Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
We reviewed the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) and took note of the recommendation of the 35th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 8 October 2024.REVIEWWe discussed the developments in Myanmar and expressed our deep concern over the escalation of conflicts and humanitarian situation there. We denounced the continued acts of violence in Myanmar against civilians and public facilities and called for immediate cessation, and urged all parties involved to take concrete action to immediately halt indiscriminate violence, denounce any escalation, exercise utmost restraint, ensure the protection and safety of all civilians and create conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue.Download the full document here.
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Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau, on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR. They discussed, among others, ways to enhance ASEAN-Canada Strategic Partnership.
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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Results of monthly survey on business situation of small and medium-sized enterprises for September 2024 Results of monthly survey on business situation of small and medium-sized enterprises for September 2024 ******************************************************************************************
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (October 10) the results of the Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for September 2024. The current diffusion index (DI) on business receipts amongst SMEs increased from 41.3 in August 2024 in the contractionary zone to 41.6 in September 2024, whereas the one-month’s ahead (i.e. October 2024) outlook DI on business receipts was 47.0. Analysed by sector, the current DIs on business receipts, despite below the 50-mark, rose by varying degrees in September 2024 as compared with previous month for many surveyed sectors, particularly for the logistics (from 35.9 to 40.3) and restaurants (from 34.7 to 36.5). The current DI on new orders for the import and export trades increased from 43.4 in August 2024 to 44.5 in September 2024, whereas the outlook DI on new orders in one month’s time (i.e. October 2024) was 46.1. Commentary A Government spokesman said that overall business sentiment among SMEs stabilised in September, and their expectations on the business situation in one month’s time turned better. The overall employment situation also improved further in September. The spokesman added that while various uncertainties in the external environment may have some negative impacts, US interest rate cut should bode well for business sentiment. The Central Government’s latest policy measures for supporting the Mainland economy as well as its various measures benefitting Hong Kong will also provide support. The Government will monitor the situation closely. Further information The Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises aims to provide a quick reference, with minimum time lag, for assessing the short-term business situation faced by SMEs. SMEs covered in this survey refer to establishments with fewer than 50 persons engaged. Respondents were asked to exclude seasonal fluctuations in reporting their views. Based on the views collected from the survey, a set of diffusion indices (including current and outlook diffusion indices) is compiled. A reading above 50 indicates that the business condition is generally favourable, whereas that below 50 indicates otherwise. As for statistics on the business prospects of prominent establishments in Hong Kong, users may refer to the publication entitled “Report on Quarterly Business Tendency Survey” released by the C&SD. The results of the survey should be interpreted with care. The survey solicits feedback from a panel sample of about 600 SMEs each month and the survey findings are thus subject to sample size constraint. Views collected from the survey refer only to those of respondents on their own establishments rather than those on the respective sectors they are engaged in. Besides, in this type of opinion survey on expected business situation, the views collected in the survey are affected by the events in the community occurring around the time of enumeration, and it is difficult to establish precisely the extent to which respondents’ perception of the business situation accords with the underlying trends. For this survey, main bulk of the data were collected around the last week of the reference month. More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey on the Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080015&scode=300). Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7246; email: sme-survey@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024Issued at HKT 16:30
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $12 million (with photos) Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ketamine worth about $12 million (with photos) *********************************************************************************
Hong Kong Customs effected two dangerous drug trafficking cases between October 7 and yesterday (October 9), and seized about 24.5 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $12 million. Three persons connected with the cases were arrested. In the first case, through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs on September 27 inspected a seaborne consignment, declared as carrying household goods and personal effects and arriving in Hong Kong from Germany, at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized a total of about 15.5kg of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of about $7.5 million inside three different boxes of goods, including toys, rice cookers and protein powder. Upon a follow-up investigation, Customs officers conducted a controlled delivery operation on October 7 and arrested a 31-year-old male consignee, who claimed to be a driver, in Sham Shui Po. The investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation. For the second case, through risk assessment, Customs officers on October 7 inspected an express air parcel, declared as carrying monosodium glutamate and arriving in Hong Kong from the Netherlands, at the airport. Upon examination, about 9kg of suspected ketamine, disguised by packaging of monosodium glutamate, was found in the parcel. The estimated market value of the drugs was about $4.4 million. After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a male youth and a man, aged 16 and 20, who were suspected to be connected with the case in Chai Wan and Tsz Wan Shan respectively. An investigation is ongoing. Customs will continue to enhance enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary returns. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods. Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment. Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour report hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024Issued at HKT 16:15
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CHP announces two new confirmed melioidosis infection cases CHP announces two new confirmed melioidosis infection cases ***********************************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 10) said that two new confirmed melioidosis infection cases had been recorded from October 4 to 9. The first case involves an 83-year-old female with underlying illness who lives in Sham Shui Po. She developed a fever and cough on September 20 and was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital on October 1. The second case involves an 82-year-old male with underlying illness who lives in Kwun Tong. He developed a right neck swelling in August, and a fever, cough and shortness of breath on September 20 and was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on the same day. The patients are in stable condition. Their clinical samples were confirmed positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei upon testing. The CHP is investigating the infection source of the cases. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing. So far, 18 melioidosis infection cases have been recorded in Hong Kong this year. In 2023, 17 melioidosis infection cases were recorded. A spokesman for the CHP reiterated that person-to-person transmission and animal-to-human transmission are rare, but melioidosis bacteria can survive in the local environment. Melioidosis is an endemic disease in Hong Kong and melioidosis cases have been recorded in Hong Kong each year. According to literature, infection cases are more common after typhoons or storms. The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei of melioidosis in soil and muddy water may become exposed to the ground after typhoons or storms, and the bacteria could spread more easily with strong winds or storms. As such, the number of melioidosis cases may increase. The CHP reminded members of the public that melioidosis can be spread by contaminated soil and water during and after typhoons and storms. Where practicable, people should stay indoors during typhoons and storms, avoid travelling to areas with potential flooding, and do not wade in or have contact with muddy water and soil. In addition, high-risk individuals should avoid paths near stormwater drains where aerosols may be generated from contaminated water. Members of the public should also take the following preventive measures against infection:
Avoid contact with contaminated soil; Wear appropriate protective clothing or footwear when participating in activities with possible contact with soil or water, e.g. using gloves and wearing boots. High-risk individuals may also consider wearing a surgical mask; Wash or shower after exposure to contaminated water or soil; Always clean any wounds as soon as possible and cover any cuts or grazes with waterproof dressings; Wash hands with liquid soap and water after handling soil or gardening; Observe food hygiene and avoid drinking raw water; and Travellers can contract the disease through outdoor water sports. Risk of infection can be minimised by avoiding exposure to water sources (such as rivers, ponds or lakes) that might be contaminated.
???The CHP appealed to members of the public to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms, in particular people with diabetes or other immunocompromised conditions, in order to receive an appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment. For more information on melioidosis, please visit the website of the CHP at www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/24/101110.html.
Ends/Thursday, October 10, 2024Issued at HKT 17:15
The advent of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022 revolutionized humanoid robotics, allowing for task execution without explicit programming. As developed nations grapple with labor shortages from aging populations and declining birth rates, the demand for automation grows. Humanoid robots are emerging as vital solutions, particularly in eldercare, yet their successful integration hinges on societal acceptance and trust, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s latest Strategic Intelligence report, “Deep Dive into Humanoid Robots,” analyses humanoid robots’ scope and prospects for the coming decade. A new species of AI-enabled humanoid robots are designed to mimic human form and behavior and co-mingle and co-work with humans in human-designed environments. They are being intensively trialed in active work environments by Tesla, Amazon, and BYD ahead of commercial deployment at scale later in the decade.
As humanoid robots advance in terms of reliability, autonomy, and contextual awareness, there will be an increased demand for them to take on hazardous or undesirable jobs, especially in sectors where a labor shortage is expected, such as eldercare.
However, traditional Japanese and European robot companies are not making the running. Instead, Tesla, UBtech Robotics, and a clutch of breakthrough startups, including Fourier Intelligence, Figure AI, 1X Technologies, and Agility Robotics are leading the way.
Michael Orme, Senior Consultant in the Strategic team at GlobalData, comments: “Humanoid robot deployment will likely start in China, South Korea, and Japan. Many countries and global industries are already facing serious prospective skilled labor shortages in these sectors and require higher levels of sustainable productivity across the board.”
Martina Raveni, Analyst in the Strategic team at GlobalData, continues: “Due to low fertility rates and longer life expectancies, populations are shrinking and aging. This is leading to labor shortages across many industries, especially eldercare. It is difficult to see how many demographically stricken societies will avoid eldercare catastrophes and fiscal crises in the future without help from humanoid robots in hospitals and homes.”
Edward Bickerton, Associate Analyst in the Strategic team at GlobalData, says: ”We are very much in the early stages right now, and first-generation humanoid robots, despite highly impressive demos—albeit aided and abetted by special effects—are far from being general purpose, fully autonomous machines.”
Raveni concludes: “The success of evolving humanoid technologies will hinge not only on their technical prowess but also on their seamless integration into society. For these robots to truly thrive, they must go beyond mere functionality; they must build trust and foster collaboration with the communities they are designed to serve.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following press release is issued on behalf of the Independent Commission Against Corruption:
The ICAC will kick start a new round of annual opinion survey next Monday (October 14) to gauge public attitudes towards a probity society and their understanding about corruption.
“The ICAC is committed to combating corruption and together with the community, the Commission strives to safeguard Hong Kong’s status as a clean society. This year marks the golden jubilee of the ICAC and the Commission is taking the opportunity to appeal to members of the public for their continued support. Citizens who are participating in the annual opinion survey are encouraged to express their views which would help the Commission formulate effective and holistic anti-graft strategies,” said an ICAC spokesman.
Commencing on October 14 till December, the survey will be conducted independently by a professional research agency appointed by the ICAC. Around 1 500 Hong Kong residents, aged between 15 and 74, will be selected for interviews by random sampling.
Selected households will receive notification letters issued by the ICAC. During the survey period, uniformed interviewers bearing authorisation letters issued by the ICAC and staff identity cards of the research agency will visit the households between 10am and 9.45pm. Each face-to-face interview will last about 10 to 15 minutes. Selected households are welcome to schedule the interview with the research agency or the ICAC.
All personal information and opinion collected from the survey will not be disclosed to any other government departments or organisations. All data collected will be compiled in aggregate and the completed questionnaires will be destroyed after completion of the survey.
Details of the survey are available on the ICAC corporate website (www.icac.org.hk). For enquiries, members of the public may call the ICAC survey enquiry hotline 2826 3267 between 10am and 10pm during the survey period.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today briefed the 27th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit on the progress of APT Cooperation. The APT countries reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening and deepening the APT framework, which plays a key role in fostering regional cooperation and addressing emerging issues. The Meeting also welcomed the progress of APT cooperation and discussed enhancing cooperation across various sectors. The Leaders adopted an APT Statement on Strengthening the Connectivity of Regional Supply Chains in support of Lao PDR’s ASEAN Chairmanship theme this year.
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Angry, accusatory partisan exchanges over the Middle East war have dominated federal politics this week. But for most ordinary voters the issue remains “over there”.
Apart from the minorities for whom it has an immediate impact – Jewish people frightened by antisemitism, the Muslim community, those with families in Lebanon and elsewhere – it’s a tragedy without tangible relevance to their day-to-day lives.
On Thursday however, Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned the foreign crisis could feed directly into the domestic cost-of-living crisis, via the price of oil.
Midway through this week, oil was trading 11% lower than it was a year ago, but 7% higher than a week-and-a-half ago, Chalmers told a news conference.
Treasury estimates that if prices were 10% higher for an entire year, this would reduce Australia’s GDP by 0.1% and increase the consumer price index by 0.4 percentage points.
Nothing is certain about the coming months but the potential implications are obvious. Consumers would feel the effects at the petrol pump of the higher oil prices.
The Reserve Bank will also be watching the possible trajectory of oil prices, together with all the other indicators relevant to its decisions on interest rates. This is against the background of the government’s desperation for a rate cut (or two) before the election.
Although an increase in fuel prices (hitting businesses as well as families) would not be the government’s fault, it would be blamed.
According to Labor, at present there’s a disconnect between, on the one hand, the partisan political heat the Middle East war is generating and, on the other, the public’s lack of engagement with the issue.
Voters not concentraing on the Middle East
Labor sources say focus group research this week, done with swinging voters, found most people aren’t closely following Middle East events.
Beyond that, they are generally satisfied with the government’s stand and don’t think the crisis is distracting it from the cost of living (which is separate from how they think the government is handling the cost of living).
This accords with this week’s Essential poll, in which 56% said they were satisfied with the government’s response on the Israel-Gaza war. Another 30% thought the government had been too supportive of Israel; 14% thought it had been too harsh on Israel.
Except among some of those directly invested, the Middle East crisis is not likely to be a vote changer.
In the domestic political battle, Dutton is trying to use the conflict to paint Albanese as weak. That’s a long bow on the issue itself, although more generally the prime minister and his government have come to be seen as having lost their way.
While Dutton is trying to define Albanese negatively, Albanese is attempting to make Dutton a bigger target.
NBN sale a distraction
Thus on Wednesday the prime minister, shortly before he jumped on his plane to attend the ASEAN-Australia summit in Laos, personally introduced legislation that would ensure the NBN remained in public hands.
If the Coalition didn’t vote for the bill, that would show it would sell the NBN, Labor claimed. It was a crude attempt at scare politics, easily seen through. The Coalition is not suggesting it would sell the NBN and if it did, would most people care? Anyway, originally Labor planned for the NBN to be privatised. Dutton ridiculed the tactic.
As we look to election year, the 2025 parliamentary sitting calendar came out this week. It has a fortnight sitting in February and pencils in a budget for March 25, which would set up a May poll. Of course this doesn’t rule out an earlier (March) election although Albanese has said more than once he plans a pre-election budget.
Regardless, we are already in the election campaign. At caucus on Tuesday Albanese was, for the second time recently, talking about the second term agenda.
Announcements like confetti
Announcements are raining down like confetti especially related to cost-of-living issues. Supermarkets are being heavily targeted. Launching his merger reform legislation on Thursday, Chalmers said every supermarket merger would be screened, regardless of whether it fell under the new arrangements.
Present polls are showing the most likely election result, to be delivered by sour voters, is a hung parliament with a minority Labor government.
Albanese told caucus he was focused on winning majority government. Dutton knows that if the Coalition can’t win, the more crossbenchers it can force Labor to need to rely on, the more unstable a second-term Labor government would be.
Both sides have a great deal of bedding-down to do before the actual campaign.
Key items on Labor’s legislative agenda aren’t just not introduced, they are unseen – for instance, on gambling advertising, social media restrictions for young people, electoral funding.
Major bills are stuck in the parliament – notably on housing, where the Greens may eventually do a deal but are stringing out the pain.
On the other side, the Coalition has released minimal policy. On its controversial nuclear power plan, it has put out minimal details, in particular refusing to produce costings. It can’t hold back everything until the last moment.
Will the campaign even matter?
When the formal campaign comes, how much will it matter?
There is the old saying “you can’t fatten the pig on market day”. In other words, the election result may be decided well before the actual campaign.
What do the last three elections (2016, 2019, 2022) tell us about the importance of the formal campaign? In each case, the result was narrow, a matter of a handful of seats.
In 2022, there was probably nothing Morrison could have done in the last weeks to salvage the situation – to use another farm metaphor, his goose was cooked. In the event, he ran a bad campaign.
In 2016 prime minister Malcolm Turnbull just scraped home; Turnbull’s flawed campaigning maximised the number of seats he lost.
In 2019, when it seemed Bill Shorten was almost certain to take Labor to victory, its defeat may have been sealed in the campaign itself, although its heavy policy load always put it in a precarious situation.
In 2022 Albanese was judged a poor campaigner. Aware of this, Labor strategists will be doing everything to make sure he is fully prepared for “gotcha” questions (on which he faltered last time) and the other hazards that can arise spontaneously.
Dutton’s forte is negativity, his natural style is the attack. But in those final weeks, more will be needed.
One challenge in leaving policy releases late is that holes can slip through, inviting slip ups.
Dutton has far from established himself as a rounded alternative prime minister. Indeed his current approach on the Middle East, completely lacking nuance, raises questions about how he would handle the complexities of foreign policy generally. It has not been reassuring.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Secretary-General of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS), Lee Hee-Sup, in a pull-aside meeting on the margins of the 27th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit held in Vientiane. They exchanged views on the collaboration between the ASEAN Secretariat and the TCS to further contribute to APT cooperation.
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Evidence from microscopic palynomorphs–, organic remains, combined with geochemical assessments have indicated significant potential for hydrocarbon generation in the eastern region of the South Karanpura coalfield in the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand. The eastern Sirka coalfield in this region have exhibited higher potential for hydrocarbon generation compared to the Giddi coalfield in the north.
The South Karanpura coalfield, consisting of 28 major coal blocks, is well-established for its substantial deposits of workable coal. However, with the rising demand for energy and the growing interest in hydrocarbon exploration, the focus has increasingly shifted towards the potential for coal bed methane/shale gas (unconventional resource) generation within this region. This pursuit of green energy necessitates an environment conducive to hydrocarbon preservation, which is critical for the nation’s energy strategy.
The potential for hydrocarbon generation within a source rock is largely determined by the concentration of organic matter, which is influenced by specific environmental conditions.
To assess this potential, scientists from Birbal Sahni institution of Palaeosciences, Lucknow (BSIP), an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) carried out a comprehensive study involving analysis of microscopic remains like pollen, spores, and certain microscopic organic matter (palynological), coupled with a laboratory procedure called Rock-Eval pyrolysis, for assessing the potential of the rock samples in an open system through the cracking of the organic matter, on sediments from the Sirka and Giddi C areas of the Damodar Basin.
Samples were collected from coal, carbonaceous shale, and sandstone layers of freshly exposed quarry faces of Sirka Colliery and Giddi C Colliery of Argada area, Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand, respectively. Parameters such as palynofacies, free hydrocarbons (S1), heavy hydrocarbons (S2) pyrolyzable carbon (PC), residual hydrocarbon (RC), were analysed in the samples.
These collected sediments, belonging to the Permian (Barakar) deposits, point to favourable conditions for high hydrocarbon resource potential in the eastern region of the South Karanpura coalfield.
This research published in Journal of Asian Earth Sciences-X provides essential insights that can guide future exploration efforts, contributing to energy resource development and national energy security. More detailed study is required for the confirmation of the economic exploration.
Susu le susuga i le Failauga Fa’amaoni – Semi Seruvakula
Director & UNESCO Representative to the Pacific States – Dr Shamila, Nair – Bedouelle
Esteemed CEOs and Stakeholders
Ladies and gentlemen,
Talofa lava!
It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this important workshop to validate our National Science, Technology & Innovation Policy. I acknowledge the distinguished group of stakeholders and policymakers here with us today, who share a passion for advancing science, technology and innovation in our nation, ensuring it serves the public good.
Today marks a crucial moment in our collective journey. As we gather here, we’re not just discussing policy; we’re shaping how the future of science, technology and innovation interacts with our society. In recent years, we’ve witnessed advancements in research in these areas, from groundbreaking discoveries in agriculture and healthcare to innovative technologies addressing food security and climate change, as well as leaps of development in artificial intelligence. Yet, these advancements come with complex challenges that require thoughtful frameworks.
The purpose of this workshop is clear, we are here to validate our National Science, Technology & Innovation policy in its latest draft form, ensuring it is robust, transparent, and most importantly, relevant in shaping the diverse perspectives of the scientific community in Samoa.
Validation is not merely an exercise in approval; it is an opportunity for critical reflection and constructive dialogue. It is about asking the right questions: Is the proposed policy addressing the most pressing scientific challenges? Does it promote collaboration amongst the stakeholders and across our sectors? Does it foster innovation?
As we embark on validating and hopefully launching this important policy, I want to emphasize the importance of collaboration.
Science, technology and innovation thrives on diverse viewpoints. We have here policymakers, and technical experts in technology, education, health, environment, agriculture and other areas where science plays an important role. Each of you brings unique insights and experiences that are vital to finalizing a policy that truly serves our collective interests and most importantly, our people. Therefore, as we engage in discussions this morning, I encourage each of you to share your thoughts. Your expertise is invaluable and your contributions will help ensure that our policy is not only effective, but also reflective of our shared values.
I would like to extend my gratitude to UNESCO for their funding and support, which has been instrumental in the development of this Science, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) policy
In closing, I want to thank each of you for your commitment to this important document. Your dedication to advancing the policy will have a lasting impact in promoting science, technology and innovation in Samoa.
Fa’afetai!
Soifua and God Bless!
Lauga Autu Afioga i le Minisita o le SROS, La’auli Leuatea Polataivao Fosi i le Iloiloga ma le Fa’atalatalanoaga o le Faiga Fa’avae mo le Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma Mea Fou a le Fa’alapotopotoga o Su’esu’ega Fa’asaienisi o Samoa
(Nafanua – 2 Oketopa, 2024)
Susu le susuga i le Failauga Fa’amaoni – Semi Seruvakula
Afio le Taitaifono o le UNESCO mo le Pasefika – H.E. Dr Shamila Nair Bedouelle
Afifio Fa’auluuluga o Matagaluega ma Fa’alapotopotoga a le Malo
Afifio le Ma’ave ese’ese ua aofia potopoto nei
Talofa lava!
E fa’apōpō o aso ua a’o aso folau fo’i e le tu’ua e pei ona i ai le asō. Ua fa’amalo le soiufa laulelei ma le lagi e mama i le pa’ia ma le mamalu ua mafai ona afifio ma tala mai a’ao e tusa ai ma le fa’atalau’ula atu, se’i o tatou falē ma umufono talatala i le auga o le tatou fa’amoemoe i le asō.
O outou pa’ia e le popo i se fa’amatalaga, aua e tumau. E mai saua se’i pa’ia fili ma puletu’u na matemate ai malo.
Nona lea o le vi’iga i lo tatou Tapa’au Sili, aua o lona mata’isau ua mafua ai le asō.
O lea ua ma’ea momoli lapalapa o malo, ma sufi le ao o fa’asuaga o manū, auā la tatou taulaga osia o le fa’afetai i le Atua i lenei taeao.
O lo tatou ala lea i malo, ma le fa’apogai o manuia ua tatou sapi ai i le asō. Fa’afetai i lau susuga i le Failauga Fa’amaoni – lau Susuga Semi Seruvakula mo fa’amanuiaga fa’aleagaga e tomatau ai le fa’amoemoe o le asō. Tau ia ina ia alu ma le mana le fe’au o le talalelei ua laugaina e lana auauna.
Ae o le fiafiaga o le agaga e le fa’aitiitia, i le va’ava’ai atu i le afifio ma le tala mai o a’ao i le mamalu o le au vala’aulia ma pa’aga, o e o lo’o fito-i-tonu i ai lenei Faiga Fa’avae. O se Faiga fa’avae e taiala ai fuafuaga, o fa’atatauga ma galuega e patino i le Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma le Tomai o Faufauga o Meafou (Science, Technology and Innovation Policy).
E le ititi le taua ma le aoga o le Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma le Tomai e fausia ni Meafou i atina’e o malo uma o le lalolagi, ua loa ona outou silafia ma ua ou iloa. O le mafuaga lea o lo’o tinoū ma finafinau ai pea malo tetele uma ina ia si’itia tulaga o le Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma le Tomai o Faufauga o mea fou. Aua lava le manuia o le tamaoa’iga ma le atina’eina o latou malo.
O le auga fo’i lea o le tu’ufa’atasia ai o lenei faiga fa’avae. Ina ia fa’amati’e, fa’alauiloa ma una’ia le Fa’asaienisi, o le Tekinalosi, ma fa’amalosiaina o le Tomai e fausia ai ni mea fou. Ina ia mapo lelei ma aoga e le gata i le atina’eina o Samoa ae o le soifua lelei ma le manuia lautele o nai o tatou tagata.
O lo’u iloa a leai se Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma le Faufauga o Mea Fou e le iloa pe tua ma ni a le atina’eina o:
• Fa’atoaga ma Faigafaia,
• Soifua Maloloina
• Felauaiga o le vanimonimo, lauelele ma le sami
• Feso’otaiga i ona po nei
• Fausiaina o Maota ma Laoa..ma isi lava matata.
E le’i fausia Roma i se aso e tasi. E fa’apena fo’i se manatu. O le tatou ulua’i faiga fa’avae lea ua fatu-fatu ma ua toetoe a ma’ea. E i ai a suiga mai lea taimi i lea taimi, ae o le tatalo ia avea le ulua’i faiga fa’avae lea, e amata mea i le fa’amapu’epu’eina, fa’alauiloa ma fa’amalosia ai le itu tau Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma le Tomai o Faufuaga o Mea Fou (Science Technology and Innovation).
A’o outou alo atu i le la’asaga mulimuli mo le iloiloina o le faiga fa’avae, a’o le’i tu’uina atu mo le talia aloaia e le Kapeneta, ou te talosaga atu i le tou lagolago. E tofu outou ma manatu lelei ma le tomai fa’apitoa i so’o se vaega o le faiga fa’avae lenei, e aofia i lau auaunaga ma au matafaioi. O le tu’ualalo lava, aua ne’i oti i tua sou lagona, ae fa’ali uma aua le fa’aleleia o le tatou faiga fa’avae. E taua ou manatu, tomai ma ou lagona fa’aali.
A’o maua pea le avanoa, ou te fia fa’aleo le agaga fa’afetai i le UNESCO mo le lagolagoina o lenei fa’amoemoe. O le latou lagolago mai, fa’atasi ma si a tatou fo’i tu’utu’u la’au fa’a-manu iti atu, ua tu’ufa’atasia ai lenei faiga fa’avae.
A fa’aiuina lenei fa’amoemoe, tu’uama le fua, ia fa’amanuia tele le Atua i faiva ma tiute o lo’o outou fita-i-tuga ai. Manuia ou faiva alofi lima i so’o se vala’auina ua tofia ai aua le tautuaina o si o tatou malo.
NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a boy after falling into an open drain in Alipur area of North West Delhi Observes reports of many such incidents in the recent past as a serious issue indicating negligence of the concerned authorities
Issues notices to the Delhi Chief Secretary, Police Commissioner, DDA Vice-Chairman, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi calling for detailed reports within four weeks
The reports to include the status of the FIRs registered in such incidents, action taken against the responsible officials, and compensation to the victims’ families
Posted On: 10 OCT 2024 11:47AM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a five-year-old boy died after falling into an open drain in the Alipur area of North West Delhi on 7th October 2024. Reportedly, the contractor, who worked there, had left the drain opened at various places without placing any warning signs. This is the fifth such incident in the national capital in the recent past.
The Commission has observed the contents of the news report about the instant case and similar incidents in the recent past, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the victims due to apparent negligence of the civic authorities. It is indeed very concerning that such incidents indicating negligence by the public authorities continue to happen in the national capital. Many human lives were reported lost due to drowning and electrocution in Delhi of which it had taken suo motu cognizance and asked the authorities to be vigilant.
Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi, the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, the Vice-Chairman, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi calling for a detailed report within four weeks.
The report is expected to include the status of the FIRs in all such cases, action taken against the responsible officials, and compensation if any, paid to the next of kin of the deceased persons. The Commission would also like to know about the steps taken/ proposed by the authorities to stop the recurrence of such incidents.
According to the media report, carried on 8th October 2024, earlier this month, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl lost her life after falling into an open drain in northeast Delhi’s Khajuri Khas. In September, a 32-year-old man died after falling into an open drain in northeast Delhi’s Bhajanpura. In August, the body of a seven-year-old boy was found in an open drain in northwest Delhi’s Ashok Vihar. Again in August, a man died after falling into a drain in the Paschim Vihar area. In July, the death of a woman and her son in a drain in east Delhi’s Ghazipur created a big storm. Another person died after his car fell into a drain in north Delhi’s Burari in the same month.
Union Government releases tax devolution of ₹1,78,173 crore to State Governments, including one advance instalment of ₹89,086.50 crore in addition to regular instalment due in October, 2024 Advance instalment released in view of upcoming festive season and to enable States to accelerate capital spending and finance their development/ welfare related expenditure
Posted On: 10 OCT 2024 1:25PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Government has released tax devolution of ₹ 1,78,173 crore to State Governments on 10th October, 2024, as against the normal monthly devolution of ₹89,086.50 crore. It includes one advance instalment, in addition to the regular instalment due in October, 2024.
This release is in view of the upcoming festive season and to enable States to accelerate capital spending, and also finance their development/ welfare related expenditure.
State-wise breakup of amounts released is given below in the table:
State-wise distribution of Net Proceeds of Union Taxes and Duties for October, 2024
Scientists have identified a promising new target for cancer treatment by activating a DNA repair enzyme called TDP1, suggesting a combination therapy which could be a potential precision medicine especially for those resistant to current cancer remedies.
Existing anticancer drugs like Camptothecin, Topotecan, and Irinotecan target an enzyme crucial for DNA replication and transcription called Topoisomerase 1 (Top1). Cancer cells often develop resistance to such single-agent treatments and hence require alternate therapy methods.
In order to explore such alternative routes to treatment, scientists at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST)probed how cancer cells repair DNA during cell division and respond to chemotherapy that targets the enzyme Top1, often leading to drug resistance.
The research published in The EMBO Journal 2024 highlights two key proteins –Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1). The researchers led by Prof. Benu Brata Das found that cancer cells can counteract the effect of existing drugs by activating TDP1, a DNA repair enzyme, allowing them to survive.
While investigating how cancer cells repair DNA during cell division and respond to DNA damage induced by enzyme Topoisomerase 1 (Top1), the scientists discovered the critical roles of the proteins CDK1 and TDP1 that regulate the DNA repair process and repairs drug-induced trapped Top1 respectively.
The TDP1, was known to be a dedicated enzyme that repairs drug-induced trapped Top1 during the S phase when the DNA replicates, but its role and regulation during the mitotic phase were previously unknown. CDK1, on the other hand, the key regulatory kinase in the mitotic phase, was found to regulate the DNA repair process by phosphorylating TDP1, which enhances its ability to resolve Top1-DNA adducts.
The scientists stressed that the phosphorylation event was crucial for efficient DNA repair during cell division, allowing cancer cells to survive Top1-targeted chemotherapy.
“Our work demonstrates that CDK1 directly regulates TDP1, aiding cancer cells in repairing DNA breaks caused by Top1 inhibitors,” explains Prof. Benu Brata Das, the study’s corresponding author. “By targeting both CDK1 and TDP1, we can potentially overcome resistance and improve treatment effectiveness,” he added.
The study suggests that using CDK1 inhibitors—such as avotaciclib, alvocidib, roniciclib, riviciclib, and dinaciclib—alongside Top1 inhibitors could enhance cancer cell killing. This combination disrupts DNA repair mechanisms and halts the cell cycle, making it more difficult for cancer cells to survive.
“We discovered that phosphorylation of TDP1 by CDK1 is essential for cancer cells to manage DNA damage during cell division. By inhibiting CDK1, we can induce chromosome instability, effectively targeting cancer cells,” said Prof Das.
“Cancer cells often develop resistance to single-agent treatments. By using both CDK1 and Top1 inhibitors, we can more effectively target and eliminate cancer cells,” said Prof. Das emphasizing the potential of this combination therapy.
By identifying CDK1 as a key regulator and TDP1 as a repair enzyme, this research highlights both as potential targets for developing cancer therapies that inhibit DNA repair in cancer cells
This breakthrough points to a promising avenue for precision medicine in treating cancers, especially those resistant to current therapies. Further studies using animal models are ongoing to validate this approach.
Industrialists, entrepreneurs, business aspirants and enthusiasts from various sectors discussed the challenges and prospects of hydrogen energy commercialization at a workshop on fostering start-up ecosystems for commercialization of hydrogen technologies.
Dr. R Vijay, Director of ARCI, stressed on the importance of reducing the cost of hydrogen production to make it more market-attractive while speaking as Guest of Honour at the workshop organised by ARCI an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) on the occasion of National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day on 8th October2024.
He also showcased ARCI’s role in transferring hydrogen technologies both at the component level and through integrated systems and said that ARCI is supporting many start-ups in the energy sector.
The 7th consecutive annual hydrogen workshop was organised at the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology of International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), at IITM Research Park, Chennai.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Mohammad RihanDirector General of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), highlighted the mission-mode approach of integrating solar power with electrolyzer for green hydrogen generation for energy storageand conversion to electricity through fuel cells. He underscored the synergy between solar energy and hydrogen technologies, offering a sustainable pathway toward green energy. He also mentioned that ARCI and NISE have already signed a MoU to jointly work for the realisation of the above approach.
Dr. R. Gopalan,Former Regional Director of ARCI, Chennai, emphasized the need for a circular economy in hydrogen production to further reduce costs and highlighted India’s emerging leadership in green ammonia synthesis alongside other developed nations.
Eminent speakers such as Dr. G.A. Pathanjali, Managing Director of High Energy Batteries, Tiruchirappalli, Shri. Krishnan Sadagopan, Senior Vice President at Ashok Leyland, and Dr.RamadasArumugamSakunthalai, Director at the Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC), discussed the critical role of hydrogen in the Indian automotive market. They delved into hydrogen’s application in transportation and the challenges and potential for growth in this sector.
Several start-up founders and representatives shared their experiences with hydrogen production and utilization, discussing their capabilities as well as the hurdles they face in scaling their technologies. Key challenges such as cost, infrastructure development, and regulatory barriers were highlighted. Participants explored strategies to reduce production and distribution costs to make hydrogen more economically viable.
The workshop underscored the need for collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions, with ARCI playing a pivotal role in fostering these partnerships. This collaboration is seen as essential for achieving hydrogen economy in India.
This year’s workshop not only celebrated National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day but also marked a significant step in India’s journey towards a green energy future. The discussions and insights shared during the event will contribute to the development of hydrogen technologies that can reshape the global energy landscape.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi witnessed an episode of Lao Ramayan – called Phalak Phalam or Phra Lak Phra Ram – performed by the prestigious Royal Theatre of Luang Prabang. Ramayan continues to be celebrated in Laos, and the epic reflects the shared heritage and age-old civilization connection between the two countries. Several facets of Indian culture and tradition have been practised and preserved in Laos for centuries. The two countries are closely working to illuminate their shared heritage. The Archaelogical Survey of India is involved in restoring the Vat Phou temple and related monuments in Laos. Several dignitaries, including Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Governor of Bank of Lao PDR and Mayor of Vientiane were present on the occasion.
Prior to the Ramayan performamce, Prime Minister participated in a blessing ceremony by senior Buddhist monks of Central Buddhist Fellowship Organization of Lao PDR, led by Most Venerable Mahaveth Masenai, the revered abbot of Si Saket temple in Vientiane. Shared Buddhist heritage represents yet another facet of close civilizational bonds between India and Laos.
PREPARATIONS are well under way for Leicester’s annual Diwali Day celebration, which takes place on Thursday 31 October.
Displays featuring more than 6,000 LED lights have been put in place along the city’s Golden Mile, and the Wheel of Light – a 35-metre illuminated ferris wheel which takes pride of place on Belgrave Road – will open this Saturday.
The Diwali Day festivities will kick off at 3pm on 31 October, with the opening of the Diwali Village on Cossington Street Recreation Ground. A children’s funfair and arts and crafts will be among the activities on offer, as well as Indian food and drinks.
Sponsored by Lidl GB, the Diwali Village will also feature a Fire Garden, offering a peaceful spot amid the hustle and bustle on the park.
Leicester’s annual Rangoli exhibition will open at 4pm on Diwali Day. Brought to the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre by the city council and Tilda, it will feature vibrant modern, and traditional Rangoli patterns, celebrating the ancient form of folk-art using bright powders, often seen on doorsteps at Diwali.
Entertainment including Indian dancing will begin at 5pm on the park’s main stage, with performances organised by the Hindu Festival Council. At the same time, the Red Bull DJ truck will be providing music and energising the Belgrave Road. A family-friendly programme of street art and processions will also take place on the road throughout the evening.
The finale to the celebrations will be a stunning firework display, starting at around 7.30pm.
Cllr Vi Dempster, asst city mayor for culture said: “Diwali Day is always a special time in Leicester, and this year will be no exception. As usual, we are extending a warm welcome to everyone who wants to join us, and we look forward to sharing our celebrations with you.
“We have a wide range of events taking place across the city in the coming weeks, and with lots of fantastic shops and restaurants to enjoy on the Golden Mile, you don’t need to wait for Diwali Day to visit us.”
This year’s festivities are being sponsored by Malabar Gold & Diamonds, which recently opened its second UK showroom on Leicester’s Golden Mile. Mohammed Ziad, Head of UK Business Operations said: “We are absolutely delighted to be supporting Leicester’s Diwali Day event.
“As a new business on the Golden Mile, we can’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate our arrival to the city than to give our backing to these wonderful celebrations for the festival of light.”
Ranked as the 6th largest jewelry retailer globally, Malabar Gold & Diamonds boasts a vast network of more than 360 showrooms across the world, including those in Australia, the Middle East, the Far East, and India. Its other UK showroom is in the East Shopping Centre on London’s Green Street.
Activities taking place in the build-up to Diwali Day include the opening of the Wheel of Light, an illuminated big wheel, which will be offering visitors a birds-eye view of the area from Saturday 12 October to 2 November.
Leicester’s Attenborough Arts Centre will be hosting an evening of Hindustani classical music performed by Aayush Mohan and Sanju Sahai on Friday 18 October.
And John Lewis Leicester has joined with the Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Leicester, to put on cultural performances in the Highcross store on Saturday 19 October; with the Haymarket Shopping Centre offering a puppet making working workshop, and performances from the Nupur Arts Dance Academy on the following Saturday – 25 October.
A spectacular waterside event featuring a Waterfall of Light will take place at Leicester’s Outdoor Pursuits Centre (OPC) on the evening of Sunday 26 October. The Canal & River Trust, working in partnership with the OPC, will be holding community workshops to create a magical lights trial that will feature at the events, and activities on the water will be among the many on offer on the night.
As part of Diwali celebrations at Curve Leicester, the Centre for Indian Classical Dance will be presenting a Ramayan storytelling workshop and performance on Saturday 26 October; and at Leicester Cathedral, visitors can enjoy its annual concert of Diwali Indian music, put on in partnership with the Sitar Music Society.
Diwali is an ancient festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains all over the world. Often described as the festival of lights, it celebrates light over darkness and good over evil. It’s a time for exchanging presents and wishing goodwill to all.
Army Officer James Robinson lands in Alderney on a mission to help create a positive outlook
Alderney’s new Head of Operations has swapped a Colonel’s uniform for island life – and a mission to help foster a “positive and resilient” outlook for the community.
James Robinson CBE has been finding his feet at Island Hall for a few weeks where he is bringing his experience to the States of Alderney’s operations.
A key aspect of his job is to provide visionary leadership and build effective relationships with stakeholders including States Members, the community and business partners.
“I wanted a role that allows me to get things done in a people-oriented way and with a touch of adventure,” he said.
Coming from an Army family, his officer training at Sandhurst was followed by operational service in hotspots such as Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. His last job in the Army was Head of the Brigade of Gurkhas during which time he was responsible for maintaining diplomatic relations with Nepal, India and Brunei.
He left the Army as a full colonel after 36 years’ service since when he has undertaken a number of security and management consultancy projects in Riyadh, Kabul, Qatar, Jordan and for the UK G7 summit in Cornwall. He also managed his borough’s response to COVID for six months leading 3000 volunteers to support the local community.
“I am here to help create a positive and resilient future for Alderney while seeking to protect its unique environment and heritage,” added Mr Robinson. “I had a hugely varied life in the Army that took me all around the world solving interesting challenges and I hope I can add value here.”
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), October 10, 2024/APO Group/ —
Despite important progress towards integrating eye health into primary health care services in African countries, a dire shortage of financial resources, combined with the concentration of scarce human resources in urban areas and low community awareness, continues to threaten the gains.
One in every six blind people globally live in Africa, along with 26 million others grappling with some degree of visual impairment. Yet statistics show that despite the onerous burden, only 14% of people who need cataract surgery receive it, while more than 80% of people with shortsightedness receive no treatment. The comparative figure for North America, Australasia, western Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, meanwhile, is lower than 10%.
In addition, only 12% of people in Africa who need glasses or surgical interventions to address blurred vision will receive the necessary care, at significant economic cost to countries. The global estimated costs of uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts is US$14.3 billion annually.
World Health Organization (WHO) in the African Region is recording a decrease in vision loss due to Vitamin A deficiency, onchocerciasis and trachoma, but emerging eye health challenges are rising. These are related to ageing populations, unhealthy lifestyles, and noncommunicable diseases.
“The focus on eye care is critical, given the multiple positive impacts of good vision on all aspects of life, from overall well-being to academic achievements. The contribution to economic growth is also significant, raising the urgency of building on the gains already made, while addressing the emerging challenges,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, on World Sight Day today.
WHO’s current focus in the region is to support countries to integrate eye health services at primary care level, as part of universal health coverage. However, with severely limited human resources, the achievement of Integrated People-Centred Eye Care demands innovative interventions, dedicated community engagement, and cross-sectoral coordination of services.
Over the past two years, WHO has provided technical support to six African countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia and Zambia. The work began with the completion of national situational analyses, followed by the development of strategic plans and monitoring frameworks. Operational planning and costing of interventions and resources was also completed, specifically in relation to workforce needs, and the integration of eye care indicators into existing health information systems frameworks.
To support countries towards the achievement of the global target of increasing the number of people with access to appropriate spectacles (known as effective coverage of refractive error or eREC) to 40% by 2030, WHO launched the SPECS 2030 initiative. Still in its initial stages, Liberia and Mozambique have begun implementation.
Meanwhile, WHO also launched a free self-assessment tool designed to support countries to promote healthy habits and raise eye care awareness. Launched last year, the WHOeyes tool, available in multiple languages, is u used to check visual acuity, while also providing educational messaging.
Other support has included the dissemination of strategic documents such as the World report on vision, which outlines WHO’s recommendations for integrated, people-centred eye care, and the launch of the WHO’s Eye Care in Health Systems: Guide for action.
RELEASE: $52 Million Multistate Settlement with Marriott for Data Breach of Starwood Guest Reservation Database
Posted on Oct 9, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
KA ʻOIHANA PILI KĀLEPA
OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR | KE KIAʻĀINA
NADINE Y. ANDO
DIRECTOR | KA LUNA HOʻOKELE
THOMAS MANA MORIARTY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2024
$52 Million Multistate Settlement with Marriott for Data Breach of Starwood Guest Reservation Database
HONOLULU — The state of Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection announced today that a coalition of 50 attorneys general has reached a settlement with Marriott International, Inc. as the result of an investigation into a large multiyear data breach of one of its guest reservation databases. The Federal Trade Commission, which has been coordinating closely with the states throughout this investigation, has reached a parallel settlement with Marriott. Under the settlement with the attorneys general, Marriott has agreed to strengthening its data security practices using a dynamic risk-based approach, provide certain consumer protections, and make a $52 million payment to states. The state of Hawai‘i will receive$438,045.00 from the settlement.
Marriott acquired Starwood in 2016 and took control of the Starwood computer network within the same year. However, from July 2014 until September 2018, intruders in the system went undetected. This led to the breach of 131.5 million guest records pertaining to customers in the United States. The impacted records included contact information, gender, dates of birth, legacy Starwood Preferred Guest information, reservation information, and hotel stay preferences, as well as a limited number of unencrypted passport numbers and unexpired payment card information.
Shortly after the breach of the Starwood database was announced, a coalition of 50 attorneys general launched a multistate investigation into the breach. Today’s settlement resolves allegations by the attorneys general that Marriott violated state consumer protection laws, personal information protection laws, and, where applicable, breach-notification laws by failing to implement reasonable data security measures and remediate data security deficiencies, particularly when attempting to use and integrate Starwood into its systems.
“When companies choose to collect and store consumer data, they must take steps to secure it,” stated Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection, Mana Moriarty. “We will continue to hold businesses accountable for their failure to do so.”
Under the terms of the settlement, Marriott has agreed to strengthen and continually improve its cybersecurity practices. Some of the specific measures include:
Implementation of a comprehensive Information Security Program. This includes new overarching security program mandates, such as incorporating zero-trust principles, regular security reporting to the highest levels within the company, including the Chief Executive Officer, and enhanced employee training on data handling and security.
Data minimization and disposal requirements, which will lead to less consumer data being collected and retained.
Specific security requirements with respect to consumer data, including component hardening, conducting an asset inventory, encryption, segmentation to limit an intruder’s ability to move across a system, patch management to ensure that critical security patches are applied in a timely manner, intrusion detection, user access controls, and logging and monitoring to keep track of movement of files and users within the network.
Increased vendor and franchisee oversight, with a special emphasis on risk assessments for “Critical IT Vendors,” and clearly outlined contracts with cloud providers.
In the future, if Marriott acquires another entity, it must timely further assess the acquired entity’s information security program and develop plans to address identified gaps or deficiencies in security as part of the integration into Marriott’s network.
An independent third-party assessment of Marriott’s information security program every two years for a period of 20 years for additional security oversight.
These settlement terms are grounded in a well-developed risk-based approach in which Marriott not only needs to conduct an annual enterprise level risk assessment, but it must also perform risk analyses throughout the year for changes to security controls. Those ongoing risk assessments must address the criteria of “harm to others” – which would include potential harm to consumers.
As part of the settlement, Marriott will give consumers specific protections, including a data deletion option, even if consumers do not currently have that right under state law. Marriott must offer multifactor authentication to consumers for their loyalty rewards accounts, such as Marriott Bonvoy, as well as reviews of those accounts if there is suspicious activity.
Connecticut, Maryland, and Oregon as well as the District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Texas co-led the multistate investigation, assisted by the Executive Committee of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, and were joined by Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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Media Contact:
William Nhieu
Communications Officer Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Email:[email protected]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
VIENTIANE, Oct. 10 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Thursday that China is ready to work with ASEAN, Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries to uphold the Asian consciousness, carry forward the Oriental wisdom, and steadily move forward toward building an Asia of peace and tranquility, common prosperity, openness and interconnectivity.
Li made the remarks when addressing the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Summit here in Vientiane.
Myanmar’s military authorities must immediately account for the whereabouts and wellbeing of two pro-democracy activists arrested in Yangon on Wednesday, Amnesty International said today.
Paing Phyo Min and Shein Wai Aung were arrested on 9 October and sent to an interrogation centre, Amnesty International understands. Paing Phyo Min’s family has not been able to reach him, while Shein Wai Aung and his father, mother and sister have also been uncontactable.
As many as six additional people are also believed to have been arrested in raids.
“The Myanmar military must urgently account for the whereabouts and wellbeing of Paing Phyo Min and of Shein Wai Aung and his family. Unless they can be charged with an internationally recognized crime, they must be immediately and unconditionally released,” Amnesty International’s Myanmar Researcher Joe Freeman said.
“As leaders from The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet in Laos and discuss a way out of the crisis brought on by the 2021 coup, the Myanmar military continues to arbitrarily detain people and carry out repression across the country.”
Paing Phyo Min is known for his involvement with a group of young people performing Thangyat, a popular Myanmar traditional art form which fuses poetry, comedy and music to comment on social issues.
In 2019, Paing Phyo Min and other members of an activist group called the Peacock Generation were arrested after performing Thangyat dressed as soldiers. For this, he was sentenced to six years in prison.
In 2020, Amnesty International called for Paing Phyo Min’s release as part of its annual Write 4 Rights campaign, with many people writing letters to him to bolster his spirits. He was released in 2021 as part of a mass prisoner amnesty.
After the military coup, he and others took part in peaceful protests in Yangon, despite enormous risks following violent crackdowns.
Shein Wai Aung, a former student at Dagon University in Yangon, has been active in peaceful protests and in supporting political prisoners in Myanmar.
“Protesting in Myanmar today is not the same as it was before the coup. Anyone involved in any kind of dissent against the military faces long jail terms, torture and other ill-treatment, and even death in custody,” Joe Freeman said.
“In Myanmar’s prison system, there is little hope of fair treatment, no transparency, and extremely substandard conditions. Interrogation centers, where these two activists have likely been sent, are also notorious locations of abuse where torture has been used to extract information before charges are formally brought.”
Myanmar’s military has killed more than 5,000 civilians since seizing power in the coup on 1 February 2021. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in its latest report last month that at least 1,853 of those people have died in custody.
In the 2022 report ‘15 Days Felt Like 15 Years’, Amnesty International documented torture and other ill-treatment against people arbitrarily detained by the military and police after the coup.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 01, 2024, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹2.50 lakh (Rupees Two Lakh Fifty Thousand only) on Sonbhadra Nagar Sahkari Bank Limited, Sonbhadra (the bank) for contravention of the provisions of section 26A read with section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act). This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under section 47A(1)(c) read with sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the BR Act.
The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of contravention of the statutory provision and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said statutory provision. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing and examination of additional submissions made by it, RBI found, inter alia, that the charge of not transferring the eligible amounts to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund within the prescribed period was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty.
This action is based on deficiency in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
VIENTIANE, Oct. 10 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday called for the need to strengthen the Asian consciousness, saying that Asian countries share a common home, common interests, common opportunities, and a common pursuit of values.
Addressing the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Summit here in Vientiane, Li said Asian countries value independence, adding that the affairs of Asia should be handled through consultation by the people of Asia, and Asia’s fate must be in its own hands.
He also said that Asian nations all stress that development comes first and agree that peace is of paramount importance.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the 4th ASEAN-Australia Summit, in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Summit was attended by the ASEAN Leaders or their representatives, the Prime Minister of Australia, and the Secretary-General of ASEAN. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
The Meeting underlined the significance of the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to further strengthening the partnership in line with the Vision Statement and Melbourne Declaration adopted at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit held in March earlier this year. The Meeting also welcomed the new Plan of Action (2025-2029) and looked forward to its effective implementation.
The post The 4th ASEAN-Australia Summit reaffirms commitment to enhancing partnership appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 01, 2024, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹5.00 lakh (Rupees Five Lakh only) on The Parwanoo Urban Co-operative Bank Limited, Parwanoo (the bank) for non-compliance with the specific directions issued by RBI under Supervisory Action Framework (SAF). This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI, conferred under the provisions of section 47A(1)(c) read with sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
The statutory inspection of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI instructions issued under SAF and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made by it during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the charge of payment of dividend in violation of the directions issued under SAF, was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty.
This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.
In the lead-up to Sanarosa’s Closure Ceremony, the Sanarosa “Let It End With Me” Campaign was launched today, engaging students from Maluafou College and St. Joseph’s College.
Sanarosa was a young girl whose tragic story of abuse has profoundly impacted our community, especially following her untimely death at 18 years old.
SVSG strategically selected these two colleges as advocates for Sanarosa’s message, recognizing that students, teachers, principals, and parents are navigating the healing process to address mental health issues exacerbated by recent violent incidents.
The campaign commenced this morning at Maluafou College, involving the entire school community, including teachers and Vice Principal Reverend Iakopo Faasalaina. Sanarosa’s dying message was shared through a video recording, serving as an inspiration drawn from her heartbreaking story. SVSG has made a promise to keep Sanarosa’s message alive by advocating for children and youth.
The afternoon session at St. Joseph’s College met with an equally positive reception. Sister Jacinta Fidow of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (SMSM) and the SVSG Psychosocial Team Leader delivered the Sanarosa “Let It End With Me” message. The students, teachers, and Brothers showed significant engagement, paying close attention to the message being shared.
Sanarosa’s legacy resonated deeply with many, prompting reflections on the importance of compassion and support within the community. Students were invited to take ownership of the Sanarosa “Let It End With Me” Campaign to honor her memory by fostering a culture of care, respect, and understanding among their peers—one that unequivocally rejects violence in all forms.
SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang, who led the campaign today, reminded the students: “I urge you to recognize the preciousness of life and to choose paths that uplift rather than harm. You are fortunate to have families who embrace you when you return home from school—families that protect you fiercely. The children at the Campus of Hope remind us of the harsh realities of violence. Please, do not let Sanarosa’s death be in vain.”
The Samoa Victim Support Group remains committed to raising awareness and advocating for a culture of non-violence among youth in Samoa. Through initiatives like the Sanarosa “Let It End With Me” Campaign, SVSG aims to create lasting change and empower the next generation to reject violence in all its forms.
“Thank you to the thousands of students we have visited today at the two Colleges for committing to continue Sanarosa’s legacy. Together, we can break the cycle of violence and inspire a generation to cherish life and support one another,” said Siliniu Lina Chang.
Join us for Sanarosa’s Closure Ceremony on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 9:30 AM, at Fasitoo-uta. We invite the community to pay tribute to our young hero, as SVSG village representatives will line the road leading to Sanarosa’s resting place.