A second suspect has been arrested following investigations into a violent incident at Gulfview Heights in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
About 3.45am on Wednesday 9 October, police were called to a home on Nelson Road after reports that a group of armed males forced entry into the property and stabbed two occupants.
A 53-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy were both taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A third person was also taken to hospital with minor injuries after being assaulted.
A 16-year-old boy from Pennington was arrested on Wednesday afternoon and charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass and cause serious harm. He appeared in the Adelaide Youth Court today.
Further investigations by Operation Meld and Northern District CIB detectives today resulted in the arrest of a 20-year-old Rosewater man. He was charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass and cause serious harm. He was refused police bail and will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court tomorrow, Friday 11 October.
Investigations are continuing. Police do not believe this to be a random incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at http://www.crimestopperssa.com.au or on 1800 333 000. You can remain anonymous.
President Lai receives congratulations from foreign guests attending 2024 National Day celebration President Lai receives congratulations from foreign guests attending 2024 National Day celebration 2024-10-10
On the morning of October 10 at the Presidential Office Building, President Lai Ching-te and the First Lady, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, received congratulations from members of the foreign diplomatic corps and foreign organizations stationed in Taiwan, as well as guests from around the world attending the 2024 National Day Celebration of the Republic of China. From 9:30 a.m. more than 140 foreign guests, including Prime Minister Feleti Teo of Tuvalu, who was accompanied by his wife, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining Cordel Hyde of Belize, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Works, Land and Surveys and Physical Planning Montgomery Daniel of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senate President Alvina Reynolds and Speaker Claudius Francis of Saint Lucia, and Minister of State Gustav Aitaro of the Republic of Palau, came forward in turn to offer congratulations to President Lai and Vice President Hsiao, who expressed their appreciation to them for attending the celebration. Secretary-General to the President Pan Men-an (潘孟安) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) were also in attendance. In addition to the delegation led by Prime Minister Teo and those from our other diplomatic allies, foreign guests who came to offer their congratulations included US Congresspersons Debbie Lesko, Andy Biggs, and Carol Miller, who was accompanied by her husband; a Japanese Diet congratulatory delegation: Japanese House of Councillors Members Santo Akiko, Yamamoto Junzo, Takinami Hirofumi, Umemura Mizuho, and Wada Masamune; Members of the Scottish Parliament Jamie Greene, Rhoda Grant, and Karen Adam; Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman and other members of the diplomatic corps; representatives of foreign organizations stationed in Taiwan: American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene, who was accompanied by his wife, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki, who was accompanied by his wife, Head of the European Economic and Trade Office Lutz Guellner, who was accompanied by his wife, Singapore Trade Office in Taipei Trade Representative Yip Wei Kiat, Australian Office in Taipei Representative Robert Niel Fergusson, Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Executive Director James Stafford Nickel, who was accompanied by his wife, French Office in Taipei Director Franck Paris, German Institute Taipei Director General Jörg Wolfram Polster, who was accompanied by his wife, and British Office Taipei Representative John Dennis.
The Government today published details of the nomination period for the upcoming Rural By-election in the Gazette.
Fifty-eight Rural Representative vacancies will be open for nominations from October 22 to November 4.
The by-election will return a Resident Representative for each of the 35 existing Villages, an Indigenous Inhabitant Representative for each of the 22 Indigenous Villages, and a Kaifong Representative for one Market Town on Cheung Chau.
Nomination forms are available from the Home Affairs Department, New Territories District Offices and on the Rural Representative Election website.
Completed nomination forms must be submitted in person to the Returning Officer of the relevant village by November 4.
A gazette notice on valid nominations will be published within 14 days following the nomination period. Each validly nominated candidate will be informed separately.
If there is more than one validly nominated candidate for the same village or market town, a poll will be held for that location on December 1.
Attributable to Senior Sergeant Richard Miller, Eastern Bay of Plenty Police:
Police have today located the body of a person who died following a single vehicle crash into Waioeka River, Ōpōtiki on Friday.
Emergency Services responded to the scene around 10:20am on 4 October after we were alerted that a vehicle had gone down a bank into the river, around 2.5km south of the Tauranga Bridge, State Highway 2.
Search and rescue teams, including a boat, helicopter and Coastguard jet skis conducted sweeps of the river and riverbank on Friday. Unfortunately, the person and vehicle were unable to be located.
Since that time Police and rescue teams have been on standby ready to respond once the river conditions were right to safely deploy a team to the area.
Today, the river conditions had cleared sufficiently and Police along with search and rescue teams, local jet boat operators, and the Police National Dive Squad responded, searching the river. The vehicle was located at about 12:05pm, around 400 metres from the original crash site.
The victim was located deceased inside the vehicle and has since been successfully recovered.
While located deceased, police are pleased to have been able to reunite whānau with their loved one.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
Based on stakeholder interviews, it considers the trends, value chains, and opportunities for each of the high potential sectors and explores how Georgia can leverage its location, favorable business environment, and free-trade agreements. Emphasizing the need for greater innovation and strong government support, it recommends taking a “Team Georgia” approach that centers on building an ecosystem to improve export promotion, increase target market access, and support exporters.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kay Cook, Professor and Research Director, School of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, Swinburne University of Technology
Australia’s child support system can not only increase women’s poverty, but can actually facilitate financial abuse, according to our recent research.
Child support is an important system that aims to share the financial burden of raising children between separated parents.
But there are some serious problems with the way it operates, putting already vulnerable women further at risk.
Drawing on the experiences of 675 single mothers, we sought to examine women’s experience with the child support system from start to finish.
Our research suggests four key changes could improve both women’s safety and financial wellbeing.
How does child support work?
Where deemed necessary, child support arrangements typically require one separated parent to make payments to the other, on a regular basis.
How much is paid and how it is collected can vary in different circumstances.
The amount agreed to be paid in child support can take in a range of factors, such as the cost of childcare. AKIRA_PHOTO/Shutterstock
In some families, a child support recipient’s income will be too high to receive the family tax benefit – a key payment that assists with the costs of raising children.
In this instance, a family can decide for itself how much will be paid, to whom, and how.
This is called self management, but it is very difficult to navigate when abuse is present in a relationship.
For families that do collect the family tax benefit, separated parents can use Services Australia to calculate the amount that will be paid.
Services Australia will consider factors including what it costs to care for and educate a child, as well as the difference in income between the two parents.
Once the amount has been calculated, separated parents can transfer payments privately between themselves, an approach called “private collect”.
Alternatively, this group can also use a service called “agency collect” to manage the transfer. Here, Services Australia collects the funds from the paying parent, then gives it to the agreed recipient.
For parents using agency collect, payments can also be “garnisheed” – deducted from a paying parent’s salary.
The system is failing the most vulnerable
Government reports reveal that across the agency collect system, a staggering $1.7 billion is owed to a third of single-parent households, representing 475,000 children.
The vast majority of this money is owed to women, two-thirds of whom have children in their care 86% or more of the time.
Across the child support system, 28% of paying parents fail to submit tax returns on time, reducing the accuracy of assessments.
Centrelink’s Family Tax Benefit A (the first part of a two-part payment) is linked to child support, with every dollar of child support above a certain threshold reducing this payment by 50 cents.
Concerningly, while reports indicate that 60% of single mothers receiving income support have experienced violence prior to separation, less than 15% receive exemptions from having to seek child support on the basis of this violence.
By not applying for either child support or an exemption, single mothers could lose a significant portion of their Family Tax Benefit A payments.
These sobering statistics are only part of the picture. Others remain invisible.
There are another 500,000 or so children in the private collect system. Many of their situations are a mystery. Services Australia doesn’t know how much those women and children are owed, as they don’t trace this amount and assume that payments are fully compliant.
What we uncovered
Our mixed methods survey of 675 single mothers asked women about their experiences in the child support system from start to finish.
We asked women how they made various decisions about child support, such as when to apply for it and when to change how it is collected and calculated.
Many women avoid chasing what’s owed to them for fear of retaliation from an ex-partner. rigsbyphoto/Shutterstock
78% of women reported experiencing some form of violence at the time of separation.
But the research also showed how the nature of this abuse can change post-separation, when financial abuse becomes the primary mechanism.
Just over half the women reported currently experiencing either emotional or psychological abuse, and 60% financial abuse.
Women shared they were often fearful of retaliation from their ex-partner if they applied or changed child support payment arrangements.
I was advised not to apply at the time because of the family violence and he had made threats to kill me so [it] was recommended I didn’t give him any reason to act on this so I went without child support for some period of time.
Others had to ask for an exemption to apply.
A Centrelink social worker changed my son’s father to unknown so I wouldn’t be murdered.
The results show how the current system’s logic can force women to risk their financial welfare to ensure their own safety.
I withdrew my application to avoid further conflict by telling CSA [Child Support Agency] there was a private agreement but there isn’t and he doesn’t pay anything.
Often, women are paying back debts to Centrelink due to retrospective changes in their ex-partner’s income or level of care, at the same time they themselves are owed thousands of dollars in child support arrears.
I’ve at times been living on as little at $72 a week of FTB [Family Tax Benefit] as my sole income to feed, house, clothe and educate myself and two children. I don’t understand how that is possible.
How could we fix it?
Based on our findings, our report makes four recommendations that could bring about meaningful improvements, give women choices to suit their family, and create a system that is safe.
De-link family payments from child support.
Co-design family violence processes in the child support system.
Move all payment collections back to being handled by the tax office.
Make all payment debts owed to and enforced by the Commonwealth.
Any meaningful solution to this problem will need to include the voices of victim survivors, advocates, researchers and social support organisations to co-design an effective system.
The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Terese Edwards, chief executive of Single Mother Families Australia (SMFA), in the preparation of the report.
Terese and SMFA provided in-kind support in the form of survey design feedback and recruitment assistance. Terese also contributed to writing the report.
Kay Cook receives funding from the Australian Research Council in the form of a Discovery Project grant. She is Secretary of The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) and a Member of the federal Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee. She is the PhD supervisor of Terese Edwards, CEO of Single Mother Families Australia.
Adrienne Byrt is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow on a Discovery Project funded by the Australian Research Council.
Ashlea Coen’s research assistant position for this research was funded by Swinburne University of Technology.
Marg Rogers received funding from the Commonwealth-funded Manna Institute for her Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2022-24.
The brief highlights the substantial presence of Indigenous Peoples in Asia and the Pacific and the importance of traditional knowledge and genetic resources for climate action, food security, and medicine, as well as language diversity and cultural heritage. It explains the shortfalls of existing FTAs and why they should be based on informed consent, equitable benefit sharing, and full source disclosure in patents. It details how some FTAs have included traditional knowledge and genetic resources and shows how trade deals can help Indigenous Peoples benefit from greater regional cooperation.
The Government today published a gazette notice to declare Lo Pan Temple in Kennedy Town and the Residence of Tang Pak Kau in Kam Tin, Yuen Long, as monuments under the Antiquities & Monuments Ordinance.
Lo Pan Temple is a well-recognised historic temple dedicated to Lo Pan, the patron of builders and contractors. It was first built in 1884 and rebuilt at the same site in 1928.
The temple is embellished with intricate murals, plaster mouldings, wood carvings and pottery decorations, including decorations on its ridges that were produced by Junyu, a renowned pottery sculpture shop in Shiwan.
The distinctive stepped gable walls of the temple are rare in Hong Kong. Since its establishment, the local construction sector has followed the tradition of paying homage to Lo Pan at the temple on his birthday.
The Residence of Tang Pak Kau was probably built in the early 20th century. The late businessman Tang Pak Kau was a distinguished member of the Tang clan in Kam Tin. He made remarkable contributions to the development of Kam Tin, Yuen Long and the New Territories, in particular in the areas of education and medical services.
These contributions included setting up a private school inside his residence to provide education for children of the Tang clan. The residence is a testament to the development of the local area and to Tang Pak Kau’s achievements.
The residence is a rectangular-shaped single-storey grey brick building with a three-storey watchtower. The building’s structure and decorations demonstrate a blend of Chinese and Western styles. Most of the building’s original fabric, finishes and decorations are preserved.
As adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) grows across the Australian Public Service (APS), it’s crucial to ensure staff are equipped with the necessary skills to safely engage with AI capabilities. To support this goal, the DTA has released guidance on staff training and an AI in government fundamentals training module.
Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
7 mins ago
EIT Te Ūranga Waka Senior Lecturer Hiria Tumoana (Ngāi Tūhoe) has been awarded the Te Tohu Reo Māori Award.
EIT Te Ūranga Waka Senior Lecturer Hiria Tumoana (Ngāi Tūhoe) has become the first recipient of the prestigious Te Tohu Reo Māori Award.
Presented by Ako Aotearoa, the Te Whatu Kairangi Awards celebrate outstanding educators who make a profound impact on their learners, their whānau, and the wider community.
Hiria, who will receive the award at Parliament next month, is overwhelmed by the honour.
“It’s amazing. They have a lot of people to work through. So, for someone like me, I must be doing something really good. I think I’m just really privileged and lucky to get this,” the 70-year-old said.
Hiria’s journey with te reo Māori began in Ruatoki, where she was raised in a community where Māori language and culture were central to everyday life.
Te reo Māori was her first language, and it has remained the foundation of her life’s work.
“For me, English doesn’t tell me who I am. Only te reo Māori does that,” Hiria reflects. “I will never stop teaching te reo Māori and hope to continue until my time is up.”
Hiria began teaching Te Reo Māori at Victoria University in 1977.
Since then, she has gone on to gain her BA Honours, train and examine translators for Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission), and co-design and teach te reo Māori on Radio Kahungunu and across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Her passion for revitalising the language has driven her more than 40-year career at EIT, first starting in Wairoa, and now at the Hawke’s Bay campus in Taradale.
Hiria is renowned for her engaging teaching style, which blends humour, tradition, and modern techniques to create an inclusive environment for learners of all ages.
She believes that helping students discover their full potential is her greatest achievement.
“I want them all to be successful and I want them to know their full potential. They don’t always know what they know but when they understand, they feel good about who they are and what they can do.”
Pareputiputi Nuku, Pouarataki, Te Uranga Waka, says: “Hiria is an inspiration to all staff of Te Ūranga Waka, the majority of whom she has taught over the years and now they themselves are teachers”.
“Congratulations Hiria as the inaugural winner of this very significant award. E poho kereru ana mātau i a koe!”
Ako Aotearoa Deputy Director Māori, Dr Joe Te Rito says the proverb, ‘Te puna o te kī, te whītiki o te kī’ describes Hiria most aptly.
“She is an authority on the Māori language, as a native speaker and linguist, and she has a special gift for teaching it. Hiria is an icon for her life-time commitment to the revitalisation and teaching of the language dating back to the 1972 te reo Māori Petition.”
Hiria Tumoana will join the 10 other Te Whatu Kairangi awardees at Parliament on November 4 at the official awards ceremony hosted by the Hon Penny Simmonds, Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills.
Despite the phenomenal growth of ecommerce during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the premium beauty sector in Southeast Asia is experiencing notable growth within physical retail environments, through collaboration with omnichannel brand-builders. Companies can adapt to this trend and position beauty as a significant driver of revenue in their retail strategy, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Jaya Dandey, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The premium beauty sector in Asia’s physical retail is thriving, driven by a combination of strong consumer demand, innovative retail strategies, and an increasing emphasis on personalized shopping experiences. The high single-digit growth rates of prestige beauty categories is notable even in the context of broader retail performance, where beauty products are often seen as high-margin categories that outperform other areas such as food sales.”
Tim Hill, Key Account Director, SE Asia, GlobalData, notes: “Consumers are becoming more discerning, not only regarding product quality, but also in terms of the shopping experience. They like to try multiple products in person before making an informed choice, especially in the premium domain where prices can run high. Though companies are eager to leverage these consumer preferences and enter the market, they sometimes face infrastructural challenges. A key strategy to overcome this is to partner with omnichannel players such as beauty ecommerce giants, which are increasingly moving into the physical retail space. Individual consultation stalls in these stores promote customer engagement with a wide variety of brands.
“The ability to integrate online and offline experiences will be vital for survival in this rapidly changing landscape. Maintaining a robust omnichannel presence allows retailers to connect with consumers across various platforms, including online and physical stores. This strategy not only caters to different shopping preferences but also ensures that brands remain accessible to a wider audience. A hybrid approach allows these companies to leverage their online success while maintaining a physical presence, creating a seamless shopping experience for consumers.
“Southeast Asia is home to a burgeoning upper middle class, who are eager to splurge on luxury beauty. They are more aware of international brands, and given their higher disposable incomes, they are willing to spend on premium beauty products. GlobalData 2024 Q2 Consumer Survey reflects this, wherein about 25% of respondents deemed low price as good value for money while purchasing beauty and grooming products, and a much higher 34% responded that high-quality ingredients represent more value for money^.”
Luxasia, Southeast Asia’s leading network in beauty and luxury, has enabled market entry and penetration for several brands. It recently captured the Vietnamese market by launching escentials, an omni-retail concept for luxury fragrances, in one of the country’s prestigious malls. Similarly, premium skincare brand SK-II launched a unique concept store at the Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Indian beauty ecommerce giant Nykaa is actively expanding its physical retail spaces across the nation.
Dandey concludes: “By returning to the essentials of the beauty industry—where sensorial experiences are paramount—brands can cultivate customer loyalty in a competitive market. As the premium beauty sector evolves, embracing omnichannel strategies and personalizing experiences will not only ensure success but also foster enduring relationships with discerning consumers, shaping a vibrant future for beauty retail.”
^GlobalData 2024 Q2 Consumer Survey – Asia and Australasia, published in July 2024, with 6,506 respondents
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 10) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Province of Ferrara of the Emilia-Romagna Region in Italy, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 40 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 10 000 poultry eggs from Italy in the first six months of this year.
“The CFS has contacted the Italian authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.
I refer to the June 2023 report prepared by the late Peta Murphy – a report I signed concerning online gambling restrictions. In December 2023, the Minister said she would ensure their policy would be resolved “expeditiously” and would be announced “without delay.” It is October 2024 and the Government has not arrived with a policy. Which parts of the Murphy report does the Minister disagree?
Answer–Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland:
I thank the Member for her question – I acknowledge her interest in this matter. As I am sure all Members in this place are concerned about the harms that occur when it comes to wagering in certain contexts. Of course, we understand, given the high level of community concern here, and the fact that Australians lose some $25 billion every year in response to gambling, that this is an area in which improvements need to be made. That is why I commend the Member for Hughes’ work on the Committee and all Members in this place that worked on that report.
There are three things I would say to the Member. The first is that this is a report that set out some 30 recommendations, many of which go to the interaction between Commonwealth and State Governments and their regulatory arrangements. We are working carefully through those with the States and I’m doing that in conjunction with a number of other Ministers including the Minister for Social Services. It is a complex area in that aspect. It is complex because there are certain regulatory arrangements the States obviously have a keen interest in – that it is one that where of course they want to ensure that we have the most robust response when it comes to dealing with wagering harms.
The second point is of course we know that the high level of gambling harms not only in terms of economic but social consequence [inaudible] that we need changes that go to that, but also go to cultural change. The first is breaking the nexus between sport and wagering. Second, it is concentrating on the exposure of children to gambling harms and thirdly that it is the saturation of ads particularly as they are targeted towards young men aged around 18 to 35.
The first goes to reduction in gambling harms and secondly the way in which they can actually be implemented. The point that I’m making, and I know she asked this question from a good place, is that we need to understand but we also need to ensure that the impacts in responding to this report actually achieve their desired outcomes and to give some example of that, the need to be forward-looking and comprehensive in this response that is really not only whole of Government, but is whole of nation as well. We are doing this through looking at areas where exposure might not be prevalent yet but could be in future and we are also looking at areas in which we need to ensure there is a strong legislative response from the outset. So these are complex areas, we are determined to make a difference and the status in relation to advertising is unacceptable.
Question – Federal Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour
My question is to the Minister for Communications. What has been the community’s response to the Government’s commitment to keep the National Broadband Network in public ownership? What is the Government doing to provide affordable accessible high-speed broadband for Australians and what are the alternative positions that have been proposed?
Answer – Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland:
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Member for her question. I know she is pleased that more than 10,000 homes and businesses in Alice Springs can now order a full fibre upgrade on the NBN thanks to strong investment under the Albanese Government.
Mr Speaker, Labor founded the National Broadband Network for fast, reliable, affordable broadband to all Australians, irrespective of where they live. Only by keeping the NBN in public ownership can that vision continue to be delivered. Mr Speaker, it is not just the Government that supports this policy. The regions support it. Mayor Kim Anderson from Flinders Ranges Council said, ‘I support the Australian government in keeping the NBN in public ownership. I think it is more than fair to say that Privatisation of essential services does no favour to Australia”. Carol Bennet said “Retaining public ownership of this critical asset will provide opportunity for improvement in the communications services Australians need in the future”. The workers support it. Shane Murphy, the CW National President, said ‘Workers breathe a sigh of relief knowing their jobs won’t be on the chopping block because of privatisation’. The industry supports it. Michael Venta from Optus, the CEO says, ‘Optus welcomes the legislation to keep the NBN in public hands. Keeping this critical asset under government ownership is likely the best approach for consumers and provide a welcome level of certainty to the sector’.
Mr Speaker, the Albanese Government’s position on the NBN is crystal clear – it is not for sale. In 2021 we made a commitment to retain the NBN in public ownership, keep broadband affordable and keep building a world class network. In 2022, we formalised this in a new statement about the NBN. Yesterday, we introduced legislation to enshrine this position in law. The Opposition has had three years to give their position on the NBN and to answer a simple question – will you preserve the NBN in public ownership or will you flog it off? Yesterday they finally revealed their hand, when a Liberal MP confirmed that privatisation was always part of their plan. When asked if the NBN should be privatised the answer was, “it has always been in the contemplation that it would be privatised.” Australians have a clear choice Mr Speaker, to keep the NBN in public ownership or under those opposite, have it flogged off.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese premier says China ready to share more development opportunities with Australia
VIENTIANE, Oct. 10 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Thursday that China is ready to share more development opportunities with Australia.
The nature of China-Australia ties is mutually beneficial and win-win, Li noted in his meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation.
China, he said, is also willing to continue to strengthen exchanges on macroeconomic policies, and expand cooperation in trade and investment, green development, scientific and technological innovation and other fields, so as to add more impetus to the common development of the two countries.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
VIENTIANE, Oct. 10 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Thursday that China-Australia ties have recently been steadily advancing, with practical cooperation in various fields gradually progressing, and local as well as people-to-people exchanges becoming more active.
Li made the remarks during his meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation held in Vientiane.
The progress shows that the future China-Australia relations are promising, as long as the two sides continue to work toward a common goal, Li added.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China to work with Australia to safeguard peace, stability in Asia-Pacific region: Premier Li
VIENTIANE, Oct. 10 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Thursday that China is willing to work with Australia to safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region with concrete actions.
Li made the remarks during his meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation held in Vientiane.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
VIENTIANE, Oct. 10 — China will continue to build a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized first-class business environment, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Thursday.
Li made the remarks during his meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation held in Vientiane.
China welcomes more Australian enterprises to invest in China, and hopes that Australia will provide a fair, safe, non-discriminatory and predictable business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Australia, Li said.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs detects smuggling case of suspected scheduled agarwood (with photo) Hong Kong Customs detects smuggling case of suspected scheduled agarwood (with photo) *************************************************************************************
Hong Kong Customs, on September 25, detected a smuggling case of suspected scheduled agarwood at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal and seized about 1 tonne of suspected scheduled agarwood with an estimated market value of about $18 million. Through risk assessment, Customs on that day selected for inspection a 20-foot container arriving in Hong Kong from Nansha, Guangdong. Upon examination, Customs officers found the batch of suspected scheduled agarwood therein. In the operation, Customs arrested a 35-year-old woman suspected to be connected with the case. Hong Kong Customs will continue to closely co-operate with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to combat cross-boundary smuggling of endangered species. Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years. Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024Issued at HKT 15:10
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Banking (Capital) (Amendment) Rules 2023 (Commencement) Notice 2024 (Commencement Notice) was gazetted today (October 10) to appoint January 1, 2025, as the commencement date for Parts 3 and 5 of the Banking (Capital) (Amendment) Rules 2023 (BCAR).
The BCAR was approved by negative vetting of the Legislative Council in February 2024. Its main purpose is to incorporate the Basel III final reform package promulgated by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) into local legislation. Part 3 of the BCAR provides for amendments in relation to credit risk, the output floor, operational risk and sovereign concentration risk. Part 5 of the BCAR deals with amendments in relation to market risk and credit valuation adjustment (CVA) risk.
A Government spokesperson said, “The full implementation of Basel III standards will ensure the resilience of our banking system to financial shocks, and reinforce Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.”
A Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) spokesperson said, “The HKMA has given due consideration to the views of the banking industry in determining the local implementation timeline for the Basel III final reform package. Its full adoption will ensure that the regulatory framework in Hong Kong remains aligned with international standards agreed by the BCBS.”
The Commencement Notice will be tabled before the Legislative Council next Wednesday (October 16) for negative vetting.
The brakes have been put on contractor and consultant spending and growth in the public service workforce, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
“Workforce data released today shows spending on contractors and consultants fell by $274 million, or 13 per cent, across the public sector in the year to June 30.
“Over the course of the year, the number of public servants grew slightly to 63,537 but the details reveal a year of two halves – ballooning growth under the last government offset by a 3.3 per cent reduction under this government.
“The annual increase of 0.7 per cent, or 421 employees, compares to average increases of almost 5 per cent over the previous five years.
“This shows the steps the Government is taking to restore discipline to public expenditure and drive more value for money are working. The growth in public service numbers in the first half of 2023/24 was largely due to the decisions, work programmes and priorities of the previous government.
“The latest data also reflects a shift of back-office resources to the frontline.
“There has been a 10.8 per cent decline in the number of clerical and administrative staff and an 8.3 per cent drop in policy advisors.
“This has been offset by increases in service delivery roles, including a 16.9 percent increase in contact centre workers who are often the first point of contact for members of the public. There has been a 5.7 per cent increase in the number of inspectors and regulatory officers and a 1.5 per cent increase in the number of social, health and education workers.”
Nicola Willis says she expects the downward trend to continue.
“The 3.3 percent decrease in the overall size of the public service between December and June aligns with the Government’s commitment to a public service focused on performance and the delivery of essential services for New Zealanders.
“We’ve had to make some tough decisions. I feel for anyone who has lost their job, but no government can live beyond its means indefinitely, and we have to restore discipline to public spending by spending taxpayers’ money as carefully as they do.”
The Crown accounts for the 2023/24 year underscore the need for the Government’s ongoing efforts to restore discipline to public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
The Financial Statements of the Government for the year ended 30 June 2024 were released today.
They show net core Crown net debt at the end of the financial year was $175 billion, or 42.5 per cent of GDP. That was less than the 43.1 per cent forecast in the Budget, but still represents an increase of $118 billion in only five years.
Core Crown spending in 2023/24 was $139 billion, we are now spending $58 billion more than when the last National-led government left office.
The operating balance before gains and losses (OBEGAL) was a deficit of $12.9 billion – the fifth deficit in a row. The OBEGAL deficit was $1.8 billion more than forecast in the Budget, due to worse-than-expected results from Crown entities and state-owned enterprises.
“Government spending has skyrocketed over the last six years and so has government debt,” Nicola Willis says.
“The coalition Government is committed to driving more value from government spending, getting the books back in surplus and starting to bring down net debt as a proportion of gross domestic product.
“The accounts also show the corrosive impact of low growth and low productivity on the government’s financial performance.
“The coalition Government is determined to drive economic growth which is why it is focusing on lifting education and skills development, boosting trade and investment, investing in science and innovation, improving regulation and competition, and building an enduring infrastructure pipeline.”
Nicola Willis says it is also important to note that, while the Government didn’t set the Budget for 2023/24, it made decisions in the mini-Budget and in Budget 2024 that improved OBEGAL by $1.1 billion in the just-completed year.
“Future Budgets will continue to demonstrate our respect for taxpayers and good stewardship of public money.”
The next major fiscal announcement is the Half Year Update and Budget Policy Statement which will be released on Tuesday 17 December.
Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Albanese Labor Government has agreed a timetable with China for the full resumption of Australian live rock lobster exports by the end of the year.
This will save the jobs of 3,000 Australians employed in the industry, 2,000 of which are in Western Australia.
The agreement to a timetable for the re-entry of live rock lobster was made during a meeting between Prime Minister Albanese and China’s Premier Li Qiang today on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos.
This outcome is another step towards stabilising the bilateral relationship between China and Australia. This is positive news for the lobster industry and for Chinese consumers, who will have access to high-quality Australian rock lobsters in time for Lunar New Year.
Since 2020, Australian rock lobsters have been effectively prevented from entering China’s market, which was worth over $700 million in 2019.
We acknowledge the Australian rock lobster industry for their resilience during a challenging period.
The Albanese Government has seen progress on the removal of trade impediments for wine, barley, coal, cotton, timber logs, copper ores and concentrates; and some meat establishments – almost $20 billion worth of Australian exports.
With our patient, calibrated, and deliberate approach, we are restoring Australian trade with our largest export market.
The Albanese Government will continue with its calm and consistent approach to the China relationship – where we cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in the national interest.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
“Resolution of trade impediments is at the top of our Government’s agenda. The reinstatement in normalised trade for all commodities is front and centre of the Government’s engagement strategy with China.
“It is in the interests of both our countries to continue this path of stabilising our relationship. A resumption in trade for all Australian commodities is an important part of this process.
“Having dialogue helps us navigate our differences and build upon areas where we can cooperate – without compromising on any Australian interests.”
Quotes attributable to Foreign Minister Penny Wong:
“The Albanese Government’s approach to China has been patient, calibrated and deliberate – and our approach has paid dividends for Australians and for the national interest.
“We continue to urge Australian businesses to diversify to grow value for their companies and for their country.
Quotes attributable to Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell:
“This is a great outcome for the Australian lobster industry and for Chinese consumers.
“The Albanese Government is delivering for Australian farmers, miners, businesses and workers.
“I encourage businesses to continue to take advantage of new trade diversification opportunities created by this Government.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins:
“This agreement on a timetable with China for the full resumption of trade by the end of the year is a significant step forward for Australia’s rock lobster industry and will deliver job security for fishing communities in regional areas.
“The resumption of full Australian rock lobster exports to China is expected to have a trade potential of over $700 million.”
ZURICH, 10 October 2024 – 21Shares AG (“21Shares”), one of the world’s largest issuers of crypto exchange traded products (ETPs), today announced the launch of the 21Shares Future of Crypto Index ETP (FUTR) on Euronext Paris and Euronext Amsterdam. FUTR represents the latest addition to its growing European product lineup, representing the firm’s 44th crypto ETP, its 10th crypto basket ETP, and its first-ever crypto megatheme ETP.
Exchange
Product Name
Ticker
ISIN
Fee
Euronext Paris
21Shares Future of Crypto Index ETP
FUTR FP
CH1382892102
1.49%
Euronext Amsterdam
21Shares Future of Crypto Index ETP
FUTR NA
CH1382892102
1.49%
“Global excitement, demand and momentum for crypto is undeniable. And 21Shares has been at the forefront of increasing global access to the crypto asset class since inception in 2018 – offering investors a six-year track record of developing, launching and managing crypto ETPs,” said Hany Rashwan, Co-Founder and CEO of 21Shares. “As 21Shares’ first-ever crypto megatheme ETP, FUTR represents the next evolution of the firm’s European product lineup and a potential opportunity for investors looking for the next step after allocating to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).”
Rashwan continued: “With the launch of FUTR, 21Shares is thrilled to leverage the firm’s world-class product development and research capabilities to bring investors access to a future-oriented, broad-based index offering easy exposure to the most promising sectors of the crypto ecosystem.”
FUTR provides investors with comprehensive exposure to the top sectors and themes anticipated to drive the future growth of the crypto market. By tracking a broad-based index that covers over 80% of the market, the ETP offers exposure to six key megathemes expected to drive long-term growth in the crypto market:
Payment Platforms: Payment platforms are blockchains or protocols specialized in transferring value.
Smart Contract Platforms: A smart contract platform is a base blockchain with built-in general-purpose programmability that allows developers to write smart contracts and launch decentralized applications (dApps).
Blockchain Accelerators: A blockchain accelerator is a separate blockchain that helps augment the network capacity of a settlement blockchain by orders of magnitude while inheriting the security guarantees of the latter.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi): Decentralized finance is internet-native financial infrastructure that does not rely on a centralized institution such as a bank, broker, or similar intermediaries.
AI and Data Solutions: This refers to platforms that leverage artificial intelligence and data technologies to enhance various aspects of crypto ecosystems.
Social and Gaming: This refers to an overlaying sector between blockchain, crypto, and the gaming industries, along with social elements that enhance player interactions and community building.
FUTR takes a market-capitalization weighted approach, with leading assets from each of these six megathemes. In addition, FUTR offers dynamic allocation, a strategy that evolves with the market to provide alignment with emerging trends and opportunities. Further, FUTR excludes meme tokens, privacy tokens and assets below a $2M liquidity threshold, focusing on quality investments. FUTR is 100% physically backed by the underlying assets stored securely in cold storage by an institutional-grade custodian, offering enhanced protection.
21Shares worked with MarketVector Indexes as the index provider for FUTR. MarketVector Indexes brings deep market knowledge in crypto indices to the digital assets landscape.
“The 21Shares Future of Crypto Index provides a dynamic framework for tracking key sectors driving the next phase of crypto growth. We’re excited to partner with 21Shares on this forward-thinking, innovative product”, said Steven Schoenfeld, CEO of MarketVector Indexes.
The launch of FUTR also represents an expansion of 21Shares’ collaboration with Flow Traders, who will act as the market maker for the product.
“This is another step forward in supporting the broader adoption of digital assets, and we are thrilled to continue to expand our role in being the leading liquidity provider in the crypto ETP space as well as our partnership with 21Shares,” said Michael Lie, Global Head of Digital Assets at Flow Traders. “Innovative products like FUTR with diversified exposure to key themes in crypto, much like sector ETFs in TradFi, are going to be essential in expanding the full reach of digital assets and its value to financial markets. In our role, we will continue supporting innovative products and driving the convergence of TradFi and crypto.”
For more details about the 21Shares Future of Crypto Index ETP, including the factsheet, please click here.
21.co is the world’s leader in providing access to crypto through simple and easy to use products. 21.co is the parent company of 21Shares, one of the world’s largest issuers of crypto exchange traded products (ETPs) – which is powered by Onyx, a proprietary technology platform used to issue and operate cryptocurrency ETPs for 21Shares and third parties. The company was founded in 2018 by Hany Rashwan and Ophelia Snyder. 21Shares is registered in Zurich, Switzerland with offices in Zurich, London and New York. For more information, please visit 21Shares.
MarketVector IndexesTM (“MarketVector”) is a regulated Benchmark Administrator in Europe, incorporated in Germany and registered with the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). MarketVector maintains indexes under the MarketVectorTM, MVIS®, and BlueStar® names. With a mission to accelerate index innovation globally, MarketVector is best known for its broad suite of Thematic indexes, a long-running expertise in Hard Asset-linked Equity indexes, and its pioneering Digital Asset index family. MarketVector is proud to be in partnership with more than 25 Exchange Traded Product (ETP) issuers and index fund managers in markets throughout the world, with more than USD 50 billion in assets under management.
About Flow Traders
Flow Traders is a leading multi-asset market maker founded more than twenty years ago, the firm expanded into digital assets trading in 2017, focusing on centralized exchanges before expanding its operations to include over-the-counter trading, options trading and decentralized finance. Additionally, Flow Traders strategically invests in builders and teams driving the convergence of centralized and decentralized finance.
DISCLAIMER
This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of 21Shares AG in any jurisdiction. Neither this document nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever or for any other purpose in any jurisdiction. Nothing in this document should be considered investment advice.
This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful.
This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The securities of 21Shares AG to which these materials relate have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States. Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States has approved or disapproved of an investment in the securities or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of the contents of this presentation. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.
Within the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”); or (iii) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company or (iv) any other persons to whom this document can be lawfully distributed in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
Exclusively for potential investors in any EEA Member State that has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) is made available on the Issuer’s website under http://www.21Shares.com.
The approval of the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) should not be understood as an endorsement by the SFSA of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. Eligible potential investors should read the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) and the relevant Final Terms before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks associated with the decision to invest in the securities. You are about to purchase a product that is not simple and may be difficult to understand.
This document constitutes advertisement within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and the Swiss Financial Services Act (the “FinSA”) and not a prospectus. The 2023 Base Prospectus of 21Shares AG has been deposited pursuant to article 54(2) FinSA with SIX Exchange Regulation AG in its function as Swiss prospectus review body within the meaning of article 52 FinSA. The 2023 Base Prospectus and the key information document for any products may be obtained at 21Shares AG’s website (https://21shares.com/ir/prospectus or https://21shares.com/ir/kids).
Headline: Maritime crime and piracy incidents lowest since 1994, but threats to crews remain
IMB reported 79 incidents for the period of January-September 2024, down from 99 incidents in the same period last year. This marks a significant overall reduction and the lowest reported numbers since 1994.
From January to September, 62 vessels were boarded, six were hijacked while nine faced attempted attacks and two were fired upon. In 86% of incidents, perpetrators successfully gained access to the vessel with most incidents occurring at night.
Violence towards crew members remains concerning, with 111 crew taken hostage, 11 kidnapped and three threatened. Perpetrators were armed with weapons, guns, and knives in 45 of the reported incidents.
IMB Director Michael Howlett said:
“With reported incidents at their lowest since 1994, the decline in reported piracy and armed robbery incidents is encouraging. This is an important time to reinforce our message not to be complacent, and for vessel owners and operators to adhere to IMB guidelines. We commend governments and law enforcement for their excellent work, which has made this improvement possible.”
Escalating violence in the Indonesian Archipelago
The Indonesian Archipelago remains an area of concern with a steady rise in the number of reported incidents. From January to September 2024, 17 incidents were reported compared to 12 in 2023 and nine in 2022. Weapons were reported in 11 incidents, 27 crew were taken hostage and one crew was threatened. Two hijackings were reported in February and September in nearly the same location South of Tanjung Malatayur, Central Kalimantan where oil cargoes were stolen from barges under tow. IMB calls upon local authorities to increase their on-water presence to act as a deterrent to these crimes.
Fewer incidents in Gulf of Guinea, Somalia and Singapore Straits
In the first nine months of 2024, 12 incidents were reported in the Gulf of Guinea region, the lowest number of reports since 1996. While the drop in the number of reported incidents is welcome, there remains concern over the safety of crew, with 11 crew kidnapped and 21 taken hostage.
Eight incidents have been reported in the waters off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, with three hijacked vessels and two fired upon. IMB has not received reports of any maritime piracy incidents from vessels transiting these waters between July and September, possibly due to the prevalence of monsoons.
Incidents in the Singapore Straits have dropped to 23, compared to 33 over the same period last year. Perpetrators were successful in boarding the vessels in 96% of the cases. Considering the navigational challenges of these waters, IMB warns that even low-level opportunistic incidents on board such large vessels could potentially increase the risk to navigation.
IMB urges vessels to continue adhering to the latest Best Management Practices to ensure safety of crew, vessel and cargo.
IMB commends local authorities for investigating reported incidents and renews calls for accurate and timely reporting of maritime incidents.
The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre
Founded in 1991, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre serves as a crucial, 24-hour point of contact to report crimes of piracy and lend support to ships under threat. Quick reactions and a focus on coordinating with response agencies, sending out warning broadcasts and email alerts to ships have all helped bolster security on the high seas. The data gathered by the Centre also provides key insights on the nature and state of modern piracy.
IMB encourages all shipmasters and owners to report all actual, attempted and suspected global piracy and armed robbery incidents to the Piracy Reporting Centre as a vital first step to ensuring adequate resources are allocated by authorities to tackle maritime piracy.
Download a copy of the January to September 2024 Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships report here.
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
Issued by: on
SUBIC BAY, Philippines (October 8, 2024) Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC), center, arrives at a U.S. hosted reception aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) during Sama Sama 2024, Oct. 8, 2024. Sama Sama is a bilateral exercise hosted by the Philippines and the United States, with participants from Australia, Canada, France and Japan, designed to promote regional security, cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexandria Esteban)
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
Issued by: on
SUBIC BAY, Philippines (October 8, 2024) Philippine Navy Capt. Zosimo M Bolaños Jr., officer in charge of the exercise for Naval Forces Northern Luzon, provides remarks at a U.S. hosted reception aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) during Sama Sama 2024, Oct. 8, 2024. Sama Sama is a bilateral exercise hosted by the Philippines and United States, with participants from Australia, Canada, France, and Japan, designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ange Olivier Clement)
Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, participated in the 27th ASEAN-Japan Summit, which was held in Vientiane earlier today, and attended by the ASEAN Leaders or their representatives and the Prime Minister of Japan. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
The Summit reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to further advancing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) established last year, and discussed future direction of the relations based on mutual trust, respect, benefit, win-win cooperation and equal partnership.
The post The 27th ASEAN-Japan Summit discusses progress of partnership appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
MIL OSI Translation. Timor-Leste Portuguese to English –
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
……………………………………………. ……………………………………………. …………………….
Press release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on October 10, 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the Government Resolution project, presented by the Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister for Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, and by the Executive Director of the Mission Unit to Combat ‘Stunting’, Joel Maria Pereira, which approves the National Multisectoral Annual Plan to Combat ‘Stunting’ for the period 2024 to 2030.
The National Multisectoral Annual Plan to Combat Stunting for the period 2024 to 2030 has as its main objective to provide a framework for coordinated and multisectoral action to combat stunting. Among the main goals are to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, improve children’s diets and reduce the stunting rate from 47% to less than 25% by 2030. The plan also aims to reduce anemia rates in children and women of reproductive age, as well as improve the coordination of nutrition programs and promote social behavior changes to improve nutritional health.
The implementation of the plan will be led by the Mission Unit for Combating Stunting, in collaboration with several ministries and development partners. The process will be subject to continuous monitoring to ensure its effectiveness, with the aim of creating a sustainable and resilient environment that promotes improved nutrition and well-being of the Timorese population.
*****
The draft Decree-Law, also presented by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mariano Assanami Sabino, referring to the Community Housing Program, was also approved.
The programme aims to ensure the right to housing as a condition for the integrated and sustainable development of the community, through the planning and construction of housing and the corresponding complementary infrastructure and collective equipment, intended to be allocated to beneficiaries, in accordance with established criteria, as well as subsequent ongoing community support for maintenance and access to services. The implementation of the programme will be led by the Ministry of Rural Development and Community Housing, in conjunction with local administrations and with the active participation of communities. Housing is allocated to beneficiaries according to their financial capacity, and is classified under one of the following schemes: commercial, subsidised, community or social. Under the commercial scheme, the beneficiary pays a consideration defined by market conditions. Under the subsidised scheme, the amount to be paid is adjusted to be more affordable in light of market conditions. Under the community scheme, the allocation of housing is free of charge at an initial stage, with a set amount to be paid after that period. Under the social scheme, housing is allocated free of charge.
*****
The Council of Ministers assessed the preliminary report on the expenses of activities related to the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis, presented by the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral.
At its meeting on 28 February 2024, the Council of Ministers authorized expenditure of up to USD 12 million for the Coordinating Committee for the Organization of the Visit of His Holiness Pope Francis, which took place from 9 to 11 September 2024. Of this amount, USD 9,978,658.12 was spent, resulting in a positive balance of USD 2,021,341.12, which will be returned to the State coffers.
The Timorese Episcopal Conference (CET), through the Church Coordinating Commission team, will hold an internal evaluation meeting on November 23, 2024 and the Joint Commission, composed of the Government, the Church team and the representative of the Holy See in Timor-Leste, will conclude the activities on December 21, 2024, when the representative of the Holy See and the local Church will transmit an official message from the Vatican.
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Finally, the Council of Ministers also decided to approve the theme “Proud of our identity and culture, we build a future of freedom, justice and hope for our People” for the celebrations of the 49th anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, which will be celebrated on 28 November, and whose main celebrations will take place in Oe-Cusse Ambeno. END
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.