Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Maximum amount of ex gratia payment on severance payment from Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund to be raised Through a resolution of the Legislative Council under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance today (March 20), the maximum amount of ex gratia payment on severance payment under the Fund will be increased from $100,000 plus 50 per cent of any excess entitlement to $200,000 plus 50 per cent of any excess entitlement.
The adjusted maximum amount will take effect on Friday (March 21) upon gazettal of the resolution and apply to severance payment where the liability for payment arises on or after that date.
The review on the coverage of ex gratia payment on severance payment under the Fund is one of the policy initiatives in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” to strengthen labour support. This legislative amendment will further strengthen the protection for employees’ entitlements to severance payment upon business closures.
The Fund was set up in 1985 to provide timely financial relief in the form of ex gratia payment to employees of insolvent employers. Issued at HKT 10:35
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SCST expresses condolences over passing of Jimmy Lo Mr Lo was a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s music and lyric-writing scene, as his lyrics captured the essence of the city’s evolving times and emotions. He wrote lyrics for over 3 000 songs, each a masterpiece of poetic craftsmanship and profound emotion. His works have touched the lives of many in Hong Kong, leaving a lasting impression in the city’s collective memory. Revered as the “Maestro of Lyrics”, Mr Lo’s timeless classics, such as “Dynasty”, “Every Time It Changes” and “Fatherland”, skilfully interweaved lyrics and mood, conveying a multitude of emotions to listeners. His works continue to resonate with audiences and stand the test of time.
Miss Law said, “With his superb writing skills, Mr Lo’s lyrics were imbued with profound emotion and philosophy. His works were sometimes meticulous and sometimes grand, touching the hearts of countless listeners. He dedicated his life to creating classic songs for Hong Kong’s music industry, leaving behind a precious collective memory for us all. His passing is a tremendous loss to Hong Kong’s cultural community. We will always remember this exceptional artist and truly value his tremendous contributions to Hong Kong’s culture.” Issued at HKT 15:30
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, Datuk Prof. Dr. Mohd Faiz Abdullah, at the ISIS Malaysia office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. During their meeting, Dr. Kao highlighted the important role that Track 2 Institutions such as ISIS Malaysia could play in regional diplomacy, particularly in supporting of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship priorities this year through platforms such as the annual Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR).
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the Chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
LONDON, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 80% of directors and officers consider health and safety risks to be very important or extremely important to their organisation, according to the latest Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Survey by Willis, a WTW business, (NASDAQ:WTW), in collaboration with Clyde & Co. Physical workplace risks were deemed the most important by 43% of respondents, followed by employee mental health and wellbeing consequences stemming from work (28%) and from personal matters (12%).
For the first time since 2018 civil litigation and third party claims were included among the top seven concerns, with 63% of directors and officers surveyed considering these significant risks to their Directors and Officers. Smaller organisations (<$50 million in revenue) and those with revenues between $1 and $5 billion mentioned litigation more often. The largest organisations surveyed (>$5 billion in revenue) included diversity, equity and inclusion as well as bribery and corruption as top risks, while excluding the financial distress, bankruptcy and insolvency concerns of smaller organisations.
Climate change is no longer considered a top seven risk in several regions, including Asia, North America and the Middle East. In contrast, diversity, equity and inclusion, a risk that was included in the survey for the first time this year, has made its way into the top seven for Great Britain, North America and Africa. Social risks as a whole feature prominently in the list of concerns and, when looked at over a five-year period, the increase in concern is notable. For example, breach of human rights within or by business operations has risen from 23% of responders considering it a very or extremely important concern in 2021 to 62% in 2025. Similarly, concern about supplier business practices has risen from 27% in 2021 to 59% in 2025.
In general, there is a strong alignment between perceived material risks and board expertise and priorities. However, there is a notable exception when it comes to cybersecurity and data privacy, with many boards indicating more time is needed. Data loss and cyber-attacks, including extortion, are considered to be very important or extremely important for 77% of those surveyed. Artificial intelligence lags behind (only 51% of respondents consider it to be very or extremely important and considered by the fewest number of respondents to be material to the business while also being the lowest ranked issue on which respondents considered the board to have the relevant expertise), but this perception may change in the future as new use cases and regulations develop.
Angus Duncan, global D&O coverage specialist at Willis, said: “The latest survey results underscore the diverse challenges directors and officers face today, highlighting how fraught the landscape has become. Despite increasing concerns over litigation risks, cost remains the dominant driver for D&O insurance purchasing decisions. This trend persists even as regulatory scrutiny and shareholder activism increase global liability exposures. By taking a proactive approach, companies can optimise their D&O coverage while mitigating financial and reputational risk. Our data helps clients anticipate emerging risks before they become serious exposures.”
James Cooper, Partner and Head of Financial Institutions and D&O, Clyde & Co said: “The risk landscape for directors and officers is fast evolving and complex, driven by a multitude of factors from geopolitics to tech advancements and a challenging economic climate. Identifying the most critical risks and understanding where pressure points may appear is crucial in successfully navigating existing and emerging challenges. So too is ensuring that protections such as D&O insurance reflect this changing environment and can adequately cover areas where leaders may feel more exposed such as cyberattacks or data loss.”
Respondents include 765 global senior decision makers working in services, finance and insurance, healthcare, industry, energy and utilities and transportation and retail. Company size includes revenues of $5 billion or more (10%), $1 to 5 billion (15%), $50 million to $1 billion (33%) and less than $50 million (33%).
About WTW
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Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.
Clyde & Co is a leading global law firm, helping organisations navigate risk and maximise opportunity in the sectors that underpin global trade and commercial activity, namely: insurance, aviation, marine, construction, energy, trade and natural resources. Globally integrated, the firm has 490 partners, 2,400 lawyers, 3,200 legal professionals and 5,500 people overall in nearly 70 offices and associated offices worldwide. For more information please visit www.clydeco.com
In the Trump age, how the next government, whether Labor or Coalition, will handle foreign affairs, defence and trade is shaping as crucially important.
It’s a weird time when your friends become almost as problematic as your potential enemies, but that’s the situation we face.
As many have observed, Donald Trump’s long shadow hangs over our election, at a time of multiple other uncertainties. Australia, like other countries, has already felt the brunt of the president’s tariffs policy, and the government is bracing for what may be worse to come with the next round of Trump announcements in early April.
So what face would a Peter Dutton government present to the world? And how would he handle Trump?
On Thursday at the Lowy Institute, the opposition leader brought his international policies together. He presented a mix of bipartisanship and differences with the government. Some of the latter weren’t so much fundamental disagreements as claims Labor had failed and the Coalition would be more competent or effective.
The most frustrating part of Dutton’s speech and answers to questions was the same old problem. For crucial details, particularly on defence spending but also on the future of foreign aid under the Coalition, we were told we’d have to wait for announcements that always seem over the horizon.
Dutton says as prime minister he wouldn’t resile from taking on the United States when necessary. With fears about US drug companies spearheading a war on Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, he declared, “I will stand up and defend the PBS […] against any attempt to undermine its integrity, including by major pharmaceutical companies”.
In arguing that, in general, he’d be able to deal with Trump, Dutton invoked the previous Coalition government’s success with Trump Mark 1 (though Mark 2 is very different), and the power of AUKUS to anchor relations. His early priority would be to visit Washington.
The question Australians should ask themselves is this: “Who is better placed to manage the US relationship and engage with President Trump?” I believe that […] I will be able to work with the Trump administration Mark 2 to get better outcomes for Australia. I will talk to [Trump] about how our national interests are mutual interests.
But, as he acknowledged, “Australia’s national interests do not always align perfectly with the interests of partners – even of our closest allies”. The way Trump is operating at the moment, it may be that a PM of either stripe will find him impossible on certain issues.
Dutton was once an uncomplicated hawk on China. Now, he is a mix of hawkish and dovish. It’s true things have changed greatly in Australia-China relations in recent times, but another reason for Dutton’s more nuanced position is highlighted by the line in his speech that “Australia has a remarkable Chinese diaspora”. The opposition leader has an eye to the vote of Chinese-Australians.
Dutton now walks a line that is critical of China militarily, but anxious to promote and expand the now-restored trading relationship.
Currently, there are two major, hot conflicts in the world: the Ukraine war and the violence in the Middle East.
On Ukraine, the Coalition and Labor are at one in their backing for President Volodymyr Zelensky, although Dutton criticises aspects of the government’s delivery of support. But they are at odds over Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s willingness to contribute to a peacekeeping force.
“Australia can’t afford the multibillion-dollar sustainment price tag for having troops based in an ill-defined and endless European presence,” Dutton said.
The “multibillion-dollar” price tag was overegged, but many would agree there are sound arguments for not deploying Australian forces on such a venture. On the other hand, if an Albanese government did so, you can bet the commitment would be relatively token.
The big gulf between Labor and Coalition is over the Middle East. This has grown from a marginally different reaction after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israelis to a major disagreement now.
Dutton claims Labor “has viewed our relationship with Israel through a domestic policy lens and with a view to its political imperatives” – that is, the Muslim vote.
Based on what Dutton says, a change of government would bring a substantial recalibration of Australia’s Middle East policy. One of Dutton’s “first orders of business” would be to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “help rebuild the relationship Labor has trashed”. He added:
Israel will be able to count on our support again in the United Nations. And given UNRWA [the Palestinian relief agency] has employed terrorists from Hamas who participated in the 7 October attacks, the organisation will no longer receive funding from a government I lead.
The Coalition repeatedly says Australia needs to spend more on defence. It has announced $3 billion to reinstate the fourth squadron of F-35 joint strike fighters, but not said the size of the defence envelope it believes is required. Dutton said:
We need to do nothing short of re-thinking defence, re-tooling the ADF, and re-energising our domestic defence industry, and that’s exactly what our government will do.
That sounds like a massive task, and so it’s more than time we saw the plan and cost of it. Would the Coalition be willing to go to around 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence spending, as the Trump administration wants? That would require a lot of sacrifice in other policy areas.
The Australian Financial Review this week reported Coalition sources saying it is weighing up boosting defence spending to at least 2.5% by 2029.
When the Coalition talks up its record in defence, one should also remember the failures, chief among them the delays and chopping and changing in its submarine program. A sub-optimal performance has been bipartisan.
Dutton was questioned on his position on aid to Pacific countries. Should Australia step up given the void left by the US shutting down aid? If a Dutton government did that, would it mean an overall aid increase, or cuts in the aid budget elsewhere?
This was left as another black hole, although he did say the Australian government should make representations to the US for the reinstatement of particular aid programs the US had cut.
I don’t agree with some of the funding that they’ve withdrawn, and I think it is detrimental to the collective interests in the region, and I hope that there can be a discussion between our governments about a sensible pathway forward in that regard.
Good luck with that.
It is hard to avoid the conclusion the overall aid program would be an easy target for the Coalition in the search for savings.
When leaders talk, what they don’t say can be as important as what they do.
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.
Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law has expressed sorrow over the passing of lyricist Jimmy Lo and extended her deepest condolences to his family.
A prominent figure in Hong Kong’s music scene, Mr Lo wrote lyrics for over 3,000 songs, touching the lives of many in the city and leaving a lasting impression on its collective memory.
Revered as the “Maestro of Lyrics”, Mr Lo’s classics include Dynasty, Every time it changes and Fatherland.
The Government commented that Mr Lo’s songs are masterpieces of poetic craftsmanship and profound emotion. It said that he skillfully interweaved lyrics and mood, conveying a multitude of emotions to listeners, and that his works continue to resonate with audiences and stand the test of time.
Paying tribute, Miss Law said: “With his superb writing skills, Mr Lo’s lyrics were imbued with profound emotion and philosophy. His works were sometimes meticulous and sometimes grand, touching the hearts of countless listeners.
“He dedicated his life to creating classic songs for Hong Kong’s music industry, leaving behind a precious collective memory for us all. His passing is a tremendous loss to Hong Kong’s cultural community.”
SHENZHEN, China, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aurora Mobile Limited (NASDAQ: JG) (“Aurora Mobile” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China, today announced that its leading enterprise AI agent platform, GPTBots.ai, has recently entered into a strategic partnership with ZANROO MALAYSIA SDN. BHD. (“ZANROO”), a fast-growing marketing technology company in Southeast Asia. This collaboration intends to drive the adoption and application of AI solutions in the region through joint business scenario solutions, thematic campaigns, and regional joint branding efforts.
GPTBots.ai and ZANROO are excited to embark on this strategic partnership, which promises to unlock new opportunities for AI solutions in Southeast Asia. Chris Lo, Founder and CEO of GPTBots.ai, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying, “We are thrilled to partner with ZANROO, a company with strong and rich experiences in the Southeast Asian market. This alliance will enable us to deliver exceptional AI solutions and drive digital transformation in the region.”
Carter Lim, COO of ZANROO, also shared his perspective on the partnership, highlighting the potential for growth and innovation that this alliance brings. “This partnership with GPTBots.ai is a significant step forward for ZANROO. Together, we will leverage our combined expertise to create innovative AI solutions that address the unique needs of Southeast Asian businesses. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration that will shape the future of AI in the region,” he said.
The partnership between GPTBots.ai and ZANROO will focus on several key areas:
New AI-Driven Business Solutions: The two companies will collaborate to develop AI-powered solutions tailored to the unique needs of Southeast Asian businesses. By combining the advanced AI solutions of GPTBots.ai with ZANROO’s deep understanding of the local market, they aim to create innovative applications that boost operational efficiency and enhance customer engagement.
Strategic AI Awareness Campaigns: To raise awareness and promote the adoption of AI technologies, GPTBots.ai and ZANROO will launch a series of thematic campaigns. These campaigns will showcase the latest AI advancements and their practical applications, leveraging both online and offline channels to reach a broader audience in the region.
Unified Regional Brand Presence: Building a strong regional brand is a cornerstone of the partnership. By integrating their brands and collaborating closely, GPTBots.ai and ZANROO will create a unified presence in Southeast Asia. This joint branding effort will not only enhance their market visibility but also strengthen their competitive edge in the region.
This strategic partnership marks a significant step in GPTBots.ai’s global expansion strategy. By working closely with ZANROO, GPTBots.ai will unlock new opportunities for AI solutions in Southeast Asia, ultimately contributing to the region’s digital transformation and intelligent upgrades.
About ZANROO
Founded in 2013, ZANROO has rapidly become one of the fastest-growing marketing technology companies in Southeast Asia. Specializing in data technology, ZANROO leverages online, offline, and real-time data to enhance human-computer interactions. The company offers a comprehensive suite of data analytics software that collects consumer data from various platforms, including social media, to help brands design and execute their marketing campaigns. By integrating and unifying data from multiple sources, ZANROO provides actionable insights that drive more effective marketing strategies.
About GPTBots.ai
GPTBots.ai is a complementary general-purpose LLM AI bot featuring private data input and continuous fine-tuning, which can replace ‘rule-based’ chatbots, improve user experience, and reduce costs. GPTBots.ai aims to provide users with an end-to-end business platform that can seamlessly integrate robots into existing applications and workflows via plug-ins. GPTBots.ai also allow users to have great access to, and more efficiently and effectively using, AIGC to improve overall corporate productivity and output quality.
Founded in 2011, Aurora Mobile (NASDAQ: JG) is a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China. Since its inception, Aurora Mobile has focused on providing stable and efficient messaging services to enterprises and has grown to be a leading mobile messaging service provider with its first-mover advantage. With the increasing demand for customer reach and marketing growth, Aurora Mobile has developed forward-looking solutions such as Cloud Messaging and Cloud Marketing to help enterprises achieve omnichannel customer reach and interaction, as well as artificial intelligence and big data-driven marketing technology solutions to help enterprises’ digital transformation.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Aurora Mobile’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Aurora Mobile may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Aurora Mobile’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Aurora Mobile’s strategies; Aurora Mobile’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Aurora Mobile’s ability to attract and retain customers; its ability to develop and effectively market data solutions, and penetrate the existing market for developer services; its ability to transition to the new advertising-driven SAAS business model; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand; the competition with current or future competitors; its ability to continue to gain access to mobile data in the future; the laws and regulations relating to data privacy and protection; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Aurora Mobile undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
For more information, please contact:
Aurora Mobile Limited E-mail: ir@jiguang.cn
Christensen
In China Ms. Xiaoyan Su Phone: +86-10-5900-1548 E-mail: Xiaoyan.Su@christensencomms.com
In U.S. Ms. Linda Bergkamp Phone: +1-480-614-3004 Email: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com
PERTH, 20 MARCH 2025 – Greenpeace Australia Pacific has asked Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to reconsider the criteria used to assess Woodside’s North West Shelf Extension because significant new impacts have emerged since the original 2019 decision.
“We’re calling on the Environment Minister to assess Woodside’s North West Shelf Extension with all of the facts in front of her—including new evidence showing this project could devastate our environment, particularly Scott Reef,” said Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy, Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
“Like thousands of other individuals and community groups, Greenpeace has been participating in this assessment since at least 2022.
“While the 2019 decision to assess the North West Shelf Extension only focused on the project’s potential impact on national heritage values, new evidence has since emerged about the consequences of Woodside’s plans to drill for gas beside, and dump carbon near, the irreplaceable Scott Reef.
“Australians expect their elected representatives to make decisions following due process, independent of pressure from vested interests, and based on the best evidence.
“To properly assess the serious risk of extending the life of Woodside’s gas processing facility, it is essential that the Environment Minister gives due regard to all available evidence.
“Woodside plans to fuel its North West Shelf gas facility out to 2070 by drilling up to 50 gas wells near Scott Reef as part of its proposed Browse project. Recent statements from Woodside confirm that Browse and the North West Shelf Extension are directly linked—making Browse dependent on the North West Shelf Extension approval to be viable.
“Woodside also plans to take the carbon pollution from drilling for gas and inject it deep under the ocean into massive underground aquifers. The carbon is supposed to stay there for over 1000 years. However, carbon capture storage is an unproven technology at scale, with a track record of overpromising and underdelivering.
“Woodside’s reckless plans risk threatened species like Green Sea Turtles and Pygmy Blue Whales, while also jeopardising fragile coral reef habitats with noise, light pollution, and the potential for oil spills.”
“Given the clear possibility of adverse impacts on threatened species, migratory species and the Commonwealth marine environment, we are requesting the Minister to expand the assessment criteria to accurately consider the full picture of real-world impacts that approving the North West Shelf Extension will have.
“The assessment criteria originally set in 2019 are too narrow for an informed assessment of the project’s impacts.
—ENDS—
Note to editors:
Greenpeace’s full reconsideration request can be found here.
In response to the verdict in Energy Transfer’s suit against Greenpeace International and Greenpeace US entities, the following lines can be attributed to Greenpeace Australia Pacific General Counsel Katrina Bullock:
“The $660 million North Dakota case against Greenpeace International and Greenpeace US entities is a blatant Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) brought by a fossil fuel giant. SLAPPs are a corporate weapon designed to strangle public debate. They’re not about justice — they’re about silencing dissent, draining environmental defenders of time, money, and energy until they have no choice but to stop fighting. It’s an abuse of the legal system to shield powerful polluters from accountability.
“It’s no wonder eminent US lawyer Marty Garbus has labelled it the most unfair trial he has witnessed in his six decades of legal practice. Distinguished legal experts who acted as Independent Trial Monitors collectively noted that ‘the jury verdict against Greenpeace in North Dakota reflects a deeply flawed trial with multiple due process violations that denied Greenpeace the ability to present anything close to a full defence’.
“A jury with close ties to the fossil fuel industry, a judge permitting defamatory and prejudicial attacks on Greenpeace, and a blatant refusal for court transparency — this trial was a blatant injustice.”
In a domestic context, Ms Bullock added:
“In Australia, opposition leader Peter Dutton has announced that a coalition government would introduce legislation based on these same racketeering laws that have been used against peaceful environmental groups in the US. Dutton’s proposal to introduce US-style RICO laws raises serious concerns. While his office claims it’s aimed at tackling organised crime in the construction sector, we’ve seen in the US how these laws have been weaponised to target charities and grassroots groups who engage in peaceful protest activities. We must be extremely wary of laws that could criminalise our ability to protect our environment and our communities.”
Greenpeace unequivocally disagrees with the verdict and refuses to be silenced. Greenpeace US entities will appeal.
“Greenpeace is not scared of SLAPPs, and where big oil companies might think we will back down, we won’t. Greenpeace rises in the face of injustice.
“Greenpeace Australia Pacific is an autonomous legal entity and is not a party to the lawsuit. While this verdict won’t have any programmatic or financial impacts for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, it is united in solidarity with Greenpeace US and Greenpeace International against this intimidation lawsuit and in the need for anti-SLAPP legislation.”
— ENDS —
Greenpeace International’s press release can be found here.
Photos and Videos can be accessed from the Greenpeace Media Library and photos of Katrina and from the Australia-Pacific region can be found here.
Contacts:
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Communications: Kimberley Bernard on +61 407 581 404 or [email protected]
SYDNEY, 20 MARCH 2025 — Greenpeace Australia Pacific has slammed the Albanese Government for seeking to weaken Australia’s national nature laws in order to prop up polluting and environmentally harmful industries, and urged the Albanese government to dump a proposed bill scheduled for debate next week.
The EPBC Amendment (Reconsiderations) Bill is scheduled for debate in the House of Representatives next Tuesday and in the Senate on Wednesday. Media reports indicate the proposed legislation aims to curtail the ability of third parties to request lawful reconsideration of the scope of environmental impacts of major projects.
“The move has been designed to shield the Tasmanian salmon industry from environmental scrutiny over its impact on the critically endangered Maugean skate but could have far-reaching consequences beyond this,” said Glenn Walker, Head of Nature at Greenpeace Australia Pacific
“With this Bill, the Albanese Government appears to have turned its back on its promise to end species extinctions.
“Australia has one of the worst rates of wildlife extinction in the world. Animals like the Maugean skate are hurtling towards extinction due to government inaction and free passes for polluting and harmful industries. Even the koala is listed as endangered in Queensland and New South Wales; that’s how severe the problem is.”
“The Albanese Government promised to end extinctions and protect Australia’s wildlife through law reform. Instead, they are signing the extinction warrant for the Maugean skate.
“Australia urgently needs strong, new nature laws that will end the extinction crisis and an independent watchdog to enforce them. We urge the Albanese Government to dump the Bill, not the skate, and get on with delivering this. It’s critical that the government give an ironclad guarantee that this will be delivered within the first 12 months of government if reelected this year.”
—ENDS—
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Vai Shah at 0452 290 082 / [email protected]
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The quality of seed potatoes is an important factor in determining crop yield, health and productivity. Good quality seed potatoes allow for more production with less land, thus contributing to enhanced food security with reduced environmental impact.
During the 52nd session of UNECE’s Specialized Section on Standardization of Seed Potatoes (18–20 March 2025) in Geneva, delegates agreed on revisions to the UNECE Standard for Seed Potatoes (S-1), following a three-year review process. Initially adopted in 1961, the standard helps improve seed potato quality and safety worldwide, ensure fair competition and facilitate trade.
The review was led by the delegation of Finland and included the delegations of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Australian Seed Potato Industry Certification Authority, Euroseeds, and Potato Certification Service South Africa. Their collaboration has ensured that the standard reflects the latest industry needs and best practices.
The revised standard will be presented for adoption by the UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards at its 80th session on 17-19 November 2025.
Why this update matters
The UNECE Standard S-1 sets a common terminology and minimum quality requirements for certifying high-quality seed potatoes for international trade.
It is used by government authorities, farmers, exporters, and buyers to ensure seed potatoes meet global standards. Clear, harmonized certification rules help buyers and sellers understand seed potato quality, reducing technical barriers. At present, this standard is the only international framework covering all key aspects of seed potato certification:
Varietal identity and purity
Traceability and disease control
Pest prevention and quality checks
Labelling and record-keeping
“This revised standard is a crucial tool for the global seed potato industry. By ensuring clear and consistent certification rules, we are helping producers, certifying agencies and traders ensure quality seed potatoes. In today’s trade environment, having a reliable framework like this is more valuable than ever,” noted Hanna Kortemaa, Chair of the Specialized Section on Standardization of Seed Potatoes and Director of the Plant Production Department at the Finnish Food Authority.
Key updates in the standard
The revised UNECE Standard S-1 includes:
Improved certification process – a more transparent system to ensure that certified seed potatoes meet strict quality standards.
Stronger disease and pest control measures through updated inspection rules to prevent the spread of diseases.
Better traceability and labelling through clearer labelling and record-keeping requirements to help track seed potatoes across the supply chain.
Alignment with global trade rules, including European and North American trade standards.
The future of seed potato trade
With global seed potato exports amounting to 1.1 billion USD or 1.7 million tons in 2023, UNECE plans to continue its work by focusing on helping countries apply the revised standard in their national systems.
For more details on UNECE guidance on seed potato certification and inspection, see the UNECEwebsite.
About 174 Wellingtonians turned up to a quickly-called protest: they are the best of us — the best of Wellington.
In 2023, the City made me an Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian for service across a number of fronts (water infrastructure, conservation, coastal resilience, community organising) but nothing I have done compares with the importance of standing up for the victims of US-Israeli violence.
What more can we do? And then it crossed my mind: “Declare Wellington Genocide Free”. And if Wellington could, why not other cities?
Wellington started nuclear-free drive The nuclear-free campaign, led by Wellington back in the 1980s, is a template worth reviving.
Wellington became the first city in New Zealand — and the first capital in the world — to declare itself nuclear free in 1982. It followed the excellent example of Missoula, Montana, USA, the first city in the world to do so, in 1978.
These were tumultuous times. I vividly remember heading into Wellington harbour on a small yacht, part of a peace flotilla made up of kayakers, yachties and wind surfers that tried to stop the USS Texas from berthing. It won that battle that day but we won the war.
This was the decade which saw the French government’s terrorist bomb attack on a Greenpeace ship in Auckland harbour to intimidate the anti-nuclear movement.
Also, 2025 is the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and the death of Fernando Pereira. Little Island Press will be reissuing a new edition of my friend David Robie’s book Eyes of Fire later this year. It tells the incredible story of the final voyage of the Rainbow Warrior.
Standing up to bullies Labour under David Lange successfully campaigned and won the 1984 elections on a nuclear-free platform which promised to ban nuclear ships from our waters.
This was a time when we had a government that had the backbone to act independently of the US. Yes, we had a grumpy relationship with the Yanks for a while and we were booted out of ANZUS — surely a cause for celebration in contrast to today when our government is little more than a finger puppet for Team Genocide.
In response to bullying from Australia and the US, David Lange said at the time: “It is the price we are prepared to pay.”
With Wellington in the lead, nuclear-free had moved over the course of a decade from a fringe peace movement to the mainstream and eventually to become government policy.
The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987 was passed and remains a cornerstone of our foreign policy.
New Zealand took a stand that showed strong opposition to out-of-control militarism, the risks of nuclear war, and strong support for the international movement to step back from nuclear weapons.
It was a powerful statement of our independence as a nation and a rejection of foreign dominance. It also reduced the risk of contamination in case of a nuclear accident aboard a vessel (remember this was the same decade as the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine).
The nuclear-free campaign and Palestine Each of those points have similarities with the Palestinian cause today and should act as inspiration for cities to mobilise and build national solidarity with the Palestinians.
To my knowledge, no city has ever successfully expelled an Israeli Embassy but Wellington could take a powerful first step by doing this, and declare the capital genocide-free. We need to wake our country — and the Western world — out of the moral torpor it finds itself in; yawning its way through the monstrous crimes being perpetrated by our “friends and allies”.
Shun Israel until it stops genocide No city should suffer the moral stain of hosting an embassy representing the racist, genocidal state of Israel.
Wellington should lead the country to support South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), end all trade with Israel, and end all intelligence and military cooperation with Israel for the duration of its genocidal onslaught. Other cities should follow suit.
Declare your city Nuclear and Genocide Free.
Eugene Doyle is a writer based in Wellington. He has written extensively on the Middle East, as well as peace and security issues in the Asia Pacific region. He hosts the public policy platform solidarity.co.nz and is a frequent contributor to Asia Pacific Report.
Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs
ASHLEIGH GILLON, HOST: Well, Peter Dutton has addressed the Lowy Institute, outlining his foreign policy agenda. The Opposition Leader discussed the wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas, and he also said the Coalition will grow Australia’s trading relationships and nurture international relationships.
Joining us live with reaction is the Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Minister, thank you for your time. Mr Dutton said earlier that one of his first acts as Prime Minister would be to call the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to affirm Australia’s support for Israel. He attacked your handling of this relationship, saying instead of treating Israel like the ally it is, this government, he said, has treated Israel like an adversary. As a friend of Israel, do you support the strikes that’s carried out on the Gaza Strip in recent days, which has led to hundreds of people dying?
PENNY WONG, FOREIGN MINISTER: That’s a very long question and first, it’s good to be with you, Ashleigh. And I think what we saw from this speech from Peter Dutton is, as he said, you know, past behaviour is the best indicator of future behaviour. And I’d agree with him, because what we know about Peter Dutton is he’s lost in our region. We know that he made fun of the Pacific. He was part of the government that withdrew from the Pacific, leaving a vacuum for others to fill. We’ve seen him both in opposition and also in government, beating the drums of war. This is a man lost in our region. In terms of what we are seeing in the Middle East, where we are seeing, unfortunately, the ceasefire that Mr Dutton opposed has broken. We continue to urge all parties to observe the ceasefire for hostages to be returned, we want humanitarian aid to flow. We have been clear in that position alongside the majority of the international community, and it was Mr Dutton who is out of step.
GILLON: Let’s turn to Mr Dutton’s comments on Ukraine. He again criticised your government’s willingness to send Australian peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, saying Australia doesn’t have the ability to have a presence in multiple theatres. Why would Australia send troops halfway around the world to Ukraine when the US has said it won’t? And Russia has made it very clear any such move would lead to grave consequences, in its words, for Australia.
FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, first, I’d say a few things about what Mr Dutton said. He made a lot of criticism in relation to Ukraine, and I think everyone can see what he’s trying to do, which is, he’s trying to back up an argument which the facts don’t support. The reality is, if you ask President Zelenskyy what sort of friend and supporter he has in Australia and in this government, I think he’d be very clear about that, and he has been very clear about that. What I’d say is that the Prime Minister has articulated very clearly the reason why we want to back Ukraine, why it is something that matters to us. It’s because Russia’s behaviour is both illegal and immoral and is a breach of the UN Charter. And a permanent member of the Security Council has used its veto to justify a breach of the UN Charter. Now, that matters to middle powers like Australia. Now, what we have said is that if a request is made, we would consider it. Unfortunately, Mr Dutton, he had a chance to back Australia again, but as always, he wants to pick a political fight. Back Australia – he never chooses that path, always wants to pick a political fight.
GILLON: I’m sure you were pleased to hear Mr Dutton say the PBS wouldn’t be up for negotiation with the Trump Administration if he does become Prime Minister. But what actually can Australia do to avoid potential tariffs on Australian medicine exports to the US? Our efforts, as we know so far, when it’s come to aluminium and steel, have failed.
FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, first on the PBS, you can never trust Mr. Dutton on the PBS. We know that the only reason the PBS was protected when the US Free Trade Agreement was first struck was because of the Labor Party back in 2004. We know what Mr Dutton’s record is when it comes to health. And what the Prime Minister has said is this government, this Labor Government, is very clear. We are not up for negotiation on the PBS. We will fight to protect it. Full stop and end of story.
In terms of the position of President Trump and the administration, I think every Australian can see President Trump’s second administration is taking a much harder position. A much harder position. In excess of 30 countries got exemptions the last time around, in the first Trump Presidency, on steel and aluminium, not one now. So, it’s very clear from that they’ve taken a much harder position. We will continue to engage, we will continue to negotiate, and we also continue to be very clear that the American pharmaceutical companies may be doing what they did some 20 years ago where they came after the PBS, this government is not for moving.
GILLON: I’m keen for your thoughts on a developing story today. Malaysia has just announced it’s come to an agreement with the exploration firm Ocean Infinity. It’s going to be resuming the search for the wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Has Australia received a briefing from either Malaysia or Ocean Infinity on where exactly they’re searching? Is there any support that we can be providing via the Australian Transport Safety Bureau?
FOREIGN MINISTER: Oh, look, we have been part of the engagement on the search for MH370 for a very long time. We’ll continue to engage as Malaysia requires. Obviously, this is a tragedy, and it was a tragedy that so many families still carry with them. And so we continue to look for justice and resolution for those who lost their loved ones on that flight.
GILLON: Well, considering our prolonged involvement in this, does the government have a view as to where it would be best to begin this search? As you know, there’s been a lot of speculation that the wreckage lies in the Seventh Arc in the Indian Ocean.
FOREIGN MINISTER: Look, I’m not going to speculate about the location of this aircraft. Obviously, there’s been a lot of years, a lot of experts involved. What we hope is that it can be found and that there can be some closure for those who lost loved ones and for whom the lack of resolution here is a continued source of pain.
GILLON: Foreign Minister Penny Wong, really appreciate you making the time. Thank you.
FOREIGN MINISTER: Great to speak with you, Ashleigh.
Chief Executive John Lee today met CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee Secretary Xu Qin to exchange views on strengthening Hong Kong’s co-operation with Heilongjiang.
Mr Lee said he was pleased to see Mr Xu again since they last met in Harbin in February. He stressed that Hong Kong will continue to leverage its advantage as a bridge between the Mainland and the world under “one country, two systems” to serve Mainland enterprises in going global while attracting more foreign investment to the country.
The Chief Executive highlighted that Heilongjiang’s successful hosting of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 sets an excellent example for the 15th National Games to be jointly held by Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau in November. He added that Heilongjiang’s integration of winter sports with cultural tourism development, along with its full promotion of the ice and snow economy, provides inspiration for Hong Kong’s cultural tourism development.
Separately, as the Individual Visit Scheme has been extended to include Harbin, whilst direct flights between Harbin and Hong Kong have been launched, Mr Lee noted these developments will further foster economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between Heilongjiang and Hong Kong.
He welcomed Heilongjiang enterprises and talent to organise and participate in various activities in Hong Kong and encouraged Heilongjiang tourists to visit to experience the city’s unique charm.
The Beijing Office and Liaoning Liaison Unit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to serve as a bridge to promote deeper co-operation between Hong Kong and Heilongjiang, jointly making new and greater contributions to the country’s high-quality development, the Chief Executive added.
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, H.E. Nararya Sanggramawijaya Soeprapto, receives Ambassador of New Zealand, H.E. Joanna Anderson, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ ASEAN Secretariat today. DSG Nararya expressed appreciation to Ambassador Andersen for the courtesy call at the start of her tenure in ASEAN. During their discussion, DSG Nararya provided an overview of CCAD and discussed ongoing cooperation between ASEAN and New Zealand, as well as potential support for the upcoming ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action 2026-2030.
ChatGPT is the most popular AI/ML application, accounting for nearly half of all AI/ML transactions (45.2%) and is also the most-blocked AI application, followed by Grammarly, and Microsoft Copilot as the second and third most-blocked applications, respectively
Agentic AI and open-source model DeepSeek are creating new opportunities for threat actors to weaponize AI and automate and scale their attack
The top five countries generating the most AI/ML transactions are the United States, India, United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan
The Finance & Insurance and Manufacturing industries generate the most AI/ML traffic, with 28.4% and 21.6% share of all AI/ML transactions in the Zscaler cloud, respectively, followed by Services (18.5%), Technology (10.1%), Healthcare (9.6%), and Government (4.2%)
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZS), the leader in cloud security, today released the ThreatLabz 2025 AI Security Report, based on insights from more than 536 billion AI transactions processed between February 2024 to December 2024 in the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™platform, the largest in-line security cloud, which discovered real-world threat scenarios ranging from AI-enhanced phishing to fake AI platforms. This report also explores recent developments in areas that will undoubtedly influence AI in 2025 and beyond, including agentic AI, the emergence of DeepSeek, and the evolving regulatory landscape.
The report reveals a 3,000+% year-over-year growth in enterprise use of AI/ML tools, highlighting the rapid adoption of AI technologies across industries to unlock new levels of productivity, efficiency, and innovation. Enterprises are sending significant volumes of data to AI tools, totaling 3,624 TB, underscoring the extent to which these technologies are integrated into operations. However, this surge in adoption also brings heightened security concerns. Enterprises blocked 59.9% of all AI/ML transactions, signaling enterprise awareness around the potential risks associated with AI/ML tools, including data leakage, unauthorized access, and compliance violations. Threat actors are also increasingly leveraging AI to amplify the sophistication, speed, and impact of attacks—forcing enterprises to rethink their security strategies.
“As AI transforms industries, it also creates new and unforeseen security challenges,” said Deepen Desai, Chief Security Officer at Zscaler. “Data is the gold for AI innovation, but it must be handled securely. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform, powered by AI with over 500 trillion daily signals, provides real-time insights into threats, data, and access patterns—ensuring organizations can harness AI’s transformative capabilities while mitigating its risks. Zero Trust Everywhere is the key to staying ahead in the rapidly evolving threat landscape as cybercriminals look to leverage AI in scaling their attacks.”
Key Insights from the ThreatLabz 2025 AI Security Report
ChatGPT Dominates AI/ML Transactions, But Security Concerns Remain ChatGPT emerged as the most widely used AI/ML application, driving 45.2% of identified global AI/ML transactions in the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange. However, it was also the most-blocked tool due to enterprises’ growing concerns over sensitive data exposure and unsanctioned use. Other most-blocked applications include Grammarly, Microsoft Copilot, QuillBot, and Wordtune, showing broad usage patterns for AI-enhanced content creation and productivity improvements.
“We had no visibility into ChatGPT. Zscaler was our key solution initially to help us understand who was going to it and what they were uploading.” —Jason Koler, CISO, Eaton Corporation | See the video case study
DeepSeek and Agentic AI: Innovation Meets Escalating Threats AI is amplifying cyber risks, with usage of agentic AI and China’s open-source DeepSeek enabling threat actors to scale attacks. So far in 2025, we’ve seen DeepSeek challenge American giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta, disrupting AI development with strong performance, open access, and low costs. However, such advancements also introduce significant security risks.
Geographies Leading AI Adoption: US and India The United States and India generated the highest AI/ML transaction volumes, representing the global shift toward AI-driven innovation. However, these changes aren’t occurring in a vacuum, and organizations in these and other geographies are grappling with increasing challenges like stringent compliance requirements, high implementation costs, and shortage of skilled talent.
Finance & Insurance Lead Enterprise AI Traffic by Industry The Finance & Insurance sector accounted for 28.4% of all enterprise AI/ML activity, reflecting its widespread adoption, and indicative of the critical functions supported by the industry, such as fraud detection, risk modeling, and customer service automation. Manufacturing was second, accounting for 21.6% of transactions, likely driven by innovations in supply chain optimization and robotics automation. Additional sectors, including Services (18.5%), Technology (10.1%), and Healthcare (9.6%), are also increasing their reliance on AI, while each industry also faces unique security and regulatory challenges posing new risks and possibly impacting the overall rate of adoption.
The Zscaler AI Advantage Built on a true zero trust architecture, Zscaler delivers Zero Trust Everywhere, securing user, workload, IoT/OT communication using business policies, not network policies. Zscaler mitigates AI-powered threats by hiding applications and IP addresses from attackers, inspecting all traffic for threats, and ensuring users access only authorized applications—never full networks. This approach minimizes the attack surface, prevents lateral movement, and stops threats before they can cause harm. Zscaler protects its users against today’s most sophisticated AI-driven threats by implementing the following:
Zero Trust Foundation: Minimize the external attack surface through continuous verification and least-privilege access.
Real-time AI Insights: Employ predictive and generative AI to deliver actionable insights that enhance security operations and digital performance.
Data Classification: Leverage AI-driven classification to seamlessly detect and safeguard sensitive data across Zscaler’s Data Fabric.
Threat Protection: Block AI-enhanced threats through continuous monitoring and response powered by the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange.
App Segmentation: Restrict lateral movement and reduce the internal attack surface with AI-driven, automatic app segmentation.
Breach Prediction: Harness the power of Zscaler Breach Predictor that combines the power of generative AI and multi-dimensional predictive models.
Cyber Risk Assessments: Leverages AI-generated security reports to continuously optimize your zero trust implementation.
Download the Full ThreatLabz 2025 AI Security Report Download the full version of the 2025 AI Security Report here for more information about real-world threat scenarios, AI predictions, insights into AI regulations, and AI best practices.
Methodology Analysis of 536.5 billion total AI and ML transactions in the Zscaler cloud from February 2024 to December 2024. The Zscaler global security cloud processes over 500 trillion daily signals and blocks 9 billion threats and policy violations per day, delivering over 250,000 daily security updates.
About ThreatLabz ThreatLabz is the security research arm of Zscaler. This world-class team is responsible for hunting new threats and ensuring that the thousands of organizations using the global Zscaler platform are always protected. In addition to malware research and behavioral analysis, team members are involved in the research and development of new prototype modules for advanced threat protection on the Zscaler platform, and regularly conduct internal security audits to ensure that Zscaler products and infrastructure meet security compliance standards. ThreatLabz regularly publishes in-depth analyses of new and emerging threats on its portal, research.zscaler.com.
About Zscaler Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across more than 150 data centers globally, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange™ is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform.
Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths of Plains FM96.9 radio talk to Dr David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report, about heightened global fears of nuclear war as tensions have mounted since US President Donald Trump has returned to power.
Dr Robie reminds us that New Zealanders once actively opposed nuclear testing in the Pacific.
That spirit, that active opposition to nuclear testing, and to nuclear war must be revived.
This is very timely as the Rainbow Warrior 3 is currently visiting the Marshall Islands this month to mark 40 years since the original RW took part in the relocation of Rongelap Islanders who suffered from US nuclear tests in the 1950s.
After that humanitarian mission, the Rainbow Warrior was subsequently bombed by French secret agents in Auckland Harbour on 10 July 1985 shortly before it was due to sail to Moruroa Atoll to protest against nuclear testing.
Lois opens up by saying: “I fear that we live in disturbing times. I fear the possibility of nuclear war, I always have.
“I remember the Cuban missiles crisis, a scary time. I remember campaigns for nuclear disarmament. Hopes that the United Nations could lead to a world of peace and justice.
“Yet today one hears from our media, for world leaders . . . ‘No, no no. There will always be tyrants who want to destroy us and our democratic allies . . . more and bigger, deadlier weapons are needed to protect us . . .”
Listen to the programme . . .
Nuclear free Pacific . . . back to the future. Video/audio: Plains FM96.9
Interviewee: Dr David Robie, deputy chair of the Asia Pacific Media Network (APMN) and a semiretired professor of Pacific journalism. He founded the Pacific Media Centre. Interviewers: Lois and Martin Griffiths, Earthwise programme
Australian’s childcare regulator – the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority or ACECQA – oversees national quality standards for early childhood education and care.
Services are assessed and given a rating across seven areas including the staffing, children’s health and safety and the educational program. The ratings note whether services are “exceeding”, “meeting” or “working towards” the national standards. In some cases, they may note “significant improvement [is] required”.
These ratings are public (you can search the national register of services) and are a useful starting point for parents.
However, they may not reflect the current situation in a service. As the Productivity Commission noted, many services assessed as “meeting” the national standards (which
comprise the bulk of the sector) have a gap of more than four years between assessments. Services with lower ratings are reassessed more frequently.
But there are other ways for parents to assess the quality of their child’s early childhood education.
If early childhood educators want to work at your childcare service, this is a strong sign it is a good quality service.
One of the major issues in the early childhood sector is staff retention. Excessive workloads, not being valued by employers and poor pay are some of the reasons early childhood educators leave their jobs.
If you are considering a service, a key question to ask is how long educators have been working there? How often do they have to replace staff?
If you are already at a service, ask yourself, are there consistent staff at drop off/pick up? Are there familiar relief educators to cover absences? Or is there unexplained high turnover?
As a bottom line, all educators should be warm and caring and get to know every child and their family.
Seeing the same educators when you drop off and pick up is a sign the service has a stable, committed workforce. PhotoMavenStock/Shutterstock
What is the centre itself like?
Some daycare centres market themselves to parents by offering a “barista made” coffee in the morning, yoga classes and designer interiors.
While this might appeal to adult tastes, it is important to think about whether the centre is set up to be suitable and fun for children. For example:
What about the activities and educational program?
In Australia, centres need to provide play-based learning opportunities, which support children’s wellbeing, learning and development.
This is not about teaching children to read and do algebra before they start school. It is about supporting children to have positive play experiences, so the associated learning is fun and leaves children wanting to know (and do) more.
Services should provide children with lots of opportunities to explore in age-appropriate ways. For example, toddlers may have a sandpit with multiple tools and toys. Three- and four-year-olds may work on projects, such as building kites, or go on excursions in their local community.
Educators should be involved in this play. Sometimes they may act as a partner, helping to extend children’s imaginations. Other times, they may support from the sideline, encouraging a child to climb to a higher part of the climbing frame than yesterday.
They should not be telling children what to do all the time. It’s important for children to be given the time and space to test out their theories about how the world works.
Some things to look out for include:
is there “cookie cutter” art (where every piece of children’s art looks the same) on the wall? Or are children given the chance to express their creativity?
can toys be used in more than one way, in different areas (to encourage children’s agency)? Or are toys required to be kept in certain places?
can educators talk about the different things they are doing to stimulate and extend children’s play and interests?
Families should also receive clear, regular communication about their child’s development and progress. If there are issues with behaviour, the centre should provide evidence-based support that respects the rights and dignity of children (rather than punishing or shaming them).
Finally, does your child seem to have fun at childcare? Provided there are no other issues (such as separation anxiety), do they want to go and see their educators and friends? This is a good sign of a quality service that is building children’s sense of belonging.
Need more information?
If you have any concerns or need more information, try talking to your centre director first. Alternatively, you can contact the regulatory authority in your state or territory.
Victoria Minson is the Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five Years) (Accelerated) at Australian Catholic University. The Victorian version of the course has received funding from the Victorian government and Victorian Department of Education
The global economy stands at a crossroads, balancing trade policy uncertainty and geopolitical tensions against easing price pressures. The latter is supporting a revival in domestic demand and providing central banks with room for potential rate cuts. Against this backdrop, GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, reports a slight drop in the GlobalData Country Risk Index (GCRI) from 55.6 in Q3 2024 to 55.0 in Q4 2024.
GlobalData’s latest, “Global Risk Report Quarterly Update – Q4 2024,” highlights that the Americas and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) face high risk scores due to economic instability and geopolitical conflicts. The Asia-Pacific region, while risky, has a lower score than the Americas and MEA, buoyed by strong growth in emerging economies. In contrast, Europe is the least risky region, benefiting from a solid economic recovery and improved investment sentiment.
Annapurna Pillutla, Economic Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Global economic growth is projected to reach 3.1% in 2024, slightly down from 3.3% in 2023, reflecting both resilience and ongoing challenges. While the US economy continues to expand steadily, China’s real estate turmoil and potential US tariff hikes present key risks. Inflation remains above central bank targets in some regions, adding to the economic uncertainty. Growth in 2025 is expected to follow a similar trajectory, constrained by geopolitical tensions and policy unpredictability.”
The Trump administration’s proposed tariffs are likely to disrupt the global supply chains and raise business costs. By 2025, these measures could reduce production efficiency and alter trade patterns as companies face higher prices for imported goods and raw materials.
Europe – Steady recovery amid persistent challenges
Europe continues to be the world’s least-risk region, with its risk score improving slightly from 41.4 in Q3 2024 to 41.0 in Q4 2024. The region’s economic recovery is marked by a gradual decline in inflation, improved labor markets, and supportive policy rate cuts by the ECB. However, geopolitical tensions, particularly involving Russia and Ukraine, along with political shifts to the far right, an aging population and labor shortages, present ongoing challenges. In the Q4 2024 GCRI update, Switzerland, Denmark, and Ireland were identified as the least risky countries, while Ukraine, Turkiye, and Belarus, faced the highest risks.
The Asia-Pacific region’s risk score decreased from 54.0 in Q3 2024 to 53.4 in Q4 2024, indicating ongoing economic recovery. Projected to account for more than half of global growth in 2025, the region benefits from strong domestic demand and increased exports. However, risks persist due to geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea and economic slowdown in China. China’s stimulus measures may offset some impact of US tariffs, while easing inflation and resilient consumption in other emerging economies improve the outlook. Strong growth prospects in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia further enhance regional stability.
In the Q4 2024 GCRI update, the highest-risk countries included Pakistan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Conversely, the countries with the lowest risk were Singapore, Taiwan (Province of China), and Hong Kong (China SAR).
Americas – Risk decline amid economic gains and political shifts
Americas’ risk score decreased slightly from 57.0 in Q3 2024 to 56.6 in Q4 2024, reflecting benefits from policy rate cuts and strong consumer spending, particularly in the US. However, high US debt and fiscal challenges in Latin America persist, alongside political instability marked by protests and governance issues. Donald Trump’s return to the presidency adds to the region’s volatility, potentially affecting economic strategies and stability.
In the Q4 2024 GCRI update, Canada, the US, and Costa Rica were the least risky, while Haiti, Venezuela, and Argentina remained the highest-risk nations.
MEA – Persistent risks amid geopolitical tensions
The MEA regions risk score slightly decreased from 66.3 in Q3 2024 to 65.4 in Q4 2024, driven by growth in the non-oil sector. However, ongoing geopolitical conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, and humanitarian crises continue to pose significant challenges. Africa faces rising debt and natural disasters, exacerbating food insecurity and displacement. In the Q4 2024 GCRI update, Yemen, Syria, and Burundi were among the highest-risk nations globally, highlighting the region’s persistent instability.
Pillutla concludes: “Geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and market volatility present significant challenges for both policymakers and investors. To effectively manage these risks, a sophisticated approach is necessary, emphasizing adaptation and diversification.”
About GlobalData
4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis, and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology, and professional services sectors.
Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Indonesian Foreign Minister His Excellency Sugiono, met today in Sydney to discuss cooperation on shared priorities under the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This is Minister Sugiono’s first official visit to Australia since his appointment in October 2024.
The Ministers highlighted the profound strategic trust and strong friendship that characterises the relationship between Indonesia and Australia.
Australia and Indonesia are working to strengthen economic prosperity for both countries, advancing shared development priorities, enhancing the links between our people, and deepening longstanding cooperation on defence and regional security.
The Ministers agreed to update the Plan of Action for the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2025–2029) ahead of the next Annual Leaders’ meeting. This plan will set key priorities for forward cooperation.
A high-level Indonesian business delegation is also visiting Sydney this week. This builds on momentum from Australia’s largest ever investor mission to Indonesia last month, an initiative under Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
Indonesia’s strong economic growth represents an enormous opportunity for Australian businesses and investors. There is a great appetite amongst Indonesian consumers for Australian education, healthcare and consumer goods. At the same time, Indonesian investment into Australia has increased.
Minister Sugiono will attend this evening’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between the Australian and Indonesian men’s soccer teams, alongside Indonesian Minister for Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo.
Quotes attributable to Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong:
“This visit to Australia by Minister Sugiono, Minister Dito Ariotedjo and a high-level Indonesian business delegation demonstrates the breadth of our bilateral relationship across political and strategic cooperation; economic partnership; and the strong links between our people.
“Deepening our economic engagement with Indonesia is of enormous value to both our countries, and is a key part of Australia’s broader effort to diversify our economy, especially through growing markets in Southeast Asia.”
Quotes attributable to Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Sugiono:
“This visit signifies the strong partnership between our two countries which is built on shared values, mutual respect for sovereignty, and our unwavering commitment to take an active part in fostering peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and at the global stage.
“We will continue to highlight our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through mutually beneficial cooperation in key areas such as trade and investment, critical minerals, electric vehicle and battery products, agriculture and food security, education, research, defense and security, and people-to-people contact.”
Queer community organisations and protest groups intend to hold a Hīkoi from Waitangi Park to Parliament Lawn on Sunday, 23 March. The march is to be part of the annual Wellington Pride Festival, and is organised by a coalition of groups including several high school Queer Students’ Associations, Queer Endurance in Defiance, Pōneke Anti-Fascist Coalition, Wellington Pride Festival, Wellington Pride Parade, and the International Bolshevik Tendency.
Queer Endurance in Defiance press spokesperson Wyatt Dawson said marchers demanded “puberty blockers and hormones on demand.”
Many of the same medications are more easily available to cisgender minors in need of gender affirming care, such as for early-onset puberty or conditions affecting hormonal regulation. Dawson says this exposes the reason behind the restrictions as “political, not about kids’ health.”
“Our current government has been further restricting access our rangatahi have to puberty blockers, ignoring their bodily autonomy and the pleas of our trans community. This is life changing and life saving medical treatment for our youth, and these restrictions—made based on ideology not medical evidence—are tantamount to banning puberty blockers outright.”
The Hīkoi is intended to pressure the Government and Ministry of Health to reverse moves towards restrictions, and guarantee access to puberty blockers and hormones. While framed as improving service quality, the suggested changes impose such a high standard of expert review that medical professionals and activists worry they will effectively make prescriptions impossible. The restrictions were inspired by the much-criticised Cass Review of transgender healthcare in the UK, and have been described as unnecessary by the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa.
Protesters are set to assemble at 10am at Waitangi Park, before marching through the city to the Parliament steps, where organisers have arranged for performances, and speeches by high schoolers, protestors, and politicians who agree with their demand. A bus will be provided for some of the protestors unable to make the walk.
The Government today announced the line-up of speakers for the third edition of the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit, due to take place on March 26.
This year’s summit, co-organised by the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau and Invest Hong Kong, has “Hong Kong of the World, for the World” as its theme. The event will strive to forge new connections and leverage Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages under “one country, two systems” to drive innovation, investment and sustainable growth.
Participants from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere in Asia will join Mainland and Hong Kong attendees at the event to exchange insights on art and culture, philanthropy, technology, and investments in artificial intelligence.
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said world-class speakers, and decision-makers from family offices, will gather in Hong Kong to explore how the city’s strategic advantages can shape a bright future and legacy.
He added that attendees will get a feel for the unparalleled opportunities Hong Kong has to offer as a global family office hub that can drive sustainable growth and touch lives far beyond its own shores courtesy of its strong financial and legal infrastructure, global connectivity, and thriving professional and philanthropic ecosystem.
Distinguished international speakers at the summit will include the World Economic Forum’s Head of GAEA Luis Alvarado, ADLEGACY Founder Horst Bente, Swarovski International Holding Vice Chairman Robert Buchbauer, Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy Board Chairman Adrian Cheng, Gates Foundation Senior Advisor and Director Steve Davis, and Clinique La Prairie Chief Executive Officer Simone Gibertoni.
The line-up of speakers also includes BDT & MSD Partners Co-Chief Executive Officer Gregg Lemkau, Pony.ai Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer James Peng, Danantara Indonesia Chief Investment Officer Pandu Patria Sjahrir, Alibaba Group Co-founder and Chairman Joe Tsai, University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor Prof Irene Tracey, The Mall Group Chairwoman Supaluck Umpujh, and MiniMax Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Yeyi Yun.
Part of Hong Kong Super March, the summit is the flagship event of Hong Kong’s Wealth & Investment Mega Event Week, which also includes the Milken Institute Global Investors’ Symposium and the HSBC Global Investment Summit.
GDP increases 0.7 percent in the December 2024 quarter–20 March 2025 –New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.7 percent in the December 2024 quarter, following a 1.1 percent decrease in the September 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
Eleven of the 16 industries increased this quarter. The largest rises were from rental, hiring, and real estate services; retail trade and accommodation; and healthcare and social assistance.
“Higher spending by international visitors led to increased activity in tourism-related industries such as accommodation, restaurants and bars, transport, and vehicle hiring,” economic growth spokesperson Katrina Dewbery said.
The largest falls were in construction, and information media and telecommunications.
The Albanese and Allan Labor Governments are fixing roads across Victoria, improving safety and better connecting Melbourne’s suburbs, Victoria’s regions, and surrounds.
As part of our governments’ road blitz, we’re delivering two new projects in a big win for the west, including:
$55 million to duplicate and upgrade Central Avenue between Lunn Court and Skehan Boulevarde in Altona Meadows;
$3.5 million for a business case to upgrade Point Cook Road between Jamieson Way and Dunnings Road, building on previous work to develop the project scope.
As critical connecting roads to the Princes Freeway, these will be transformative projects for Melbourne’s west, reducing travel times and improving safety for the residents of Point Cook and surrounding growing suburbs.
The Princes Freeway is the main access road connecting the western suburbs to the city.
It carries approximately 40,000 vehicles per day from Geelong, increasing to 90,000 vehicles per day at the Western Ring Road.
The Central Avenue and Point Cook intersection is used by nearly 28,000 vehicles a day.
With congestion set to grow, travel times are expected to significantly increase.
These projects are part of the Albanese Labor Government’s $1 billion Road Blitz, matching the existing near billion-dollar road blitz campaign by the Allan Labor Government, who have since added an additional $200 million.
This follows funding already allocated to five projects under the Road Blitz.
Delivery timeframes for the projects will be determined in consultation with the Victorian Government.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
“We’re giving Victorians the infrastructure they deserve after being short-changed by the former coalition government.
“This will be transformative project for Melbourne’s west, better connecting these growing suburbs with the city and the region.
“The road blitz will fund projects to improve network efficiency, travel times and road safety in key areas of Melbourne and its surrounds.”
Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams:
“After ten years of neglect from the federal Liberal National Party, it’s fantastic to have a partner in Canberra that can find Victoria on a map and deliver critical investments to keep our state moving.”
“Our growing communities deserve the very best road connections, which is why we are investing more to improve traffic flow and boost safety across Melbourne’s west.”
“We are getting on delivering these critical road projects that Victorians use and depend on every day – boosting safety and cutting congestion.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Gellibrand Tim Watts:
“Growing suburbs in Melbourne’s west need growing infrastructure investments to match.
“My constituents have been stuck in traffic for too long.
“After a decade of neglect under the coalition, the federal Albanese government is acting, delivering the funding needed for building Australia’s future.
“Residents in Point Cook have long been waiting for a fix for Point Cook Road.
“This business case will provide the state government with a plan for the solution.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Point Cook Mathew Hilakari:
“This expanded project and financial contribution means that we will be doing this road once and doing it properly, and I thank the federal government for its contribution.”
Financial Secretary Paul Chan will depart today for Beijing, where he will attend the China Development Forum before returning to Hong Kong on March 24.
Mr Chan will give a speech at one of the forum’s sessions, call on relevant central ministries and institutions, and visit enterprises in the city.
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui and Chief Executive of the Monetary Authority Eddie Yue will join parts of the trip.
During the absence of Mr Chan and Mr Hui, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will be Acting Financial Secretary, while Under Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Joseph Chan will act as Secretary.
GDP increases 0.7 percent in the December 2024 quarter – 20 March 2025 – New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.7 percent in the December 2024 quarter, following a 1.1 percent decrease in the September 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
Eleven of the 16 industries increased this quarter. The largest rises were from rental, hiring, and real estate services; retail trade and accommodation; and healthcare and social assistance.
“Higher spending by international visitors led to increased activity in tourism-related industries such as accommodation, restaurants and bars, transport, and vehicle hiring,” economic growth spokesperson Katrina Dewbery said.
The largest falls were in construction, and information media and telecommunications.
I arrived at Stephanie Lake’s premiere of Mass Movement a little late on my first day at Adelaide Festival.
Walking down the hill from King William road towards Elder Park, the Torrens River was lit up in oranges and golds by the setting sun. A river of people came into view, winding from a thin spread on the hillside nearest me to a thick block of settled-in picnicers, back up the opposite hill to the bank of institutional buildings along the river.
In the centre of this river, a stage crowded with performers in black and white waved and flowed: movements that passed along individuals juxtaposed with sharper unison actions, vocalisations and free-for-alls.
I missed the solo performance that opened this outdoor performance, and the procession of dancers winding down onto the stage. But what I saw left an impression of an excellent community activation with many performers of all ages and training backgrounds, and an audience of family, friends and strangers here to see this part-human part-natural spectacle.
Mass Movement featured 1,000 dancers, the most Stephanie Lake has ever worked with. Morgan Sette/Adelaide Festival
This work sits within Lake’s body of spectacle-scale works that have become a signature for this important new-generation Australian choreographer. With 1,000 performers, the most she has ever worked with, whether bigger is better may be neither here nor there when the emphasis is on spectacle and community.
One Single Action in an Ocean of Everything
Established Melbourne-based choreographer Lucy Guerin’s mastery of the duet, her use of unison and tight spatial delineations, gestural detail and intensely demanding timing are all there in her most recent work, One Single Action in an Ocean of Everything.
Dancers and choreographic collaborators Amber McCartney and Geoffrey Watson are up to the task and perfectly matched. McCartney is compact, precise but playful. Watson is more measured yet somehow looser and more sensual.
The first half of the piece works intricate movements along a diagonal across the stage to downstage right, where a moon-like sphere hangs at head height.
Lucy Guerin plays with themes of destruction, orthodoxy, disobedience, care and empathy. Gregory Lorenzutti/Adelaide Festival
The dancers’ trajectory, and often their gaze, are locked on this object. In the upper corner on the floor are mallets. Taken up by the dancers, they become part of a percussive choreography. The spectacle of the dancers making their mark on time within the complex choreography locks us all into a ride that we anticipate will end with a smashed sphere.
Guerin’s experience is evident in how she shapes a work. The opening sections with their tightrope-like structure are physically, temporally and spatially smashed as the material from the sphere flies across the stage.
A broom is introduced by Watson. This precipitates a new relationship between the two dancers. Experiential chaos versus spatial order replaces the teamwork of the first half, as the two become constantly at odds with each other.
Themes of destruction, orthodoxy, disobedience, care and empathy are not hard to draw out of this microcosm. The sound, by CS + Kreme, does great support work with its mechanical complexities, pounding meter and a high synthetic sound like a tap running in the next hotel room. The lighting design by Paul Lim is also a star.
A Quiet Language
A Quiet Language asks a tall order of Daniel Riley and co-director Brianna Kell: to create a performance work that spoke to the 60th anniversary of Australian Dance Theatre (ADT).
Riley, a Wiradjuri man from Western New South Wales, took on the directorship of ADT in 2022 following Garry Stewart’s 20-year plus tenure, with Kell as artistic associate. The introduction of Indigenous leadership for the company is welcome. There is a history of cultural appropriation across many Australian dance artists, from Beth Dean and Rex Reid in the 1950s, to the complex case of Jiri Kylian’s Stamping Ground (1983) later performed by Bangarra Dance Theatre in 2019.
It is well overdue that the rich and deep choreographic practices of our First Nations people are now being represented by leadership in a major dance company outside Bangarra.
In A Quiet Language, the names of artists associated with the company flicker as the years scroll past on the horizontal screens at either end of the space. But the real homage might be in the tone and style of this work.
Tie-dyed costumes by Ailsa Paterson, featuring an occasional headband, speak to the genesis of the company under the direction of Elizabeth Cameron Dalman across 1965–75.
A Quiet Language is a homage to the choreographic history of ADT. Morgan Sette/ADT
Dalman is credited as collaborator, and the company spent four weeks of development with this extraordinary artist now in her 90s.
A Quiet Language begins with two female dancers, Yilin Kong and Zoe Wozniak, walking from one bank of audience to the other, directing their bold and curious gaze at us. They are accompanied by composer and musician Adam Page who remains on stage throughout.
Sebastian Geilings, Zachary Lopez and Patrick O’Luanaigh join them with more playful provocations for the audience, making the school group in the bank opposite me squirm.
We have met the dancers first as individuals, and the full cavalcade of ADT’s historical casts rests, virtually, behind the five young artists.
This breaking of the fourth wall speaks to the radical new approach that Dalman’s work represented in the 1960s when contemporary approaches to dance were still emerging locally.
The dancers move into group work that dominates the many phases of the piece, memorably a stormy section representing protest in theatre dance around the world in the 1960s.
This is followed by a dark solo by Wozniak that heaves itself off the floor in tense, cramping movements, resonating with the suffering behind current international headlines.
The dancers are credited with choreographic collaboration and it shows in their commitment to, and comfort within, the movement. This is delivered at an intense and unrelenting pitch throughout, recalling Stewart’s signature high-impact work. But the way the choreography is drawn to the floor – through tenacious connection or a giving-in that slides joyfully across its surface – feels fresh.
The Walking Track
I end my time in Adelaide with Karul Projects’ The Walking Track, presented by Vitalstatistix in Port Adelaide, where six performance pieces were commissioned by local First Nations dance and performance artists.
These are dispersed on site along a walk hosted by Karul Projects’ artistic director, Thomas E.S. Kelly, a Minjungbal, Wiradjuri and Ni-Vanuatu man.
Kelly established Karul Projects alongside Taree Sansbury, a local Kaurna, Narungga and Ngarrindjeri woman, in 2017 in Queensland, making this a rare First Nations dance company existing outside Bangarra Dance Theatre.
The Walking Track shows the future of Australian contemporary dance is bright. Heath Britton/Vitalstatistix
The all-female cast of artists – Adrianne Semmens, Alexis West, Caleena Sansbury, Janelle Egan, Kirsty Williams, Lilla Berry, Mel Koolmatrie and Pearl Berry – offered works-in-development that told stories of family, loss, displacement and environmental destruction.
Their careful framing by Kelly on Country gave assurance that the future of Australian contemporary dance is bright.
Walking with the small audience around Port Adelaide, I kept an eye out for the dolphins Kelly informed us were just below the surface and imagined the local Kaurna people who had gathered on the banks there before being moved on. I could feel a slowly turning tide that will, no doubt, inspire fresh creative and critical gains for Australian contemporary dance.
Erin Brannigan 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.
China’s central government announced Thursday that two new measures aimed at facilitating travel and residency for residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan on the mainland took effect on Thursday. Under the new policy, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents who lose, damage, or forget to carry their travel permits can apply for a temporary electronic permit valid for seven days, allowing them to board flights and trains within mainland cities, the National Immigration Administration said.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida distributed gift vouchers to lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) while in office, fueling speculation that gift-giving is a common practice among lawmakers in power, local media reported.
Kishida’s staff delivered vouchers worth 100,000 yen (about 670 U.S. dollars) each to LDP lawmakers who, at the time, served as parliamentary vice ministers ahead of a meal gathering at the prime minister’s official residence on Dec. 20, 2022, Kyodo News reported Wednesday, citing LDP sources.
Kishida’s office told Kyodo News, “We always followed the law,” without providing further details.
The revelation comes at a time when Kishida’s successor, incumbent Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, has been under fire for his own distribution of vouchers worth 100,000 yen each to new LDP lawmakers.
Ishiba reiterated Wednesday that the vouchers his office distributed ahead of a March 3 dinner meeting at the prime minister’s official residence were intended as tokens of appreciation and not meant to support political activities, denying that the move was illegal.
Japan’s political funds control law bans donations by individuals to politicians for the purpose of political activities.
Meanwhile, multiple LDP lawmakers and other sources said they also received vouchers worth 50,000 or 100,000 yen at meal gatherings during the tenure of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who had been in office from 2012 to 2020, following a brief term from 2006 to 2007, the report said.
The office of another former prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, Abe’s immediate successor, said that “souvenirs” were distributed, but no laws were broken.
Opposition party lawmakers are turning up the heat on Ishiba and the LDP as those instances indicate that Japanese prime ministers have regularly distributed money and goods to LDP lawmakers.
Leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan Yoshihiko Noda, who served as prime minister between 2011 and 2012, told reporters he had “never” given out vouchers.
“This looks to be an issue with the LDP’s political culture. It is shaping up to be a deep-rooted structural one,” Noda told reporters.
