Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)
Access to affordable, safe housing is a basic right, but many face poor conditions, homelessness, or are priced out of neighbourhoods, deepening social inequities and division.
How can we ensure housing policies promote social justice and cohesion and prevent exclusion as well as displacement?
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The website operator appears under the name ProfitFlex247, without using a legal form. He does not provide any information about his place of business. The operator claims to be authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It links to the FCA’s homepage to a publication there about the registration of the company Flex Instant Services Ltd. The BaFin has no information about a possible connection between Flex Instant Services Ltd and the website profitflex247.com. Rather, it is assumed that the company’s identity has been stolen.
Recently, a large number of websites with almost identical content have come to light, and BaFin has also issued warnings about these. In all cases, the presentation on the websites begins with the following sentence: ‘Step Into the Trading Arena with Confidence & [name of website]’ or, more recently, ‘Enter the trading arena with confidence & [name of website]’. In addition, BaFin has evidence of a link between the ‘Step Into the Trading Arena with Confidence’ platform series and the ‘Trade Wisely’ platform series, which BaFin has also already warned about.
Anyone offering financial or investment services in Germany requires the permission of BaFin. However, some companies offer such services without the required permission. Information on whether a particular company is authorised by BaFin can be found in the company database.
The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Beijing’s municipal parks and the Museum of Chinese Garden and Landscape Architecture will host 156 cultural activities during the Spring Festival, featuring festive decorations and themed events.
The Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks will present 10 categories of events from Jan. 22 to Feb. 12, spanning flower exhibitions, cultural displays, intangible cultural heritage experiences, science education, artistic performances, patriotic education, winter activities, creative markets and Lantern Festival celebrations. The center has also created a snake mascot called “Lingbao” and related products for the Year of the Snake.
Parks expect about 4 million visitors during the eight-day holiday, with major venues like the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven and Beihai Park increasing their activities by nearly 90% from last year, said Miao Xiangliu, director of the center’s Service Management Department. Each park is offering six to seven categories of activities ranging from sightseeing and entertainment to food and shopping.
The parks feature more than 6,800 plants representing over 300 indoor flower species across nearly 3,000 square meters. The National Botanical Garden’s newly renovated greenhouse will host evening cultural activities, including plant explorations and traditional music performances. Zhongshan Park is showcasing over 20 flower varieties using “Tang Flower” techniques, including plum blossoms, azaleas, winter jasmine and flowering crabapples. Meanwhile, Yuyuantan Park is hosting a cherry blossom market featuring greenhouse-grown cherry blossoms, traditional opera, intangible cultural heritage crafts and snacks.
Parks like Xiangshan, the Summer Palace, Taoranting, and Zhongshan are hosting patriotic education activities, integrating ancient architecture, historic trees and revolutionary history to transform their gardens into “living classrooms.”
Famous calligraphers at Beihai, Zizhuyuan, Yuyuantan and Baiwangshan parks will create and give away Spring Festival couplets and traditional decorations, including the Chinese character “Fu” — meaning fortune and luck in English —and paper-cut designs for visitors.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Beijing Customs announced 10 measures on Wednesday to facilitate inbound tourism and consumption, including streamlined transfer procedures at the city’s international airports.
Under the new measures, arriving passengers can pre-declare luggage through apps including Mobile Customs, WeChat and Alipay before arriving in Beijing. Travelers can also access customs regulations and submit declarations through these platforms’ customs service features.
“Seamless clearance” will be further implemented. This initiative uses technologies like preliminary machine inspections to integrate luggage checks into the regular baggage handling process.
For international transit passengers, Beijing Customs now supports airlines offering international transit flights and mixed international-domestic routing services with direct luggage check-in, eliminating the need for multiple baggage handling.
Departing travelers will also benefit from enhanced convenience. They can complete check-in and baggage procedures at city terminals like Caoqiao subway station, with customs providing remote luggage supervision to improve the travel experience.
The measures also encourage both downtown and port duty-free shops to sell domestic trendy products, helping Chinese brands reach international markets.
Source: China State Council Information Office
An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 17, 2024 shows a view of fishermen dockyard near the Gwadar port in Gwadar, southwest Pakistan. [Photo/Xinhua]
Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a testament to the enduring friendship and shared vision nurtured by Pakistan and China over decades.
Speaking at a ceremony here on Wednesday to celebrate the forthcoming Chinese New Year and to recognize the contributions of 30 outstanding Chinese staff working on CPEC projects in Pakistan, Iqbal said that CPEC represents a roadmap for sustainable development, mutual growth, and prosperity, not only for the two nations but for the entire region.
Highlighting the contributions of the Chinese staff, Iqbal praised their dedication, technical expertise, and relentless hard work, which have been instrumental in transforming ambitious projects into tangible realities.
“From energy generation and infrastructure development to logistics and technology, your efforts have been crucial in overcoming challenges and ensuring the successful completion of numerous landmark initiatives,” he said.
Launched in 2013, CPEC, a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. While the first phase focused on energy, transport, and industrial cooperation, the second phase expands into areas such as agriculture and livelihoods.
Discussing the second phase, Iqbal noted that it will unlock immense opportunities, modernize agriculture, digitize industries, drive economic diversification, create millions of jobs, and enhance Pakistan’s global competitiveness.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong also addressed the gathering, expressing confidence in Pakistan’s economic growth under the government’s leadership and with the collective efforts of its people.
“The cooperation and partnership between China and Pakistan will continue to progress steadily, fostering lasting development,” he added.
The event featured vibrant traditional dances by both Chinese and Pakistani performers, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the two nations. The audience showed keen interest in the performances and expressed gratitude to China for its pivotal role in strengthening Pakistan-China relations.
A special recognition segment was held during the ceremony to honor the best-performing Chinese companies involved in CPEC projects. Certificates of excellence and souvenirs were presented to acknowledge their outstanding contributions.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Leisure & Cultural Services Department announced today that applications will be considered from licensed billiards establishments for a relaxation of entry restrictions for youngsters. Applications can be made from February 25.
The relaxations would include lowering the minimum age for entry to licensed billiards establishments from 16 to 8; changing hours of restricted entry for young patrons to eight hours (11pm to 7am) from the current 14 hours (8pm to 10am); and permitting those wearing school uniforms to enter such establishments.
Based on the discussions of a working group formed last year to explore measures aimed at promoting the development of billiards in Hong Kong, the department will relax the entry restrictions for establishments that meet requirements outlined in the Places of Amusement Regulation.
Factors that will be considered in the processing of applications include the operational situation and surrounding environment of establishments, as well as their facilities and other activities on their premises.
Contact the department’s Licensing & Prosecution Unit on 2601 8799 or by email at lpu@lcsd.gov.hk.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the Disney Imaginations Hong Kong Design Competition 2025 today (January 24):
Michael (Managing Director, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Mr Michael Moriarty), Kelly (Senior Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Asia, Mr Kelly Willis), finalist teams and friends, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon. I am most delighted to join you all here at this year’s version of the award ceremony for the Disney Imaginations Hong Kong Design Competition. I look forward to celebrating and witnessing the wonderful achievements of the most creative young talents in Hong Kong.
Disney Imaginations Hong Kong Design Competition is now one of the best-known youth creative competitions in Hong Kong, providing an amazing platform for youngsters with different geographical, education and professional backgrounds to showcase their technical, artistic and creative expertise since 2011. I feel truly encouraged to learn that this year, the competition has received an overwhelming response, with nearly 200 participating teams. This was more than double as compared to last year. It is also the second consecutive year for the competition to be extended to cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and students from all disciplines.
The overwhelming participation not only exemplifies the flourishing creativity and innovation of the younger generation of Hong Kong and the GBA, but also showcases their aspiration to become global citizens when taking forward projects such as eradicating poverty and hunger, enhancing health and well-being, developing sustainable cities and communities, and reducing inequality. So, thank you Michael and Kelly for creating such a great and meaningful opportunity for nurturing our young talents.
For the finalist teams, may I congratulate you all. This is a very competitive competition, and whether or not you would come on stage in a moment or not, you are already amongst the best. Equally important, you have earned the most important and valuable experience, knowledge and friendship. Do cherish the exciting chemistry created by the diverse views and ideas when exchanging with each other. I am sure that when you look back some years later, this would be one of the most unforgettable journeys of your life.
Speaking of treasuring innovation and creativity of our young generation, the Government is inspired to encourage and support them to seize opportunities and to shine bright in the creative industries, bringing the integration of arts, culture, sports, creativity, tourism and entertainment in Hong Kong.
The creative industries are not only Hong Kong’s new economic drivers, but also a popular career choice among our young people. We aim to promote Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and to nurture a creative atmosphere in the community. To better foster its development, in 2024 the Government restructured the previous Create Hong Kong under my bureau as the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, now commonly known as the CCIDA. With a more co-ordinated role, the CCIDA provides one-stop services and support with a mission to boost the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. In particular, we have new dedicated teams to proactively identify external opportunities for relevant industries, and lead them to arrange delegations to various showcases worldwide to export Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries, foster business opportunities and enhance Hong Kong’s international status. Looking ahead, the CCIDA will continue to unleash the immense potential of the industries, which I believe will present tremendous opportunities for the new blood of the industries.
Today, we are at one of the most creative places in Hong Kong, that is, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Together with Disney fans in Hong Kong and worldwide, I eagerly look forward to Hong Kong Disneyland’s 20th anniversary celebrations this year, which will certainly bring tourists from around the world, and locals alike, holidays beyond imagination. I believe Michael and Kelly will continue to show us their boundless imaginations and introduce more and more amazing projects and offerings as we move ahead, bringing the Resort to another new height. The Tourism Commission will work closely with Disney to roll out the highly anticipated projects under the multi-year expansion and development plan, that is, the Marvel-themed new area, and to explore new future plans, with a view to enhancing the appeal of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort to visitors from the region, creating business synergy, and consolidating its position as an iconic and landmark tourist attraction in Hong Kong.
As we approach the Lunar New Year, may I also take this opportunity to wish you all a prosperous Year of the Snake filled with good fortune, health, and happiness. Thank you.
Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
With the support of PJSC Udmurtneft (operates under the management of NK Rosneft and the Chinese petrochemical corporation Sinopec), a programming project laboratory was created at the V.I. Kudinov Secondary School in the city of Votkinsk in the Udmurt Republic, and two sports halls were renovated.
The project is aimed at supporting the education sector in the region, which corresponds to the tasks and national development goals defined by the President of Russia in his Address to the Federal Assembly. Rosneft implements social projects aimed at creating favorable living conditions in the regions of its presence. In particular, it supports the development of educational institutions and initiatives in the field of education of the younger generation.
The unique educational space – the IT laboratory – is equipped with an interactive panel, a 3D printer, a laser 3D scanner, and other modern equipment and software for working in the field of information technology. The created IT laboratory will become a platform for conducting programming and computer modeling lessons, as well as scientific conferences with the defense of research and project work.
In addition, interior finishing was carried out in two of the school’s gyms: utility lines were updated, locker rooms, coaching rooms and showers were renovated, and basketball backboards were installed.
The V.I. Kudinov Secondary School is one of the largest comprehensive schools in the city of Votkinsk, with over a thousand children studying there. Rosneft pays special attention to the creation and development of a system of pre-university training and professional orientation for schoolchildren. For this purpose, in 2007, the first Rosneft class in Udmurtia was opened at the school, with in-depth study of physics, chemistry and mathematics. Today, there are seven Rosneft classes in the republic, in Igra, Sarapul, Votkinsk and Izhevsk. They are the first stage of the corporate system of continuous education “school-university/college-enterprise”.
Reference:
PAO Udmurtneft is the largest oil producing enterprise in Udmurtia, which provides 60% of the raw materials produced in the Udmurt Republic. The company’s assets include 70 licenses for geological study, exploration and production of oil and gas at the region’s fields. Since 2006, the company has been operating under the management of PAO NK Rosneft and the Chinese petrochemical corporation Sinopec.
Throughout its activities, Udmurtneft has provided support to various social facilities in the republic: social rehabilitation centers, kindergartens and schools, cultural and sports institutions. These include the improvement of public spaces in the areas of the enterprise’s production activities, the modernization of educational sites, the provision of medical and sports equipment, and the holding of social and environmental campaigns.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
China’s self-developed X-ray and gamma-ray (X/γ) radiation dose detection chip has successfully commenced mass production, according to the Science and Technology Daily on Thursday.
The chip, developed by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), offers a dose rate measurement range for X/γ rays from 100 nSv/h to 10 mSv/h. It can detect energies between 50 keV and 2 MeV.
With a compact size of just 15 mm by 15 mm by 3 mm, it can operate within a temperature range of minus 20 to 50 degrees Celsius. Additionally, it boasts ultra-low power consumption of only 1 mW.
Users can easily perform straightforward secondary development based on the chip’s data manual, enabling its use in radiation dose monitoring across nuclear-related workplaces, personnel and environmental scenarios, according to the CNNC.
It also features a standardized interface design, allowing it to function as a universal radiation sensor, which can be quickly integrated into various smart devices such as smartphones, smart helmets and drones.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
China currently has 69,900 human resources service agencies and about 1.06 million agency personnel nationwide, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Thursday.
The figure for the agencies was 2.5 times that in 2012, while the figure for personnel was 3.1 times that for 2012, the ministry said at a high-quality development promotion conference of the human resource service industry held in Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang Province.
Human resources service agencies nationwide provide 300 million job-hunting, job-selection and job-switch services for workers each year, and 50 million employment and management services for employers, 40 percent of which are manufacturing firms.
The ministry said it will make specialized plans, optimize the policy system, strengthen digital empowerment and improve market governance to establish a unified and standardized human resources market system.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
A farmer loads newly harvested paddy rice seeds in Cengong County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Aug. 26, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s grain output is projected to hit a record high of 700 million tonnes this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Friday.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
This photo taken on March 18, 2023 shows a view of a job fair in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
The Chinese government provided over 150 billion yuan (about 21.1 billion U.S. dollars) in employment support for businesses and employees in the first nine months of 2024, official data showed Friday.
Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture
25 October 2024
Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries—including vessel masters, freight forwarders, offshore treatment providers, Biosecurity Industry Participants, importers, customs brokers, principal agents and master consolidators.
Following the identification of critical non-compliance, the department has listed Logoo Packing Centre Hamburg GmbH (AEI: DE4018SB) as unacceptable on…
Source: Australian Treasurer
SONALI BASAK:
This is Bloomberg Markets, and I’m Sonali Basak. The IMF recently warned that Australia may need to cut spending even though it just had a second budget surplus in a row. We’re going to discuss this with the man in the middle of this issue, Treasurer of Australia, Jim Chalmers. What do you make of the IMF’s report? Let’s start right there, because of course, really, the IMF’s growth forecasts and recommendations, it’s a shot heard around the world.
How do you feel about your budget in relation to what they had said?
JIM CHALMERS:
First of all, Sonali, thanks for having me back on Bloomberg TV, it’s a real pleasure. There’s obviously a lot of insights in the IMF’s reports that we find valuable, but the reality is in Australia we’ve made really quite extraordinary progress in the fight against inflation.
When we came to office a little over 2 years ago inflation had a 6 in front of it, now it has a 3 in front of it. Next week we’ll learn more about the situation as it relates to inflation in Australia.
But we’ve made a lot of progress, that progress has been welcome, it has been encouraging, and a big part of our success has been the responsible way that we’ve gone about managing our budget.
The 2 surpluses that we’ve just delivered are the first back‑to‑back surpluses for almost 2 decades in Australia, and they are a consequence, a welcome, deliberate consequence of the spending restraint that we have shown, the savings that we have found in the budget so that we can rebuild our fiscal buffers, as the IMF has been recommending all of us to do in the face of these uncertain global conditions.
BASAK:
Jim, I’m glad you also brought up the inflation story here, because, of course, all eyes will be on that third quarter CPI report next week, and you were saying, yes, inflation has come down, but it hasn’t come down as much as other countries, and do you accept that perhaps rates need to stay higher for longer in Australia in order to bring down that last mile of inflation?
CHALMERS:
First of all, there’s an important convention in Australia that politicians don’t make predictions or don’t give free advice to our independent Reserve Bank. That’s an important convention that I adhere to.
But when it comes to the inflation story in Australia, again we’ve made really quite outstanding progress in the fight against inflation, and any differences between our inflation rate and what we’re seeing in some other countries are a consequence really of 2 things. First of all, inflation in Australia peaked lower and later than most countries that we compare ourselves with, that’s a really important point.
And secondly, some countries that have lower headline inflation than Australia have got much higher unemployment, or they’ve got weaker growth, or some other combination of undesirable aspects of the economy.
What we’ve done in Australia is we’ve focused primarily on the fight against inflation, but we’ve done that without ignoring the risks to growth. We’ve struck a really effective balance between those primary economic objectives, and that’s because we’ve taken the view that it is much better to avoid a hard landing in our economy than to clean up after one.
We are on track for a soft landing in our economy, we’re confident but not complacent about that. The policy decisions that we’ve taken, whether it’s the 2 budget surpluses, the way we’ve delivered our cost‑of‑living relief, the way that we’re investing in productivity and dynamism in our economy, all of these things are really important ways that we’re getting that inflation rate down without ignoring the risks to growth, which are coming at us from an uncertain global environment and from some domestic sources as well.
BASAK:
Treasurer, to that end, do you think that the RBA needs to be moving faster or do you think that they’re being too cautious?
CHALMERS:
Again, I don’t give free advice to our independent central bank; there’s good reasons not to do that. I take responsibility for our part of the fight against inflation. Fiscal policy is playing a helpful role, the Governor of the Reserve Bank has said herself that our 2 surpluses are helping in the fight against inflation, and the way that we’re managing our budget and our economy in the most responsible way that we can, those are my responsibilities. I’ll leave decisions about the trajectory of interest rates in Australia to the Board of the Reserve Bank, which takes its decisions independently and appropriately.
BASAK:
We only have about a minute left here. But I do want to get your view here on your relationship with China. The removal of restrictions on lobster exports is imminent. And do you think that there’s a new stage around the corner, around the relationship between Australia and China?
CHALMERS:
We recognise that the relationship with China is full of complexity and full of opportunity. We have our differences with China, we don’t pretend that they aren’t there. But our efforts to stabilise that key economic relationship have borne fruit and including when it comes to the removal of some of those trade restrictions.
We welcome the progress we’ve made in the lifting of those trade restrictions in some of our key exports, but we know that it’s a complex relationship, we know that it needs ongoing management. We believe that you get more out of engaging with our major trading partners than the alternative, and so far, that has proven to be the case.
BASAK:
Jim, we have to leave it there. That is Jim Chalmers, the Treasurer of Australia, of course, joining us on the sidelines of those IMF World Bank meetings.
Source: Australian Treasurer
The Albanese Government will appoint Mr David Allen as a full-time Second Commissioner of Taxation to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for a seven-year period beginning on 1 November 2024.
Mr Allen has extensive experience in the public sector. Mr Allen is currently acting as the Second Commissioner and has been in this role since May 2024. He was previously acting as the ATO’s Chief Service Delivery Officer since May 2023.
Mr Allen joined the ATO in 2010 as the Assistant Commissioner of Large Business Risk and was the ATO’s delegate to the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD), based in Paris.
Prior to joining the ATO, Mr Allen held senior roles in different tiers of the public service including the Commonwealth, United Kingdom, NSW and local governments.
This appointment will continue to ensure a high level of skills and experience are available to the ATO.
Source: Australia Digital Transformation Agency
Last month, I had the privilege of joining colleagues from across the globe in Seoul and Singapore. My engagements provided valuable insights into strengthening our relationships with global neighbours, trends around open government, and opportunities for digital uplift across the public sector.
Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers
The Whitten Oval precinct, home of the Western Bulldogs, has undergone an over $77.7 million redevelopment, delivering upgraded player and spectator facilities, as well as a women’s health and leadership hub.
The Australian Government ($15 million) partnered with the Victorian Government ($46.3 million), the Western Bulldogs ($14.5 million) and the Australian Football League (AFL) ($2 million) to fund the upgrades, which make up Stage 2 of the precinct’s overall redevelopment.
The redevelopment has delivered a new Women’s Health and Leadership Hub (WHLH) and a new Western Bulldogs Community Foundation Centre.
The Whitten Stand now has a 60-plus-seat theatre as well as media production facilities, a boardroom and function room, as well as indoor and outdoor training areas for community foundation and WHLH programs.
Meanwhile, the existing John Gent and Infill stands have had improvements to the main entrance and foyer areas, meeting rooms and program areas, teaching and learning spaces, and restroom amenities.
A new multi-purpose indoor venue enables large-scale community program delivery and events, and hosting grassroots to elite levels of sports training.
The funding has also provided upgraded and improved elite player and spectator facilities to support the Western Bulldogs AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW teams to achieve the vision of Whitten Oval being the premier AFLW match venue.
The project will provide an enhanced fan experience for the 60,000-plus Western Bulldogs members, as well as tens of thousands of additional fans and supporters who attend AFLW and other events at the venue.
Stage 1 of the redevelopment was completed in 2019 and delivered refurbished AFLW changerooms under the John Gent Stand and a brand-new scoreboard at the Geelong Road end.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
“The Australian Government has partnered with the Victorian Government and key investors for this upgrade at Whitten Oval, which provides the infrastructure needed to foster high-level men’s and women’s Aussie Rules training and match hosting for years to come.
“This funding has also gone a long way to providing for programs including women’s health and leadership, and benefitting players and fans alike.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Gellibrand Tim Watts:
“The Whitten Oval redevelopment is an important contribution to community and professional sports alike in Melbourne’s West, and will contribute to elevating women’s health and leadership in sport here.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Fraser Daniel Mulino:
“The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation does so much to promote the health and wellbeing of people from all backgrounds across the West and it’s terrific they have a new centre at Whitten Oval.
“The Western Bulldogs are an institution in the West, and this funding has delivered much needed infrastructure upgrades to enable the club to continue being an institution.”
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
The following statement can be attributed to Ms. Madeline Mortelmans who is currently performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities. Her office is lead for both pillars of AUKUS within the department and is in close partnership with all of the DOD stakeholders.
“Secretary Austin has said several times in the past that our alliances and partnerships are our greatest global strategic advantage. Specifically, AUKUS presents a unique opportunity for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States to foster a more capable, more combined force of the future. And in so doing, we will strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
Through AUKUS, we are working across the full spectrum of capability development, generating requirements, co-developing new systems, deepening industrial based collaboration and ultimately delivering advanced capabilities to our forces. AUKUS Pillar 1 focuses these co-development efforts on delivering an advanced nuclear power submarine capability through the optimal pathway.
Pillar 2 focuses on the development and delivery of emerging technology. AUKUS Pillar 2 is designed to harness the combined industrial and innovation bases of the tri-lateral partners to ensure that our forces are equipped with cutting edge interoperable military capabilities and prepared to face down aggression in whatever form it may take.
In Pillar 2, we’re building a more capable combined joint force for the future, working across the full spectrum of capability development and we’re already delivering. This year, we’re advancing our undersea warfare capabilities by expanding our ability to launch and recover uncrewed underwater systems from torpedo tubes on current classes of British and US submarines, that will increase the range and capability of our undersea forces.
We’re integrating the Stingray lightweight torpedo into the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, which will support our forces in being more interchangeable while providing resilience to munitions stockpiles across AUKUS nations. At the same time, we’re also implementing a fundamental shift to more closely integrate our systems and break down barriers to collaboration at every stage and in every part of our systems.
We’ve welcomed collaboration with the International Joint Requirements Oversight Council or I-JROC, a critical collaborative forum to identify and validate joint and combined requirements. The I-JROC will ensure that we have prioritized combined and joint solutions from the very start and that the capabilities we develop under Pillar 2 address some of the most pressing challenges our forces face.
A cornerstone of AUKUS Pillar 2 remains the opportunity to leverage the best of our defense industrial bases in combined innovation communities. This year we executed the first office innovation challenge focused on electronic warfare. We announced the winners last month and our teams are working to develop a robust two-year plan to increase the collaboration between and among our innovation centers of excellence.
By the end of the year, we’ll have convened meetings with the Advanced Capabilities Industry Forum in each country. Engagements provide an opportunity for representatives across government and industry to exchange ideas and deepen industrial based collaboration.
This week we’re here in Jervis Bay to observe the Maritime Big Play, which is an important demonstration of AUKUS in action. The Maritime Big Play is a series of integrated trilateral experiments and exercises aimed at enhancing capability development, improving interoperability and increasing the sophistication and scale of autonomous systems in the maritime domain. These experiments address the need to expand the reach, capability and capacity of our forces in the maritime environment through the use of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
Over the past several weeks, we’ve been testing and refining the ability to jointly operate uncrewed maritime systems, to share and process maritime data from all three nations, and to provide real time maritime domain awareness to support decision making. The Maritime Big Play allows AUKUS partners to practice fielding and maintaining thousands of uncrewed systems, gaining valuable experience operating in coalitions to solve realistic operational problems such as improving undersea situational awareness.
Our work will inform AUKUS partners’ understanding of how crewed and uncrewed capabilities can be integrated to get an operational advantage, and where we can achieve cost savings and improved efficiencies in acquisition, maintenance and sustainment activities.
Maritime Big Play isn’t just a demonstration for demonstration’s sake. It’s our goal to transition cutting edge technologies into capabilities that give our forces decisive advantage as quickly as we can. This year, Japan joined the Maritime Big Play as an observer. We look forward to deepening their participation in the coming years. All of this together underpins a more strategic approach to ensure that AUKUS and like-minded partners can operate new autonomous uncrewed systems more effectively as a coalition force from the start.
This is only the first in our series of experiments and demonstrations. Over time, Maritime Big Play will grow and evolve to reflect the emerging technologies, new systems and new operational requirements. I want to emphasize that AUKUS is dynamic. It will grow, it will evolve as the world changes around us, and as we break down the old barriers to cooperation and inevitably discover new ones.
AUKUS is building a foundation for deep defense industrial cooperation and delivering advanced capabilities that can and will ensure our defense forces succeed in enhancing peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific alongside UK and Australia partners both now and in the years ahead. Thank you.”
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
YIGO, Guam –
On Oct. 23, 2024, the 734th Air Mobility Squadron performed disaggregated operations at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, as part of Slingstone 24-4.
For this specific operation, the 734th AMS simulated a bombing scenario that rendered their main headquarters unavailable. Their teams then had to perform their duties in a different location. This exercise allowed Airmen to test how capable they are at completing their mission in a different environment.
“Typically, when it comes to these disaggregated ops, you are essentially practicing a scenario where your current building has been affected in some sort of fashion, it can be a chemical attack, munitions attack, something from the enemy or even a natural disaster,” said Master Sgt. Joshua L. Spierer, 734th AMS passenger services section chief. “Our role here is to have a setup base, we have our internet, our communication tools and everything needed to do our job because in this scenario we have no other area to work.”
During the operation, the 734th AMS Airmen also made the most of the opportunity to teach their Airmen in different career fields. The team consisted of Airmen who work in aircraft maintenance, communications, aerial ports and more. Staff Sgt. Jarom Johnston, 734th AMS aircraft electrical systems craftsman, has been guiding these Airmen on how to marshal a C-17 Globemaster.
Despite the challenges of working in a different location and continuing to be multi-capable, the 734th AMS Airmen were able to adapt and persevere.
“Flexibility is key,” said 2nd Lt. Constance Lamkin, 734th AMS officer in charge of special planning. “Even though things haven’t gone exactly as planned, we’ve communicated across the board, perform our duties and were able to get a spot at a different location.”
Slingstone 24-4 test the capabilities of the Airmen in the 36th Wing. For the 734th AMS, it trains them in being multi-capable while also being ready for the unexpected.
“There’s definitely a lot of good that comes from this exercise,” Lamkin said. “When Typhoon Mawarr happened last year, we couldn’t work in the original pax terminal building because of the storm damage, but we were able to figure out what to do during that situation, and exercises such as this further prepare us for what may come.”
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
STRAIT OF MALACCA –
The U.S. Navy (USN) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) conducted bilateral operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific in the Strait of Malacca, Oct. 20-23.
Participating ships included the USN Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) and the RAN Anzac-class frigate HMAS Stuart (FFH 153). The two ships took part in exercise Malabar 2024 earlier in October.
“This exercise further builds on our existing interoperability and combined readiness we have with the Royal Australian Navy,” said Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. “Every time we operate together, we strengthen our capabilities and shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Over four days, the ships engaged in a formation sailing exercise, an air defense exercise, maritime communications training, personnel cross-decks and visit, board, search and seizure drills.
“Conducting a joint sail with USS Dewey has been of great value, with multiple different activities conducted between the ships, including personnel exchange, boarding practices, manoeuvring in close company, and warfare drills,” said Cmdr. Warren Bechly, commanding officer, HMAS Stuart. “Whether it is large scale exercises, or ships in transit between the same ports, working with our allies and partners is always a valuable opportunity to build closer ties and enhance interoperability.”
The U.S. Navy regularly operates alongside our allies in the Indo-Pacific region as a demonstration of our shared commitment to the rules-based international order.
Bilateral operations such as this one provide valuable opportunities to train, exercise and develop tactical interoperability across allied navies in the Indo-Pacific.
Dewey is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.
U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
This month Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. — all members of the AUKUS trilateral partnership — participated in “Maritime Big Play,” a series of integrated experiments and exercises held in the Indo-Pacific region, meant to enhance capability development and improve interoperability between the partners.
Source: African Development Bank Group
Climate change, global financial shocks and growing food insecurity are threatening Africa, the world’s fastest-growing continent and hampering achievement of global development goals. To tackle these challenges and speed up the continent’s efforts to achieve these goals, the president of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina on Thursday called for bold reforms from development partners.
“We need bolder resolve, innovative and practical solutions, and stronger coordinated action at scale,” he said during a meeting of multilateral development bank (MDB) heads with the G20 Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. The MDB leaders met on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group’s ongoing annual meetings in Washington DC.
Adesina who is leading the Bank’s delegation participating in key sessions of the Bretton Wood institutions’ meetings, will highlight his priority concerns for Africa: combatting hunger and eliminating malnutrition, providing electricity to 300 million people by 2030, scaling up infrastructure for agricultural and industrial transformation, combatting climate change, and supporting some of the world’s most fragile nations by mobilizing additional resources for the African Development Fund – the Bank Group’s concessional lending arm.
“Our strength lies in consolidating our collaboration, mobilizing resources at speed and scale, and deploying them where they are needed most,” Adesina said.
High on Adesina’s agenda is the opportunity to consolidate partnerships with partner multilateral development banks such as the World Bank.
The two institutions are working on co-hosting an Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania in January 2025 to accelerate Mission 300, a joint initiative to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030. At that summit, African leaders are expected to endorse an Africa Energy Compact.
Dr. Adesina is accompanied by a team of the institution’s senior management team including the Bank’s Senior Vice President Marie Laure Akin-Olugbade, Hassatou N’Sele, Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, Beth Dunford, Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Chief Economist and Vice President, Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, Kevin Urama, as well as Nnenna Nwabufo, Vice President for the Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Complex.
Also in Washington, Adesina will participate in a meeting of heads of MDBs, hold bilateral meetings with development partners and host a meeting of the Africa Investment Forum’s founding partners.
The 2024 Africa Investment Forum which will take place in Morocco in December, offers bountiful opportunities for international investors. The forum has attracted over $180 billion in investment interest in Africa over the last five years across various sectors including agribusiness, energy, roads and transport, health, and digital technology.
Earlier this week, US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen spoke on the Evolution of MDBs and their significant achievements in the development agenda for Africa and the world. She highlighted the increase in May of the Bank’s callable capital, the Mission 300 joint initiative with the World Bank and the African Development Bank’s work on addressing fragility in various parts of the continent.
“Outside of crisis contexts, countries are increasingly addressing the underlying drivers of fragility and conflict, such as in the case of an African Development Bank loan to the Democratic Republic of Congo to invest in increasing agricultural productivity in communities that had been displaced,” Yellen said.
Next week, Adesina will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, where he will take part in the 2024 Borlaug Dialogue and World Food Prize. A number of African Heads of State and Government are expected in Iowa for high-level meetings around global food security and agricultural innovation.
The 2024 IMF Annual Meetings take place from October 21–26 in Washington, DC. The meetings include the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) and the Development Committee, a joint forum of the IMF and the World Bank.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Chinese researchers have found that morphological changes of an immune receptor play a key role in allergic reactions, a discovery that could provide new insights useful for the development of allergy medications.
Allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergies to food and medications, affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide and have emerged as major public health issues.
Previous studies have shown that when allergens trigger a specific antibody to bind with a particular immune receptor, mast cells and basophils become activated.
This activation leads to the release of allergic mediators, including histamine, resulting in allergic reactions. In severe cases, this can lead to systemic anaphylactic shock.
However, the mechanism through which the binding of the antibody to the immune receptor activates allergic signaling pathways and induces allergic responses had long been unclear.
This resulted in limited approaches to developing clinical treatments for allergies — which mainly focus on strategies to block the interaction between the antibody and the immune receptor.
Researchers from the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART) and Westlake University have revealed the mechanisms behind allergic reactions by analyzing protein structures.
They found that when the antibody binds to the immune receptor, the shape of the receptor changes. This transformation exposes specific protein sites in the associated signaling pathways, which in turn activates these pathways and triggers allergic responses.
The study was published online on Wednesday in the journal Nature.
“This discovery suggests that if we can stabilize the shape of the immune receptor and prevent it from changing, the relevant protein sites in the signaling pathways will remain hidden. Even if allergens trigger the binding of the antibody to the receptor, the allergic signaling pathways cannot be activated, and allergic reactions will not occur,” said Su Qiang, a researcher at the SMART and corresponding author of the study.
Su explained that this new finding could provide a fundamentally new approach to drug development for allergies.
“In the future, we might develop a type of ‘molecular glue’ to stabilize the inactive state of the immune receptor, effectively preventing allergic reactions,” Su added.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government announced today (October 25) the appointment of two new members to the Hospital Authority (HA) and the reappointment of six serving members.
The two new members, Ms Tennessy Hui Mei-sheung and Professor Janet Wong Yuen-ha, will be appointed for a period of two years from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2026.
Ms Hui is a practising solicitor in Hong Kong. She is the Chairperson of the Liquor Licensing Board, a member of the Council of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a member of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority Council.
Professor Wong is the Dean and Professor of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences of the Hong Kong Metropolitan University. She is also a member of the Hospital Governing Committee of North Lantau Hospital and a member of the Education Committee of the Nursing Council of Hong Kong.
Among the serving members reappointed, Professor David Shum Ho-keung continues to serve as an HA member in his capacity of the Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University for a period of two years from November 1, 2024, to October 31, 2026. The other five serving members, namely Ms Anita Fung Yuen-mei, Mrs Sylvia Lam Yu ka-wai, Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai, Mr Anthony Tsang Hin-fun and Dr Thomas Tsang Ho-fai, will be reappointed for a period of two years from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2026.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, welcomed the two new members to the HA. He also expressed gratitude to the six serving members reappointed and extended heartfelt thanks to the outgoing members, Mr Ambrose Ho and Professor Agnes Tiwari Fung-yee, for their invaluable contribution to the HA.
The HA comprises a Chairman, 23 non-official members, three public officers and one principal officer from the HA. The membership list to be effective from December 1, 2024, is as follows:
Chairman:
Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling
Non-official Members:
Mr Lawrence Chan Man-yiu
Professor Chan Wai-yee
Mr Chan Wing-kai
Ms Margaret Cheng Wai-ching
Mr Duncan Chiu
Professor Philip Chiu Wai-yan
Ms Anita Fung Yuen-mei
Ms Maisy Ho Chiu-ha
Ms Mary Huen Wai-yi
Mr Jat Sew-tong
Mr Matthew Kwok Pui-ho
Mrs Sylvia Lam Yu ka-wai
Professor Lau Chak-sing
Ms Tennessy Hui Mei-sheung
Professor David Shum Ho-keung
Mr Henry Tong Sau-chai
Mr Philip Tsai Wing-chung
Mr Anthony Tsang Hin-fun
Dr Thomas Tsang Ho-fai
Mr Wan Man-yee
Mr Billy Wong Wing-hoo
Professor Janet Wong Yuen-ha
Professor Zhang Zhang-jin
Public Officers:
Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan
Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam
Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury) Ms Ann Chan
HA Principal Officer:
Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government gazetted today (October 25) the proposed extension of Ho Chau Road and road improvement works at the junction of Castle Peak Road – Tam Mi and Nam Sang Wai Road in Yuen Long to cater for the future development at Tung Shing Lei.
Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plans and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:
Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
Yuen Long Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Yuen Long District Office Building,
269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long, New Territories
District Lands Office, Yuen Long,
9/F, Yuen Long Government Offices,
2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long, New Territories
The gazette notice, scheme, plans and location plan are available at www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.html.
Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
By post or by hand to the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s Drop-in Box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
By fax to 2868 4643; or
By email to gazettetlb@tlb.gov.hk.
A notice of objection should describe the objector’s interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics not later than December 24, 2024.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
On a review of current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction on October 25, 2024, Friday, as under:
2. The operational guidelines for the auction will be same as given in Reserve Bank’s Press Release 2021-2022/1572 dated January 20, 2022. (Puneet Pancholy) Press Release: 2024-2025/1367 |
Source: ASEAN
The Eleventh ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) Meeting and the AMCA Meetings with Dialogue Partners, including the ASEAN Plus Three,China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, were held on 24 October 2024, in Melaka, Malaysia. Timor-Leste was in attendance as observer.The theme of the 11th AMCA was “Bridging Cultures, Building Futures: Unity in Diversity” underlined the pivotal role of culture and the arts in promoting sustainableand inclusive development towards strengthening ASEAN’s solidarity.
Download the full statement here.
The post Joint Media Statement The 11th Meeting of The ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Ginters, Associate Professor, Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, University of Sydney
After nearly 20 years as a lecture theatre, the University of Sydney’s Footbridge Theatre is reopening as a live performance venue in the university’s arts precinct.
The Footbridge is home to a long history of student theatre on campus. When it opened in 1961 as the 655-seat Union Theatre (replacing the old Union Hall) it was the first theatre to have been built in Sydney in more than 20 years.
Hopes were high for the new venture to be shared by student theatre groups and Sydney’s first professional repertory company, the Union Repertory Theatre Company (not to be confused with the Melbourne Theatre Company’s original name, the Union Theatre Repertory Company).
For decades, the Footbridge Theatre was host to both industry heavyweights and budding talent from across the arts sectors, before being converted to a lecture hall in 2006. Now, it’s back.
The theatre opened with productions from the Sydney University Musical Society, including Claudio Monteverdi’s ballet Il Ballo Delle Ingrate and Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas.
Also on show was the Sydney University Theatre Council’s Serjeant Musgrave’s Dance, starring John Bell in the title role. Ken Horler, with whom Bell founded the famous Nimrod Theatre a decade later, co-directed the play with May Hollinworth, who ran the university’s Dramatic Society in the 1920s and ’30s. The production also featured John Gaden, Bob Ellis, Bruce Beresford, Richard Brennan and Mungo MacCallum.
The following year, Horler directed Coriolanus, with Bell in the title role and Gaden and Arthur Dignam in the cast.
Horler would go on to direct the first Australian production of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage in 1963. The cast included Germaine Greer as Mother Courage, Peter Carroll and Ron Blair.
Bell also acted in and directed a number of shows in the following years. He returned again in the early 1990s to stage a series of productions with his fledgling Bell Shakespeare company.
The university students of the 1960s had been delighted to have their “own” venue after years of makeshift spaces. They produced some adventurous – as well as some scandalous – works.
When the Dramatic Society staged its Revue of the Absurd in 1963, it included a controversial film by the then-nascent filmmakers Bruce Beresford and Albie Thoms. It Droppeth as the Gentle Rain depicted a cocktail party coming to a sticky end as shit rained down from the sky.
The film was promptly banned. This ban was reinstated the following year when Beresford and Thoms sought to show it at a gala commemorating the Dramatic Society’s 75th birthday.
Student revues were a popular feature of the theatre in its early years. One of these was the 1964 revue called Jump, which starred Colin Anderson, Germaine Greer, John Gaden and Paul Thom.
The Union Repertory Theatre Company was short-lived, collapsing within 12 months of its launch in 1961.
Also, ironically, the Footbridge was too expensive for students to hire often. Nonetheless, it was still a launching pad for those involved in student theatre, including Henry Szeps (who later acted in the 1984–94 series Mother and Son), Jack Thompson, who played Claudius in a production of Hamlet (1969), and Neil Armfield in Much Ado About Nothing (1974).
Fellow student actor and director David Marr would later acknowledge Armfield’s genius as a director, while diplomatically adding “acting was not his strength”.
The Union Theatre was a venue for hire throughout the 1970s, with student theatre, concerts, music theatre, French language theatre and other genres sporadically staged. In 1981, it was renamed the Footbridge Theatre (after a footbridge that was constructed over Parramatta Road in 1972).
For two decades from the mid-1980s, the Gordon Frost Organisation leased the theatre to present a number of popular commercial productions.
It also rented the theatre to other companies, including Bell Shakespeare, the Sydney Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre and Sydney Festival, which programmed outstanding international works such as the Irish Druid Theatre’s 1998 production of The Leenane Trilogy.
The 1990s also saw students back onstage in annual faculty revues.
A squeeze on space at the university led to Footbridge’s conversion to a lecture theatre in 2006. Following extensive renovations, the now 300-seat theatre is opening once again, with Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods.
The university’s Dramatic Society first produced Into the Woods in the early 2000s (starring Virginia Gay). The Sydney University Musical Theatre Ensemble (MUSE) staged it again in 2011.
This time around the production is showcasing the talents of the inaugural cohort of music theatre students from the university’s Conservatorium of Music.
Just as it was for the “Johns” (Bell and Gaden) who, in the early 1960s, took their first steps as student actors into their future careers – and are still going strong six decades later – campus theatres remain vitally important for students finding their feet as the artists of the future.
Now, in a new decade and with a new generation of students, it’s time to go into the woods again.
Laura Ginters and Robyn Dalton co-authored a history of drama activities at the University of Sydney, The Ripples Before The New Wave 1957-1963 (2018). The authors interviewed many of the student actors mentioned here for that book.
– ref. Sydney’s beloved Footbridge Theatre launched some of our biggest stars. After nearly 20 years, it’s making a grand return – https://theconversation.com/sydneys-beloved-footbridge-theatre-launched-some-of-our-biggest-stars-after-nearly-20-years-its-making-a-grand-return-241561
Source: South Australia Police
A one-month report on the state’s new mobile phone detection camera expiations has shown drivers are hearing South Australia Police’s (SAPOL) call to stop illegal mobile phone use behind the wheel.
For the first month of enforcement, from 19 September 2024 to 18 October 2024,the ratio of expiation notices being issued has averaged 0.23 per cent compared to 0.42 per cent for the last 30 days of the three-month warning period.
However, 10,319 vehicles or 0.23 per cent of total vehicle volume (4,507,577) across the five metropolitan camera locations still received an expiation notice over the month period.
Disappointingly, 80 vehicles were also detected four or more times, meaning 80 drivers may potentially lose their licenses.
Officer in Charge of SAPOL’s Traffic Services Branch, Superintendent Darren Fielke, said the data suggests new penalties from mobile phone camera detections have helped land the message for phone-wielding drivers to change their behaviour.
“SA Police began issuing a penalty of $556 plus a $102 Victims of Crime Levy and three demerit points from offences detected by mobile phone detection cameras a little over a month ago,” he said.
“After much education and a three-month grace period, declining averages of offences show most habitual mobile phone offenders have finally put their phones down or have been taken off the road after too many demerit point deductions.
“We recently reported in only the first week, 2544 motorists were detected, and we hope these people have learned an important lesson.
“The goal for mobile phone detection cameras in SA is to make roads safer by changing road user behaviour, and recent data certainly indicates people are thinking twice now.”
One-month expiation data shows of the 10,319 expiations issued, 2816 were detected at North South Motorway, Regency Park, 2396 at South Road, Torrensville, 2157 at Southern Expressway, Darlington, 1991 at Port Road, Hindmarsh and 959 at Port Wakefield Road, Gepps Cross.
South Road, Torrensville was again identified as having the highest percentage of expiations sent considering vehicle volume, and Southern Expressway, Darlington the lowest.
Reviewed by a trained SAPOL adjudicator, of the 10,526 potential incidents, 10,319 or 98.03 per cent received an expiation notice.
Of the 80 vehicles (registered owners) receiving expiation notices for four or more detections: one will be issued with 15 expiation notices, one will be issued with 11 expiation notices, one will be issued with 10 expiation notices, three will be issued with nine expiation notices, three will be issued with eight expiation notices, two will be issued with seven expiation notices, 10 will be issued with six expiation notices, 13 will be issued with five expiation notices, and 46 will be issued with four expiation notices.
“Unfortunately, these numbers show that we still have some drivers out there that are not heeding the message and placing themselves and other road users at risk,” Superintendent Fielke added.
“These drivers will pay a high price financially and will lose their licence. We can only hope that is all that is lost, and it is not a life lost due to their irresponsible behaviour.”
Mobile phone detection cameras are in place across five high-risk locations, monitoring 13 lanes. All five locations have warning signs installed. Two other camera locations are currently being considered and expected to be installed in early 2025.
Visit Think! Road Safety for further information about mobile phone detection cameras.
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Distracted Driving Statistics for 19 September 2024 to 18 October 2024 Inclusive |
||||
|
Vehicle Volume |
Total Incidents |
Expiation Notices Sent |
% Expiation Notices Sent |
% Expiation Notices |
|
4,507,577 |
10,526 |
10,319 |
0.23% |
98.03% |
Source: Auckland Council
Epic views, great camping options at affordable prices, and taking in the outdoors in all its glory – sound like a dream? Make it your reality at any one of Auckland’s 28 regional parks, boasting over 30 campgrounds between them! That’s right, an outdoor adventure is calling, and it’s here in Auckland’s backyard!
The beauty of camping in Auckland is the accessibility – you don’t have to travel too far. Plus, with fees starting at $17 per night for adults and $6.50 for children at our main campgrounds, Auckland camping is an affordable way to holiday at some of our region’s most scenic locations.
Whether you’re a freedom camper, a glamper or a total camping newbie – we’ve got you covered. Your next Auckland-based outdoor adventure awaits – so get booking now!
It’s easy as, all you have to do is choose your preferred spot from the list of regional parks on Auckland Council’s website. Are you looking for a coastal, farm or forest experience? Each campsite listing contains photos of the park, and you can click through to specific photos and information about the different types of camping available.
To make it even simpler, the camping booking site includes a calendar showing availability so you can instantly see dates to choose from. You’ll also find a handy park brochure with a map, information about tracks, interesting features in the area, and important alerts. For most campgrounds you can drive right up to your selected camping area, so you don’t have to lug your gear long distances. However, be aware some campgrounds take a bit more effort to reach, such as the Mita Bay campground at Mahurangi Regional Park (West), which is accessible by foot, and the campground at Waitawa Regional Park, which can only be accessed by sea kayak. Remember to check the access prior to booking to understand the location of the campground.
All our regional parks are precious taonga, each with their own unique features, but over the summer some are busier than others and get booked out quickly. Fortunately, regional park campsites can be booked up to six months in advance, so it’s a good idea to set a reminder on your phone and book your spot as soon as you can so you don’t miss out!
The booking calendar for each campground also shows how many spaces are available, which is handy if you’re planning on camping with a larger group (note there are some group size limits over the summer). And you can book up to seven glorious nights. If your plans change, no worries! You can make unlimited amendments to your booking, or cancel (with a full refund), up to two days before the date of your arrival.
When you book your stay at a regional park campground, you’ll be emailed instructions including a combination code to get through the gate into the campground. Make sure you note it down on your phone or on a piece of paper before you leave in case mobile reception is patchy at your destination.
The main access gates for regional parks are locked overnight (daylight saving hours are generally 6am-9pm, and 6am-7pm for the rest of the year), so if you’re arriving in the evening, be sure to take note of the closing hours so you don’t end up carting your gear to the campground by foot. When staying, remember if you need to pop out for supplies, the access code will not open the main park gate.
If you’re up for a truly outdoors camping experience, many of Auckland’s regional parks supply only the bare basics – including the classic kiwi long drop! Be sure to read up on the facilities available at specific campgrounds, so you can choose the camping style that best suits your needs.
All campgrounds have drinkable water available (although sometimes you will need to boil it first), but many of the campsites at regional parks don’t have flushable toilets or shower blocks. These rugged campgrounds are a lot more spacious and less populated than commercial campgrounds, offering a truly remote outdoors experience. If that’s a step too far though for you or your fellow camping newbies, Shakespear Regional Park has flushable toilets and two cold showers onsite.
If camping in comfort is more your thing, many of the vehicle-based campgrounds allow campervan and caravans as well but check the rules before booking. Or bypass the regional park entirely and stay in a fully furnished glamping tent at either Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park, Whangateau Holiday Park or Martins Bay Holiday Park.
Make sure you read up on prime leisure activities at your location. For example, if you’re heading to a great surf beach like Omaha Beach, the kids will want boogie boards for catching waves and riding down the campground’s famous hill, and you’ll all want beach shoes for rock pooling.
While it is possible to fish at some regional parks, it’s strictly prohibited at parks that are also marine reserves. Some parks have access to extensive walking and mountain-bike tracks, golf and disc golf courses and did we mention the birdlife? Also, don’t forget your book from Auckland Libraries for some relaxing reading in the sun.
When you arrive at your site, be sure to follow the rules. Stay off sign-posted wahi tapu areas (sites which are sacred to Māori), and steer clear of restricted conservation areas where birds may be nesting.
Remember that lighting open fires is prohibited across all public areas in the Auckland region, and that noise must be kept to a minimum in regional parks after 9pm.
Also please dispose of all your rubbish correctly in the designated bins if available or take your rubbish home with you.
So, what are you waiting for? Your adventure awaits!
