippine capital markets.
28 October 2024, Manila – The UK government’s MOBILIST programme co-hosted a flagship investment forum and a capital reform dialogue with the Philippine Stock Exchange this week.
MOBILIST is supporting the Philippines in fostering a robust and resilient capital market to advance inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
The Philippine Stock Exchange and MOBILIST hosted events to bolster the Philippines’ capital markets, attract foreign investment, and support sustainable development through public offerings.
The Road to IPO 2024 Forum on 22 October, an annual flagship PSE event, offered businesses invaluable insights from industry leaders and market experts on navigating the path to a successful Initial Public Offering. The event was held in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission and co-hosted by the UK government through MOBILIST.
On 23 October, the Philippine Capital Market Policy Dialogue brought together stakeholders from the Philippine government, regulatory bodies, and the private sector to discuss crucial policy reforms aimed at strengthening the financial sector. The dialogue explored legislative efforts, including the Capital Market Reform Act, which seeks to enhance financial inclusion and attract wider participation in the Philippine stock market.
The events come after MOBILIST made a significant $12.5 million investment in the Initial Public Offering of Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation on the PSE in June this year. MOBILIST established a partnership with the PSE in 2023 to ensure greater investment in sustainable development in the Philippines via products listed on the exchange.
The UK’s continued partnership with the PSE aims to unlock new opportunities for companies and investors, enhance market transparency, and accelerate the Philippines’ journey toward financial inclusion and long-term investment competitiveness. As the Philippines continues to evolve as a key player in the global investment landscape, these collaborative efforts will play a crucial role in shaping a more dynamic and sustainable capital market for the future. The ongoing dialogue and shared vision between the UK and the Philippines set the stage for long-term growth, innovation, and mutual prosperity.
His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Laure Beaufils, said:
I am delighted that the UK is partnering with the Philippine Stock Exchange to deepen the domestic capital market and promote more sustainable and inclusive economic development. Supported by the Philippine government’s policy reform initiative, MOBILIST’s collaboration with the PSE is helping to promote wider domestic stock market participation while attracting more foreign investments to key sectors, including those driving the clean energy transition.
Ross Ferguson, who leads the MOBILIST programme at the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, said:
MOBILIST is proud to continue our partnership with the PSE to support the Philippines in mobilising greater investment toward the country’s sustainable development and climate transition. This includes our investment in CREC, as well as MOBILIST’s support to bring together capital market participants, policymakers, and regulators to foster dialogue and collaboration to create a conducive environment for investing in the SDGs via public markets.
Ramon S. Monzon, President and Chief Executive Officer at PSE, says:
The prevailing market environment serves as an ideal backdrop for discussions to spur IPO listings and policies aimed at making the Philippine capital market more competitive. We are grateful to MOBILIST for co-hosting these back-to-back events with PSE and we hope to have more collaborative endeavors in the future. We are also looking forward to more MOBILIST-supported companies going public in the near future.
As the Philippines continues to evolve as a key player in the global investment landscape, these collaborative efforts will play a crucial role in shaping a more dynamic and sustainable capital market for the future. The ongoing dialogue and shared vision between the UK and the Philippines set the stage for long-term growth, innovation, and mutual prosperity.
ENDS
About the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) pursues the UK’s national interests and projects the UK as a force for good in the world. We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners.
A flagship UK government programme, MOBILIST supports investment solutions that help deliver the climate transition and the United Nation’s Global Goals in developing economies. MOBILIST focuses on mobilising institutional capital to spur new scalable and replicable financial products. MOBILIST invests capital, delivers technical assistance, conducts research and builds partnerships to catalyse investment in new listed products.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)
For Immediate Release Contact: Tionee Scotland October 30, 2024 202-808-6129
PRESS RELEASE
PLASKETT PROVIDES CRITICAL UPDATE ON USPS ISSUE OF UNTIMELY PACKAGE DELIVERY
Washington, D.C. – The office of Congresswoman Plaskett has held numerous meetings with United States Postal Service (USPS) regional leadership related to the exorbitant package delivery delays that continue to affect Virgin Islanders.
After a number of meetings with the leadership of USPS regarding the delays, we would like to share the following information which outlines the USPS process and proposed changes to rectify the issues we are facing:
Background:
– The estimated delivery service for Ground Advantage Service, Parcel Select, and Priority Mail that contains hazardous materials or non-standard dimensions to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is 14 – 21 days. USPS indicated this timeframe is not guaranteed based on several factors, including origin and destination zip codes, package volume, and weather. Amazon recently changed their shipping from Ground Advantage to Parcel Select. Prior to this change, Amazon planes would fly into San Juan and the packages would be distributed and delivered from San Juan via air. Due to the Parcel Select change, once the St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix packages were scanned and banded, FAA regulations prohibit the packages from being sent by air, as this designation requires transport via surface mail. Consequently, several packages were in the process of being re-routed back to Jacksonville since there has not been mail barge service between Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Intervention:
– As a direct result of Congresswoman Plaskett’s intervention and persistence, USPS has agreed to not send the packages back to Jacksonville to go through the process again but to retain the parcel select packages from Amazon and other packages that could not be shipped by plane, and those packages are NOW being held in a holding facility in Puerto Rico. Effective Saturday, November 2nd, 2024, the packages will be barged from Puerto Rico to the Virgin Islands. The barge will leave Puerto Rico early in the morning on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024. Packages will be off loaded in St. Thomas first and then the barge will continue over to St. Croix. The barge will travel with packages to the Virgin Islands every Saturday.
– Regular Priority mail and Ground Advantage packages that are not mislabeled due to the robotic labeling issue will continue to be flown or barged from Jacksonville to St. Thomas and St. Croix without delays.
Congresswoman Plaskett shared, “My team and I realize that this USPS issue impacts a myriad of people in our community—businessowners awaiting their products, individuals who need prescriptions, and so many others. I would like to thank the USPS employees for their tireless work to ensure that we are able to get our mail despite the various delays with the system, and I would also like to thank all the individuals that called in and/or sent in their USPS complaints. My team and I will continue to advocate on behalf of our territory to ensure that this issue and others like it with USPS are resolved as quickly as possible.”
To report a USPS complaint for our office’s records, please contact our offices at 340-778-5900 or 340-774-4408.
Source: Australia Government Ministerial Statements
CATHERINE KING: Hi, I’m Catherine King. I’m the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, and one of the great parts of my job is being able to invest in local communities. Today we’re announcing here in Cowes that the Albanese Labor Government is committing $8 million to upgrade the esplanade, to do the work that’s needed to ensure that this is a much more pedestrian-friendly area for the beautiful people that come to Phillip Island each year, who live on the island, and call this home. This investment alongside over $21 million worth of funding that we’re announcing as part of the regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, another project in Hamilton, a project in Mansfield, and a project in Cobram, are really important projects for local communities. What they enable and the reason we’ve been looking to invest alongside council in these projects is to create precincts that come to life. Where the infrastructure may be a bit tired, it’s not working, we’re really trying to make sure we’re bringing people back into the centres and regions, that we’re providing that opportunity for new businesses to flourish, but also really for places to be used because we know how important that is to local communities.
So, really delighted to be here today to announce the latest round of regional Precincts and Partnerships funding and the $8 million to give to the Cowes community. I might hand over to the CEO – obviously the council is in caretaker at the moment – to say a few words and then I’ll be happy to take some questions.
GREG BOX: Thank you, Minister. So, we’re really pleased to have you here and really pleased to have the Federal Government provide this funding. Ultimately, it’ll bring the money to 9.6 million from council’s contribution. This is an iconic part of Victoria. It’s an iconic street. And really, that investment is going to bring that right up as, the Minister said, and transform it into the sort of place that we want this to be. We’ve had an enormous amount of investment over the last ten years. The master planning for this was done out in 2015, and that master planning has culminated in nearly $300 million worth of investment around this site and around this place. So it’s incredible work and council’s really proud of it, but we’re actually really excited and looking forward to transforming this space right now.
CATHERINE KING: Great. Happy to take some questions.
QUESTION: So traffic will be going one way in Cowes?
CATHERINE KING: Yeah. Well I think if you’ve ever come down here at summer- it’s a little while since I’ve been down here on holidays. I used to come down here a lot as a kid. But it’s pretty busy and it’s really very congested and hard to get through. But it also makes it dangerous when you’ve got families with little kids who are trying to get access to the shops, trying to get their kids ice creams, or just come and do your shopping. It does make it really difficult over summer. And of course, anyone who’s been down here knows that it banks up, so that means you’ve just got a decent traffic flow. You really make sure you’re slowing cars down, you’re pedestrianising access. That makes it safer, but it also makes it a much better place for people. People want to come here, they want to actually come and shop, and that’s really good for the retailers as well.
QUESTION: Will there be any impacts to car parking?
CATHERINE KING: Again, that’s really a matter for council. They’re delivering the project. The Federal Government is delivering the funding and partnership, so I’ll hand over to the CEO to make [indistinct].
GREG BOX: Yeah, we’ll work through the detailed design of it. We’re not really talking about net losses and gains at the moment. There’s a whole lot of detail still to be done on that. But as the Minister said, really, what we’re trying to do is prioritise people in the space. We already experience an enormous amount of people in this space, and letting them be able to interact both with business and community is incredibly important. Providing shade, there’ll be curve extensions. This part of the world will be one of those places that you really do want to walk and sit and contemplate. It’s the only north facing beach in Victoria. It really is an iconic spot and we’re experiencing that today with the sun on us. It’s really a magnificent spot to actually stop and engage in local culture.
QUESTION: And so it will be one way up until Chapel Street, is that right?
GREG BOX: Yes. Just until- just up until chapel. And it’ll be one way coming down this way, and then it’ll go one way both ways around. So again, as the Minister said, that will slow down traffic and will enable people to feel like the space is something that they can inhabit more safely.
QUESTION: And Minister, speaking about the other areas across the state receiving funding, were they announced- are you announcing them today or have they already been…
CATHERINE KING: We’re announcing all of the Victorian regional Precincts and Partnerships Projects today. So, the work in Hamilton, Mansfield and Cobram. And over $21 million across the state of Victoria. What we’re really looking for are- these are place-based funding. It’s to really look at how do you improve the places where regional communities live, how do you get partnerships between council, Federal Government, commercial retailers, not-for-profit organisations to really make those places where people want to come and live.
QUESTION: Is there anything that stands out about [indistinct]? One-way traffic or anything.
CATHERINE KING: So, yeah, really to me, what I’ve been looking for and I’ve got a panel of people who are really involved in urban planning and changing places. And so they do the assessments for me, and that comes to me. But what I’ve been looking for is have we got areas that are underutilised, have older buildings in them that really have been- have had huge uses throughout their life but are not really being used; spaces that are not being activated. So really, that’s what I’ve been looking for. What changes a place and makes a place more liveable for people in our communities. And that’s really what this program is about.
QUESTION: And why have these towns been specifically selected?
CATHERINE KING: Again, because of the excellence of their projects. If you look at the projects here in Cowes, this is about changing places. It’s about changing the way that people who live in this community interact with the built environment and use it more effectively, and that’s really what these projects are about.
Headline: Global MBBF 2024: Accelerating 5.5G and AI Convergence to Lead the Mobile AI Era
Oct 30, 2024
[Istanbul, Türkiye, October 30, 2024] The Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2024 (MBBF 2024) has kicked off in Istanbul, Türkiye with the theme “5.5G Leads Mobile AI Era”. More than 1,000 guests from mobile network carriers, ecosystem players, and leaders from vertical industries have gathered to discuss a wide range of topics, from business model innovation to industry development and key technological directions in the Mobile AI era.
This forum was set up to further promote the convergence of 5.5G and intelligent applications to create greater value for the mobile industry. During the forum, Huawei and Türkiye network carriers have jointly provided diverse intelligent 5.5G field experiences. Also, various players in the Mobile AI ecosystem will be displaying their intelligent connectivity applications for people, homes, things, vehicles, and industries.
MBBF 2024 began with the opening remarks from Ken Hu, Huawei’s Rotating Chairman. “In the future, AI will change everything. Everyone will be able to use it, anytime and anywhere. Mobile networks and devices will play an important role to make that happen, just like what we have done to enable telephones and mobile Internet as a universal service,” said Hu.
Ken Hu, Huawei’s Rotating Chairman, delivering the opening remarks
2024 has brought both the commercial launch of 5.5G and the unprecedented expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) into our everyday life and work. Globally, more than 3 million AI-capable applications have been developed, more than the total number of non-AI apps available in the app store. That early commercial 5.5G rollout coincides with the first year of AI adoption in various devices is tremendously significant — it heralds the dawn of the Mobile AI era.
Li Peng, Huawei’s Senior Vice President and President of ICT Sales & Service delivered a keynote on how to maximize new growth opportunities in the mobile AI era. “The mobile AI era is here,” said Li. “We will see new forms of interaction with devices, new intelligent services, and structural changes in traffic models. This will bring huge new opportunities for the mobile industry.”
Li Peng, Huawei’s Senior Vice President and President of ICT Sales & Service, speaking at Global MBB Forum 2024 in Istanbul
Li then detailed how carriers can make the most of these new opportunities and drive new growth by reshaping services, network infrastructure, O&M, and business models. He shared how leading carriers around the world have already verified AI service capabilities on live 5.5G networks across a wide range of scenarios for individuals, homes, travel, and business.
“Moving forward, there are two things we can do to capitalize on new opportunities in the mobile AI era,” said Li. “First, we should prepare our networks to support AI. That means boosting network capabilities, especially uplink, latency, and capacity. Second, we can use AI to support our networks. With more complex networks, we can use AI to help automate O&M, optimize network efficiency, and guarantee a solid user experience.”
This forum features boutique exhibitions of new intelligent connectivity for people, homes, things, industries, and vehicles. Across the indoor booths and outdoor fields, multimodal AI devices and diverse Mobile AI applications are presented, including AI phones, AI glasses, intelligent cockpits, humanoid intelligence, AI-generated content (AIGC), digital human interaction, and AI-powered real-time call translation, thanks to the joint efforts of Huawei, operators, and industry players. Another highlight is the continuous 5.5G coverage across the indoor and outdoor areas of the venues, showcasing the multidimensional capabilities of 5.5G networks and the cutting-edge products and solutions that power them.
The 15th Global Mobile Broadband Forum, with a tagline of ‘5.5G Leads Mobile AI Era’, runs from October 30 to 31 in Istanbul, Türkiye. It will be hosted by Huawei with support from our industry partners GSMA and GTI. Together with operators, vertical industry leaders, and ecosystem partners, we will share the industry’s latest advancements and explore new opportunities. Industry stakeholders will discuss how to achieve 5.5G business success in the Mobile AI era, and leverage the success of 5G to attain even greater achievements with 5.5G. For more information, please visit MBBF2024 at: https://www.huawei.com/en/events/mbbf2024.
Headline: Global MBBF 2024: Accelerating 5.5G and AI Convergence to Lead the Mobile AI Era
[Istanbul, Türkiye, October 30, 2024] The Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2024 (MBBF 2024) has kicked off in Istanbul, Türkiye with the theme “5.5G Leads Mobile AI Era”. More than 1,000 guests from mobile network carriers, ecosystem players, and leaders from vertical industries have gathered to discuss a wide range of topics, from business model innovation to industry development and key technological directions in the Mobile AI era.
This forum was set up to further promote the convergence of 5.5G and intelligent applications to create greater value for the mobile industry. During the forum, Huawei and Türkiye network carriers have jointly provided diverse intelligent 5.5G field experiences. Also, various players in the Mobile AI ecosystem will be displaying their intelligent connectivity applications for people, homes, things, vehicles, and industries.
MBBF 2024 began with the opening remarks from Ken Hu, Huawei’s Rotating Chairman. “In the future, AI will change everything. Everyone will be able to use it, anytime and anywhere. Mobile networks and devices will play an important role to make that happen, just like what we have done to enable telephones and mobile Internet as a universal service,” said Hu.
Ken Hu, Huawei’s Rotating Chairman, delivering the opening remarks
2024 has brought both the commercial launch of 5.5G and the unprecedented expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) into our everyday life and work. Globally, more than 3 million AI-capable applications have been developed, more than the total number of non-AI apps available in the app store. That early commercial 5.5G rollout coincides with the first year of AI adoption in various devices is tremendously significant — it heralds the dawn of the Mobile AI era.
Li Peng, Huawei’s Senior Vice President and President of ICT Sales & Service delivered a keynote on how to maximize new growth opportunities in the mobile AI era. “The mobile AI era is here,” said Li. “We will see new forms of interaction with devices, new intelligent services, and structural changes in traffic models. This will bring huge new opportunities for the mobile industry.”
Li Peng, Huawei’s Senior Vice President and President of ICT Sales & Service, speaking at Global MBB Forum 2024 in Istanbul
Li then detailed how carriers can make the most of these new opportunities and drive new growth by reshaping services, network infrastructure, O&M, and business models. He shared how leading carriers around the world have already verified AI service capabilities on live 5.5G networks across a wide range of scenarios for individuals, homes, travel, and business.
“Moving forward, there are two things we can do to capitalize on new opportunities in the mobile AI era,” said Li. “First, we should prepare our networks to support AI. That means boosting network capabilities, especially uplink, latency, and capacity. Second, we can use AI to support our networks. With more complex networks, we can use AI to help automate O&M, optimize network efficiency, and guarantee a solid user experience.”
This forum features boutique exhibitions of new intelligent connectivity for people, homes, things, industries, and vehicles. Across the indoor booths and outdoor fields, multimodal AI devices and diverse Mobile AI applications are presented, including AI phones, AI glasses, intelligent cockpits, humanoid intelligence, AI-generated content (AIGC), digital human interaction, and AI-powered real-time call translation, thanks to the joint efforts of Huawei, operators, and industry players. Another highlight is the continuous 5.5G coverage across the indoor and outdoor areas of the venues, showcasing the multidimensional capabilities of 5.5G networks and the cutting-edge products and solutions that power them.
The 15th Global Mobile Broadband Forum, with a tagline of ‘5.5G Leads Mobile AI Era’, runs from October 30 to 31 in Istanbul, Türkiye. It will be hosted by Huawei with support from our industry partners GSMA and GTI. Together with operators, vertical industry leaders, and ecosystem partners, we will share the industry’s latest advancements and explore new opportunities. Industry stakeholders will discuss how to achieve 5.5G business success in the Mobile AI era, and leverage the success of 5G to attain even greater achievements with 5.5G. For more information, please visit MBBF2024 at: https://www.huawei.com/en/events/mbbf2024.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)
LOS ANGELES, CA— Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37)presented a $500,000 check to Brotherhood Crusade for its Trauma-Informed Anti-Recidivism Initiative. This project is one of fifteen that Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove secured a total of $12.4 million for through Fiscal Year 2024 government funding legislation.
The Trauma-Informed Anti-Recidivism Initiative will engage system-impacted youth ages 12-24 in a two-stage program to facilitate successful reentry into society and reduce recidivism rates. The first stage involves a ten-step, evidence-based curriculum to curb high risk behaviors. The second stage equips participants with the tools they need to become their best selves through 12 months of mentorship and workforce development training. All aspects of the initiative are tailored to address the specific needs of system-impacted youth in South Los Angeles.
“Everyone deserves a second chance—especially young people. But more than that, our system-impacted youth must be supported as they reenter society and start a new chapter in their lives,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Through its Trauma-Informed Anti-Recidivism Initiative, Brotherhood Crusade is doing the work to ensure that system-impacted youth not only get back on their feet but reach their full potential. This program is an investment in our youth and our community that will help us build a brighter, more prosperous future for South Los Angeles.”
“We are forever thankful to Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove for her support of the Brotherhood Crusade’s Trauma-Informed Anti-Recidivism Initiative. Every day, we are working intentionally to help keep youth from re-offending in our communities by offering engaging, impactful, and culturally supportive programs. The $500,000 grant will assist in continuing and growing our transformative, evidenced and research-based programs that has resulted in the significant drop of recidivism rates for youth participating in our programs,” said Charisse Bremond Weaver, President and CEO of the Brotherhood Crusade. “We are humbled and appreciative of the confidence that Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove has in our 56-year institution that serves youth and families every day in South Los Angeles.”
ABOUT BROTHERHOOD CRUSADE:
The Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade is a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing human and social services to more than 100,000 South Los Angeles residents annually. Brotherhood Crusade’s mission is to help individuals overcome the barriers that deter their pursuit of success in life and facilitate opportunities for a better quality of life. Brotherhood Crusade believes that South Los Angeles can be a safe, thriving, culturally relevant and inclusive community that provides all residents equitable access to human and social services and continually improves their quality of life.
Executives from FAW-Volkswagen (FAW-VW) discussed automotive industry trends and engaged with students during a forum at Tsinghua University in Beijing on Oct. 25.
Participants gather at Tsinghua University in Beijing during FAW-Volkswagen’s industry vision presentation to students, Oct. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of FAW-VW]
A joint venture between FAW Group and Volkswagen Group, FAW-VW plays a crucial role in the Volkswagen Group’s “In China, For China” strategy. Since its establishment in 1991, FAW-VW has created nearly 500,000 jobs and generated more than 700 billion yuan ($98 billion) in tax revenue, contributing greatly to China’s automobile industry.
Dr. Oliver Gruenberg, vice president of technology at FAW-VW, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainable development and innovation in his speech.
“FAW-VW actively responds to the national ‘dual carbon’ call, implementing full lifecycle carbon reduction through practical actions in green research and development, green supply chain, green production, green logistics, and green product use,” said Gruenberg.
Gruenberg praised China’s rapidly expanding new energy vehicle industry and emphasized the importance of green transformation in driving sustainable growth.
FAW-VW Vice President of Technology Oliver Gruenberg addresses students at Tsinghua University in Beijing, Oct. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of FAW-VW]
Gruenberg highlighted research and development (R&D) and innovation as crucial elements of the automotive sector’s future. He detailed FAW-Volkswagen’s achievements in localized R&D, intelligent manufacturing and quality assurance, while forecasting AI-enabled autonomous driving as the industry’s next major advancement.
During the forum, FAW-VW executives answered questions from Tsinghua University students on topics ranging from career opportunities to industry developments.
Cheng Wanli, human resources director at FAW-VW, stressed the company’s people-oriented approach and its commitment to attracting and developing top talent.
Cheng Wanli, human resources director at FAW-VW, addresses students during Times forum at Tsinghua University in Beijing, Oct. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of FAW-VW]
The new disaster film “Cesium Fallout” kept audiences on the edge of their seats at its premiere, telling a cautionary tale about battling a Cesium-137 radiation leak in China’s Hong Kong region.
An IMAX poster for “Cesium Fallout.” [Photo courtesy of IMAX China]
Cesium-137 is a radioactive isotope that is used by many commercial and industrial sectors. Having a half-life of 30 years, Cesium-137 during its period of decay emits gamma rays, which can negatively impact “human health.” The radioactive isotope can even cause death.
Directed by Anthony Pun and starring Andy Lau, Bai Yu and Karen Mok, “Cesium Fallout” delivers an apocalyptic scenario in which government officials, firefighters and experts race against the clock to address a Cesium-137 radiation leak and save millions of lives. The film also explores themes of heroism, complex human nature, corruption among officials and businessmen, and environmental pollution.
Veteran producer Bill Kong shared at the Beijing premiere on Oct. 28 that his inspiration for creating the film came after seeing news about illegal transshipment of foreign waste and wanting “to let the whole world know.”
“Waste recycling sites and imported trash pose many safety hazards,” he said, “we interviewed environmental experts and learned that, in the past, some foreign companies, to save on recycling costs, dumped electronic waste overseas, with some of it sent to Hong Kong. Electronic waste contains many harmful substances and, if they seep into soil and water sources, they can severely damage the environment. Through this film, I hope to spark public concern about these issues.”
At the Beijing premiere, real-life firefighters brought hazmat suits similar to those used in the film, adding authenticity that impressed the audience. They explained that the 27-kilogram suit’s oxygen supply “only lasts for 30 minutes.”
Director Pun shared that filming the scene where Andy Lau and Bai Yu wore these suits to locate hazardous substances was especially challenging, as the real breathing apparatus and 20-minute countdown intervals added intense tension both on and off set.
Cast and crew interact with the audience at the premiere for “Cesium Fallout” in Beijing, Oct. 28, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Dark Horse Entertainment]
A pre-record speech by the prominent Chinese director Zhang Yimou was also played at the premiere. In his video address, Zhang described the film as a rare disaster blockbuster that portrays a “doomsday scenario triggered by a hazardous substance leak,” adding that it “fills a gap in Hong Kong cinema.”
Zhang also noted that this film is not just a commercial blockbuster but a profound message that addresses the critical issue of environmental pollution, provoking people to think about how to face the future of planet Earth.
“Cesium Fallout” will hit theaters nationwide on Nov. 1, with advanced limited screenings having already started on Oct. 25, receiving positive feedback from moviegoers.
An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 28, 2024 shows an interior view of the digital factory at a manufacturing enterprise in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s manufacturing sector returned to the expansion zone in October after five consecutive months of contraction, official data showed Thursday.
The purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for China’s manufacturing sector came in at 50.1 in October, up from 49.8 in September and surpassing the boom-or-bust line of 50 for the first time since May, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement.
Commenting on the data, NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe said China’s economic sentiment continued to improve in October as a new package of incremental policies were rolled out and existing policies also gradually took effect.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
As the temperature drops, Mount Wutai transforms into a golden landscape, adorned with a vibrant tapestry of autumn hues. Yellow leaves glow vividly against the lush green backdrop of the mountains. Renowned as the foremost among China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains, Mount Wutai also ranks as one of the five major sacred Buddhist sites globally.
2.6 Seconds. Photo credit: Jesse Marlow. SBS, NITV and Screen Australia are proud to announce the commission of landmark documentary series, 2.6 Seconds, a truth-telling of a fatal meeting between two young men from two very different worlds, in the isolated community of Yuendumu in Australia’s central desert. One black, the other white. 2.6 Seconds is the story of how the paths of 19-year-old Warlpiri Luritja teenager, Kumanjayi Walker, and Zachary Rolfe, the 27-year-old police officer, came to cross. It traces the tearing apart of their lives and that of their families, and the clash of two notions of justice. It is a case that reaches far beyond these two men to tell a deeply compelling, insightful and confronting story about the country both were born into. Screen Australia’s Head of First Nations Angela Bates said, “2.6 Seconds not only explores the lives of Kumanjayi Walker and Zachary Rolfe but also navigates the complex intersection of culture and justice – empowering our communities to share their truths. The First Nations Department is proud to support such an important project, which plays a crucial role in elevating First Nations narratives and fostering understanding among all Australians.” SBS Head of Unscripted Joseph Maxwell said, “With unprecedented access, 2.6 Seconds will forensically examine what happened the night Kumanjayi Walker was killed, the trial that followed, and the impact on a family and community. The series will be a purposeful and powerful examination of those events and also the far-reaching repercussions on the entire country. This landmark series reflects the role of SBS and NITV to tell important and challenging stories that impact the nation. Director of Indigenous Content for SBS and NITV, Tanya Denning-Orman said, “The death of Kumanjayi Walker tore lives and communities apart. Over five years, we’ve all seen the media headlines and now, for the first time, SBS and NITV with Blackfella Films will take the time and care to tell this important story, hear from the voices involved, and in doing so, drive an important national conversation.” Blackfella Films Producer, Darren Dale said: “2.6 Seconds will vividly examine, in four one-hour episodes, the circumstances surrounding a black teenager’s death at the hands of a white police officer in a place far removed from our sense of our Australia, A place where young men are lost and almost forgotten and where to some ‘there are no rules’. This story will reveal the justice system where racism must be interrogated. It will shock, anger and break our hearts yet again. It will reveal to us who we still are as a nation.” Head of Screen NSW Kyas Hepworth said, “Darren Dale and the team at Blackfella Films are renowned for bringing bold, ambitious and complex stories to screen, highlighting many important and nuanced First Nations stories in our country. I anticipate this detailed series will spark many important conversations across the nation and will be another watershed project from Blackfella Films.” Premiering on SBS, NITV and SBS On Demand in 2025, the four-part series from leading Australian production company Blackfella Films is written and produced by Darren Dale (The Australian Wars, Meet the Neighbours) with Jacob Hickey (The Australian Wars, Addicted Australia) as series producer. Production credit: 2.6 Seconds is a co-commission between SBS and NITV with the production of Blackfella Films. Major production investment from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department in association with SBS. Financed with support from Screen NSW. Produced in association with All3Media International. SBS/NITV Media Enquiries Nikita Jacka | 0425 171 192 | [email protected] Media enquiries Maddie Walsh | Publicist + 61 2 8113 5915 | [email protected] Jessica Parry | Senior Publicist (Mon, Tue, Thu) + 61 428 767 836 | [email protected] All other general/non-media enquiries Sydney + 61 2 8113 5800 | Melbourne + 61 3 8682 1900 | [email protected]
Australia’s COVID vaccine roll-out started slowly, with supply shortages and logistical shortcomings. Once it got going, we immunisedmore than 95% of the population.
This week’s COVID inquiry report contains a number of recommendations to improve Australia’s vaccine preparedness the next time we face a pandemic or health emergency.
While the inquiry gets most things right, as vaccine experts, we argue the government response should be broadened in three areas:
expanding compensation programs for people who suffer any type of vaccine injury
better understanding why people aren’t up-to-date with their vaccinations
equipping community helpers in marginalised communities to deliver information about vaccines and combat misinformation.
Australians should be compensated after vaccine injuries – not just during pandemics
The inquiry recommends reviewing Australia’s COVID vaccine claims scheme in the next 12 to 18 months, to inform future schemes in national health emergencies.
Early in the pandemic, vaccine experts called on the Australian government to establish a COVID vaccine injury compensation scheme.
This meant people who were injured after suffering a rare but serious injury, or the families of those who died, would receive compensation when there had been no fault in the manufacturing or administration of the vaccine.
Vaccine experts recommended the creation of such a scheme based on the principle of reciprocity. The Australian public was asked to accept the recommended COVID vaccines in good faith for their health benefit and the benefit of the community. So they should be compensated if something went wrong.
In 2021, the Australian government announced the COVID-19 Vaccine Claims Scheme. Australia had no such scheme before this, in stark contrast to 25 other countries including the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand.
any links between the scheme and vaccine hesitancy.
However, this is currently framed only within the scope of the scheme being used for future epidemic or pandemic responses.
Instead, we need a permanent, ongoing vaccine compensation scheme for all routine vaccines available on the National Immunisation Program.
As we’ve learnt from similar schemes in other countries, this would contribute to the trust and confidence needed to improve the uptake of vaccines currently on the program, and new ones added in the future. It is also right and fair to look after those injured by vaccines in rare instances.
Not getting vaccinated isn’t just about a lack of trust
The COVID inquiry recommends developing a national strategy to rebuild community trust in vaccines and improve vaccination rates, including childhood (non-COVID) vaccine rates, which are currently declining.
The COVID vaccine program has affected trust in routine vaccines. Childhood vaccine coverage has declined 1–2%. And there is a persistent issue around timeliness – kids not getting their vaccines within 30 days of the recommended time point.
The national Vaxinsights project examined the social and behavioural drivers of under-vaccination among parents of children under five years. It found access issues were the main barriers to partially vaccinated children. Cost, difficulty making an appointment and the ability to prioritise appointments due to other conflicting needs were other barriers. Trust was not a major barrier for this group.
However for unvaccinated children, vaccine safety and effectiveness concerns, and trust in information from the health-care provider, were the leading issues, rather than access barriers.
To improve childhood vaccination rates, governments need to monitor the social and behavioural drivers of vaccination over time to track changes in vaccine acceptance. They also need to address barriers to accessing immunisation services, including affordability and clinic opening hours.
It is also imperative we learn from the lessons during COVID and better engage communities and priority populations, such as First Nations communities, people with disabilities and those from different cultural groups, to build trust and improve access through community drop-in and outreach vaccine programs.
To address the decline in adult COVID vaccination we need to focus on perceptions of need, risk and value, rather than just focusing on trust. If adults don’t think they are at risk, they won’t get the vaccine. Unfortunately, when it comes to COVID, people have moved on and few people believe they need boosters.
Variant changes or enhancements to the vaccine (such as combined vaccines to protect against COVID and flu, or RSV or vaccines with long last protection) may encourage people to get vaccinated in the future. In the meantime, we agree with the inquiry that we should focus on those most at risk of severe outcomes, including residents in aged care and those with chronic health conditions.
Invest in community-led strategies to improve uptake
The COVID inquiry recommends developing a communication strategy for health emergencies to ensure all Australians, including those in priority populations, families and industries, have the information they need.
While these are not strictly focused on the promotion of vaccination, the suggestions – including the need to work closely with and fund community and representative organisations – are aligned with what our COVID research showed.
However, the government should go one step further. Communication about vaccines must be tailored, translated for different cultural groups, and easy to understand.
In some settings, messages about the vaccines will have the most impact if they come from a health-care worker. But this is not always the case. Some people prefer to hear from trusted voices from their own communities. In First Nations communities, these roles are often combined in the form of Aboriginal Health Workers.
We must support these voices in future health emergencies.
During COVID, there was insufficient support and training for community helpers – such as community leaders, faith leaders, bilingual community workers, and other trusted voices – to support their vaccine communication efforts.
The government should consider implementing a national training program to support those tasked (or volunteering) to pass on information about vaccines during health emergencies. This would provide them with the information and confidence they need to undertake this role, as well as equipping them to address misinformation.
Holly Seale is an investigator on research studies funded by NHMRC and has previously received funding from NSW Ministry of Health, as well as from Sanofi Pasteur, Moderna and Pfizer for investigator driven research and consulting fees.
Julie Leask receives a fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council and research funding from the World Health Organization. She received reimbursement for overseas travel costs from Sanofi in April 2024.
Margie Danchin receives funding from the Victorian and Commonwealth governments, NHMRC/MRFF and DFAT.
Caravan parks provide accommodation for visitors and permanent residents alike. However, the high risk of injury and fatality with caravan fires and fires at caravan parks makes fire safety education and training crucial for park operators – particularly those in high-tourism areas.
Not only can fires in caravans and caravan parks lead to serious injuries and fatalities due to their inherent intensity and ability to spread quickly, if a fire breaks out in a tourist area it is critical that park staff and guests know what to do to evacuate safely and efficiently.
Education is vital to ensure park operatorsunderstand fire hazards so they can implement measures to prevent fires, protecting both property and guests.
CFA’s Bellarine Group of brigades, supported by CFA’s District 7 team, recently worked with the Victorian Caravan Parks Association to deliver a full day of fire safety education and training to more than 60 caravan park operators from across the state.
Held at Portarlington Fire Station on 18 October, the day covered fire risk, caravan park legislation, emergency management and evacuation planning, first attack firefighting and use of extinguishers, and property preparation.
Participants heard from CFA’s Community Infrastructure and Community Education teams, witnessing a demonstration of a gas cylinder flare off and learning how to use a fire blanket and test gas bottles for leaks.
They also used CFA’s Virtual Reality technology to experience putting out a small fire.
CFA district staff then helped owners familiarise themselves with how emergency services operate and respond in the event of a fire, discussing whether a truck could fit on the premises if a fire broke out at their park.
CFA’s Industry Fire Prevention Manager Leigh Marsh said educating caravan park operators, staff and ultimately their guests about fire safety could save lives and reduce injury in the event of a fire.
“Fire safety risks can vary in parks depending on where they are located, however the flammability of caravans and their small size means that if a fire starts from cooking, an accident or faulty equipment, there is a high risk of fatality,” Leigh said.
“The fire is also likely to spread quickly due to its proximity to other caravans and park facilities.
“For those parks situated in holiday areas such as our coastal hamlets, the risk of bushfire impacting the park is high and inadequate planning can lead to delays in people being able to evacuate safely.
“Knowledge of fire safety allows caravan park operators to develop and communicate effectively to their guests about emergency plans, ensuring a quick response if a fire occurs.”
Leigh said education and training was also important to help caravan park operators better understand their legal obligations in relation to fire safety.
“Caravan parks must comply with a range of legislative requirements in Victoria in relation to fire safety, including the CFA Caravan Park Fire Safety Guidelines, which were updated this year,” Leigh said.
“Caravan parks also often operate within local communities so being proactive in fire safety fosters goodwill and promotes community safety – as well as encourages visitors to come back.”
The Caravan Parks Information and Training Day was originally the brainchild of Ocean Grove brigade volunteers and was held each year at their station for about seven years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
David Wynn from Wynndean Holiday Resorts said it was great to see the day up and running again, especially given the release of new Caravan Park Guidelines.
“Relationship building is critical in the interpretation of the guidelines and their application,” David said.
“The day allowed park operators and staff to use firefighting equipment in a controlled setting which assisted greatly in understanding our fire safety and emergency management obligations.”
David, who is also a volunteer with Wye River Fire Brigade, said the timing of the event was perfect preparation for the peak holiday period and the upcoming fire danger period.
“We are very lucky to have access to this day in our region and the highly-credentialled and experienced presenters,” he said.
“The CFA team made it clear they were there to support us. Thank you to them and the many volunteers, local brigades and CFA district staff who contributed to the day’s success.
“We are looking forward to next year’s event, and if you are a park operator please go out and meet with your local brigade, invite them into your park and actively build those relationships.”
CFA Bellarine Group manager and Wallington brigade firefighter Alistair Drayton said part of CFA’s role was to help communities build resilience to fire and other emergencies through education, upskilling and developing relationships with sectors most at risk.
“Events such as this are important in building that momentum and supporting and promoting a safer response for all brigades across the state,” Alistair said.
“Thanks to the park operators for giving their time and enthusiasm. Their feedback was extremely positive including that the content presented was what was needed and easy to understand and implement.
“We look forward to continuing to build relationships with them in our ongoing efforts to foster resilient and safer communities.”
SUBJECTS: $241 million in outstanding Medicare payments owed to Australians; MP’s declaration of flights; academic pressure on politicians re: abortion laws.
REBECCA SHARKIE, MEMBER FOR MAYO: I’d like to now welcome the Minister for NDIS, Government Services Minister Bill Shorten, who I – I’m allowed to have favourites, the Minister is my favourite Minister in the government. There we go. Mic drop over to you.
BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THIS NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Look, it is great to be in Rebecca Sharkie’s electorate of Mayo. The truth of the matter is, Rebecca is one of the hardest working members of Parliament. She’s highly respected in all parts. And I was very keen to come and visit, hear her issues on the ground. It’s great to be here at Service Australia and the NDIA office. The Services Australia staff here look after over 100 people every day, making sure that people can get their pensions, their entitlements, their Medicare. And it’s fantastic, what this hard-working team do.
It’s also great to be here with staff from the National Disability Insurance Agency. The NDIS is changing hundreds of thousands of lives for the better. There’s been a lot of change. We’re making the scheme better. We’re making it true to its original purpose. We’re ensuring it’s sustainable. But all of that happens because we’ve got great people. So, the fact that call waiting times in Centrelink are down, processing payment times are now shorter in Medicare because of the hard work. And in the NDIS, we’re getting better outcomes for people daily, is due to hard work in Commonwealth public servants here in Mount Barker.
But I’m not just here to listen and not just here to say thank you to the public servants who look after people when they’re vulnerable or in distress. I’ve got some good news for South Australians and good news for Australians generally, during a cost-of-living crisis. At the moment, there is $241 million of Medicare payments which people have accrued. In other words, the money is there for them. There’s 930,000 of our fellow Australians, from every corner of this continent and all walks of life, who actually are entitled to get rebates for the health system. They just haven’t collected them.
In South Australia alone, there’s $19 million, just basically sitting in the government bank accounts for 73,800 South Australians who, all they have to do is because we don’t have their current bank details, we can’t just automatically send it to them. So, this is good news, but it’s also a request. People should go to the myGov website or the myGov app, link up their Medicare card to their myGov account, and then make sure that the bank details are up to date. You will receive any outstanding money within three working days. That’s all you’ve got to do. Like, if finding treasure was this easy, we’d all be treasure hunters.
But the reality is we’ve got a national treasure. It’s called Medicare. It’s there to help people defray the costs of their health system. And what we find is that there’s $241 million which people legitimately can claim, just tell us your bank account details and then we will pay you. And you know, when you think about a million people and a quarter of $1 billion, that’s not small change. For some people, I think the average that’s owed is about $260, which is just great. But some people, there’s thousands of people who are owed tens of thousands of dollars. So, my request, my plea, my invitation is, go online to myGov, download the myGov app, link up the Medicare card, make sure you’ve got your bank details up to date, and then if you’re owed money, bang, in three days, it’s in your account. This process will take you about ten minutes if you have to set up a myGov account and link it to Medicare. It’s a lot quicker if you’ve already got your myGov app and Medicare linked. Just update your bank details. Anyway, that’s good news and happy to take questions on this or any other matter.
JOURNALIST: How did this get uncovered in the first place?
SHORTEN: Well, it’s always been a thing. I’m just not sure my predecessors always talked about it. I want the money which is the money of the Australian people to be in Australian people’s bank accounts. So, it is possible, you know, you change banks, you can lose track of different things that you put in. You’re not sure. So, I can understand how in busy lives and changing details, thinking about whether or not the government’s got your current bank account details, it’s probably not your number one issue. If you’ve got to, you know, feed the dog, get the kids to school, you know, go to work. But it’s 241 million. We’ve been pushing this a bit to get money back to people. Since the end of last year, we have reunited $117 million with Australians who had outstanding payments, but literally, you don’t have to go on a treasure hunt. Just go to myGov. It’s your money. We just want to try and give it to you. Please just update your bank details.
JOURNALIST: It might be possible that scammers might jump on this and try.
SHORTEN: Oh yeah. One thing, listen, there’s a lot of – you know, scammers are wicked, wicked people. Um, and you know, international scammers, terrible. Don’t open a link. We won’t be sending you a link to open. You go to myGov website, you download the myGov app. We won’t be sending you a link to click and open. Do not click a link. You go to myGov website, and you go to the myGov app. Download that.
JOURNALIST: Is there a certain age group which is owed significantly more than others?
SHORTEN: Well, the Millennials. The Millennials, Gen Z. There is about 224,000 Gen Z-ers who are owed some money, so that’s the biggest group. But what is interesting when you look at the age cohorts are there’s children, so, through their parents, Gen Z is the biggest group, but it’s right up to people in their 80s. So everywhere in Australia, there’s 930,000 people who are owed money. And literally, it’s not that hard to get. You’ve just got to sort of prioritize it for about ten minutes of your life. I’m not saying you might well be up to date with your Medicare payments, so that’s good, that doesn’t mean you get any more. But for 930,000 of our fellow citizens, it’s just there. Like, it’s like picking apples off a tree.
JOURNALIST: And this obviously isn’t just in the last financial year. Has this been accruing over time?
SHORTEN: It accrues over time, yes. I mean, this year, last financial year, this nation of ours paid out $30 billion in Medicare payments, but there’s a quarter of a billion which is ready to be paid, which hasn’t been collected.
JOURNALIST: As you said, this keeps happening. Do processes perhaps need to be a bit more streamlined?
SHORTEN: Yeah, we do so – well, the good news is we’re taking a lot of government services online so we can digitally notify a lot of people. Until we had the myGov app, once upon a time, you’d get, you know, myGov, “you have mail”. And that was sort of almost like a nightmare for people because they’d have to try different systems. Very clunky. You’d have to go to the site. The myGov app is great. It’s in the Google shop, just download it. So, we can notify people digitally. We’ve got 30 different campaigns on campuses to let students know, but I think this is something which we can more proactively push, which is why we’re doing it today. We’re doing it in Rebekha Sharkie’s electorate. She has people in Mount Barker, 795 who are owed some money. They’ve just got to update their bank registration details.
JOURNALIST: It doesn’t run out. Does the government going to hold on to these?
SHORTEN: Yeah, we’re not spending it. No, there’s no there’s no due date where then it’s garnisheed. It just builds up. But let’s just get it out the door. Cost of living crisis. This is this is really good practical stuff, by the way. It’s not inflationary. This is money which has already been accrued, banked, allocated. We just need to help people reunite with it.
JOURNALIST: On other matters if that’s okay. Minister. Police are currently investigating the death of a woman in Port Augusta, apparently living with quite significant disability, but wasn’t on the NDIS. She was just living in squalor. How can something, how does someone fall through the cracks like this? Or is the onus on the person with the disability to get onto the NDIS?
SHORTEN: First of all, this woman’s passing is a tragedy. I understand she was about 26. It’s just tragic. That’s the first point I’d want to make. People with disabilities are vulnerable. It’s a tragedy when someone dies. As I understand in 20 – I’ve only just heard about this matter – in 2017, there was an initial expression of interest to be on the scheme. Then documentation was sent back, and then nothing more was ever heard. South Australian police, you know, they’re the professionals. We’re going to let them investigate. Obviously, we want to see what the findings are. But I think this is an issue not just for government. You know, the great people here or, you know, a local member can’t know what’s going on behind the fence and behind the door in every house. But communities, we’ve all got to look after each other, look out for each other more. Um, and sometimes people with disabilities can be socially isolated, or they might just have a relationship, and if that breaks down, then no one cares. So, I think it is a tragedy and a disaster. And the challenge here, though, is how do we as a community make sure that if someone isn’t seen for a while, what are we doing about it? So, I think this is not just one on government. This is one on all of us, to keep an eye out for each other.
JOURNALIST: When there is a request to NDIS and you don’t hear back, are steps taken to follow up or is that it?
SHORTEN: I don’t know what the system was in 2017. Yeah, we do follow up and we do go back to people. But at the end of the day, if someone doesn’t want to persist with an application, you’re not going to make them. It’s not compulsory to be on the NDIS.
JOURNALIST: Do you think there needs to be more independent processes or safeguards for people to report concerns?
SHORTEN: I think the question really is, and I’ll be interested in what the South Australian police say, from 2017, who knew about her circumstances? That’s a pretty relevant question, isn’t it? I don’t expect every politician in Australia to know every one of 110,000 adults in their electorate, but one thing they have in some states are community visitor programs. There’s a role also here for the state government. I know Nat Cook is a very conscientious Minister, though. I don’t think there’s a better Disability Minister in the country at the state level. But I think that we need to have a discussion with councils because councils often know where – I mean, maybe I don’t know if anything could have been done to avoid this death. I don’t know. But generally, your council bylaw officers often know where the dodgy houses are. They know what’s happening. I think community visitor programs are very good, where you’ve got volunteers who want to just pop in and check in on people. I think the community generally needs to notice if your neighbours aren’t around, or if they haven’t seen them in a while. What we do though, of course when we get someone who seeks a plan, is we have red flags. So, if you get to sit down and you want your individual plan, we look at their social circumstances. Are they vulnerable where they might just have a carer as a relationship or just one person? o that’s something we certainly take into account in the planning stage, but it’s not compulsory to be on the NDIS.
JOURNALIST: Do you think this was an extreme case or do you are you concerned with how many others there might be out there like this?
SHORTEN: It’s an extreme case, but I also am concerned, and it might be rare, but that doesn’t make it acceptable. But let’s let South Australian police see what they say and recommend will, of course. Watch the findings.
JOURNALIST: We just might move on to the whole Qantas saga at the moment and the whole flights. Peter Dutton now has admitted to taking flights from Gina Rinehart. Do you think MPs are going to be looking at their flight logs?
SHORTEN: First of all, let’s go to the heart of the matter. The Prime Minister has done everything according to the rules that are in place. He’s made that clear. He’s also made clear that he didn’t approach Alan Joyce for upgrades. That’s the sort of – that’s where this this debate started. Now, of course, it’s cascading into the adequacy of reporting, you know, the role of upgrades. Just two observations. The Liberals have been holding themselves out to be pretty pure and pretty holier than thou, but then it turns out they’ve got problems.
This reminds me of when Malcolm Turnbull went on the attack, when he was an opposition leader, and there was a whistleblower who I believe was called Godwin Grech and said somehow Kevin Rudd had done something wrong on a used car scheme and it was just wrong. So, I think oppositions need to be very careful about playing the man and going after the Prime Minister because they, I think, have their own problems. They clearly don’t live in a glass house.
But the other observation I want to make is this I think politicians work incredibly hard. I think they’re very committed. They want to make a difference. I think the opposition fascination with airlines lets the big issue of cost of living off the hook. You know, I’m here today with Rebecca. We want to talk about, how do we get money, which people are owed, in their pockets so they’ve got a little bit more for Christmas. So, you know, I think the opposition’s sort of made a meal of this. They’ve held themselves up to be saintly and they’re not. And I think they’re in danger of overreaching. And maybe they might even shoot themselves in the foot.
JOURNALIST: But do you do you think that the Prime Minister, by using terminology like he didn’t call Alan Joyce, he could have cleared it up by clarifying it from the outset?
SHORTEN: Well, first of all, there’s been a book written. Everyone got excited about that. Or at least Mr. Albanese’s enemies did. He’s cleared it up. We want to get on with talking about cost of living.
JOURNALIST: Sorry, one quick question. Do you recall working with a Professor Joanna Howe?
SHORTEN: Not in the Parliament, no. Way back when I was a union official, I don’t really recall, but that would be 20 years ago.
JOURNALIST: This is a question from another network, but there was, she was championing an anti-abortion bill lately, and she’s admitted to pressuring a politician to abandon a pair vote. Your thoughts on, you know, an academic trying to pressure MPs to vote a certain way?
SHORTEN: Listen, I’ve accused of being ambitious. I’ve been ambitious for the Australian people, but I’ve never been ambitious enough to run for the South Australian parliament. I think Peter Malinauskas is outstanding. I’m not really wanting to get into South Australia and the entrails of South Australian politics. I do make this point about a woman’s right to choose nationally. I think Mr. Dutton needs to come out and be very clear that if he was ever elected Prime Minister, he wouldn’t use federal powers to roll back the protections that women have to accessing our safe and healthy treatment.
JOURNALIST: Sorry, Minister, I just have to take you back to the flights. Can I ask, does Bridget McKenzie have anything to question for, any questions to answer? If she hasn’t declared flights, should she be found in contempt of the Senate?
SHORTEN: Oh, man, the Senate. We have enough time in the Reps. I think the point here is that the Liberals got on their high horse, and they’ve been throwing a lot of mud, but I think what’s ended up is they’ve ended up with most of it on their own face.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Northern Territory Police have arrested a female youth and a male adult in relation to an aggravated robbery that occurred in Palmerston yesterday evening.
Around 6:30pm, police received reports of an adult male and a female youth allegedly threatening bar staff at a licenced premises on University Avenue, demanding alcohol.
A short time later, the two offenders allegedly threatened a man before stealing his golf buggy and travelling to another business on University Avenue, in the golf buggy, where they stole multiple items.
While attempting to flee in the stolen buggy, the offenders collided with a parked vehicle, the male offender fled the scene, and the female offender was apprehended nearby members of the public.
The 38-year-old male offender has since been apprehended by Strike Force Trident.
Both offenders remain in custody and are expected to be charged later today.
Strike Force Trident are continuing investigations into the incidents.
Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444 and quote P24300362.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this morning participated in the 13th ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers’ Meeting held in Singapore. SG Dr. Kao updated the Meeting on relevant decisions of ASEAN Summits and other relevant ASEAN meetings and delivered remarks pertaining to the Meeting’s theme of “Strengthening Resilience and Promoting Innovation.” The Meeting reviewed the progress of the ASEAN Plus Three Senior Labour Officials’ Meeting Work Plan 2021-2025 and deliberated on the development of the new Work Plan for 2026-2030. The Meeting was chaired by Singapore’s Minister for Manpower Dr. Tan See Leng and joined by ASEAN Member States, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Timor-Leste joined as observer.
The post The 13th ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers’ Meeting convenes in Singapore appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Fish Market Suppliers “Moscow is on the wave”have been supporting the participants of the special military operation for a long time. They send canned goods and other non-perishable products to the combat zone, affected areas and hospitals.
Thus, one of the fish factories located in the northwest of Russia provides its fellow countrymen on the front lines with canned goods: sprat pates, sprats with vegetables, sardines and meatballs made from ocean fish. Nourishing, tasty and easy to store products are indispensable in extreme conditions. The same humanitarian aid is regularly sent to residents of the border areas of the Kursk region.
Since 2023, a supplier from Siberia has also offered its support. The fighters from Yakutia who are being treated in hospitals were sent their favorite northern fish – omul and muksun, and the victims in the Kursk region were sent more than 300 cans of stewed deer, elk and wild boar meat.
The Moscow-on-the-Wave fish market opened in the Kosino-Ukhtomsky district in November 2023, and in Mitino in September 2024. The area of each of them is several thousand square meters. Here you can buy fish and seafood caught in three oceans and 13 seas washing Russia.
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.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.