Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 10 — 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.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s top forest and grassland fire prevention authority has recently issued a notice to bolster the construction of a fire warning and monitoring system, as the country enters the seasons of autumn and winter, which are high-risk periods for wildfires.
The notice was released by the National Forest and Grassland Fire Prevention and Control Command at the end of last month, according to a news release from the Ministry of Emergency Management on Tuesday.
The release said that the notice serves as a directive document for enhancing the forest and grassland fire warning and monitoring systems in the current and future periods.
According to the notice published on the command’s official website, the system will rely on the existing national fire risk prediction and forecasting system, which is supported by the emergency management, forestry, grassland and meteorological departments.
It aims to integrate data collection, improve joint consultation and assessment, and promptly issue various forecasts and warnings.
The notice outlines 13 specific tasks and measures from the perspectives of the warning and monitoring systems, including real-time data sharing, dynamic and precise consultation and assessment and rapid response mechanisms.
Additionally, it provides a step-by-step implementation plan and a timeline for specific tasks, noting that over the next five years, a national warning and monitoring system on forest and grassland fires will be established at an early stage.
Simultaneously, a national forecast system on forest fire risk will be developed.
Routine grassland fire risk forecasting is required to be initiated, and the notice pointed out that this task has been completed this year.
Moreover, comprehensive monitoring stations for forest and grassland fire risk factors will be set up in key areas to establish a preliminary fire risk sensing network, according to the notice.
The fire risk consultation mechanism is also required to be optimized to enhance rolling assessments and short-term warning capabilities.
By 2025, mechanisms for data aggregation and information sharing at all levels will be established. In addition, fires caused by lightning strikes are a key focus, with the notice saying that by 2026, a lightning fire monitoring network will be established in key areas to improve monitoring and warning capabilities targeting the fire factor.
Notably, the notice aims to achieve a fusion of “top-down macro fire forecasting and broad-area monitoring with bottom-up short-term forecasting and real-time monitoring” by 2030.
Last Sunday, the China Meteorological Administration held a special meeting to analyze and assess the forest and grassland fire risk climate trends for autumn and winter, and to deploy next-phase meteorological services.
The meeting emphasized the need to fully utilize modern technologies such as satellite remote sensing and drone monitoring to strengthen rolling monitoring, forecasting and warning of forest and grassland fire risks in key areas and periods, according to a news release from the meteorological agency.
Additionally, it highlighted the importance of strengthening joint consultation and information sharing to ensure timely decision-making.
On Tuesday, the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council released a separate notice on further enhancing grassroots emergency management capabilities, which was published by Xinhua News Agency.
The notice called for promoting a shift in public safety governance toward preemptive prevention, further increasing the accuracy of warnings.
It also emphasized strengthening the construction of monitoring networks for natural disasters such as floods and mudslides, as well as safety production and fire safety risks.
The notice also suggested establishing a system of full-time or part-time information reporters to enhance data aggregation, sharing and comprehensive risk assessment.
It pointed out that local authorities should regularly conduct risk source identification and assessment, actively using advanced technologies such as the internet of things and big data to strengthen real-time risk monitoring in high-risk areas such as aging gas pipelines, bridges, tunnels and dangerous reservoirs, and to formulate safety prevention measures.
Source: The White House
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met with Taoiseach Simon Harris of the Republic of Ireland today in the Oval Office to mark 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland. The President reflected on the deep cultural, people-to-people and economic ties between the two countries, and expressed confidence that the next 100 years will see even deeper cooperation. The President and Taoiseach Harris affirmed that the United States and Ireland will continue to strengthen our partnership and friendship—founded on our shared history, heritage, and hope—in the years ahead.
Source: The White House
2:59 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much, Rabbi, for that introduction. And before I want to be- — before I begin, I want to say, we’re prepared for another hurricane hitting Florida, and that’s what I’ve been doing and why I had to p- — push back these — this sev- — several times. And I apologize.
I directed my team to do everything we can to save lives and help communities before, during, and after the hurricane — the one that has just passed and this awful one that’s about to hit.
My most important message today is for those who are in impacted areas, please, please listen to your local authorities, follow all safety in- — instructions and evacuation orders. This is serious — very serious.
But now to the events of the day. You know, as the — my friends, the — the rabbis in Delaware who I’ve become friends with over the years, have been engaged with, can tell you, I was one of those lucky Christians who was raised by a — a Christian who was — he had — he understood what was going on.
My dad was what we — you’d call “a righteous Christian.” My dad literally raised us to believe that we had to stand up for the — any community being persecuted, and he used to rage — he used to rage at dinner about why we didn’t bomb the railroad tracks in Auschwitz and why we didn’t — and this is the God’s truth, as the rabbis at home could tell you.
And he used to talk about how we wouldn’t let the — that one ship land and — and — with the Jewish refugees on it at the time, during — during the — Hitler’s era. And, you know, he — he talked about how it was important for people to know what happened and not forget.
And one of the things that it taught me was that I — every one of my children and grandchildren, when they turned the age of 14, we put them on a plane and I flew them to Dachau, because I wanted them to see — want them to see that no one could pretend it wasn’t happening.
You go through — you walk through the gate, and you’ll be liberated. Well, to stand — you see those beautiful homes along the outside of that gate, and you’ll know they had to know. They had to know what was going on. And — and I wanted them to understand. I wanted them to see where the ovens were. I wanted them to know what was going on and — because I wanted them to be aware — aware.
And I think one of the things that I’m about to talk about is — you know, the country has been sort of a — I don’t know how I could say it — has not paid nearly much attention to our hi- — the history that brought us —
But when I went over shortly after the — the second, smaller holocaust, but even more vividly seen by the whole world on the 7th, it was — it was because I wanted to let the world know where I stood and where America stood. And I saw the remnants of what had happened 10 days earlier. I saw — and the — anyway, you all know; you understand it.
But now, this event today — I want to thank you for joining this call, and I apologize for having had to reschedule it.
You know, at my direction, last week, the United States military took unprecedented action again to actively assist the successful defense of Israel. You’ve — you’ve heard me say before that I got very badly criticized as a young senator for saying, “I’m a Zionist.” You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist. It’s not necessary.
And the idea — I firmly believe — without an Israel, every Jew in the world’s security is less stable. I mean that. It doesn’t mean that Jewish leadership doesn’t have to be more progressive than it is, but it does mean it has to exist, and that’s what worries me most about what’s going on now.
You’ve heard me say before that my commitment to the safety of the Jewish people and the security of Israel as the right to exist is independent — independent of that — of everything else. The Jewish state has to remain. It has to remain — the ironclad commitment to it.
In the last three years, it’s been the honor to do this High Holiday with all of you from the White House in a season of joy and a season of pain. And that’s what we’ve been going through: a season of joy and pain.
You know, you are the rock for your people. I want to thank you for all you do every single day for your congregations, for your communities, for our country.
You know, I know this year’s call is very different, and it’s a very — a difficult time for the Jewish community and for Jews around the world. In the midst of the High Holidays, two days ago, we commemorated the first anniversary of October 7th, the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.
And a year later, with the trauma and the loss from that day and its aftermath, it’s still raw. It’s hard to memorialize and mourn a tragedy that’s still ongoing. Hostages still in captivity — some American Jews as well; loved ones still in harm’s way; survivors carrying wounds, seen and unseen, that never go away. The families and friends left behind will never, never be the same.
I just spoke with Pres- — Prime Minister Netanyahu for about an hour this morning and offered my condolences on this somber one-year anniversary.
Throughout this year, my wife, Jill, and I, Kamala and Doug mourned along with all of you, including after the appalling execution of the six hostages, including America’s own Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 24-year-old last week — who just turned — would have turned 24 last week.
My administration is doubling down on our work to secure the release of the remaining hostages, just as we have freed hostages already. And we will not rest until they’re all home.
As you saw just last week, the United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran and all its proxies — Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. We’re doing everything we can to ease the suffering of all the people from this war against Hamas and that Hamas started.
As Israel’s ambassador to Washington said at the memorial two days ago, quote, “We remember the Jewish commandment that we are all created in the image of God,” and “the loss of innocent life — Israel — Israeli, Palestinian, Lebanese, or others — is a tragedy.” Well, I feel the same way. Far too many civilians have suffered far too much during this year’s conflict.
I also want you to know that I see you, I hear you, I see your pain from the ferocious surge of antisemitism in America and, quite frankly, around the world — absolutely despicable. And I hope we h- — we learned a lesson from our parents’ generation. We have to stand up. We have to call it out. It has to be stopped.
In America, we respect and protect the fundamental right of free speech to protest peacefully. But there is no place — emphasize, no place — anywhere in America — none — for antisemitism, hate speech, or threats of violence of any kind against the Jews or anyone else.
Long before October the 7th — long before — I launched the first National Security [Strategy] to Counter Antisemitism in American history — the first time in American history. Vice President Harris and I and our entire administration are aggressively implementing that commitment.
Since we took office, we secured a record of over $800 million for the physical security of nonprofits, including synagogues, Jewish community centers, Jewish day schools all around the country.
Since October 7, ‘23 — in 2023, we’ve secured an additional $400 million — the largest single increase ever in funding — ever.
And we have concrete evidence that our historic assistance is making an impact and the investment matters.
The Department of Education has put our colleges on notice about something that should be obvious to everyone — that antisemitism is discrimination. Say it again: Antisemitism is discrimination and prohibited under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
And the Department of Homeland Security has proved — provided resources to train campus law enforcement, administrators on how to ensure Jewish students are safe on campus. And we’re going to keep working to ensure — ensure that Jewish students can get their education free of intimidation and harassment.
The Department of Justice is also moving swiftly to investigate and prosecute antisemitic hate crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable.
We encourage you, as members of your community, to please report incidences to local law enforcement.
My administration is calling on the social media companies to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward antisemitism and other hateful content, including the vile antisemitic attacks online that we’ve seen in recent days against public officials leading responses to recovery efforts to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
You know, it’s appalling, but we — it must end now. We have to speak and end it now.
Globally, our nation’s first ambassador to the level of special envoy and to monitor and combat antisemitism is Deb- — Debor- — Deborah Lipstadt — Lipstadt. And Deborah has mobilized more than 40 countries and international organizations to support our new guidelines for countering antisemitism around the world. And this matters, but I know there’s so much more to do.
And let me assure you as your president that you are not alone. You belong, always — always have, always will be, and always must be protected.
From the inception of our nation, Jewish Americans have enriched every part of American life. Let me say that again. From our very inception as a nation, Jewish Americans have enriched every part of American life, and you’re going to continue to do so for many years to come.
Let me close with this. I think about the wisdom I’ve learned from Jewish communities in Delaware and across the country that I’ve gotten to know over the years. It seems to me there is a delicate yet profound balance between joy and pain to the High Holidays.
Rosh Hashanah is a day of celebration in the Je- — of — for the Jewish New Year. But it’s also a day of judgment.
Similarly, Yom Kippur is the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar, yet Jewish scholars say it’s also the happiest day because it’s a time of — for forgiveness and for renewal.
And in two weeks, you celebrate another holiday for the singing and dancing of the — for — for the Torah. You know, I know you’ll do so with profound sorrow in your soul because, last year, that holiday was shattered by October the 7th.
From my perspective, Jewish people have embodied this duality of pain and joy for generations. It’s your strength. The Jewish people have always chosen to find joy and happiness and light, despite centuries of suffering, persecution, and pain.
That’s the ending and — of what — this — look, this is — is enduring — it’s an enduring lesson and legacy for the Jewish people and for all of America to understand.
So, thank you for continuing to find joy in the darkness and shine your light on the nation and on the world.
God bless you all. And may you have a happy New Year.
3:11 P.M. EDT
In 2023, almost a year’s worth of rain fell over ten days in parts of northwestern Australia, leading to catastrophic flooding in the town of Fitzroy Crossing and surrounds. The rainfall was linked to a tropical cyclone, but there were also lesser-known forces at work: huge, planet-scale oscillations called atmospheric waves which bring heavy rain to northern Australia.
While climate drivers such as El Niño and La Niña are becoming more familiar to many Australians, fewer understand the significant role played by atmospheric waves, which are like vast musical notes resonating around the globe. These waves can greatly influence rainfall and extreme weather events in Australia – and we don’t know yet whether they could grow more intense as the world warms.
In our latest research, we discovered how these waves affect Australia’s rainfall, and how they can help us make better weather forecasts. The research is published in the Journal of Climate.
What are atmospheric waves?
You can think of atmospheric waves as huge musical notes that travel through the atmosphere around the equator. Just like a musical note, an atmospheric wave has a frequency (a pitch, or how often it oscillates) and an amplitude (a volume or intensity).
Atmospheric waves can interact with each other to create complex melodies and harmonies in the atmosphere. They affect many aspects of the atmosphere, such as wind, humidity and pressure.
In the same way musical harmony can evoke emotions, certain combinations of atmospheric waves can lead to complex clusters of clouds that evoke extreme rain events.
Equatorial atmospheric waves were first discovered mathematically in 1966 by Japanese researcher Taroh Matsuno. By solving equations that describe the behaviour of the atmosphere near the equator, he found waves that could be categorised by frequency, structure, speed and direction of movement.
Later research found these waves exist in the real world – and they have been studied ever since.
Some of the most important waves are called Kelvin waves and equatorial Rossby waves. Kelvin waves are centred around the equator, propagate to the east, and take between 2.5 and 17 days to complete one oscillation.
On the other hand, equatorial Rossby waves are structured as a pair of swirls, one north of the equator and one to the south, which propagate to the west. They are also slower than Kelvin waves, taking between 9 and 72 days to complete an oscillation.
There are also two other kinds of equatorial fluctuations, discovered after Matsuno’s original work. These are the Madden–Julian Oscillation, which propagates eastward, and tropical depression-type waves, which propagate to the west. Both of these have their own frequencies and influences on the Australian atmosphere.
Impacts on Australian weather
We studied the relationship between these waves and rainfall in northern Australia from 1981 to 2018. We found the waves had a significant impact on rainfall during the southern summer (December–February) and autumn (March–May).
Equatorial Rossby waves that cross Australia may make heavy rainfall around 1.5 times as likely as normal, while tropical depression-type waves make it 1.3 times more likely.
When waves combine in certain ways, heavy rain events become even more likely.
Atmospheric waves travelling around the equator can increase the chances of heavy rain – and combinations of waves can have an even greater impact. Fadhlil Rizki Muhammad
For example, a combination of an equatorial Rossby wave and the Madden–Julian Oscillation can make heavy rain in northern Australia two to three times more likely. Similarly, if a tropical depression-type wave and an equatorial Rossby wave cross Australia at the same time, heavy rainfall could be twice as likely as usual.
Due to Australia’s vast landmass and local geography, the impacts of these waves are quite different across the continent. Regions such as the Kimberley, Cape York and the Top End experience the largest impact from these waves, increasing the chance of heavy rain by up to 3.3 times.
Meanwhile, the impacts of these waves on the eastern coast of Queensland and inland Queensland are not as great as in the other regions. However, the change in likelihood is still quite high: the waves can make heavy rain 1.4–2.2 times more likely than it would otherwise be.
What does the future look like?
We have shown that the activity of these “atmospheric melodies” is important and potentially provides room for improvement in weather models.
Currently, a good representation of these waves in weather models can improve forecasts up to two weeks ahead.
A better representation of these waves may improve future weather prediction in the tropics.
Fadhlil Rizki Muhammad receives funding from The University of Melbourne and ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes.
Andrew King receives funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather and the National Environmental Science Program.
Claire Vincent receives funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes and the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century
Sandro W. Lubis receives funding from U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research as part of Global and Regional Model Analysis program area. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC05-76RLO1830.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Quentin Grafton, Australian Laureate Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
The contest between truth and post-truth matters when trying to solve big public policy questions. One of these questions is how to sustainably manage water in Australia for the benefit of all.
Truths can be confirmed or, at the very least, can be proved false. Post-truths, however, are opinions that masquerade as facts and are not supported by verifiable evidence.
Post-truths muddy political and policy debates. They leave everyday people simply not knowing what to believe anymore. This prevents good policy being enacted.
As I outline in a speech to the National Press Club today, several post-truths, espoused by a wide range of people and organisations, are getting in the way of Australian water reforms. These reforms are essential to secure a better water future for the driest inhabitable continent.
Water policy in Australia is now at a crucial juncture. This year is the 20th anniversary of the National Water Initiative that was meant to lay the foundations for sustainable water management. The completion date of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, accompanied by billions of dollars in funding, is just two years away.
Yet the so-called “water wars” are raging again. Here are five post-truth claims to watch out for.
Australia’s water wars are raging again. Shutterstock
1. Water buybacks to sustain rivers harm communities
The Australian government buys water rights from willing sellers to return water to the environment. These buybacks have been controversial and blamed, with little evidence, for causing many farmers to become distressed and bankrupt, and to leave farming.
It’s true some irrigators are opposed to buybacks and prefer subsidies to build more efficient irrigation infrastructure on their properties.
But converting state water licences to a system of tradeable water rights gifted irrigators rights now worth tens of billions of dollars. In return, the government was supposed to buy back enough water from willing sellers to return rivers to health.
But insufficient water has been bought back from irrigators, for a couple of reasons.
First, the federal budget for buybacks was much less than needed to reduce irrigators’ water use to sustainable levels.
The truth is, buybacks from willing sellers are much more cost-effective than taxpayer-subsidised irrigation infrastructure. Research shows infrastructure subsidies give irrigators an incentive to use even more water.
And there is robust evidence that, overall, the net social and economic impacts of water buybacks are positive. They give sellers the flexibility to adjust their farming practices in ways that are best for them.
2. Efficient irrigation ‘saves’ water and increases stream flows
Australia’s irrigation industry, in general, uses water efficiently. It’s a result of many practices, ranging from drip irrigation to covered water channels to digital monitoring technology, among other things.
Landholders have been paid billions of dollars for efficiency improvements. These same taxpayer dollars, paradoxically, may have reduced stream flows in some of our largest rivers. That’s because more efficient irrigation can decrease the amount of water flowing from farmers’ fields to rivers and aquifers.
For a start, the water markets are unjust. First Peoples, who were dispossessed of their land and water from 1788 onwards, still have only a tiny share of Australia’s water rights.
In key areas, Australian water management is also far from best practice. For example, building weirs and dams has partly or completely disconnected groundwater from surface water and prevented or restricted the water flows to floodplains and wetlands that keep them healthy.
Fish, bird and invertebrate habitats have been destroyed as a result. This must change if we are to avoid further degradation of river ecosystems.
There is no more obvious sign of the ongoing destruction of Australia’s waterways than the fish kills along the Baaka (Lower Darling River) at Menindee. This happened in 2018–19, during a drought, and again in early 2023, when there was no drought.
The New South Wales Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer investigated the 2023 fish kill. Its report found:
Mass fish deaths are symptomatic of degradation of the broader river ecosystem over many years […] failure in policy implementation is the root cause of the decline in the river ecosystem and the consequent fish deaths.
4. All Australians have reliable access to good-quality water
It’s true that residents of Australia’s biggest cities and towns enjoy reliable, good-quality water supplies 24/7. But it’s also true that hundreds of thousands of Australians in rural and remote areas regularly face multiple drinking water threats.
These threats result in temporary public advice notices to boil water to remove microbiological pollution and health warnings about contaminants that boiling cannot remove, such as nitrates. A few dozen communities have elevated levels of the “forever chemicals”, PFAS, in their tap water.
5. Dams can ‘drought-proof’ Australia
It’s true that dams have helped Australia cope with variable rainfall from year to year. It’s also true, however, that despite building very large water storages in the 20th century, too much water is being diverted in multiple places. They include the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia’s “food bowl”.
Australia is over-extracting the available water in its dams. It’s happening in the northern Murray-Darling Basin, where there is little control over how much overflow from rivers onto floodplains can be taken.
Over-extraction is a big problem, especially during long droughts when there may be very little water to spare. It means the livelihoods of downstream irrigators with perennial plantings, such as grapes or fruit trees, are at stake. If their trees die, so do their businesses.
A sustainable future must be built on facts
Responding to Australia’s water crises is a huge challenge. It’s made even more difficult if we accept the post-truth claims, rather than verifiable facts about how we manage our waters.
Real reform is needed to secure a sustainable Australian water future. To achieve this, we must tell the truth, acknowledge what’s wrong and be clear about what works and what doesn’t.
Quentin Grafton receives funding from the Australian Research Council in relation to his water research. He is a former Member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists (2010-2011).
John Williams is affiliated as founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a former Chief CSIRO Land and Water and former NSW Comissioner of Natural Resources.
World Mental Health Day is a timely reminder that integrating mental health care into schools, workplaces, and communities is critical for improving health outcomes and reducing costs. Expanding digital interventions and peer-support systems are also crucial, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Mental health is crucial for ensuring the health and well-being of individuals and populations. Integrating mental health care into homes, schools, workplaces, health care services, and elderly care facilities will improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
Good mental health may lead to improved academic performance and work productivity, and stronger interpersonal relationships and social connections.
We need to ensure that developing countries in Asia and the Pacific are addressing the increasing global burden of mental health issues and treatment gaps.
It is important to integrate mental health support with other services and activities relevant to people’s life stage. In schools, this means school-based mental health programs. In workplaces, it includes incorporating mental health support in employment support programs.
In communities, mental health services need to be part of primary care services, particularly those addressing the needs of pregnant women, new mothers, and older people.
Mental health must be integrated into universal health coverage strategies to build resilient health systems and ensure equitable care for all.
Mental health is complex and complicated but this should not mean that those suffering from poor mental health must accept limited lives. With effective treatment, they can live full and productive lives.
Improved access to mental health care services, engaging people with lived experiences of mental health disorders, and support from families and friends all make a difference. Governments need to embed peer-support insights in addressing barriers to access to care and evaluating the effectiveness of mental health services.
Governments also need to expand digital interventions for mental health as there is growing evidence that digital health interventions have the potential to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health service delivery and help deliver better health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Digital interventions for mental health can be used to increase mental health literacy. This can include using social media for public health communication aimed at supporting good mental health and destigmatizing discussions about mental health, for example through events like World Mental Health Day and R U OK? Day.
It can also facilitate engaging people with lived experiences through online communities to discuss various aspects of their lives, providing access to evidence-based information through trusted websites, and utilizing social media platforms to promote mental health and social connectedness in later years.
Digital tools can also support training with online self-training tools, and access to specialist training via webinars and other online training platforms.
Promoting and protecting mental wellness throughout the lifespan should be part of universal health coverage strategies of developing member countries. Health promotion at primary health and community care levels should help educate about mental health.
Clinical care pathways and treatment guidelines must be strengthened to ensure referral to specialist care. National health insurance systems should include mental health treatment as part of their benefits or covered health services.
Indeed, addressing mental health serves as an important step towards building resilient health systems which will help people and communities adapt and mitigate climate change. We must step up efforts to protect mental health for all, placing it at the heart of universal health coverage, and leaving no one behind.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (10 October 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has published a comprehensive report detailing its sovereign default and loss rates over a 34-year period. This report is made in keeping with ADB’s commitment to data transparency and shows the remarkable credit performance of loans to its developing member countries (DMCs).
The report reveals that ADB has not lost principal, interest, or fees on the more than $250 billion of loans it has extended in its sovereign operations since 1990.
The report indicates that the average default rate on the ordinary capital resources sovereign portfolio is 0.54%. It further demonstrates that ADB experienced zero new defaults from 2010 to 2021. The low default rate confirms the strength of ADB’s relationship with its DMCs and the preferred creditor treatment accorded to ADB.
“The average default rate of the sovereign operation is comparable to that of an investment grade portfolio. Compiling and making these data points available to the public will help build a better understanding of emerging market debt originated by multilateral development banks (MDBs),” ADB Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management Roberta Casali said. “It will also allow external parties to make more accurate assessments of the risks involved in investing through or with us.”
ADB regularly contributes credit data to the Global Emerging Markets Risk Database Consortium (GEMs). The consortium, which includes data from 25 MDBs and development finance institutions, provides insights into the risks associated with investing in emerging markets. The transparency efforts of ADB and GEMs are in line with the recommendations from the Independent Expert Panel commissioned by the G20. These recommendations aim to enhance data transparency as part of an overall effort to optimize balance sheets and increase the lending capacity of MDBs.
ADB continuously explores ways to effectively manage its capital to help the region address simultaneous crises. In 2023, it unlocked $100 billion in additional lending capacity over the next decade by updating its Capital Adequacy Framework. ADB is working with its development finance partners to mobilize investments in emerging markets through innovative solutions, including risk sharing and structured approaches.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
A Police investigation has shut down a criminal syndicate’s operation, allegedly importing and distributing a concoction of illegal substances across parts of the upper North Island.
Today, six arrests have been made at addresses across the Auckland and Waikato regions.
Police also arrested a man alleged to be a key player in the operation, after he got off a domestic flight at Auckland Airport.
Today’s execution is a result of Operation Banner, an investigation run by the Auckland Money Laundering Team since the beginning of the year.
Overall, Police have recovered nearly $1 million in cash, 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine as well as LSD, cocaine, and ketamine.
Numerous electronic devices have been seized as part of the ongoing Police investigation.
The officer in charge of the team, Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Dunhill, says the operation was allegedly distributing across the Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty areas.
“We will allege this organised criminal group used a range of delivery methods to try and outwit law enforcement agencies in New Zealand and abroad,” he says.
“This included allegedly using vacant rental properties or storage units to facilitate importations and deliveries.
“Our investigation is also examining where the profit of this misery is ending up.”
Today’s arrests are a result of months of painstaking and detailed investigation work.
“Police staff have been executing search warrants across Auckland and the Waikato today, with support from the Armed Offenders Squad in Hamilton,” Detective Senior Sergeant Dunhill says.
“We have been working closely with our partners at Customs, as well as international agencies throughout the course of this year over the investigation.”
All six men, aged between 26 and 41, are expected in the Auckland District Court this afternoon.
Most charged face serious drugs offences including importing controlled drugs, possession for supply of methamphetamine and conspiring to import a class B controlled drug.
Further arrests are likely.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dunhill says: “We have seized numerous devices for forensic investigation, and this will form part of the ongoing investigation into money laundering offences.
“The connection between money and drugs in the criminal environment remains of strong interest to Police, as these organised criminal groups continue to profit off the misery that they are selling into communities.
“Their operations are far from innocent given the far-reaching impacts drugs have on the wider community, from health through to further criminal offences being carried out.”
Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, urged Israel on Wednesday to stop weaponizing humanitarian assistance, lift the blockade of Gaza and the restrictions on humanitarian access, and cooperate fully with the UN and other humanitarian agencies.
In remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Fu said the Gaza conflict and the situation in the Middle East have been at the forefront of the council’s work since October last year, but the situation has not improved so far, and “instead, it has continued to deteriorate.”
“The authority of international law seems to exist in name only for certain states, and the bottom line of international humanitarian law has been repeatedly shattered,” he lamented.
Fu stressed, “We cannot accept that death and hunger have become the new normal in Gaza.”
Underscoring that humanitarian aid is the hope for survival for the people in Gaza, the ambassador said the role of UNRWA, the UN relief agency for Palestinians, is indispensable and irreplaceable. “China firmly opposes Israel’s smearing and suppression of UNRWA, and is gravely concerned about the relevant Knesset bills targeting the agency.”
He said the international community cannot allow the conflict to drag on and expand, and cannot “just sit back and watch the entire Middle East plunging into an all-out war.”
“The harsh reality has proved that winning a war does not necessarily mean having peace, military might alone cannot guarantee lasting security, and the obsession with force only creates more killings and hatred,” Fu pointed out, urging Israel to cease all military operations in Gaza and put an end to the collective punishment of the people in Gaza.
He said the intensified settlement activities and violence in the West Bank were a de-facto obliteration of the foundation of the two-State solution, and must stop immediately.
“Lebanon must not become the next Gaza,” he said, adding that China calls on all parties to exercise restraint and achieve a ceasefire, and urges Israel in particular to stop taking actions that would further escalate the situation.
Ossufo Momade (Front) of Mozambique’s main opposition party Renamo is seen after casting his vote at a polling station in Maputo, Mozambique, on Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Mozambicans began voting on Wednesday for a new president.
Around 17 million people are registered to vote, including 333,839 voters registered in the diaspora participating from seven African and two European countries as part of Mozambique’s global electoral process.
The 2024 general elections mark the seventh presidential election, with the ruling party Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, 47, aiming to succeed incumbent President Filipe Nyusi, who is completing his maximum of two terms.
Chapo faces competition from three other candidates: Lutero Simango of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique, Ossufo Momade of the main opposition party Renamo, and independent candidate Venancio Mondlane backed by Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique.
In addition to the presidential race, voters will elect 250 members of parliament and 794 members for provincial assemblies, with 35 political parties competing for national parliamentary seats and 14 parties and civic groups vying for provincial positions.
According to observers from national and international organizations, the one-day electoral process is proceeding smoothly. Reports indicate that 92.8 percent of the 3,297 voting stations visited by 800 electoral observers had the presence of party delegates.
After casting his vote at around 7:05 a.m. local time on Wednesday at the Josina Machel Secondary School in the country’s capital of Maputo, President Nyusi urged for calm throughout the voting process.
“The game has 90 minutes. Only after the whistle do we know the result. We must avoid declaring victory prematurely, after 15 or 20 minutes, or even during halftime,” he stated, emphasizing that results should not be announced before the official conclusion.
He also underscored the necessity of maintaining peace and transparency during the election, saying “Let’s ensure our democracy strengthens the development of our country.”
Despite the rainy weather in the capital, which he referred to as a “blessing,” Nyusi encouraged all eligible voters to head to the polls within Mozambique and in the nine other countries where they are voting.
Chapo, if elected, would become the first leader born after Mozambique’s independence. After casting his vote in Inhambane Province in southern Mozambique, he called for a peaceful continuation of the electoral process, urging that the celebratory spirit of the campaign carry through to the voting and counting phases.
“We saw that during the campaign, all Mozambicans were in a festive mood. The campaign was orderly, peaceful, and without violence. Our appeal is that we continue in this manner today, even after the polls close, during the counting, and the announcement of results,” Chapo said.
Momade expressed his desire for the elections to be free, fair, and transparent, respecting the will of the voters. “We want free, fair, and transparent elections. We want the decision of Mozambicans to be respected,” Momade said shortly after voting at Josina Machel Secondary School in Maputo.
After casting his vote at the 25 de Setembro Primary School in Maputo, Mondlane called for continued vigilance among voters, especially the youth, until results are announced.
“Today is a pivotal day for our future. I think it’s a historic moment. History is anxious, announcing a generational transition, a democratic changeover,” he said to journalists, warning that if there are signs of fraud, the reaction will not be as peaceful as in previous elections.
Vote counting is expected to begin immediately after polls close. The National Election Commission (CNE) has up to 15 days to deliver the full results to the Constitutional Council for validation and formal declaration.
According to the CNE, the electoral process is being monitored by 11,516 national observers and 412 international observers, including delegations from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, the European Union, and the Southern African Development Community.
People visit the China Homelife USA expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, the United States, on Sept. 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Stable China-United States business ties would contribute to the security and stability of global industrial supply chains, fostering a favorable policy environment for collaboration between companies from both sides, said market watchers and business executives on Wednesday.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday that China has called on the US to promptly lift sanctions on Chinese companies and enhance the business environment for its firms operating in the US.
During a phone call with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on the same day, China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao expressed serious concerns over US policies on semiconductors, targeting China, and restrictions on Chinese intelligent connected vehicles.
It is necessary to clarify national security boundaries in the economic and trade fields, as it is conducive to maintaining the security and stability of global industrial supply chains and creating a favorable policy environment for cooperation between the business communities from the two countries, Wang stressed.
This conversation was part of the institutional communication arrangement between the commerce authorities of both countries, said the Ministry of Commerce.
As many global industries, such as electronics, automotive and pharmaceuticals, rely on components and materials sourced from both China and the US, a stable relationship can minimize disruptions and prevent production delays and supply shortages in many business areas, said Wang Zhongmei, a researcher at the Institute of World Economy of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Zhang Yongjun, a researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges in Beijing, warned that given various factors such as the upcoming US election in early November, it is critical to view Sino-US economic and trade relations with caution.
In the short term, there will be challenges, but in the long run, the trend of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the US remains unchangeable, said Zhang.
“For US companies, China is an indispensable market,” he added. “If trade tensions escalate, these companies may once again urge the US government to adopt a more proactive and balanced economic and trade policy. Business needs can, to a certain extent, influence government actions.”
According to the 2024 Kearney FDI (foreign direct investment) Confidence Index, reflecting investors’ expectations for FDI over the next three years, China’s global ranking has risen from seventh to third place.
“Multinational companies initially looked at China as a supplier and then as a huge market. But now, increasingly, we are looking at China as an innovation center,” said Andrew Wu, general manager of the China branch of US-based commercial data and analytics firm Dun & Bradstreet.
Also viewing China as crucial to its global business strategy, Willie Tan, CEO of Skechers China, South Korea and Southeast Asia, said that despite external challenges, China remains a crucial market for global brands. Its vast consumer base, strategic importance in global supply chains and ongoing commitment to reform and innovation create significant opportunities.
With over 3,500 stores in China, the US footwear brand plans to continue market expansion in the coming years.
Mark Jaffe, CEO of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, said that no one wants to halt cooperation and exchange between the two countries. China and the US have already established long-term partnerships in fields such as artificial intelligence and pharmaceuticals.
In the face of increasingly intense global competition, Jaffe said it will be necessary for the two sides to further expand and deepen trade relations in the future.
In the first eight months of 2024, the US remained China’s third-largest trading partner, with the total trade value between the two countries reaching 3.15 trillion yuan ($446.21 billion), up 4.4 percent year-on-year and accounting for 11 percent of China’s total foreign trade value, statistics from the General Administration of Customs showed.
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.
It has been 50 years since the cinema release of Peter Weir’s iconic, offbeat, cult classic The Cars That Ate Paris. The film seared the image of a silver Volkswagen Beetle weaponised with deadly spikes into the national imagination. It also helped shape the tropes of Ozploitation filmmaking within the history of Australian cinema.
Main character Arthur Waldo (Terry Camilleri) and his older brother drive through idyllic countryside, filmed like a tourism commercial. But when a sign diverts them off the highway towards the fictitious town of Paris, it soon becomes clear the place survives on a “crash economy”.
Older men in the community orchestrate car crashes on the road into Paris and survivors are taken to a hospital where a psychopathic doctor experiments on them. The townsfolk trade luggage from the cars for food and clothing and wrecks are salvaged by youths who terrorise the community.
The mayor of Paris (John Meillon) pities Arthur and adopts him into his family. Arthur is eventually forced to work as the town’s sole parking inspector, gripped by a phobia of driving, having caused more than one death from behind the wheel.
A uniquely Australian genre
Cars was Australia’s first “car crash” film. These were Ozploitation films, which privileged “low” culture and sensationalist sex, violence, nudity or gore to shock viewers after the R rating was introduced in 1971.
The Mad Max franchise later popularised the car-crash trope to create what has been regarded as a uniquely Australian film genre in the 1970s and 1980s. Movies in this canon included Chain Reaction (1980), Dead End Drive-In (1986) and Road Games (1981).
Both The Cars That Ate Paris and Weir’s next feature – Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), which would catapult him onto the global stage – marked a critical turning point for Australian cinema. They generated increased interest from distributors and film buyers in international markets and established the Australian Gothic style.
Cars is one of our most iconic Australian horror movies, but it is paradoxically a movie most Australians have never seen.
‘No one leaves Paris … no one.’
The slow burn of success
Cars was Weir’s second feature film and a far more polished effort than his first experimental horror. Homesdale (1971) is about the owners of a guesthouse performing hideous social experiments on characters already suffering trauma.
Cars was the first Australian movie to screen at France’s prestigious Cannes Film Festival. It marked a significant achievement for a local movie during the rebirth of the local movie industry, after the production of fiction movies had collapsed during the 1950s.
To market the film, Car’s producers drove the spiked Volkswagen around Cannes’ streets in an ingenious attempt to hype its screening during a packed festival schedule. The film was well received, but as critic David Stratton observed, it proved just too different from anything Australian filmmakers had made before, and indeed to anything being made anywhere.
The film failed to secure a distributor or reach large audiences at home or abroad – though it was released several years later in North America as The Cars That Eat People.
A cult following
A key reason for the movie’s slow reception was also why it became a cult classic: it defies filmic categories. It was originally promoted as a horror movie before being marketed as an art film. This was partly because the movie’s tone shifts jarringly from parody and black comedy to social commentary, before settling on all-out horror.
The film was later released with a different title. IMDB
The story is mostly a dark comment on authority, normality and car culture, which descends into schlock violence in the final act. After the older patriarchy punishes youths for terrorising the streets, a gang of monstrous cars – including the iconic porcupine VW beetle – idle on a darkened hill to the sound of animal noises. The killer cars attack the town, leading to murder, mayhem and a violent battle.
Authur, drawn into the fight, kills one of the youths by repeatedly reversing over him. But rather than express shock or regret, he delights at being cured of his phobia. Arthur drives out of town joyously as survivors of the carnage flee the burning town.
Some things don’t change
The movie’s longevity comes from how it tackles social issues at the heart of the national character. Onscreen we see a dark critique of our obsession with cars and the “hoon culture” that results in tragic speeding or drink-driving-related deaths every year.
The movie also examines tensions between generations. The older, conservative generation arranges car crashes before hypocritically attending church services and preaching justice. The younger hoons bristle at being controlled in a town where they see no future.
One of the movie’s lasting thematic contributions to Ozploitation film is Weir’s depiction of the economic fragility and inopportunity of rural economies that lead to absurdly immoral activities.
More recently, the 2010 film The Clinic adapted this premise by portraying the small town of Montgomery as reliant on an illegal international adoption ring. Townsfolk steal babies and force their mothers to fight to the death in an abandoned abattoir while affluent foreign couples watch on monitors to determine which baby they will adopt.
The Clinic is a bleak, absurd example. But it shows how The Cars That Ate Paris continues to influence Australian cinema in profound and surprising ways.
Mark David Ryan has received funding from the Australian Film Institute Research Collection (AFIRC) fellowship and is a co-founding member of the Streaming Industries and Genres Network (SIGN).
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited Japan from Oct. 7-8 to meet with senior Japanese officials and officiate the U.S. Forces Japan change of command.
Paparo met with Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen; Minister of Foreign Affairs Iwaya Takeshi; National Security Advisor Akiba Takeo; Japan Joint Staff Chief of Staff Gen. Yoshida Yoshihide; and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel.
In their discussions, Paparo reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthen regional collaboration and address current security challenges. He emphasized appreciation for the continued progress of the trilateral cooperation between the U.S., Japan, and the Republic of Korea, as well as the importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other regional partners, including Australia and Philippines. Paparo emphasized the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence with Japan and the modernization of Alliance command and control (C2) frameworks, including the reconstitution of U.S. Forces Japan into an operational joint force headquarters.
During the visit, Paparo oversaw the U.S. Forces Japan change of command ceremony, in which Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp relinquished command to Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost. U.S. Pacific Air Forces Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Laura Lenderman subsequently presided over the 5th Air Force change of command. In his speech, Paparo highlighted Rupp’s contributions to enhancing the Alliance over his tenure and welcomed Jost, highlighting the critical role he will play amidst a challenging security environment.
Originally established at Fuchu Air Station on July 1, 1957, USFJ, with its U.S. Army, U.S Marine Corps, U.S Navy, and U.S Air Force elements, consists of approximately 66,000 military and Department of Defense civilian and contractor personnel 45,000 dependents, and 25,000 Japanese workers. U.S. forces are stationed in Japan pursuant to the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security of 1960.
The U.S.-Japan Alliance continues to be the cornerstone of regional peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. USINDOPACOM remains committed to the unwavering defense of Japan under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and will continue to enrich the bilateral relationship through cooperation, commitment to regional security, and a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
“New Zealand universities should be alarmed by new rankings that suggest they are becoming less internationally relevant,” says ACT Tertiary Education spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar.
“No New Zealand universities have improved their position in theTHE World University Rankings. These rankings are of real importance to international students who pay full fees and effectively subsidise our university system.
“According to the rankings, there is one area in which every single New Zealand university has lost credibility, and that is their international outlook. That measure covers their proportion of international students and staff and their level of international collaboration.
“ACT is deeply concerned that a growing obsession with the Treaty of Waitangi and local indigenous knowledge will only see universities become more inward-looking, less internationally-relevant, and less attractive to international students.
“Take the example of the University of Auckland, which has fallen out of the top 150 for the first time since 2020, and within three years has fallen 6.1 percentage points in its international outlook score.
“From next year, the University plans to force all first-year students to complete a ‘Waipapa Taumata Rau’ course covering the Treaty of Waitangi and traditional Māori knowledge systems.
“This compulsory course will not effectively serve international students, who make up 31 percent of the student body. Nor will it effectively serve Kiwi students who want to prepare themselves for an international career.
“The University of Auckland’s compulsory course is just one example. Academics and students from multiple universities have told ACT that indigenous knowledge and Treaty propaganda has diffused into almost every area of study. How will universities attract international lecturers by asking them to put a local indigenous lens over their years of hard-studied subject-matter expertise?
“If our universities want to collaborate on the world stage, they need to rediscover the value of universal knowledge systems such as the scientific method, and the free and open contest of ideas. Forcing students to learn and staff to teach within the framework of unscientific, politicised, indigenous knowledge systems is not the answer.
“Putting indigenous knowledge on a pedestal may impact universities’ rankings on other metrics too.As ACT has previously argued, effective academic inquiry requires that all knowledge is contestable.”
SH1 is now open as of 2 pm to one lane past the crash site, using Stop/Go.
12:25pm:
The Police Serious Crash Unit is attending a serious injury two vehicle crash south of Christchurch between the Rakaia River and Dunsandel this morning, near the Breadings Road intersection. The crash was reported before 11 am.
The highway is closed between North Rakaia Road and Old South Road, but detours are in place for light and general access vehicles only. Motorcyclists should take care on the detour routes.
Detours for southbound traffic – cars, utes, light vehicles:
Turn onto Heslerton Road, then Old South Road, continue on Old South Road, turn onto Main Rakaia Road and back onto SH1.
Northbound traffic:
Reverse of above.
Heavier vehicles/ truck drivers:
50MAX, HPMV, Overweight and Overdimension permit holders must check the conditions of their permit and with OPIA and Selwyn District Council if wanting to use the detour route.
Expect to see road crews and traffic managers out and about repairing and re-sealing highways and keeping road users safe around Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes Districts from now onwards, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
Please give them a friendly wave, says NZTA. ”They will be working through some extremely hot conditions in coming months and appreciate people building in extra time to reduce stress when the highways are so busy, often with people unfamiliar with the local road layouts,” says Peter Standring, Maintenance Contract Manager with NZTA across the two Central Otago districts.
Police are working closely with the work crews in an endeavour to clamp down on any dangerous behaviour around these work sites.
As well as the NZTA highway work there will also be third party private developer projects underway, which also affect highway travel. With a moratorium on all planned works over the Christmas period, traffic interruptions will be kept to an absolute minimum during this peak time.
Aspiring Highways, on behalf of NZTA, will be delivering road reconstruction and resurfacing projects across the two districts.
Rebuilding shoulder support to a section of road south of the Devil’s Staircase, SH6.
“As daylight hours increase, warmer temperatures and dry air help new seals settle in as intended,” says Mr Standring.
“Overall there is around 50km* of resealing which started late September. Work goes through until the pre-Christmas shut-down, then restarts 13 January through to the end of February.”
Four sites up for pavement renewal are getting a full rehabilitation treatment – combined covering 4.4kms.
All work is funded through the State Highway Maintenance and Pothole Prevention activity classes in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).
These major reconstruction projects, all weather dependent, include:
SH6 Blair Athol, near Queensbury, just north of Kidd Creek – mid-September to mid-October.
SH8 Symes Road – Fruitlands, Alexandra near the Symes Road intersection – late-September to mid-December.
SH85 Thompson Creek, between Ophir Creek Road and Omakau – mid-December to end of January, 2025.
SH8 Gorge Creek, between Fruitlands and Roxburgh – early December to the end February 2025.
There are three asphalt resurfacing sites covering 500 metres of highway:
SH6 Tucker Beach, near Frankton
SH6 Humphrey Street, Frankton
SH84 Anderson Road, Wānaka
“Where traffic volumes are high, as they are around Queenstown/Frankton and Wānaka, we aim to minimise our impact by working at night,” says Mr Standring.
People should expect some disruptions in these locations, which will involve significant traffic management, including partial road closures.
“When we get a run of wet weather, as we have had last week, the timing of these projects will change but we will do our best to keep people informed – through social media sites, electronic signs on the highway and for people living in the vicinity, via newsletters in letterboxes,” he says.
Other places where people will see crews this summer – with short delays, (proposed dates)
SH85 Kyeburn to Alexandra: November.
SH8 Alexandra to Deadman’s Point: end of November onwards.
SH8 Lindis Pass to Cromwell: late November to mid-December.
SH8A Tarras to Wānaka: 20-22 January.
SH6 Luggate to Parkburn: 22-29 January.
Nevis Bluff, Scrubby Gully spring scaling/rock removal: November, 2024, four to six weeks work.
People should expect to see 30km/hour reduced speed signs at various sites on these sections of highway, with delays up to 10 minutes when work is underway.
How to get details, keep up-to-date
If there are concerns or questions around these works, road users can contact the Aspiring Highways team at customer@aspiringhighways.co.nz
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 10 — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory message to Kais Saied on his re-election as president of the Republic of Tunisia.
Xi pointed out that China and Tunisia enjoy profound traditional friendship. In recent years, under the joint guidance of both leaders, bilateral relations have developed in a sound and steady manner, with fruitful exchanges and cooperation in various fields and ever deepening traditional friendship, Xi said.
Xi said he and Saied announced the establishment of China-Tunisia strategic partnership during Saied’s successful state visit to China in May, pushing bilateral relations to a new level.
Xi said he highly values the development of China-Tunisia relations and is ready to work with Saied to take the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties this year as an opportunity to carry forward China-Tunisia friendship, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields and push for steady and long-term growth of China-Tunisia strategic partnership.
Headline: Huawei Austria Celebrates Five Years of TECH4ALL Nature Conservation at Biodiversity Forum
Oct 10, 2024
[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.
Two recent UC San Francisco studies have shown that adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) offers personalized, 24/7 care for Parkinson’s disease through an implanted device. Unlike regular DBS, which delivers constant pulses, aDBS uses AI to monitor brain activity and adjust treatment based on symptom fluctuations. This marks a major advancement in the management of Parkinson’s disease, reflecting the growing impact of digital health technologies on patient care, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
According to GlobalData, the global market for neurological devices was valued at $12.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.60% to reach $20.9 billion by 2033. This growth underscores the increasing importance and demand for advanced diagnostic and monitoring technologies in neurology, including those targeting Parkinson’s disease.
Cynthia Stinchcombe, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The market for neurological devices is witnessing significant growth and diversification. The increasing integration of advanced technology in the management of neurological disorders fits into the broader industry shift towards precision medicine, as reflected in the FDA’s recent push for innovative solutions in Parkinson’s disease management.”
UC San Francisco studies from 2023 and 2024 show that aDBS, a self-adjusting brain implant, can improve movement and sleep for Parkinson’s patients. Using AI-driven technology, the device monitors brain activity and delivers precise electrical pulses to alleviate symptoms in real-time. In trials, it reduced symptoms by 50%, with results published in August 2024, highlighting its potential for long-term Parkinson’s management.
GlobalData projects that with the continuous advancements in technology and the introduction of innovative therapies, the landscape of neurological devices is set to transform, offering new hope to millions affected by neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s.
Stinchcombe adds: “The integration of innovative medical technologies emphasizes the crucial role of advancements in contemporary healthcare. As the landscape of medical treatment evolves, particularly with these sophisticated systems, a promising shift is being witnessed towards more personalized and effective treatment strategies for neurological conditions.”
GlobalData’s analysis reflects the recent emphasis on wearable technologies and digital health apps—such as those leveraging Apple Watch data to monitor Parkinson’s symptoms—indicating a parallel innovation trajectory. While wearable technologies facilitate continuous monitoring outside clinical settings, sophisticated tools like Boston Scientific’s software enhance therapeutic interventions, offering a holistic approach to disease management.
Stinchcombe concludes: “In the face of an aging population and a rising incidence of Parkinson’s disease, the advancements being witnessed are encouraging for those affected. As the industry continues to focus on both proven and novel solutions, emerging technologies are pivotal in broadening the horizons of neurology diagnostics and improving patient outcomes. Together with the FDA’s initiative to enhance AI-driven diagnostics, these advancements are poised to dramatically improve the landscape of neurology.”
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the 27th ASEAN-China Summit, which took place this morning in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Summit was attended by the ASEAN Leaders or their representatives, the Premier of the State Council of China, and the Secretary-General of ASEAN. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
The Leaders reviewed the progress of ASEAN-China cooperation and discussed its future direction, particularly on advancing the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Leaders adopted a Joint Statement on Deepening Cooperation in People-to-People Exchanges, in line with the theme of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges. The Leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern.
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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Commencement notice for Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 gazetted Commencement notice for Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 gazetted ******************************************************************************************
The Government published in the Gazette today (October 10) the Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (Commencement) Notice (the Commencement Notice), which specifies that the Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 (the Amendment Ordinance) will come into operation on December 6, 2024. The Commencement Notice will be tabled at the Legislative Council (LegCo) for negative vetting on October 16, 2024. To promote private companies to redevelop aged and dilapidated private buildings in Hong Kong, the LegCo passed the Amendment Ordinance on July 18, 2024, to update and streamline the statutory compulsory sale regime under the Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance (Cap. 545) (LCSRO) in four directions, namely (1) lowering the compulsory sale application thresholds; (2) facilitating multiple adjoining-lot compulsory sale applications; (3) streamlining the legal process of compulsory sale regime; and (4) enhancing support for affected minority owners. A spokesperson for the Development Bureau (DEVB) said, “The Amendment Ordinance aims to expedite the consolidation of private property interests so as to facilitate the redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings, thereby tackling the safety risk of those buildings and improving people’s livelihood. At the same time, legal protection of the interests of minority owners has been enhanced.” In addition to the statutory safeguards, the Dedicated Office of Support Services for Minority Owners under Compulsory Sale (DOSS) set up under the DEVB and the Support Service Centre for Minority Owners under Compulsory Sale (SMOCS), a wholly owned subsidiary set up by the Urban Renewal Authority, both came into operation on August 27, 2024. The SMOCS, which is accountable to the DEVB and supervised by the DOSS, provides one-stop enhanced support services to minority owners at various stages of the compulsory sale application process, so as to help them understand their statutory rights and obtain professional advice. Public education activities and publicity programmes are being rolled out to enhance public understanding of the LCSRO and the services of the SMOCS. To help different stakeholders (in particular minority owners) to better understand the requirements of the law, as well as the content and practical application of the provisions of the amended LCSRO, the DEVB will soon publish a guidance note to explain the main provisions of the amended LCSRO in plain language with illustrative examples to serve as a practical reference for the industry, professionals and the general public. The DEVB will also in due course seek the LegCo’s approval to provide additional manpower resources to the Lands Tribunal to cope with the increased workload arising from the implementation of the Amendment Ordinance, and to set up a loan guarantee scheme for the Government to provide guarantee to assist eligible minority owners in obtaining bank loans to address their cash flow problems arising from the engagement of legal and other professionals to deal with compulsory sale litigation.
Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024Issued at HKT 11:00
Half of Lebanon’s public schools have been turned into shelters for forcibly displaced people in the past two weeks, disrupting children’s education for the sixth consecutive year and increasing the threat to their long-term physical and mental wellbeing, Save the Children said.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Education said that Israeli airstrikes have forced about 40% of Lebanon’s 1.5 million pupils from their homes and postponed the start of the school year for public schools from 14 October to 4 November.
At least 500 public schools – about half of Lebanon’s public schools – are now being used ascollective shelters-, following escalating violence on 23 September that led to thedisplacementof over 1.2 million people, or about one fifth of the population.
This marks the sixth year of significant disruptions to education for children in Lebanon, with theWorld Bankestimating that it will take Lebanon generations to recover from these successive shocks to children’s education.
Save the Children said children in Lebanon have been hit by multiple complex crises for decades, without being able to fully recover, including the COVID19 pandemic, political instability, the Beirut port explosion, economic downturns and theteachers’ strikein 2023.
Since October 2023, escalating cross-border hostilities have resulted in over 2,000 people being killed, including about 127 children, and at least 10,000 injured in Lebanon.
Salim-, 45, is a father of three boys aged 12, 16 and 17 from the south of Lebanon. In the past year, his family was forced to relocate eight times. The family is now staying at a school used as a collective shelter in Bekaa, eastern Lebanon, sharing a classroom with another family. He said:
“Every time we thought this was it, and we could settle down, take a breath, we were forced to move again. None of my children have received a proper education since 2020. Now, all they care about is making sure we’re safe and together. I never wanted this for them. I wanted them to have the freedom to dream, to chase after those dreams when the time was right, and to live their lives to the fullest. But now, all I want is for them to survive. Dreams have been replaced by basic survival. Food, education, and medication, these things have become distant luxuries.”
Sawsan-, 27, was displaced to the same school with her two children, aged four and five. She said:
“It’s been a year like this, a year of my children waking up to the sounds of Israeli bombs exploding around us. A year of uncertainty. We left on 26 September after our village was attacked. We spent two days on the road, desperately searching for safety and shelter until we arrived at this school. At first, my children were confused and unsure. “We’re going to live in a school?” they asked. “Does that mean we’ll study here too?”
Erin Wall, Education Technical Advisor at Save the Children Lebanon, said:
“Education during conflict plays a crucial role in providing a sense of normalcy and routine for children, but schools are now closed once again, and most non-formal education activities halted in the last two weeks. This only adds to the children’s distress as they lose access to the comfort of their friends and teachers, the structure of safe learning spaces and the routine support services they can find in schools. If schools stay closed, we expect compounded learning losses, with children unable to read and write, leading to a higher risk of drop-out and lower learning achievement overall, not to mention social isolation and disconnection. This will significantly affect children’s wellbeing, development, and ability to learn, limiting their opportunities for the future.”
Save the Children is committed to ensuring children can access their right to a quality education even in times of crisis. Since hostilities escalated in October 2023, Save the Children has reached more than 2,100 displaced children through delivery of emergency learning activities, provision of critical non-specialized psychosocial support and social emotional learning activities, and distribution of educational materials.
Jennifer Moorehead, Country Director of Save the Children in Lebanon said:
“Countless parents are telling us that one of their top priorities is for their children to get back to school, which does not surprise us. Education is one of the most essential factors necessary for the recovery and future of children – and the country. Schools also offer an important entry point for children to be referred to other essential services like healthcare, mental health support or child protection services. Every day away from the classroom, is a growing threat to children’s long-term physical and mental wellbeing. Schools should only be used as shelters as a last resort, and for the shortest possible period. We call for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further suffering and protect children’s right to education.”
Save the Children has been working in Lebanon since 1953. Since October 2023, we’ve been scaling up our response in Lebanon, supporting displaced Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian children and families, and now have escalated an emergency response throughout the country in 161 collective shelters. Since October 2023, we’ve supported more than 100,000 people, including 40,000 children, with cash, blankets, mattresses and pillows, food parcels, water bottles and kits containing essential hygiene items.
Currently, Save the Children is scaling up its Education in Emergency response and related child protection support for displaced families inside and outside collective shelters, focusing on ensuring learning continuity and wellbeing support.
Notes
– “Collective shelters” are pre-existing buildings and structures where large group of displaced people find shelter for a short time while durable solutions are pursued. A variety of facilities may be used as collective centres – community centres, town halls, hotels, gymnasiums, warehouses, unfinished buildings, disused factories. Infrastructure and basic services are provided on a communal basis or access to them is made possible.
New Zealand adults are eating, on average, far more salt daily than international recommendations; but, takeaways frequently do not display salt content.
New Zealand adults are eating, on average, far more salt daily than international recommendations; however, takeaways frequently do not display salt content.
New Zealanders over 15 years consume around 3,000mg of sodium per day, compared with the World Health Organization’s upper limit of 2,000mg (or one tsp of salt) per day.
Under the Food Standards Code, it is mandatory to provide nutrition information for packaged foods, but there are no such regulations for fast food, say public health researchers at the University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau in a new study.
Dietary sodium comes chiefly from salt. The researchers are calling for a national sodium-reduction strategy but say a key first step would be mandatory labelling of the sodium content in takeaway meals.
“A single serve of a burger or takeout sandwich with fries can easily provide more than the recommended daily upper limit for sodium [dietary salt] of 2,000mg,” says Associate Professor Helen Eyles from the School of Population Health in Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.
In 2020, the average NZ household spent a third (29 percent) of its weekly food budget on restaurant meals and takeaways.
Of 28 major fast-food chains, with more than 20 outlets, reviewed in 2020, ten did not provide information on the sodium content of their products.
Of 5246 products checked, only one-third provided sodium data for consumers, according to the research just published in the Journal of Nutritional Science.
This is despite salt being a significant contributor to heart disease.
Excess sodium [salt] consumption leads to raised blood pressure, which in turn can lead to stroke, heart attack, and other types of heart disease, the leading causes of preventable mortality in New Zealand and globally.
New Zealand has committed to a 30 percent relative reduction in mean population sodium intake by 2025, as part of the WHO Global Action Plan for reducing non-communicable diseases, which it is unlikely to achieve.
The countries that are doing the best in sodium reduction have a national sodium reduction strategy and a multipronged approach – it is not just about fast food but packaged food too, Eyles says.
In addition to setting benchmarks for processed foods a strategy would include a consumer awareness campaign, improved labelling of salt on foods, and monitoring of the food environment alongside population salt intake, says Shona Gomes whose masters research on target development informed the new paper.
Currently, New Zealand has only two voluntary strategies to reduce sodium in processed foods in place – targets for some categories of packaged foods (led by the Heart Foundation of New Zealand) and the Government-led Health Star Rating nutrition label.
Countries doing well have comprehensive benchmarks for packaged foods, and at least some sections of fast foods, such as for sodium on fries, and in burgers and pizzas.
“First of all, in New Zealand, we need to make it visible how much salt is in our fast foods,” Eyles says.
“We really need a national sodium reduction strategy implemented by the government, with one prong of that approach being to work with fast food manufacturers to reduce salt in their products.”
–Redundancy costs total nearly $50m so far – highest since 2010
–Sick leave jumps to record levels
Annual workforce data provides a sobering snapshot of the damage the Government’s cost cutting drive is inflicting on public services and workers.
The directive by the incoming government last year to cut costs and jobs has seen thousands of public service workers sacked or take voluntary redundancy.
“This is such a sad snapshot of the damage being done to public services,” said Kerry Davies National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“We know there is much worse to come as the full picture of the Government’s reckless and poorly thought through cuts becomes clearer.”
The data shows taxpayers shelled out $48.8m in redundancy payments for 865 workers, driven by cuts at MBIE, Social Development, Statistics NZ and across the public service. This is the highest payout since 2010 when the last National-led government down-sized the public service.
“Based on what we know to date in terms of cuts, it’s likely that the cost to taxpayers will grow to the hundreds of millions of dollars, and to what end? That’s money that could be invested in our health system which is struggling to meet the health needs of New Zealanders right now.
“This is just more evidence the Government has got its priorities all wrong.
“The bill will also grow from here as the Government has made clear its plan to continue its ideological obsession with cutting the size of the public service.
“The cost to New Zealand will be even higher as the public service is stripped of resources and skilled workers to meet the health needs of Kiwis, to support small businesses, to secure our borders and to meet the challenges of climate change and infrastructure.”
The data also shows the toll that restructuring is having on workers. Sick leave was at record levels in the June year with an average of 10.2 days taken off.
“Change is hard on workers – it causes huge stress for them and their families and disrupts the delivery of public services. This toll is only going to rise sadly.
“However, it is heartening to see the gender pay gap continuing to fall and that it remains well below that of the private sector. That partly reflects the past Government’s commitment to improve pay for those on lower and middle incomes, many of whom are women and the great leadership shown by the public sector.
“We hope this government’s austerity drive and the forcing of departments to meet wage increases out of base lines doesn’t turn back this hard-won progress. It’s particularly important with 62% of public service workers being female.”
This opinion piece by Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman appeared in The Guardian Australia.
Australia’s leaders tout the benefits of our prosperous, multicultural society. Yet when it comes to speaking about refugees, people seeking protection and migrants, the policy framing shifts.
This week’s federal cabinet reshuffle and the appointment of Tony Burke, who is taking on the home affairs, immigration and multicultural affairs portfolios, provides a significant opportunity to change the perceptions and attitudes which influence how we talk about migrants, refugees and people seeking protection – to foster an anti-racist approach at a time of division and to redefine what it means to be an “immigrant” in Australia.
The Coalition’s home affairs experiment was doomed to fail. Tony Burke has a huge job on his hands Read more We routinely hear refugees and migrants blamed for the rising cost of living, lack of housing or even increased traffic, while ignoring the evidence that shows skilled migrants make a significant net positive contribution to the Australian economy over their lifetime. We don’t often hear about the farming and agricultural skills brought by many refugees and people seeking asylum.
Public discourse routinely dehumanises refugees and people seeking protection, labelling them as “illegal immigrants”, “queue jumpers”, or “economic migrants” – even though seeking asylum is a legal right.
Last year’s NZYQ high court decision, which ruled it illegal to indefinitely detain stateless refugees after they had completed their prison sentences imposed by a court, was a prime example.
Following that decision, the entire cohort of refugees was branded by both sides of politics as “hardcore criminals” and “threats” to security. But labelling entire groups as a risk to community safety serves to legitimise harsh immigration regimes and dehumanise those in need.
Australia’s history is marred by the legacy of the White Australia policy, a period marked by systemic racism and exclusionary practices designed to preserve the illusion of a homogenous society. This era exemplifies how “Australianness” has historically positioned non-white individuals as inferior “others”.
The impact of structural racism on communities and individuals – myself included – who have resettled or sought protection in Australia is to diminish them. It forces us to shed our language, culture, customs and dress until nothing separates us from white culture and society. And of course that means we may still be the victims of racism.
It is also a false, narrow notion of what it is to be Australian.
From the Africans on the first fleet to Chinese migrants in the 1800s to the Afghan cameleers, there is a rich history of non-white migration to this country that is intrinsic to our identity.
And let’s also not forget that Australia is built on the foundation of First Nations people’s ways of being, knowing and doing stretching back tens of thousands of years. As highlighted last week in the federal government’s multicultural framework review, “this emphasis on acknowledging and celebrating the cultures and languages of First Nations peoples is seen as essential for genuine reconciliation and the need to achieve equality for all, without which multiculturalism is incomplete”.
Embracing pluralism and inclusivity strengthens the very fabric of what it means to be Australian. It is time to take decisive action against racism and discrimination, starting at the top, with our government leading by example. Political leaders, media personalities and other public figures who make comments that incite racial violence and hatred, or perpetuate negative stereotypes, must be held accountable.
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s national anti-racism framework will be delivered to the federal government before the end of the year. It will guide government, organisations, businesses and civil society on addressing racism and the role they can play in preventing it.
To make that a reality, our elected officials will need to lead with anti-racist words and actions as soon as people arrive in Australia – no matter what their journey was to get here.
For families who have fled wars, new arrivals looking to settle into society, to work and rebuild their lives after fleeing persecution, for lovers who are not accepted in their home countries; for those who may visibly look different, but seek the same dignity as you or I: we have to remember language in this discourse matters.
Giridharan Sivaraman is Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner
