Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The momentum generated by government policies aimed at stabilizing foreign investment, combined with the rapid growth of green and artificial intelligence-driven economies, will deliver strong tailwinds for foreign companies in China this year, said foreign business executives.
With rising global economic headwinds and uncertainty over United States’ trade policies, many global enterprises are opting to consolidate their presence in China, with plans to maintain or expand investment.
China’s stable and business-friendly environment supported a modest rebound in foreign direct investment in March, with actual FDI inflows into the Chinese mainland increasing by 13.2 percent year-on-year, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.
Marelli Holdings Co Ltd, a Saitama, Japan-headquartered multinational automotive parts manufacturer with more than 50 manufacturing facilities across the world, will expand its engineering team from 800 to 1,000 in China over the next three years.
“Many opportunities arise from Chinese automakers’ rapid shift toward electrification and intelligence, especially in the form of software-defined vehicles, which are setting new benchmarks for speed, scale and innovation,” said David Slump, the group’s president and CEO.
With China and the US agreeing to de-escalate trade tensions last week, Slump said that these two countries are major markets for Marelli.
“We are closely monitoring and assessing the situation, and are committed to minimizing any impact on our operations and customers,” said Slump. He added that the company is already exporting advanced products and solutions from China to other markets, including Europe, Mexico and Southeast Asia.
Also upbeat about the Chinese market, British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced in March an investment of $2.5 billion to establish in Beijing its sixth global strategic R&D center, and further expand its biotech innovation partnerships and local manufacturing capabilities.
The new facility will advance early-stage research and clinical development and will be enabled by a new AI and data science laboratory.
Susan Galbraith, executive vice-president, oncology R&D, Astra-Zeneca, said that having two of its six global strategic R&D centers in China reflects the group’s confidence in China’s world-class biomedical innovation ecosystem and reinforces the nation’s critical role in its global R&D strategy.
Ji Wenhua, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies, which is part of the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said that China’s well-developed industrial bases, strong supply chain resilience and policy emphasis on innovation continue to make it an attractive destination for global capital.
According to China’s 2025 Action Plan for Stabilizing Foreign Investment, the country will support pilot regions in effectively implementing opening-up policies related to areas such as value-added telecommunication, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, providing whole-journey services for foreign-invested projects in these sectors.
The action plan also supports foreign businesses to participate in China’s new industrialization, with a focus on high-tech fields. Global capital has been welcomed in service sectors such as elderly care, culture and tourism, sports, healthcare, vocational education and finance.
As part of its strategy to strengthen operations in China, US express transportation service provider FedEx Corp announced in mid-May that it would enhance its international export services from Shanghai.
The cutoff times for same-day outbound shipments from Shanghai to Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, India and Africa will be further extended.
The foreign trade value of foreign-invested businesses reached 4.1 trillion yuan ($567.51 billion) in China between January and April, up 1.9 percent year-on-year, accounting for 29 percent of China’s total foreign trade value, statistics from the General Administration of Customs showed.
In the meantime, Jiangsu province, a major hub for foreign-invested companies, recorded 864.25 billion yuan in foreign trade value, up 7.2 percent year-on-year, according to Nanjing Customs.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Locke, Associate Researcher in Digital Disability, Centre for Culture and Technology, Curtin University
Since the recent explosion of widely available generative artificial intelligence (AI), it now seems that a new AI tool emerges every week.
With varying success, AI offers solutions for productivity, creativity, research, and also accessibility: making products, services and other content more usable for people with disability.
Directed by blind director Adam Morse, it showcases an AI-powered feature that uses audio cues, haptic feedback (where vibrating sensations communicate information to the user) and animations to assist blind and low-vision users in capturing photos and videos.
Javier in Frame showcases an accessibility feature found on Pixel 8 phones.
The ad was applauded for being disability inclusive and representative. It also demonstrated a growing capacity for – and interest in – AI to generate more accessible technology.
AI is also poised to challenge how audio description is created and what it may sound like. This is the focus of our research team.
Audio description is a track of narration that describes important visual elements of visual media, including television shows, movies and live performances. Synthetic voices and quick, automated visual descriptions might result in more audio description on our screens. But will users lose out in other ways?
AI as people’s eyes
AI-powered accessibility tools are proliferating. Among them is Microsoft’s Seeing AI, an app that turns your smartphone into a talking camera by reading text and identifying objects. The app Be My AI uses virtual assistants to describe photos taken by blind users; it’s an AI version of the original app Be My Eyes, where the same task was done by human volunteers.
There are increasingly more AI software options for text-to-speech and document reading, as well as for producing audio description.
Audio description is an essential feature to make visual media accessible to blind or vision impaired audiences. But its benefits go beyond that.
Traditionally, audio description has been created using human voices, script writers and production teams. However, in the last year several international streaming services including Netflix and Amazon Prime have begun offering audio description that’s at least partially generated with AI.
Yet there are a number of issues with the current AI technologies, including their ability to generate false information. These tools need to be critically appraised and improved.
Is AI coming for audio description jobs?
There are multiple ways in which AI might impact the creation – and end result – of audio description.
However, in the audio description industry many are worried AI could undermine the quality, creativity and professionalism humans bring to the equation.
The language-learning app Duolingo, for example, recently announced it was moving forward with “AI first” development. As a result, many contractors lost jobs that can now purportedly be done by algorithms.
On the one hand, AI could help broaden the range of audio descriptions available for a range of media and live experiences.
But AI audio description may also cost jobs rather than create them. The worst outcome would be a huge amount of lower-quality audio description, which would undermine the value of creating it at all.
AI shouldn’t undermine the quality of assistive technologies, including audio description. Ground Picture/Shutterstock
Can we trust AI to describe things well?
Industry impact and the technical details of how AI can be used in audio description are one thing.
What’s currently lacking is research that centres the perspectives of users and takes into consideration their experiences and needs for future audio description.
Accuracy – and trust in this accuracy – is vitally important for blind and low-vision audiences.
If AI tools simply fabricate content rather than make existing material accessible, it would even further distance and disadvantage blind and low-vision consumers.
We can use AI for accessibility – with care
AI is a relatively new technology, and for it to be a true benefit in terms of accessibility, its accuracy and reliability need to be absolute. Blind and low-vision users need to be able to turn on AI tools with confidence.
In the current “AI rush” to make audio description cheaper, quicker and more available, it’s vital that the people who need it the most are closely involved in how the tech is deployed.
Kathryn Locke is employed as a researcher on the Australian Research Council’s discovery grant, “Diversifying audio description in the Australian digital landscape”.
Tama Leaver receives funding from the Australian Research Council. This work is supported by the discovery grant, “Diversifying audio description in the Australian digital landscape”. He is a chief investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child.
The Government has introduced the final-year Fees Free policy, starting from 1 January 2025. The policy enables eligible learners to claim fees for the final year of the first eligible qualification or programme they complete. The Government has introduced the final-year Fees Free policy, starting from 1 January 2025. The policy enables eligible learners to claim fees for the final year of the first eligible qualification or programme they complete.
From 2025, first-time tertiary learners may be able to get Fees Free for their final year of study or training towards a provider-based qualification or work-based programme.From 2025, to get Fees Free for their final year of study or training, learners must:
complete a qualification or a programme that’s eligible for Fees Free, and meet the residency criteria at the time they complete, and meet the prior study and training criteria, and not have already used Fees Free.
Learners don’t need to do anything to confirm their eligibility until they have completed their qualification or programme. Once a learner completes their first eligible qualification or programme, they will be able to confirm their eligibility and claim entitlement from 2026 through myIR. Learners will need to organise payment of their fees on enrolment with their tertiary education organisation (TEO). For information on the first-year Fees Free policy, see first-year Fees Free. Keep up to date We will update TEOs on policy changes and decisions via the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) website and Fees Free Focus newsletter. Sign up to the Fees Free Focus newsletter for policy, process and reporting updates. Information about final-year Fees Free
Who to contact If you have any questions, please contact your Relationship Manager or Advisor, or the Customer Contact Group on 0800 601 301 or customerservice@tec.govt.nz. Find information for learners on Fees Free at FeesFree.govt.nz. Learners can also call 0800 601 301 or email customerservice@tec.govt.nz.
Reviewed May 2025 (previously titled ‘Can I tell the cops? A guide for health professionals.’
Health professionals have the significant responsibility of knowing and caring for some of the most intimate details of their patients’ lives. Patients trust and expect doctors, nurses, and others to not tell just anyone. This obligation is recognised in the Health Information Privacy Code.
Rule 11 of the Code says health professionals cannot disclose health information they hold about an individual, unless there is a valid reason to do so.
What is a valid reason for releasing information?
Section 22C of the Health Act 1956 allows, but doesn’t require, health professionals to disclose information to a police officer (and some other officials), if they need the information to do their job. Where the treatment relates specifically to drug dependency, then the information is privileged against disclosure in criminal court proceedings under section 59 of the Evidence Act 2006.
If you believe that any child or young person has been or is likely to be harmed, whether physically, emotionally, or sexually, you can report the matter to a social worker or Police. This is vital, as there is little that is more serious than the need to protect a child.
Search warrants and production orders
If Police have a search warrant or a production order for information about a patient, then health professionals must hand it over to them under the Search and Surveillance Act. A search warrant or production order is approved and issued by the Court if Police have met the grounds required under the Act. If Police have a search warrant, they can search a health provider’s premises. If they have a production order, health professionals must release the information requested. It is an offence to refuse.
Sometimes Police do not have enough information to obtain a compulsory order. The Privacy Act is flexible enough to allow health professionals to disclose information under an exception to rule 11, when necessary, “to avoid prejudice to the maintenance of the law by any public sector agency, including the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution and punishment of offences”.
You may have information that could help Police in their investigations. There will be no breach of rule 11 of the Code if you can demonstrate you have considered this exception, and that you acted in good faith.
Things to consider
To be clear, this is your discretion. Consider these things before exercising it:
Unless Police have a search warrant or production order then health professionals don’t have to give them anything.
You need to turn your mind to whether this disclosure is reasonably necessary in these circumstances. It’s Police’s job to convince you. If you are convinced, then you can release the information.
If Police’s request is vague or informal, or you question why they really need all that information, then follow up. They should provide you with a form or an explanation of why the information is needed. If you’re unsure whether to disclose information, you may wish to seek legal advice or contact the Medical Protection Society https://www.medicalprotection.org/newzealand for further guidance. If you’re still in doubt, you don’t have to tell them, and you can ask them to go back and get a production order.
If you decide to disclose to a police officer, it’s up to you to ensure the information you do disclose is proportionate and necessary in the circumstances.
Police don’t have to request information from you for this exception to apply. If you are concerned about a potential crime, or the health and wellbeing of someone, then you can disclose information to the appropriate authorities.
But again, before you do so, consider what information needs to be disclosed, why this information should be disclosed, and why it is necessary for the purpose you are disclosing it. Also, consider who you are disclosing to. Make sure you send it to the people who can do something about it.
New analysis from the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi shows that the health service is likely to be underfunded by between $1.2bn to $2bn at the Budget.
“We have examined the spending decisions and announcements of the Minister of Health over the past few months. These demonstrate a pattern of making a new service promise but not providing any new funding for that new service,” said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney.
“That means the commitments have to be paid out of the existing budget, which is already under huge pressure. These sneaky cuts add up to $1.2bn across 4 years.
“At Budget 2024 the government provided $1.370bn for cost pressures. This has been calculated by the Treasury as simply covering the cost of existing services. The $1.2bn of new spending are all new services on top. If they come from the ‘cost pressure’ payment above, that acts as a direct cut to existing health services.
“Assuming the Treasury cost pressure costs are right, health needs $1.713bn just to stand still at Budget 2025 in direct new funding – and likely a figure closer to $2bn once the unknown costs are added.
“If this money is coming from pay equity funding, it would be the equivalent of those low-income health workers paying for the new service themselves.
“In opposition, National said that it would “prioritise increases in funding for health and education to account for inflation.” The government now appears to be robbing the very funding set aside for inflation in health to pay for its new priorities, breaking their pre-election promise,” said Renney.
The government has also made the following announcements and has not provided any costing information with those announcements. These costs are likely in the hundreds of millions, but we simply have no current idea about if the government will provide any further resources for them.
Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) and U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) today reintroduced the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act – bipartisan, zero-cost legislation to improve access to care for seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The bill focuses on streamlining the often cumbersome and time-consuming prior authorization process, ultimately allowing healthcare providers to spend more time on patient care rather than administrative burdens.
This legislation would help physicians better serve and improve care for the 32.8 million Americans – including the over 196,000 Kansans – enrolled in an MA plan.
“Prior authorization is the number one administrative burden facing physicians today across all specialties,” Senator Marshall said. “As a physician, I understand the frustration this arbitrary process is causing health care practices across the country and the headaches it creates for our nurses. With the bipartisan, bicameral Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, we will streamline prior authorization and help improve patient outcomes and access to quality care.”
“Our seniors deserve high-quality care delivered in a timely fashion. I am proud to introduce this legislation that takes commonsense steps to modernize the prior authorization process, cutting through red tape, streamlining approvals, and making sure our health care providers are focused on what really matters — supporting their patients,” Senator Warner said.
Joining Senators Marshall and Warner are U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Alex Padilla (D-California), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Andy Kim (D-New Jersey), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Patty Murray (D-Washington), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) and Chris Coons (D-Delaware).
“Too often, seniors face unnecessarily complicated and burdensome prior authorization processes that can become a barrier to receiving care,” Senator Hassan said. “This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense way to support seniors on Medicare Advantage in accessing care, and to help health care providers focus on their patients instead of paperwork.”
“Prior authorization places more importance on process than patients. As a doctor, I want that to change. Let’s make sure seniors are receiving timely care,” Senator Cassidy said.
“Too often, seniors have to wait to receive vital care because of administrative burdens like prior authorization. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, which will streamline prior authorization and reduce unnecessary health care delays,” Senator Capito said.
“Seniors across the Cowboy State rely on Medicare, but too often, bureaucratic red tape gets in the way of timely care,” Senator Lummis said. “I am proud to join my colleagues across the aisle to streamline the prior authorization process and put patients over paperwork.”
“Excessive administrative burdens within the Medicare Advantage program means too many seniors receive delayed benefits, while our health care providers are overwhelmed by paperwork. The current system isn’t working well for anyone, and it’s time we take meaningful action to fix it. This commonsense legislation is a necessary step in the right direction,” Senator Hyde-Smith said.
“Health care providers handling mountains of paperwork takes up valuable time and can unnecessarily delay older folks’ access to the crucial care they need,” Senator Kaine said. “I’m proud to champion this bipartisan legislation to modernize and streamline health care processes to ensure that Americans covered by Medicare Advantage can more swiftly access care and empower health care providers to direct more of their time to their patients.”
“Quality, expedited medical care should always be within reach for seniors, and our providers deserve a system that helps them focus on delivering it,” Senator Boozman said. “I’m pleased to join this bipartisan effort to end the inefficient process that delays Medicare Advantage beneficiaries’ evaluations and treatments while removing an unnecessary, bureaucratic burden on clinicians.”
“Doctors and health care providers are too often bogged down by unnecessary burdens, which can lead to delayed care and negative outcomes for patients,”Senator Cornyn said. “By streamlining the prior authorization process under Medicare Advantage, this legislation would cut red tape, improve enrollee experiences, and ensure seniors receive the timely care they deserve.”
“Improving the prior authorization process will help seniors have quicker access to the health care they need and remove administrative hurdles for physicians,” Senator Moran said. “This legislation would make commonsense changes to better support thousands of seniors in Kansas and remove the red tape that is costing doctors and patients valuable time.”
“Senior citizens have spent their entire lives contributing to our communities, and they deserve every resource to support their health and well-being,” Senator Gillibrand said. “The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act will help cut through unnecessary red tape and ensure timely medical care is accessible to older Americans. Seniors should have reliable access to specialist care, mental health support, preventative services, and the treatments they need to live with dignity. I am proud to support this important legislation, and I pledge to continue fighting to expand access to quality, affordable, and timely health care for our seniors.”
“Seniors with Medicare Advantage plans should not have to endure unnecessary delays when seeking medical treatment, and sometimes even life-saving care,” Senator Hirono said. “This legislation will help to reduce these arbitrary waiting periods, streamlining prior authorization processes to ensure that health care providers can treat and care for their patients in an efficient manner.”
“North Carolina seniors shouldn’t face unnecessary delays when trying to access the care they need through Medicare Advantage,” Senator Tillis said. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan, commonsense legislation that streamlines the prior authorization process, cuts red tape for providers, and ensures patients get timely access to treatment.”
U.S. Representatives John Joyce, M.D. (R-Pennsylvania-13), Mike Kelly (R-Pennsylvania-16), Suzan DelBene (D-Washington-01), and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-California-06) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
This legislation is supported by the Better Medicare Alliance, Humana, and 138 other health care organizations.
“Prior authorization helps keep health care costs low and ensures seniors are getting the most appropriate care. But the process should be easier. The changes put forth in this legislation are long overdue and will help ensure seniors can get the care they need without delay,” Mary Beth Donahue, President and CEO of Better Medicare Alliance, said. “We are proud to support this bill and thank Senators Marshall and Warner, and Representatives Kelly, DelBene, Bera, and Joyce for their leadership. We look forward to continued work on this issue with Congress and the Administration.”
“Humana’s job is to ensure our members have access to high quality, affordable healthcare. We support efforts in the House and Senate to move the Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act forward quickly,” Jim Rechtin, Humana CEO, said. “It is a common-sense approach to making healthcare easier by modernizing the prior authorization process.”
Background:
Prior authorization is a tool used by health plans to reduce unnecessary care by requiring health care providers to get pre-approval for medical services. However, the current system often results in multiple faxes or phone calls by clinicians, which takes precious time away from delivering care.
Prior authorization continues to be the number-one administrative burden identified by health care providers, and nearly three out of four Medicare Advantage enrollees are subject to unnecessary delays due to the practice.
The bill would codify and enhance elements of the Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes (e-PA) rule that was finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on January 17, 2024.
Last Congress, the bill was supported by a super majority of members in the Senate (60) and a majority in the House (232), and was unanimously passed by the House in 2022.
In 2018, the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) raised concerns after an audit revealed that Medicare Advantage plans ultimately approved 75% of requests that were originally denied.
In 2022, the HHS Office of Inspector General released a report finding that MA plans incorrectly denied beneficiaries’ access to services even though they met Medicare coverage rules.
The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act would:
Establish an electronic prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans, including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments.
Increase transparency around Medicare Advantage prior authorization requirements and their use.
Clarify HHS’ authority to establish timeframes for e-prior authorization requests, including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other prior authorization requests.
Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes.
Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-prior authorization process.
Result in a zero cost to American taxpayers.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.
The sale of a business generally occurs through the disposal of either:
the shares or other ownership interests in the entity that conducts the business
all of the tangible and intangible assets in the business.
When preparing to dispose of your business, we encourage you to consider your tax governance for the transaction and the tax consequences.
For more information, see:
Record keeping
Both the vendor and purchaser need to retain documentation evidencing the transactions, including:
contracts
minutes of meetings recording why the business was to be sold and decisions relating to the transaction by the directors and other key decision makers
communications between the vendor and purchaser relating to the negotiations, including any allowance for liabilities
details of the assets disposed of under the contract, the apportionment of the purchase price to the various assets and the basis for the apportionment
capital gains tax (CGT) calculations, including the
allocation of purchase price to depreciating assets
basis for this allocation
treatment of consideration held in escrow
any advice detailing why the particular tax position has been taken
settlement documentation
asset registers
trust resolutions creating income or capital entitlements of beneficiaries.
Revenue or capital transaction
Where you dispose of an asset, you need to determine whether it should be treated as a revenue or capital transaction.
You can find relevant information and views in documentation, such as minutes of meetings, business plans, documented discussions with stakeholders and consultants and financial statements.
Disposing of a business to a related party
Where you dispose of the business to a related party, you should get an independent valuation of the business, including the goodwill, assets and contractual rights being disposed of.
Interest expense
There may be an impact on the interest expense that can be deducted if the disposal of an ownership interest in a business results in a change to the entity’s debt to equity ratio. You may need to recalculate this at the relevant time.
Disposing of part of a business
You may partially dispose of your business by:
creating a new class of shareholders or unit holders, or by amending rights for existing share classes
disposing of a portion of shares
retiring from a partnership
admitting a new partner into your partnership.
As a result of the above changes, you may need to amend key documents such as the company’s constitution, trust deed, or partnership agreement.
The rights of the existing shareholders or unitholders may also be affected. Where this occurs, the existing shareholders, unitholders and partners should consider any tax consequences, such as capital gains, value shifting and limitations on future deductions or capital losses.
More complex business disposals
More complex or non-traditional business disposals often give rise to a range of tax issues and require risk mitigation. Good tax governance will ensure that you identify, assess and manage these issues.
You should carefully consider and document transactions and the commercial business drivers.
Some of the more complex business disposals that may require additional tax governance include:
the use of a demerger to facilitate the disposal of the business
multiple events and transactions that occur just before or on the date of the business disposal.
We encourage you to seek advice from a tax adviser if you are unsure of the tax consequences.
You may also wish to engage with us for advice directly before entering the transaction. We can help reduce uncertainty by clarifying how the tax law relates to your particular circumstances.
Earn-out arrangements
The disposal of a business that includes an earn-out arrangement can take several forms. Good governance practices include:
retaining the sale contract and other relevant agreements
considering changes in the law examining the terms of the earn-out arrangement and identifying the contingent and non-contingent rights
considering if there is a reverse earn-out arrangement
estimating the value of the earn-out right and retaining documentation to support the estimate
getting tax advice and preparing the capital gains tax calculations for the income year in which the disposal occurred
comparing the amounts actually received under the earn-out clauses to the amount estimated.
Scrip-for-scrip rollovers
When you have a CGT event that results in a capital gain, a rollover may be applied, for example, a scrip-for-scrip rollover. Generally, this occurs where a seller exchanges a share in a company (or trust interest in a trust) for a share in another company (or trust interest in another trust).
Effective governance involves retaining key documentation to provide you with certainty. It should be readily accessible if we review the transaction.
Key documentation to retain may include:
minutes of meetings or other documentation recording proposals, deliberations and negotiations prior to entering into the transaction
minutes of decisions to proceed with the transaction and executed contract documents
evidence of the interests exchanged (such as share certificates or unit registers)
details of the CGT profile of interests, such as cost base and any pre-CGT status
valuations
other workings, papers or advice setting out the conditions and how they have been satisfied.
Listing on a stock exchange
Where a business owner is looking to dispose of the shares in a business via listing on a stock exchange through an initial public offering (IPO), back-door listing or reverse take-over, good tax governance practices may include:
considering the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission requirements and their tax consequences
getting advice on the CGT treatment of any disposal of shares held by the existing shareholders
documenting the transactions and tax impacts, including considering whether the CGT discount and a full or partial CGT rollover apply
considering how any additional amounts to which the existing shareholders are entitled after the event (such as additional shares or earn-out amounts) will be treated for tax purposes.
A back-door listing generally involves the disposal of an entity’s shares or assets to a company that is currently listed on the ASX. Interests sold between related parties through back-door listings should be subject to independent market valuations.
Exit from a consolidated group
Where a consolidated group disposes of a partial or the full interest in a subsidiary member, resulting in it leaving the group, effective governance practices include:
retaining the sale contract and agreements
preparing a statement of financial position in accordance with accounting standards as at the date of exit
ensuring that the assets and liabilities appearing on the statement of financial position reflect market values
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A composed Wang Chuqin overpowered Hong Kong player Wong Chun Ting in the men’s singles third round of the World Table Tennis Championships on Tuesday.
One day after he shouted “why always me” over a damaged racket, the Chinese second seed played an aggressive game to nail a 12-10, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 victory over the 33-year-old.
Wang Chuqin hits a return during the men’s singles round of 32 match between Wang Chuqin of China and Wong Chun Ting of China’s Hong Kong at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals Doha 2025 in Doha, Qatar, May 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)
“Wong is a quite strong player and I tried not to make mistakes,” said Wang. “By taking the first set, I felt I was on the right way.”
Wang admitted he had restored peace of mind following an eventful day which saw his racket damaged and the Chinese Table Tennis Association protest and appeal to the sport’s governing body ITTF.
Minutes before Wang and Sun Yingsha took on Brazil’s Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi on Monday, Wang found part of the rubber had come off his blade and questioned the umpire if anyone had mishandled the racket.
“Since I had a worse situation in the Paris Olympics, I was able to regain my cool soon enough,” said Wang, referring to the incident in which his racket was broken, allegedly by photographers.
Wang will next play France’s 43-ranked Simon Gau, who upset 16th-ranked Chinese Lin Gaoyuan, 2-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3.
Fifth seed Liang Jingkun of China whitewashed Portugal’s Marcos Freitas 4-0 (11-8, 11-2, 11-5, 16-14) to join France’s Felix Lebrun in the fourth round. The Frenchman came from 1-2 down to defeat South Korea’s Oh Jun-sung in six sets (11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5).
In women’s singles action, China’s fourth seed Wang Yidi and sixth seed Shi Xunyao both made it to last 16.
Chinese doubles pair Liang Jingkun and Huang Youzheng reached the men’s doubles quarterfinals, and Wang Manyu and Kuai Man made it to the women’s doubles last eight.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese shuttlers had mixed performances on Day 1 of the Malaysia Masters 2025, which kicked off on Tuesday, with the team advancing in men’s doubles and women’s doubles.
Liang Weikeng (R)/Wang Chang compete during the men’s doubles round of 32 match between Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi of Malaysia and Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang of China at 2025 Malaysia Masters badminton tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 20, 2025. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)
Men’s singles player Zhu Xuanchen overpowered India’s S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian 22-20, 22-20 in the first qualifying round and also won against Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul 21-17, 21-14 in the second qualifying round, while his teammate Hu Zhean easily outplayed Malaysia’s Kok Jing Hong 22-20, 21-11 in the first qualifying round but got trounced by Huang Ping-Hsien of Chinese Taipei 19-21, 21-13, 21-10 in the second qualifying round.
Men’s doubles duo Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang outplayed Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi of Malaysia 9-21, 21-15, 21-15.
In the women’s doubles, Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning steamrolled over their Indonesian opponents Meilysa Trias Puspitasari and Rachel Allessya Rose 21-13, 21-6, while Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian beat out Malaysia’s Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting 21-11, 17-21, 21-13.
In the women’s doubles qualifying round, the Chinese pairs Li Wenmei and Wang Yiduo, Keng Shuliang and Li Huazhou booked their places in the women’s doubles main draw.
The Chinese team also took some losses including women’s doubles pair Chen Qingchen/Wang Tingge along with Li Yijing/Luo Xumin. Men’s doubles duo Sun Wenjun and Zhu Yijun were knocked out in a qualifying round, while Chen Boyang/Liu Yi, Huang Di/Liu Yang, and Xie Haonan/Zeng Weihan also failed to overcome their opponents.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, continued to attend the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday (May 20, Geneva time). He also took the chance to meet with other participants and WHO officials to tell the world good stories of Hong Kong and the country.
As members of the Chinese delegation, Professor Lo and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, continued to attend the plenary session on the second day of the WHA.
In the morning, Professor Lo and Dr Ronald Lam listened to the remarks made by Vice Premier of the State Council Mr Liu Guozhong at the High Level Segment.
Professor Lo said, “Following the presentation of national positions by the Minister of the National Health Commission, Mr Lei Haichao, and the Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland, Mr Chen Xu, on Taiwan-related proposal, COVID-19 origins tracing and China’s promotion of co-operation and exchange on global health on the first day of the Assembly, Vice Premier of the State Council Mr Liu Guozhong also delivered remarks at the High Level Segment today. As our country has been actively involving in global health cooperation and exchanges, including deploying healthcare rescue teams to many countries and regions over the years, as well as providing over 500 billions of personal protection items and 2.3 billion doses of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemics, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government spares no efforts to complement the nation’s strategies to contribute to the building of a global community of health for all.”
Professor Lo and Dr Lam also attended a thematic side event hosted by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM) and cohosted by the health authorities of Malaysia, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Seychelles. The side event, themed “Improving Universal Health Coverage through the implementation of WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034”, was moderated by the Dean of the Vanke School of Public Health of Tsinghua University, Professor Margaret Chan, and the Director of the Institute for Global Health of Peking University, Professor Ren Minghui. The Commissioner of the NATCM, Professor Yu Yanhong, also delivered a keynote speech at the side event.
During the panel discussion, Professor Lo shared the implementation experiences in promoting high-quality and high-standard development of Chinese medicine (CM) in Hong Kong on all fronts. He said, “The HKSAR Government will leverage Hong Kong’s strengths in its healthcare system, regulatory framework, standard-setting, clinical research, trade, and more to develop the city into a bridgehead for the internationalisation of CM. In terms of CM practice, the Hospital Authority has accumulated extensive experience through its integrated Chinese-Western medicine (ICWM) services over the years. The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong will further develop the ‘Hong Kong model’ for pure CM, CM-predominant, and ICWM clinical services, with a view to promoting CM service, management standards and system development at the international level. As regards CM drugs, the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute is actively advancing the work on scientific research, education and promoting international exchanges on CM drug testing, including developing a series of internationally recognised reference standards and testing methods for CM drugs and their products, and promoting the commercial application of these methods in the sectors through training and technology transfer programmes, with a view to developing Hong Kong into an international hub for CM testing and quality control.”
During their visit to Geneva, Professor Lo and Dr Lam also met with the Director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety of the WHO, Dr Luz María De Regil, to discuss the strategies and interventions for obesity and weight management. Professor Lo emphasised, “Like many other regions and countries, Hong Kong is facing the challenges posed by the increasing prevalence of obesity. The HKSAR Government has long been attaching great importance to the prevention and control of obesity and will strive to halt the rise of obesity by adopting life-course interventions.”
The delegation will depart for Hong Kong today (May 21, Geneva time) and arrive in Hong Kong tomorrow (May 22, Hong Kong time).
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China-Central Asia freight train departs from Tianjin Port to Tashkent
Updated: May 21, 2025 08:04Xinhua
A China-Central Asia freight train bound for Tashkent via Horgos departs from a station in Tianjin Port in north China’s Tianjin, May 20, 2025. The first China-Central Asia freight train from Tianjin Port to Tashkent via Horgos in 2025 departed here on Tuesday, sending fifty containers of auto parts, mechanical equipment, building materials and household appliances to Uzbekistan’s capital. [Photo/Xinhua]A China-Central Asia freight train bound for Tashkent via Horgos is pictured before its departure from a railway station at Tianjin Port in north China’s Tianjin, May 20, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]A drone photo shows a China-Central Asia freight train bound for Tashkent via Horgos before its departure from a railway station at Tianjin Port in north China’s Tianjin, May 20, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
“In the wake of the Bybit hack, it is essential that the United States redouble its efforts to prevent North Korean crypto theft.”
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior member of the committee, sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting information on efforts to combat increasingly aggressive and frequent cyber-attacks by ransomware groups based in North Korea.
In February, the Lazarus Group, a hacker syndicate backed by the North Korean government, stole approximately $1.5 billion in digital currency from Bybit, a popular cryptocurrency exchange. In the letter, the senators warn the attack marks a dangerous escalation in North Korea’s use of crypto theft to evade sanctions and fund its weapons programs — a direct threat to U.S. national security and global stability.
“In the wake of this attack—the ‘largest crypto theft of all time’—we write to request information regarding your efforts to combat increasingly aggressive and frequent cyber-attacks by ransomware groups based in North Korea,” wrote the senators.
They continued: “North Korea relies on cryptocurrency theft to subvert U.S.-led international sanctions and to undermine the security of the United States and our Indo-Pacific allies… These stolen assets have helped keep the regime afloat and supported continued investments in its nuclear and conventional weapons programs. Reports suggest there are potentially thousands of North Korean-affiliated crypto hackers around the globe.”
The senators press the agencies on how they are responding to the evolving tactics of North Korean hackers and what tools they need to prevent future attacks. This comes as Senate Republicans attempt to advance the GENIUS Act — legislation that, as currently drafted, would dramatically expand the stablecoin market with few guardrails and inadequate national security protections. A vote on the bill could come as early as later today.
Full text of the letter follows:
Dear Secretary Bessent and Attorney General Bondi:
On February 21, 2025, the Lazarus Group, a hacker syndicate backed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), stole approximately $1.5 billion in digital currency from Bybit, a popular cryptocurrency exchange. In the wake of this attack—the “largest crypto theft of all time”—we write to request information regarding your efforts to combat increasingly aggressive and frequent cyber-attacks by ransomware groups based in North Korea.
North Korea relies on cryptocurrency theft to subvert U.S.-led international sanctions and to undermine the security of the United States and our Indo-Pacific allies. The Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community for 2025 states that “North Korea is funding its military development—allowing it to pose greater risks to the United States—and economic initiatives by stealing hundreds of millions of dollars per year in cryptocurrency from the United States and other victims.” Between 2017 and 2023, North Korea stole an estimated $3 billion in crypto hacks, laundering tokens through crypto mixers to effectively mask their origins before funneling the proceeds back to Pyongyang. These stolen assets have helped keep the regime afloat and supported continued investments in its nuclear and conventional weapons programs. Reports suggest there are potentially thousands of North Korean-affiliated crypto hackers around the globe.
In recent years, North Korean hackers have shifted from simplistic crypto theft schemes to more sophisticated tactics. Typically, these attacks center around variations of social engineering schemes, designed to exploit vulnerabilities in tech and crypto companies. Hackers have increasingly found ways to infiltrate crypto firms, often faking credentials, resumes, and documents and disguising themselves as American or foreign nationals eligible for work. According to reports, “[t]hey have pretended to be Canadian IT workers, government officials and freelance Japanese blockchain developers. They will conduct video interviews to get a job, or …masquerade as potential employers.” In addition, hackers have relied on “phishing and supply chain attacks, and…infrastructure hacks which involve private key or seed phrase compromises.”
The Bybit hack reflects a further escalation in North Korea’s ability to execute complex crypto theft schemes. In the attack, hackers pulled approximately $1.5 billion from a “cold” crypto storage wallet—a “piece of hardware…kept mostly isolated from online networks” that, prior to the attack, were “considered to be almost impervious to attacks.”10 According to experts, the attack suggests that “North Korea has either expanded its money laundering infrastructure or that underground financial networks, particularly in China, have enhanced their capacity to absorb and process illicit funds.”11 The hack is expected to have significant impacts on the crypto industry and leaves companies scrambling to bolster cybersecurity. Specifically, “staving off North Korean thefts will likely require much higher spending by crypto exchanges.”
In the wake of the Bybit hack, it is essential that the United States redouble its efforts to prevent North Korean crypto theft. To better understand the scope of North Korea’s reliance on the theft of crypto to evade sanctions and finance its weapons programs and the steps the administration is taking to address this urgent national security concern, we ask that you respond to the following questions by June 2, 2025:
1. Please describe the steps your agency is taking to address threats to U.S. national security posed by North Korea’s theft of cryptocurrency to earn revenue and bypass sanctions.
2. What additional steps, if any, does your agency plan to take in the wake of the Bybit attack to bolster efforts to prevent North Korean cryptocurrency theft?
3. What are the biggest challenges your agency faces in combatting North Korean cryptocurrency theft? What steps can Congress take to bolster and support enforcement efforts to prevent future crypto theft?
Sincerely,
Primary sector growth feeds trade surplus – 21 May 2025 – New Zealand’s merchandise trade surplus in April 2025 was $1.4 billion, compared with a deficit of $12 million in April 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
“New Zealand has had only four monthly surpluses over $1 billion. The last two were in 2020 and two out of the four were also in April months,” international accounts spokesperson Viki Ward said.
“The overlap of the dairy and fruit industry seasons contributed to this high.”
The goods surplus is calculated by subtracting the value of goods imports from the value of goods exports. New Zealand imported $6.4 billion and exported $7.8 billion of goods in April 2025.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
Bedding retailer Bedshed Franchising Pty Ltd has paid $39,600 in penalties after the ACCC issued it with two infringement notices for allegedly making false or misleading representations to consumers through advertising that suggested certain products it sold had been evaluated or approved by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
This action comes after the ACCC put businesses on notice of its focus on problematic advertising practices targeting NDIS participants in November 2024.
The ACCC alleges that Bedshed advertised on its website and Google Ads that some of its mattresses, furniture and bedding accessories were ‘NDIS approved’ and ‘NDIS permitted’.
“The NDIS does not approve any specific goods or services and to suggest otherwise is misleading and risks taking advantage of vulnerable consumers,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
“Each NDIS participant has unique needs, and what’s funded under their plan is determined individually, not through a list of approved products. Targeting consumers experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage with misleading advertising is particularly concerning, and we are continuing to investigate companies making similar claims.”
“These infringement notices should serve as a warning to all businesses that advertise their products or services to NDIS participants – your advertising must reflect the facts,” Ms Cass Gottlieb said.
In December 2023, the Australian Government established the NDIS (Fair Price and Australian Consumer Law) Taskforce, which comprises of the ACCC, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The taskforce was established to address concerns that NDIS participants were being charged more for goods and services than other consumers, and to address potential breaches of Australian Consumer Law.
If an NDIS participant thinks a business has made false or misleading statements about products or services, including whether they are endorsed or approved by the NDIS, or if they consider their consumer rights have not been met, they can make a report to the ACCC.
Further information for NDIS participants is available on the ACCC website.
Note to editors
The ACCC can issue an infringement notice when it has reasonable grounds to believe a person or business has contravened certain consumer protection provisions in the Australian Consumer Law.
The payment of a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission of a contravention of the Australian Consumer Law. The Australian Consumer Law sets the penalty amount.
What false or misleading advertising about the NDIS might look like
Examples of concerning advertising that may be false, or misleading include:
The use of the words ‘NDIS approved’ as the NDIS does not have the function of approving or endorsing particular goods or services.
Advertising suggesting NDIS funds will cover “all inclusive” holidays, when general costs associated with holidays would not be covered by NDIS funding.
Meal delivery services suggesting the cost of meals is covered by the NDIS, when the NDIS does not cover food expenses.
Advertising that provides instructions on how to use NDIS funding codes to cover costs of recreational services that are not covered by the NDIS – for example, going to the movies or a theme park.
Advertising that suggests a business is affiliated or endorsed by the NDIS, by using NDIS in its business name or in the description of its services, for example ‘NDIS therapies’.
Background
Bedshed is a franchise that supplies mattresses, bedding, furniture and related accessories to consumers. The business operates at a retail level with an online store and 43 brick-and-mortar stores in locations across WA, Victoria, Queensland, ACT and NSW. Of the 43 brick-and-mortar stores, 11 are registered NDIS providers.
In December 2024, the ACCC instituted proceedings against registered NDIS provider Ausnew Home Care Service Pty Ltd, for alleged false and misleading representations, including statements that certain products were ‘NDIS approved’, relating to aged care and disability products. The matter remains before the Court.
Primary sector growth feeds trade surplus–21 May 2025 –New Zealand’s merchandise trade surplus in April 2025 was $1.4 billion, compared with a deficit of $12 million in April 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
“New Zealand has had only four monthly surpluses over $1 billion. The last two were in 2020 and two out of the four were also in April months,” international accounts spokesperson Viki Ward said.
“The overlap of the dairy and fruit industry seasons contributed to this high.”
The goods surplus is calculated by subtracting the value of goods imports from the value of goods exports. New Zealand imported $6.4 billion and exported $7.8 billion of goods in April 2025.
Samsung Electronics today announced the addition of new pieces from Disney’s iconic portfolio to the Samsung Art Store,1 offering TV users worldwide a stunning new way to enjoy beloved visuals from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and National Geographic — all in crystal-clear 4K resolution.
“We’re thrilled to expand our collaboration with Disney to offer their most beloved artwork to our global community of Art Store users,” said Heeyeong Ahn, Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “By offering a diverse range of artistic content that transcends genres and generations, we aim to enrich the everyday lives of our users with art.”
The new Disney Collection transforms living rooms into immersive digital galleries, featuring classic and contemporary works that celebrate storytelling, adventure and the beauty of our planet. From the heartwarming tales of Disney princesses from films like “The Little Mermaid,” “Snow White,” and “Tangled” to the legendary “Star Wars saga” and the breathtaking wildlife of “Planet Earth,” the collection also offers fans a chance to discover new favorites — all through the lens of stunning digital art.
Samsung Art Store, a global digital art subscription platform available on Samsung TVs, now offers over 3,500 curated artworks from more than 800 artists and 70 world-class galleries and museums. First launched in 2017 with The Frame, the Art Store experience is now available on 2025 Samsung AI-powered Neo QLED and QLED TVs,2 giving more viewers access to premium art in 4K resolution.
In addition to this latest Disney collaboration, users can easily enjoy masterpieces from world-renowned museums such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Musée d’Orsay, as well as a variety of contemporary and modern artworks showcased at Art Basel, from the comfort of their homes. The service also includes curated selections handpicked by professional art experts on a monthly basis, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
For more information, visit www.samsung.com.
1 The Disney Collection is now available in selected countries across Asia, North America (including the United States and Canada), and Europe, where the Samsung Art Store is supported.
2 For models Q7F and above.
The Government has decided to discharge the Digital Services Tax Bill from the legislative programme, Revenue Minister Simon Watts announced today.
The Digital Services Tax Bill was introduced in 2023 by the previous Government. It was a response to a perceived lack of progress towards developing an agreement with other countries to address the taxation challenges posed by digitalisation.
“We have been monitoring international developments and have decided not to progress the Digital Services Tax Bill at this time. A global solution has always been our preferred option, and we have been encouraged by the recent commitment of countries to the OECD work in this area,” Mr Watts says.
“New Zealand has long supported, and benefited from, collective action and the global rules-based system. By focusing on a global solution, it will enable an agreed, consistent outcome across participating countries.”
As a result of taking this action, the forecast revenues from the introduction of a Digital Services Tax no longer meet the criteria for inclusion in the Crown accounts.
Judges for the ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards have announced the finalists who will be honoured at the awards gala on Friday 18 July at Mercury Baypark, Mount Maunganui. The awards, organised by the EMA, celebrate the exceptional achievements of Bay of Plenty businesses who are exporting goods and services to markets around the world.
The event is proudly supported by principal sponsor ASB, as well as Sharp Tudhope, Air NZ Cargo, Page Macrae, Zespri, and Orbit Travel, and supporting partners NZTE, Comvita and Port of Tauranga.
Winners announced at Awards Galaon 18 July, at Mercury Baypark, Mount Maunganui
The success of each finalist will be celebrated at the 1920s-themed awards gala on 18 July, which promises to be a night of elegance, glamour and celebration, honouring the innovation and resilience of the region’s exporters. Gala tickets are available atExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards 2025.
List of finalists –ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards
Finalists in the 2025 awards encompass a broad range of innovative businesses, showcasing the breadth and depth of exporting excellence in the Bay of Plenty region. These include heavy engineering and precision machine manufacturers, technology and software solution providers for the agricultural, health and legal sectors, as well as a manufacturer of kids’ cycling accessories. The finalists for the 2025 ExportNZ ASB Bay of Plenty Export Awards are:
Bluelab– a manufacturer of precision instruments for measuring pH, electrical conductivity and temperature in controlled agricultural environments.
Carepatron– a provider of a secure, cloud-based healthcare solution for practitioners to manage clients, appointments, payments, and records.
KidsRide Shotgun– a designer and manufacturer of mountain bike seats and accessories for young children to enjoy biking with their families.
LawVu– a provider of a unified, cloud-based legal workspace, designed for in-house legal teams to efficiently manage matters, contracts, spend, documents, and reporting within a single, secure platform.
MedellaHealth– a developer of innovative wellness devices, including the Flowpresso therapy suit, which combines compression, deep pressure and thermo therapy.
Oasis Engineering– a manufacturer of high-pressure control devices for gases, such as hydrogen and compressed natural gas.
Plazmax– a designer and manufacturer of advanced computer numerical control (CNC) plasma cutting and robotic welding systems for precision engineering.
Rhino Manufacturing– an industry-leading supplier of parts for trucks and trailers; Rhino guards blend powerful performance with striking style.
SpidaMachinery– a manufacturer of high-quality, precision machinery for the frame, truss, and building-component industries.
TrimaxMowing Systems– a designer and manufacturer of tractor-powered roller and flail mowers for commercial use.
The short-listed exporting companies will be judged over the following categories:
–Best Emerging Business(in partnership with Air New Zealand Cargo) – recognising businesses in the early stage of their international growth journey.
–Excellence in Innovation(in partnership with Page Macrae) – recognising success in the commercialisation of innovation in international markets, incorporating intellectual property, strategy, processes and monitoring.
–Exporter of the Year(in partnership with Sharpe Tudhope) – recognising the success of those businesses that are established in their international growth journey.
In addition,the Export Achievement Award(in partnership with Zespri) recognises an individual who has made a material contribution to the export success of a business. Finalists for this category are:
–Sarah Webb, LawVu
–Karl Stevenson, BlueLab
Finally, theServices to Export Award(in partnership with Orbit Travel) recognises an individual or business, who may or may not be directly involved with exporting, but has made a significant contribution to exporting success in the Bay of Plenty. Entry for this award is by nomination only, with the winner announced at the awards gala on 18 July.
Highlighting export innovation in Bay of Plenty
The awards are organised by the EMA on behalf of ExportNZ. EMA Chief Executive John Fraser-Mackenzie says, “We look forward to honouring these outstanding companies at this year’s awards gala on 18 July, which will harness the spirit of the ‘Roaring Twenties’.
“The awards celebrate the community of business, providing an opportunity for peer-to-peer networking and knowledge sharing among like-minded, export-oriented companies.”
Chair of the ExportNZ BoP Executive Committee Warwick Downing says, “These awards shine a well-deserved spotlight on the incredible exporters in the Bay of Plenty who work tirelessly to bring New Zealand products and services to the world.
“Equally important is the opportunity they provide to bring the exporting community together, to share stories, challenges, and insights that help drive the sector forward.”
Head of Trade Finance at ASB Bank Mike Atkins says, “We are excited to partner with ExportNZ to celebrate the export champions from the Bay of Plenty region.
“At ASB, we are passionate about enabling exporters to scale up, be it through working capital funding or other advisory initiatives across productivity, sustainability, clean tech, and food & fibre.”
Executive Director of ExportNZ Josh Tan says, “These awards are a recognition of the incredible mahi of exporters in the Bay of Plenty who continue to deliver excellence.
“The awards not only celebrate the individual enterprises, importantly they encourage a collaborative culture that nurtures exporting success across the region.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Fatal traffic accident in Ngau Tau Kok At 10.53pm, a bus driven by a 38-year-old man was travelling along Ngau Tau Kok Road southbound. When approaching Choi Wan Road Sitting-out Area, it reportedly knocked down an 84-year-old man who was crossing the road.
Sustaining serious head injury, the man was rushed to United Christian Hospital in unconscious state and was certified dead at 11.17pm.
The bus driver was arrested for dangerous driving causing death and is being detained for enquiries.
Investigation by the Special Investigation Team of Traffic, Kowloon East is under way.
Anyone who witnessed the accident or has any information to offer is urged to contact the investigating officers on 3661 0262 or 3661 0277.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Gaston, Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
A lack of strategy and research funding – by both the current and previous governments – has been well documented, most comprehensively in the first report by the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG), released late last year.
If there is one word that sums up the current state of New Zealan’s research sector, it is scarcity. As the report summarises:
We have an underfunded system by any international comparison. This parsimony has led to harmful inter-institutional competition in a manner that is both wastefully expensive in terms of process and scarce researcher time, and is known to inhibit the most intellectually innovative ideas coming forward, and of course it is these that can drive a productive innovation economy.
The latest example is last week’s cancellation of the 2026 grant application round of the NZ$55 million Endeavour Fund “as we transition to the science, innovation and technology system of the future”. Interrupting New Zealand’s largest contestable source of science funding limits opportunities for researchers looking for support for new and emerging ideas.
Changes to the Marsden Fund, set up 30 years ago to support fundamental research, removed all funding for social science and the humanities and shifted focus to applied research. This is despite fundamental research in all fields underpinning innovation and the international ranking of our universities.
New Zealand has an opportunity to change its economy based on the potential of emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, cleantech and quantum technologies. Other countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom, already consider quantum technologies a priority and fund them accordingly.
But when it comes to strategy, the composition of the boards of new Public Research Organisations, set up as part of the government’s science sector reform, are skewed towards business experience. Where there is scientific expertise, it tends to be in established industries. The governance of the proposed new entity to focus on emerging and advanced technologies is yet to be announced.
Critical mass requires funding and strategy
Scientists have been calling for a science investment target of 2% of GDP for a long time. It was once – roughly a decade ago – the average expenditure within the OECD; this has since increased to 2.7% of GDP, while New Zealand’s investment remains at 1.5%.
The SSAG report repeatedly refers to the lack of funding, and it would be the obvious thing to see addressed in this year’s budget. But expectations have already been lowered by the government’s insistence there will be no new money.
The report’s second high-level theme is the engagement of government with scientific strategy. Government announcements to date seem focused on attracting international investment through changes to tax settings and regulation. I would argue this is a matter of focusing on the wrapping rather than the present: the system itself needs to be attractive to investors.
Creating a thriving research sector is also a matter of scale. International cooperation is one way for New Zealand to access efficiencies of scale. And work on building international partnerships is one area of positive intent. But we need to look at our connectivity nationally as well, and use investment to build this further.
Countries with greater GDPs than New Zealand’s invest much more in research as a proportion of GDP. It means the size of these other countries’ scientific ecosystems – if measured by total expenditure – is three to four times New Zealand’s on a per capita basis.
A matter of scale
Per-capita scale matters because it tells us how easy it is for researchers to find someone else with the right skillset or necessary equipment. It tells us how likely it is for a student to find an expert in New Zealand to teach them, rather than needing to go overseas.
And it tells us how quickly start-up companies in emerging technologies will be able to find the skilled employees they need. A thriving university system that attracts young people to develop the research skills needed by advanced technology companies is a key part of this challenge.
The government’s science sector reform aims to increase its contribution to economic growth. But research contributes to economic growth when scientists can really “lean in” with confidence to commercialising and translating their science.
That can’t happen if budgets don’t fund the critical mass, connectivity and resources to stimulate the transition to a thriving science system.
Nicola Gaston receives funding from the Tertiary Education Commission as the Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology. She also receives funding from the Marsden Fund. All research funding goes to the University of Auckland to pay the costs of the research she is employed to do.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A study published in BMJ Open looks at the association between herpes simplex virus type 1 and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Sheona Scales, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK:
“There’s an increasing amount of evidence that suggests our body’s response to certain viruses could put us at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in later life.
“These recent findings from a large study using US health records propose that infection with HSV-1 – a common virus that causes cold sores – may be associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers also state that taking medicines to treat HSV-1 infections could reduce the risk, but this is still very early work and needs more investigation.
“Despite the large sample size, this research has limitations partly due to only using health records and administrative claims data. Most people infected with HSV-1 don’t have any symptoms so some infections might not have been recorded. Infections predating the information recorded are also not available. Although cases were matched with controls, diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the early stages, remains a challenge.
“The study authors found that some people receiving medicines to treat HSV-1 infections had a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, however a lot more work is needed to unpick this.
“We know there are 14 established risk factors for dementia, and there’s not enough evidence to include infections in this list. This study doesn’t tell us if infections are causing the risk, it only shows an association. Further research is needed to understand what the underlying biology around this is.”
Prof Cornelia van Duijn, Professor of Epidemiology at the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, said:
“Again a carefully conducted study adding to the growing evidence that various common viruses may determine the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, in particular in the elderly (70+ years).
“Matching Alzheimer’s patients carefully with controls in the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus claims database, the study further shows that treating those with an active herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) infection with antiherpetic medication reduces the risk and postpones the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Smaller but significant effects are also seen for HSV-2 and varicella zoster virus (VZV). With many GPs and the population being unaware of the dementia related benefits of treating HSV infections and preventing VZV activation through vaccination, it is time to call for actions informing those working in primary care as well as the population at large.”
Dr David Vickers, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada, said:
“Declining HSV-1 rates in the U.S. since the late-70’s challenge the authors’ claim that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) will surge without intervention. This pharma-funded research exaggerates the role of HSV-1, failing to appreciate its absence in 99.56% of AD cases. The observed 17% hazard reduction with antiherpetic drugs translates to a mere nine-month delay in AD onset, offering no meaningful relief to the US$305 billion costs for treatment.
“The study’s data source makes its findings ungeneralisable, and it overstates a minor infection as a ‘public health priority’ to justify unnecessary treatment.”
Prof Tara Spires-Jones, Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said:
“This study reports that diagnosis of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection is associated with increased risk of diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia. Scientists examined data from almost 700,000 people in a medical insurance claims database and found that in addition to an increased proportion of people with Alzheimer’s disease having a diagnosis of HSV-1, people with HSV-1 who were treated for the viral infection with “antiherpetic” medication were less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who did not have treatment.
“This is a well-conducted study adding to strong data in the field linking HSV-1 and other viral infections to increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but it is important to note that HSV-1 infection, which is extremely common in the population, is by no means a guarantee that someone will develop Alzheimer’s.
“Why viral infections may increase risk of dementia is not fully understood, but the most likely explanation is that infections increase inflammation in the body and contribute to age-related brain inflammation. More research is needed to understand the best way to protect our brains from Alzheimer’s disease as we age, including a better understanding of links between viral infection and Alzheimer’s risk.”
Dr Richard Oakley, Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“This study adds to the growing interest in a possible link between the virus that causes cold sores and Alzheimer’s disease. Results from this observational study suggested that people with recorded cold sore infections were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and interestingly those prescribed antiviral drugs had a slightly lower risk.
“But this doesn’t prove that cold sores cause Alzheimer’s disease, or that antivirals prevent it. The data came from insurance records, often based on self-reported symptoms which may miss or misclassify infections, and didn’t track how often people had cold sores or how consistently they took medication.
“Much more research is needed to explore exactly how viruses might be involved and before we can draw firm conclusions. It is critical we explore every avenue to understand the complex causes of the diseases which cause dementia – infections are a growing area of interest.
“If you are worried about a cold sore or your general health, be sure to seek the appropriate help from a health professional.”
From the Spanish SMC:
Prof Alberto Ascherio, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (United States) and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, said:
“This is a high-quality study that stands out mainly for its sample size. The results confirm previous findings that people with a history of cold sores have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and that this risk appears to be reduced in people who receive antiviral treatment.
“This is an observational study based on electronic data of varying quality, so the conclusions cannot be considered definitive. For example, the vast majority of cold sore episodes are not reported in medical records, so the study’s conclusions apply to a highly selected subgroup of individuals with clinical episodes of cold sores, perhaps due to clinical severity or the presence of other factors. For this reason, it would be premature for people with cold sores to worry about having an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, there is growing evidence that viral infections may affect the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and it is important to initiate more definitive research.”
From the Australian SMC:
Prof Ashley Bush, Clinical Lead Mental Health Mission at The Florey, Australia, said:
“This is an important, large, case-control epidemiology study that shows that people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease or with other Alzheimer-like dementia (e.g. fronto-temporal dementia) are substantially (about 80%) more likely to have been infected with the viruses that cause cold sores, genital herpes, chicken pox or shingles. Further, people who were taking antivirals for cold sores were 17% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease over a 15 year period.
“These findings come in the wake of another recent report1 that showed that shingles vaccination decreased the probability of a new dementia diagnosis during the follow-up period of 7 years by 2%. Some scientists like Prof Ruth Itzhaki in Manchester and the late Rob Moir at Harvard have proposed that dementias like Alzheimer’s are provoked by viral infection. Herpes virus lives dormant in nerve cells, and it is thought that the pathology of the dementia is brought about by a defence to these infection gone wrong.
“It is unlikely that viral infection can explain all causes of dementia, but these recent papers implicate the infections are playing a role in accelerating these diseases. It certainly encourages more research in this direction and as to whether lifelong antivirals should be considered as preventive therapy for people who have had one of these infections.”
1(Pomirchy M, Bommer C, Pradella F, Michalik F, Peters R, Geldsetzer P. Herpes Zoster Vaccination and Dementia Occurrence. JAMA. 2025 Apr 23; Epub 2025 Apr 23)
Prof Brenda Gannon, Professor of the Health Economics of Ageing at the University of Queensland, said:
“This research provides further evidence for the link between the common cold sores from HSV1 and Alzheimer’s Disease. The study now proposes that people with HSV who are treated with anti-viral medicine are less likely to develop AD. Using large scale administrative data from the US, the findings are suggestive of a protective effect of anti-viral treatment. This could be beneficial for Australians who suffer from the common cold sores and who would benefit from anti-viral treatment for their cold sores. It does not mean it could reduce the probability of AD.
“Further research would be required to ensure the study is more widely representative, since the authors note that not all populations are included in the data, e.g. those over 65 who receive free health care (Medicare). The study does not provide detail on who may benefit, for example does it help disadvantaged groups more, and who does it work together with other non-pharmacological treatments for lifestyle improvement.
“Overall, the study indicates some potential, but much more research would be required to determine if the anti-viral therapies for people with cold cores, is in fact going to reduce their probability of getting Alzheimer’s disease.
“As the authors state, it does not indicate cause and effect, but they do find it a potential avenue to explore further.
“The study did not include public involvement – but inclusion of the public, even on an advisory capacity would be useful, to help design the research questions and relevant factors included in the study.
“From a health economics perspective, it is unlikely that anti-viral therapy would be funded for the Australian population, until further evidence on effectiveness in prevention and then cost-effectiveness overall, including additional use of health care resources, is provided. More details on the health and socio-economics status of individuals are also warranted, to help determine who may benefit from the therapy.”
‘Association between herpes simplex virus type 1 and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease: a retrospective case control study’ by Yunhao Liu et al. was published in BMJ Open at 23.30 on Tuesday 20 May.
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093946
Declared interests
Cornelia van Duijn: “I receive funding from GSK (related to VZV vaccination) and NovoNordisk (unrelated to virus treatment/prevention), and have received funding from JNJ/Jansen Pharmaceutics (unrelated to virus treatment/prevention).”
David Vickers: “I have no interests or conflicts, financial or otherwise, to declare.”
Tara Spires-Jones: “I have no conflicts with this study but have received payments for consulting, scientific talks, or collaborative research over the past 10 years from AbbVie, Sanofi, Merck, Scottish Brain Sciences, Jay Therapeutics, Cognition Therapeutics, Ono, and Eisai. I am also Charity trustee for the British Neuroscience Association and the Guarantors of Brain and serve as scientific advisor to several charities and non-profit institutions.”
Ashley Bush: “I have no relevant conflicts.”
Brenda Gannon: “No COI”
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines
Howick’s green spaces are growing stronger thanks to ecological efforts funded by the Howick Local Board — and the community is part of the story.
Across parks and reserves, an ecological restoration programme is quietly transforming the landscape in Howick.
Weeds are being removed, native plants are going in, and habitats are coming back to life. It’s all part of a wider effort happening right now to restore local nature, support wildlife, and protect our environment.
This work shows a real commitment to helping Howick’s green spaces thrive—not just now, but for the long run.
Board chair Damian Light says, “Our environment / Tō Tātou Taiao, is a key part of our local board plan. We are committed to protecting and nurturing our natural surroundings, ensuring that we leave a healthy, well-cared-for world for future generations. We can’t do this alone and we’re committed to empowering the community to take environmental action with practical support.”
Chisbury Terrace, Shelley Park.
The restoration programme spans 28 local sites, covering a total of 133 hectares. This includes well-loved places like Macleans Park, Point View Reserve, Whitford Road Esplanade, Te Naupata / Musick Point Park, and Mangemangeroa Reserve—just to name a few.
Whether it’s getting involved in planting days, joining a weeding bee, learning about native species, or simply enjoying the spaces and treating them with care, small actions add up.
Senior Ecological Specialist Jillana Robertson adds, “We’re in a constant battle against invasive species. Without pest control contracts, our parks would be overrun by weeds like moth plant and climbing asparagus, while rats and possums would devastate native wildlife. These green spaces play a vital role in erosion control, stormwater filtering, and carbon storage—but Council’s budget can’t cover it all year round. Volunteers are essential and work alongside contractors to protect these ecosystems.”
Murphy’s Bush Reserve.
As progress continues, the changes—and the benefits—will become easier to see. The goal is cleaner waterways, healthier ecosystems, and greener spaces for everyone to enjoy.
King Fern or Para at Pt View Reserve (at risk species).
Light shares, “Howick is a busy, growing part of Auckland — full of homes, shops, roads, and people. But with all that growth, we’ve lost a lot of our natural spaces. Only a small amount of native bush remains, mostly in places like Point View Reserve, Murphy’s Bush, and Mangemangeroa Reserve. These special spots are now more important than ever.”
Support is going into restoring nature across the area – through planting, pest control, and stream clean-ups – to protect wildlife, care for the land, and create clean, green spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Stay connected
Sign up to receive our Howick Local Board monthly e-newsletters.
With Budget 2025 being released tomorrow, businesses across Canterbury will be watching closely to see what’s on the table. With clear signals from the Government that this year’s budget has been signalled as a tight one, the focus for business will be on how the initiatives, continued or added, can support economic growth and create the right conditions for them to invest and grow.
Business Canterbury will be releasing a response to Budget 2025 by 3:00pm tomorrow, and Leeann Watson will be available for comment following.
On pre-Budget expectations, Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson says, “The key area businesses will be looking at is continued investment in infrastructure, careful spending to continue the downward trend in inflation and interest rates, and initiatives that enable and help boost investment in R&D and growth.
“Two key areas are top of mind for our business community, and this starts with the Government having a long-term plan that focuses on infrastructure investment. New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit continues to grow, and here in the South Island, strong connections to ports, airports, and across the supply chain are essential for the connectivity of our exports, imports and people.
“Investment in critical transport links, including the Interislander replacements and roading projects, needs to remain a priority, even in a fiscally constrained environment. When the economy turns a corner, we need the infrastructure in place to support it.
“Our latest Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey results showed increasing confidence, but this optimism hasn’t yet translated into investment. The right policy settings could shift that.
“Targeted business support that enables innovation and investment, especially among SMEs, will be hugely important as we look ahead at a better economy, but with intentions around investment and creating jobs remaining subdued. Practical and efficient support for research and development, such as accelerated depreciation for R&D activities, for example, would give businesses the confidence to invest now in future growth.
About Business Canterbury
Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is the largest business support agency in the South Island and advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.
61% of New Zealand workers would be compelled to change jobs for a higher salary
20% is the most common pay rise that would compel workers to leave
Only 40% of workers say their current salary is an accurate reflection of their expertise, experience and/or level of responsibility
Only 16% of workers believe pay is more important than job security in the current labour market.
Auckland, 21 May 2025 – Money talks for the majority of Kiwi employees with 61% of workers who say they would feel compelled to change jobs if they came across another position with a higher salary, new independent research by specialised recruiter Robert Half finds.
Meanwhile, 39% of workers say they would not be lured away from their current position by another job with a higher salary: About a quarter (24%) of workers admit they would change jobs without an increase in salary if it was the right opportunity, and 15% are content in their current role and would not move regardless of the salary offered.
How much more money do office workers want?
When asked what percentage salary increase would compel them to change jobs right now, 20% was the most common pay rise cited by workers.
The % increase that would compel workers to change jobs
% of workers who would be compelled at this increase
5%
2%
10%
9%
15%
9%
20%
13%
25%
9%
30%
8%
35%
5%
40% or above
7%
Independent survey commissioned by Robert Half among 500 full-time office workers in New Zealand.
“Money continues to be a powerful influence,” says Ronil Singh, Director at Robert Half. “But even when pay is a primary concern, many employees are weighing financial desires against the need for job security, especially as organisations focus on efficiency and streamlining operations. The balancing act between meeting immediate financial needs and building a sustainable career can be challenging in an uncertain job market.”
Workers don’t feel they are paid what they are worth
When workers were asked if they felt their current salary reflected their expertise, experience and level of responsibility, less than half (40%) agreed that they were paid appropriately.
The remaining 60% of workers state an increased salary would better reflect what they bring to their role and the work required of them. Most workers (30%) believe their salary needs to increase by 10%-20% to be an accurate reflection of their expertise, experience and/or level of responsibility.
The % salary increase required to accurately reflect the worker’s ability and position
% of workers
5%
2%
10%
10%
15%
9%
20%
11%
25%
9%
30% or above
19%
Independent survey commissioned by Robert Half among 500 full-time office workers in New Zealand.
“The research shows that many workers feel their pay doesn’t reflect their worth, revealing a disconnect between what employees expect and what they currently earn,” Singh says. “This sentiment can be due to stagnant wages despite increased responsibilities or a perception, whether accurate or not, that their compensation lags behind industry standards for similar roles.”
“To counter these sentiments, employers must offer competitive salaries that reflect the value employees bring and transparently communicate the specifics of their compensation packages to each individual. Leveraging tools such as the Robert Half’s 2025 Salary Guide will ensure employees are paid at the prevailing market rate for their roles, which can mitigate dissatisfaction and resignations.”
Job security is still important for workers
When asked whether job security is more important than salary, less than one in five (16%) workers are prepared to prioritise money ahead of having a secure job. Most workers (47%) state that both are equally important, while a similar proportion (37%) prioritise job security over their salary.
“While salary remains a key consideration, job security is also a number one priority for many workers, especially in the current economic climate. Companies that can offer both competitive compensation and a stable work environment will be best positioned to secure and retain their workforce,” concludes Singh.
Notes
About the research
The study is developed by Robert Half and was conducted online in November 2024 by an independent research company among 500 full-time office workers in finance, accounting, and IT and technology. Respondents are drawn from a sample of SMEs as well as large private, publicly-listed and public sector organisations across New Zealand. This survey is part of the international workplace survey, a questionnaire about job trends, talent management, and trends in the workplace.
About Robert Half
Robert Half is the global, specialised talent solutions provider that helps employers find their next great hire and jobseekers uncover their next opportunity. Robert Half offers both contract and permanent placement services, and is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. Robert Half New Zealand has an office in Auckland. More information on roberthalf.com/nz.
A member of the public contacted us because they’d noticed some rubbish strewn along a street. It included prescription labels with a person’s name and address. The nature of the prescription clearly indicated the condition of the patient who was being treated with the medication.
The person who discovered the prescription labels informed our Office and we contacted the agency most likely responsible and discussed the situation with them. The health agency’s rubbish was supposed to have been double-bagged, which would usually prevent spillages. However, the agency also had access to a secure shredding service and is now looking at using that service to dispose of prescription labels on cardboard packaging.
Each agency is responsible for working out a practical solution that works for their circumstances.
An individual agency needs to work out for themselves how it’s best to dispose of this kind of waste. A useful check is to ask what steps you would expect to be taken if the personal information belonged to you.
At home, you might want to rip labels off cardboard packaging and recycle the cardboard while disposing of the prescription label in some other way.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in human resources (HR) to streamline processes and enhance decision-making by helping employers efficiently sift through large volumes of job applications.
However, relying on AI tools alone to screen candidates isn’t enough to improve diversity outcomes in workplaces, according to new research by the University of South Australia.
Human resource management expert Associate Professor Connie Zheng, co-director of UniSA’s Centre for Workplace Excellence, has conducted research into how AI can affect hiring decisions when it comes to improving diversity and inclusion by reaching gender quotas, having racially diverse teams and recruiting LGBTIQA+ employees or people with disabilities.
AI tools are being used by some HR professionals to assist in the recruitment process by screening job candidates, responding to applicant emails, or focusing on specialised tasks such as CV screening, job matching or voice and video analysis.
Assoc Prof Zheng says two separate studies into the use of AI to enhance diversity and inclusion in hiring decisions looked beyond whether humans or AI make better choices.
“We explored what conditions help AI tools to actually support more diverse hiring as we found that simply having a reliable AI tool isn’t enough to improve diversity in workplace recruitment,” she says.
“Diversity only improves when the AI system can explain its decisions in terms of diversity, when hiring focuses on qualitative goals and not just numbers, and when an organisation has clear diversity guidelines.
“These factors encourage HR professionals and decision-makers to reflect more carefully on their choices. In short, AI can help improve diversity in hiring, but only when used under the right conditions and organisational support for the application of new technology, as well as clear diversity, equity and inclusion guidelines.”
Despite the growing popularity of AI in many fields including education, health care, manufacturing and finance, many HR professionals are hesitant to adopt the tools.
Assoc Prof Zheng says some companies have several concerns and are reluctant to invest in AI for hiring decisions because they’re apprehensive about the limitations of the technology, particularly in terms of biased data.
She says many also feel their existing HR teams are competent enough to manage recruitment without AI, despite these concerns shifting if HR departments face staffing reductions, increased workloads or heightened demands for efficiency.
“Despite these reservations, many organisations view AI as a way to significantly save costs by streamlining manual processes. Some companies have the mindset that using AI in HR is efficiency driven – it will make them work faster. The main goal of using AI is to expedite the process, particularly when dealing with large volumes of job applications,” Assoc Prof Zheng says.
“With AI, a hirer can use the technology to filter appropriate applicants rather than sifting through hundreds of CVs and job applications manually. The problem when the main goal is efficiency is that diversity issues often then take a backseat.”
Whether the use of AI tools in recruiting helps reduce discrimination or instead intensifies the problem remains a subject of controversial debate. Assoc Prof Zheng’s ongoing collaborative research with HUMAINE – Human Centred AI Network led by Professor Uta Wilkens at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany – has revealed that simply providing a reliable, AI support tool that is considerate of diversity needs doesn’t automatically lead to diversity enhancement.
“Unless the organisation and its hirers are conscious about diversity and justice issues, using AI for talent acquisition isn’t going to lead to more diverse and inclusive outcomes,” Assoc Prof Zheng says.
To access the research papers:
Wilkens, U., Lutzeyer, I., Zheng, C., Beser, A., & Prilla, M. (2025). Augmenting diversity in hiring decisions with artificial intelligence tools. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 1–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2025.2492867
Zheng, C., Wilkens, U. (2025). Antecedents of Enhancing Diversity and Inclusion with AI Tools—An HR Perspective. In: Moussa, M., McMurray, A. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Breakthrough Technologies in Contemporary Organisations. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-2516-1_12
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Contact for interview: Connie Zheng, Associate Professor in Human Resource Management, Co-Director, Centre for Workplace Excellence, UniSA, E:Connie.Zheng@unisa.edu.au Media contact: Melissa Keogh, Communications Officer, UniSA M: +61 403 659 154 E:melissa.keogh@unisa.edu.au
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
Jerusalem, 21 May 2025 – An insufficient amount of aid is being allowed into the Strip, merely a smokescreen to pretend the siege is over.
Meanwhile, at least 20 medical facilities in Gaza have been damaged, or forced partially or completely out of service in the past week by advancing Israeli ground operations, intensified airstrikes, and widespread evacuation orders.
As people remain in desperate need of medical care and aid, Israeli authorities must stop the deliberate asphyxiation of Gaza and the annihilation of its healthcare system, that is underpinning their campaign of ethnic cleansing, says Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
“The Israeli authorities’ decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza, while in fact keeping them barely surviving”, says Pascale Coissard, MSF emergency coordinator in Khan Younis. “This plan is a way to instrumentalise aid, making it a tool to further Israeli forces’ military objectives.”
Before October 2023, 500 aid trucks were entering Gaza every day, according to the UN. The current authorisation for 100 per day, when the situation is so dire, is woefully inadequate.
Meanwhile, evacuation orders are continuing to uproot the population, while Israeli forces are still subjecting health facilities to intensive attacks.
On 19 May, between 6am to 6.30, MSF teams reported hearing almost one strike per minute in Khan Younis. One of these strikes hit Nasser hospital compound, 100 metres away from the intensive care unit and the inpatient department that are run by MSF. This is the third time in two months that Nasser hospital compound has been struck, once again depriving people of treatment and care. To reduce exposure, our teams were forced to temporarily close both the outpatient department and sedation room for patients awaiting or recovering from surgery, as well as suspend physiotherapy and mental health activities, which are essential for burn patients – most of whom are children.
Yesterday’s strike also severely damaged the Ministry of Health pharmacy store in Nasser Hospital. This puts additional pressure on supplies at a time when medical stocks are running critically low due to the siege.
As part of the expansion of their ground operations, Israeli forces have issued widescale evacuation orders, further limiting people’s access to medical care and MSF’s ability to provide it. On 19 May, for example, an evacuation order covering almost the entire eastern part of Khan Younis, at the edge of Nasser hospital, forced people to immediately move towards Al Mawasi area.
The Site Management Cluster estimates that over 138,900 people were forcibly displaced between 15-20 May. The intensified Israeli bombardments and evacuation orders across Khan Younis have forced MSF to maintain only lifesaving activities in the emergency rooms of Al Attar and Al Mawasi clinics. Since yesterday, Al Hakker clinic, in Deir Al Balah, has also been closed. Before that, MSF teams had been providing more than 350 consultations per day for paediatric, antenatal and post-natal care, psychological first aid and ambulatory nutritional treatment among other things.
A few days earlier, on 15 May, Israeli authorities issued an evacuation order to Sheikh Radwan basic healthcare centre in Gaza City, which led to the closure of the facility. Before that, with MSF’s support, the Ministry of Health teams were providing around 3000 consultations per day in an area with estimated 250,000 people. This was the last fully functional public basic healthcare clinic in the area.
According to the Ministry of Health, following the besiege of the Indonesian Hospital, all public hospitals in North Gaza are now out of service The MSF field hospital in Deir Al Balah has seen its bed capacity rise to 150 per cent over the last few days, forcing them to add additional staff and increase their baseline by 20 beds. According to the UN, there are currently around 1,000 functional hospital beds across the Strip, while previously to the war the bed capacity was 3500.
Attacks on civilians and healthcare must stop now and aid must enter Gaza in sufficient quantities and in a way that allows it to reach those who need it. Israel’s allies must exert all their pressure to make this happen as a matter of extreme urgency. Every day that is lost reinforces their complicity in the annihilation of the people of Gaza.
MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au
With the Government set to release its Budget tomorrow, Greenpeace is calling for bold investment in climate and nature, but is bracing for the worst.
“Given that this Government justlegalised killing kiwi, we’re bracing for a Scorched Earth Budget,” says Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Gen Toop.
Greenpeace has been critical of the Luxon-led Government’s anti-environment policies, but says that the PM’swar on naturedoes not have to continue in the 2025 Budget.
Budget 2024 decreased funding for DOC to such an extent that last year the agency wasasking for public donationsto fund its work and is this year reportedly facing a30% shortfallfor maintaining its hut and track network.
“This Budget is a chance for the Government to change course from its war on nature,” says Toop. “It’s a chance to invest in climate action, protect biodiversity, and support everyday people with the cost of living – that’s what a responsible, future-focused Budget would do.”
“People have a right to clean water, a livable climate, and groceries and power bills they can afford. Any budget that prioritises corporate profits and tax cuts for landlords instead of those basic rights is not the kind of budget we need,” says Toop.
Greenpeace says a Budget that truly tackles the climate, biodiversity, and cost of living crises would:
Make a significant investment in distributed solar to bring down power bills, reduce emissions and help communities generate their own energy.
Create an ecological farming fund to support farmers to transition away from intensive dairy and take advantage of the rise in demand for plant-based food.
Bring back Jobs for Nature, funding real employment in the restoration of forests, rivers and wetlands to combat the biodiversity crisis.
Fund it all by taxing corporations and the ultra-wealthy, starting with bringing the country’s biggest climate polluter, Fonterra and intensive dairying into the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Since taking the reins, the Government has abolished theclean car discount; forced the Ministry for the Environment, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Conservation tocut jobs; canceled theAuckland Light Rail Project; cutpublic transport subsidiesfor young people; and steadfastly refused to put agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme.
The PSA supports the Waitangi Tribunal’s call to stop progressing the Regulatory Standards Bill until there has been meaningful engagement with Māori.
The Public Service Association (PSA) Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is deeply opposed to the Bill which is being fast-tracked by the Government despite overwhelming Māori and Tangata Te Tiriti opposition, and serious constitutional concerns.
Driven by Minister for Regulation David Seymour, the Bill prioritises personal liberty and property rights while posing a direct threat to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the rights of Māori, PSA Te Kaihautū Māori Janice Panoho says.
In an Interim report the Tribunal found that the Bill would be of constitutional significance and relevance to Māori but that Māori were not consulted. The Tribunal therefore called for a halt to the Bill until there had been meaningful engagement with Māori.
On Monday (May 19) Cabinet approved sending the Bill for debate in Parliament, bypassing meaningful consultation and undermining the jurisdiction of the Waitangi Tribunal, which convened an urgent hearing last week in response to the bill, Panoho says.
More than 18,000 individuals supported a collective Waitangi Tribunal claim (Wai 3470) led by Toitū te Tiriti and other Māori groups, reflecting the widespread concern that the Bill is not only anti-Treaty but actively hostile to all New Zealanders.
“This legislation represents a serious constitutional overreach and an attack on the foundational principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” Panoho says.
“It entrenches economic ideology at the expense of Māori rights and tino rangatiratanga. Rushing it through Cabinet without proper consultation dishonours Te Tiriti and shows a complete lack of good faith by the Crown. Māori must not be an afterthought in legislative processes that could redefine our rights in law,” Panoho says.
“This is not neutral policy, it is a calculated shift toward deregulation and privatisation, one that threatens public accountability and undermines the government’s ability to protect collective wellbeing.
“By prioritising property rights over social justice, environmental sustainability, and Treaty obligations, the Bill fundamentally alters the role of government in a way that is unbalanced and deeply concerning.
“The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi urges all political parties and communities to reject the Bill. We must not allow our democratic processes to be hijacked by ideology that seeks to silence Te Tiriti, disempower communities, and privilege profit over people and planet,” Panoho says.
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahiis Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
