Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKETO Jakarta promotes Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development in Malaysia (with photos) HKETO Jakarta promotes Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development in Malaysia (with photos) ******************************************************************************************
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta) is supporting local comic companies under the Hong Kong Comics Development and Promotion Support Programme to take part in Comic Fiesta 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to promote Hong Kong’s creative talent and the latest Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development. Speaking at the opening ceremony for the Hong Kong Pavilion today (December 21), the Director-General of the HKETO Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng, said that the Programme has recruited a total of 47 local comic companies since its inception in 2021. It provides funding and professional mentoring to these companies and their artists to support the creation, publication and promotion of original comic work. “Comic Fiesta is one of the largest comic exhibitions in Malaysia. Comic companies under the Programme have attended this event for three consecutive years. Some Hong Kong comic products have even been identified by the local trade in Malaysia for publication in the Malay language, manifesting the global influence of Hong Kong’s creative industries.” Miss Cheng added that the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development promulgated last month has introduced a series of relevant measures, such as supporting the industry in exploring international markets and assisting local arts practitioners to establish overseas networks for promoting and exporting their distinguished artwork. The HKETO Jakarta will continue to step up efforts on arts and cultural promotion, with a view to consolidating Hong Kong’s status as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Also attending the opening ceremony were the Director of Malaysia of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Ms Hoh Jee Eng, and industry leaders from both places. Comic Fiesta 2024 is attended by 17 Hong Kong comic companies under the third edition of the Programme. The two-day exhibition will conclude tomorrow (December 22).
Ends/Saturday, December 21, 2024Issued at HKT 14:36
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Suspected red tide sighted at Lido Beach and Casam Beach Suspected red tide sighted at Lido Beach and Casam Beach ********************************************************
Attention TV and radio announcers:Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (December 21) that due to the sighting of a suspected red tide, red flags have been hoisted at Lido Beach and Casam Beach in Tsuen Wan District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at these beaches until further notice.
Ends/Saturday, December 21, 2024Issued at HKT 15:07
Today is the Winter Solstice, one of the most important festivals for the Chinese community. First and foremost, I would like to wish everyone a joyful and peaceful reunion on this special occasion. Following the Winter Solstice, we have Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year holidays around the corner. My colleagues and industry friends have already made full preparations for the seamless flow of people and goods, ensuring everyone can enjoy this festive season with their families and friends.
Aviation Capacity Restored to Pre-Pandemic Levels
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) successfully operated all three runways simultaneously last month, just in time for the Christmas peak. I believe some of you may have already set off last night as the Airport Authority anticipates that we will see a peak in departures this weekend.
Another piece of good news to share is that the Airport Authority expects daily passenger traffic to reach pre-pandemic peak of approximately 200,000 passengers during Christmas. In fact, we have reached 1,150 flight movements today, which is very close to the pre-pandemic 1,200 daily movement and these all reflect that the airport’s capacity has been fully restored. Local airlines are actively exploring new destinations to support the expansion of HKIA’s network, in order to provide more choices for travellers. To inject new demand into HKIA, we have launched direct passenger services to Xining, Zhoushan, Huangshan, and Yichang in Mainland China; Vientiane, Laos; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Sendai and Yonago, Japan; and Cairns, Australia earlier this year. Local airlines will also open direct flights in phases to the Gold Coast, Australia; Dallas, the US; Hyderabad, India; Munich, Germany; and Brussels, Belgium next year.
World-Class Temperature-Controlled Logistics
As the flow of people at HKIA is bustling, the achievements in our logistics industry are equally undeniable. Earlier, I celebrated Christmas with colleagues from my bureau and shared with them seasonal fruits from around the world. Hong Kong’s fruit market gathers top-quality produce with strict temperature requirements from the five continents, all at reasonable prices and arriving fresh to customers. This is made possible by Hong Kong’s world-class and highly efficient air transportation facilities, which clearly demonstrate the city’s advantages in air freight, especially in temperature-controlled logistics.
The Christmas holiday is filled with opportunities for gatherings and feasts. I invite everyone to take the chance to experience the convenience of Hong Kong’s temperature-controlled logistics, enjoying global cuisine right here in the city. The high-quality temperature-controlled goods in Hong Kong not only benefit the 7.8 million residents but also extend their reach to the 86 million people in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
By the end of next year, the Airport Authority will complete the first phase of the permanent facilities for the “HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park” aiming to gradually handle 1 million tons of cargo annually. To meet the growing demand in the GBA for fresh food, such as high-value frozen tuna, salmon and other seafood, the Airport Authority is working with the Dongguan Municipal Government to establish a new customs-designated supervision area for fresh food at the HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park. The Dongguan Municipal Government has received approval from the General Administration of Customs of People’s Republic of China to establish a new designated customs supervision site for fresh food at the Logistics Park. Facilities such as refrigerated storage and inspection areas are currently being prepared for construction.
As the world’s busiest cargo airport, HKIA has always made me proud. In 2023, HKIA handled 4.3 million tonnes of cargo. This year, the growth momentum continues, with 4.5 million tonnes of cargo processed in the first eleven months alone, surpassing the total cargo volume for the entire previous year. HKIA was named “Cargo Airport of the Year – Asia Pacific” and “Air Cargo Technology Provider of The Year” at the 11th Payload Asia Awards, held in Singapore. I hope HKIA continues their excellent work, propelling both passenger and cargo services to new heights.
Welcoming travellers of Shenzhen’s Multiple-Entry Individual Visit Scheme
The central government has resumed the multiple-entry Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) for Shenzhen permanent residents and is implementing a new arrangement to expand the multiple-entry IVS to Shenzhen residence permit holders on December 1. In addition, various exciting activities are taking place across Hong Kong in December, including the New Year’s Eve countdown fireworks display, and it is expected that the number of visitors to Hong Kong will significantly increase during that period. I sincerely invite travellers from the Mainland and overseas to stay a few more days in Hong Kong to experience the charm of this metropolitan city and the unique blend of Eastern and Western Christmas atmosphere.
We have also made arrangements for transportation on New Year’s Eve. The Transport Department will coordinate with the opening hours of boundary control points to enhance transportation services connecting various ports, including increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus (Gold Bus), the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus service. Public transport operators will increase their capacity. The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Corporation will not only provide overnight service on most railway lines on New Year’s Eve but also extend the service of the East Rail Line to and from the MTR Lo Wu Station. There will be a bus route between MTR Sheung Shui Station and San Tin Public Transport Interchange to facilitate East Rail Line passengers in using the 24-hour crossing at Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang after the service to Lo Wu concludes.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all citizens a sweet and warm Christmas, and to carry the joy into 2025. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who will be on duty in various locations during the holiday period to serve the public.
Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan wrote this article and posted it on her blog on December 21.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Civil Aid Service Cadet Corps holds 145th New Cadets Passing-out Parade Civil Aid Service Cadet Corps holds 145th New Cadets Passing-out Parade ************************************************************************
The Civil Aid Service (CAS) Cadet Corps held the 145th New Cadets Passing-out Parade at the CAS Headquarters today (December 21). The parade was reviewed by the Associate Co-Director of the Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures and Director of the National Security and Legal Education Research Centre, Professor Gu Minkang. Speaking at the parade, Professor Gu commended the new cadets for their remarkable endurance, perseverance, and co-operation skills. He believed that they will become committed and contributing citizens in the years to come. He stressed that young people are the future, hope, and pillars of Hong Kong, as well as the engine for driving the long-term development of society and the economy. He also thanked CAS staff, members, and instructors for their hard work in nurturing young leaders. Over 200 cadets were reviewed at the parade. All of them are from schools participating in the 2024-25 School Partnership Scheme (the Scheme), which has the largest number of graduates this year. In addition, a total of 29 secondary schools have participated in the Scheme this year. The CAS Cadet Corps has been encouraging young people over the years to participate in activities and training that are beneficial to the development of their mind and body, so they can acquire multifaceted skills while building their confidence and sense of responsibility. It will continue to strengthen co-operation with regional schools and diligently organise training activities related to national security education, such as Mainland exchanges and study programmes, and visits to the National Security Exhibition Gallery for its members. This will help foster their sense of national identity and enable them to contribute to the future of the country and Hong Kong. Recruitment of CAS cadets is open for application throughout the year. Recruitment details and application forms are available on the CAS website (www.cas.gov.hk/eng/org/cadet_corps.html).
Ends/Saturday, December 21, 2024Issued at HKT 16:32
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Xi stresses progress in advancing ‘one country, two systems’ at Macao SAR anniversary celebration, new gov’t inauguration
MACAO, Dec. 21 — A meeting to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) was held at the Macao East Asian Games Dome Friday morning. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the meeting and delivered an important speech.
Over the past 25 years since Macao’s return to the motherland, an enormous success has been achieved in advancing the cause of “one country, two systems” with distinctive Macao features, Xi noted, stressing that Macao has undergone earthshaking transformation, and its international standing has increased significantly. He expressed expectations for the new government of the SAR to rally and lead the people of all walks of life in Macao in seizing opportunities, pressing ahead with reform, shouldering responsibilities and making greater contributions. This entails further leveraging the institutional strength of “one country, two systems,” and making new achievements in the high-quality advancement of the cause of “one country, two systems,” he said.
Inside the venue, the atmosphere was solemn and warm. On the podium, the national flag and national emblem of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the regional flag of the Macao SAR were particularly eye-catching. When Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, entered the venue accompanied by Sam Hou Fai, the sixth chief executive of the Macao SAR, and his wife, Wong Ho Peng, the audience stood up and gave a warm round of applause.
At 10:00 a.m., the celebration and inauguration ceremony began. All rose to their feet and sang the national anthem of the PRC.
Xi ascended the podium to administer the oaths. Sam took the oath of office first. Facing the national flag, the national emblem, and the regional flag of the Macao SAR, he raised his right hand and solemnly took the oath in accordance with the Macao SAR Basic Law. After the oath, Xi and Sam shook hands firmly.
Next, Xi administered the oath of office to the principal officials of the sixth-term government of the Macao SAR, led by Sam. After the oath was completed, Xi shook hands with each of them.
Then, Sam administered the oath of office to the members of the Executive Council of the Macao SAR.
Amid warm applause, Xi delivered an important speech. At the outset, on behalf of the central government and people of all ethnic groups across China, he extended cordial greetings to all Macao residents. He extended warm congratulations to Mr. Sam Hou Fai, the newly inaugurated sixth-term chief executive of the Macao SAR, and to principal officials of the sixth-term Macao SAR government and members of the Executive Council of the Macao SAR. He also expressed heartfelt appreciation to all fellow Chinese, both at home and overseas, and foreign friends for their longstanding commitment to and support for the cause of “one country, two systems” and Macao’s prosperity, stability and development.
He stressed that over the past 25 years since Macao’s return to the motherland, the systems for implementing the policy of “one country, two systems” have kept improving in the special administrative region, and national sovereignty, security and development interests have been effectively safeguarded; economic and social development has seen a historic leap, and residents in the region enjoy a much stronger sense of gain, happiness and security; external cooperation has continued to expand, and the SAR’s position as “One Center, One Platform, One Base” has grown steadily.
The great achievements of Macao since its return to the motherland have proven to the world that the cause of “one country, two systems,” with its distinctive institutional strengths and strong vitality, is a good system that sustains the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, he said, adding it is a good system that facilitates endeavors to build China into a great country and achieve national rejuvenation, and it is a good system for ensuring peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit between different social systems.
“So we must stay committed to this cause. The values embodied in the cause of ‘one country, two systems,’ namely, peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing, are relevant to not only China but also the whole world. These values should be cherished by us all,” Xi said.
He emphasized that developments in Hong Kong and Macao since their return to the motherland tell us that to sustain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao and further advance the cause of “one country, two systems,” it is imperative to observe the following four principles. First, we should stay committed to the fundamental policy of one country and fully deliver the benefits of two systems. We should place our country’s sovereignty, security and development interests above everything else; we should implement the overall jurisdiction of the central authorities; and we should not deviate from this commitment under any circumstance. At the same time, we should respect the differences between the two systems, fully ensure a high degree of autonomy of the two SARs of Hong Kong and Macao, and continue to fully, faithfully and resolutely implement the policy of “one country, two systems,” under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong and the people of Macao administer Macao, both with a high degree of autonomy. We should see that this policy is not changed, deviated from, bent or distorted.
Second, we should ensure high-standard security and pursue high-quality development. Security underpins development, and development, in turn, ensures security. We must remain firm in both safeguarding security and promoting development. We should cherish the hard-won peace and stability we enjoy today, focus our energy on growing the economy and pursuing development, and continue to create new growth drivers and build new strengths. Third, we should leverage the unique strengths of Hong Kong and Macao and reinforce their connectivity with both the mainland and the world. Hong Kong and Macao should be more open and inclusive, expand international linkages, and raise their global standing and appeal. Hong Kong and Macao should fully align themselves with the national development strategies, accelerate integration into China’s overall national development, and better play their role as bridges in ushering in a new development paradigm. Fourth, we should carry forward our core values and boost inclusiveness and harmony. It is imperative to live by the core values of loving the country and Hong Kong and of loving the country and Macao, enhance exchanges and integration of diverse cultures, and rally full public support at home and abroad to create the greatest synergy in advancing the cause of “one country, two systems.”
Xi expressed four hopes for the newly inaugurated government of the Macao SAR — first, Macao should endeavor to promote appropriate economic diversification; second, Macao should endeavor to enhance governance as a special administrative region; third, Macao should endeavor to build itself into a platform for higher-standard opening up; and fourth, Macao should endeavor to maintain social harmony and stability.
The young people are the hope and future of Macao, Xi said, stressing that they are also a vibrant force in building Macao and building China. He expressed the hope that the young people in Macao will keep the SAR and the motherland close to their heart, set ambitious goals, take solid steps, advance and carry forward the cause of “one country, two systems,” and thus realize their potentials by fully engaging in endeavors to build a great motherland and a beautiful Macao.
Xi pointed out that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. At its Third Plenary Session, the 20th Central Committee of the CPC made a systematic decision to further deepen reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. The cause of building China into a great country is being advanced across the board, with bright prospects unfolding. The Chinese nation is marching toward its great rejuvenation in unstoppable strides. I am convinced that with the full, faithful and resolute implementation of the policy of “one country, two systems,” with the concerted effort of the Macao SAR Government and all sectors of its society, and with the strong support of the great motherland, Macao will surely open up a new horizon and achieve new advances in development, and make even greater contribution to building a great country and moving toward national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.
While delivering remarks, Sam said as the sixth-term chief executive of the Macao SAR, he understands well the immense responsibility that comes with this glorious mission. “We will take the proclamation ‘Striving Together, Upholding Integrity and Innovating’ as our philosophy of administration. With our collective efforts, we will remain committed to upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground. We will fully, faithfully, and resolutely implement the ‘one country, two systems’ policy,” he said. “We will spare no effort to maintain constitutional order in the SAR as stipulated in the Constitution and the Basic Law, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, faithfully implement the principle of “patriots administering Macao,” and continue to make new advances for the implementation of the ‘one country, two systems’ policy enriched with Macao characteristics,” he said. He stressed that with the staunch support of the motherland and the united efforts of all Macao residents to forge ahead, the SAR government is confident and capable of making Macao, “the apple of the eye” of the motherland, become more lustrous, thus playing a better role and making greater contribution to advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.
Senior officials including Cai Qi, Li Hongzhong, He Weidong, He Lifeng, Wang Xiaohong, Wang Dongfeng and Xia Baolong attended the event.
Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Ho Hau Wah, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR John Lee, former chief executives of the Macao SAR — Chui Sai On and Ho Iat Seng, as well as representatives from various sectors of Macao and special guests also participated in the event.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Missing girl in Mong Kok located Missing girl in Mong Kok located ********************************
A girl who went missing in Mong Kok has been located. Pun Ruth Elizabeth Guillergan, aged 15, went missing after she was last seen on Tung Choi Street on December 16 night. Her family made a report to Police on December 19. The girl was located at MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station this afternoon (December 21). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
Ends/Saturday, December 21, 2024Issued at HKT 17:32
New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month.
The report contains testimony from Israeli troops that civilians are being murdered in Gaza and are then being retroactively designated as terrorists to justify their execution.
“People need to know what this war really looks like, what serious acts some commanders and fighters are committing inside Gaza. They need to know the inhuman scenes we’re witnessing,” an Israeli commander who returned from the Netzarim corridor sayshttps://t.co/2y6ONxREy8
“We’re killing civilians there who are then counted as terrorists,” a recently discharged officer told Haaretz.
These two stories together say so much about the way the label “terrorist” is used under the US-centralised power umbrella.
The guy who shot the health insurance CEO is a terrorist, but the people systematically slaughtering civilians in Gaza are not terrorists. The people fighting against those who are slaughtering the civilians are terrorists, and noncombatants are being categorized as belonging to this terrorist organisation in order to justify killing them. The al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria were terrorists, but now they’re a US puppet regime so soon they won’t be terrorists — but they need to be designated terrorists for a little while longer because the claim that Syria is crawling with terrorists is Israel’s justification for its recent land grabs there. The Uyghur militant group ETIM used to be a terrorist group, but now they’re not a terrorist group because they can be used to help carve up Syria and maybe fight China later on. The IRGC is a military wing of a sovereign nation, but it counts as a terrorist group because of vibes or something.
Is that clear enough?
Really the label “terrorist” is nothing more than a tool of imperial narrative control which gets moved around based on whether or not someone’s use of violence is deemed legitimate by the managers of the empire. Because Mangione’s alleged crime has ignited a public interest in class warfare, the label “terrorism” is being used to frame it as an especially heinous act of evil against an innocent member of the public.
The empire’s favourite trick is to begin the historical record at the moment its enemies retaliate against its abuses. Oh no, a health insurance CEO was victimised by an evil act of terrorism. Oh no, Israel was just innocently minding its own business when it was viciously attacked by Hamas. Oh no, Iran attacked Israel completely out of the blue and now Israel must retaliate. Oh no, Russia just launched an entirely unprovoked war on Ukraine.
Everything that led up to the unauthorised act of violence is erased from the record, because all of the violence, provocation and abuse which gave rise to the unauthorised act of violence were authorized by the empire. Authorised aggression doesn’t count as aggression.
Whoever controls the narrative controls the world. If you control the narrative you can control not only when the historical record of violence begins but what kinds of violence qualify as violence. Killing people by depriving them of healthcare because denying healthcare services is how your company increases its profit margins? That’s not violence. Inflicting tyranny and abuse upon a deliberately marginalised ethnic group in an apartheid state? That’s not violence. Violence is when you respond to those forceful aggressions with forceful aggressions of your own.
If we are to become a healthy society, we’re going to have to stop allowing some forms of violence, aggression and abuse to be redacted from the official records while others are listed and condemned. Those who care about truth and justice account for all forms of violence, aggression and abuse, not only those which inconvenience the rich and powerful.
It is an act of aggression to do things which sicken and impoverish others in order to advance your own wealth.
It is an act of aggression to pollute the biosphere we all depend on for survival in order to increase your profit margins.
It is an act of aggression to use your wealth to manipulate your nation’s politics in ways which exacerbate inequality and injustice.
It is an act of aggression to maintain an apartheid state which cannot exist without nonstop violence.
It is an act of aggression to surround the earth with military bases and encircle nations which disobey your dictates.
It is an act of aggression to try to rule the world using military violence, proxy conflicts, staged coups, threats, starvation sanctions, and financial and economic coercion.
These are all acts of aggression, and any retaliation against them will never be an unprovoked attack. As we move into the future while these abuses exacerbate, it’s going to become very important to maintain an acute awareness of this.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (December 21) strongly disapproved of and opposed the so-called “2024 Annual Report” issued by the United States (US) Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), which made malicious smearing remarks against multiple areas in the HKSAR. An HKSAR Government spokesperson said, “The HKSAR Government strongly disapproves and opposes the CECC’s repeated tactics to interfere in the affairs of the HKSAR through the so-called annual report, and make slandering remarks against Hong Kong, where ‘one country, two systems’ is successfully implemented. The US is once again making unfounded and fact-twisting remarks. Such attempt to undermine the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and interfere in Hong Kong’s law-based governance is smack of despicable political manipulation with ill intentions.” The spokesperson said, “The CECC openly clamour for so-called ‘sanctions’ with an aim to intimidate HKSAR officials who resolutely safeguard national security. The HKSAR Government strongly condemns its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all. The HKSAR despises the so-called ‘sanctions’ and will not be intimidated by such a despicable behaviour. The HKSAR will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security.” The spokesperson reiterated, “The HKSAR Government steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security and development interests, and fully and faithfully lives up to the highest principle of ‘one country, two systems’. The HKSAR Government strongly demands the US to immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in China’s internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs.” Regarding the slandering remarks against the HKSAR in the US’ so-called report, the Government sternly refuted them in the ensuing paragraphs.Safeguarding National Security The HKSAR Government spokesperson said, “The HKSAR Government strongly opposes the absurd and untrue content regarding legislation safeguarding national security in the HKSAR contained in the US’ so-called report. In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, safeguarding national security is an inherent right of all sovereign states. Many common law jurisdictions, including the US, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation and implemented measures to safeguard national security.” The HKSAR Government spokesperson stressed that, “The so-called report by the US completely ignores the severe national security threats posed by the riots and the Hong Kong version of ‘color revolution’ in 2019, and neglected the fact that the implementation of the National Security Law has enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the Hong Kong community, and the business environment as well, to return to normalcy. This is a clear demonstration of hypocrisy with double standards. In fact, security and development work together like the two wings of a bird. Development requires a safe social environment. In March 2024, the HKSAR fulfilled the constitutional responsibility and historic mission of enacting local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law. The newly enacted Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) achieves convergence, compatibility and complementarity with the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL). Together they form a comprehensive legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security. Now, Hong Kong can finally advance from stability to prosperity following the transition from chaos to order. The US must immediately recognise the fact that the Hong Kong National Security Law and other relevant legislation have restored normalcy to the lives and economic activities of Hong Kong residents and the business environment. “As the HKSAR Government has emphasised time and again that the laws safeguarding national security in the HKSAR are precisely for safeguarding national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; and ensuring the full and faithful implementation of the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy. It also better safeguards the fundamental rights and freedoms of the residents of the HKSAR and other people, including those doing business, in the city. The relevant laws have set out clear definitions and criminal elements which will not affect regular exchanges between Hong Kong residents and people here for business with foreign countries. “Extraterritorial effect for the offences endangering national security under the HKNSL and the SNSO fully aligns with the principles of international law, international practice and common practice adopted in various countries and regions. It is both necessary and legitimate, and is also in line with those of other countries and regions around the world (including the US, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and member states of the European Union). The Police have the responsibility to pursue those who are suspected of committing offences endangering national security outside Hong Kong. “Smearing remarks in the US’ so-called report pinpointing at custodial and rehabilitation work of the HKSAR was untrue, misleading, irresponsible and absurd. The HKSAR Government solemnly points out that the Correctional Services Department (CSD) is committed to ensuring that the custodial environment is secure, safe, humane, appropriate and healthy, and have put in place established mechanism to ensure the rights of persons-in-custody (PICs) are protected, including arrangement of regular inspection of independent visitors, namely Justices of the Peace. The CSD performs its duties in accordance with law and regulations in managing all PICs, regardless of their background.”Safeguarding Due Administration of Justice and Rule of Law The spokesperson said, “That Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law and has always adhered to the principle that laws must be obeyed and lawbreakers held accountable is well recognised by international communities. The Basic Law clearly stipulates that the Judiciary shall exercise judicial power independently in accordance with the law, free from any interference. As guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, everyone charged with a criminal offence has the right to a fair hearing. The Department of Justice of the HKSAR, by virtue of Article 63 of the Basic Law, shall control criminal prosecutions and make independent prosecutorial decisions based on an objective assessment of all admissible evidence and applicable laws. The courts decide cases strictly in accordance with the evidence and all applicable laws. Cases will never be handled any differently owing to the profession, political beliefs or background of the persons involved. The prosecution has the burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt the commission of an offence before a defendant may be convicted by the court.”Safeguarding Rights and Freedoms The HKSAR Government spokesperson said, “The HKSAR Government steadfastly safeguards the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people as protected under the law. Since Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, human rights in the city have always been robustly guaranteed constitutionally by both the Constitution and the Basic Law. The HKNSL and the SNSO also clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, and that the rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration, that Hong Kong residents enjoy under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, shall be protected in accordance with the law. Nonetheless, just as the case with other places in the world, such rights and freedoms are not absolute. The ICCPR also expressly states that some of them may be subject to restrictions as prescribed by law that are necessary for protection of national security, public safety, public order or the rights and freedoms of others, etc.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LegCo delegation begins duty visit to Japan (with photo) LegCo delegation begins duty visit to Japan (with photo) ********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat: The Legislative Council (LegCo) delegation (the delegation), led by the President of LegCo, Mr Andrew Leung, began a four-day duty visit in Japan today (December 21) to strengthen ties with Japan and gain a deeper understanding of the latest situations and opportunities of the country in the areas of trade, culture and tourism, fisheries and agriculture, and food safety. Upon arrival in Tokyo, the delegation had dinner and exchanged views with representatives of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo. Members and the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, discussed issues such as fostering the bilateral economic and trade relations between Hong Kong and Japan, attracting investment, and promoting Hong Kong tourism. Members also gained insight into the latest developments of Japanese culture, and explored the opportunities for collaboration between Hong Kong and Japan’s cultural industries. Mr Leung expressed gratitude to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo for their assistance in facilitating this duty visit. The delegation will continue their duty visit in Japan tomorrow (December 22). The delegation is led by Mr Leung. The Deputy delegation leader is the Chairman of the Parliamentary Liaison Subcommittee, Mr Tommy Cheung. Other participating Subcommittee members are Mr Jeffrey Lam, Mr Dominic Lee, Ms Nixie Lam, Ms Joephy Chan, Mr Tang Fei and Mr Yim Kong.
Ends/Saturday, December 21, 2024Issued at HKT 19:11
SIGNING OF THE SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS BY BNP PARIBAS CARDIF
Press release Paris – 21 December 2024
After entering into exclusive negotiations on August 1st, AXA and BNP Paribas Cardif announce the signing of the Share Purchase Agreement for AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM).
This signing follows the completion of the information-consultation procedure on strategic issues with the relevant employee representative bodies of both AXA and BNP Paribas groups.
“This signing marks an important step in the acquisition process of AXA IM and our long-term partnership with AXA. In anticipation of the closing process, all teams are now working to welcome AXA IM’s employees and customers into the BNP Paribas Cardif Group” said Renaud Dumora, Chairman of BNP Paribas Cardif, Deputy COO of BNP Paribas.
As previously communicated, the agreed price for the acquisition and the long-term partnership is €5.1 billion, with the closing expected mid-2025 and an anticipated impact on BNP Paribas Group’s CET1 ratio of 25 bps subject to agreements with the relevant authorities.
About BNP Paribas BNP Paribas is the European Union’s leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 63 countries and has nearly 183,000 employees, including more than 145,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group’s commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group’s performance and stability.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today strongly disapproved of and opposed the so-called “2024 Annual Report” issued by the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), which made malicious smearing remarks against multiple areas in the Hong Kong SAR.
In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it disapproves of the CECC’s repeated tactics to interfere in the affairs of Hong Kong through the so-called annual report, and for making slandering remarks against the city, where “one country, two systems” is successfully implemented.
The US is once again making unfounded and fact-twisting remarks, the Hong Kong SAR Government specified, adding that such attempt to undermine the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and interfere in its law-based governance is smack of despicable political manipulation with ill intentions.
“The CECC openly clamours for so-called ‘sanctions’ with an aim to intimidate Hong Kong SAR officials who resolutely safeguard national security. The Hong Kong SAR Government strongly condemns its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all.
“The Hong Kong SAR despises the so-called ‘sanctions’ and will not be intimidated by such a despicable behaviour. It will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security.
“The Hong Kong SAR Government reiterates that it steadfastly safeguards national sovereignty, security and development interests, and fully and faithfully lives up to the highest principle of “one country, two systems”.
It added that it strongly demands the US to immediately stop acting against the international law and basic norms of international relations and interfering in China’s internal affairs and Hong Kong affairs.
The Hong Kong SAR Government sternly refuted the slandering remarks against the Hong Kong SAR in the US’ so-called report citing three aspects that include safeguarding national security, safeguarding the due administration of justice and rule of law, and safeguarding rights and freedoms.
It stated that it strongly opposes the absurd and untrue content regarding legislation safeguarding national security in Hong Kong contained in the report.
In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, safeguarding national security is an inherent right of all sovereign states. Many common law jurisdictions, including the US, the UK, Australia and Canada, have enacted multiple pieces of legislation and implemented measures to safeguard national security.
The US’ report completely ignored the severe national security threats posed by the riots and the Hong Kong version of “colour revolution” in 2019, and neglected that the implementation of the National Security Law has enabled the livelihood and economic activities of the community and the business environment to return to normalcy, the Hong Kong SAR Government pointed out.
“This is a clear demonstration of hypocrisy with double standards. In fact, security and development work together like the two wings of a bird. Development requires a safe social environment.
“The Hong Kong SAR has fulfilled the constitutional responsibility and historic mission of enacting local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law. The newly enacted Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) achieves convergence, compatibility and complementarity with the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL).”
Together the SNSO and HKNSL form a comprehensive legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security. Hong Kong can finally advance from stability to prosperity following the transition from chaos to order, the Hong Kong SAR Government said.
It added that extraterritorial effect for the offences endangering national security under the HKNSL and the SNSO fully aligns with the principles of international law, international practice and common practice adopted in various countries and regions.
“It is both necessary and legitimate, and is also in line with those of other countries and regions around the world including the US, the UK, Australia, Canada and member states of the EU. Police have the responsibility to pursue those who are suspected of committing offences endangering national security outside Hong Kong.”
Smearing remarks in the US’ report pinpointing custodial and rehabilitation work of Hong Kong is untrue, misleading, irresponsible and absurd, the Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised, noting that the Correctional Services Department (CSD) is committed to ensuring the custodial environment is secure, safe, humane, appropriate and healthy, and has put in place an established mechanism to ensure the rights of persons-in-custody (PICs) are protected.
Such rights include regular inspection of independent visitors, namely Justices of the Peace. The CSD performs its duties in accordance with the law and regulations in managing all PICs, regardless of their background, it added.
As regard the administration of justice, Hong Kong is a society underpinned by the rule of law and has always adhered to the principle that laws must be obeyed and lawbreakers held accountable, which is well recognised by international communities, the Hong Kong SAR Government noted.
Apart from stressing that the Basic Law clearly stipulates the Judiciary shall exercise judicial power independently in accordance with the law, free from any interference, it specified that everyone charged with a criminal offence has the right to a fair hearing as guaranteed by the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.
The Department of Justice, by virtue of Article 63 of the Basic Law, shall control criminal prosecutions and make independent prosecutorial decisions based on an objective assessment of all admissible evidence and applicable laws, the Hong Kong SAR Government said.
The courts decide cases strictly in accordance with the evidence and all applicable laws. Cases will never be handled any differently owing to the profession, political beliefs or background of the persons involved, and the prosecution has the burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt the commission of an offence before a defendant may be convicted by the court, it explained.
Regarding rights and freedoms, the Hong Kong SAR Government made it clear that it steadfastly safeguards the rights and freedoms enjoyed by its people as protected under the law, noting that human rights in Hong Kong have always been robustly guaranteed constitutionally by both the Constitution and the Basic Law since its return to the motherland.
The HKNSL and the SNSO clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, and the rights and freedoms that Hong Kong residents enjoy under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, shall be protected in accordance with the law.
The Hong Kong SAR Government indicated that such rights and freedoms include the freedoms of speech, of the press, of publication, of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration.
As is the case with other places in the world, such rights and freedoms are not absolute. The ICCPR expressly states that some of them may be subject to restrictions as prescribed by law that are necessary for protection of national security, public safety, public order or the rights and freedoms of others, etc, the Hong Kong SAR Government added.
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech.
The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues.
Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” consistent with the central government’s expectations.
The changes will also prohibit tertiary institutions from adopting positions on issues that do not relate to their core functions.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour said fostering students’ ability to debate ideas is an essential part of universities’ educational mission.
“Despite being required by the Education Act and the Bill of Rights Act to uphold academic freedom and freedom of expression, there is a growing trend of universities deplatforming speakers and cancelling events where they might be perceived as controversial or offensive,” he said.
“That’s why the National/ACT coalition agreement committed to introduce protections for academic freedom and freedom of speech to ensure universities perform their role as the critic and conscience of society.”
Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds said freedom of speech was fundamental to the concept of academic freedom.
“Universities should promote diversity of opinion and encourage students to explore new ideas and perspectives. This includes enabling them to hear from invited speakers with a range of viewpoints.”
It is expected the changes will take effect by the end of next year, after which universities will have six months to develop a statement and get it approved.
Aside from the fact that the free speech legislation for universities is a waste of time (and seemingly ideologically inconsistent with the anti-regulation stance of the government), this line from the RNZ article is both hilarious and worrying pic.twitter.com/aOoPa0ZPc5
Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington said the important issue of free speech had been a dominant topic throughout the year.
It believed a policy it had come up with would align with the intent of the criteria laid out by the government today.
However, the Greens are among critics, saying the government’s changes will add fuel to the political fires of disinformation, and put teachers and students in the firing line.
Labour says universities should be left to make decisions on free speech themselves.
‘A heavy-handed approach’ The Tertiary Education Union (TEU) said proposed rules could do more harm than good.
They have been been welcomed by the Free Speech Union, which said academic freedom was “under threat”, but the TEU said there was no problem to solve.
TEU president Sandra Grey said the move seemed to be aimed at ensuring people could spread disinformation on university campuses.
“I think one of the major concerns is that you might get universities opening up the space that is for academic and rigorous debate and saying it’s okay we can have climate deniers, we can have people who believe in creationism coming into our campuses and speaking about it as though it were scientific, as though it was rigorously defendable when in fact we know some of these questions . . . have been settled,” she said.
Grey said academics who expressed views on campus could expect them to be debated, but that was part and parcel of working at a university and not an attack on their freedom of speech.
“There isn’t actually a problem. I do think universities, all the staff who work there, the students, understand that they’re covered by all of their requirements for freedom of speech that other citizens are.
“So it feels like we’ve got a heavy-handed approach from a government that apparently is anti-regulation but is now going to put in place the whole lot of requirements on a community that just doesn’t need it.”
Some topics ‘suppressed’
Free Speech Union chief executive Jonathan Ayling . . . some academics are afraid to express their views and there is also a problem with “compelled speech”. Image: VNP/Phil Smith/RNZ News
Free Speech Union chief executive Jonathan Ayling said freedom of speech was under threat in universities.
“We’ve supported academics . . . where they feel that they have been unfairly disadvantaged simply for holding a different opinion to some of their peers. Of course, that is also an addition to the explicit calls for people to be cancelled, to be unemployed,” he said.
Ayling said some academics were afraid to express their views and there was also a problem with “compelled speech”.
“Forcing certain references on particularly ideological issues. There’s questions around race, gender, international conflicts, covid-19, these are all questions that we’ve found have been suppressed and also there’s the aspect of self-censorship,” he said.
“As we have and alongside partners looked into this more and more, it seems that many people in the academy exist in a culture of fear.”
University committed to differing viewpoints Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington is committed to hearing a range of different viewpoints on its campuses, vice-chancellor Professor Nic Smith says.
Free speech had been an important issue during 2024, and the university had arrived at a policy that covered both freedom of speech and academic freedom.
By consulting widely, there was now a shared understanding of “foundational principles”, and its policy would be in place early in the new year.
“We believe this policy aligns with the intent of the criteria [from the government] as we understand them. It recognises the strength of our diverse university community and affirms that this diversity makes us stronger,” Professor Smith said.
“At the same time, it acknowledges that within any diverse community, individuals will inevitably encounter ideas they disagree with-sometimes strongly.
“Finding value in these disagreements is something universities are very good at: listening to different points of view in the spirit of advancing understanding and learning that can ultimately help us live and work better together.”
The university believed in hearing a range of views from staff, rather than adopting a single institutional position.
“The only exception to this principle is on matters that directly affect our core functions as a university.”
‘Stoking fear and division’
The Green Party’s spokesperson for Tertiary Education, Francisco Hernadez . . . this new policy has nothing to do with free speech. Image: VNP/Phil Smith/RNZ News
Green Party’s spokesperson for Tertiary Education, Francisco Hernadez, said the new policy had nothing to do with free speech.
“This is about polluting our public discourse for political gain.”
Universities played a critical role, providing a platform for informed and reasoned debate.
“Our universities should be able to decide who is given a platform on their campuses, not David Seymour. These changes risk turning our universities into hostile environments unsafe for marginalised communities.
“Misinformation, disinformation, and rhetoric that inflames hatred towards certain groups has no place in our society, let alone our universities. Freedom of speech is fundamental, but it is not a licence to harm.”
Hernandez said universities should be trusted to ensure the balance was struck between academic freedom and a duty of care.
“Today’s announcement has also come with a high dose of unintended irony.
“David Seymour is speaking out of both sides of his mouth by on the one hand claiming to support freedom of speech, but on the other looking to limit the ability universities have to take stances on issues, like the war in Gaza for example.
“This is an Orwellian attempt to limit discourse to the confines of the government’s agenda. This is about stoking fear and division for political gain.”
Labour’s Associate Education (Tertiary) spokesperson Deborah Russell responded: “One of the core legislated functions of universities in this country is to be a critic and conscience of society. That means continuing to speak truth to power, even if those in power don’t like it.”
“Nowhere should be a platform for hate speech. I am certain universities can make these decisions themselves.”
‘Expectations clarified’ – university The University of Auckland said in a statement the announcement of planned legislation changes would help “to clarify government expectations in this area”.
“The university has a longstanding commitment to maintaining freedom of expression and academic freedom on our campuses, and in recent years has worked closely with [the university’s] senate and council to review, revise and consult on an updated Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom Policy.
“This is expected to return to senate and council for further discussion in early 2025 and will take into account the proposed new legislation.”
The university described the nature of the work as “complex”.
“While New Zealand universities have obligations under law to protect freedom of expression, academic freedom and their role as ‘critic and conscience of society’, as the proposed legislation appreciates, this is balanced against other important policies and codes.”
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
“It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza.
Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an “act of annihilation” of the Palestinian people, reports Middle East Eye.
Dr Bartov said that not only had Israeli forces been moving displaced Palestinians around the Gaza Strip but they had also been strategically bombing mosques, museums, hospitals, and anything that served the health or culture of a people — in an attempt to cleanse the entire area of Palestinians.
Al Jazeera reports that an Israeli drone attack on the Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza targeted a group of people gathered at a phone charging and internet distribution point, killing three people.
According to a witness, this was the only point in the refugee camp where people trapped in the area charge their phones and connect to the internet to be in touch with family members who are displaced in the central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip.
This was not the first time that the Israeli military has carried out deliberate attacks on such connectivity points.
Houthis ballistic missile wounds 14 Meanwhile, a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis from Yemen has broken through Israeli defences above and below the Earth’s atmosphere before slamming into Tel Aviv, reports Israel’s public broadcaster Kan.
It said interceptors from the Arrow missile defence system were launched into the upper atmosphere after detecting the missile, but missed the target and failed to stop it before it entered Israeli territory.
As captured in numerous videos, two more interceptors were then fired in the lower atmosphere, also failing to shoot down the missile.
At least 14 people were wounded after a failed interception of the ballistic missile.
This was the third incident of its kind just this week. The Israeli army says it was now investigating why it was not intercepted and why this was such a significant failure.
Since the start of the war, the Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles, and more than 170 drones in support of the Palestinians in Gaza. The Houthis have said they would continue the attacks until Israel ends its war in the besieged enclave.
In July, there was a drone that evaded all Israeli air defences, no siren sounded, and it was able to detonate in the middle of Tel Aviv and kill one person.
This time, it was just one minute from the time the sirens rang until the moment of impact.
Aachen (Agenzia Fides) – The focus of the “Star Singers” campaign of the Pontifical Society of German Missionary Childhood (Aktion Dreikönigssingen) is on children’s rights, and aims to emphasize that all people are beloved children of God and have a right to a life with dignity.The campaign encourages children and young people to work together with their peers from all continents to ensure that their rights are recognized, guaranteed and protected.In 1989, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.Nevertheless, millions of children continue to suffer greatly: 250 million children, especially girls, do not go to school. 160 million children are forced to work, around half of them under exploitative conditions. One in four children worldwide is malnourished. More than 43 million children and young people are refugees and displaced persons fleeing their homes.Children’s rights must therefore continue to be strengthened and their implementation must be further promoted. Because “every human being has the right to live with dignity and to develop integrally; this fundamental right cannot be denied by any country” (Pope Francis in the encyclical “Fratelli Tutti”, 107).”‘Raise your voice! Star Singers for Children’s Rights’ is the motto of the upcoming campaign – and the Singers will bring this message to the people they visit all over Germany”, explained Father Dirk Bingener, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies and of Missionary Childhood in Germany, illustrating the importance of the upcoming campaign theme. “The rights of children must be brought to people’s attention again and again. Our partners in around 1,100 projects worldwide contribute every day to implementing and thus protecting children’s rights,” said Bingener.Every year in the days before Epiphany the “Star Singers” dressed in their costumes of Magi, with their Star and their songs during Christmas time go around visiting German homes. The children from Catholic parishes in Germany carry the “C+M+ B” blessing (“Christus mansionem benedicat – Christ bless this house”) to the families, collecting donations for other children their age who suffer throughout the world.Since its beginning in 1959, the Star Singers Campaign has grown into the largest solidarity campaign in the world by children for children. Children’s projects have been supported in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Oceania and Eastern Europe.The Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood uses the funds to support projects around the world in the fields of education, health, pastoral care, nutrition and social integration.A delegation of Star Singers from the diocese of Freiburg will participate in the celebration with Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, January 1. A total of 21 other Star Singers from Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia and Romania will also be in the Vatican on New Year’s Day.b(MS) (Agenzia Fides, 21/12/2024)
Share:
NEW YORK, Dec. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm by ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating:
Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp. (NYSE: AUB), relating to a proposed merger with Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, all Sandy Spring shares will automatically be converted into the right to receive 0.900 shares of AUB, and cash in lieu of fractional shares.
ACT NOW. The Shareholder Vote is scheduled for February 5, 2025.
Cyclo Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CYTH), relating to its proposed merger with Rafael Holdings, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Cyclo common stock will automatically be converted into the right to receive shares of Rafael common stock.
Patterson Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDCO), relating to the proposed merger with Patient Square Capital. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of Patterson will receive $31.35 in cash per share.
SK Growth Opportunities Corporation (NASDAQ:SKGR), relating to the proposed merger with Webull Corp. Under the terms of the agreement, shares of SK Growth will be converted into shares of Webull Corp.
NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE THE SAME. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:
Do you file class actions and go to Court?
When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders?
What cases did you recover money in and how much?
About Monteverde & Associates PC
Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders…and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.
Contact: Juan Monteverde, Esq. MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC The Empire State Building 350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740 New York, NY 10118 United States of America jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com Tel: (212) 971-1341
Attorney Advertising. (C) 2024 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Source: The Conversation – Indonesia – By Aswin Ariyanto Azis, Head of department of Politics, Government, and International Relations of Universitas Brawijaya, Universitas Brawijaya
Ilustrasi-ilustrasi bendera negara anggota BRICS dan mitra.justit/Shutterstock
Indonesia’s decision to pursue membership in BRICS – an emerging economy bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – signals that President Prabowo Subianto is steering foreign policy in a direction contrasting with his predecessors.
Since BRICS is an alternative to Western-dominated organisations, many observers scrutinised and questioned Indonesia’s nonalignment commitment. However, Foreign Minister Sugiono argued that BRICS aligns with Indonesia’s ‘free and active’ foreign policy, allowing Indonesia to collaborate widely without aligning too closely with any single bloc.
For Sugiono, joining BRICS means paving the way to advance the new government’s goals of food security, energy independence, poverty alleviation, and human capital development. The bloc offers access to funding, technology, and trade opportunities to tackle key challenges in those sectors. BRICS, with its emphasis on fairness and cooperation, supports Indonesia’s vision for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
The shift from Retno’s OECD focus to Sugiono’s BRICS approach reflects at least two visions. First, Indonesia seeks to reassess its strategic position as the leading economy in Southeast Asia. Second, the country seeks to switch from its nonalignment stance to multi-alignment. The later will help navigate partnerships with both developed and emerging economies, balancing traditional alliances with new opportunities.
Joining BRICS can amplify Indonesia’s influence in its already strong ties with each of the member countries and unlock opportunities beyond one-on-one partnerships.
Fear of missing out
Indonesia’s pivot to BRICS reflects both its relationship with major powers, such as China and the US, and regional pressures.
Neighbouring countries Malaysia and Thailand have recently expressed interest in BRICS, creating a sense of competition within Southeast Asia. Both countries joining the bloc could erode Indonesia’s leadership and influence in the region, especially in affecting global affairs.
As its de facto leader, Indonesia has historically championed initiatives like the South China Sea Code of Conduct and Myanmar’s peace process. Its G20 presidency further underscored its role as a mediator between global powers.
Joining BRICS ahead of its regional peers ensures that Indonesia maintains its leadership position in ASEAN. For Prabowo’s administration, BRICS offers a platform to advance Indonesia’s interests in maritime security, economic growth, and global governance. It is a strategic move beyond an economic decision to amplify its voice on global issues and prevent fellow Southeast Asian countries from overtaking it in shaping the bloc’s agenda.
Bold (but not one) direction
Indonesia’s BRICS membership announcement highlights the new administration’s foreign policy ambitions, centred on two key shifts: adopting a multi-alignment strategy and strengthening its ‘good neighbour’ policy.
Prabowo envisions engaging with all nations, fostering friendly relations while opposing oppression. This approach resonates with Indonesia’s historical commitment to sovereignty and equality in international relations.
By joining BRICS, Indonesia avoids taking sides and instead diversifies its partnerships to maximise benefits. This multi-aligned approach enables active participation in BRICS discussions on multilateral reform.
Such collaborations reduce reliance on Western financial systems and enhance Indonesia’s autonomy. Ultimately, these strategic directions position Indonesia as a sovereign and dynamic player capable of balancing global relationships while advancing its own priorities.
What about the OECD?
This move does not mean the OECD is off the table for Indonesia. Instead, Prabowo’s approach reflects a dual-track strategy that values both alliances for their respective benefits.
The OECD remains a long-term objective to enhance Indonesia’s economic governance and regulatory standards. It serves the goal of providing the country with stable relationships within the Western economic framework. Meanwhile, BRICS offers an immediate avenue for Indonesia to deepen ties with equivalent economies and actively shape policies that impact the Global South.
Sugiono’s statement in Kazan emphasised Indonesia’s commitment to engaging in other forums, including the G20 and OECD discussions. It highlighted the country’s flexibility in international alliances.
This dual-track strategy reinforces Indonesia’s role as a bridge between developed and developing nations, maximising the benefits of both alliances without sacrificing its autonomy.
What’s next for Indonesia?
Indonesia’s decision to join BRICS marks a significant evolution in its foreign policy. By participating in BRICS, Indonesia positions itself as a critical player in global discussions on economic reform and development, asserting its voice within a multi-polar world order.
Indonesia is charting a path that balances traditional alliances with emerging opportunities, reinforcing its role as a dynamic, independent player on the world stage.
Aswin Ariyanto Azis tidak bekerja, menjadi konsultan, memiliki saham, atau menerima dana dari perusahaan atau organisasi mana pun yang akan mengambil untung dari artikel ini, dan telah mengungkapkan bahwa ia tidak memiliki afiliasi selain yang telah disebut di atas.
To be attributed to Inspector Simon Feltham, Marlborough Area Commander:
A 44-year-old man is facing numerous charges following an incident at a Park Terrace house in Blenheim.
The man has been charged with threatening to kill, discharging a firearm to intimidate, abducting a child under 16, and contravening a protection order.
He is scheduled to appear in Blenheim District Court on Monday 23 December.
The holiday season came alive at the Dragon Hill Lodge on Yongsan Garrison, where the entire community gathered to celebrate with a tree lighting ceremony, Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 17. U.S. Army Col. Edward Cho, the U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan-Casey commander, welcomed military service members, families, and local residents in the area to a night of family-friendly fun, free food, caroling, an ugly sweater contest and pictures with Santa.
“To our incredible Soldiers, their families, and our devoted Korean allies, I thank you for your continued commitment, resilience, and the sacrifices you make every day. Your dedication strengthens the bonds that we have between nations,” said Cho during his opening remarks. “It’s because of you that we can stand strong together, ready to face any challenge that comes our way. During this season of joy and reflection, I’m humbled to serve alongside such remarkable individuals.”
The tree, standing tall, in front of the Dragon Hill Lodge was adorned with a multitude of sparkling lights and colorful ornaments, symbolizing the spirit of the holiday season. The lighting ceremony typically marks the beginning of a month-long series of holiday-themed events, accompanied by musical performances, gift-giving, and festive culinary delights.
Santa Claus made a grand entrance on an installation fire truck, later taking pictures with several families and children just inside, in the Dragon Hill Lodge’s main lobby area. Local dignitaries and leaders from both U.S. and South Korean communities attended the event, reinforcing the strong ties between the two nations.
The ceremony was a chance for service members and their families to take a break from their normal duties and enjoy the warmth of the holiday season together. For many, the annual celebration on Yongsan Garrison has become a beloved family tradition.
The event serves as a welcome reminder of the importance of community during the holiday season, as well as a testament the enduring friendship between friends, allies, and colleagues who serve abroad together.
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Operation Support Wing hosted its annual mochi-pounding ceremony, bringing together U.S. and JASDF personnel to celebrate cultural exchange and teamwork at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Dec. 13.
The centuries-old tradition involved steaming glutinous rice before rhythmically pounding it with large wooden mallets in a mortar to create a sticky dough. Symbolizing unity and prosperity, mochi-pounding marks the arrival of the New Year in Japan. Once prepared, the mochi was shaped into small round cakes and served as part of the traditional celebratory meal.
The ceremony not only celebrates Japanese culture but also provides a unique opportunity for U.S. and JASDF personnel to collaborate and strengthen their bonds through shared customs. This year’s event saw both JASDF and U.S. military personnel working together to prepare the mochi, fostering teamwork and cultural understanding.
“At Yokota, the mochi-pounding ceremonies are a bit unique,” said Keisuke Kitano, JASDF Operational Support Wing liaison. “This event allows us an opportunity to welcome U.S. members and share Japanese culture, promoting exchange and teamwork.”
The annual mochi-pounding ceremony highlights the strength of the partnership between U.S. and Japanese forces. It not only fosters cultural understanding and mutual respect but also strengthens community bonds, offering both forces a unique opportunity to work together and build lasting friendships.
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places.
“The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute to New Zealand, by significantly increasing capacity in the all-importantNew Zealand registration exams (NZREX),” Dr Reti says.
“This is very exciting news and is expected to mean exam spots for up to 180 international candidates over the course of 2025, an increase from 60 initially planned.
“Once the candidates complete those exams, I’ve also instructed Health New Zealand to move to secure the clinical placements needed as an additional step to potential employment, particularly in general practice.
“Lack of exam spots and clinical placements have been repeatedly raised with me as barriers to employment in our health system.
“Over the past 18 months, I’ve received many letters from hardworking, well-qualified international candidates who were effectively shut out because they couldn’t get into the exams they needed, or secure placements.
“This group has come to be colloquially titled ‘Uber doctors,’ because they’ve sometimes ended up driving passengers for a living, instead of helping patients. Their stories have made for sad reading, when I’ve known our health system could benefit from their expertise, and they are already in New Zealand.
“Matters came to a head recently when I became aware that some doctors were being shut out of the online exam registration process by mere seconds, as the limited places were snapped up.
“These medical professionals shouldn’t have been fighting for places as if they were lining up for a pop concert. I raised this with the Medical Council directly and am very pleased they have been able to respond so swiftly with extra exams. I thank the Council for its collaboration.
“Another ongoing roadblock has been a lack of PGY1 positions – or first year house officer roles – for those who pass. The Commissioner of Health New Zealand has assured me that he’s ready to organise these placements, so the skills of these doctors can be utilised on the frontline. This is especially so for the NZREX GP pilot which has been so successful.
“The skills of these international doctors who are already resident in New Zealand, would sit alongside our outstanding New Zealand-trained doctors who are already delivering great care to Kiwis,” Dr Reti says.
The Medical Council will now have three exam dates in March, June and September 2025, up from two in 2024.
The Albanese Government is working hard to get Australian travellers a better deal, releasing the draft Aviation Customer Rights Charter today for public consultation over the summer period.
The Charter sets out the expectations of fair treatment by airlines and airports to their customers to ensure customers get what they pay for or get their money back.
The Australian flying public deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and this includes receiving timely and fair remedies when their flight is cancelled or delayed.
That is exactly what this charter is about, providing clarity to consumers on their rights – giving them greater certainty about what they can expect, and where to go if these conditions are not met.
The Charter proposes that customers have the right to:
be treated with dignity and respect, in an accessible and inclusive environment;
accurate, timely and accessible information and customer service;
prompt and fair remedies and support during and after cancellations, delays and disruptions;
safe and timely baggage handling and fair remedies for damage and delays
the protection of their personal information;
provide feedback, make complaints and exercise their rights without retribution.
The Charter was one of the landmark commitments of the 2024 Aviation White Paper; it will be a first for Australia after years of increasing customer dissatisfaction in domestic aviation.
It has been informed by submissions received through the Aviation White Paper process, as well as feedback from customers and industry about the standards of service currently being experienced across the aviation sector.
I encourage the flying public, industry and other stakeholders to give their feedback on the draft charter before submissions close at 5pm on Friday, 28 February 2025.
Find out more, and have your say, by visitingwww.infrastructure.gov.au/Aviation-Rights-Charter
Since 2002, foster parents Mrs Ip and her husband have opened their hearts and home to nine foster children, including the two currently under their care. Many of these children have special needs, but for Mrs Ip, fostering is more than just a career, it is a calling.
“When children feel that you treasure them, they will treasure you in return. I wish them all a happy ever after, and I will take care of them. I will not leave them.”
Mrs Ip cherishes every memory of her foster children, carefully keeping thank you cards and student handbooks as mementos of their time together. Reflecting on her journey, she shared: “Most of the foster children were raised by me since they were just babies. It is hard to let them go. Watching them improve brings me great joy. Helping them become healthier and learn is truly fulfilling. This is a vocation.”
Unforgettable moments
Mrs Ip recounted both the joys and challenges of fostering, in particular, a special two-month-old baby girl.
“As soon as I started caring for her, I realised she was experiencing severe asthma at night. Despite multiple consultations with a paediatrician and several hospital visits, her condition did not improve. Eventually, after discussing with a social worker, further examinations revealed the baby had a lung disease.
“It was difficult, but the process taught me so much about perseverance and love,” Mrs Ip said.
She also shared the story of a baby boy she cared for since he was less than a month old. Now 17, the boy has moved into a hostel but still visits frequently.
“He comes back for a ‘staycation’ every week. He loves the room I reserved for him, filled with his favourite cartoons. He always says he will take care of us in the future, which makes us so happy.”
Positive impact
Fostering has not only impacted the lives of the children Mrs Ip has cared for but also her own family. Her husband and two sons have played an important role in supporting her journey.
“My sons treasure the foster children. When they go out, they walk hand in hand, just like elder brothers. I have been able to foster for so long thanks to their support.”
Her youngest son has even chosen a career in special education, a path Mrs Ip believes may have been influenced by their fostering experiences.
Fostering incentive
Foster care services in Hong Kong are provided by 11 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) overseen by the Social Welfare Department’s (SWD) Central Foster Care Unit.
To encourage more people to become foster parents, the SWD nearly doubled the incentive payment for foster families in April. This led to a 35% increase in fostering enquiries from April to November compared to the same period last year. By the end of November, over 1,000 registered foster families were providing care for children in need.
According to Central Foster Care Unit Officer-in-charge Tsung Ka-yee, anyone who is healthy, committed to providing love and time for foster children, and can offer a safe living environment may apply to become a foster parent.
“Any adult, regardless of their sex, marital or employment status, can apply. Applicants must complete a home suitability assessment and pre-service training to ensure they are prepared to provide proper care.”
Foster homes must meet specific safety requirements, such as installing window grilles or safety devices for balconies. They must also provide adequate living space, including separate beds and activity areas for the children.
Tailored support
Foster parents receive a monthly incentive payment based on the type of service they provide, with additional payments for caring for children with special needs or those under the age of six.
To support foster families, the Central Foster Care Unit and 11 Foster Care Agencies offer professional assistance. Social workers conduct regular home visits, interviews, and phone check-ins to monitor the children’s adjustment and provide guidance to foster parents. For children with special educational needs, social workers also offer tailored advice, parenting support and psychological consultation services, ensuring the well-being of both the children and their caregivers.
SALLY BOWREY: Power will be given back to Australian travellers with a raft of new rights for cancelled and delayed flights. The initiative is designed to keep airlines honest and hold the industry accountable in some of the biggest travel reforms in a decade.
JAMES TOBIN: For more, we’re joined by Transport Minister, Catherine King. Good morning Catherine. Now, as someone who does quite a lot of travel, normally on the road with weather, catches a lot of flights, I am all ears on this one. What’s it going to mean for passengers?
CATHERINE KING: Well, what it will mean for passengers is that you get what you pay for, so either you’re able to enforce your rights to be able to get a refund or actually get the flight that you’ve actually asked for. And so, we’ve put out a draft charter of rights today. They’re out for consultation until the 28th of February. And really it is about enforcing the rights that you’ve booked a flight and that you should get what you actually pay for. So, there’s a range of rights in the draft charter that will ensure that airlines, and airports as well, actually lift their game when it comes to delivering the services that so many of us use to get around the country to work, to actually visit family, get to medical appointments, all of those things. So really, that’s what we’re doing today. It forms part of the ombudsman scheme that we’ve developed as part of the Aviation White Paper work we did this year. That scheme will be legislated next year, and the Charter of Rights really does spell out what you should be entitled to. It’s backed up by the Australian Consumer Law, what you’re entitled to if your flight doesn’t go ahead. So, if your flight is delayed by three hours or more at the fault of the airline, you should expect to be able to at no cost to yourself, get your flight rebooked either with that airline or another airline. If, because of time sensitivity, you can’t take another flight, they should be giving you a refund for that. Or if you’re stuck in not in your port where you live, you should be able to get accommodation and meals and again at no cost to yourself.
SALLY BOWREY: And I think anyone, when you pay for something, you expect to actually get the product. And we do, have some pretty dismal stats in terms of, you know, flight delays, 30% of flights are delayed. So, I think the report is showing that it can take also up to almost 100 days for customers when they complain this is way too long. So, it is promising to push airlines to really reduce that. How will the new rules actually hold them to account to make sure that issues are resolved quickly?
CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing is that the Charter of Rights basically spells out very clearly what travelling public’s rights actually are. And so, we want to make sure that’s got out widely so people are aware of exactly what their rights are to enforce them in the first instance, to try and resolve the dispute with the airline, or if it’s a dispute with the airport, and then it’s backed up by an ombudsman scheme that is legislated. So, in the same way you’ve got a telecommunications ombudsman scheme, people, if they can’t get a remedy, then can go to the ombudsman and basically then have that referred up and they’ll do the work with you to try and make sure that your rights are enforced. It doesn’t preclude you still going to the Australian Human Rights Commissioner if you’ve got an issue in terms of disability access or things like that, but it’s basically underpinned by that. At the moment, if you book a flight, it’s really complicated and it’s often not until you try and get on the phone, try and get your refund that you actually then find out, well, what you booked. You know, they’re saying you can’t have a refund, you can have a flight credit. It’s not something you can use. And so this is really spelling out what the expectations are on the airline and then backed up by the ombudsman.
SALLY BOWREY: Yeah. And I think there is a great deal of room for improvement. Catherine, just before you go, can I just quickly ask obviously in a separate issue in New South Wales, we’ve got trains being delayed and cancelled. It’s causing a lot of stress for people trying to get around at Christmas and also businesses. Is this fair and how do you see this issue being resolved quickly?
CATHERINE KING: Well, I can’t imagine a circumstance where the iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks on Sydney Harbour are coming under pressure. And I think, you know, I’d say really clearly to the union, you know, understand you’ve got a dispute with the New South Wales government, but you need to sort this out because you’re doing yourself quite a bit of damage. This is not a great time of year to be doing this. People are trying to get their last-minute Christmas shopping done. Understand you’ve got a dispute. You need to resolve it quickly, because those fireworks, I mean, you know, everyone watches them. The world.
SALLY BOWREY: Unfortunately, it seems we have just lost the transport minister, Catherine King. They’re just talking about the train strike in New South Wales. Let’s move on now.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
SALLY BOWREY: Power will be given back to Australian travellers with a raft of new rights for cancelled and delayed flights. The initiative is designed to keep airlines honest and hold the industry accountable in some of the biggest travel reforms in a decade.
JAMES TOBIN: For more, we’re joined by Transport Minister, Catherine King. Good morning Catherine. Now, as someone who does quite a lot of travel, normally on the road with weather, catches a lot of flights, I am all ears on this one. What’s it going to mean for passengers?
CATHERINE KING: Well, what it will mean for passengers is that you get what you pay for, so either you’re able to enforce your rights to be able to get a refund or actually get the flight that you’ve actually asked for. And so, we’ve put out a draft charter of rights today. They’re out for consultation until the 28th of February. And really it is about enforcing the rights that you’ve booked a flight and that you should get what you actually pay for. So, there’s a range of rights in the draft charter that will ensure that airlines, and airports as well, actually lift their game when it comes to delivering the services that so many of us use to get around the country to work, to actually visit family, get to medical appointments, all of those things. So really, that’s what we’re doing today. It forms part of the ombudsman scheme that we’ve developed as part of the Aviation White Paper work we did this year. That scheme will be legislated next year, and the Charter of Rights really does spell out what you should be entitled to. It’s backed up by the Australian Consumer Law, what you’re entitled to if your flight doesn’t go ahead. So, if your flight is delayed by three hours or more at the fault of the airline, you should expect to be able to at no cost to yourself, get your flight rebooked either with that airline or another airline. If, because of time sensitivity, you can’t take another flight, they should be giving you a refund for that. Or if you’re stuck in not in your port where you live, you should be able to get accommodation and meals and again at no cost to yourself.
SALLY BOWREY: And I think anyone, when you pay for something, you expect to actually get the product. And we do, have some pretty dismal stats in terms of, you know, flight delays, 30% of flights are delayed. So, I think the report is showing that it can take also up to almost 100 days for customers when they complain this is way too long. So, it is promising to push airlines to really reduce that. How will the new rules actually hold them to account to make sure that issues are resolved quickly?
CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing is that the Charter of Rights basically spells out very clearly what travelling public’s rights actually are. And so, we want to make sure that’s got out widely so people are aware of exactly what their rights are to enforce them in the first instance, to try and resolve the dispute with the airline, or if it’s a dispute with the airport, and then it’s backed up by an ombudsman scheme that is legislated. So, in the same way you’ve got a telecommunications ombudsman scheme, people, if they can’t get a remedy, then can go to the ombudsman and basically then have that referred up and they’ll do the work with you to try and make sure that your rights are enforced. It doesn’t preclude you still going to the Australian Human Rights Commissioner if you’ve got an issue in terms of disability access or things like that, but it’s basically underpinned by that. At the moment, if you book a flight, it’s really complicated and it’s often not until you try and get on the phone, try and get your refund that you actually then find out, well, what you booked. You know, they’re saying you can’t have a refund, you can have a flight credit. It’s not something you can use. And so this is really spelling out what the expectations are on the airline and then backed up by the ombudsman.
SALLY BOWREY: Yeah. And I think there is a great deal of room for improvement. Catherine, just before you go, can I just quickly ask obviously in a separate issue in New South Wales, we’ve got trains being delayed and cancelled. It’s causing a lot of stress for people trying to get around at Christmas and also businesses. Is this fair and how do you see this issue being resolved quickly?
CATHERINE KING: Well, I can’t imagine a circumstance where the iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks on Sydney Harbour are coming under pressure. And I think, you know, I’d say really clearly to the union, you know, understand you’ve got a dispute with the New South Wales government, but you need to sort this out because you’re doing yourself quite a bit of damage. This is not a great time of year to be doing this. People are trying to get their last-minute Christmas shopping done. Understand you’ve got a dispute. You need to resolve it quickly, because those fireworks, I mean, you know, everyone watches them. The world.
SALLY BOWREY: Unfortunately, it seems we have just lost the transport minister, Catherine King. They’re just talking about the train strike in New South Wales. Let’s move on now.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
World’s largest ice-and-snow theme park opens on Winter Solstice in China’s ‘city of ice’
Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin, the capital city of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
HARBIN, Dec. 21 — Gliding down an over-500-meter-long ice slide, Zhang Jiajia felt like she was flying, and that her one-minute experience had been worth the hour-plus wait in line.
“It’s super exciting. My heart soared with me,” said Zhang, a tourist from east China’s Zhejiang Province, after trying the Super Ice Slide at the iconic Harbin Ice-Snow World, which kicked off its annual run on Saturday.
The world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, the 26th edition of the Harbin Ice-Snow World, officially opened at 10 a.m. in Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province also known as the “city of ice.”
Themed “Dream of Winter, Love among Asia,” the park was built using 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow, incorporating elements inspired by the upcoming 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, which will open next February, right after China’s Spring Festival holiday. It is also the first major international ice and snow event hosted by China since the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
With an overall planned area of 1 million square meters, up from last year’s 800,000 square meters, the park is the largest in its 26-year history.
The park features nine major zones, recreating landmark landscapes of 42 countries and 3 regions that are members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in the form of ice-and-snow structures that can be illuminated at night, including replicas of the Temple of Heaven in China, Osaka Castle in Japan and the Taj Mahal in India.
The main tower stands on the main axis of the park, featuring towering ice columns that depict the official emblem of the OCA.
“The ice sculptures are incredibly exquisite. It’s hard to imagine that they are made of ice blocks harvested from the Songhua River. Each piece of artwork showcases the superb craftsmanship of the artists,” said Zhong Xueying, another tourist from Zhejiang.
The most popular attraction in the park, the Super Ice Slide, has increased the number of its lanes to 24, with a 300-meter-long windproof warm house mounted at the queuing area, allowing visitors to take a break from freezing weather while overlooking the park’s scenery.
Saturday also marks the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. The day not only means another solar term but also marks an important festive day on Chinese lunar calendar.
Just one hour after the park opened, the queue for the Super Ice Slide stretched hundreds of meters.
In addition to ice-and-snow landscapes, the park has added fantasy shows, virtual reality projects and an immersive digital art museum to its inventory of winter wonders, offering new and exciting experiences for both global and domestic visitors.
The “Snow Disco” event, which attracted thousands of tourists last winter, will also be held at the Dream Stage in the park for this year’s edition.
“How lucky! Today is the last day of my trip to Harbin, and I didn’t expect to witness the opening of the Ice-Snow World. I’m so happy that it feels like I’m celebrating the Lunar New Year in advance,” said Dai Xiaoqin, a tourist from Wuhan City in Hubei Province.
“We wish to showcase the enthusiasm and confidence of the people in participating in ice-and-snow sports, and integrate a variety of new elements into this edition of the park,” said Guo Hongwei, Party secretary and chairman of Harbin Ice-Snow World Co., Ltd.
An adult park ticket is priced at 328 yuan (about 45.6 U.S. dollars). The park also offers discounted tickets and free admission to certain groups of visitors.
As an established ice-and-snow theme park, Harbin Ice-Snow World stands out as one of China’s iconic winter attractions. It surged in popularity on Chinese social media last winter, becoming an internet sensation as passion for winter sports and tourism continues to rise across the country.
Last year, China recorded over 385 million winter leisure visits nationwide, a year-on-year increase of 38 percent, with related revenue up 50 percent.
In Harbin alone, last snow season saw over 87 million visitors, up 300 percent year on year, and 124.8 billion yuan in tourism revenue, up 500 percent. The 25th edition of the Harbin Ice-Snow World, in particular, received over 2.7 million tourists.
To accelerate growth of winter economy in the country’s northeastern region, the Chinese government has recently unveiled initiatives including establishing dedicated ice-and-snow holidays, increasing flight routes and optimizing visa-free policies, all aimed at attracting more domestic and international visitors.
A tourist poses for photos at the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world’s largest ice-and-snow theme park, in Harbin, the capital city of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows tourists queuing at the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows the emblem of the 9th Asian Winter Games made of ice at the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Staff members greet tourists at the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Tourists enjoy an ice slide at the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows a view of the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A drone photo shows a view of the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists visit the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Police are at the scene of a serious crash in Copley in the State’s far north.
About 6.30am today (Sunday 22 December), police and emergency services were called to Harris Street after reports of a crash involving a car and pedestrian.
Attributable to Detective Inspector David De Lange:
Police have arrested and charged two men following the death of Napier man Boy Taylor.
Police have been investigating Mr Taylor’s death after he died following an incident in Napier’s CBD on Wednesday 18 December.
Two men, aged 21 and 33, have been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and are expected to appear in Hastings District Court on Monday 23 December 2024.
Police cannot rule out the possibility of further arrests and charges.
Hamilton Police are investigating after a man was critically injured in an assault early this morning.
The man was assaulted outside his home on Sefton Crescent at around 4.25am today.
He is currently in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Police would like to hear from anyone who has CCTV in the Sefton Crescent area, or anyone who may have heard or seen anything relevant to our investigation.
If you can help, please contact Police via 105 and quote file number 241222/9970.