Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government gazetted the Rural By-election today (October 10). Fifty-eight Rural Representative vacancies will be open for nominations from October 22 to November 4. The by-election will return one Resident Representative (ReR) for each of the 35 Existing Villages, one Indigenous Inhabitant Representative (IIR) for each of the 22 Indigenous Villages, and one Kaifong Representative (KFR) for one Market Town (Cheung Chau). The 35 Existing Villages are Po Toi, Ngau Kwu Long, Pui O Lo Wai, Sha Lo Wan, Luk Keng Wong Uk, Nam Chung, San Tsuen, Wu Shek Kok, Shek Chung Au, Kam Tsin, Nga Yiu Ha, Lung Mei, Ma Nam Wat, Nam Wai, Pak Kong Au, Pak Tam Chung, Ping Tun, Sai Wan, Hoi Pong Street, Mui Tsz Lam, Ha Yeung, Pak Sha O, Ping Chau Sha Tau, Uk Tau, Fung Yuen, Kam Shan Village, Kau Lung Hang, Ma Wo Tsuen, Lin Au Cheng Uk, San Tsuen (Lam Tsuen), Tin Liu Ha, Ham Tin, Sai Lau Kok, Sheung Kwai Chung and Tseng Tau Tsuen (Upper); whereas the 22 Indigenous Villages are Po Toi, Sok Kwu Wan, Pui O Lo Wai, Wu Shek Kok, Mang Kung Uk, Pan Long Wan, Long Ke, Mau Ping New Village, Pak Tam Chung, Wong Keng Tsai, Ko Tong, Kei Ling Ha San Wai, Lai Chi Chong, Pak Tam Au, Tung Sam Kei, Uk Tau, Cheung Uk Tei, To Yuen Tung, Tong Sheung Tsuen, Yin Ngam, Sam Tung Uk and Sham Tseng. For the IIR By-election, a candidate must be an indigenous inhabitant of an Indigenous Village/Composite Indigenous Village as well as an elector of the relevant Village and ordinarily resides in Hong Kong. For the ReR and KFR By-elections, a candidate must be a resident of the relevant Existing Village/Market Town and have resided there for six years immediately preceding the nomination. The candidate must also be an elector of the relevant Village/Market Town. All candidates must be Hong Kong permanent residents aged 21 or above and must be nominated by at least five registered electors from that Village/Market Town. No person is allowed to stand as a candidate in more than one type of election (i.e. IIR, ReR or KFR By-elections). Nomination forms are available at the Home Affairs Department (HAD), the New Territories District Offices (NTDOs) and the Rural Representative Election (RRE) website (www.had.gov.hk/rre). Completed nomination forms must be submitted in person to the Returning Officer concerned between 9am and 5pm from Mondays to Fridays, and from 9am to noon on Saturdays, except general holidays. A gazette notice on all valid nominations will be published within 14 days after the nomination period. Each validly nominated candidate will be informed separately. A spokesman for the HAD said that if there is more than one validly nominated candidate for the same Indigenous Village, Existing Village or Market Town, a poll would be held for that Village/Market Town on December 1 (Sunday). Eligible electors will receive a polling notice which specifies the date, time and place of the poll. For enquiries, please call 2152 1521 or contact the respective NTDO. Members of the public can also visit the RRE website for more information.
“The Government accounts released today show that spending and debt continues to grow under the current Government, but there is no plan to deliver a better economy,” said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney.
“Net Core Crown Debt increased by $20bn last year, with revenue from taxation also rising by $8bn. The OBEGAL deficit increased $3.4bn last year alone, to $12.9bn.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis admitted, “The accounts show the corrosive impact of low growth and low productivity…and we are cutting back on the investments needed to lift both.” Yet there is no plan to solve this problem, Renney said.
“The Government accounts showed our overreliance on income tax and GST taxes to balance the books. Source deductions from wages increased 10.1% during the last year. The GST take increased by 4.1%. But other sources of taxation have not increased at the same rate, or have fallen in the form of corporate taxation (-5.9%). We need a better conversation about how taxes are being levied and why.” Renney said.
“Spending on welfare has increased by 8%, with Jobseeker Support expenses rising by 17%. Welfare payments would be higher if the one-off $600m cost-of-living support is removed. Unemployment is expected to rise significantly in the future, meaning that welfare expenses will be higher in the future.”
Renney said “The Government has provisioned $500m for the Cook Straight Ferry (iREX) Costs, which is only the cost of the works abandoned to date. This doesn’t include the cost of cancelling the ferry contract, nor the cost of purchasing the replacement ferries necessary. The Government is likely facing a $bn bill for that decision alone.”
“The Minister signalled new cuts in her speech at the event, while requiring new economic growth to deliver on their financial aspirations. Yet decisions like iREX show that the Government has no means of delivering sustainable growth. Health New Zealand is looking for $2bn in savings right now, yet the Government is looking for further savings in spending on top.”
“The Government’s fiscal strategy needs to change. Government debt is low by international standards, and there is no shortage of projects to invest in. These would improve employment and economic outcomes – both of which will benefit working people. Yet the Government is wedded to plan that will see unemployment rise, and investment fall. It’s time for a better plan.” Renney said.
Metal Morphix is a new Living Arts Space exhibition bringing together the exciting work of Andre Sardone and Noel Muscat.
The free exhibition showcases the work of two longtime friends, as they inspire each other to explore ways to morph materials into expressive sculpture.
Living Arts Space Curator Amy Carr-Bottomley said the collection will spark curiosity.
“Both artists aim to challenge the idea of sculpture,” Ms Carr-Bottomley said.
“Andre’s works showcase creative techniques for joining, machining and milling raw metals, having been inspired by natural seed structures.
“Noel’s unique objects are made of machinery, industrial parts, laboratory and photographic equipment.
“Community members and visitors are invited to the exhibition’s free opening celebration from 2pm to 4pm on Saturday October 12 at the Living Arts Space.
“Andre will also be in the Living Arts Space on Saturday October 12 and Sunday October 13 as part of Bendigo Studios Weekend, and visitors are encouraged to come along and chat about the featured works.”
Metal Morphix is free to attend and open from Saturday October 12 until Sunday December 1 at the Living Arts Space located in the Bendigo Visitor Centre, 51-67 Pall Mall (9am to 4.30pm daily except Christmas Day).
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Xinjiang’s protection of blue skies shows China’s determination to air pollution control
URUMQI, Oct. 9 — Zhang Xin still remembers the complaints she saw on social media some years ago: “In winter, you can’t see the sun clearly in the city of Urumqi,” and “The snow is all black.”
Zhang, who works in the ecology and environment bureau of Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has participate in the air pollution prevention and control work for a long time.
Urumqi is among an economically vibrant urban cluster located on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, which also contains parts of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture and the cities of Wujiaqu and Shihezi. The urban cluster is collectively referred to as the Wu-Chang-Shi area by locals.
For a long time, Wu-Chang-Shi has been a key and challenging area for air pollution prevention and control in Xinjiang due to its heavy industrial and coal-dominated energy structure.
However, 2023 was the year with the most significant improvement in air quality in the past decade for the urban cluster, thanks to the concerted and unremitting efforts made by the local ecology and environment authorities, enterprises and scientists.
An aerial panoramic drone photo taken on May 9, 2024 shows a city view of Wujiaqu, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
The transformation of Wu-Chang-Shi is a microcosm of China’s air pollution control efforts. Following the introduction of an action plan to prevent and control air pollution in 2013, China became the first developing country in the world to impose large-scale efforts to reduce PM2.5 density.
China has announced that it will peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
IMPROVED AIR QUALITY
Years ago, the Chinese government began publishing air quality rankings in major cities, and the cities in Wu-Chang-Shi, such as Urumqi, often ranked at the bottom of the list.
“Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Urumqi has poor conditions for diffusion in both horizontal and vertical directions. According to an assessment, Urumqi’s self-purification capacity in winter is only one-tenth of that in summer,” said Zhang.
In winter, when temperatures often drop to minus 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, residents in Urumqi relied heavily on coal-fired heating, which led to more pollutant emissions.
Zhang said that with the central government funding, Urumqi has initiated projects, such as clean-energy heating. “The city has begun to improve its heating structure, from centralized heating and cogeneration to clean heating for all bulk coal users, which is a particularly effective experience in air pollution control,” she added.
In 2012, the central urban area of Urumqi completed the transformation from coal to gas for large-scale coal-fired heating boilers. In October 2023, the city completed the treatment of the remaining villages and households in rural areas that were using bulk coal for heating, making it among the first cities in China to achieve full coverage of clean-energy heating.
An aerial drone photo taken on April 25, 2024 shows a wind farm in Dabancheng District of Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
From Oct. 10, 2023 to April 10, 2024, Urumqi boasted 144 days of good air quality, an increase of 33 days year on year. The average concentrations of six major air pollutants, including PM2.5, decreased by 8.8 percent to 22.7 percent, reaching the best level since the monitoring began.
Social media, which acts as an unofficial “air quality monitoring station,” also reflects the effectiveness of air pollution control measures.
In recent years, Zhang noticed some positive changes on social media — residents in Urumqi often post photos and videos of the blue skies of the city.
KEY INDUSTRIES, TARGETED MEASURES
Located in the city of Shihezi in the Wu-Chang-Shi area, Tianwei Cement Co., Ltd. is a major cement-producing company in the city.
China is among the world’s largest producers and consumers of cement. However, due to factors such as large emissions during production, the cement industry is also a major contributor to carbon emissions.
In 2023, the regional government of Xinjiang proposed to spend three to five years to completely solve the air pollution problem in Wu-Chang-Shi. Various departments have implemented pollution control measures in key enterprises in the area.
Tianwei Cement is among the 135 industrial enterprises in Wu-Chang-Shi that have been given priority treatment, which altogether accounts for more than 92 percent of the total pollutant emissions in the area.
According to the ecology and environment bureau of Shihezi, in terms of the comprehensive management of air pollution, the city has implemented a performance-based grading system of key industries to cope with heavy-pollution weather, in sync with other regions across China.
This photo taken on Aug. 22, 2023 shows a photovoltaic project in Shihezi City, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
The four-tier grading system, involving 39 key industries including steel and chemicals, is a measure to implement differentiated control in response to heavy-pollution weather, with A representing the highest and D the lowest. When heavy-pollution weather occurs, Class-A enterprises can take measures independently based on their actual situations to reduce emissions without stopping or limiting production.
To attain the Class-A rating as quickly as possible, Tianwei Cement has collaborated with the city’s ecology and environment bureau to develop a tailored pollution control plan. Measures have been taken during various processes of production, including the installment of dust-reduction devices in its warehouses.
Last year, the company obtained the Class-A rating after completing the ultra-low emission transformations. Thanks to the upgrades, the company made a profit of over 80 million yuan (about 11.34 million U.S. dollars) in 2023.
Meanwhile, Shihezi’s air quality in 2023 reached the best level since 2017, data shows.
BUILDING TALENT BASE
Sitting in an office of the air-pollution prevention and control center of Changji, Ma Tong can oversee the pollutant emissions in the entire prefecture in real time through a large screen, which displays data and charts, such as the forecast and dynamic control of heavy-pollution weather. However, she still worries.
“A lot of data has been integrated into the platform, but the problem is how to effectively utilize it. We lack skilled personnel who can use the platform and information equipment,” she said.
This photo taken on May 20, 2024 shows staff members working at an office of the air-pollution prevention and control center in Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
Ma is an expert from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. Five years ago, she came to Xinjiang to provide intellectual support for local air pollution control. “Changji is already at the forefront of Xinjiang in terms of air-pollution treatment through sci-tech means, but compared with the whole country, the prefecture lacks equipment and talent,” said Ma.
Since last year, the regional government of Xinjiang has pooled 10 billion yuan in funding to establish the Xinjiang talent development fund, which is used to introduce talent from other parts of China, among other objectives.
In early 2024, the Urumqi-based Xinjiang University introduced Huang Haibao, an air-pollution control expert from Sun Yat-sen University in south China’s Guangdong Province.
“In addition to cultivating talent ourselves, we have also introduced a group of scholars from universities including Beijing University of Chemical Technology,” said Huang.
Within six months, Huang and his colleagues have established the air pollution control and research center at the university. He is working to establish the Xinjiang environmental science society, which will serve as a gathering place for the top scientific research talent in Xinjiang and a platform for international cooperation and exchange.
He also stresses the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. “Ultimately, emission reduction needs to be implemented at the enterprise level,” he said, adding that his team has visited over 10 companies to strengthen cooperation in terms of technology and scientific research.
“We will try to bring in the technologies, talent and companies from across the country to contribute to air pollution prevention and control work in Xinjiang,” he said.
China’s railway passenger flow surged during the 10-day travel rush for the National Day holiday, data from China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) showed Wednesday. From Sept. 29 to Oct. 8, a total of 177 million railway passenger trips were made nationwide, said China Railway. The average daily number of railway passenger trips reached about 17.74 million, it added. On Oct. 1, the number of passenger trips served by China’s railways reached about 21.45 million, a new record high for single-day passenger traffic, according to China Railway. During the holiday, the railway passenger flow was sustained at a high level and an average of 12,237 passenger trains were operated daily, hitting a record high, it said.
East China’s Jiangsu Province boasted more than 3,300 nurseries at the end of September, signifying its continuous efforts to enhance the childcare service system and reduce the burden on child-rearing families, according to the Jiangsu Commission of Health. The province had also provided 324,000 available childcare slots, with 3.8 slots per 1,000 people by the end of 2023. Various service models are now available, such as community-based childcare, employer-run nurseries, family day-care and comprehensive childcare centers. Spanning over 2,000 square meters, the comprehensive childcare center in the Jianye District of Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, offers 80 childcare slots. “We are very satisfied with the center’s clean environment, reasonable fees and trustworthy childcare staff,” said Zhang Feng, a resident who enrolled her two-year-old daughter there. Jiang Xuexia, deputy director of the childcare center, noted that Jianye District has the youngest population demographic in Nanjing, with many young parents striving to balance work and family life. To help ease the burden on parents, the center has implemented an integrated medical and childcare service system to improve the quality of infant and childcare services in the district. Since its opening in September last year, all of its slots have been fully booked. More and more cities in Jiangsu have stepped up efforts to provide more families with universal day-care services for children under three in recent years. Suzhou is pushing hard to build a 15-minute childcare service circle, and plans to add 100 community-based childcare centers, offering full-day, half-day, temporary and time-based childcare services at the end of this year. Wuxi and Taizhou have set up childcare facilities within enterprises and industrial parks to provide free or favourable childcare services for employees. Data from the National Health Commission shows that there are currently over ten million children aged under three in need of childcare services. Looking ahead, Jiangsu aims to scientifically allocate childcare resources and improve support policies, foster talents at a faster pace, and promote the high-quality development of accessible, affordable and reliable childcare services.
The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee started a standing committee session on Wednesday to study an important speech that Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivered on Sept. 20 to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of the CPPCC. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the opening meeting. The meeting was presided over by Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. Shi called on CPPCC members to take the study and implementation of Xi’s important speech as a major political task, and give full play to CPPCC’s role as a specialized consultative body, so as to build consensus and pool strength for advancing Chinese modernization. Li Shulei, also a member of the Political Bureau and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, was invited to the meeting and gave a report on the advances on cultural fronts. The senior political advisors also heard reports on a number of topics, including developing fine traditional Chinese culture, building sci-tech innovation centers and improving foreign-related legal services. During the two-and-a-half-day session, they will also hold themed consultations with regional CPPCC committees in Henan, Guangdong and Xinjiang via videolink.
Headline: FEMA’s Temporary Housing for Wildfire Survivors Extended to February 2026, Supporting their Continued Recovery
FEMA’s Temporary Housing for Wildfire Survivors Extended to February 2026, Supporting their Continued Recovery
HONOLULU – At the request of the state of Hawaiʻi, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a one-year extension of the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), including Financial Assistance and Direct Temporary Housing Assistance for survivors of the Maui wildfires.
The 18-month initial period of assistance for FEMA IHP was set to end Feb.10, 2025 but has now been extended to Feb. 10, 2026.
Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, FEMA may extend the period of assistance due to extraordinary circumstances. Last year’s wildfires caused unprecedented damage to Lahaina and impacted numerous households, businesses, communities and the infrastructure on Maui.
FEMA is working closely with the state of Hawai‘i, local officials and volunteers to help survivors in temporary housing find permanent solutions. Disaster case managers are also providing personalized assistance.
FEMA approved the Direct Lease as a form of Direct Temporary Housing Assistance in September 2023 and currently has 1,194 households occupying FEMA-provided units.
During the extended period, survivors who continue to live in a FEMA-provided temporary housing unit are generally expected to work on their permanent housing plan and start paying rent, depending on their financial ability. The rent amount would be based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rent.
FEMA will send occupants an advance notice of the rent requirement.
Occupants who provide documentation of their post-disaster income that meets or is below HUD’s very low-income limit will qualify for fully reduced rent of $50 per month without having to appeal and submit documentation of pre- or post-disaster housing costs.
Occupants with household incomes above the HUD very low-income limit will only have to provide documentation of post-disaster housing costs for FEMA to evaluate the amount of rent to be charged based on their financial ability.
FEMA will conduct outreach to assist occupants of temporary housing units with the documentation necessary to evaluate their ability to pay. This effort is designed to reduce the need for occupants to appeal the rent amount determined by FEMA.
For more information on temporary housing, call the Individual Assistance Housing Hotline at 808-784-1600. Or contact 2-1-1 to reach the disaster case management program.
You may also call FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Helpline operators can assist you in many languages. If you use a relay service such as Video Relay Service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.
You may get help in person at: Lahaina Gateway (next to Ace Hardware) Maui County Office of Recovery – West Maui 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
CNHA Office (next to Maui Mall) Kākoʻo Relief & Aid Services Center 153 E. Kamehameha Ave. Suite 101
Kahului, HI 96732 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
For the latest information on the Maui wildfire recovery efforts, visit mauicounty.gov, mauirecovers.org, fema.gov/disaster/4724 and Hawaii Wildfires – YouTube. Follow FEMA on social media: @FEMARegion9 and facebook.com/fema. You may also get disaster assistance information and download applications at sba.gov/hawaii-wildfires.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has announced details of its Court of Inquiry (COI) into the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui in Samoa.
The dive and hydrographic ship struck a reef south of Upolu on Saturday 5 October. All 75 people aboard were successfully rescued.
Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Garin Golding has directed the assembly of a COI into the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui and has appointed Commodore Melissa Ross as the president. The COI will assemble on Friday.
She will be joined by three senior military members – Captain Andrew Mahoney, Group Captain John McWilliam, from the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Captain Dean Battilana, who has been seconded from the Royal Australian Navy.
Counsel assisting the COI will be Commander Jonathan Rowe, who is a barrister and solicitor of the High Court.
COIs are set up to establish the facts of an incident and any circumstances leading to it to allow the NZDF to identify possible improvements or changes for the future.
The terms of reference direct the COI to collect and record evidence and report on the sequence of events leading up to the loss of the ship, the cause of the grounding and subsequent sinking, and details on notification procedures, injuries sustained and any environmental damage.
The COI has also been directed to consider any organisational aspects relevant to the loss, and the material state of Manawanui prior to the grounding.
Courts of Inquiry into significant matters may be subject to an external legal review to provide independent assurance of their procedure and conclusions. External legal reviews are conducted by independent King’s Counsel or other senior barristers. For the COI into the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui, it has been determined that an external legal review will be conducted by a King’s Counsel.
Rear Admiral Golding said he was very aware of the high interest in the COI.
“Given the high level of public interest in this and with transparency at front of mind, I will make the report publicly available to the maximum extent possible consistent with the Privacy Act and my obligations to uphold national security,” Rear Admiral Golding said.
“I have directed the Court to provide me with an interim report on specific areas by mid-November, and then to provide regular updates on the progress of their inquiry from there.”
MORE DETAILS ABOUT COURTS OF INQUIRY:
Courts of Inquiry are established by an officer in charge of part of the Armed Forces to inquire into any matter.
The court must have no less than two officers and the officer assembling the court must appoint one of those members as the president. The officer assembling the court must issue its terms of reference and the court is required to collect evidence and provide a report against those terms of reference.
The court may sit wherever it considers necessary to do so and may direct or summons any witness to attend before it. Witnesses are sworn and their evidence is transcribed. Any person who may have their character and reputation affected is afforded natural justice rights by the president.
Courts of Inquiry are not designed to determine guilt of any individual and the evidence gathered is not admissible in other proceedings.
Courts of Inquiry are established under statute and are provided numerous powers and protections so that the fact-finding procedure is as expeditious as possible. Courts of Inquiry are statutorily required to be held in private to ensure that there is no inhibition on witnesses giving full and frank evidence.
The provisions governing courts of inquiry can be found at sections 200 to 201 of the Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971.
BIOGRAPHIES
Commodore Melissa Ross, RNZNR Commodore Melissa Ross (Ngāpuhi) joined the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) in 1993 as a Marine Engineering Officer. She was one of the first women in the RNZN to go to sea on an operational warship. Commodore Ross has previously held the position of Deputy Chief of Navy and Commander Logistics. She is appointed to the COI as the President.
Group Captain John McWilliam, AFC Group Captain John McWilliam joined the RNZAF in 1975 as a pilot. Throughout his career he has flown helicopters and been a flying instructor. He departed the RNZAF in 1995 to pursue a civilian career and was a test pilot during this period. He returned to the RNZAF in 2010 and established the role of the NZDF Operating Airworthiness Operator. GPCAPT McWilliam is a deep expert in the airworthiness arena and will bring that expertise to the Court.
Captain Andy Mahoney, RNZN Captain Andy Mahoney joined the Royal Navy (RN) in 1996. He transferred to the RNZN in 2016. He is a Principal Warfare Officer who has served on ships in both the RN and the RNZN. He was the commissioning Captain of the HMNZS Manawanui. Captain Mahoney has operated across a wide range of navies and agencies globally. He will bring decades of ship operations knowledge to the Court.
Captain Dean Battilana, RAN Captain Dean Battilana joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1996 and specialised as a Hydrographic Officer. Captain Battilana has commanded multiple ships with deep expertise in operations, ship driving and hydrography. He brings a wealth of experience in the hydrographic trade to the investigation as well as his experience from his work as part of the recovery efforts in response to the 2017 USMC OSPREY crash in Australia.
Commander Jonathan Rowe, RNZN Commander Jonathan Rowe joined the RNZN in 2014 and is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court. He has held roles at the tactical, operational and strategic level within the NZDF and has deployed operationally to the Middle East and Asia in roles both ashore and at sea. He has been involved in numerous NZDF Courts of Inquiry as well as external inquiries. He brings a wealth of legal experience to the Court.
Discover the fascinating science lurking beneath the surface of history’s most enduring legends at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum in a new exhibition, Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches, open from Monday 9 December 2024 until Sunday 27 April 2025.
Blood is a vital source of life for humans, and an abundant food source for an astounding 30,000 species across the globe, including birds, mammals, fish, insects, leeches, and flatworms. Bloodsuckers draws visitors into this world, starting on a microscopic level with the biology behind blood. Immersive experiences, larger-than-life installations, and interactive displays delve into these diverse organisms and their feeding mechanisms in detail, showing visitors just how clever blood-feeders are, and the intricate ways they have evolved to take blood and thrive on it.
Bloodsucking animals have captured the human imagination for centuries, providing fodder for fear and fantasy. Stories of vampiric creatures persist across cultures and time, borne out of fear of the unknown, from the first publication of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in 1897 and his immortal incarnations on stage and screen, to the more recent urban legend of the coyote-like Chupacabra. In the exhibition, immersive experiences bring myths and beliefs in the undead and bloodthirsty beasts to life, highlighting the history of vampire hunting and pop culture’s most famous monsters.
Auckland Museum’s Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive David Reeves says, “Bloodsuckers blends of science, history, and pop culture, to explore the natural environment and the cultural impact of blood feeding creatures in both our real and imaginary worlds. Drawing from science and culture, Bloodsuckers transforms a subject that might seem gory into something truly fascinating.”
“This award-winning international exhibition lets you get close to bloodsuckers – without the risk of being bitten,” says Reeves.
Bloodsuckers is full of juicy facts on the role that bloodfeeders have played in medicine for over 3,000 years, and how they spark scientific discoveries today. The exhibition explores the evolution of bloodletting, from hungry leeches feeding on patients in the name of health, to barbers and physicians tapping veins for vitality in Medieval and Victorian times. Current research on bloodborne diseases around the world and how leech anticoagulants—the strongest in the world—enable advancements in medical care highlight the impact bloodfeeders continue to have on human health. The exhibition will also arm visitors with knowledge on how to identify, avoid, and heal bites from bloodfeeding organisms, and ultimately live in harmony with them.
Reeves says, “In Aotearoa, bloodsuckers like mosquitoes, sandflies, and ticks are an inevitable part of the summer experience. While they may be a nuisance, these creatures have evolved fascinating adaptations to survive and thrive. Bloodsuckers gives visitors the opportunity to understand species like these in a new light, from their role in nature to their influence on our daily lives.”
The exhibition showcases over 200 unique objects, including wet, mounted, and taxidermy specimens, 17th–19th century bloodletting instruments, and 20th-century pop culture artefacts, all telling the story of blood feeding creatures through time. The interactive exhibits allow visitors to explore these creatures up close, with highlights including a giant glowing column of red blood cells, an old-world bloodletting shop, an audio experience of a mosquito swarm and a retro movie theatre playing clips from classic bloodsucker-inspired films.
Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches is coming exclusively to Auckland Museum and opens Monday 9 December. Tickets are on sale from Tuesday 26 November at aucklandmuseum.com.
Auckland Museum Membership provides unlimited free entry to Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events. Find out more at aucklandmuseum.com/membership.
Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches is produced and circulated by ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), Toronto, Canada.
In early October, Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, announced on X he had declared the United Nations secretary-general, António Guterres, persona non grata. In other words, he had banned Guterres from setting foot in Israel.
Katz said Guterres’ failure to “unequivocally condemn” Iran’s recent attack on Israel was the reason he was no longer welcome. The strongly worded statement further accused the UN chief of failing to “denounce” Hamas’ massacre in southern Israel on October 7 2023. He added:
A secretary-general who gives backing to terrorists, rapists and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and now Iran — the mothership of global terror — will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN.
What is the significance of Israel’s declaration? And what kind of impact could it have?
What does persona non grata mean?
The Latin phrase persona non grata means “an unwelcome person”. In international law, it refers to the right of states to exclude a diplomat or consular officer from their territory. This can take the form of expelling a diplomat or denying them entry.
Under international conventions, nations are not required to provide a reason for such a declaration.
Diplomats and consular staff enjoy a wide range of immunities and privileges under international law. Among other things, they cannot be subjected to any form of arrest or detention, nor can they face legal action in a criminal or civil court.
The diplomat’s home nation must waive immunity for this kind of action to be taken.
The concept of persona non grata was therefore devised as a way to balance against these immunities and privileges. A nation that is aggrieved by the actions of a diplomat or consular officer can simply bar them from their territory, without even providing a reason.
Can UN officials be declared persona non grata?
There is a longstanding debate between the UN and its member states about the legality of such declarations.
The UN maintains its officials cannot be barred from member nations because they are not diplomats accredited to those countries. Rather, they are international civil servants who are accountable to a global organisation.
The UN also notes that declaring its officials persona non grata seriously interferes with the organisation’s functions, as well as the powers of the UN secretary-general under the UN Charter.
Many countries, however, do not agree with the UN’s position. In recent years, Ethiopia, Mali, Sudan and Armenia have all declared UN officials to be persona non grata, just to name a few.
Israel’s declaration is only the second time a nation has specifically banned the UN secretary-general. The first time was in the 1950s when both the Soviet Union and the Republic of China declared the first secretary-general, Trygve Lie, persona non grata.
In 1961, the Soviet Union also said it would not recognise Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold as an “official of the United Nations”.
Power must be handled with restraint
I am researching this issue, which has not yet been widely explored. My study is looking at two main questions: whether states have the right to bar UN officials and the implications of doing this.
On the first question, I believe there are strong legal reasons to support the rights of states to kick out – or keep out – UN officials.
For one, nations have a wide scope of sovereign rights to decide who enters and leaves their territory. This is a cardinal principle of sovereignty.
If UN officials are suspected of engaging in conduct harmful to a country’s national interests and security, it also has a right to defend and protect itself. One way of doing so is to expel the suspected UN official.
Lastly, there is no direct rule under international law that prohibits this kind of action.
Beyond these legal rights, however, is the important issue of what such an action means for the longer-term credibility and efficacy of the UN.
Because countries are not required to provide a reason for banning a foreign diplomat, this makes it a powerful political weapon if used against a UN official.
And banning UN officials specifically could also seriously jeopardise the organisation’s work and put innocent lives at risk. This is especially true in the context of armed conflicts where the UN is called upon to provide humanitarian assistance.
For example, in 2021, Ethiopia expelled five UN humanitarian officials who were providing food, medicine, water and other life-saving items to more than 5 million people in a region that was engaged in armed conflict with the federal government. Given the expelled officials were high-ranking staff, the action disrupted the co‑ordination and provision of assistance.
And banning the secretary-general, in particular, is perhaps the strongest indicator of the breakdown of the relationship between a state and the UN.
The secretary-general is the chief international civil servant and the embodiment of the organisation. Their leadership is also critical for providing emergency relief, brokering ceasefires and promoting peace.
Declaring the secretary-general persona non grata, therefore, seriously damages his or her standing, especially in the context of an armed conflict. It’s also a strong political statement against the UN more broadly, which could significantly complicate its humanitarian work.
Therefore, while countries do have the sovereign power to declare UN officials persona non grata, they need to exercise restraint in how they use this power. What such restraint should look like is an open question, but one that must be urgently addressed.
The author’s ongoing research work on the topic has received internal funding support from the College of Humanities and Social Futures at The University of Newcastle, NSW.
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote the Justice Department (DOJ) and FBI regarding Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) enforcement, raising concerns Hamas-linked entities are escaping FARA scrutiny as they seek to shape U.S. public opinion and policy outcomes through partnerships with campus organizations. Joining Grassley on the effort are Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.).
The senators’ inquiry hones in on the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) – which received backing from an organization whose associated entities the U.S. government has implicated for financing Hamas – and the hundreds of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters NSJP claims to support across the U.S. Their letter reads, in part:
“It is incumbent upon all of us crack down on hidden foreign influence. […] The introduction of hostile foreign adversaries into domestic political discussion is especially of issue when it is fueling an alarming rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. The public reporting appears to indicate that NSJP and related chapters may fit into the FARA definition of ‘publicity agent,’ at minimum, and its conduct, among other activity, may constitute a public relations effort designed to impact U.S. public opinion in favor of a foreign principal, which would meet FARA’s definition of political activities.
“Taken as a whole, these actions require further investigation from DOJ and the FBI to fully determine whether NSJP and SJP chapters should register as foreign agents under FARA and the extent of Hamas and Iran’s potential involvement.”
Grassley and his colleagues cite numerous examples that signal NSJP and SJP chapters may have an obligation to register as agents under FARA. Several follow.
Federal court filings from state Attorneys General assert NSJP’s material support to Hamas.
Dozens of SJP chapters echoed NSJP’s social media messages lauding Hamas’ brutal October 7, 2023, attack on Israel; some “[praised] the creativity” of Hamas’ surprise attacks on Israeli civilians.
NSJP urged SJP chapters in the U.S. to publicly facilitate and join “armed struggles, general strikes and popular demonstrations.”
NSJP launched a campaign against U.S. college administrators, pushing for divestments in Israel-connected assets.
NSJP held a summer 2024 program for SJP participants to “deepen our understanding of our current political moment […] with the aim entrenching the frameworks necessary to sustain and grow the Student Intifada.”
NSJP has stated it “aim[s] to develop a student movement that is connected, disciplined, and equipped” with tools toward fulfilling its mission.
Considering this evidence and more, the senators are asking DOJ and FBI pointed questions about the steps they have taken to assess NSJP and SJP’s potential requirement to register as foreign agents.
Read the full letter HERE.
Background:
Congress passed FARA in 1938 to identify Nazi propaganda and other foreign efforts to sway U.S. policy and public opinion. The content-neutral law was designed not to prohibit activity, but rather, to ensure certain individuals who act as agents of a foreign government or enterprise register with DOJ.
Grassley previously pressed for FARA enforcement as Confucius Institutes cropped up on college campuses, working to combat Chinese Communist Party influence in the U.S. education system. He has probed potential FARA violations in recent Congresses, including by Qatari media network Al Jazeera, a Ukrainian operative who consulted for the Democrat National Committee and a Russian lobbyist who attended a meeting with Donald Trump, Jr. Grassley questioned the Biden family’s FARA compliance amid business dealings with a Chinese energy company and sought answers upon learning the top lobbying firm for Ukrainian energy company Burisma filed incomplete disclosures. A longtime advocate of enforcing FARA to the fullest extent, he is leading congressional oversight and legislative reforms to further strengthen the law.
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
ALEXANDRIA – This morning, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) hosted his third Rural Community Funding Summit of 2024, where he continued to connect local officials for towns and villages in central Louisiana with representatives of federal and state agencies that can distribute funds from his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
“My goal in working on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill was to bring opportunity to Louisiana to rebuild our infrastructure. My goal for the summit is to connect public officials in Rapides, Vernon, Beauregard, and throughout Cenla with these opportunities,” said Dr. Cassidy. “It was good to see these officials eager to bring resources to their communities.”
In addition to the authorization of the I-14 corridor going through Leesville, communities throughout the parish have benefitted from the IIJA, including in Vernon Parish. There are millions of dollars to improve roads and build roundabouts, $1.3 million was awarded to the East Central Vernon Water System from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, an example of how the IIJA can be used to improve drinking water. Over $300,000 was also awarded to the Leesville City Airport.
Other awards in the region include $15 million for the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway, over $11 million to extend CC Bel Road in the form of a RAISE grant, and over $9.8 million to replace school buses in Rapides Parish. Money has also been awarded in the region to improve roads and replace old natural gas pipes.
Cassidy was welcomed to Leesville and thanked for his leadership in a statement by Mayor Rick Allen.
“Thanks to Senator Cassidy’s infrastructure bill, money has already been delivered to upgrade key roads and the Leesville City Airport,” said Mayor Allen. “We are keen to learn what else the bill can do to strengthen our communities, and we appreciate the Senator connecting us to its opportunities, as well as his support for our troops at Fort Johnson and those who support them.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2024 gazetted Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2024 gazetted **********************************************************
The Government gazetted today (October 10) the Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (Amendment Regulation) to update the food safety standards in relation to preservatives and antioxidants in food. The objective of the Amendment Regulation is to keep local food safety standards on par with international standards, thereby enhancing consumer protection and facilitating the food trade. The Amendment Regulation has kept the standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) as the backbone, supplemented with those adopted by the Mainland and by Hong Kong’s other major food-trading partners. A Government spokesman said, “A four-month public consultation was conducted from May 29 to September 30 last year, to collect views on the proposed amendments to the Preservatives in Food Regulation (Cap. 132BD). Respondents and stakeholders generally welcomed and supported the proposed amendments. Taking into account the comments received during the public consultation, we have formulated the updated proposals, as reflected in the Amendment Regulation.” The Amendment Regulation updates the definitions of “preservative” and “antioxidant” with reference to the corresponding definitions adopted by Codex. The list of permitted preservatives/antioxidants has also been updated, which comprises 58 preservatives/antioxidants after the legislative amendments. The number of “additive-food” pairs with specified maximum permitted levels has increased from around 900 to around 2 000. “We consider that the Amendment Regulation should be implemented as soon as possible. However, we acknowledge the importance of providing sufficient time for the stakeholders to adjust to the new food safety standards, and for the local testing laboratories to establish the capability for performing relevant tests. We have also taken into consideration the longer shelf life of processed and pre-packaged foods that may contain preservatives or antioxidants. On balance, we propose a transitional period of 24 months, during which it would be legal for any single food item to comply wholly with the requirements of either the existing or the amended Cap. 132BD,” the spokesman added. The Amendment Regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council on October 16 for negative vetting.
Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024Issued at HKT 10:00
China’s commerce ministry said Wednesday the country’s anti-dumping move on brandy imported from the European Union (EU) is a “legitimate trade remedy measure and entirely in accordance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.”
The decision to take anti-dumping measures against EU brandy imports, which was announced Tuesday, was based on legal investigations in response to a request from the domestic industry, the ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the ministry noted that the EU’s anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles was not launched at the industry’s request. Furthermore, the EU move has been strongly opposed by relevant EU member states and their industries.
The EU’s action seriously lacked factual and legal basis and clearly violated WTO rules, which was a practice of protectionism in the name of trade remedies, the ministry said.
To defend the legitimate rights and interests of China’s electric vehicle industry, the country has lodged strong representation at the WTO and appealed to the WTO dispute settlement over relevant anti-subsidy measures, it said.
China has always opposed the abuse of trade remedy measures, the ministry said, urging the EU to immediately correct its wrong practices and work with China to safeguard the overall economic and trade situation between the two sides.
U.S. Federal Reserve officials were divided on the size of the rate cut in its recent policy meeting, according to the minutes of the Fed’s Sept. 17-18 meeting released Wednesday.
“Noting that inflation was still somewhat elevated while economic growth remained solid and unemployment remained low, some participants observed that they would have preferred a 25 basis point reduction of the target range at this meeting, and a few others indicated that they could have supported such a decision,” the minutes showed.
Eleven out of the 12 voting members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted for the 50 basis point reduction, according to an earlier statement. Voting against this action was Michelle W. Bowman, who preferred to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points.
“Several participants noted that a 25 basis point reduction would be in line with a gradual path of policy normalization that would allow policymakers time to assess the degree of policy restrictiveness as the economy evolved,” the minutes said.
“A few participants also added that a 25 basis point move could signal a more predictable path of policy normalization,” the minutes continued.
The minutes also noted that a few participants remarked that the overall path of policy normalization, rather than the specific amount of initial easing at this meeting, would be more important in determining the degree of policy restriction.
After its Sept. 17-18 meeting, the Fed slashed the target range for the federal funds rate by 50 basis points to 4.75 percent to 5 percent, amid cooling inflation and a weakening labor market. This marked the first rate cut in over four years and signals the start of an easing cycle.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said recently that if the economic data stays stable, future rate cuts are expected to be smaller than the half-percentage-point reduction in September.
According to data released by the Labor Department on Friday, U.S. employers added 254,000 jobs in September, as unemployment rate edged down to 4.1 percent, signaling that the labor market remains steady.
The Fed will hold its next policy meeting from Nov. 6 to 7. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group’s FedWatch tool, which acts as a barometer for the market’s expectation of the Fed funds target rate, showed that as of Wednesday, the probability of the Fed cutting rates by 25 basis points at the November meeting is nearly 80 percent.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday held phone talks with Japan’s newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya.
Iwaya said the new Japanese cabinet is willing to comprehensively promote the strategic relationship of mutual benefit between Japan and China and is committed to building a constructive and stable bilateral relationship.
There is huge potential for Japan-China cooperation in various fields, and Japan is willing to strengthen communication with China at all levels to resolve pending issues through consultation, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples, said Iwaya.
Japan and China bear significant responsibilities for the peace and stability of Asia and the world, said Iwaya, noting that in the face of a turbulent international situation, the new Japanese cabinet is committed to advancing diplomacy through dialogue and coordination, and is willing to jointly work with China to strengthen cooperation and make greater contributions to promoting regional peace and stability and addressing global challenges.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China appreciates the positive signals sent by the new Japanese cabinet and Iwaya since taking office, which reflect a desire to stabilize and develop bilateral relations.
Wang noted that China and Japan are close neighbors, and that mutual cooperation and shared development are in the fundamental interests of both peoples, expressing his hope that the new Japanese cabinet would bring new momentum and foster fresh developments in China-Japan relations.
Wang called on both sides to learn from history, stay true to their original aspirations, expand cooperation, eliminate disruptions, and comprehensively advance their strategic relationship of mutual benefit, so as to build a constructive and stable bilateral relationship that meets the requirements of the new era.
Wang emphasized that China’s policy toward Japan has always maintained consistency and stability. He expressed hope that Japan would honor its political commitments on the Taiwan question, adhere unwaveringly to the one-China principle, and establish an objective, rational, positive, and friendly perception of China.
He urged Japan to translate the important consensus including “being partners, not threats” into concrete actions, promoting the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations along the right path.
In light of the complex and turbulent international situation, Wang stressed that the overall peace and stability in the region is hard-won and should be cherished, particularly by preventing external forces from stirring up regional division and confrontation.
The Cypriot government has approved an urgent dispatch of medicine and other consumables for Lebanon, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Wednesday.
The spokesman said the health ministry has studied a request by Lebanon, “for the provision of pharmaceutical assistance and consumables to address the humanitarian crisis.”
He added that the Cypriot government has also approved additional financial aid specifically for the Palestinians.
The spokesman also announced that more than 2,000 people of 20 different nationalities have been evacuated from Lebanon through Cyprus.
The vast majority of them have already departed to their countries of origin, with the remaining being hosted at accommodation facilities prepared by Cypriot authorities until they find flights out of Cyprus, he said.
A worker is pictured at the production line of a textile company in Jimo district of Qingdao city, East China’s Shandong province, Oct 7, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
China will likely hit this year’s annual growth target of around 5 percent with a projected pickup in fourth-quarter GDP growth, given the recently unveiled, bolder than expected stimulus policy measures and forthcoming incremental policies, economists said.
They also said that the weaker than expected economic indicators in recent months point to persistent challenges stemming from sluggish domestic demand, prompting calls for intensified policy support to sustain growth. The key focus should be expanding effective investment, boosting consumption and stabilizing the real estate sector, they added.
The economists’ comments came after Premier Li Qiang emphasized on Tuesday the need for faster and more effective implementation of economic policies to achieve China’s growth targets for the year, as authorities ramped up measures in recent days to further bolster the world’s second-largest economy.
Speaking at a symposium with business leaders and economists, Li called for swift actions to put in place the newly rolled out policies, which are designed to stabilize growth and enhance support for businesses.
Citing a package of incremental policies announced recently, Guo Liyan, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research’s Economic Research Institute, said the move aims to address pressing challenges and pressures faced by the economy, which will significantly boost confidence among investors and consumers.
“In fact, some economic indicators have shown fluctuations since the third quarter, and the economic contribution in the fourth quarter is significant for the entire year,” she said. “Implementing a package of incremental policies at this juncture is conducive to strengthening confidence for meeting the annual growth target.”
To promote closer monetary and fiscal policy coordination, the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, and the Ministry of Finance held their first joint working group meeting on the treasury bond trade, vowing to provide a conducive market environment for treasury bond trade operations, according to a statement released on Wednesday.
In addition, as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to meet the annual growth target, the National Development and Reform Commission announced on Tuesday that the country will move ahead to this year part of the investment plans set for 2025.
Raymond Ma, Invesco’s chief investment officer for the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, said: “We believe that the NDRC’s further confirmation, together with the recently announced supportive monetary and fiscal policies, will bolster the economy. This reinforces our long-term positive outlook on Chinese equities.”
After a strong rally following stimulus announcements by Chinese authorities, Chinese stocks dropped on Wednesday as the market eagerly awaited bolder moves to revive the economy, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slumping 6.62 percent to close at 3,258.86 points.
“While achieving the around 5 percent annual growth target may be challenging, the government’s newly announced policies are expected to provide substantial stimulation for the economy in 2024 and beyond,” Zhu Baoliang, former chief economist of the State Information Center, said, adding that the nation can meet its annual growth target this year.
Du Yue, an associate researcher at the investment research institute of the NDRC, said that to coordinate macro policies for this year and next to ensure steady growth, it is important to optimize and implement policies aimed at spurring investment as soon as possible, including enlarging the support provided by local government special bonds.
Du said that the policy of moving to this year the allocation of 200 billion yuan ($28.3 billion) in investment plans and projects that were set for 2025 will help the country’s fixed-asset investment maintain reasonable growth while lifting market expectations.
Zhang Ming, deputy director of the Institute of Finance and Banking, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, suggested at a recent forum establishing a national institution to manage the acquisition of existing commercial housing in lower-tier cities, which will help avoid the creation of new local government debt.
China’s central bank announced Thursday that it has decided to set up Securities, Funds and Insurance companies Swap Facility (SFISF), with the initial scale of 500 billion yuan (about 71 billion U.S. dollars) for “the healthy and stable development of the capital market.”
The SFISF will allow eligible securities, funds and insurance companies to use their assets including bonds, stock ETFs and holdings in constituents of the CSI 300 Index as collateral in exchange for highly liquid assets such as treasury bonds and central bank bills, the People’s Bank of China said in a statement.
The scale of the SFISF could be expanded depending on the development of the situation, according to the central bank.
Starting Thursday, applications from eligible securities, funds and insurance companies will be accepted.
Optimization measures rolled out by China’s central government as well as major cities, along with large-scale promotional activities by real estate developers, have led to a better-than-expected housing market performance during the weeklong National Day holiday, industry experts said on Wednesday.
To seize market opportunities brought on by favorable policies, property developers are looking to strengthen their competitiveness by enhancing quality and branding instead of resorting to price wars, experts said.
Despite a conventional low season for home transactions, the just-concluded National Day holiday saw greater transaction volumes for new homes in several Chinese cities, according to Chen Wenjing, director of research at the China Index Academy.
“The conditions are more evident in first-tier cities. In Guangzhou and Shenzhen of South China’s Guangdong province, new home transaction volumes of projects monitored by China Index Academy are double that from the whole of September, and the number of deals inked during the same period surpassed that of September in Beijing and Shanghai,” Chen said.
“It is worth noting that similar hot sales took place in second-tier cities including Chengdu of Sichuan province and Hangzhou of Zhejiang province,” she said, attributing it to the bigger discounts that helped activate the real estate market.
During the first seven days of October, new home transactions in the key 22 cities tracked by China Real Estate Information Corp soared 26 percent in terms of space year-on-year, and that of Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou surged 42 percent, according to Ding Zuyu, CEO of E-House (China) Enterprise Holdings Ltd.
Along with the improved new home trade volumes, major real estate developers also reported outstanding sales. Some of the top 20 developers saw their sales grow between 60 percent and 150 percent, Ding said.
“The positive figures indicated that the home market confidence is steadily recovering,” said Ding.
Policies announced by the central and local governments to stabilize the home market have played a great role in boosting market confidence. Meanwhile, significant promotions by real estate developers have also contributed to the market performance, said Li Yujia, a researcher on residential policy in Guangdong province.
According to Li, several residential projects resorted to offering gold, new energy vehicles and huge discounts to homebuyers, but regardless of the appealing gifts or discounts, the bestselling projects are always the ones with reasonable prices and high quality under big-name developers.
With the home market entering its conventional peak season, some developers are adjusting their pricing strategy, which is also in line with the central government’s call for market stabilization, according to local news portal ThePaper.cn.
Staff members distribute parcels at a distribution center of China Post Group Co., Ltd. in Shijiazhuang, north China’s Hebei Province, Jan. 21, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
China Post ranked first among global postal operators by both revenue and profits in the 2024 Fortune Global 500 list, according to company sources on Wednesday.
Liu Aili, chairman of China Post Group Corporation Limited, said that the company had continually strengthened its core competitiveness. China Post has established an extensive delivery network, operating 120,000 delivery trucks and 42 cargo aircraft.
The state-owned postal service provider maintained stable operation in the first eight months of this year, with revenue of 472.17 billion yuan (66.9 billion U.S. dollars) and profits of 70.48 billion yuan, Liu said in a speech marking the 55th World Post Day, which falls on Wednesday.
Looking ahead, the company will focus on further enhancing the rural delivery system, integrating local industries into larger economic networks and helping small agricultural producers reach national markets, Liu added.
Beijing recently issued the first catering business license to a type of robot, pioneering regulation of embodied intelligence application in the country’s catering industry amid rapid development in the sector.
Unlike single-task robots, such as pancake-making or noodle-cooking machines, the embodied intelligence robots developed by EncoSmart Technology, a Beijing-based company, can cook different types of cuisine.
The robots, which look like robotic arms, can also keep learning to create new menus and avoid safety risks based on the working environment.
“Artificial intelligence is an inevitable trend in the food and beverage industry,” said Xia Pingping, head of the catering department of the Haidian District Market Regulation Bureau, which granted EncoSmart the city’s first food business license for its embodied intelligence robots.
“Before issuing the license, we rigorously examined the product to ensure it complies with national food safety regulations. The robot design prioritizes safety, from hardware materials to software algorithms,” she said.
Tian Yan, head of smart project development at EncoSmart, said: “We’ve already deployed our first-generation robot offering fried food in certain office buildings in Haidian. By the end of the year, we plan to expand the services to chain restaurants, rolling out robots capable of making ice cream, drinks and salads.”
A report issued by the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau in April highlighted challenges in the local restaurant industry, including high rents, labor costs and ingredient prices, coupled with low profits.
Tian said she believes that embodied intelligence technology can help reduce costs, streamline food processing, and meet consumer demand for precise and consistent flavors.
“Our goal is to make consumer-grade robots more affordable and accessible,” she said. “Safety is the core. Our robots can learn through algorithms to improve heating efficiency in order to make the food more tasty. The sensors on robots can monitor the temperatures of oil in order to avoid any kitchen fire risks.”
Chen Zhen, CEO of EncoSmart, said the company would tap the overseas market in the following two years, starting with two major robot products aimed at Western catering markets.
“The overseas market has great opportunities, but it’s also pretty challenging,” he said. “It’s essential for us to obtain the product certifications and win the trust of the clients there.”
To address new challenges facing food safety, the State Administration for Market Regulation revised the measures for the administration of food trade licensing, which now include provisions for automated food service devices. The measures took effect on Dec 1.
Haidian district is leading AI-driven food safety regulation, setting standards for embodied AI in food processing, including basic safety, system design, food hygiene and operational norms, filling a regulatory gap in the AI-powered catering industry.
AI food safety oversight differs from traditional restaurant regulation, said Duan Xing, head of the market regulation office in Haidian’s Huayuanlu subdistrict.
“Our approach focuses on three areas, including process and equipment control to guarantee smooth operation, as well as data control to maintain traceability throughout,” Duan said.
A report released at the 2024 Beijing Catering Brand Conference noted that 4,842 new restaurants were registered in the city in the first half of the year, with an average of 26.5 new restaurants opening daily. While overall restaurant consumption remains stable, the industry is undergoing rapid change, requiring businesses to enhance their resilience and quality.
Wang Xinwei, deputy secretary-general of the Beijing Branch of the World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry, said, “The first embodied AI robot food business license signifies that this cutting-edge technology is quickly entering the food and beverage market, allowing for large-scale commercialization and reducing the complexity of recipe replication and chef hiring.”
“While the spread of embodied AI robots may increase short-term employment pressure, in the long run, they will drive the restaurant industry toward greater intelligence, creating new jobs. The key is balancing technological progress with social responsibility to ensure harmonious economic and social development,” Wang said.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
EMSD announces test results of LPG quality in September 2024 EMSD announces test results of LPG quality in September 2024 ************************************************************
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (October 10) announced that the department collected eight liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) samples from auto-LPG filling stations and LPG terminals on a random basis in September 2024 for laboratory tests. The results show that the LPG quality of all these samples complied with auto-LPG specifications. The detailed test results are available on the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/gas_safety/lpg_vehicle_scheme/publications/general/results_of_lpg_sample_analysis/index.html). Enquiries can also be made to the EMSD’s hotline on 2333 3762. In addition, the EMSD has been vetting independent third-party test reports submitted by LPG supply companies for each shipment to ensure that the quality of imported LPG complies with the specified requirements.
Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024Issued at HKT 10:45
People attend a Chinese language class in Valletta, Malta, on Oct. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Wenxian)
The China Cultural Center in Malta launched its 2024-2025 term on Tuesday, introducing a fresh lineup of classes in Chinese language, traditional Chinese painting, and calligraphy, offering locals new ways to immerse themselves in Chinese culture.
The Chinese language classes, taught by instructors from the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta, span from beginner to intermediate levels and are tailored to different age groups and skill levels. For the first time, the center has introduced a dedicated Chinese reading class for children under eight, a reflection of the rising interest in the language among Malta’s younger learners.
Among the students is 66-year-old Ray Magri, who has been studying Chinese for five years, driven by his passion for Chinese culture. Citing the old Chinese saying, “Never too old to learn,” Magri shared his intention to continue learning for as long as he can.
Another student, Piero Di Meglio, hopes to become fluent in Chinese, including speaking, reading, and writing. A seasoned traveler to China, Di Meglio has reached HSK Level 3, the international benchmark for Chinese proficiency, and aims to advance to Levels 4 and 5 in the coming years.
Newcomer Jonathan Xuereb embraced the challenge of learning Chinese, acknowledging its complexity but calling it “one of the hardest yet most rewarding languages to learn.” Xuereb, open to exploring new cultures, sees language as a gateway to understanding different traditions.
Since 2004, the China Cultural Center has offered Chinese language classes to local residents, expanding in 2023 to include courses in traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. According to Yuan Yuan, the center’s director, these programs provide an important platform for locals to delve into Chinese culture and art.
During the event, Yuan also introduced the English edition of “China in Maltese Eyes”, a book co-published by Heritage Malta and the China Cultural Center. Featuring contributions from over 20 Maltese individuals of varied backgrounds, the book shares personal reflections on China’s culture, history, and contemporary developments, highlighting the growing connection between the two countries.
Headline: Huawei Austria Celebrates Five Years of TECH4ALL Nature Conservation at Biodiversity Forum
[Vienna, Austria, October 10, 2024] Huawei hosted the Innovations for Biodiversity Forum this week to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Huawei’s TECH4ALL digital inclusion initiative and share insights into how technology is revolutionizing biodiversity protection.
Launched in 2019 and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, TECH4ALL leverages technology and partnerships to create a positive impact in four domains: environment, education, health, and development. In the environment domain, Huawei TECH4ALL has run nature conservation projects in 53 protected areas with global and local partners in forest, wetland, and ocean ecosystems around the world.
Media delegates at the TECH4ALL Innovations for Biodiversity Forum
“Over the past five years, Huawei’s TECH4ALL program has demonstrated how technology can be a powerful force for good, addressing global challenges in environmental protection, education, and digital inclusion,” said Harvey Zhang, CEO of Huawei Austria.
The Innovations for Biodiversity Forum focused on TECH4ALL nature conservation projects in Europe, including findings of biodiversity monitoring in the wetland ecosystem around Austria’s Lake Neusiedl.
The quality of the reed bed habitats in this ecosystem is declining, negatively impacting amphibian species, mammals, and bird life. Since 2021, audio monitoring devices have collected more than 2 million individual audio files of 69 bird species.
Wildlife in the reed beds of Lake Neusiedl in Austria
This vast dataset will help develop a conservation management plan for the ecosystem, including controlled fire management to rejuvenate aging reed beds and strengthen overall biodiversity by understanding the habitat preferences of the individual species studied.
“Hardly any reed harvesting has been done in recent decades, which has had a negative impact on the state of the reed belt. The study investigated whether targeted fires could have an effect similar to that of harvesting. To do this, areas that show different age conditions due to fires were compared,” said Dr. Christian Schulze from the Department of Biodiversity Research at the University of Vienna. “The research showed that older reed beds harbor the greatest diversity of bird species. However, the analysis of individual species also shows that controlled reed fires have positive aspects.”
The forum explored a similar TECH4ALL monitoring project in Poland to build a more complete picture of biodiversity in the Białowieża National Park ecosystem, also with the aim of developing targeted conservation measures.
Greek startup PROBOTEK introduced a forest fire-prevention solution that uses sensors, drones, AI, and 5G to detect and transmit real-time video-footage of fire risks, which are on the rise in parts of Europe due to climate change and rising temperatures. The project is designed to enable emergency response in the first ‘golden 15 minutes’ of a forest fire being detected, notify residents of evacuation routes, and plan routes for fire trucks and ambulances.
The forum also looked at the success of an AI-based filtering system designed to protect Norway’s wild Atlantic salmon from possible extinction due to the invasive pink salmon species. The pilot project in 2023 successfully filtered out 6,000 invasive salmon, and expectations are high that the solution, the world’s first of its type, can be scaled out across Norway’s river systems.
On day two of the forum, the media delegation in attendance visited Lake Neusiedl to learn how the TECH4ALL solution works in practice and the transformative effect that intelligent digital technologies can have on nature conservation.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Aiming to optimize lifelong learning, the two forms of higher education — “correspondence” and “part-time” — will be unified as “non-full-time” education, starting next fall.
The name change was included in a circular issued by the Ministry of Education to announce the 2024 national adult college entrance examination that will take place from Oct 19 to 20.
Universities are encouraged to adopt a flexible combination of online and offline teaching methods based on the needs of students and industry demands. Those offering continuing education will have a standardized admissions process through adult college entrance examinations, maintain the same basic requirements for professional teaching and provide unified graduation certificates, the ministry said.
Last year, the number of candidates registering for the adult college entrance examination reached 12 million, a 0.5 percent increase year-on-year, according to the ministry.
This year’s 820 majors for the continuing higher education programs that have been filed by the ministry comprise 411 undergraduate and 409 associate degree courses.
Currently, the continuing higher education programs include full-time, part-time and correspondence courses. The latter two will be unified under the non-full-time category to streamline and enhance the educational experience, said Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute.
The reform, first mentioned in a 2022 directive, highlights the changing landscape of adult education and seeks to offer courses based on societal needs and institutional capabilities, Xiong said.
Correspondence education originally referred to a teaching method where instructors and students communicated via mailed letters. It has since evolved into a remote education model that includes postal letters, online platforms and phone communication. Students focus on self-study and attend intensive in-person sessions lasting seven to 15 days each semester.
On the other hand, part-time education programs are organized on evenings and weekends for concentrated face-to-face instruction.
The format of correspondence education has shifted from its original method of mail-based teaching to predominantly online learning, while part-time programs have also incorporated online teaching methods and moved beyond the requirement for learners to attend in-person night classes.
“The distinction between correspondence and part-time formats arose during a time when online education was less developed, allowing students to choose based on their work and life schedules. However, this division has created limitations for schools in organizing teaching,” Xiong said.
Typically, correspondence education is often perceived as inferior to part-time programs, while part-time programs are considered less important than full-time studies.
“By standardizing these formats under non-full-time education, learners will no longer feel pressured by these distinctions, allowing institutions to organize their teaching more flexibly,” Xiong said.
More importantly, the value of continuing education credentials does not depend on the mode of instruction, but rather on course evaluation and graduation assessments.
“It is crucial to ensure that nonfull-time education diplomas receive the same recognition as those from full-time programs,” he said.
In addition, some training institutions and recruitment agencies may urge learners to take advantage of correspondence programs while they can, as the new pattern will take effect by the fall of 2025.
In response, the ministry has warned against misleading marketing tactics by some training institutions, urging a crackdown on fraud and exam disruptions to protect the integrity of the adult education system.