This photo taken on Oct. 17, 2024 shows new energy vehicle model SU7 produced by Chinese tech firm Xiaomi displayed during the 2024 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]
A comprehensive industrial system for China’s intelligent connected vehicle sector has basically taken shape, covering products and technologies such as basic chips, sensors, computing platforms and chassis control, Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong said Thursday.
Jin made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Beijing.
China leads the world in human-machine interaction and is rapidly advancing toward breakthroughs in technologies like steer-by-wire and active suspension technologies, among others, the minister noted.
According to him, the country’s intelligent connected vehicle sector currently boasts nearly 400 “little giant” firms, or novel elites of small and medium-sized enterprises that are engaged in manufacturing, specialize in a niche market and hold cutting-edge technologies.
Five Chinese lidar companies have ranked among the global top ten in sales, while nine automotive manufacturers are piloting conditionally automated driving models, Jin said.
To support such rapid industrial development, more than 50 cities in China have designated over 32,000 kilometers of test routes for intelligent connected vehicles and upgraded about 10,000 kilometers of roads with smart technologies.
The 2024 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference, running from Oct. 17 to 19, has attracted over 250 auto firms and institutions from home and abroad. More than 200 new technologies and products are expected to make their debut at the event.
Police have seized drugs, firearms, cash, motorcycles and cars following raids at two properties in Whanganui last night.
About 7.30pm, Police teams, including the Armed Offenders Squad, executed search warrants simultaneously in Victoria Avenue and in Springvale.
A firearm was located and seized, along with 700g methamphetamine, three motorcycles, two vehicles and more than $30,000 in cash.
A cannabis growing operation was also uncovered.
One person was taken into custody during the warrants, and another has subsequently presented at Whanganui Police Station in relation to the offending. Both will face drugs and firearms charges and will appear in court at a later date.
Detective Sergeant Craig Gorringe says the well-executed operation yielded a great result.
“These individuals threaten public safety through illegal possession of a firearm and supply of drugs to vulnerable members of our community.
“It’s always satisfying to take firearms and drugs out of the hands of offenders and hold them to account for the significant social harm they cause.
“We want our communities to feel safe and be safe and we work hard to this end.”
Police urge anyone who has concerns about criminal offending by gangs in their community to contact Police so this can be investigated.
Call 111 if there is an incident happening now, or make a report via 105 online if it is not an emergency situation.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
Indonesia on Thursday grandly celebrated the first anniversary of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR), a landmark project as Southeast Asia’s first high-speed rail.
With a speed of 350 km per hour, the 142.3 km high-speed rail, built in cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, has slashed the journey time between Jakarta and Bandung from over three hours to just about 40 minutes. Over the past year, the rail, affectionately called “Whoosh” for its remarkable speed, has inspired profound changes in the towns and cities along the line.
As Indonesia marches toward its Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision, “Whoosh” has not only made rail transport more efficient and comfortable, but also plays a pivotal role in boosting the local economy, tourism, human resources and people’s livelihood.
This photo taken on April 17, 2024 shows a high-speed electrical multiple unit (EMU) train of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway on the platform of Halim Station in Jakarta, Indonesia. [Photo/Xinhua]
Connecting cities
In October 2023 when the railway started operation, Indonesian President Joko Widodo revealed the name of the HSR, “Whoosh,” inspired by the train’s sound and meaning fast, efficient and reliable in the Indonesian language.
With seamless connectivity with other transport networks such as light rail transit and shuttle buses, the sleek red and silver bullet train has made traveling between Indonesia’s key cities an efficient and enjoyable experience.
According to PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (PT KCIC), a joint venture consortium between Indonesian and Chinese firms that constructs and runs the HSR, Whoosh has transported 5.79 million passengers by Oct. 17 this year, including 300,000 international tourists from 159 countries.
An increasing number of Indonesians find this rapid transit option indispensable, as they can now spend more time with family on weekends and travel to economic hubs with ease.
“Previously, I took a conventional train on Saturday morning and returned to Jakarta on Sunday evening,” said Halim Ali Sabhana, a 27-year-old commuter.
“Now, since it only takes 40 minutes by ‘Whoosh,’ I can go back to Bandung on Friday afternoon after work, and arrive at my Jakarta office on Monday morning,” he told Xinhua.
Raden Agung Wijaya, a 43-year-old business owner, said the railway has made his frequent business trips between Jakarta and Bandung much easier.
“Instead of driving my car, I’m taking Whoosh to Bandung. Less time, and less tiring. I can meet clients on time,” he said.
Over the past year, the number of trains per day increased from 14 initially to 52 in the peak period as the railway quickly gained popularity, with the number of passenger seats increasing from over 8,400 to more than 31,000, and the maximum number of passengers per day at 24,132.
Catalyzing growth
The operation of the high-speed train has created more economic opportunities, with new residential areas, markets, and shopping centers emerging around the bustling train stations.
Lion dance performers welcome passengers on the platform at the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway’s Padalarang Station in Padalarang, Indonesia, Feb. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Small businesses are thriving in the burgeoning community-based economic ecosystem surrounding the train stations, said Bey Machmudin, acting governor of West Java. Local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have filled various kiosks at Padalarang station and Tegalluar station, Machmudin said.
“West Java residents welcome the Whoosh train and it must be utilized as best as possible to improve the community’s economy. (Looking) ahead, we hope the MSMEs can also work with tourism associations to provide tour packages in Bandung,” he said.
At Tegalluar station in the suburbs of Bandung, Tati Heryati, a Sundanese pancake seller, saw a five-fold increase in his daily income.
“Previously, I could only earn 100,000 rupiahs (6.42 U.S. dollars) per day. But since Whoosh started running, I can now earn 500,000 rupiahs (32.09 dollars) a day,” Heryati told Xinhua.
“Many of my neighbors have also become vendors here, selling everything from food and beverages to merchandise, because they can now earn more,” he said.
The ease of travel has also drawn more visitors to destinations in West Java, ranging from Bandung’s bustling city center to previously hard-to-reach areas.
Al Jabbar Mosque, a grand mosque located 5 km away from Tegalluar station, sees crowds of visitors from Jakarta on Sunday afternoon after the Muslim prayer time.
Hendrawan Prasetyo, 38, said he came from Jakarta for a vacation with his wife and two children via Whoosh. “I was amazed by the speed. Whoosh has made vacations even more practical. Now we can visit tourist destinations outside the city center of Bandung,” he told Xinhua.
Arief Syaifudin, head of the Bandung Culture and Tourism Agency, said Whoosh has greatly boosted tourism in West Java. Popular spots like Al Jabbar Mosque and Bandung’s renowned culinary scene have seen a rising influx of visitors. During the holiday season in April, hotel occupancy rates have reached 86.8 percent.
Tourists can hop off the train to explore the surrounding areas of Bandung, Machmudin said, adding that the provincial government is collaborating with small and medium-sized enterprises near Padalarang and Tegalluar stations to introduce more Bandung culinary and tourism packages to visitors.
Cultivating talent
The railway has also boosted talent cultivation with a collaborative platform established to speed up local technological progress. Over the past year, a total of 45,000 local technicians have received training in high-speed rail technology, including engineering, welding, and machinery, with support from the Chinese side.
A Chinese high-speed train driver (C) instructs his Indonesian counterpart (R) inside the driving cab of a high-speed train in Bandung, Indonesia, Sept. 12, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Wawan Setiawan, a student at the Indonesian Railway Polytechnic and one of the first Indonesian high-speed rail drivers, said that becoming a high-speed rail driver fills him with immense pride, serving as a significant source of fulfillment in his life.
Currently, the Chinese operation team is training 600 Indonesians for 23 positions essential to the long-term maintenance and operation of the HSR.
Local drivers have already begun operating the trains at a speed of up to 350 km per hour, marking a significant milestone in building a skilled workforce capable of supporting Indonesia’s growing high-speed rail sector.
“Indonesia has greatly benefited from the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly through transformative infrastructure projects like the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway,” said Veronika Saraswati, director of the Saraswati Institute and a China expert.
“This cooperation has allowed Indonesia to modernize its transportation systems, realizing long-held ambitions of building high-speed rails,” she said.
“The positive results of infrastructure and trade cooperation between the two countries have made the Indonesian government aware that China is an opportunity,” she added.
Unions Wellington’s committee last night agreed to appoint a workers’ observer to council meetings.
Keep The Airport Ours campaign lead Sabina Rizos-Shaw said “recent issues at Wellington City Council have been caused by undemocratic manoeuvres to sell public assets and reduce public services. The solutions to problems at the council -real or perceived – is more democracy, not less. The idea that government-appointed commissioners would improve outcomes is completely baseless. The council needs more democratic input, not less.”
To this end, Unions Wellington offers a workers observer, an elected union delegate from one of Wellington’s major employers, for public council meetings to ensure that working people can contribute to the city’s future. “We are confident that the council now understands the importance of public assets and are confident that the changes in direction for the council will put people first.”
“Advice from council staff has at times been unclear, inconsistent and loaded towards privatisation. We are hopeful that this is now resolved and councillors will have the information they need to make fully informed decisions.”
It is not clear that cuts are necessary. However, if there is a genuine need for cuts, Unions Wellington proposes an immediate reduction in salaries for executive staff.
It is well documented that the executive leaders at Wellington City Council have struggled to enact council plans in a way that respects the aspirations of Wellingtonians, or deliver good fiscal outcomes. The Council’s chief executive is currently paid over half a million dollars a year, and ELT salaries are upwards of $350,000. This is compared to the mayoral salary of $190,000.
“If cuts need to be made, in the first place this should occur at the level of exorbitant executive salaries. Rather than cutting services or selling assets, reducing senior pay to that of the Mayor would free up millions of dollars a year that could be used to protect public interests.”
China will work to enhance economic and trade cooperation with Vietnam, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.
Spokesperson He Yadong told a press conference that China is Vietnam’s largest trade partner, while Vietnam is China’s largest trade partner among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
From January to September 2024, trade volume between the two countries reached 190.38 billion U.S. dollars, up 17.6 percent year on year.
Vietnam is an important overseas investment destination for China. In the first eight months, direct investment by Chinese enterprises in Vietnam totaled 1.97 billion dollars, maintaining rapid growth.
Efforts will be made to both explore and pilot the establishment of cross-border economic cooperation zones, expanding cooperation in emerging fields such as information technology, new energy and digital economy, the spokesperson said.
Enterprises from the two countries will be supported to make full use of platforms like the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair and the China-ASEAN Expo to expand trade of agricultural and aquatic products, as well as manufactured industrial products, He said.
Measures will also be taken to deepen cooperation related to supply chains and regional economic integration, He added.
Multiple sources told China Daily that Tesla Inc has yet to receive regulatory approval from Chinese authorities to launch its full self-driving or FSD functions in the country and is seeking permission to gather some data on its own to train its autonomous driving system.
The United States vehicle maker announced last month on the social platform that it expected to launch FSD in China in the first quarter of 2025. “The rollout progress is not expected to mirror the speed as the company itself planned,” several sources close to the matter confirmed.
They said that the proposal is still pending from various Chinese authorities to evaluate in an all-round way, including technology, data safety, laws and regulations, as well as other relevant standards.
Though no official green light has been given as of now, the Chinese government will partially support its trial test of FSD functions in some cities, the sources day.
As data security has been a key obstacle to a full rollout of FSD, two people close to Tesla said that Musk has proposed directly accessing some non-sensitive video data to train its autonomous driving system.
He also proactively suggested that a dedicated government team could thoroughly assess this video data to ensure its security, one of the sources said.
Other people acknowledged the matter and said that Chinese authorities didn’t give an immediate response to this request given the current rules and regulations.
According to the regulations of the Ministry of Natural Resources, automakers and developers of autonomous driving software should either apply for mapping licenses or ask a licensed company to collect, store, transform and process geographic data.
Currently, foreign firms lack the qualifications to independently gather geographic data and must partner with local entities.
To comply, Tesla has stored all data collected by its Chinese vehicles in China since 2021 and is cooperating with local companies to collect data to support its driver assistant system.
This photo taken on July 27, 2023 shows the Euro sign in Frankfurt, Germany. [Photo/Xinhua]
The European Central Bank (ECB) decided on Thursday to lower three key interest rates by 25 basis points, its third rates cut this year, saying that disinflationary process is “well on track.”
The interest rates on the deposit facility, the main refinancing operations and the marginal lending facility will be decreased to 3.25 percent, 3.4 percent and 3.65 percent respectively, with effect from Oct. 23.
The ECB does not expect recession in the eurozone despite economic difficulties in some states, the bank’s President Christine Lagarde said at a press conference after the ECB Governing Council meeting in Slovenia.
The decision to cut interest rates is based on the bank’s updated assessment of the inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission, she said. “The incoming information on inflation shows that the disinflationary process is well on track.”
Despite predicted inflation rise in the coming months, Lagarde said the ECB is determined to ensure that inflation return to the 2-percent medium term target in the course of next year. “We will keep policy rates sufficiently restricted for as long as necessary to achieve this aim.”
The eurozone’s annual inflation rate is projected to drop to 1.8 percent in September, down from 2.2 percent in August, according to Eurostat. This marks the first time in three years that inflation has fallen below the ECB’s target.
Lagarde did not specify when further rate cuts might be expected, noting that decisions are data-dependent.
The next ECB Governing Council monetary policy meeting is scheduled for Dec. 12 in Frankfurt.
The ECB cut key interest rates for the first time in five years by 25 basis points in June and again in September.
Vehicles run on Jianguo Road during morning peak hours in Chaoyang District of Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 3, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] In China’s 22 most populous cities, long-distance commuters still face challenges, with more than 8 million people commuting over 50 km each day, according to a report released Thursday. The finding comes from the commuting monitoring report of major cities in China, released by a research institute under the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, in collaboration with the China Academy of Urban Planning & Design. Covering 45 major Chinese cities with rail transit, the report shows that among the 22 cities with a population exceeding 5 million, Beijing has the highest proportion of long-distance commuters, with 12 percent traveling over 50 kilometers, followed by Guangzhou at 10 percent. In terms of one-way commuting time, 28 percent of commuters travel for over 60 minutes in the Chinese capital, while in Shanghai, Chongqing, Tianjin, Wuhan and Qingdao, more than 15 percent of commuters fall into this category. One such commuter is a 46-year-old individual surnamed Sun. Every weekday, he leaves his home in Tianjin, a 13.6-million-people municipality neighboring Beijing, around 6 a.m., drives to a parking spot near Tianjin Railway Station, then switches to high-speed rail and subway to reach his workplace in Beijing — an almost two-hour, one-way commute that he has maintained for a decade. “I spend about 12 hours outside each day, but there’s no other choice,” Sun said, adding that he commutes rather than renting an apartment in Beijing mainly because he wants to accompany his child who is attending a junior high school in Tianjin. For many long-distance commuters like Sun in the megacities, rail transit services still need improvement. Although the total area covered by operational rail transit in the 42 surveyed cities with subway services exceeds 10,000 kilometers, only one-fifth of commuters live and work within 800 meters of a station. “Every 430,000 yuan (about $60,376) invested in rail transit construction results in just one additional person gaining access to the 800-meter range,” said Fu Lingfeng, an official of the China Academy of Urban Planning & Design. Guo Jifu, director of the Beijing Transport Institute, explained that larger cities with a higher proportion of the tertiary industry find it increasingly challenging to balance job locations and housing. “While planners envision an ideal scenario, the reality is that job-residence separation remains widespread in urban areas,” Guo said. To improve commuting experiences, Guo proposed measures such as integrating rail transit with urban development, building efficient commuting systems, and encouraging employers to provide housing and adopt flexible work arrangements. According to Yang Zeng, a professor at Shanghai University, the trend of living and working across cities in China is unique and differs from Western experiences and this phenomenon reflects long-term potential. “Strategies like city cluster integration are improving transportation and providing young people with more flexibility, enabling them to work in different cities without having to live in the main city center,” Yang said. For Sun, his hours-long commute is a mix of joy and fatigue. During the journey, he takes short naps, handles work on his phone and occasionally watches short videos. “I can deal with many issues while traveling. It’s a good way to use my time. I’ve gotten used to this lifestyle,” he said.
A formation of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels has completed joint drills and patrol missions with Russia’s coast guard, the CCG said Thursday. The two Chinese vessels departed on Sept. 13 from Zhoushan in east China’s Zhejiang Province and returned on Thursday after a journey of 35 days, according to the CCG. During the drills, vessels from both sides formed a joint fleet to patrol the high seas of North Pacific Ocean for the first time, where they conducted inspections and monitoring operations of fishing vessels in accordance with the law, maintaining the fishing order in the area. During the patrol, they also successfully carried out joint exercises, including search and rescue operations, damage control and lifesaving missions, as well as joint searches for illegal vessels. The CCG noted that this mission is a routine operation under its annual plan and does not aim at any specific target, region or country, and it complies with international law and practice. The joint patrols and exercises between the Chinese and Russian coast guards are highly significant for strengthening mutual trust and cooperation between the coast guards of the two countries, while also ensuring the safety and stability of the waters of North Pacific Ocean, according to the CCG. The CCG will continue to engage in bilateral and multilateral maritime law enforcement cooperation and actively participate in international and regional ocean governance, said the CCG.
October 17 2024 – The European Central Bank (ECB) has lowered interest rates for the third time this year, as inflation in the eurozone shows signs of easing and the economy struggles to regain momentum.
With money markets now expecting three more rate cuts by March 2025, the euro is likely to face prolonged downward pressure, predicts the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial organizations.
The prediction from deVere Group’s Nigel Green follows Thursday’s quarter-point rate cut, which brings the deposit rate down to 3.25%.
He says: “This is the first time in 13 years that the ECB has delivered consecutive rate cuts, marking a pivotal moment for both the eurozone economy and global investors.
“Lower interest rates make a currency less appealing to investors as they reduce returns on assets denominated in that currency.
“As the ECB continues to signal further rate cuts, this trend is expected to intensify. The euro is likely to weaken as investors seek higher returns elsewhere, potentially leading to capital outflows from the eurozone.
“The ECB’s actions indicate a clear shift in focus, from managing inflation to stimulating growth.
“With continued rate cuts on the horizon, the euro is set to remain under pressure for the foreseeable future, making this a critical time for investors to assess their portfolios.”
For investors holding euro-denominated assets, a weakening currency could present some challenges, especially for those with international exposure. As the euro depreciates, returns on European investments could decline when converted back into stronger currencies.
However, there are also opportunities, particularly in export-heavy sectors, where a weaker euro makes European goods more competitive on the global market.
“In light of the ECB’s monetary policy approach, we recommend investors take a close look at currency risk and consider hedging strategies if they have significant exposure to the euro,” affirms Nigel Green.
“On the other hand, sectors such as manufacturing and exports could benefit from a more competitive currency.”
For investors looking to take advantage of a weaker euro, diversification into eurozone industries that are less reliant on domestic demand and more focused on exports could prove beneficial. These industries are likely to see growth as their goods become more attractive on the international market, providing opportunities in the face of broader economic stagnation.
The deVere CEO concludes: “Investors should be prepared for sustained euro depreciation and adjust their strategies accordingly.
“The weakening euro could be a double-edged sword, offering opportunities in specific sectors while also requiring a more cautious approach to currency risk.”
deVere Group is one of the world’s largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients. It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $12bn under advisement.
A new study has found a link between hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) and breast cancer.
The research is important, but media reports of a large increase in risk may be causing unnecessary worry.
Let’s put the findings in perspective for people who use IUDs.
What are IUDs?
IUDs are commonly used contraceptive devices. They sit inside the uterus (womb) to prevent pregnancy.
Older versions contain copper as their active ingredient. Newer “hormonal” IUDs slowly release a synthetic progesterone called levonorgestrel. This mimics the body’s natural progesterone hormone.
But the hormonal IUDs have the extra advantage of making periods lighter and less painful. Some people have one inserted for these reasons, even if they don’t need contraception.
Many women experience pain on insertion or spotting in the first few months of use. But compared to other contraceptives, women generally find IUDs very acceptable and continue to use them.
What did the new study find?
The new study, by researchers from Denmark, used data from national health registries to look for links between hormonal IUD use and breast cancer.
They tracked nearly 80,000 people who started hormonal IUDs across two decades. They compared these people to an equal number of people born at the same time who did not use hormonal IUDs.
On their raw numbers, you might think hormonal IUDs prevented breast cancer, because there were 720 cases of breast cancer in the hormonal IUD group, and nearly 900 in the other group. But that’s not the full story.
Ideally, when researchers study the effects of medicines, they do a “randomised controlled trial”, where researchers use chance to decide whether people get one treatment or another. This ensures the two groups are very similar apart from the treatment being studied. That’s not what happened here.
Instead, they simply studied people who had decided to have a hormonal IUD, and compared them to people who didn’t. This means the groups were different in many other ways.
So, the hormonal IUD group and the other group might appear to have a different risk of breast cancer – not because of the IUDs, but because of their other differences. For example, more highly educated women might be more likely to choose IUDs, and also more likely to attend breast cancer screening, where their breast cancer would be discovered.
The researchers “adjusted” their results to account for many differences between the two groups (including education, age, number of children, and some other medicines and medical conditions). After this “adjustment”, the numbers pointed in a different direction: towards a higher risk of breast cancer among people who used a hormonal IUD.
However, there are many other important risk factors for breast cancer the authors seem not to have adjusted for, such as body weight, alcohol use, smoking and physical activity. If there were differences between the two groups in these things, then the study’s results may still be biased. This makes me quite uncertain about the results.
Ultimately, we can’t say the IUDs caused the breast cancer – just that there’s an “association” or “link”.
There are two different ways researchers express risk: “relative” and “absolute” risks. Here, the “relative” risk increase was about 30% for women using the IUDs for up to five years, 40% after 5–10 years, and 80% after 10–15 years of use.
These sound like massive risks. But though these statistics compare the risk of breast cancer in IUD users to the risk in non-users, they do not tell us the proportion of women who will get breast cancer. For that, we need to look at “absolute” risk increases.
These are much smaller. For every 10,000 women, this study suggests we might see an extra 14 cases of breast cancer after up to five years of use, 29 cases after 5–10 years use, and 71 cases after 10–15 years use. In “absolute” terms – as a proportion of all the IUD users – all of these risk increases are comfortably under 1%.
Reporting the dramatic relative risks, and not the much smaller absolute risks, is a common flaw in stories about health risk, and goes against science reportingrecommendations.
What does other research say?
There are other studies on this topic, including a much larger recent study from Sweden based on data from more than half a million users of hormonal IUDs.
This suggested only a 13% relative risk increase in breast cancer – much smaller than the risk increases in the Danish study. This would mean an additional 1.46 cases of breast cancer for every 10,000 women per year.
This is in keeping with a recent large review of studies on this topic, which also found a much smaller risk than the new Danish paper.
The Swedish study also looked at other cancers. The results suggested a decreased risk of cancers of the cervix, ovaries and endometrium (womb lining). This mixed picture of some cancer risk and some cancer protection is also seen for traditional contraceptive pills.
And of course, all contraception protects women from the risks of pregnancy.
What does it mean for me?
The link between hormonal IUDs and breast cancer is probably very small, and might be a statistical illusion rather than a real thing.
Even if it’s a real risk, it may be offset by protection against other cancers.
And it may be dwarfed by other risks for breast cancer, such as high body weight, physical inactivity, alcohol use, and smoking. Online resources can help you visualise these risks.
Hormonal IUDs aren’t the right contraceptive choice for every woman. However, they deserve to stay high up on the menu of options.
Brett Montgomery is a GP who works academically and clinically. In his clinical work he sometimes discusses contraception with patients, including IUDs, but he does not insert IUDs himself. He has no commercial relationship with any IUD manufacturer.
Launch of the October 2024 Regional Economic Outlook for the Western Hemisphere
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.
RELEASE DATE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 10:15 AM ET | 3:15 UTC: Online report and analytical notes with press briefing
The full report, analytical notes, and the live webcast of the press briefing will be available on this page on October 25 (10:15 AM ET | 3:15 PM UTC).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
2024 final register for Rural Representative Election published today 2024 final register for Rural Representative Election published today *********************************************************************
The 2024 final register for the Rural Representative Election (RRE) was published today (October 18). The final register contains the particulars of the registered electors of Existing Villages, Indigenous Villages, Composite Indigenous Villages and Market Towns. Registered electors may log into the RRE Voter Registration Information Enquiry System through the RRE website (www.had.gov.hk/rre) for perusal of their own registration particulars. They may also call the RRE hotline at 2152 1521 during ordinary business hours for enquiries about the relevant information. A full copy of the final register is placed at the office of the Electoral Registration Officer located at the Home Affairs Department (HAD), 30/F, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai. Copies of the specific divisions of the final register for Rural Areas that belong to the Rural Committees concerned are placed at the offices of the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers in the respective New Territories District Offices (NTDOs), the office addresses of which are set out on the RRE website. Pursuant to section 30 of the Electoral Affairs Commission (Registration of Electors) (Rural Representative Election) Regulation (Cap. 541K), specified persons including members of the press (meaning persons who subscribe to the Government News and Media Information System maintained by the Director of Information Services), political parties (i.e. political bodies/organisations that meet the specified requirements under the Regulation), Heung Yee Kuk, respective Rural Committees for the relevant Rural Areas, indigenous inhabitants of the relevant Indigenous Villages or Composite Indigenous Villages, residents of the relevant Existing Villages or Market Towns as well as validly nominated candidates at a coming election can inspect the aforementioned final register of electors for purposes relating to the RRE, by making an appointment through the RRE hotline or the relevant NTDOs during ordinary business hours starting from today. The ordinary business hours of the HAD and NTDOs in respect of the above matter are from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except Saturdays and general holidays). Statistical information about the final register is available on the RRE website. For enquiries, please visit the RRE website or call the RRE hotline.
Retro arcade machines are transformed into art installations at Studio One – Toi Tū, Auckland Council’s community art facility in Ponsonby, this month.
Arca Arcade “Round One”, is an immersive exhibition that combines retro and new technologies with playful, hands-on art experiences, designed to engage and entertain visitors of all ages. The exhibition blends nostalgic technology with contemporary art under designer Preston Khan McNeil’s guidance. Wall-mounted, playable arcade machines are transformed into nine artistic installations adorned with te ao Māori influences and styles from prominent Aotearoa New Zealand artists.
McNeil collaborated with local artistic talents Gina Kiel, Flox, Otis Frizzell, Joe Sheehan, and Otis Chamberlain for the project, and what transpired is art with a distinctive style that is uniquely Aotearoa New Zealand.
“What started as an industrial design passion project has transformed into an art initiative, now serving a community deeply influenced by 80s and 90s arcade gaming”, says McNeil.
“When I began designing the arcade cabinet, my brief was to create something compact and elegant, that looked like art, and that my wife wouldn’t mind having in a living space,” he says.
“The collection stands as a poignant homage to the enduring allure and cultural significance of arcade gaming. Arca Arcade isn’t just a throwback to yesteryear, this modern take on arcade cabinet design becomes a canvas to explore the intertwining of inspiration and fabrication, to create the unexpected.”
McNeil’s multifaceted expertise—forged by a longstanding passion for arcade gaming, a curiosity for arcade machine tinkering, and a seasoned background in digital design—forms the bedrock of this ambitious venture.
Siobhan Connelly, Studio One – Toi Tū Manager, says the exhibition is a special opportunity to bring communities together through a shared passion for creativity and the nostalgic joy of arcade gaming.
“It’s a playful and immersive experience where iconic machines are elevated to art, celebrated for their design, history, and cultural impact,” adds Connelly.
“Each exhibition we host brings something unique for our visitors and Arca Arcade “Round One” is no different. Not only is it an immersive experience, but it’s also a competition to strive for the top spot on the leaderboards, which is fitting and a pleasant surprise as most exhibits often deter physical interaction,” she says.
“We’re delighted to offer something new to our visitors, from near and far, to discover and enjoy”.
Both Arca Arcade “Round One” exhibition, and the competition for the top spot on the leaderboard, are on until 31 October at Studio One – Toi Tū, Ponsonby.
Hundreds of parliamentarians, from some 130 countries, gathered at the 149th IPU Assembly in Geneva, have adopted a resolution reaffirming unwavering support for multilateralism through the United Nations system and other global institutions.
Against a backdrop of escalating conflicts around the world, the consequences of climate change and the risk of pandemics, resulting in a multiplication of humanitarian crises, lawmakers emphasized the urgency of a collective response and cooperation at the international level.
The resolution, put forward by the IPU’s founding Members, France and the United Kingdom, along with Germany, the Netherlands and Canada, calls for a “complete rejection of the indiscriminate targeting by armed forces of civilians, wherever they may be, particularly emergency personnel, health and education workers, and medical, education and other public infrastructure”.
The resolution was reinforced by the IPU’s Committee to Promote Respect for International Humanitarian Law, which issued a plea for the international community to pressure the parties to the conflict in Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza, to take action to avert a full-scale war.
The Assembly also provided a space for intensive parliamentary diplomacy, including meetings of the IPU’s various international parliamentary bodies which contribute to peace-building efforts, such as the Task Force for the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine and the Committee on Middle East Questions.
Other outcomes on science, technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The global parliamentary also adopted a landmark resolution on The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The resolution urges parliaments worldwide to swiftly develop and implement robust legal frameworks and policies for the responsible creation, deployment and use of AI technology.
Key demands of the resolution include:
Mitigating risks to democracy, human rights and the rule of law, with a particular focus on the disproportionate impact of AI on women and girls
Legislating against deepfake intimate images and AI-generated content that fuels hate speech or incites violence
Developing tools to verify the origin of online images and content, empowering users to discern authenticity
Reviewing and updating existing legislation to close loopholes exposed by AI advances.
The resolution underscores the need for parliaments to stay ahead of the curve in regulating AI, striking a balance between innovation and the protection of fundamental rights.
IPU Charter on the Ethics of Science and Technology
During the Assembly, the Governing Council adopted a new Charter on the Ethics of Science and Technology.
Drafted by the IPU’s Working Group on Science and Technology, the Charter underscores the critical role of scientific knowledge in parliamentary decision-making and the ethical considerations essential for governing emerging technologies.
Key highlights of the Charter include:
Emphasizing ethical responsibilities in scientific advancements
Advocating for equitable global participation, and addressing gender, social and economic inequalities
Outlining key principles for regulating science and technology, including enacting laws promoting societal values, the preservation of research freedom, international cooperation and sustainability considerations.
The Charter recommends that legislators maintain parliamentary structures for presenting evidence-based information, engage with competent organizations on ethics, develop checklists for scrutinizing legislation and consult civil society.
Geneva Declaration on science and technology
In their final Declaration, legislators expressed resolve to harness and regulate science, technology and innovation (STI) for the benefit of humanity.
The Declaration emphasizes the need to bridge digital divides, protect human rights, and foster international cooperation in STI governance.
Parliamentarians pledged to implement these commitments through legislative, budgetary and oversight actions, striving for an equitable and technologically advanced world.
Background
The 149th IPU Assembly took place from 13-17 October 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. It was attended by over 630 MPs, including 54 Speakers of Parliament and 36 Deputy Speakers. Around 36% of the MPs were women and some 25% were young MPs under 45.
The 150th IPU Assembly will take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 5-9 April 2025.
The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 181 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener, more innovative and gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.
Brendan Shashoua has been appointed Lufthansa Group’s Senior Director Sales – Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Based in Singapore, he leads Lufthansa Group’s sales force across Southeast Asia and the Pacific region.
Born and raised in Switzerland, Brendan Shashoua began his Lufthansa Group career in revenue management at SWISS in 2011. After 2.5 years, he progressed into sales as a Global Key Account Manager with responsibilities for the management of some of Lufthansa Group’s largest corporate customers. In 2018, he began his first team lead position in Sales Services and Groups in Switzerland where he was responsible for development of the inaugural Lufthansa Group Global Sales Services Competence Center.
In July 2021, he assumed the role of Director of Regional Sales Canada with responsibility for the entire Canadian market, including Lufthansa Group’s successful Joint Venture with United Airlines and Air Canada. Brendan Shashoua is a dual citizen of both Switzerland and the United Kingdom and holds an Executive MBA from Zurich University. He is happily married with one son.
About Lufthansa Group
The Lufthansa Group is an aviation group with operations worldwide. With 100,000+ employees, Lufthansa Group generated revenue of €35.4bn in the financial year 2023. Our largest business segment is Passenger Airlines while other key business segments include Logistics and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO). Other companies and Group functions such as IT companies and Lufthansa Aviation Training form complimentary components of the Group. All airlines and business segments play leading roles in their respective markets.
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About ADBI
The Asian Development Bank Institute was established in 1997 in Tokyo, Japan, to help build capacity, skills, and knowledge related to poverty reduction and other areas that support long-term growth and competitiveness in developing economies in Asia and the Pacific.
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Since it was founded nearly two decades ago, 23andMe has grown into one of the largest biotechnology companies in the world. Millions of people have used its simple genetic testing service, which involves ordering a saliva test, spitting into a tube, and sending it back to the company for a detailed DNA analysis.
But now the company is on the brink of bankruptcy. This has raised concerns about what will happen to the troves of genetic data it has in its possession.
But what can customers of 23andMe themselves do to make sure their highly personal genetic data is protected? And should we be concerned about other companies that also collect our DNA?
What is 23andMe?
23andMe is one of the largest companies in the crowded marketplace for direct-to-consumer genetic testing. It was founded in 2006 in California, launching its spit test and Personal Genome Service the following year, at an initial cost of US$999. This test won Time magazine’s Invention of the Year in 2008.
Customers eagerly took up the opportunity to order a saliva collection kit online, spit in the tube and mail it back. In a few weeks when the results were ready they could find out about their health, ancestry, and other things like food preferences, fear of public speaking and cheek dimples.
23andMe rode the wave of popular excitement and investor interest in genetics. It wasn’t alone. By 2022 the direct-to-consumer genetic testing market was valued at US$3 billion. The three largest players – 23andMe, AncestryDNA and MyHeritage – together hold the genetic data of almost 50 million people globally.
There are dozens of smaller players too, with some focusing on emerging markets such as MapMyGenome in India and 23mofang and WeGene in China.
What happened to 23andMe?
23andMe has had a rapid downfall after the 2021 high of its public listing.
What this might mean for its vast stores of genetic data is unclear.
When people sign up for a 23andMe test the company assures them: “your privacy comes first”. It promises it will never share people’s DNA data with employers, insurance companies or public databases without consent. It puts choice in the hands of consumers about whether their spit sample is kept by the company, and whether their de-identified genetic and other data is used in research. Four in five people who bought a 23andMe test have agreed to their data being used in research.
In a statement to The Conversation, a 23andMe spokesperson said Wojcicki is “not open to considering third-party takeover proposals”, and that in the event of any future ownership change, the company’s existing data privacy agreements with customers “would remain in place unless and until customers are presented with, and agree to, new terms and statements – and only after receiving appropriate notice of any new terms, under applicable data protection laws”.
Tips for people to protect their genetic data
With 23andMe in the spotlight, people might want to take steps to protect their genetic data (although experts say there’s not really any more risk now than there has always been).
The simplest thing is to delete your account, which opts you out of any future research and discards your saliva sample. But if your data has already been de-identified and used in research, it can’t be retrieved. And even if you delete your account, 23andMe says it will keep hold of information including your genetic data, date of birth and sex, to comply with its own legal obligations.
Buying a DNA test online might feel fun and rewarding and it’s certainly been marketed that way. There are plenty of good news stories about how getting those test results has helped people to connect with lost family or understand more about their health risks. People just need to buy tests with their eyes open about what this might mean.
First, the results might not be all positive. Finding out about health risks without guidance from a health professional can be scary. Learning that the person you thought was your mum or dad actually isn’t, is an outcome for as many as 1 in 20 people who’ve bought a DNA test online.
Second, every company selling DNA tests does so with lots of legal conditions attached. People click through these without a second thought but researchers have shown it is worth taking a closer look. Consider what the company says about what it will do with your data and your sample, how long they will keep it, who else can access it, and how easy it will be to delete later.
There are guidelines from organisations like Australian Genomics that can help. And bear in mind that if a company holding your DNA profile is sold, it might be hard to make sure that data is protected.
So maybe reconsider giving a DNA test as a Christmas gift.
Megan Prictor is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals and the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law.
MELINDA JAMES, HOST: Well, it’s just over two weeks, I think, since the NDIS Minister, Bill Shorten announced that there would be changes to the NDIS and the services you can and can’t apply for. A new list is out, but it’s the first in a tranche of changes in its wider overhaul of the NDIS that’s taking place. The Minister, Bill Shorten, will be in Dapto today to open the new Northcott Disability Services Centre in Dapto and he’s been good enough to give us some of his time this morning. Bill Shorten, good morning.
BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Good morning, Melinda.
JAMES: Can you tell me a little about this centre first of all? What’s special about it, the Northcott Disability Services Centre in Dapto? What’s brought you to Dapto to open it?
SHORTEN: Yeah, listen, I’m really looking forward to being at Dapto at 10:00am with Stephen Jones, a member for Whitlam and Minister in the government as well. We’re going to be having a look and opening the work set up by Northcott. It’s a fully accessible community hub. It’s going to replace Northcott Wollongong and Northcott Oak Flats locations. They’re centralising all their current services in the Wollongong area. The hub’s going to essentially have multipurpose meeting and training rooms. It’s got lots of parking and convenient public transport access. It’ll provide respite care, therapy, life skills training and also some of the admin for Northcott in the area.
JAMES: Okay, so like a one stop shop really, for people?
SHORTEN: Yeah.
JAMES: Okay, well, look, it’ll be interesting to see that unveiling today. I just wanted to take the opportunity, it’s been a couple of weeks now since you announced what’s probably the first of these major changes to the NDIS. You yourself have talked about the need for a major overhaul. We’ve seen a huge funding blowout, but I thought it might be interesting just to quickly talk about the progress of some of these changes. The list of services that are in and out of the NDIS. There’s this twelve month transitional period. I wonder if you’ve seen much activity in the past couple of weeks since you announced the list and who is the onus on in relation to these services? The client, the services or the NDIA?
SHORTEN: Okay. NDIS is changing hundreds of thousands of lives for the better and what we’re trying to do is make sure that it’s – the money’s getting through to the people for whom the Scheme was designed. We also want to make sure that it’s their future generations. The year before I became the Minister, it was going 23, 24%, which is just too fast in a year. One of the issues that we found, after a lot of consultation with people, is that there was a lack of clarity about what you could spend your funds on. And most people are spending funds on the right things, I should say, and providers who are doing a good job. But what we found is that there are some opportunistic behaviour, unethical behaviour by a minority of service providers, where things are being sold to people on the Scheme that they were never intended to have money spent on. So, this is a list of what you can use your NDIS funds on and what you can’t. So, it’s clarity. And despite what a few critics said, the sun came up the next day and people are liking the clarity and they’re also liking the idea that some of the scammers and some of the nonsense therapies, you know, being given the boot.
JAMES: So, just say, for example, you’re a client of the NDIS and you’ve been receiving. I won’t go through some of the no brainers that the NDIS should not be paying for your cigarettes and your gambling and all that sort of stuff. I mean, they’re kind of no brainers. But what if there’s something that’s been a little bit hazy, a particular alternative therapy that you believe helps you out? You’ve now realised, oh, this is probably not really available to me under my NDIS funding, how does that come to anyone’s attention? How does that stop?
SHORTEN: Well, if, for whatever reason, you’ve got something on your plan which is not going to be supported in the future, if it’s on your current plan, you still get it. But I must say, that doesn’t include the sort of no brainer stuff which somehow was just getting in because invoices weren’t getting checked. So, if you’ve got something on your plan which is being phased out, if it’s on your current plan, fine. So, then you’ll have that until the end of your plan. Also, what happens is sometimes people get encouraged to spend money on something and they’re taken advantage of because of their disability. If it’s under $1,500, what we’ll do is we’ll educate the person when we see the invoice, we won’t try and recover a debt, but what we will do is explain that in the future this isn’t on. So, there’s a transition period of about a year. But what we’re also doing is – before I became the Minister, people could put in invoices and they just weren’t getting checked. So, you just got the money, no questions asked, for thousands of dollars without any explanation. So, that’s just ridiculous. So, the in and out list is also combined with better pre invoice checking at the agency, which really wasn’t happening before I became the Minister.
JAMES: Is this kind of checking from now on or is there some kind of frantic audit system going on behind the scenes at the end of the day?
SHORTEN: Well, there’s been a bit of, there’s been a bit of checking back and not retrospectively using this list, but more generally, it is unacceptable that for years people could put in invoices with no ABN and no explanation. That’s just not on. I love this Scheme, I bleed it. But I’m not going to have a few opportunists building their, you know, getting their, getting their, building their profits off, ripping off the taxpayer and people with disability.
JAMES: Of course, we don’t know when the federal election is going to be, sometime between now and May. That’s not a long period of time. We know that you have announced your retirement from politics. You’re pretty much the architect of this Scheme originally and it will be a huge legacy that you’ve left for the country. But there are several changes to come. Needs based assessment process for access to the Scheme. So, in terms of diagnosis versus needs, etcetera, what happens to children in the states and territories needing to lift their game when it comes to assisting children with an autism diagnosis, for example, there’s the registration requirements for service providers. There’s a lot to get through that you’ve announced need to happen as an overhaul of this Scheme. It’s not all going to happen before you go, is it? I mean, what kind of state do you think you’ll be able to leave this Scheme in by the time you retiree?
SHORTEN: Well, first of all, in a democracy, there’s always changes to who the Ministers are, so change is inevitable about the personalities. My aim in the last two and a half, three years has been to try and politician proof the Scheme, make it sustainable for the future so that whoever’s there, it’s consistent. So, in my time, we have put in an extra couple of thousand people to help the agency run properly. It was just chronically understaffed when you ring up, you’d always get a different person. That’s not acceptable you need – we’ve also got now 50% of the board of people who’ve lived experienced, led by Kurt Fearnley, Australia’s remarkable Paralympian and disability leader. We’ve also beefed up our detection system. We’ve now got hundreds of investigations into the crooks and we’ve got 56, 60 people in front of the courts. But we’ve also got an agreement with the states that the NDIS isn’t going to be the only lifeboat in the ocean. So, we’re going to build out a series of supports for people whose disabilities don’t require the full NDIS. But there’ll be services in the future which they can access anyway because they still need some support. We’ve now got agreement to register most of the service providers because at the moment, 90% plus of service providers in the Scheme are not registered. As we’ve just spoken about, we’ve now got a list of what you can and can’t spend your money on. So, who you spend your money with, what you can spend your money on, and also work out what is, how do you get consistent access to the Scheme, what are the rules? All of that work is now agreed and underway. Set. Now, we’re currently working right now work up till the day before I go on, how do we start the ball rolling about consistent assessment across the Scheme so people coming into the Scheme, people know how you get into it and what’s the standard? We’re also starting the work on registering the most high risk service provisions first. So there’s a lot of good people coming in and working in the Scheme. There’s, I think, a lot greater clarity about direction and agreement about the need to keep the Scheme sustainable. It’s been a lot of work done and it’s a bit like painting the Harbour Bridge. When you finish it, you just go back and start again. So, that’s the NDIS. It’s a massive Australian institution, but Australians can now be sure that it’s better run and more accountably run than what we found three years ago.
JAMES: Bill Shorten, I appreciate your time this morning. Thank you very much.
SHORTEN: Yeah, lovely. Cheers. Bye.
JAMES: That’s the Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten.
GRAEME DAY, HOST: It’s coming up to a quarter to 10 and on the line is the Minister for the NDIS and Government Services. It’s a very good morning to Bill Shorten, hello.
BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: G’day, Graham. How are you today?
DAY: Not too bad, not too bad. A busy day for you. You’re on the south coast?
SHORTEN: Yeah, it’s fantastic. I was invited to be the special guest at a really moving event last night in Wollongong. The CEO of Greenacres, which is a marvellous disability service, 71 years old. CEO Chris Christodoulou after the last 11 years is finishing up and he’s done a great job there, but it was really moving. A lot of the participants were there, their families, a lot of the good and the great of Wollongong, Ryan Park, Paul Scully, Alison Byrne and Stephen Jones. But most importantly, Chris and his family and the guy has made a difference. And today I’m going to the new Northcott Disability Hub in Dapto, which is going to be great for people with disability in the local region
DAY: It must be good to see government money going into these facilities and make it easier for people?
SHORTEN: Yeah, I’m a believer. I believe that one of the best things the Government can do with very important taxes people pay is make sure that people with profound and severe disability get a better chance. And, you know, really, I know Aussies don’t like paying tax, well most don’t, but when it comes to things like Medicare and making sure that the profoundly and severely impaired have a chance for a more fulfilling life, you know, I think that’s – it’s great. And so I’m very motivated to make sure that the money gets through to the people for whom the Scheme, the NDIS was designed.
DAY: Now, the NDIS, it certainly had its problems. When you took over as the Minister, did you realise the enormity of what had to be fixed? How far it was off the rails?
SHORTEN: I don’t – no, I mean, the short answer is no – I don’t know if you’ve ever ordered anything on eBay and the photos look good, but when you get it, you go, hmm, that’s not what I ordered? No, the truth is a bit better than that. The reality is the NDIS is helping hundreds of thousands of people. There’s now 660,000 people receiving personal budgets and support. There’s over 400,000 people work in the sector. When I sort of campaigned for the idea, like in 2008, 9, 10, if you’d said that we’d have a Scheme helping this many people, I’d have said, you know, what’s that line out of The Castle when they talk about the price of jousting sticks? I’d say tell them they’re dreaming. But the reality is it is doing good. When Labor lost in 2013, there were four trial sites. So, you know, credit to the Libs, they’ve got it up to scale, but their eye was not on the ball when it came to the back office functions, you know, the scrutiny of their payments, looking for quality. I mean, a lot of service providers do a great job, but there are some people who are attracted like flies to the barbecue, seeing government money just lining their own pockets. And I’ve been all about getting rid of the, you know, the snake oil salesmen and the crooks out of the Scheme.
DAY: And you’ve been fairly successful with that too, because when it first started, it seemed like there was an NDIS provider on every corner. But that has reduced somewhat because of the scrutiny that basically the Labor Government’s put on it.
SHORTEN: Yeah, listen, this is a growth industry. You know, I used to be a union rep with the AWU and look after the steel industry. Steel is a big industry in the Illawarra, Port Kembla. There’s about 20,000 people working still, but in the last 15 years, this NDIS sector has gone from none to – it’ll be half a million people working in the next few years, which is good. The need was always there. So, it’s a growth industry, but what we’ve got to do is make sure it’s growing along set lines, that it’s not the Wild West, that people are not selling snake oil and shonky therapies or just manipulating, treating participants and their carers and their families as human ATMs.
DAY: Can I ask you a question on behalf of the public? I think where the problem lies with the interaction of the public with government – people often say to me, with all the technology we have, for all the people that we have that are skilled, why is it with the NDIS, with Centrelink and what have you, why does it take so bloody long? It seems that there’s so much waiting time there with people that need help?
SHORTEN: I have an answer. The reality is that you can’t run human services without humans. And my predecessors had bought the digital revolution and they’re right, it’s much quicker to do things online. But not everyone wants to go online. We get 10 million people a year coming into Centrelink or Service Australia offices. The problem is the staff have been cut to the bone. Ten years ago there was about 37,000 people working. The deal was apparently that we buy all this fancy technology and we wouldn’t need people. What we got instead was Robodebt. What we’ve got – we got down to about 27,000 staff and that’s a disaster. So, now we’re up above 30,000. Call waiting times for both Medicare and social welfare payments have now fallen and in other words, it’s getting less time before you get answered. Would you believe I’ve just introduced a queuing system in Service Australia office where you ring ahead and you can make an appointment. I know that is not rocket science, but you know, this is a major development and with the NDIA, when people knew that we were reforming, we did get a sort of tsunami of extra claims in the last six months. People trying to proverbially, some people, getting in for last drinks before we turned the tap off of some of the scams. But that’s now coming back to more manageable level. I’m sorry people have had bad experiences waiting. I know it is happening, but all I can tell you is that the KPI or the sort of key performance indicator I asked from my senior public servants is tell me waiting times every week on the phone. I just want to know are we getting it done more quickly and are we processing payments more quickly? Now I know for someone who’s still waiting to get their old Age Pension sorted or their DSP, they might say, well, it doesn’t matter what Bill says, I’m still waiting. The fact is, on a lot of indicators, like it’s just evidence, so I’m confident to say it. We have – it is getting better, you know, the number of complaints that we get have been cut in half in terms of Centrelink. The other good thing is in the NDIS, the number of complaints we’re investigating nearly doubled because we’re putting more resources into investigating the rorts.
DAY: You certainly have done a great job. One thing just before you go, because I know you’ve got to go shortly, you’ve decided in the not too distant future to call it a day on your political career? You’ve certainly been high profile. You’ve seen the ups and you’ve seen the downs. When it comes to public life, what, what is the moment where you go, look, I’m going to step down and spend more time for me or my family because we often see it in public life and it comes out of the blue? Was it a long process of you thinking it through or was it just one day walking up the stairs going, you know what, I think I might like to do something else?
SHORTEN: Sort of a mix. I mean, first of all, I should say that for all the crap days – and sometimes you have them – I wouldn’t give up a single day in the last 17 years. Probably the only day I’d give up is the day my mum passed. And other than that, you know, I’m – what’s that Frank Sinatra line? Regrets, I’ve got a few, but then again, too few to mention. I – no one in my family’s ever been a politician, like my family – you know, my grandma was an air raid warden in Britain, and she lived in the northeast in public housing. My mum was the first in the family to ever go to university. No one – I pinch myself, it’s a privilege to serve. When I occasionally hear about pollies lining in their own pockets, it drives me nuts because that’s not what most of them do. I just think it’s a privilege to serve. The hard thing is, when do you call it quits? When do you say, I’ll do something else? Because I’m not retiring. I’m moving into another aspect of public life, helping adults, young people and adults do lifelong learning and universities, and how do we foster a spirit of critical thinking and enquiry in a generation? So, I’m going to a busy job, but it’ll be less partisan, which is fine. I’m happy not to have to trade sledges every day. I mean, at a certain point you get sick of playing in the cricket team of sledging, which is parliament. I’ve mixed feelings. I love my portfolio. Not everyone in my portfolios loves me, but I love them, well nearly everyone. I love my electorate. I live in the northwestern suburbs of Melbourne. I’ve lived there for 35 years, like, I love it. Do you leave when you’re going well, or do you leave when you’re carried out? I had a choice to be a lifer and there’s nothing wrong with that. I never wanted to be, with respect, a corporate door opener. That’s what some politicians do. There’s this myth that we all get pensions. We don’t. We’re very well remunerated, but I’ve always known the day after politics I’ll have to find a job. So, I applied for the this job to run the university under my own steam. It wasn’t a government appointment, so I’ve got mixed feelings. I love what I do and I’m really going to love helping the University of Canberra, but also higher education and TAFE. You know, I’m interested in – we can’t stop learning and I think Australia does best when we’re giving people the skills to equip – the future is changing so quickly. How do we help people? So, I’m going into a new facet of helping people, but I love what I do currently. I mean, when does a good athlete – not that I’m an athlete, but when does a good athlete stop playing footy? When does, you know, when do any of us, you know, you’re a good journalist, when do you decide you want to do something else? It’s not – I would give no advice to anyone else except always pick a job that you love doing.
DAY: Absolutely. Mate, thanks so much. Thanks for the job that you have done and say g’day to Stephen Jones for us as you do the opening today at Northcott.
SHORTEN: Sorry, mate, we broke up then.
DAY: I was just saying thanks for the job that you have done and say g’day to Steve Jones for us when you – both of you are there for the opening of Northcott at Dapto today.
SHORTEN: Yeah, well, that was – I’m going to look forward to Northcott today, but that was [inaudible]
DAY: Okay, mate. Okay, we’ll talk soon.
SHORTEN: All right, good on you. Thank you.
DAY: Okay, great to talk to you. Thanks so much. Bye.
Brendan Cowell’s 2021 novel Plum has expertly wed two seemingly unnatural partners: rugby league and poetry. Cowell’s story is both an ode of love to rugby league, and a powerful exploration of the catastrophic effects of sport-induced brain injury.
This story has now been brought to life in an ABC drama of the same name. It brilliantly reflects the experience of many players who are left to suffer – often in silence – with the long-term costs of the game.
A theatre of damage revealed
Our introduction to the main character, Peter “The Plum” Lum (played by Cowell), is jarring. Plum’s body lies motionless in a darkened changing room, enveloped by the distant sounds of a roaring stadium full of fans, a sharp referee’s whistle and the commentator’s pitched voice: “this poor bloke, he has had his head absolutely battered”.
We watch the doctor’s light worryingly cast to and fro across Plum’s dazed gaze, while his heavily pregnant wife’s concerned face looms large. Much larger, however, is the coach’s demand: “get the salts doc” – and his insistence that “the only way he (Plum) isn’t going back out there (on the field) is if he is fucking dead”.
And so the act proceeds, with Plum, like many athletes before and after him, returning heroically to the field. Though his team is victorious – another trophy retained – we’re forced to consider the unspoken costs of his love for the game.
These costs are amplified once the adoration from Plum’s fans and teammates, and his mantle as Cronulla’s king, are no more. We come to know a shell of a man who is desperate to deny, despite the advice of his doctor, the cognitive and other effects of the “little jolts” and “hard head knocks” experienced throughout his career.
The intensity with which Plum keeps his health condition a secret, and the ongoing abuse he levels on his body, provide a window into the lived experiences of many rugby league players. While this game gives, it also takes more than its fair share.
Asher Keddie stars as Plum’s former wife, Renee. ABC
Masculinity and collision sports
The series highlights the emerging scientific link between collision sports such as rugby league and degenerative brain conditions including CTE-induced dementia – as well as attempts to discredit this science and silence the voices of athletes and families seeking redress from league administrators.
Contact and collision sports have often required athletes to sacrifice their brains and bodies in the pursuit of glory and success.
While a diagnosis of the degenerative brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) can only be made posthumously, Plum displays many of the hallmark symptoms: impaired judgement, impulse control issues, aggression, depression and anxiety.
Viewers are taken into the deep fog of this existence. As a 1990s playmaker, Plum had fame but not fortune. Nearing 50, working at an airport, we see a traumatic near-miss as he experiences an epileptic seizure.
His forgetfulness leaves him unable to remember his favourite player’s name at a Cronulla Sharks corporate event. He suffers confusion and anxiety. Aggressive acts, including punching holes in bedroom walls, become his daily pain and shame.
Plum’s absent father’s advice to “never take a backwards step” also echoes throughout the series, reflecting the deeply embedded view of rugby league as a hard sport played by equally hard men.
This hard man veneer is grounded in stoicism – and for Plum and his former teammates, in unhealthy addictions to gambling, drugs and grog. Plum repels his family and friends, making his world intentionally small for fear he might forget something or someone. The series brings to the fore the raw and visceral effects of hypermasculinity and not speaking out.
Cowell himself hails from the Sydney suburb of Cronulla, where the show is set. ABC
Rugby league and poetry
The series also features poetry and the presence of past literary figures (conjured in Plum’s mind) such as Charles Bukowski and Sylvia Plath. As viewers, we see Plum’s internal dialogues with these apparitions, but his family and friends can’t.
Plum also joins a local poetry group, where his decaying brain finds purpose and connection. This unlikely outlet becomes his therapy. It comforts him and provides him a space to communicate his experiences with the outside world. Through his ode to rugby league, we witness him come closer to clarity.
All the while, Plum’s son is a talented player on the verge of a professional rugby league contract. And although Plum doesn’t regret a minute of his playing career, his prognosis leaves him urging his son away from the sport’s theatre of damage. This is a decision echoed by many parents in real life.
The future of collision sports
Reflecting on the potential impact of his book and the ABC series, Cowell imagines a space where the competitive commercial rivalries between football codes such as AFL, rugby union and soccer are suspended.
Instead of competing for a greater share of the market via trivial one-upmanship, sport leagues could pool their resources to invest in science that helps us understand and prevent sport-induced brain trauma.
Considering how many rugby players conceal and/or fail to report concussive episodes, we’ll need a major cultural shakeup at all levels of the game – because a love for the game should never come at the expense of oneself.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
NASHVILLE – A criminal complaint obtained today charges Marquez Davis, 24 of Nashville, with being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Thomas J. Jaworski.
According to the complaint, officers of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (“MNPD”) were searching for Davis on October 14, 2024, to arrest him on state charges related to the deadly shooting on Jefferson Street during Tennessee State University’s Homecoming celebration on October 12th. MNPD officers located Davis in a house in North Nashville and prepared to arrest him on outstanding warrants. Footage from law enforcement’s aerial surveillance showed an individual, later identified as Davis, exit the residence’s rooftop, climb to an adjacent rooftop, and discard a firearm. Davis was then arrested by MNPD on criminal homicide charges related to the October 12th shooting on Jefferson Street. Officers recovered a Franklin Armory Inc, Model FAI-15 caliber multi-pistol near where Davis discarded it from the rooftop. According to the criminal complaint, Davis has prior felony convictions for robbery, possession of a controlled substance for resale, and being a felon in possession of a handgun.
“Everyone in our community must be able to gather and celebrate together without fearing random gun violence,” said Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski. “Our office will do whatever it takes to keep firearms out of the hands of felons who may use those firearms to inflict greater damage on our citizens.” Jaworski added: “Our firm commitment is in our continued partnership with Chief Drake and the MNPD to hold offenders accountable, reduce gun violence, and ensure safer communities for everyone.”
If convicted, the defendant faces up to 15 years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the MNPD and the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ahmed A. Safeeullah is prosecuting the case.
A federal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joint Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., met with Chairman of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Kim Myung-Soo virtually today during the 49th Republic of Korea and United States Military Committee Meeting (MCM).
Adm. Kim and Lt. Gen. Jin Yong-Sung, Chief Director of J5 (acting), ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff, represented the ROK delegation. Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, joined Gen. Brown as part of the U.S. delegation. Gen. Paul LaCamera, Commander, United Nations Command (UNC), Combined Forces Command (CFC), and U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), represented the ROK-U.S. CFC.
During the discussions, Gen. Brown and Adm. Kim recognized the significance of the U.S.-ROK alliance over the last 71 years. The alliance underscores the shared sacrifice and ironclad commitment of the U.S. and ROK to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The leaders recognized the importance of maintaining a robust combined defensive posture to deter additional provocations from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The two leaders expressed concerns over key regional and peninsular security challenges, including the DPRK threats across all domains, including increasing missile capabilities, nuclear threats, cyber-attacks. Adm. Kim emphasized the illegitimacy of recent ongoing act of DPRK sending trash balloons into the ROK and the DPRK’s recent declaration naming the ROK as a hostile state. Both leaders underscored that the DPRK’s provocative acts, and the DPRK’s enhance military cooperation with Russia destabilize peace and security on the Peninsula and across the globe.
Both leaders discussed the responsibilities of recently activated ROK Strategic Command (ROK STRATCOM), and the importance of closely connecting its capabilities and planning activities to the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command per the Washington Declaration of 2023. Gen. Brown reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence and the defense of the ROK.
The leaders lauded each country’s contributions in enhancing and improving trilateral cooperation to include a flight of two U.S. B-52 strategic bombers that flew with fighter aircraft from both South Korea and Japan, marking the first trilateral aerial exercise between the nations. Additionally, both leaders highly commended the inaugural execution of exercise Freedom Edge, a trilateral multi-domain exercise, which further promoted interoperability between the three nations.
Further, Gen. Brown and Adm. Kim acknowledged the meaningful progress made across the various fields in the conditions-based operational control transition plan for the ROK-U.S. Future Combined Forces Command (F-CFC).
Both leaders affirmed, in the strongest words possible, their unwavering commitment to the combined defense posture under the U.S. – ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, emphasizing their dedication to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.
The MCM is part of the U.S. – ROK bilateral consultation process, which convenes annually or as required. The committee provides strategic direction and operational guidance to the CFC in defense of the ROK and addresses Alliance military issues. The United States and the ROK have alternated hosting this meeting in Washington, D.C. and Seoul since it first convened in 1978.
The 49th MCM was planned to be held in Washington D.C., however, after mutual coordination, was held virtually in light of the recent grave security developments on the Peninsula.
For more Joint Staff news, visit: www.jcs.mil. Connect with the Joint Staff on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Flickr.
National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) affiliates across the Enterprise helped raise 136,472 pounds of food in this year’s Feds Feed Families (FFF) Summer Food Drive.
The drive concluded in August, with NSA/CSS Washington’s portion going to a local food bank, which provides more than 41 million meals to families in need every year.
“It’s incredible to see firsthand the impact that this Agency has on the local community,” said FFF Program Manager Veronica Maylish Beckenstrater. “I witnessed so much generosity — from folks dropping food off to online donations, including those who donated to enter the cutest pet photo contest.”
“I was so pleased to see employees getting involved with the events and contests this year,” said Marlisa Smith, NSA Chief of Staff and senior advocate for the 2024 FFF campaign. “Giving back is such a wonderful way for our employees to make a difference.”
The overall FFF campaign, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is an annual government-wide campaign that encourages Federal Government employees to donate food, money, or volunteer hours. It occurs during the summer months to help food banks and pantries stay stocked during a period when donations usually decline and the need increases.
“Some affiliates may not realize how empty local food banks can get during the summer months,” said NSA’s volunteer program manager. “It’s actually been hard to schedule volunteer morale building activities at food banks in the NSA Washington area this spring and summer because some of their shelves have been bare.”
The generosity of NSA/CSS employees helped to fill this gap, according to Maylish Beckenstrater.
“The FFF team and workforce’s dedication was vital to the success of the campaign and will provide food to many families and their pets in our community,” said State and Local Affairs Chief Barry Boseman.
When combined with NSA/CSS’s contributions to the Combined Federal Campaign that were given to charities focused on food and nutrition, NSA has donated 1,417,631 pounds so far this calendar year.
“This makes NSA/CSS the second highest food donor in the Department of Defense so far this year, which is pretty incredible,” said Maylish Beckenstrater.
Governor Tim Walz today announced that the manufacturer Sofidel will make a $200 million expansion in Duluth, supported by $5 million in business expansion funding from the State of Minnesota. The expansion will create at least 160 new jobs, tripling the company’s current workforce size.
Headline: Mid North Coast Midwifery Group Practice expanded
Published: 18 October 2024
Released by: Minister for Regional Health, Minister for Women
An expansion of the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) model on the Mid North Coast is providing more women and their families with access to evidence-based midwifery continuity of care.
Mid North Coast Local Health District recently announced the commencement of a new MGP service and Maternity Antenatal Postnatal Service (MAPS) in the Hastings Macleay region.
The MGP service commenced in Port Macquarie in September, supporting increased access to continuity of care with a known midwife.
Under the MGP model, women receive care from a known primary midwife throughout their pregnancy, labour, birth and up to six weeks after birth. MGP midwives work as part of a small team to ensure support and minimise potential disruptions to care.
A review of criteria for MGP is also enabling more women with higher-level care needs to access the service where clinically appropriate, or to stay in the program if they develop risk factors during pregnancy.
In May this year, a dedicated team of midwives began providing MAPS care at Kempsey District Hospital and Port Macquarie Base Hospital. The MAPS model offers midwifery continuity in the antenatal and postnatal periods, while birth care is provided by a core hospital birthing team.
These new services are in addition to the existing MGP models in place at Coffs Harbour and Macksville since 2021.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
“We are committed to ensuring women across NSW have access to respectful, evidence-based maternity care. I am proud of the work Mid Morth Coast Local Health District is doing to expand its midwifery continuity of care models.
“These models of care enable women to get to know their midwife throughout their pregnancy, who then provide postnatal care in the home for up to six weeks to support mother-baby bonding and a healthy start to life.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Jodie Harrison:
“Women’s health and wellbeing are a key focus for this government. It’s important we provide women with continuity of care so they feel supported during their pregnancy and after their baby is born.
“With the expansion of the MGP to Mid North Coast, we are increasing the number of women who will be able to access to midwifery continuity of care.”
Quotes attributable to Labor Spokesperson for Port Macquarie Cameron Murphy, MLC:
“I welcome Mid North Coast Local Health District’s commitment to improving maternity services for women in Port Macquarie, so they, their babies and their families can have the best possible experience in our hospitals.”
Quotes attributable to MNCLHD acting Chief Executive Jill Wong:
“We’re thrilled to expand the midwifery continuity of care models across the Mid North Coast region and to build on the successful Coffs Harbour and Macksville models which have been in place since 2021.
“We’re committed to delivering midwifery-led care and offering more choice to pregnant women and their families. I thank the many staff and consumers who have worked to deliver these positive changes.”
Quotes attributable to Courtney Harvey, who had her baby Charlotte through the MAPS service at Kempsey:
“Being a first-time mum, everything can be a little scary, there are so many unknowns about labour and birth. The first few weeks, everything is such a big change but having my own midwife at all my appointments made such a big difference, it was really lovely.
“It was nice having the same point of contact for everything in my pregnancy.
“My postnatal care was amazing. I loved that my midwife did an antenatal home visit prior to me having my baby. It was nice having her come into my space at home during the antenatal period and I could get comfortable having a health professional in my own home.
“If I am blessed to have more children, I would really hope that I can have the same experience as I have had with my pregnancy and birth this time as it has all been so positive, so special, I wouldn’t want to change it. I hope I can have continuity, and birth here, once again.”
Headline: More support available for women in Western NSW experiencing severe menopause symptoms
Published: 18 October 2024
Released by: Minister for Regional Health, Minister for Western New South Wales, Minister for Women
Women experiencing severe or complex menopause symptoms now have improved access to additional support following the establishment of Western NSW Local Health District’s (WNSWLHD) new menopause referral service.
WNSWLHD’s new Specialised Menopause Referral Service aims to provide assistance and support for women whose symptoms have not responded to previous treatments, or those women who face additional complications from other medical conditions.
The new service has been established as part of NSW Health’s menopause network, which has four hubs and multiple referral sites across the state and is networked with the South-Western Sydney LHD hub.
General practitioners, specialists and nurse practitioners are able to refer women to the service for advanced care.
Care Coordinators will assist with triage and navigate care locally, supporting the medically-led, multi-disciplinary hub team of nursing and allied health professionals to provide holistic support.
The WNSWLHD Specialised Menopause Referral Service will deliver care using a hybrid approach, with a largely virtual service coupled with face-to-face consultations when they are required.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
“I’m pleased to announce this service has been launched today on World Menopause Day today, to improve menopause care and support options available for local women.
“This Specialised Menopause Referral Service will promote flexibility and choice in the way women in Western NSW access support to manage severe menopause symptoms, and by improving access locally this service will significantly reduce the need to travel for this important care.
“Up to one in four women endure severe and debilitating menopause symptoms, which is why services like this one are so important.
“By continuing to break down barriers like geographic isolation through effective use of virtual care technology, this service will help us continue to improve health outcomes.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Women Jodie Harrison:
“Menopause will affect most women at some stage of their life.
“This new menopause referral service will provide much needed support to women in regional areas who experience complex menopausal symptoms and can provide advice about associated health risks of menopause.
“On this World Menopause Day, I also encourage women to speak up – you don’t have to suffer in silence. There is support available from your GP and specialists. The Menopause Toolkit can help you understand a bit more about perimenopause and menopause symptoms, and the care available.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Western NSW Tara Moriarty:
“Every woman is different, and every woman experiences different symptoms of menopause. But many women experiencing severe or complex symptoms will endure in silence which can seriously impact their health and wellbeing.
“That’s why enhancements like this are so important, this service is eye-opening and will be potentially life-changing for many women in Western NSW, which is home to some of our state’s most remote and most vulnerable populations.”
Quotes attributable to WNSWLHD Senior Manager Women’s Health and Violence Prevention Nicolla Giddings:
“Severe symptoms of menopause don’t discriminate, and our new Specialised Menopause Referral Service aims to help local women access the support they need as close to home as possible.
“Being an inclusive service and providing reliable access to advanced care for people living in rural areas of our District is at the forefront of this new service, to also increase the comfort levels of women while they receive care.”
Headline: Full steam ahead for the Albury to Illabo section of the Inland Rail project
Published: 18 October 2024
Released by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads
The NSW Government has approved the Albury to Illabo section of the 1,600-kilometre Inland Rail project between Brisbane and Melbourne.
The Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) project has now been formally approved by the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully. The approval means the project remains on target for the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to begin construction in south-western NSW in early 2025.
The work will include upgrades to rail tracks, footbridges and road bridges, overhead structures, signal structures and level crossings on agricultural land and through Albury, Culcairn, Henty, Yerong Creek, The Rock, Uranquinty, Wagga Wagga and Junee.
The project’s approval, includes consent conditions that relate to traffic monitoring, transport infrastructure upgrades and noise and biodiversity management.
Following the completion of the Inland Rail, Australia’s regional freight capacity will be expanded, meaning less trucks on the road and lower freight industry emissions.
With a capital investment of $300.8 million for this section of the rail line, the project is a major economic boost for the region on top of the 770 new jobs provided by the project.
The Albury to Illabo connection is one of seven sections traversing the inland length of NSW and its approval comes weeks after the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces approved the Illabo to Stockinbingal Inland Rail project.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“Improved Inland Rail will enhance our national freight and supply chain capabilities by connecting and improving routes through rail, roads and ports.
“I look forward to seeing this critical state significant infrastructure project come to life over the next few years and the many benefits it will bring to regional NSW.
“This project has gone through a rigorous planning process with extensive consultation completed to minimise impacts and maximise the project’s opportunities.”
Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty said:
“Inland Rail promises to be a game changer for people across rural NSW.
“Regional communities need big developments to keep workers in the bush actively contributing to their communities, with this project providing 770 new jobs.
“We are proud that NSW continues to help Inland Rail’s essential journey through Australia’s three eastern states.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
“This section of Inland Rail will provide a valuable infrastructure link for the Murray region as it connects with this vital piece of national infrastructure.
“The NSW Government is working with Inland Rail to deliver this project and strengthen its commitment to the regions.
“Consumers right across regional NSW stand to benefit with valuable cost savings once the Inland Rail project is complete as our state will have a more efficient and sustainable freight transport.
“The Albury to Illabo and Stockinbingal to Parkes sections of the Inland Rail project have already injected more than $4.2 million across these local economies with many businesses receiving a timely economic boost during a cost-of-living crisis.”
This file photo taken on May 1, 2017 shows Yahya Sinwar (front) in Gaza city. [Photo/Xinhua]
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) jointly confirmed Thursday that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli soldiers on Wednesday.
“IDF soldiers from the Southern Command eliminated Yahya Sinwar … in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip,” the Israeli army said in a statement.
The IDF said that its soldiers killed three militants in the operation, and later, it turned out that one of them was Sinwar, who “was responsible for the murder and abduction of many Israelis.”
According to the statement, Sinwar was killed after hiding over the past year behind the civilian population of Gaza, both above and below ground, in Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip.
“The dozens of operations carried out by the IDF and the ISA over the last year, and in recent weeks in the area where he was eliminated, restricted Sinwar’s operational movement as he was pursued by the forces and led to his elimination,” the statement added.
Shortly before the IDF statement, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz confirmed Sinwar’s death in a message to foreign ministers of other countries, saying that “this is a great military and moral achievement for Israel.”
According to the foreign minister, “the elimination of Sinwar creates a possibility for the immediate release of the Israeli abductees and to bring about a change that will lead to a new reality in Gaza, without Hamas nor Iranian control.”
The top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) called South Korea “a foreign country and an apparent hostile country,” and stressed “useless awareness about fellow countrymen and unreasonable idea of reunification” when he addressed inter-Korean relations, as he called for ramping up the war-fighting capabilities during an inspection trip to the headquarters of the 2nd Corps of the Korean People’s Army on Thursday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday.
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, made the remarks as he made the trip to encourage the officers and troops of the large combined unit that “have reliably defended the territory of our state, always maintaining full combat readiness on high alert at the forefront near the border,” the KCNA said.
Kim learned of the combat readiness of the military units ready for combat operations under the corps after being briefed on the current situation.
The KCNA said the DPRK leader reminded the armed forces of “the stark fact that the ROK is a foreign country and an apparent hostile country,” referring to South Korea by using the acronym of its official name, the Republic of Korea.
Recalling that the DPRK has completely blocked the roads and railways to the ROK territory two days ago through detonations, Kim said that the move means “not only the physical closure but also the end of the evil relationship with Seoul” and “the complete removal of the useless awareness about fellow countrymen and unreasonable idea of reunification,” according to the KCNA report.
“When the DPRK sovereignty is violated by the ROK, a hostile country, its physical forces will be used unhesitatingly, without sticking to (any) conditions any longer,” Kim was quoted by the KCNA as saying.
Citing serious security circumstances, Kim urged the DPRK military “to continue concentrating all efforts on bolstering up the war-fighting capabilities, and to take more perfect military steps for reliably defending the security of the country through the permanent overwhelming combat readiness,” the KCNA said.
In the latest sign of the heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the DPRK confirmed on Thursday that the roads and railways connecting South Korea in the eastern and western parts of the DPRK southern border had been completely blocked through explosion operations, a previous KCNA report said.
