Issued for YAHL, O.B. FLAT, MOUNT GAMBIER in the Lower South East of South Australia.
Warning level Advice – Avoid Smoke
Action Smoke from Hill Road, YAHL is in the Yahl, O.B. Flat and Mount Gambier area.
Smoke can affect your health. You should stay informed and be aware of the health impacts of smoke on yourself and others.
Symptoms of exposure includes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, burning eyes, running nose, chest tightness, chest pain and dizziness or light-headedness.
If you or anyone in your care are having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention from your local GP. If your symptoms become severe, call 000.
More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says that as far as Fiji is concerned, Fijians of Indian descent are Fijian.
While Fiji is part of the Pacific, Indo-Fijians are not classified as Pacific peoples in New Zealand; instead, they are listed under Indian and Asian on the Stats NZ website.
“The ‘Fijian Indian’ ethnic group is currently classified under ‘Asian,’ in the subcategory ‘Indian’, along with other diasporic Indian ethnic groups,” Stats NZ told RNZ Pacific.
“This has been the case since 2005 and is in line with an ethnographic profile that includes people with a common language, customs, and traditions.
“Stats NZ is aware of concerns some have about this classification, and it is an ongoing point of discussion with stakeholders.”
The Fijian Indian community in Aotearoa has long opposed this and raised the issue again at a community event Rabuka attended in Auckland’s Māngere ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa last month.
“As far as Fiji is concerned, [Indo-Fijians] are Fijians,” he said.
‘A matter of sovereignty’ When asked what his message to New Zealand on the issue would be, he said: “I cannot; that is a matter of sovereignty, the sovereign decision by the government of New Zealand. What they call people is their sovereign right.
“As far as we are concerned, we hope that they will be treated as Fijians.”
More than 60,000 people were transferred from all parts of British India to work in Fiji between 1879 and 1916 as indentured labourers.
Today, they make up over 32 percent of the total population, according to Fiji Bureau of Statistics’ 2017 Population Census.
Sangam community NZ leader and former Nadi mayor Salesh Mudaliar . . . “If you do a DNA or do a blood test, we are more of Fijian than anything else. We are not Indian.” Image: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis
Now many, like Sangam community NZ leader and former Nadi Mayor Salesh Mudaliar, say they are more Fijian than Indian.
“If you do a DNA or do a blood test, we are more of Fijian than anything else. We are not Indian,” Mudaliar said.
The indentured labourers, who came to be known as the Girmitiyas, as they were bound by a girmit — a Hindi pronunciation of the English word “agreement”.
RNZ Pacific had approached the Viti Council e Aotearoa for their views on the issue. However, they refused to comment, saying that its chair “has opted out of this interview.”
“Topic itself is misleading bordering on disinformation [and] misinformation from an Indigenous Fijian perspective and overly sensitive plus short notice.”
‘Struggling for identity’ “We are Pacific Islanders. If you come from Tonga or Samoa, you are a Pacific Islander,” Mudaliar said.
“When [Indo-Fijians] come from Fiji, we are not. We are not a migrant to Fiji. We have been there for [over 140] years.”
“The community is still struggling for its identity here in New Zealand . . . we are still not [looked after].
He said they had tried to lobby the New Zealand government for their status but without success.
“Now it is the National government, and no one seems to be listening to us in understanding the situation.
“If we can have an open discussion on this, coming to the same table, and knowing what our problem is, then it would be really appreciated.”
Fijians of Indian descent with Prime Minister Rabuka at the community event in Auckland last month. Image: Facebook/Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka
Lifting quality of data Stats NZ said it was aware of the need to lift the quality of ethnicity data across the government data system.
“Public consultation in 2019 determined a need for an in-depth review of the Ethnicity Standard,” the data agency said.
In 2021, Stats NZ undertook a large scoping exercise with government agencies, researchers, iwi Māori, and community groups to help establish the scope of the review.
Stats NZ subsequently stood up an expert working group to progress the review.
“This review is still underway, and Stats NZ will be conducting further consultation, so we will have more to say in due course,” it said.
“Classifying ethnicity and ethnic identity is extremely complex, and it is important Stats NZ takes the time to consult extensively and ensure we get this right,” the agency added.
This week, Fijians celebrate the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali. The nation observes a public holiday to mark the day, and Fijians of all backgrounds get involved.
Prime Minister Rabuka’s message is for all Fijians to be kind to each other.
“Act in accordance with the spirit of Diwali and show kindness to those who are going through difficulties,” he told local reporters outside Parliament yesterday.
“It is a good time for us to abstain from using bad language against each other on social media.”
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Days from the US presidential election, the polls are showing the outcome of the race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump remains a nail biter.
With the United States our closest ally, the result could have potential implications for Australia in areas such as climate change policy, defence and the economy. If there is a Trump victory, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will also have the challenge of building a relationship with an unpredictable character.
To discuss the state of the contest and what comes next, we’re joined by Bruce Wolpe, senior fellow at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. Wolpe worked with the Democrats in Congress, and on the staff of Julia Gillard. Last year, he authored the book, Trump’s Australia.
Wolpe regards the election as too close to call.
They’re just deadlocked in two fundamental respects. National head-to-head across the country – the popular vote – they’re 49-48, 47-47, no one cracking 50, and there’s no clear favourite. And then that same pattern exists in all of the seven swing states that will decide the election per the Electoral College.
In terms of key issues:
Just as it is here in Australia, hip pocket is the strongest determinant of how you will vote, and so inflation and the state of the economy, in the lived experience, is the number one issue. Americans and Australians share the same experience over the past post-COVID years where there’s been an outbreak of inflation and high interest rates. And that means that the basket of goods that you buy day in, day out, week in, week out, from the supermarket to your petrol to your insurance prices are up between 10 and 40%.
The second big issue is immigration. As I’m sure you know from looking at the news over the past three years, just following things, the southern border with Mexico has been effectively out of control. It’s back under control but in that time, perhaps millions of people have flowed into the United States.
The third big issue is abortion rights, reproductive health rights and its future. The Supreme Court two years ago repealed Roe v Wade, which established a right found in the Constitution for women to take care of their reproductive health services. That’s the first time that a universal human constitutional right has been repealed since Dred Scott in the Civil War [denying slaves’ rights]. Three generations of women have grown up with the protections for them.
This has become a very powerful issue. And 52% of all voters are women.
On what either a Harris or a Trump administration might look like for Australia:
I think with Harris, we would just see very strong continuity with Biden. I mean, on foreign policy issues, they really have worked together.
The relationship with Australia is fine. Her relationship with the Prime Minister is absolutely fine. They know each other, can work together, a very comfortable working relationship.
[As to] Trump and Australia: first, I really have to say in the first [Trump] term, I think Australia had the most untroubled relationship with Trump than any other country in the world, and that includes Israel, that includes Europe, that includes Canada.
There is a structural trade surplus that the United States has with Australia. So Australia is not number one on the hit list of nations that are, quote, taking advantage of the United States in their trade agreements. […] It will start off in Trump’s head with all the countries that he wants to go after – I don’t think Australia is high on the list.
However, on a personal level, Wolpe says there might be some issues between Trump and Albanese:
I think personally it will be rocky at the start for several reasons. First, Trump will be briefed on everything that the Prime Minister has said on him and his presidency. And he attacked Trump for the January 6th insurrection. He’s for abortion rights and attacked the ruling of the Supreme Court. He’s for gun control, and Australia has a completely different posture on gun control, and Trump is strong on the Second Amendment. If Trump looks at the agenda of the Albanese government, it is a mirror image of Joe Biden’s domestic policy agenda adjusted for realities in both countries. But it’s the same deal.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
This warning was reissued to correct operational information
Issued on 01 Nov 2024 16:43
Issued for YAHL, O.B. FLAT, MOUNT GAMBIER in the Lower South East of South Australia.
Warning level Advice – Avoid Smoke
Action Smoke from Hill Road, YAHL is in the Yahl, O.B. Flat and Mount Gambier area.
Smoke can affect your health. You should stay informed and be aware of the health impacts of smoke on yourself and others.
Symptoms of exposure includes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, burning eyes, running nose, chest tightness, chest pain and dizziness or light-headedness.
If you or anyone in your care are having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention from your local GP. If your symptoms become severe, call 000.
More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.
BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Good afternoon, everybody. It’s great to be here with Louise Glanville, who is the National Quality and Safeguards Commissioner for the NDIS, and also with Associate Commissioner Natalie Wade. Two bits of good news for Australians with disability and indeed for Australians generally. The first is that the National Disability Insurance Agency has released its Annual Financial Statement, the AFSR, and it demonstrates that because of the reforms that we’ve undertaken in the last nearly three years, that the Scheme is going to spend $1 billion less in the last 12 months than was expected.
So, Treasurer Chalmers said the forecast was that the Scheme for financial year 2023/24 would be $1 billion higher than it actually was. Now the Scheme is looking after more people than ever in the last 12 months, there’s 660,000 Australians receiving valuable and life changing support on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. What we were able to do is invest in outcomes and actually spend a little less than we forecast we would. So great news for the future sustainability of the Scheme. And it reflects well on the changes which Labor’s been making.
The other bit of really good news is that the National Quality and Safeguards Commission has released its annual statement, its annual report, and it demonstrates that for the first time really since the creation of the NDIS, we’re coming to grips with handling complaints. Complaints are up 78%, not because there’s been a 78% jump in problems, but rather that for the first time, a properly resourced Quality and Safeguards Commission is able to investigate 111,000 different matters.
The Scheme is changing lives, but there have been problems with it. There have been problems because the Scheme’s been treated as the only lifeboat in the ocean for Australians with disability, because there hasn’t been proper scrutiny of the payment system, because whilst most providers are doing a great job, some are not. But what we’re able to say today is that the reforms which Labor has put in place with people with disability, with states and territories, is improving the bottom line of the Scheme. We’re getting better outcomes without having to spend quite as much money as we expected to, which is good news for taxpayers and for people on the Scheme, because quality is being emphasised. But also, the National Safeguards Commission, who is the watchdog, to make sure that participants on the Scheme are both safe and receiving quality services Labor has invested significantly, we’ve doubled their staff, we’ve majorly increased their funding. What it means is we’re now able to ensure that we are now seeing greater attention paid to the quality and the safeguarding of NDIS participants.
Why don’t we leave it at that from me for now. We’re happy to take questions, but I might invite Louise Glanville, the new Quality and Safeguards Commissioner, to explain what’s been happening with how we’re keeping people safe. And then I might invite Natalie Wade, the Associate Commissioner, to add some further remarks.
LOUISE GLANVILLE, NDIS QUALITY AND SAFEGUARDS COMMISSIONER: Thank you for that, Minister. It’s great to be here with you and with Natalie today. And what’s really important about the work of the Commission, that it is building progressively to being a strong regulator. Indeed, we want to be a formidable regulator. We want to ensure that people with disability are receiving the sorts of supports they need and the quality of services that they need. We know there are many providers out there that do fantastic work in relation to the disability space, and we are keen to ensure that that continues into the future.
It’s important that we think about the human rights of people with disability in this respect, and that we deliver on the promise of the NDIS for people to live ordinary lives, like we all do, in every single way. So, it’s wonderful to be here and to watch the way in which the regulatory tools that we can be using to assist with that process are really on the increase and on the improve that the government, the federal government has made substantial commitment to our resourcing to enable us to do that work well. There has been a strong staff grown, and certainly I give credit to my predecessor, Mike Phelan, who has been acting in this space and has done some great work in leading the team at the commission in order to do this very important piece of work that will assist in ensuring the sustainability of the NDIS over time.
NATALIE WADE, NDIS QUALITY AND SAFEGUARDS ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER: Thank you, Minister and Commissioner Glanville. Today’s annual report from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, really highlights that with the increase in complaints there is a demonstrated trust between the Commission, but also the disability community, where people with disabilities are bringing forward to us at the regulator, the issues that they’re facing in receiving quality and safe services.
It is fundamental to our work as a regulator to hear directly from people with disability and for them to trust that when they tell us that there is a problem, that they will be able to receive a response and resolve, and those matters will be [inaudible].
It’s really important to reflect on the increase of regulatory action that has been taken by the Commission in the last 12 months. It is absolutely imperative that providers be supported to understand their role in providing quality and safe services to people with disability. But it’s also fundamental to ensure that when things go wrong or providers do not do what they are expected to do, that regulatory action follows. And today’s annual report really highlights that that is exactly what has been happening in the last 12 months.
Commissioner Glanville and I are very much looking forward to continuing the work from the last 12 months and ensuring that the human rights of people with disability is centred in our work, that providers are most supportive, and that we all move forward to advance the rights of people with disability as we regulate this space.
JOURNALIST: Part of these reports, will anything in the near future be addressing the wait times to get onto the NDIS?
SHORTEN: Yeah, the NDIS has grown remarkably. The year before I became the Minister, it was growing at 23%. That’s too fast. That’s I think reflecting also a lack of other services for Australians with disability. One thing that has happened though in the last 12 months as we’ve been reforming the Scheme, is that there’s been almost the analogy that, there’s almost been a rush for last drinks at the pub, so to speak, by a proportion of providers who have been desperate to try and get some extra money out of the Scheme before they can’t any longer. So that has led to, I think, a surge in people seeking change of circumstances. Listen, long story short, we’ve got to treat every application and every change of circumstance as serious and legitimate until proven otherwise.
But what that has meant is a doubling in the workload of the agency. We’ve surged workforce to help get rid of the backlog of claims. We’re sorry that people have been inconvenienced, but we are now seeing a decrease in the claims coming in and the variations coming in as people calm down and realize that the Scheme isn’t actually just trying to exit a whole lot of people with permanent disability.
And also, some of the shonks are now being chased out. I mean, I think it shows the determination of the Albanese government that we have banned for life, in many cases 200 people, from providing services to the Scheme. 200 plus people have been banned in the last two years, 124 in the last 12 months. This is a clear message that if you just want to use people with disability as human ATMs, if you think that somehow a government Scheme of taxpayer money is easy pickings, you’re wrong. That’s changing.
JOURNALIST: And so, how is that working? How do you monitor those shonks for lack of a better word?
SHORTEN: When I became Minister three years ago, frankly, I was shocked and appalled at what I discovered. The Scheme had been rolled out and there were over half a million people on the Scheme, and that was good by the previous government. But the complete naivety, negligence of a lack of scrutiny of payments meant that people were able to draw down, in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars with no accountability, that there was no pre-checking of the integrity of invoices before they were paid, that we see price gouging, where some service providers will provide an identical service to someone on the Scheme to who’s not on the Scheme, identical, and it could be a shower chair or it could be a some other service, but they charge the NDIS participant more just because they’re on the NDIS.
So, we’ve now got rules against that. We’ve set up what’s called a Fraud Fusion Taskforce. They have got hundreds of investigations underway. It shouldn’t have been the case, but it’s taken until now and this government, to get 21 Commonwealth agencies working with each other. And, you know, we’re now sending people to jail for ripping off the Scheme. I think there was a view in the unethical parts of the community that NDIS is a government Scheme, it’s easy money to cheat. Those wells are drying up, because we are now investing in a state-of-the-art investigation processes. I must always stress though, it is changing hundreds of thousands of lives for the better, and most service providers are doing a good job. But there has been an element of fraud, unethical behaviour, price gouging and opportunism. And we say to those people, get off our Scheme, you’re not welcome, you will get caught.
JOURNALIST: And then just a question, locally in Port Augusta earlier this week, there was the death of a 26-year-old woman with severe intellectual and physical disabilities. Are you aware of that?
SHORTEN: It’s shocking and tragic about Tegan’s passing in Port Augusta. She wasn’t on the NDIS. South Australian Police are investigating it. It’s not compulsory to be on the NDIS, but I think it is a wakeup call for community to look out for each other. This is a more general comment, not reflecting on the NDIS, but just all of us. Someone who’s vulnerable is not someone else’s business. We should all keep an eye out for our neighbours. You can do that without being a nosey parker, but we’ve got to look after each other. SA police will do, I’m sure, an excellent job in getting to what has happened. We certainly will take a keen interest to see what lessons there are.
One thing that the NDIS is doing is that when people are presenting for their plans, we are now – and this is following Annie Smith’s death, that tragedy which was completely avoidable and culpable – what we are now doing is making sure that if you’re on the NDIS, you’ve got more than one relationship. You can’t just be with a carer or just with a family member. We want to make sure that that’s a red flag to us because we it takes it takes a village to support anyone. And that’s what we’ve got to behave. We’ve got to get back to that true Australian value.
JOURNALIST: Are you aware of she was receiving any government payments, Centrelink or?
SHORTEN: I don’t know.
JOURNALIST: And now completely unrelated from Canberra. Um, do you believe the Prime Minister and his claims about contact with Qantas?
SHORTEN: Yes, I do. Um, the Prime Minister has been diligent in reporting, um, any upgrades and disclosures. He’s acted consistently with the standards which are set out for our parliamentarians. The opposition has tried to smear the Prime Minister, but a lot of it seems to have blown back in their own face. Again, you know, Mr. Dutton, he says it’s wrong of Mr. Albanese to accept an upgrade, which he declared. But then again, when you take a favour from Gina Rinehart, you know, is there an expectation? So, their transport spokeswoman, Bridget, just said it came out all guns blazing but managed to shoot her foot off.
So, what Australians want us to do is adhere to proper standards of ethical conduct. What Australians want us to do is be transparent in our dealings with all people, and what they want us to do is get on with the cost-of-living issues. I mean, the opposition, the Liberal Party, has stolen a week of the nation’s life talking about this. All it’s done is probably depress Australians opinions of politicians generally. But in the meantime, people are battling their mortgages. People are trying to make ends meet. That’s where Labor’s head is at. And I think that’s what they expect of all parliamentarians.
JOURNALIST: Someone leaking out of the ministry called the Prime Minister a sook. So, you think that the PM is being a sook in this situation?
SHORTEN: Oh, I’m not even going to respond. I mean, frankly, that is not an accurate characterisation.
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the website ifsinvesting.com. According to information available to BaFin, the operator is providing financial and investment services on this website without the required authorisation.
The operators of the website refer to themselves only as IFSinvesting without stating the company’s legal form. A business address in London, United Kingdom, is provided.
BaFin has recently become aware of a number of websites with almost identical content and has also warned consumers about them. On all of the websites, the following sentence is displayed at the top of the homepage: “Step Into the Trading Arena with Confidence & [name of website]“.
Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.
Theinformation provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German BankingAct (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).
Please be aware:
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
Bank “ROSSIYA” entered the top 50 credit organizations in the rating of “Medialogiya”
Bank “ROSSIYA” was included in the top 50 credit institutions based on the results of September 2024 in the media rating compiled by the authoritative monitoring platform “Medialogia”.
Media rating is based on an analysis of publications covering more than 88 thousand sources, including TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, news agencies and online media.
The basis for constructing the rating was the media index – an indicator of the qualitative state of the information field formed by the media around the brand. Analysts took into account the influence of each source of information, the nature of brand mentions in messages and other factors.
In September, key events in the Bank’s information field were related to the improvement of deposit conditions, as well as participation in socially significant events.
Reference:
Medialogia is an independent research company based on information technology, specializing in real-time media and social media analysis.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The Government today launched three measures to enhance the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), following the announcement of reforms to the talent admission regime in the 2024 Policy Address.
The first measure calls for expanding the list of eligible universities under the TTPS. Thirteen top Mainland and overseas universities/institutions have been added to the list, making a total of 198 eligible schools.
The newly added universities/institutions include nine Mainland universities ranked from 11th to 20th under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Best Chinese Universities Ranking in the past five years, but have yet to be included in the original list of eligible universities.
They also cover four top-five specialised institutions on the QS World University Rankings in the discipline of “Art & Design” in the past five years, namely, Royal College of Art; University of the Arts London; Parsons School of Design, The New School; and Rhode Island School of Design.
The second measure entails extending the validity period of the first visas of Category A applications under the TTPS, ie applicants with an annual income reaching $2.5 million or above in the year immediately preceding the date of application.
For the applicants with approval given from October 16, the day the 2024 Policy Address was announced, the validity period of their first visa has been extended to three years to facilitate their planning to move to Hong Kong with their families.
The new measure also applies to around 21,000 Category A applicants whose applications were approved before the announcement of the 2024 Policy Address. They may, from today onwards, apply to the Immigration Department within three months before their limit of stay expires, and will be granted extension of stay for one year unconditionally.
If they have secured offers of employment, or have established or joined in a business in Hong Kong upon applying for an extension, they may be granted an extension of stay for up to three years after submitting relevant proof.
The last measure involves enhancing the assessment criteria and arrangements of the General Points Test under the QMAS.
Starting today, the General Points Test (GPT) under the QMAS has been enhanced by adopting a more objective and clear scoring criteria, and streamlining the application and selection process. The enhanced GPT replaces the original item-by-item scoring system with an assessment questionnaire.
Applicants should confirm if they meet the 12 assessment criteria in the questionnaire under six major aspects, namely age, academic qualifications, language proficiency, work experience, annual income and business ownership, and submit supporting documents.
The applicants can submit applications if they meet at least six assessment criteria. The Immigration Department will pass the eligible applications to a newly established assessment panel for further selection.
The assessment panel, chaired by the Secretary for Labour & Welfare with other relevant bureau secretaries as members, will provide advice to the Director of Immigration for his approval decision, based on the deliberation outcome.
There will be no annual quotas under the enhanced GPT. For applications submitted under the original GPT before the implementation of the enhancement measures, the department will continue the processing in accordance with the original criteria and procedures, and conclude the assessment as soon as possible.
The electronic application platform for the enhanced GPT has commenced operation. For enquiries, contact the Immigration Department’s enquiry hotline: 2824 6111, fax to: 2877 7711 or email to: enquiry@immd.gov.hk.
Secretary of Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said that since the new talent admission regime was implemented at the end of 2022, over 380,000 applications have been received, with nearly 24, 000 applications approved. Additionally, around 160,000 people of talent have arrived in Hong Kong with their families.
“The enhancement measures implemented today will help further attract talent conducive to Hong Kong’s development, enrich the local talent pool, enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness in the quest for talent, and consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international talent hub,” he added.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Delegation of judges and judicial officers departs for Sichuan for exchange visit Delegation of judges and judicial officers departs for Sichuan for exchange visit *********************************************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary: A delegation of judges and judicial officers from the Hong Kong Judiciary will depart for Sichuan for an exchange visit programme on Sunday (November 3). The programme is part of the on-going professional exchanges between judges and judicial officers of Hong Kong and the Mainland. The delegation includes 20 judges and judicial officers. It is led by Mr Justice Jeremy Poon, Chief Judge of the High Court, with Madam Justice Carlye Chu, Vice-President of the Court of Appeal of the High Court, as the deputy head. During this visit, the delegation will engage in exchanges and attend discussion forums and thematic talks on various topics. These will mainly include the Constitution and the Basic Law, judicial system, experience in handling litigations, company law and insolvency, juvenile court as well as the latest developments of the country. The delegation will also visit court buildings and facilities relating to technology and culture, etc. The delegation will conclude the visit and return to Hong Kong on November 10.
DAVID PENBERTHY, HOST: Well, it’s a very opportune breaking at eight this morning, because on the same day that major reforms and savings are being announced to the NDIS, we have the Minister for the NDIS, not just here in Adelaide, but here in our studio in Adelaide. Bill Shorten is with us here at FiveAA HQ this morning. Minister, good morning and thanks so much for coming in.
BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Good morning gentlemen. Thanks for having me here.
PENBERTHY: Now look, we’ve had, we’ve done a lot of work lately. Mr. Shorten, on the NDIS. And we’ve had a few local cases that have been in the headlines. There was another one too, that I spoke to your office about myself earlier this week, which very, very kindly has been resolved. But in a in a broader sense, we’ll start with the big sort of headline figures. This thing has grown like mad and was on target to become, I think, the biggest budgetary item, bigger than the age pension. What are the reforms that you’ve put in place? How much are you going to save, and is it possible to do that without reducing the level of service that people have come to rely on?
SHORTEN: Yes, it is possible to improve the scheme without undermining its fundamental values. When I became Minister nearly three years ago, the reality is there was over half a million people on the scheme, changing a lot of lives for the better, hundreds of thousands of lives for the better, a lot of very good service providers. But there has been insufficient attention to the administration of the scheme and that has changed. So, one issue was that the scheme was almost becoming the only lifeboat in the ocean. So as soon as you have a disability, everyone says, oh, that’s an NDIS matter. Well, the fact of the matter is, the NDIS is only designed for personal budgets for the most profoundly disabled, not for everyone.
But the states have been good. Peter Malinauskas, Mally, he’s a rock star. He’s been helping lead the States and working with Nat Cook here to make sure we start developing with Amanda Rishworth, working services up outside the scheme. So that’s one reform, not everyone needs to flock to the NDIS. And within the scheme itself, there was no back-office payments checking. Like, I don’t want to make people, you know, just sort of drive off the road as they’re listening here. But it was possible for people to draw down 20 and $30,000 out of their packages with no invoices.
We see some service providers, you know, you have a shower chair and then you have an NDIS shower chair. And guess what? They’re identical. But when it’s called an NDIS shower chair, it’s four times as much. We’ve now made that illegal. 92% of service providers are currently unregistered. Like, imagine having a system where you can drive on Adelaide roads. You can have the driver’s license system or the not the driver’s license system. So, we’re overhauling how we register. We’re overhauling how we assess people, making it consistent. We also, we’ve put a sort of in and out list what you can spend your resources on. And whilst that’s led to tears at bedtime by some of the dodgy providers with crystal therapy and other therapies which are just not evidence based, the truth of the matter is it’s now providing clarity.
All of this means that we can get the growth of the scheme to about 8% when, the year before I became the Minister, it was 23%, but next year we’re on track to have growth at only 12%, so we’re still investing.
PENBERTHY: So, about a billion bucks, you’re looking at saving?
SHORTEN: Well, we’ve saved a billion. We’ve spent $1 billion less than we thought we would in May. So, for the financial year 2023/24, we thought it would be 42.5 billion. And it’s actually come in under $42 billion, which means that we’re just running the scheme better. That doesn’t mean that we’re not providing services. There’ll be more people on the scheme next year than this year. There’ll be more money invested in people next year than this year. But what we are saying is, if you’re getting a service, is it a quality service? Is it, are you not being price gouged? You know, yesterday in the Downing Street court in Sydney, we, through long investigations, three dodgy gentlemen or two dodgy gentlemen and a lady, are going to jail for ripping off $5.8 million. We’ve set up a criminal task force. We’ve got 21 Commonwealth agencies. You know, to channel my inner Clint Eastwood, I say to dodgy providers, do you feel lucky? Because we will catch you.
PENBERTHY: Have there been any successful prosecutions under those laws?
SHORTEN: Yes. We’ve got 56 people are in court or on the desk of the relevant public prosecutor, Director of Public Prosecutions, 500 investigations. We’ve released some information this morning. Under my predecessors, yes, the Liberals, they had a safeguards commission which is meant to handle complaints. But that’s where complaints used to go to die. It was not transparent. This year we’ve just after – we’ve tripled the number of people working in the complaints Commission from 367 to 1052. We’ve given them money. When I put in an acting administrator into the Complaints Commission to liven it up. He was a former policeman. I said, tell me what you found, Mike. And Mike said, oh, you’ve got state of the art investigation systems for 1988. So, we’ve upgraded the ICT. Now the complaints have gone up 78%, my usual, you know, Ratbag critics say, oh, that proves that everyone’s unhappy because you’re the Minister. No, it just means for the first time, we’re following up the complaints. They’ve always been there.
PENBERTHY: Minister we’ve got some callers with questions for you. Geraldine’s on the line Geraldine good morning to you.
CALLER: Hi Bill. I’m getting a ramp put in and there’s a quote on it, it’s $17,000.
SHORTEN: Oh, that’s rubbish.
CALLER: Yeah. Now I believe that they’re ripping the system off. And this this man, he’s. That’s all he does. Him and his two sons. And they employed, more or less employed by my provider. And I just hope the government can do something to get a cheaper ramp for me, because I haven’t been outside my home for 11 months. If there was a fire here, I’d burn to death because I can’t go up and down the steps and I’ve got to wait another till June or July next year to save up enough money to pay for the ramp.
SHORTEN: Well, I don’t know if you’re on the NDIS or another government payment scheme?
CALLER: My Aged Care.
SHORTEN: Okay, well, what we’ll do is if we can get your details offline, I don’t know if a ramp should cost $17,000, but my gut says that must be a beautiful ramp.
PENBERTHY: Yeah. The on ramp to the New South Road extension cost that much.
SHORTEN: Yeah, it sounds like a piece of art. Um, so what we have seen, and Geraldine, thanks for calling, is just because it’s the government money and a government package doesn’t give some contractors the God given right to rip taxpayers and people off. So, we’ve now in the NDIS, I’ve now got through the Competition Commission laws which say you cannot be charged more for an identical service or product than if you weren’t on the scheme. So, what we can do is you can, what it means is if they were selling you an NDIS ramp, we’re now allowed to look at the books of the company and see what they charge other people for ramps, and if it’s if it’s less that they charge another punter than someone on the NDIS, that’s against the law now.
PENBERTHY: So, it should be. Minister, there’s another local story we’ve been following closely. Listener by the name of Alex Castoroides, who has called in. I just note who explained to us his situation. A severely disabled daughter who requires two on one care all day, had been in school and receiving terrific care, and they’d had a good experience on the NDIS. That ended, and he’s had some trouble continuing it, so much so they’ve had to sell their business. He’s told us his family home has been at risk. He’s on the line now. Alex, good morning to you. You’re speaking with the NDIS Minister, Bill Shorten.
CALLER: Good morning. Good morning.
SHORTEN: Good morning, Alex.
CALLER: Minister. Yeah. Just quickly touch on my daughter’s case. Um, she finished school last year, and we spent the whole year preparing her to come out into the public and be part of the, you know, the wide world out there. And we put in a change of circumstance with NDIS and – because obviously we had to fill that gap between 9 and 3 where she needed care, where she used to be at school. Instead of giving us the extra care, we actually got our, our funds slashed. And the person that made the decision said that Georgia only needed one on one care. She has got a two on one restraining order set up through [inaudible]. She has all the reports from her psychologist and OT that she does need two on one care at all times. And when this decision was made, it just destroyed our lives. Where, like Will said, I had to sell my business to look after my, I had to close my business, actually, to look after my daughter to help her. And, you know, we did the review. The gentleman used old information, that worked for NDIS, and quoted things when George was at school not being in public. And we did a review of the review. The lady totally bunged that up. She asked for the new information. We provided it to her again. She didn’t use the new information. She thought we didn’t give it to her. We gave her the reference number of the call we did with NDIS to say this is where we’ve uploaded all the information and here’s the email. And, you know, her response was, oh, I saw the email from my colleague, but I thought it was an American date, so I didn’t open it.
So that was her reasoning. And she used the old information for my daughter’s schooling days, to say her, she sticks with her judgment. It’s only one on one care and we were not going to give you any extra funding. So, we followed the process, and we applied for the tribunal. With the help of Senator Nat Cook, the federal health Minister, they’ve all helped me and sent emails to your office. We haven’t had much response, and much help. And I’ve been in the Advertiser. I’ve been on 5AA trying to get this hurried up because my daughter’s health was spiralling out of control and mental health, that is. To the point where four weeks ago, um, she was out of control. We had to call the ambulance. The poor girl that was looking after her on her own just couldn’t control her anymore. The ambulance took her to the QEH, and she was put in an induced coma due to her state, for three weeks. And she’s just come out of the induced coma. They did all the testing on her. Her health is perfectly fine, and they’ve put it down to her situation of losing her carers and all of that situation that the NDIS put us through with the bunged-up decisions that they made.
You know, we’re on the we’ve got no savings no more. No one’s, no one’s helping us in a hurry. And now that the, the next excuse is, oh, you’ve signed up with the tribunal so we can’t help you. And that’s from your office. So, you know, what do you want us to do? That’s what I want to know. Like the NDIS is there for specifically for my daughter. And I praise you for what you’re doing now. It’s amazing. And I can’t believe it wasn’t done earlier, what you’re what you’re doing now. But my daughter is sitting here on the couch having to learn how to walk again, how to talk again. And we’re in a mess.
And this system, from April to now, we’re still fighting and sitting by my daughter’s bedside watching her, the tube down her throat, not knowing if she’s going to live anymore. You know, I still have to take calls, and I still have to try and fight the NDIS and the tribunal system to try and get, you know, put back what my daughter needs. And I’m one of many. And, you know, you just said before, the system is there for people like my daughter. But I’m sorry, but it’s failed dismally. The workers that, the worker that did that last review of the review, you know, I know nothing’s going to happen to her. But if she could come now to my house and see my daughter the way she is because of her silly decision, of not bothering to read any of the new reports we gave, not bothering to read any of the incident reports that we gave…
PENBERTHY: Minister, can anything be done in Alex’s case to at least get this process moving along a little bit more quickly so he can get some clarity?
SHORTEN: Yeah. First of all, Alex, it can’t be easy having to share that story. And you’re a good dad, and I know you’re doing your absolute level best. And I’m sorry that you’ve had a bad experience with the Agency, so no ifs or buts. I’m sorry. What I understand about your case is that the package was north of $300K, for a year? I understand that on October the 30th, the matter, that plan has been kept at the same level for the next six months while you go through the appeals process?
CALLER: Yeah.
SHORTEN: The fact of the matter is, there is a legal system. And if something’s before the courts, I can’t just simply step in and act as judge. You know, there’s a separation of powers between the politician and the legal process. But I do understand that the plan you had last year has now been approved on the 30th of October for the next six months. At the same level I get. There’s also issues about – the school system at least had your daughter, but now post school and you leave school, it’s a bit of a black hole. And then, there’s no I don’t think there’s been enough work – this is not you, but this is the system – that when people finish school and they’ve got a profound disability, they’re sort of left to their own devices. So, we’ve set up some projects to try and work out how we can do better stuff for school leavers so that it’s not the, ‘left to your own devices’ that you’ve been in.
Just on the, the general point. So, on your matter, your plan has been rolled over for the next six months. Status quo payment. That was decided, I think, on the 30th of October. But just to other people who are listening, this is a problem. But God only knows what would happen if we didn’t have an NDIS at all. And no other country in the world has it, so that doesn’t help you. But going to the general issue, I don’t know what this country would do without the NDIS. And the problem we got is that in your matter, you feel that the evidence hasn’t been looked at properly, the people making the decisions haven’t taken into account matters. When I became the Minister, there were 4000 staff at the agency. Now, my predecessors capped the number of people at the agency at 4000. In 2017, there were 4000 people working on matters like yours, your daughter’s, everyone else, and there were 170,000 people on the scheme.
When I became the Minister, there’s over half a million people on the scheme and still 4000 people. So, we’ve now started to invest in planner capability because I want you to have a more consistent experience. But anyway, I know your matters in the courts, but I do know that rather than get nothing until the court matters resolved, your plan has been rolled over for the next six months so that there are funds there.
PENBERTHY: All right. Thank you. Thanks for sharing that story, Alex. It’s full on and thanks to you as the Minister too, Mr. Shorten to, you know, take what Alex is saying as seriously as you have because –
SHORTEN: Oh, yeah.
PENBERTHY: – it’s been a big story locally.
SHORTEN: Yeah, no, I get it. That’s tough.
PENBERTHY: Why can’t that cap change?
SHORTEN: Oh, we have changed it.
PENBERTHY: How on earth can 4000 people look after? Because – and the case I mentioned the other day that I won’t go into now, but it feels like half the battle is actually just getting responses from within the organisation, in the same way it is with My Aged Care?
SHORTEN: Yeah, to be fair to the Agency, they were underfunded, as was the complaints commission, but now we’ve put on an extra 2000 people, so it takes a while to get people up to speed. Of the leadership of the Agency, we have changed that. The new Chair of the Agency is Kurt Fearnley, who’s just an amazing Australian, charismatic, smart, capable, passionate, doesn’t take a backward step. The leadership of the Agency, of the top 11 people who were running it, there’s one left. We’ve sort of changed the guard there, and now we’re bringing in people and training them up.
We had a call centre which was contracted out, which meant that if you rang the call centre and they were getting nearly 2 million calls a year –
PENBERTHY: 2 million?
SHORTEN: Because of their contract, yeah, they couldn’t get, they couldn’t access the information. So, we’re now bringing some of that in-house, but we’re investing in the capability of the agency, more people and training them more so we hope we can get more consistent decision making.
PENBERTHY: It was a long chat in the end, but a good chat. We thank you. Thank you for coming in. Mr. Shorten, we’ll catch up with you again soon.
Four years on from a fatal shooting in Ilford, detectives are releasing footage of a man they would like to identify.
An investigation was launched on 1 November 2020 when officers were called to Balfour Road, Ilford at 22:14hrs following reports of a disturbance.
Officers arrived at the scene and located Jason Diallo, 30 with multiple injuries. He sadly died at the scene.
A witness told officers that they had seen Jason cycling along the road, when he was knocked off his bike by a car. Two occupants of the car got out and shot Jason in the head before driving away.
Fifteen minutes after Jason Diallo was shot, at 22:29hrs, police were called to a shooting around five miles away in Garvary Road, E16. A 27-year-old man was found with a gunshot injury to his shoulder.
He was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds which were determined not to be life-threatening. When providing a statement to officers, he told them he had been followed by three men driving a car who began shooting at him.
A complex investigation was launched within Specialist Crime North and two men were convicted and sentenced for their involvement.
On Tuesday, 14 June 2022, Mushin Mohamed, 28 (06.04.1996) of Leytonstone Road, E15 was found guilty of murder and attempted murder at the Old Bailey and sentenced to life in prison to serve a minimum of 35 years.
Tyrelle Joseph, 24 (16.09.2000) of Banks Way, E12 was found guilty of assisting an offender and jailed for seven years after being identified as someone who had helped Mohamed and the unidentified suspects leave the scene.
Enquiries have remained ongoing to identify two more suspects believed to be involved in the shootings that night.
Investigating officers are now in a position to release this footage of a man they would like to speak with in connection with this investigation and a financial reward for information is available.
The Metropolitan Police Service is offering a substantial reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person responsible for the murder of Jason Diallo and the non-fatal shooting of a 27-year-old man on 1 November 2020.
Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen, the senior investigating officer, said:
“We have continued our momentum behind this investigation to ensure that those responsible for killing Jason Diallo and seriously injuring another man are held accountable.
“Our enquiries have found no evidence to suggest that Jason Diallo or the attempted murder victim were known to one another or those convicted, suggesting that this was a completely unprovoked and violent incident.
“Jason Diallo was described by his family as a devoted father of two who had the softest heart. Our thoughts have remained with his family and friends throughout a difficult four years and we are determined that they see justice.
“We are now in a position to release an image of this man, who we would like to speak with in connection with this ongoing investigation.
“If you know who he is or have any information which could help us, please get in contact.”
Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call 101 quoting Operation Shenley. You can also report information anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
Headline: Investigation Results on Quality Irregularities by the External Investigation Committee and Endeavors Taken at PID
The content in this website is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.Please note that German, French and Chinese versions are machine translations, so the quality and accuracy may vary.
On Oct. 26, Beijing Love Book Cancer Foundation (LBCF), in collaboration with Beijing Cancer Rehabilitation Society (BCRS), organized an educational event for breast cancer patients in Beijing. The initiative sought to empower patients by deepening their understanding of comprehensive cancer treatments and recovery strategies, thereby encouraging a more positive approach to standardized care. The event showcased the screening of “Healthy Her,” a documentary that delves into the lives of breast cancer patients, offering the public a closer look at daily challenges that patients face. In addition, the gathering featured a walking activity that is a form of therapeutic exercise included as part of a multifaceted approach to recovery.
People participate in a charity walk at Longtan Lake Park in Beijing, China, Oct. 26, 2024. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn] Jiang Zefei, vice director of the Department of Oncology at the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, said: “This event is designed to inspire patients to maintain a positive and optimistic outlook in their fight against cancer and to bolster their confidence in returning to societal life.” “We anticipate a future where collaborative efforts from all societal sectors will provide comprehensive support for breast cancer patients, both physically and psychologically,” he added. Breast cancer is a common life-threatening disease that affects women’s health in China. As per the data released by China’s National Cancer Center, the country reported approximately 357,200 new breast cancer cases in 2022, placing it fifth in mortality rates. With advancements in standardized treatments and the introduction of innovative drugs and therapies, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients diagnosed at early stages in China has surpassed 80%, according to Professor Mo Xueli from Peking University Shougang Hospital. Professor Shi Anli, honorary director of Cancer Rehabilitation Society of China Anti-Cancer Association (CRS) and a three-time cancer survivor, mentioned the important role of novel medical treatments. Reflecting on her own experiences, she said: “Genetic testing during my third cancer battle enabled highly precise treatment approaches.” She further commented on the progress in pharmaceutical development, including immunotherapy and targeted therapy, which have broadened treatment options, improved clinical outcomes and significantly enhanced the psychological well-being of patients. Professor Mo also emphasized that the government has significantly ramped up its efforts in screening for cervical and breast cancer. In Jan. 2022, the National Health Commission’s Department of Women’s and Children’s Health released a strategic plan for cervical and breast cancer screenings. For breast cancer, the strategy pushes for the early diagnosis rate to reach over 70% by the end of 2025, aiming to elevate health standards for women.
A Chinese envoy on Thursday called on the United States not to obstruct peace efforts in the Ukraine crisis, as U.S.-led arms transfers to Kyiv continue.
Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at a UN Security Council meeting, where UN Undersecretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu noted that the Ukrainian armed forces continue to receive arms transfers and other forms of military support, including heavy conventional weapons.
Nakamitsu expressed concern over the use and transfer of cluster munitions, highlighting their indiscriminate nature and potential for widespread pollution.
Geng said the immediate priority is to adhere to the principles of no battlefield spillover, no escalation of hostilities, and no incitement by any party to quickly de-escalate the situation and seek a political solution to the crisis.
China urges parties involved in the conflict to demonstrate political will and engage in peace talks as soon as possible, Geng said. He also called on the international community to create favorable conditions and provide constructive assistance for this process.
It is the United States that has been aggravating security tensions in Europe, increasing trust deficits and promoting divisive confrontations, Geng said, adding that after the conflict broke out, the U.S. continued to send weapons to the battlefield, openly advocating for the weakening and defeat of Russia, pushing its geopolitical strategy in a blatant manner.
It is also the U.S. that has repeatedly smeared China’s peace efforts, tied China to Russia, tried to drive a wedge between China and Europe, and deliberately fostered camp-based rivalry, said the Chinese diplomat.
Selling fear, creating enemies and inciting confrontation will not only bring disputes and chaos to the world but will also ultimately harm the U.S. itself, Geng warned.
China has not provided weapons to any party in the Ukraine conflict and has strictly controlled dual-use items, Geng said in response to Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood’s accusations that China has provided decisive support for Russia.
Chinese companies engage in regular trade with countries worldwide, including Russia and Ukraine, in compliance with World Trade Organization rules and market principles, and are beyond reproach, Geng added.
From the very beginning, China has called for a ceasefire, an end to hostilities, the resolution of disputes through diplomatic negotiations, and a push toward a political solution, according to the Chinese envoy.
Over the past three years, China has been vocal and active in these efforts, he said. “Who is truly supporting peace, and who is obstructing it? I think the international community sees this very clearly.”
China opposes the United States’ use of the Ukraine issue to discredit and pressure China, imposing unilateral sanctions and illegal “long-arm jurisdiction” on Chinese entities and individuals, Geng said, adding that China will take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Xi, UAE president exchange congratulations over 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties
BEIJING, Nov. 1 — Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday exchanged congratulatory messages over the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
China and the UAE are good friends who trust each other and good partners for win-win cooperation, Xi said.
Over the past 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-UAE relations have maintained sound and steady development, with strengthened political mutual trust, deepening synergy of development strategies, fruitful practical cooperation in various fields, close people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and sound communication and coordination in regional and international affairs, he added.
Xi recalled that during Mohamed’s state visit to China in May, the two heads of state reached an important consensus, which has charted the course for developing China-UAE relations in the next stage.
Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-UAE relations and stands ready to work with Mohamed to take the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic ties as a new starting point to push the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level, so as to make a greater contribution to regional and world peace and stability while delivering more benefits to the two peoples.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting with Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov. The parties discussed current issues of Russian-Uzbek cooperation. The meeting was also attended by Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov.
Meeting of Dmitry Chernyshenko with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
November 1, 2024
Meeting of Dmitry Chernyshenko with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
November 1, 2024
Meeting of Dmitry Chernyshenko with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
November 1, 2024
Meeting of Dmitry Chernyshenko with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
November 1, 2024
Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov
November 1, 2024
In the presence of Dmitry Chernyshenko and Umid Shadiev, Acting Rector of the Russian State University of Tourism and Service Ambartsum Galustov and First Vice-Rector for Administrative Affairs of the Silk Road International University of Tourism Dilmurod Nasimov signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between universities for the development of joint educational programs in the field of tourism
November 1, 2024
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Meeting of Dmitry Chernyshenko with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov
The Prime Minister of the Republic emphasized that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia is developing on the principles of comprehensive strategic partnership and allied relations.
“This has been achieved thanks to the strong political will and trusting relations between the presidents of the two states – the respected Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev and the respected Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. The state visit of the President of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Uzbekistan on May 26-28, 2024 and the agreements reached opened a new milestone in our multifaceted cooperation. Under the direct leadership of the respected heads of state, the first meeting of the Council of Regions of Uzbekistan and Russia was held in Tashkent, which was attended by a representative delegation from 26 regions of Russia, of which 22 regions were represented by their heads,” said Abdulla Aripov.
For his part, Dmitry Chernyshenko expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Abdulla Aripov for the warm welcome in Uzbekistan.
The Russian Deputy Prime Minister noted that, despite the difficulties caused by sanctions and turbulence in the global economy, trade, economic and investment ties between Russia and Uzbekistan are developing dynamically, and an effective intergovernmental dialogue has been established.
The countries are working systematically on the basis of an intergovernmental comprehensive economic cooperation program for 2022–2026.
Last year, mutual trade turnover between Russia and Uzbekistan grew by 11.5% and reached 823 billion rubles.
In order to develop investment cooperation, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia has prepared proposals for the implementation of 30 tourism investment projects in Russia.
During the negotiations, the parties focused on discussing cooperation in the fields of science, education, youth policy, tourism and sports.
“Our presidents pay great attention to the development of fruitful cooperation. Uzbekistan is the leader in the number of branches of Russian universities abroad, implementing projects within the framework of the state programs “Priority-2030″, advanced engineering schools. The success of the branches is ensured, among other things, by close ties with industrial partners,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.
During his visit to the republic, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister also held a meeting with the Chairman of the Tourism Committee under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan Umid Shadiev. At the meeting, the parties discussed measures to increase mutual tourist flow and implement the action plan in the tourism sector.
Last year, the mutual tourist flow between the countries doubled. This became possible due to the active work of the departments, including increasing the frequency of regular flights.
In 2024, the Year of Tourism of Uzbekistan in Russia will be held. Participation of businesses in key Russian tourism exhibitions is ensured.
Umid Shadiev noted that Uzbekistan feels support from Russia, thanked for cooperation and proposed to intensify internships and exchanges of tourism personnel.
Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov, who was present at the meeting, spoke about the main points of attraction for travelers in the Far East.
“In the Far East, tourism projects are aimed at both domestic and foreign tourism. Today, about 420 investment projects are being implemented here and in the Arctic. There is great interest, which makes it possible to work at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, to offer tourism products to Asian guests. If we take into account the legendary Uzbek hospitality and cuisine, we can create a unique offer that will be mutually beneficial and will allow us to strengthen ties. I invite you to the Far East to take part in the Eastern Economic Forum,” said Alexey Chekunkov.
In the presence of Dmitry Chernyshenko and Umid Shadiev, Acting Rector of the Russian State University of Tourism and Service Ambartsum Galustov and First Vice-Rector for Administrative Affairs of the Silk Road International University of Tourism Dilmurod Nasimov signed a memorandum of cooperation between the universities for the development of joint educational programs in the field of tourism.
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The Symposium on the Translation and International Communication of Chinese Nuo Opera and the 2024 Annual Conference of the China Nuo Opera Research Institute were held in Beijing from Oct. 26-27. The two-part event was hosted by the China Nuo Opera Research Institute and Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and was organized by the School of International Journalism and Communication and the School of Art and Research, BFSU. The gathering aimed to be a platform for in-depth conversation on the protection, inheritance and worldwide promotion of the opera form.
Participants of the Symposium on the Translation and International Communication of Chinese Nuo Opera pose for a group photo at Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing, Oct. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]
The symposium featured two keynote speeches and six panels. Experts and scholars from around China and Osaka, Japan engaged in discussions on topics such as the innovative development and cross-cultural research of Chinese Nuo Opera, historical and theoretical research on Chinese Nuo culture and new media dissemination of Chinese Nuo Opera. Three youth forums were also held, giving a platform for young scholars to share their ideas and youthful insights related to the inheritance, development and dissemination of Chinese Nuo Opera.
Nuo Opera is a traditional form of folk drama where practitioners wear masks and perform dances intended to drive away ghosts and disease.
The symposium received 73 paper submissions, including 38 for the youth forums, with 83 scholars presenting academic reports and engaging in discussions. The symposium also assembled an expert committee to select the top ten papers for the inaugural Chinese Nuo Opera Research Youth Forum.
Officials and guests launch a Nuo Opera mask exhibition at Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing, Oct. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]
Ning Qiang, dean of BFSU’s School of Art and Research, said in his speech that promoting the translation and international communication of Nuo Opera not only helps increase the international community’s awareness and appreciation of Chinese traditional culture but also enhances China’s international competitiveness.
“Our school will take this conference as an opportunity to further promote the translation and international communication of Nuo Opera, allowing more people to understand and appreciate this intangible cultural heritage and contribute anew to the promotion of excellent traditional Chinese culture and the diversity of world cultures,” he said.
Ning’s sentiments were echoed by other speakers at the two-day event, with professor Yuan Jun, director of the Academic Committee at BFSU, stating his advocacy for the academic community to invest more in the development and preservation of Nuo Opera, such as more “academic support for international communication” and engaging in more Nuo Opera research.
Li Zhiyuan, president of the China Nuo Opera Research Institute, mentioned that more than 30 types of Nuo Opera have been listed in the national intangible cultural heritage inventory, underscoring the unquestionable status of Nuo Opera as an essential component of traditional Chinese culture. Li believes that Nuo Opera, characterized by its national distinctiveness, can become more globally recognized through both the research institute’s and BFSU’s efforts.
A corner of the Nuo Opera mask exhibition at Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing, Oct. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]
After the opening ceremony, all participants attended an unveiling for a Nuo Opera mask exhibition and mask-making workshop. The masks displayed as part of the exhibition were primarily provided by Qin Fazhong, director of the Guizhou Anshun Nuo Carving Culture Museum and council member of the China Nuo Opera Research Institute. Qin explained the selection rationale for the masks on display and guided visitors through the exhibition, sharing stories and information behind the masks. The exhibition will continue until early November.
A scene from the Nuo Opera performance that took place during the two-day event at Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing, Oct. 27, 2024. [Photo courtesy of BFSU]
On Oct. 27, the Chizhou Nuo Opera Art Troupe from Anhui province joined the Art Troupe of BFSU for a cultural performance along with interactive sessions such as a Nuo mask carving workshop.
The Philippine Supreme Court has granted temporary protection to an environmental activist abducted in Pangasinan earlier this year.
In its resolution dated September 9 — but only made public this week — the court granted Francisco “Eco” Dangla III’s petition for temporary protection, and prohibited the respondents, including high-ranking soldiers and police officers, to be near the activist’s location.
“Furthermore, you, respondents, and all persons and entities acting and operating under your directions, instructions, and orders are PROHIBITED from entering within a radius of one kilometer of the person, places of residence, work, and present locations of petitioner and his immediate family,” the resolution read.
The respondents are:
Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Roy Galido
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil
Brigadier General Gulliver Señires (in his capacity as 702nd Brigade commanding general Brigadier)
Ilocos Region police chief Police Brigadier General Lou Evangelista
Police Colonel Jeff Fanged (in his capacity as Pangasinan police chief)
Aside from giving Dangla temporary protection, the court also granted his petition for writs of amparo and habeas data. A writ of amparo is a legal remedy, which is usually a protection order in the form of a restraining order.
The writ of habeas data compels the government to destroy information that could cause harm.
These extraordinary writs are usually invoked by activists and progressives in the Philippines as they face intimidation from the government and its forces.
Dangla’s abduction Dangla and another activist, Joxelle Tiong, were abducted in Pangasinan last March 24.
According to witnesses, they saw two men who were forced to board a vehicle in Barangay Polo, San Carlos City.
The two activists, who who had been red-tagged for their advocacies, were serving as convenors of the Pangasinan People’s Strike for the Environment.
They “vocally defended the people and ecosystems of Pangasinan against the harms of coal-fired power plants, nuclear power plants, incinerator plants, and offshore mining in Lingayen Gulf,” at the time of their abduction.
Three days later, several groups announced that Dangla and Tiong were found safe, but that the two had gone through a “harrowing ordeal.”
“Bruised but alive” . . . the environmental activists abducted in Pangasinan but found safe, Francisco ‘Eco’ Dangla III (left) and Joxelle ‘Jak’ Tiong. Image: Rappler
The reality The protection given to Dangla is only temporary as the Court of Appeals still needs to conduct hearings on the petition. In other words, the Supreme Court only granted the writ, but the power to whether grant or deny Dangla the privilege of the writs of amparo and habeas data lies with the Court of Appeals.
There have been instances where the appellate court granted activists the privilege of writ of amparo, like in the case of labour activists Loi Magbanua and Ador Juat, where the court issued permanent protection orders for them and their immediate families.
Unfortunately, this was not the case for other activists, such as young environmentalists Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro.
The two were first reported missing by activist groups. Security forces later said they were “safe and sound” and that they had allegedly “voluntarily surrendered” to the military.
However, Tamano and Castro went off-script during a press conference organised by the anti-insurgency task force and revealed that they were actually abducted.
In February, the High Court granted the two temporary protection and their writs of amparo and habeas data petitions. However, the appellate court in August denied the protection order for Tamano and Castro.
Associate Justice Emily San Gaspar-Gito fully dissented in the decision and said: “It would be uncharacteristic for the courts, especially this court, to simply fold their arms and ignore the palpable threats to petitioners’ life, liberty and security and just wait for the irreversible to happen to them.”
Now in its fourth year, November’s Urban Agriculture Month continues to blossom with a growing number of participants, venues and food-growing showcases across Australia.
This year, Yarra City Council is proud to feature a calendar of events where residents can learn about and celebrate local food production and the many ways it benefits both people and our local ecosystems.
Throughout November, you’ll find a variety of activities across Yarra, from thought-provoking panel discussions to hands-on workshops, all aimed at enhancing our understanding and appreciation of urban agriculture. Check out the details below and take part in these exciting events!
Featured events
Public Housing Community Gardens Tour – Rollickin’ Richmond Tuesday 12 November, 11am to 12.30pm Lennox Street Community Garden, Cnr Lennox St and Butler St, North Richmond Want to know more about what is growing in our community gardens in North Richmond? Join us for a tour of the Lennox and Highett community gardens! Whether you’re keen to learn about the story behind the plants being grown, or the traditional gardening techniques that are used, this tour is for you.
Garden Party and Food Recycling Depot Opening Monday 18 November, 10.30am to 3pm Finbar Neighbourhood House, 143 Kent Street, Richmond Join the celebration of Finbar Neighbourhood House’s newly refurbished Food Recycling Depot! Discover how to recycle your food scraps and learn about composting techniques to enhance your garden. Kath Jones will also host a workshop, “Why Grow Organic?” exploring the benefits and tackling some of the myths surrounding organic gardening.
What is the Future of Urban Agriculture in Naarm? Thursday 21 November, 6.30pm to 8pm Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library, 182 St Georges Road, North Fitzroy Join Yarra’s My Smart Garden program and Yarra Libraries for a lively panel discussion led by journalist Sally Warhaft. Hear from local growers at Cultivating Community and the green infrastructure team from the City of Melbourne as they explore the future of urban agriculture in our city.
Fitzroy Urban Agriculture Walk Wednesday 27 November, 2.15pm to 3.30pm Fitzroy Learning Network, 198 Napier St, Fitzroy Discover Fitzroy’s vibrant urban agriculture initiatives with Yarra’s My Smart Garden program. Join us for an engaging walk through community gardens, composting sites, and urban farms while meeting the dedicated growers and educators who make it all possible.
Organic Pest and Disease Management Workshop Saturday 23 November, 1pm to 2pm Rushall Garden, Rushall Cres, Fitzroy North Explore organic methods for minimising garden pests and disease with Cultivating Community. Learn why chemical fertilizers and insecticides often cause more harm than good and discover simple, eco-friendly solutions you can apply at home.
For a complete list of events and activities in and around Yarra, visit the Urban Agriculture Month website. You can even still register to host your own event, whether it’s a garden tour, skill share, crop swap, or communal feast!
Now in its fourth year, November’s Urban Agriculture Month continues to blossom with a growing number of participants, venues and food-growing showcases across Australia.
This year, Yarra City Council is proud to feature a calendar of events where residents can learn about and celebrate local food production and the many ways it benefits both people and our local ecosystems.
Throughout November, you’ll find a variety of activities across Yarra, from thought-provoking panel discussions to hands-on workshops, all aimed at enhancing our understanding and appreciation of urban agriculture. Check out the details below and take part in these exciting events!
Featured events
Public Housing Community Gardens Tour – Rollickin’ Richmond Tuesday 12 November, 11am to 12.30pm Lennox Street Community Garden, Cnr Lennox St and Butler St, North Richmond Want to know more about what is growing in our community gardens in North Richmond? Join us for a tour of the Lennox and Highett community gardens! Whether you’re keen to learn about the story behind the plants being grown, or the traditional gardening techniques that are used, this tour is for you.
Garden Party and Food Recycling Depot Opening Monday 18 November, 10.30am to 3pm Finbar Neighbourhood House, 143 Kent Street, Richmond Join the celebration of Finbar Neighbourhood House’s newly refurbished Food Recycling Depot! Discover how to recycle your food scraps and learn about composting techniques to enhance your garden. Kath Jones will also host a workshop, “Why Grow Organic?” exploring the benefits and tackling some of the myths surrounding organic gardening.
What is the Future of Urban Agriculture in Naarm? Thursday 21 November, 6.30pm to 8pm Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library, 182 St Georges Road, North Fitzroy Join Yarra’s My Smart Garden program and Yarra Libraries for a lively panel discussion led by journalist Sally Warhaft. Hear from local growers at Cultivating Community and the green infrastructure team from the City of Melbourne as they explore the future of urban agriculture in our city.
Fitzroy Urban Agriculture Walk Wednesday 27 November, 2.15pm to 3.30pm Fitzroy Learning Network, 198 Napier St, Fitzroy Discover Fitzroy’s vibrant urban agriculture initiatives with Yarra’s My Smart Garden program. Join us for an engaging walk through community gardens, composting sites, and urban farms while meeting the dedicated growers and educators who make it all possible.
Organic Pest and Disease Management Workshop Saturday 23 November, 1pm to 2pm Rushall Garden, Rushall Cres, Fitzroy North Explore organic methods for minimising garden pests and disease with Cultivating Community. Learn why chemical fertilizers and insecticides often cause more harm than good and discover simple, eco-friendly solutions you can apply at home.
For a complete list of events and activities in and around Yarra, visit the Urban Agriculture Month website. You can even still register to host your own event, whether it’s a garden tour, skill share, crop swap, or communal feast!
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Northern Territory Police have arrested a man in relation to domestic violence related offences that occurred this month.
Around 8:30am, officers from the Territory Safety Division arrested a 24-year-old man at an address on Smith Street, Darwin, after multiple alleged assaults against his partner.
The man remains in police custody and is expected to be charged with Aggravated assault, Armed with an offensive weapon and Possess/carry/used a controlled weapon.
Acting Senior Sergeant Alex Noonan said, “Domestic violence will not be tolerated, and we are committed to bringing these offenders before the courts.
“If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, please reach out on 131 444 or in an emergency call 000. You can also anonymously report through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
The consumer price index (CPI) fell by 0.1% in October 2024 compared with the previous month to 107.1 points (December 2020 = 100). Inflation was +0.6% compared with the same month of the previous year. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Turnover adjusted for sales days and holidays rose in the retail sector by 1.0% in nominal terms in September 2024 compared with the previous year. Seasonally adjusted, nominal turnover fell by 0.5% compared with the previous month. These are provisional findings from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The website operator is simply referred to as “NorthUnion”, and there is no information regarding its legal form. They give business addresses in Zurich, Switzerland, London, United Kingdom, Graz, Austria, and Madrid, Spain.
BaFin has recently become aware of a number of websites with almost identical content and has also warned consumers about them. In each case, the website’s homepage displays the phrase: “Step Up Your Trading with [name of operator]“.
Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies database of companies.
Theinformation provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German BankingAct (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).
Please be aware:
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and Gazprom Neft held an inter-industry conference, Digital Twins 2024. For two days, the Technopolis Polytech research building became a platform for exchanging experiences, discussing innovations, and developing solutions to existing problems. The event was attended by over 150 IT, systems analysis, and engineering specialists from 30 companies and organizations.
The plenary sessions were moderated by Kirill Vasiliev, head of the Gazpromneft-ITO department, Polytechnic University graduate and ambassador. The experts presented over 20 reports on such topical issues as the use of artificial intelligence, HR policy, import substitution and the use of digital twins in complex industrial systems.
Opening the conference, Gazprom Neft Science Director Mars Khasanov noted: It is important to understand the difference between a model and a digital twin. If a model describes only part of an object or system and does not “live” on its own, then a digital twin must adapt, adjust to changes in the environment, change as new data arrives, and learn. This means that a full-fledged digital twin must have intelligence to some extent — artificial intelligence. If artificial intelligence is used purposefully, understanding its key advantages, and “landing” it on engineering soil, then it will be a very useful tool, and digital twins will not be able to work without it. Meetings like our conference today are needed to form the correct understanding of digital twins.
Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU Yuri Fomin welcomed the participants by saying that the topic of digital twins is now coming to the forefront: The Polytechnic University is characterized by the speed of introducing products to the industry. The current situation in the country and the world, on the one hand, contributes to the acceleration of this process, on the other hand, it introduces restrictions. In these conditions, we decided that digital twins are a strategic direction for us, in conjunction with our partners. We have accumulated competencies in the field of digital twins, it is gratifying that we make a serious contribution to this matter, and we need to find a common language with the industry.
The need for collaboration among all participants in the digital twin market was repeatedly emphasized during the discussions. The participants of the meeting not only presented their own business experience, shared achievements and problems, but also discussed how universities and companies can communicate more productively and bring mutual benefit.
Director of Product Development Programs at Gazprom Neft, Evgeny Yudin, believes that building such interaction is one of the most pressing tasks today.
The digital transformation stage is clear, we need to take the next step — to more intelligent management based on artificial intelligence, digital twins, — Evgeny Viktorovich is sure. — We need to coordinate efforts from the point of view of a single conceptual base. There is a GOST that defines what digital twins are, there are concepts that businesses use. We need to start agreeing on the same language. And secondly, we need to share experience in using digital twins, artificial intelligence to optimize the management process. This is important because the goals are quite ambitious, and we understand that this goal cannot be achieved by one company alone, we need to coordinate, share experience, create consortiums, associations, and do joint projects. This is more effective in terms of getting an increment on the way to this goal. And the goal, I repeat, is the transition towards intelligent management. We are open to cooperation and interaction.
On the first day, the experience of the Polytechnic University in creating technologies for developing digital twins of products in industry was shared with the conference participants by the Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU, Head of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” Alexey Borovkov. Also, from the speeches of representatives of leading companies and scientific organizations, the audience learned about various aspects of digital transformation in the oil and gas sector, aircraft and helicopter manufacturing, and other industries. Solutions were proposed for optimizing processes using digital models, accelerating hydrodynamic modeling using machine learning methods, hybrid modeling, and integrating artificial intelligence into control systems.
At the end of the first day of the conference, Evgeny Yudin and the head of well modeling and ground facilities at Gazprom Neft, Alexander Vinokurov, held a round table discussion on “Artificial Intelligence for Optimizing Business Processes.”
On the second day, Dmitry Mikhalyuk, CEO of JSC Tsifra and a graduate of the Physics and Mechanics Department of the Polytechnic University, covered the topic of digital twins of production systems as a synergy of information technology and modeling of physical processes. Dmitry Sokolov, Solution Architect at Kaspersky Lab, taught how to safely update and enrich a digital twin with industrial data. Maxim Simonov, Head of the Competence Center for the Development of Integrated Asset Modeling at Gazprom Neft, spoke about the company’s HR policy: how interaction with universities occurs, what internal training is, what helps a young specialist go from a student to an expert, etc. The conference participants also learned about the tools and best practices for using neural network approaches, discussed the problems of switching to domestic software, data in digital twins, and management processes.
The conference concluded with a panel discussion on the topic “Digital Twins: Development Prospects in Industry”. Experts exchanged opinions on what problems of implementing digital twins are coming to the forefront today – technological, personnel, import substitution or legal regulation; where government assistance is needed; how well universities are coping with training engineers of the future, etc.
We are delving quite deeply into the topic of digital twins of physical, physical and chemical systems. But if we want to move to new management principles, then large companies have other objects that need to build digital twins, for example, the external environment, the same markets, – believes the head of the digital technologies and artificial intelligence department of Gazprom Neft Mikhail Korolkov. – Problems will begin when the twins of external systems need to be connected and integrated with the twins of physical systems. And the second barrier that will at some point stand in the way of the widespread use of digital twins is a possible change in the business models of companies.
Assessing the prospects for the development of domestic digital technologies in the next 5-10 years, Alexey Zaslavsky, CEO of Vaizteco (Aiteko Group of Companies), noted: We can certainly achieve priorities in certain specific things. The main thing is to choose them correctly and concentrate on them. We must not forget that our Motherland launched a man into space 16 years after the end of World War II.
Our country has a unique way of mobilizing itself in very difficult periods, agreed Maxim Simonov. We are now seeing that in two or three years, many software solutions have appeared that, although they do not yet allow us to meet all business needs, already provide the opportunity to work with domestic solutions. In some ways, they are already ahead of previously used software products.
The most important thing is to use these technological breakthroughs in the formation of a new system of international cooperation, – says Andrey Dobrynin, Director of the Center for Geospatial Economic Analysis at Lomonosov Moscow State University. – Yes, the circle of partners has changed. But I would not say that the market has narrowed. We need to be able to position ourselves correctly there, offer the right solutions. If we can build a chain of development of artificial intelligence and digital twins and move in this direction, we will be able to set the tone, create standards, promote our projects and gain a foothold in key positions in the global market.
Andrey Dobrynin also highly praised the level of the meeting of specialists. It was a wonderful conference. The Polytechnic University has a great deal of groundwork in the field of digital twins, and Gazprom Neft is a leading company that comes up with initiatives before others. And joining efforts will allow us to move forward. But what was even more impressive was how the topics were discussed. The participants represented different industries, not even related ones, which gave an additional impetus to the discussion. Everyone contributed to understanding the issue, which, in my opinion, serves as a good basis for further cooperation.
Mikhail Korolkov summed up the conference: There were two very interesting, eventful days, with excellent reports, lively discussions, exchange of ideas, impressions, and experience. Digital twins are a topic that is becoming advanced and breakthrough in all important industries for the country. We are coming to new issues that were not even raised a year or two ago: integration of digital twins, the role of artificial intelligence in digital twins. The main problem of import substitution was also touched upon. The discussion was comprehensive, not only the reports are important, but also the exchange of opinions, and the audience, the speakers will only benefit from this, they will find ways to overcome barriers. I hope that this event will become permanent, and in some time we will discuss new trends and ideas at a new level.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
We will issue a Reduced Threat message when the threat to the community has reduced.
All bushfire incidents that have had an Advice, Watch and Act or Emergency Warning message issued will be finalised with an Advice – Reduced Threat message.
We will issue a Reduced Threat message when the threat to the community has reduced.
All bushfire incidents that have had an Advice, Watch and Act or Emergency Warning message issued will be finalised with an Advice – Reduced Threat message.
We currently have 17 Care Leavers aged 18 to 23 who are at university. 10 of our young people are studying here in Plymouth at one of our local institutions but the rest are attending universities across the country including Bristol, Liverpool, Bath, Greenwich, Manchester and West London.
What is it like being a care experienced university student?
James is a 19 year old university student who is studying Economics at the University of the West of England (UWE).
Reflecting on when he moved to university, he said: “I was very well supported by the Care Leavers team. The team paid and organised the moving van for me, which honestly helped me a lot!
James also completed work experience at Plymouth City Council, he said: “The week helped me develop my understanding of local economic development and also presented, to me, the sheer number of functions that the council has to keep the city working.
“Especially coming from a care leaver background, it really helps me build up my employment skills and allowed me to explore future career options, such as local government.”
Steeve, 23, has graduated his Foundation Degree in Science in Culinary Arts Management this summer from the University of West London. Steeve has always had high educational aspirations and has worked hard to achieve this goal, in fact after graduating he has gone on to further study in this subject.
Steeve provided some lovely feedback about his Personal Advisor: “I just wanted to say thank you to you personally and to Plymouth City Council for supporting me for years”.
Councillor Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said: “It is excellent to see how many of our care experienced young people have moved on to university and higher education, I am so proud of them all and the amazing things that they are all doing.
“We know that the journey to higher education is exciting, but it can be challenging.
“Our staff have done an amazing job in supporting each care experienced young person.
“I hope the achievements we are celebrating here serve as real inspiration for the younger children in our care to think as ambitiously as possible about their own futures.”
The parade steps off from Wulfruna Street at 10.30am and the public are encouraged to line the route.
Led by the Pipe Band of West Midlands Fire Service, the parade will make its way into Princes Square, right in Lichfield Street, right into Exchange Street and into St Peter’s Square.
Once assembled in the square, the parade will be joined by civic dignitaries for an outdoor Service of Remembrance which is open to the public to watch.
A 2 minute silence will take place at 11am before the laying of wreaths at the city’s cenotaph.
This will be followed by a service of remembrance inside St Peter’s Church.
Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Linda Leach, said that she hoped as many people as possible will turn out to watch and participate in this year’s event and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
She added: “At a time when our world often feels unstable and frightening, people value our armed forces more than ever.
“Remembrance Sunday is a way for us all to show our appreciation for those who have laid down their lives fighting for our freedom and to remember their valour and service.
“Wolverhampton has a proud tradition of coming together on this sacred day to honour the fallen and I know that once again people will come out in their thousands to line the parade route and observe the service.
“I will be wearing my poppy with pride and I would urge everyone to do the same and show their support for the work of the Royal British Legion.”
The public are advised city centre road closures will be in place on the morning of November 10 to enable the parade to take place.
Wulfruna Street will be closed from 8.30am until 11am. The rest of the parade route will be closed to all traffic from 10.30am to allow the parade to march through safely and will reopen at approximately 10.50am.
Christopher Woolley, who was 42, was living in the Wednesfield area of Wolverhampton and previously lived in Essington.
Anyone who is related to Mr Woolley or has any information which may help trace his relatives is asked to please call Protection and Funerals Officer Diane Washbrook on 07967 769826 or email her via diane.washbrook@wolverhampton.gov.uk.