Replicas of Sanxingdui relics are on display at the Memor Museum in New York.[Photo provided by Mingmei Li/China Daily]
Spanning millennia, the history and mystery of Sanxingdui’s ancient civilization is reaching international audiences through modern digital platforms.
The exhibition Sanxingdui Encounter: A Global Tour of 12K Micro-viewing of National Treasures opened on Oct 11 at the Memor Museum in New York, offering visitors an opportunity to have an immersive virtual experience of the relics and also see the physical replicas of these treasures.
The display will last until Jan 19.
Sanxingdui, an archaeological site located in modern-day Guanghan, Southwest China’s Sichuan province, illustrates the civilization of the ancient Shu kingdom, which flourished over 3,000 years ago. Sanxingdui was not discovered until the 1920s, and ongoing archaeological efforts continue to reveal discoveries.
By the end of 2022, fieldwork on six newly uncovered sacrificial pits was nearly complete, yielding a wealth of precious artifacts. Over 4,000 items, including jade, stone and pottery, were unearthed during this phase of excavation. Archaeologists are piecing together the history of the ancient Shu civilization and presenting these findings to the public.
The Shu kingdom, which arose in the Sichuan basin during the Bronze Age, was a key hub for early-stage Chinese civilization. Its people produced finely crafted bronze, jade, gold and ceramic artifacts, depicting mythical creatures, rulers, gods and shamans with exaggerated features such as bulging eyes and enlarged ears.
“Sanxingdui’s rich heritage deserves international attention, with its vast cultural significance needing to be shared with a broader audience,” says Willa Ao, director of the Memor Museum.
“We want to present the relics through a blend of digital and physical experiences.”
One example Ao gives is a bronze figure, which strikingly resembles the stance of an American fitness coach performing a dead lift. Additionally, a bronze tree is adorned with numerous small hanging artifacts, reminiscent of ornaments used to decorate Christmas trees.
Sanxingdui’s unearthed bronzes were previously showcased at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2002 as part of a broader exhibition on bronze artifacts, but Ao says this time, she wanted to provide New Yorkers a new and interactive way to feel the relics.
This is done through 1:1 replicas from the Sanxingdui Museum’s collection, using ultra-high-definition 12k technology, artificial intelligence interaction and virtual reality immersion, which required three years of preparation.
Visitors will have the opportunity to view the famous Bronze Mask with Crown and Protruding Eyes, a rare artifact that provides insight into the ceremonial and spiritual practices of the ancient Shu people.
Also on display is the striking Bronze Head Wearing a Gold Mask, first unearthed in 1986, which illustrates a unique blend of social status and ritual significance.
“Although they are replicas, they remain highly valuable,” Ao says. She explains that these reproductions of the Sanxingdui Museum’s collection were crafted using identical materials to faithfully replicate the original artifacts.
Visitors will be able to explore the relics using VR technology, which brings large artifacts like the Large Standing Man and the Bronze Sacred Tree into the gallery through virtual exploration.
The exhibition also employs 12K video capture to document smaller artifacts, delicate bronze bells and bird sculptures, magnifying them for a closer look.
Sanxingdui is an important archaeological discovery, not just within Chinese archaeology, but within the world of archaeology, says Kristen Martucci, the exhibition’s translator.
Martucci, 26, has been studying Chinese since high school and pursued East Asian studies, particularly ancient Chinese history, at Harvard University.
She primarily helps translate materials into English in a way that is approachable for American and international audiences.
She says her work is also a learning process in both Chinese and history while uncovering the “mystery”.
“I learned about Sanxingdui in my graduate school courses, but even for me, seeing these replicas and using this exhibition and VR to experience it — that’s new to me, so it’s really exciting,” she says.
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui will depart on a visit to Switzerland today, and will return to Hong Kong on Friday.
In Geneva, Mr Hui will attend and speak at the 41st session of the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting & Reporting, organised by the UN Conference on Trade & Development.
He will meet top figures from international organisations, and from the financial and business sectors, to talk about the advantages of Hong Kong’s financial industries and how the city is well equipped to respond to the world’s increasing focus on sustainability.
During the visit, the treasury chief will also meet financial officials from the Swiss Government.
During Mr Hui’s absence, Under Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Joseph Chan will be Acting Secretary.
Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong will depart today on a visit to Canada, where he will stop in Toronto, Ottawa and Waterloo and seek to strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and Canada in areas such as innovation and technology (I&T).
Prof Sun will meet leaders of I&T enterprises in the country, and engage with Hong Kong youngsters studying there.
He will also deliver a keynote speech at the Seminar on Life Science & Global Health, co-organised by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Ottawa Chapter) and Invest Hong Kong, and visit universities, research institutes and I&T parks.
Prof Sun will return to Hong Kong on November 8. During his absence, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Lillian Cheong will be Acting Secretary.
Fighter aircraft from the U.S., Japan, and the Republic of Korea conducted a trilateral escort flight of a U.S. bomber operating in the Indo-Pacific, Nov. 3, 2024.
Two U.S. F-16 from the 36th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Wing flew with four Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s from the 8th Air Wing and four Republic of Korea Air Force F-15Ks from the 11th Fighter Wing to escort one U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer.
This exercise continues strong trilateral cooperation, enabling immediate response to regional security challenges in a critical security environment.
Our three nations maintain an absolute commitment to the shared vision of a secure, rules-based, and open Indo-Pacific region.
The Qantas upgrades affair has turned from a missile targeted at Anthony Albanese to a cluster bomb hitting MPs on all sides.
On Sunday, Education Minister Jason Clare took the opportunity provided by an interview on Sky about the government’s proposal to slash 20% off student debt to relate, in detail, why he requested a Qantas upgrade in 2019 for a private trip to Singapore.
He’d had an operation on his leg. He was catching up with his family already overseas. He contacted someone – he’s forgotten who – in Qantas.
On the other side of politics, the Nationals’ Bridget McKenzie, who’s been in hot pursuit of Albanese over his upgrades, is yet to produce full details of her own situation. She’s asked the airlines for the information.
Then there’s the Liberals’ Paul Fletcher, who apparently likes to book economy on flights of under two hours. He’s had 69 upgrades over almost 15 years.
It’s important to remember what the rules are. Parliamentarians in their work are entitled to fly business class on domestic trips. In some cases, they choose to fly economy on short hauls and business on longer ones.
In the wake of the ongoing revelations, surely it is time to fix the rules. One obvious change should be a ban on upgrades for all personal travel, domestic or overseas, by parliamentarians. If MPs do not want the discomfort of economy class on holidays or other excursions, they should pay to avoid it.
Another change should be that the minister for transport, and the shadow minister, should decline upgrades for their official travel. That avoids any suggestion of being influenced by such perks.
This parliamentary week is devoted, in the Senate, to estimates hearings, so there will be some grilling on the first day about upgrades, and also about the fabled Qantas chairman’s lounge, a networking facility which those with power are invited to join.
“The Chairman’s Lounge” is the title of the book by journalist Joe Aston that kicked off the furore a week ago.
The estimates hearings are also likely to see opposition senators probe the entrails of whether Lidia Thorpe, who demonstrated noisily at the parliamentary reception for the King, has or has not been properly sworn in as a senator.
Thorpe substituted the word “hairs” for “heirs” when she read the oath. But she signed the paper, and constitutional expert Anne Twomey thinks she’s met the requirements.
McKenzie has been among those targeting Thorpe. But if, when the full Senate sits later in the month, the opposition tries to have action taken against Thorpe, it will just serve her cause.
Thorpe wants publicity and that would give her plenty more. To be attempting to censure or even have disqualified an Indigenous senator would send a bad signal, at home (where some Indigenous people back her) and abroad.
The House of Representatives this week will have a heap of legislation before it, including the bill on misinformation and disinformation. There will be another to keep the NBN in public hands, as well as the aged care reforms.
But we’re still awaiting an announcement on restricting gambling advertising, and a bill to put an age limit on young people signing up to social media accounts.
We won’t be seeing before the election legislation for the prime minister’s announcement on cutting student debt by 20%, and other changes relating to its repayment, that he unveiled at the weekend.
Unlike the government’s earlier change to the indexation of this debt, now before the Senate, these new measures are promises – conditional on Labor winning next year’s election.
If that happens, Albanese says this will be “the first piece of legislation we bring into the next parliament”. The 20% cut would be from loan accounts that exist on June 1 next year.
The government says this is worth $16 billion, although experts point out the real figure – that is, the cost to taxpayers – is several billion dollars less because a portion of these loans would never be repaid anyway.
We do not have a precise timeline for the cost, which the government says would be borne over the life of the debt. No doubt the estimates hearings will see some delving into this promise, that is squarely directed at millennial voters and those younger and focused on the cost of living.
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.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
AMS holds passing-out parade for new members (with photos) AMS holds passing-out parade for new members (with photos) **********************************************************
The Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) held a passing-out parade today (November 3), where the 287 new members were reviewed by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung. Speaking at the event, Mr Tang encouraged all graduates to embrace the spirit of the AMS in their key roles as supporters of emergency operations, guardians of public safety during events, and promoters of primary healthcare development, urging them to continue to serve the Hong Kong community wholeheartedly. As an auxiliary service under the Security Bureau, the AMS consists of members from various backgrounds, industries and age groups. After completing a 132-hour training programme and passing rigorous assessments, members will be deployed to different units to commence their services. The duties of the AMS include providing first-aid services at major events, manning first-aid posts in country parks on weekends and public holidays, and providing first-aid bicycle services on cycle tracks. To align with the Government’s primary healthcare development strategy, the AMS will expand its non-emergency ambulance services to provide special medical care to the public in need. Recruitment details and application forms are available on the AMS website (www.ams.gov.hk/en/join_us.html).
South Asian countries Bangladeshand India are using settler colonial policies as they resettle citizens in contested territories.
The intention is to reduce the demographic strength of ethnic minorities, minimize their influence over their ancestral lands and eliminate their demands for internal autonomy.
Population resettlement was an integral part of European colonialism. European colonizers settled their people in countries like India, bought up large swaths of land, established institutions that served their interests and achieved the territorial domination of the countries they colonized.
But even following the decline of European colonialism, the inclination towards colonial policy has not decreased in South Asia. My preliminary research is finding that population resettlement has become a part of the region’s post-colonial playbook.
The scene in South Asia
Over the years, South Asian countries have advanced population resettlement projects in their contested ethnic territories.
Nepal, for instance, launched its organized population resettlement program in 1961, relocating the Pahadi people from the hilly areas of the country to the Tarai lowlands, the contested homeland of the Madheshi, Tharu and Indigenous Peoples.
In the 1990s, nearby Bhutan evicted around a million Nepali-speaking ethnic Lhotsampas from its southern region and offered incentives to the majority Bhutanese people to settle in the area.
In 2019, the Indian government amended the country’s constitution to allow non-Kashmiri people from elsewhere in India to settle in India-administered Kashmir. The Muslim majority region has been divided into Indian, Pakistani and Chinese controlled areas for decades.
Pakistan hasn’t embarked on population resettlement to this scale, but its treatment of ethnic minorities is also troubling. The extreme oppression of ethnic groups in East Pakistan prompted Bengali minorities to fight for independence, leading to the formation of modern Bangladesh in 1971.
South Asian countries pursued these settlement policies as ethnic minorities — the Madheshis in Nepal, the Lhotshampas in Bhutan, the Kashmiris in Kashmir, the Paharis in Bangladesh and the Tamils in Sri Lanka — were demanding autonomy and self-determination in their ancestral territories.
The governments in these countries fear autonomy will eventually lead to secession. They’ve pursued settler colonial policies to resettle citizens in these regions to prevent that from happening.
Despite official claims that resettlements foster greater economic development and inter-ethnic harmony, population relocation causes real harms to ethnic cohesion, solidarity and collective rights.
It suggests these South Asian governments have internalized colonialism, although they didn’t all share the same experiences with European colonialism.
Choosing a questionable path
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka experienced direct British colonial occupation. While Nepal and Bhutan were not under direct colonial rule, they had indirect encounters with the British.
Nepal faced threats to its territorial integrity from the British government and fought against the potential encroachment during the Anglo-Nepal War of 1814-1816. It signed a humiliating treaty with the British government and ceded its sovereign rights over some of its territories.
Bhutan signed a treaty in 1910, allowing the British government to oversee its external affairs.
South Asian countries emulated the settler colonial mentalities of their former colonizers and are resorting to practices that hurt the marginalized communities living within their national borders.
Governments often insist they’ve adopted resettlement projects to enhance economic growth, development and inter-ethnic harmony. However, it is often ethnic minorities who are displaced and face threats to their cultures, traditions and languages. The displacement of Indigenous Paharis in Bangladesh is a glaring example.
Tarnishing reputations
Granting autonomy to ethnic minorities that would allow them to exercise their right to self-determination internally could prevent these human rights violations, but some South Asian governments have not taken this route.
Instead, they’re opting to move non-ethnic minority citizens into ethnic territories.
In an era when inclusion has become something aspirational in many countries, this colonial population resettlement practice is likely to hurt the credibility and reputations of South Asian states — and probably won’t end well. The nationalist dreams and aspirations of ethnic minorities don’t vanish in the face of adversity; quite the contrary.
Hari Har Jnawali receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to work on the project “Population Resettlements in Ethnic Territories of South Asia: Why and How States Pursue Internal Colonialism?”
One Health is based on an understanding that our health and that of animals, plants and ecosystems are interdependent. (Shutterstock)
November 3 is World One Health Day. One Health brings all parts of society and governments together to tackle joint problems of human, animal, plant and ecosystem health.
Canada needs a One Health plan now to better face worsening climate change, accelerating biodiversity loss, pandemic threats, and threats from superbugs resistant to antibiotics. Canada’s actions on these issues are reactive rather than preventive, and aren’t well co-ordinated or funded. This undermines our readiness and response.
One Health is based on an understanding that our health and that of animals, plants and ecosystems are interdependent. It presents a way to promote the health of all and to navigate the inevitable trade-offs.
The virus had never been reported in cows before. Its detection was slow and too little was done to stop the spread. As of Nov. 1, H5N1 had spread quickly to 404 dairy farms across 14 states, costing millions in lost milk production and spilling back into poultry and wildlife, killing millions more birds.
It is concerning that H5N1 has also infected at least 39 people, primarily farm workers, fortunately causing only mild symptoms.
H5N1 is a growing threat because it infects many species, including seals, mink, bears, foxes, coyotes, dogs and cats. Influenza viruses that jump species pose a greater pandemic threat because of the mixing that may occur when different influenza viruses infect the same animal or person. This can produce new, more severe strains of human flu.
No one wants to face another pandemic. Canada’s actions to keep ahead of this threat would be enhanced by national One Health planning and co-ordination.
One Health around the world
National One Health plans of other countries, like Rwanda, Thailand and Bangladesh, have been shown to help prevent human and animal disease outbreaks. Global Affairs Canada and the International Development Research Centre have invested $40 million since 2021 to support One Health internationally, including in hotspots of disease emergence.
The U.S. has a One Health Act and recently launched its national co-ordination platform. However, Canada has just begun this work at home. Canada created a high level steering committee to oversee the Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Time and effort were taken to involve federal, provincial and territorial agencies, Indigenous people, civil society and researchers to arrive at an inclusive framework with the right objectives, responsibilities and outputs. It’s an ideal model for a new Canadian One Health action plan.
Canada has a mixed track record of working across sectors, whether to fight past outbreaks of Mad Cow Disease, avian or swine flu, or co-ordinating actions by people from different departments and agencies on H5N1 or COVID-19 today. There are problems: nationally, collaboration is informal and focused on single issues, more reactive than preventive, and not supported by any overarching plan, decision-making structure or resources to ensure consistent, ongoing co-operation across threats and issues.
The risks of not putting these measures in place include information not reaching decision-makers, resources and expertise not being used optimally, trade-offs being misread by other agencies or partners, duplication and gaps, and too little getting done to prevent health threats.
Implementing One Health
Without a national One Health plan, Canada risks being vulnerable to new threats, including pandemics. (Shutterstock)
There is guidance. In 2021, the World Health Organization, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, UN Environment, and the World Organisation for Animal Health agreed to work together on a One Health Joint Plan of Action and implementation guidance.
With gender equality, inclusiveness and equity, and the importance of local and traditional knowledge at the fore, countries should start implementing One Health by assessing capacities and programs already in place, setting up and funding national co-ordination, setting priorities for action, then producing and putting into action their national plan.
Canada should mirror what it has done to manage antibiotic-resistant microbes by developing and governing our own national One Health action plan, similar to the Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Without a national One Health plan, Canada risks being vulnerable to new threats (including pandemics), investing too little in prevention and having a suboptimal response. It’s time for Canada’s One Health action plan.
This article was co-authored by Andrea Ellis, DVM, MSc., a consultant currently supporting One Health work with the World Organisation for Animal Health. She is the former Senior Veterinary Advisor to the Chief Veterinary Officer and World Organisation for Animal Health Delegate for Canada.
Dominique Charron is affiliated with the McEachran Institute and START.org. She is a member of the One Health High Level Expert Panel that advises the World Health Organization, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, UN Environment, and World Organisation for Animal Health. She is a former Vice-President, Programs and Partnerships, of the International Development Research Centre.
Cate Dewey is currently working on a community One Health project in Rwanda. The project is managed by Veterinarians without Borders, North America and is funded by Global Affairs Canada
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Fresh water supply in Tung Chung Town affected Fresh water supply in Tung Chung Town affected **********************************************
The Water Supplies Department (WSD) announced that owing to the emergency repair works in relation to a water main operation incident at Cheung Tung Road near Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works of Lantau Island involving a fresh water pipe of 1 200 millimetres in diameter, the fresh water supply of Tung Chung Town area will be affected from 10pm today (November 3). The WSD had immediately arranged water wagons and water tanks to provide temporary water supply to the residents and shops in need. Affected by the incident, a section of both bounds of Cheung Tung Road near Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works is temporary closed to facilitate urgent repair works. Drivers should consider using alternative routes. Meanwhile, the WSD had contacted the respective District Council members and the Care Team to understand the needs of the affected residents and shops and provide assistance as and when appropriate. The WSD will provide updated information through the departmental website (www.esd.wsd.gov.hk/esd/cne/waterSuspension/wsmsInit.do?USER) and the WSD Mobile App. The WSD’s project team is sparing no effort in carrying out emergency repair works and striving for resuming the water supply gradually tomorrow (November 4) morning. The WSD apologises for the inconvenience caused to the public arising from the incident.
Headline: Did Hurricane Helene Affect Your Well Furnace or Septic System
Did Hurricane Helene Affect Your Well Furnace or Septic System
COLUMBIA, S.C. – If your private well, furnace or septic system was damaged by Hurricane Helene, you may be eligible for financial assistance from FEMA. For disaster-damaged private wells, heating systems, furnaces and septic systems, FEMA may pay for the cost of a professional, licensed technician to visit your home and prepare an estimate detailing the necessary repairs or replacement expenses. FEMA may also pay for the actual repair or replacement cost of your private well, furnace or septic system, which may not be covered by homeowner’s insurance. Be sure to keep any receipts or estimates because you may be eligible for assistance even if the work has already been completed.At the time of your home inspection, let the FEMA inspector know which essential appliances and systems may have been damaged by the storm. If you already had an inspection and these damages were not reported, contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or visit any Disaster Recovery Center to update your application. To find the nearest center, visit fema.gov/DRC or text “DRC” along with your Zip Code to 43362. How To ApplyIf you have not applied for FEMA assistance yet, there is still time to submit your application. Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation who were affected by Hurricane Helene are eligible to apply for FEMA assistance. You can apply in several ways: online at DisasterAssistance.gov, in person at any Disaster Recovery Center, on your phone using the FEMA mobile app or by calling the FEMA Helpline. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. gerard.hammink Sun, 11/03/2024 – 15:42
Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Barnwell County
Disaster Recovery Center Opening in Barnwell County
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A Disaster Recovery Center will open in Barnwell County to provide in-person assistance to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene. Barnwell CountyBarnwell Regional Airport 155 State Road S-6-398 Barnwell, SC 29812Open Nov. 4-7, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are scheduled to open in other South Carolina counties. Click here to find centers that are already open in South Carolina. You can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of South Carolina and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed. To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation can apply for federal assistance.The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. gerard.hammink Sun, 11/03/2024 – 15:58
As a scholar focused on race and gender issues, I recognize that these seemingly inconsistent definitions of blackness are not inconsistent at all. They demonstrate a consistent position on whiteness.
In both cases, Trump implies that the race of his opponent is all voters need to know to determine their characters. It is an ideology that normalizes the dominance and privilege of white Americans within a racial hierarchy.
Trump has said he believes America was at its best in the 1940s and 1950s. However, Trump’s long-standing inflammatory rhetoric around race — including his recent racist comments degrading Haitian refugees in Springfield, Ohio — do not simply glorify a time immediately before the civil rights era. They recall an older era.
Calls to “Make America Great Again” hearken back to colonialism, when whiteness — particularly white, male power — was at its peak. The period from 1500 to the 1960s was a time when white men could exercise control over people of color by racially classifying their bodies. And they protected whiteness by passing laws that declared “one drop” of Black blood as enough to declare someone Black.
Whiteness is property, as the legal scholar Cheryl Hines has argued. It’s an asset for those who possess it. It offers benefits like white privilege and the idea of being white as moral and superior.
More specifically, one-drop statutes reflected a fear that people who were considered white in terms of their appearance but had Black ancestry could reproduce with other white people. This, in turn, would result in the supposed degeneration of the white race.
These laws attempted to legally define Blackness.
Power and dominance
Harris and Obama, the children of immigrants, both have mixed-race backgrounds. Harris is the child of a Black Jamaican father and an Indian mother. Obama is the son of a Black Kenyan father and a white American mother.
However, Trump insists that Harris was “Indian all the way,” while Obama was a “Black president.” For me, this perspective reveals another aspect of Trump’s racial thinking: He appears to believe in the impenetrability and power of whiteness.
Trump sees Harris as capable of dancing back and forth between being Indian and being Black. Yet he has never implied that Obama can dance between being Black and being white.
In a society that often ties physical characteristics to racial identity, many people might find it difficult to imagine Obama as identifying as white. That’s because our society associates his skin tone and hair texture with Blackness.
However, I argue that the inability to view this hypothetical racial dance as possible for Harris and not for Obama is tied to white supremacist beliefs.
These beliefs defend whiteness as being imbued with dominance over other racial groups. This power is reflected in the ability to define the race of others, regardless of how they may identify themselves. And it is reflected in the desire to also limit who can count as white.
Trump does both of those things.
Donald Trump answers questions at the National Association of Black Journalists’ annual convention in Chicago on July 31, 2024. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images
A foil to white identity
“She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black,” Trump said in July at a gathering of Black journalists.
He added: “So I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black? I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t, because she was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she went – she became a Black person.”
By suggesting that Harris has strategically identified as Black for political gain, Trump implies that there’s a political advantage to being Black in America.
This notion aligns with the racist belief, fueled by white racial resentment, that Black Americans are afforded privileges over whites and Asian Americans.
The sociologist Arlie Hochschild has shown that many white Trump supporters believe circumstances in America have gotten worse for whites in recent decades. They believe many of the gains for people of color — affirmative action and other diversity policies — have been at the expense of the rights of white people.
Simultaneously, Trump’s comments emphasize his own whiteness by using Harris’ and Obama’s race as a foil to his white identity. Research on the construction of race in America shows that whiteness is devoid of meaning without something to define itself against.
For white people who feel many things have been taken away from them in an increasingly multiracial America, Trump is their warrior. He campaigns to protect the white population and culture of America.
Marya T. Mtshali does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cathrynne Henshall, Post-doctoral Fellow, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University
It’s the time of year when shiny horses and colourful clothing fill our screens – the Spring Racing Carnival, which includes high profile races like The Everest, Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate.
It’s also the time of year when questions are asked about the welfare of racehorses that compete in the so-called “sport of kings”.
But recently, as we’ve come to know more about what makes a good life for a horse, questions are being raised about the daily lives of racehorses.
Industry participants will point to the high level care that racehorses receive – comfortable stables, specially formulated diets, the latest vet treatments and added extras such as massages and swimming sessions.
But does this care translate into good welfare?
The theory of ‘telos’
Firstly, a quick primer on the difference between care and welfare.
Care includes all the things that make sure racehorses get fit, stay fit and stay healthy. This care helps maximise the chance a horse will win races.
Welfare is the animal’s subjective or individual experience of its life – how it feels – and there are a number of ways to assess this.
One way is the concept of “telos”, originally developed by Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.
Telos helps us to identify what matters to animals – their behavioural, psychological and physiological needs.
So to consider if racehorse care actually translates to good welfare, we can assess how closely it provides the animal with the things that matter to them, based on their telos.
Equine telos involves living in groups, forming long-lived social relationships, grazing fibrous plants and being on the move for up to 18 hours a day, as well as staying safe by sensing danger and then moving away.
It also involves living in variable environments to solve challenges, learn, engage in curiosity and play.
Let’s compare that to the daily life of a racehorse.
Movement and feeding
Firstly, the vast majority of racehorses live in stables – sometimes up to 23 hours a day.
Multiple studies have found continuous stabling harms horse welfare.
Stables significantly restrict opportunities for voluntary movement, and studies show stabled horses spend the majority of the time inactive.
Even though stables house horses communally, most designs limit horses’ opportunities for social interaction.
Thirdly, there’s little for a horse to do in a stable other than eat, stand, drink or lie, and they often develop abnormal behaviours that are associated with stress. These are never seen in free-ranging horses.
When racehorses do get to move, they have little say over how far, how fast and for how long they move.
The kinds of physical exercise racehorses do are both significantly shorter in duration and at much higher speeds than horses voluntarily choose. It’s those speeds that place them at risk of suffering a serious injury.
What about diet?
Although a lot of time and effort is spent ensuring racehorses enjoy high quality diets, they are mostly comprised of concentrated energy sources such as grains, rather the fibre horses evolved to eat.
Horses are trickle feeders (grazers), with small stomachs that continuously secrete digestive juices.
In the wild, grazing keeps those stomachs full, which prevents the stomach lining from being damaged by digestive acids.
In comparison, racehorses often consume their food very quickly – instead of spending up to 75% of their day eating, they spend only 33%.
Social relationships, in the limited form possible in a racing stable, are also frequently disrupted because horse populations are highly transient due to spelling, retirement or even just going to the races.
Then there’s the gear that’s used to control them.
Horses, like most animal species, escape and avoid painful stimuli.
However, in racing (and many other equestrian activties) it is mandatory to use “bits” to control horses’ behaviour during riding and handling. Bits work by causing uncomfortable pressure and pain and may lead to mouth injuries.
So, racehorses may be repeatedly exposed to pain from bits and perform a range of behaviours to try to escape that pain, like bolting, mouth opening or head tossing.
Racehorses frequently show signs of difficulty coping with the stressors of racing life, including “going off their feed”, aggression towards handlers, becoming hard to control when ridden and a range of stress behaviours and health issues, such as bleeding from the lungs.
What about welfare?
Racehorse care is often directed towards managing issues that are the direct result of the demands of the racing environment.
Fancy stables and aqua sessions are not important to horses, and may even cause harm.
What matters to horses are opportunities to make meaningful choices, such as the freedom to move, form friendships and graze for the majority of the day.
Current racing industry practices often deny horses the chance to make these choices.
There’s no doubt people in racing care deeply about their horses. But to experience good welfare during racing, racehorses need more than just good care.
Cathrynne Henshall receives funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Welfare Foundation
The Secretary-General is very concerned about reports of troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea being sent to the Russian Federation, including their possible deployment to the conflict zone. This would represent a very dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine.
Everything must be done to avoid any internationalization of this conflict.
The Secretary-General reiterates his support for all meaningful efforts towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter, international law and resolutions of the General Assembly.
he Secretary-General is very concerned about reports of troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea being sent to the Russian Federation, including their possible deployment to the conflict zone. This would represent a very dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine.
Everything must be done to avoid any internationalization of this conflict.
The Secretary-General reiterates his support for all meaningful efforts towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter, international law and resolutions of the General Assembly.
Released by: The Premier, Minister for Jobs, Minister for Tourism
Sydney is taking its place among the iconic marathon cities of the world, becoming just the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major alongside New York, London, Tokyo, Boston, Chicago and Berlin.
With the support of the NSW Government over a three-year candidacy and review period, the Sydney Marathon now joins the elite club of Abbott World Marathon Majors after international organisers announced their decision at the New York Marathon overnight.
Sydney’s new status is expected to drive a wave of international and interstate runners, along with familes, friends and event support crew to visit NSW.
The Sydney Marathon will become an instant bucket list event for thousands of runners across the globe who have already achieved the “six star medal” for completing all six major marathons – and thousands more who have been aiming for the same goal but will now want to add Sydney to their to-do list.
Major status positions Sydney as the major events capital of the Asia Pacific and brings global spotlight, with other marathons being watched by an average global broadcast audience of 20 million viewers.
Currently, all six Abbott World Marathon Majors are oversubscribed. For example, more than 840,000 people have applied to run in the London Marathon next year, with only about 55,000 places on offer.
Destination NSW estimates an extra $73 million in visitor expenditure will be added to the NSW economy over the next three years as a result of Sydney Marathon’s elevation. Over a decade, an extra $300 million will be added to the economy, with many visitors to Sydney taking the opportunity to visit regional NSW while in Australia.
The elevation of the Sydney Marathon to major status has been made possible through a funding and strategic partnership with the NSW Government through Destination NSW. Government support was a requirement of the Abbott World Marathon Majors criteria and involves cross agency collaboration with Transport for NSW, Destination NSW, NSW Police and NSW Ambulance.
The TCS Sydney Marathon cleared its final hurdle in September after three years of being judged against the assessment criteria of Abbott World Marathon Majors.
There were 25,000 registered runners for the marathon that winds its way through the harbour city and finishes at the Sydney Opera House.
Participation in the Sydney Marathon has increased by 400% since 2022, from 5,000 entries to 25,000 in 2024. It is expected that 33,300 will greet the starter’s gun in August 2025, rising to 37,800 in 2027.
Ongoing support for the Sydney Marathon is part of the broader Minns Government plan to grow the NSW Visitor Economy to $91 billion in expenditure by 2035.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said:
“We’re thrilled Australia’s only global city, Sydney is now a member of the world majors club, following the great marathon cities of Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin, Tokyo and London.
“Achieving major marathon status is a huge honour and we are proud to be a funding and strategic partner of the Sydney Marathon.
“These runners, their supporters and fans who come to watch will bring a huge boost to the local economy.
“We have ambitious plans to boost the number of visitors in NSW and this event is another feather in our cap.
“NSW is an unbeatable hotspot for tourists across the globe and we look forward to welcoming them next year, providing a multi million dollar boost to the economy and an unforgettable experience for the runners on one of the most scenic marathon courses in the world.”
Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:
“They are the bucket list events that runners from across the world want to tick off. Now Sydney Marathon joins them at the starting line.
“Sydneysiders get behind a sporting event like no other city and we know more and more people will embrace the marathon whether that is aspiring to complete it or getting out to support those who do.
“Sydney Marathon 2025 will draw more visitors, but the NSW Government is just as excited by the economic boost this will provide over the long run as the status of the event grows.
“I congratulate Sydney Marathon organisers and those who worked on its candidacy, backed by Destination NSW. This is a remarkable achievement.”
Wayne Larden, race director of the TCS Sydney Marathon said:
“Becoming the 7th Abbott World Marathon Major is just incredible for the event, as well as for Sydney and NSW.
“This amazing milestone is going to have a profound impact on running in Australia, inspiring the community to become a marathoner and do something special for themselves, their families and friends. Community health will benefit alongside a huge increase in fundraising.
“We are so excited to deliver the 2025 event as the 7th Abbott World Marathon Major and join the greatest marathon series and events on the planet!”
“We could not have achieved such incredible growth in competitors and uplift in delivery to make it into the World Majors if it wasn’t for the support of the NSW Government through Destination NSW, and our partners TCS and ASICS. Our Pont3 team are first rate and have put in so much work to make this happen.
The Albanese Government is boosting aviation competition, trade and tourism opportunities for Australians, securing new or updated air services arrangements with seven international markets following months of negotiations.
These arrangements will allow Australian airlines to expand their international networks and international airlines to increase operations into Australia, a boost for Australian travellers and diaspora communities.
This includes unrestricted capacity with Canada and Malaysia – the first arrangements of this type since a deal struck with India in 2018.
Along with Canada and Malaysia, arrangements have landed with Hong Kong, Chile, Mongolia, Latvia, and Rwanda.
Australia now has more than 110 bilateral air services arrangements in place with other countries or economies, with today’s announcement following recent enhanced arrangements secured in the past 12 months with Türkiye, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
Each arrangement is negotiated to serve Australia’s national interest, with the Australian Government signing with some of our larger tourism markets, including:
Immediate increase in available capacity for airlines to 50,000 weekly passenger seats with Malaysia, and unrestricted capacity for passenger services from 2026
Immediate increase in available capacity for airlines to 50 weekly passenger services with Canada, and unrestricted capacity for passenger services from 2026
Immediate increase in available capacity for airlines to 84 passenger services per week, and unlimited cargo services with Hong Kong
A doubling of available capacity for airlines to and from Chile by 2025
Inaugural arrangements were signed between the Australian Government and the governments of Latvia, Mongolia and Rwanda, each allowing 14 passenger services per week to and from Australia along with unrestricted dedicated cargo services.
These arrangements deliver on our commitment in the Aviation White Paper to expand capacity under our bilateral air services arrangements ahead of demand,ensuring airlines have adequate time to plan for additional future services and add new routes to their schedules. It also aligns with our commitments to prioritise negotiations within our region.
These arrangements have already resulted in significant additional capacity being added into the Australian market, supporting growth in visitor numbers. For example, ABS data for the 12 months to August shows arrivals from Vietnam were 49 per cent higher than pre-pandemic, making it Australia’s fastest growing inbound visitor market.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
“We’re expanding our international aviation network to increase competition and deliver a better experience for Australian travellers.
“Whether travelling to these countries or using them as stepping stones to the rest of the world, each of these arrangements represents a stronger connection with our global market – for travel, trade and tourism.
“We committed to this in our Aviation White Paper and today we are delivering on that commitment – landing additional capacity in the international sector.”
Quotes attributable to Senator Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism:
“Increased flights means we can welcome more visitors to Australia, boosting our tourism industry and supporting jobs and local economies, particularly in regional Australia.
“It also means we can get more cargo in the bellies of outbound flights, giving our exporters more opportunities for growth and to expand into new markets.”
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, yesterday delivered pre-recorded remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the World Internet of Things Convention (WIOTC), in Beijing, People’s Republic of China. In his remarks, Dr. Kao underscored that the rapid adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics will drive profound transformation across industries. He highlighted that these technologies will pave the way for new, innovative business models, helping to advance toward economic prosperity and sustainable development between ASEAN and China.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers pre-recorded remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the World Internet of Things Convention (WIOTC) appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (4 November 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved $10 million in grant financing to address gender-based violence (GBV) in Cambodia to help meet the country’s target of zero GBV by 2030.
The Strengthening Country Systems for Prevention and Response to GBV project is ADB’s first stand-alone Asian Development Fund (ADF) grant specifically focused on gender equality in Southeast Asia, and establishes a clear link between governance systems, public financial management, and the quality and accessibility of services addressing GBV.
The project will strengthen legal and institutional frameworks by updating Cambodia’s legislation on domestic violence; improve service delivery at the local level by strengthening the quality and accessibility of response services and refurbishing shelters for survivors, especially in rural areas; and leverage digital solutions in adolescent school-based and community-based programs to promote prevention. It will enhance digital solutions for 24/7 access to information, education, and communication resources on GBV in an effort to link prevention and response in a continuum for maximum impact.
“This important project will enhance systemic responses, expand access to shelters, and ensure survivors receive the care they need,” said ADB Country Director for Cambodia Jyotsana Varma. “It will also promote community-based programs on prevention, empowering local communities to play a key role in raising awareness and stopping violence before it occurs. ADB remains committed to supporting Cambodia in building a safer, more inclusive society for all.”
The incidence of GBV remains persistently high even as Cambodia has made significant strides in combating it with the government and civil society organizations piloting promising prevention approaches. Since 2014, the prevalence of intimate partner violence has decreased by 8 percentage points to 21% women (aged 15–49) experiencing it at least once in their lifetime, according to the World Health Organization. While better than the global and Southeast Asian average of 30%, Cambodia still faces hurdles due to uneven response hindered by multiple public agencies, and limited survivor-centered care.
Building on lessons from previous GBV projects in Asia, this initiative promotes a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach that integrates gender equality and GBV considerations across key ministries for Women’s Affairs, Interior, and Economy and Finance to ensure a coordinated response.
This $10 million project is funded by a grant from the Asian Development Fund, which supports ADB’s vulnerable developing member countries.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
As the US election unfolds, American territories such as the Northern Marianas, American Samoa, and Guam, along with the broader Pacific region, will be watching the developments.
As the question hangs in the balance of whether the White House remains blue with Kamala Harris or turns red under Donald Trump, academics, New Zealand’s US ambassador, and Guam’s Congressman have weighed in on what the election means for the Pacific.
Massey University’s Centre for Defence and Security Studies senior lecturer Dr Anna Powles said it would no doubt have an impact on small island nations facing climate change and intensified geopolitics, including the rapid expansion of military presence on its territory Guam, following the launch of an interballistic missile by China.
Pacific leaders lament the very real security threat of climate-induced natural disasters has been overshadowed by the tug-of-war between China and the US in what academics say is “control and influence” for the contested region.
Dr Powles said it came as “no surprise” that countries such as New Zealand and Australia had increasingly aligned with the US, as the Biden administration had been leveraging strategic partnerships with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan since 2018.
Despite China being New Zealand’s largest trading partner, New Zealand is in the US camp and must pay attention, she said.
“We are not seeing enough in the public domain or discussion by government with the New Zealand public about what this means for New Zealand going forward.”
Pacific leaders welcome US engagement but are concerned about geopolitical rivalry.
Earlier this month, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Waqa attended the South Pacific Defence Ministers meeting in Auckland.
He said it was important that “peace and stability in the region” was “prioritised”.
Referencing the arms race between China and the US, he said, “The geopolitics occurring in our region is not welcomed by any of us in the Pacific Islands Forum.”
While a Pacific Zone of Peace has been a talking point by Fiji and the PIF leadership to reinforce the region’s “nuclear-free stance”, the US is working with Australia on obtaining nuclear-submarines through the AUKUS security pact.
Dr Powles said the potential for increased tensions “could happen under either president in areas such as Taiwan, East China Sea — irrespective of who is in Washington”.
South Pacific defence ministers told RNZ Pacific the best way to respond to threats of conflict and the potential threat of a nuclear attack in the region is to focus on defence and building stronger ties with its allies.
New Zealand’s Defence Minister said NZ was “very good friends with the United States”, with that friendship looking more friendly under the Biden Administration. But will this strengthening of ties and partnerships continue if Trump becomes President?
US President Joe Biden (center) stands for a group photo with Pacific Islands Forum leaders following the Pacific Islands Forum Summit at the South Portico of the White House in Washington on September 25, 2023. Image: Jim Watson/RNZ
US President Joe Biden, center, stands for a group photo with Pacific Islands Forum leaders following the Pacific Islands Forum Summit, at the South Portico of the White House in Washington on September 25, 2023. Photo: Jim Watson
US wants a slice of Pacific Regardless of who is elected, US Ambassador to New Zealand Tom Udall said history showed the past three presidents “have pushed to re-engage with the Pacific”.
While both Trump and Harris may differ on critical issues for the Pacific such as the climate crisis and multilateralism, both see China as the primary external threat to US interests.
The US has made a concerted effort to step up its engagement with the Pacific in light of Chinese interest, including by reopening its embassies in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Tonga.
On 12 July 2022, the Biden administration showed just how keen it was to have a seat at the table by US Vice-President Kamala Harris dialing in to the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Fiji at the invitation of the then chair former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama. The US was the only PIF “dialogue partner” allowed to speak at this Forum.
However, most of the promises made to the Pacific have been “forward-looking” and leaders have told RNZ Pacific they want to see less talk and more real action.
Defence diplomacy has been booming since the 2022 Solomon Islands-China security deal. It tripled the amount of money requested from Congress for economic development and ocean resilience — up to US$60 million a year for 10 years — as well as a return of Peace Corps volunteers to Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu.
Health security was another critical area highlighted in 2024 the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Declaration.
The Democratic Party’s commitment to the World Health Organisation (WHO) bodes well, in contrast to the previous Trump administration’s withdrawal from the WHO during the covid-19 pandemic.
It continued a long-running programme called ‘The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs’ which gives enterprising women from more than 100 countries with the knowledge, networks and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses.
While both Trump and Harris may differ on critical issues for the Pacific such as the climate crisis and multilateralism, both see China as the primary external threat to US interests. Image: 123RF/RNZ
Guam’s take Known as the tip of the spear for the United States, Guam is the first strike community under constant threat of a nuclear missile attack.
It was seen as a signal of China’s missile capabilities which had the US and South Pacific Defence Ministers on edge and deeply “concerned”.
China’s Defence Ministry said in a statement the launch was part of routine training by the People’s Liberation Army’s Rocket Force, which oversees conventional and nuclear missile operations and was not aimed at any country or target.
The US has invested billions to build a 360-degree missile defence system on Guam with plans for missile tests twice a year over the next decade, as it looks to bolster its weaponry in competition with China.
Despite the arms race and increased military presence and weaponry on Guam, China is known to have fewer missiles than the US.
The US considers Guam a key strategic military base to help it stop any potential attacks. Image: RNZ Pacific/Eleisha Foon
However, Guamanians are among the four million disenfranchised Americans living in US territories whose vote does not count due to an anomaly in US law.
“While territorial delegates can introduce bills and advocate for their territory in the US Congress, they have no voice on the floor. While Guam is exempted from paying the US federal income tax, many argue that such a waiver does not make up for what the tiny island brings to the table,” according to a BenarNews report.
US Congressman for Guam James Moylan has spent his time making friends and “educating and informing” other states about Guam’s existence in hopes to get increased funding and support for legislative bills.
Moylan said he would prefer a Trump presidency but noted he has “proved he can also work with Democrats”.
Under Trump, Moylan said Guam would have “stronger security”, raising his concerns over the need to stop Chinese fishing boats from coming onto the island.
Moylan also defended the military expansion: “We are not the aggressor. If we put our guard down, we need to be able to show we can maintain our land.”
Moylan defended the US military expansion, which his predecessor, former US Congressman Robert Underwood, was concerned about, saying the rate of expansion had not been seen since World War II.
“We are the closest there is to the Indo-Pacific threat,” Moylan said.
“We need to make sure our pathways, waterways and economy is growing, and we have a strong defence against our aggressors.”
“All likeminded democracies are concerned about the current leadership of China. We are working together…to work on security issues and prosperity issues,” US Ambassador to New Zealand Tom Udall said.
When asked about the military capabilities of the US and Guam, Moylan said: “We are not going to war; we are prepared to protect the homeland.”
Moylan said that discussions for compensation involving nuclear radiation survivors in Guam would happen regardless of who was elected.
The 23-year battle has been spearheaded by atomic veteran Robert Celestial, who is advocating for recognition for Chamorro and Guamanians under the RECA Act.
Celestial said that the Biden administration had thrown their support behind them, but progress was being stalled in Congress, which is predominantly controlled by the Republican party.
But Moylan insisted that the fight for compensation was not over. He said that discussions would continue after the election irrespective of who was in power.
“It’s been tabled. It’s happening. I had a discussion with Speaker Mike Johnson. We are working to pass this through,” he said.
US Marine Force Base Camp Blaz. Image: RNZ Pacific/Eleisha Foon
If Trump wins Dr Powles said a return to Trump’s leadership could derail ongoing efforts to build security architecture in the Pacific.
There are also views Trump would pull back from the Pacific and focus on internal matters, directly impacting his nation.
For Trump, there is no mention of the climate crisis in his platform or Agenda47.
This is in line with the former president’s past actions, such as withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement in 2019, citing “unfair economic burdens” placed on American workers and businesses.
Trump has maintained his position that the climate crisis is “one of the great scams of all time”.
The America First agenda is clear, with “countering China” at the top of the list. Further, “strengthening alliances,” Trump’s version of multilateralism, reads as what allies can do for the US rather than the other way around.
“There are concerns for Donald Trump’s admiration for more dictatorial leaders in North Korea, Russia, China and what that could mean in a time of crisis,” Dr Powles said.
A Trump administration could mean uncertainty for the Pacific, she added.
While Trump was president in 2017, he warned North Korea “not to mess” with the United States.
“North Korea [is] best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met by fire and fury like the world has never seen.”
North Korea responded deriding his warning as a “load of nonsense”.
Although there is growing concern among academics and some Pacific leaders that Trump would bring “fire and fury” to the Indo-Pacific if re-elected, the former president seemed to turn cold at the thought of conflict.
In 2023, Trump remarked that “Guam isn’t America” in response to warning that the US territory could be vulnerable to a North Korean nuclear strike — a move which seemed to distance the US from conflict.
If Harris wins Dr Powles said that if Harris wins, it was important to move past “announcements” and follow-through on all pledges.
A potential win for Harris could be the fulfilment of the many “promises” made to the Pacific for climate financing, uplifting economies of the Pacific and bolstering defence security, she said.
Pacific leaders want Harris to deliver on the Pacific Partnership Strategy, the outcomes of the two Pacific Islands-US summits in 2022 and 2023, and the many diplomatic visits undertaken during President Biden’s presidency.
The Biden administration recognised Cook Islands and Niue as sovereign and independent states and established diplomatic relationships with them.
Harris has pledged to boost funding to the Green Climate Fund by US$3 billion. She also promised to “tackle the climate crisis with bold action, build a clean energy economy, advance environmental justice, and increase resilience to climate disasters”.
Dr Powles said that delivery needed to be the focus.
“What we need to be focused on is delivery [and that] Pacific Island partners are engaged from the very beginning — from the outset to any programme right through to the final phase of it.”
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
A seminar on “Building Water Sector Youth Leadership Network in the Lancang-Mekong Region,” under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund, was held in Beijing on Oct. 29.
A seminar on “Building Water Sector Youth Leadership Network in the Lancang-Mekong Region” is held in Beijing on Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo by Wang Ran/China.org.cn]
Organized by Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Center (LMC Center), the workshop has brought together over 30 representatives from government agencies, research institutions, universities, enterprises, and NGOs to discuss project progress and share insights on developing young leaders in the water sector.
Following the seminar, participants visited the LMC Center and the Tuancheng Lake in Beijing’s Haidian district to learn about the economic, social, and ecological impacts of the eastern and central routes of the South-North Water Diversion Project.
“Building Water Sector Youth Leadership Network in the Lancang-Mekong Region,” was initiated by Thailand’s Office of the National Water Resources, and jointly implemented by Environmental Research Institute Chulalongkorn University, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Asia Centre, and the LMC Center. It has received strong support from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Running from 2023 to 2024, it aims to strengthen youth engagement across the six countries in the Lancang-Mekong basin, fostering active participation in regional water resource cooperation.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
The United States presidential election will be held Tuesday, with results coming in from Wednesday morning AEDT. I have a guide to Wednesday below that includes when polls in the key states close and other information.
In analyst Nate Silver’s aggregate of national polls, Democrat Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump by 48.5–47.8, a gain for Trump since last Thursday, when Harris led by 48.6–47.5. Harris’ national lead peaked on October 2, when she led by 49.4–45.9.
The US president isn’t elected by the national popular vote, but by the Electoral College, in which each state receives electoral votes equal to its federal House seats (population based) and senators (always two). Almost all states award their electoral votes as winner-takes-all, and it takes 270 electoral votes to win (out of 538 total).
Relative to the national popular vote, the Electoral College is biased to Trump, with Harris needing at least a two-point popular vote win to be the narrow Electoral College favourite in Silver’s model.
Trump leads by 0.4 points in both Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes) and Nevada (six). He leads by over one point in North Carolina (16) and Georgia (16), and by 2.6 points in Arizona (11). Harris leads by about one point in Michigan (16) and Wisconsin (ten).
If the current polls are exactly right, Trump wins the Electoral College by 287–251. But either Harris or Trump could outperform their polls and win easily.
In Silver’s model, Trump has a 53% chance to win the Electoral College, slightly down from 54% on Thursday. There’s a 28% chance that Harris wins the popular vote but loses the Electoral College. The FiveThirtyEight forecast gives Trump a 53% win probability.
Silver is aggregating state polls to produce a popular vote forecast, and this gives Harris a 50.4–48.4 popular vote margin, better for Harris than her 0.7-point lead in national polls.
Silver said the US pollsters are “herding”, particularly in the key states. This means individual polls are not showing enough variation in their results. If the polls are wrong in these states, herding would be a cause.
The highly rated Selzer poll had a shock result, giving Harris a three-point lead in Iowa (six electoral votes), a state Trump won by eight points in 2020. However, an Emerson Iowa poll gave Trump a nine-point lead. At least Selzer isn’t herding!
If Harris loses, a big cause will be the unpopularity of Joe Biden. If Trump loses, I believe his biggest mistake will be agreeing to the June 27 debate with Biden. Biden’s woeful performance persuaded senior Democrats to pressure him into withdrawing.
Early voting and economic data
As at Friday, over 70 million Americans had voted early (44% of total 2020 turnout). Many states give data on their early vote, such as the gender composition or the party registration of voters in states that have registration by party. But Silver said on Thursday
that analysts shouldn’t use early vote data as an alternative to the polls.
Many people will vote on election day, so the composition of the current early vote may be a skewed representation of the final electorate. Also, we don’t know who early voters voted for. Even in states with party registration, people can register as Other, and Other voters make up a large share of the vote.
In economic data, US GDP increased 2.7% at an annualised rate in the September quarter (0.7% in quarter on quarter terms). GDP has increased modestly in every quarter since September 2022. In September, the personal savings rate dropped 0.2% since August to 4.6%.
Just 12,000 jobs were added in October. While the unemployment rate remained unchanged from September at 4.1%, the employment population ratio (the share of eligible Americans employed) dropped 0.2% to 60.0%. The survey fieldwork may have been affected by Hurricane Milton.
The Silver economic index is at +0.19, indicating an economy just above average. The economy is a key reason why Trump could win.
Election day guide for Wednesday AEDT
All times in this section are Wednesday AEDT. US media will often call uncompetitive states for a candidate once all polls in that state are closed, without any votes being counted. Some states are split across time zones, and in this case the part in the western time zone will close an hour after the eastern zone part.
Early and postal votes are expected to lean to Harris, while election day votes are expected to lean to Trump. So if the early vote is counted first, the state is likely to appear better for Harris than the final result, and the reverse if the election day vote is counted first.
The Green Papers has a complete list of poll closing times and FiveThirtyEight has details on how each state counts its votes. I will concentrate on the seven key states.
At 10am, the first polls close in the eastern time zones of Kentucky and Indiana. These states are both expected to be Trump blowout wins.
At 11am, polls close in Georgia. Early votes will be reported by 12pm, followed by the election day vote. Initial results will probably skew to Harris.
At 11:30am, polls close in North Carolina. The early vote will be counted first, so the initial results are likely to be relatively good for Harris.
At 12pm, polls close in Pennsylvania and the large majority of Michigan. Pennsylvania will count their election day votes first, which should be relatively good for Trump. Michigan will count its postal votes with election day votes.
At 1pm, polls close in Wisconsin, Arizona and the remaining small part of Michigan. In Wisconsin, election day votes will be counted first, with postals not released until late. An hour after polls close, Arizona will release its early vote, which should be relatively good for Harris. Counting of election day votes will continue until the evening AEDT, with more counting in the following days.
At 2pm, polls close in Nevada. The early vote will be counted first. Results can’t be reported until all voters in line have voted, which will probably be hours after the official close of polls. There will also be late postals to count.
At 3pm, polls close in the Pacific states of California (54 electoral votes), Washington (12) and Oregon (eight), all expected to be easy wins for Harris. If Harris is doing unexpectedly well in the key states, these three may put her over the 270 electoral votes needed to win.
At 5pm, the final polls close in Alaska’s western time zone.
We may know who has won the Electoral College and therefore the presidency by Wednesday afternoon, but counting will continue until well into that evening AEDT. If it’s close, it may take a few more days to resolve the Electoral College.
Some states, including the populous Democratic strongholds of California and New York, take weeks to count all their votes. So it won’t be until early December that we know the national popular vote totals.
Adrian Beaumont 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.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03)
LAS VEGAS – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) held a pinning ceremony at American Legion Post 8 for southern Nevada Vietnam War veterans to honor their service and sacrifices with Vietnam Veteran Lapel pins.
The pins – which feature a blue circle with a laurel wreath surrounding a bald eagle, the American flag, and six stars that represent the allied nations who served in the Vietnam War – were awarded to a dozen local veterans. Nevada is home to more than 200,000 veterans, and as the daughter of a veteran, Congresswoman Lee has worked across the aisle to expand their access to critical health care.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following are the welcome remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024 under Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 today (November 4):Commissioner Cui (Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Cui Jianchun); Professor Ignacio Tirado (Secretary-General of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law), Consuls General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, A very good morning. For those joining us from different time zones, perhaps I should say good afternoon and also good evening. I am truly delighted to welcome you to the opening of the Hong Kong Legal Week 2024, and to the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024.Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 The Hong Kong Legal Week is an annual flagship event of the Department of Justice. Since its inception in 2019, the Hong Kong Legal Week has served as a dynamic forum where legal professionals, scholars, judges and experts come together to discuss critical legal issues that resonate not only within Hong Kong but throughout the wider Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The theme of this year is “Hong Kong Common Law System: World-Class Springboard to China and Beyond”. It emphasises Hong Kong’s unique role as a gateway between China, the Asia Pacific and the world. Under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction within China. Our strong legal foundation, coupled with our close ties with and support from the Mainland, positions us as a critical hub for legal and economic collaboration across the region and beyond.Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024 We begin this week with today’s Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024. Building on the success of the inaugural Summit in 2022, the Department of Justice once again partners with the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) to organise this Summit under the theme “Springboard to Opportunities: Utilising International Private Law and Technology to Facilitate Access to Credit, Investment, and Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific Region”. The Asia-Pacific region is home to enormous economic potential and encompasses a diverse array of legal systems. While this diversity enriches our legal and cultural landscape, it also introduces complexities and uncertainties for businesses navigating cross-border transactions. To unlock the region’s full economic potential and ensure long-term sustainable growth, harmonisation and modernisation of private law across the region is essential. Recognising this need, today’s summit gathers leading legal minds from across the Asia Pacific, together with experts from UNIDROIT, to explore how the unification and co-ordination of various areas of private law can support economic growth and facilitate smoother cross-border interactions throughout the region. We will be hearing from them on how international private law and emerging technologies can unlock new opportunities for sustainable economic growth across the region, and how Hong Kong may contribute in this regard.Department of Justice’s collaboration with UNIDROIT In the past few years, the Department of Justice has closely collaborated with UNIDROIT to promote the development, implementation, and deeper understanding of private international law and international commercial law across the Asia-Pacific region. In addition to these collaborative efforts, we are grateful for UNIDROIT’s strong support to the Department of Justice’s secondment programme, offering Hong Kong’s legal professionals from both the public and private sectors the valuable opportunity to work at the UNIDROIT Secretariat in Rome. This experience not only deepens their expertise in international legal issues, but also bolsters Hong Kong’s capacity in foreign-related legal matters. I am very pleased to note that one of our former secondees will be moderating a panel later this morning, which testifies to the success of the secondment programme.Capacity building The secondment programme is one of the Department of Justice’s many policy initiatives providing professional development opportunities to our legal talents. To further strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a leading international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region, the Department of Justice places great importance on nurturing legal talents with a global perspective and proficiency in foreign-related legal affairs. We are committed to establishing Hong Kong as a leading centre for capacity building in international law. As outlined in our Chief Executive’s Policy Address 2023 and 2024, the Department of Justice is setting up the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. The Academy will regularly organise practical training courses, seminars, international exchange programmes and more to promote exchanges among talent in regions along the Belt and Road. It will also provide training for talent in the practice of foreign-related legal affairs for the country, and nurture legal talent conversant with international law, common law, civil law and the country’s legal system. A dedicated office and an expert committee have already been set up to facilitate the establishment of the Academy. We are grateful to have Professor Tirado as a member of the expert committee, and I am pleased to see many of our committee members participating in today’s Summit. To officially mark this new initiative, I am excited to announce that the launch ceremony for the Academy will take place on the final day of the Hong Kong Legal Week. I warmly invite all of you to join us for this significant occasion.Other events I also warmly welcome you to participate in an array of other events this week. Tomorrow, we will have the Second Legal Forum on Interconnectivity and Development co-organised with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR. At the Legal Forum, we are very pleased to have the General Counsel of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank deliver a keynote address on promoting good governance and high-quality development under international law. Legal experts will also share their insights on Hong Kong’s role in China’s institutional opening up, and rule of law as a risk management mechanism to safeguard sustainable development. On Wednesday, we will host events under the theme “Beyond Litigation: The Vibrant Landscape of Alternative Dispute Resolution of Hong Kong”. The day will explore three topical issues – the role of mediation in promoting a culture of mutual respect, harmony and inclusiveness, use of artificial intelligence in alternative dispute resolution, as well as the resolution of sports disputes. There will also be the 2024 Hong Kong Mediation Lecture in the evening, exploring the unique challenges and opportunities involved in the use of mediation in deals relating to natural resources. Thursday’s programme will focus on strengthening the rule of law in the Greater Bay Area. We will hear from experts on the proof of Hong Kong law and foreign law in the Mainland, the arrangement on mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters between the Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as legal services and juridical relations to facilitate and protect trade and social interactions between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The day will also feature a mock mediation session led by mediators from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao, and a discussion on the Greater Bay Area mediation platform. On Friday, apart from the launching ceremony of the Academy in the afternoon that I have just mentioned, we will explore how the rule of law in Hong Kong, together with different components of Hong Kong’s legal and judicial system, are essential to provide the best business environment from the perspectives of our legal services profession and our enterprises, and how our legal professionals can play an important role along the Belt and Road. Alongside this week’s discussions, we are also featuring a special exhibition on the achievements in the construction of the rule of law of the People’s Republic of China in the modern era, co-organised by the Ministry of Justice of China and the Department of Justice, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of People’s Republic of China. The exhibition highlights key milestones in China’s legal evolution, both domestically and in foreign-related areas, over the past 75 years. You are most welcome to visit the exhibition during the breaks or after the Summit. It is just in the exhibition hall adjacent to this conference room.Conclusion Ladies and gentlemen, as we look ahead to the discussions that will follow, I hope today’s Summit will inspire all of us to explore new ideas and opportunities. Let’s make the most of this moment to engage in meaningful exchanges and drive forward the future of international law. On this note, I wish today’s Summit every success and extend my sincere appreciation to all of you for joining us, whether online or in person. A special thanks to UNIDROIT for their unwavering support, and heartfelt gratitude to all my colleagues at the Department of Justice and our dedicated partners, whose hard work has made Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 a reality. Thank you very much.
MIL OSI Translation. Timor-Leste Portuguese to English –
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
……………………………………………. ……………………………………………. …………………….
Press release
November 4, 2024
Timor-Leste Expresses Solidarity with the Kingdom of Spain over Floods in the Valencia Region
The IX Constitutional Government expresses its deep solidarity with the People and Government of Spain for the tragic floods that devastated the Valencia region between the end of October and the beginning of November 2024. This natural disaster, triggered by an Isolated High Altitude Depression (DANA), caused torrential rains that resulted in the death of more than 200 people, most of them in the province of Valencia, and the destruction of infrastructure, homes and agricultural areas.
Images captured by the European Copernicus programme reveal the magnitude of the damage, with extensive areas flooded and infrastructure severely affected. Local authorities continue to face major challenges in assisting the population and restoring the affected areas.
On behalf of the Government and People of Timor-Leste, the Spokesperson of the IX Constitutional Government, Minister Agio Pereira, expressed “deep regret for the tragic loss of human life and the enormous difficulties faced by the Spanish people at this time of pain and trial”. He added that “our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we acknowledge the heroic efforts of the rescue teams and professionals who continue to support the communities affected by this catastrophe”. END
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO, OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR TO ANY U.S. PERSON (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933) OR IN OR INTO ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
On October 31, 2024, the New Development Bank (NDB) successfully priced a 3-Year USD 1.25 billion Green Bond, paying an annual coupon of 4.677 per cent (equivalent to SOFR MS + 80 bps), under its Euro Medium Term Note Programme, which will be issued on 7 November 2024, subject to final legal documentation and customary closing conditions.
An amount equal to the net proceeds from the Bond issuance will be allocated to finance and/or refinance, in whole or in part, past or future disbursement of loans made to eligible green projects in accordance with NDB’s Sustainable Financing Policy Framework dated 25 May 2020 in such sectors as clean transportation, climate change adaptation, energy efficiency, low-carbon and renewable energy, sustainable water management, etc. NDB’s Sustainable Financing Policy Framework governs issuances of green, social and sustainability debt instruments, including the use and management of bond proceeds, project selection and evaluation process, reporting and disclosure.
The USD 1.25 billion Green Bond received strong demand from investors, with the final order book exceeding USD 2.2 billion. Geographically, the issuance attracted a diverse investor base, with 66% of investors from Asia and 34% from the EMEA region. The composition of the final order book was as follows: Central Banks, Official Institutions, and Sovereign Wealth Funds – 52%; Banks – 43%; Asset Managers, Fund Managers, and others – 5%.
Bank of China, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, ICBC, and Standard Chartered Bank (B&D) acted as Joint Lead Managers of the transaction. CITIC Securities served as a Co-Manager of the transaction.
“The strong demand and good pricing conditions obtained underscore the confidence of investors in NDB’s financial stability and its mandate of mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries,” said Mr. Monale Ratsoma, NDB Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer.
“New Development Bank is committed to being a regular issuer in both hard currency and local currencies of its member countries. Our issuances are guided by market conditions, investor demand and the requirements of the Bank’s lending portfolio. NDB aims to build a liquid benchmark curve over time with issuances across different maturities, enhancing its capacity to finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries”.
Background Information
New Development Bank was established with the purpose of mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging market economies and developing countries, complementing the efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development. In 2021, NDB initiated membership expansion and admitted Bangladesh, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay as its new member countries.
In December 2019, NDB established its inaugural USD 50 billion Euro Medium Term Note Programme (EMTN Programme) in the international capital markets.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This announcement does not constitute or form part of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or subscribe for or otherwise acquire any securities (including, without limitation, the green bonds mentioned above (the “Bonds“)).
This announcement is not a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 or that Regulation as it forms part of United Kingdom law.
The Bonds are not being, and will not be, offered or sold in the United States. Nothing in this announcement constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Bonds in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Securities may not be offered, sold or delivered in the United States absent registration under, or an exemption from the registration requirements of, the Securities Act. The Bonds have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended).
No action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction in relation to the Bonds to permit a public offering of securities.
This announcement is directed only at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom (the “UK“), or (ii) persons who are in the UK who are (a) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order“) or (b) otherwise, persons to whom this announcement may lawfully be communicated pursuant to the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons“). This announcement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. This electronic transmission may only be communicated to persons in the UK in circumstances where section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 does not apply to the Issuer.
Credit ratings should not be taken as recommendations by a rating agency to buy, sell or hold the Bonds. They may be revised, suspended or withdrawn at any time by the relevant rating agency.
Prohibition on sales to EEA and UK retail investors: Target Market (MiFID II / UK MiFIR) is Eligible Counterparties and Professional clients only (all distribution channels). No EU PRIIPs or UK PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as the Notes are not available to retail in EEA or the UK.
Relevant stabilisation regulations including FCA/ICMA will apply.
On election eve in the United States, the presidential race is deadlocked. The polls are exceptionally close across the country and in all the swing states – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin in the industrial midwest; Nevada and Arizona in the west; and Georgia and North Carolina in the south.
The final New York Times/Siena poll shows Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris leading by a very small margin or tied with Republican former President Donald Trump in all the swing states. The exception is Arizona, where Trump leads by a few percentage points.
While there is no clear favourite to win, there are several critical factors that will driving voters’ decisions on Election Day. This is what to watch.
Trump’s favourability is stuck around 43% in nationwide polling. In the past two presidential elections, he fell short of taking 50% of the national popular vote. As president, he never achieved over 50% favourability. And he has never topped 50% since leaving office.
This means he has hit a ceiling in his support and is highly unlikely to win the national popular vote on Tuesday.
This also reflects what happened to Trump in the Republican primaries to win the nomination. He dominated the field, defeating Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and several others. But in most of those primaries, 15-20% of Republican voters did not vote for Trump.
Where will these Republican voters ultimately land on Tuesday? Probably half want to vote Republican and will go with Trump. Others will not being able to bring themselves to vote for Harris and will simply not vote for president.
Others will switch their support to Harris. Indeed, there has never been such a swelling of support from members of one party to support the other party’s presidential candidate.
Harris needs those “Republicans for Harris” votes. In addition, she’ll need to replicate the coalition of young voters, voters of colour and women who backed current President Joe Biden against Trump in 2020 in those same swing states and nationally.
Her favourability ratings are higher than Trump, at around 46%. The closer a presidential candidate is to 50% approval ratings, the better their chance of winning the election.
It’s the economy, stupid
At the same time, the country is in a bad mood. There is a classic polling question asked at elections: is the country on the right track, or moving in the wrong direction? Between 60–70% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track.
That is a signal this election is about change. Historically, that sentiment has not favoured the incumbent in the White House. As Biden’s vice president, Harris is directly facing this headwind.
There are four key issues in this election. The most important is the hip pocket issue: household budgets, cost of living pressures and voters’ concerns about their future economic security.
Since Biden and Harris took office nearly four years ago, the cost of groceries, household items, utilities and services such as insurance have risen between 10–40%. Petrol prices have gone up even more.
Though interest rates have fallen, American households are hurting. When asked who is best to manage the economy, voters in swing states say Trump by a 15-point margin.
The next-biggest issue is immigration. Since Trump first became a presidential candidate in 2015, he has relentlessly pushed the immigration button, declaring the border with Mexico is out of control, with crime and pillage rising in its wake.
The first three years of Biden’s term were also marked by big surges of immigrants crossing the border, though rates have fallen dramatically in 2024.
Voters view Trump as best placed to manage this issue, too, by nearly 15 points.
Abortion rights and reproductive health services are the third major issue. Many women across America are repelled by the Supreme Court’s decision to take away their long-held constitutional right to an abortion. Now, this policy is decided at the state level. And several conservative Republican states – including Ohio and Kansas – have voted to restore abortion rights.
Harris is seen as the champion of these issues. Multiple pollsshow voters trust her more than Trump on reproductive rights, by wide margins.
Abortion rights are also on the ballot in two swing states, Nevada and Arizona, which should help Harris in both.
The future of American democracy is the fourth major issue facing voters. According to a new poll, half the country sees Trump as a profound threat to America’s democracy who will wield authoritarian power to enforce his policies and programs.
Harris has pledged to turn the page, heal divisions and get Republicans and Democrats working together again.
In these closing days, Trump continues to make provocative statements with violent imagery. At a rally in Arizona last week, for instance, he again attacked Liz Cheney, the former Republican congresswoman who advocated for the prosecution of Trump over the January 6 insurrection:
She’s a radical war hawk. Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, OK? Let’s see how she feels about it. You know, when the guns are trained on her face.
This may have provided Harris with a final cut-through moment on Trump’s fitness for office in the final days of the campaign. She said in response:
Anyone who wants to be president of the United States who uses that kind of violent rhetoric is clearly disqualified and unqualified to be president. […] Trump is increasingly, however, someone who considers his political opponents the enemy, is permanently out for revenge and is increasingly unstable and unhinged.
So, who is going to win?
Trump’s team sees victory in all the polls. His chief pollster wrote late last week:
President Trump’s position nationally and in every single battleground state is significantly better than it was four years ago.
The polls may also be undercounting the full measure of Trump’s support, as was the case in 2016 and 2020. And the polls may not be reflecting the extent of antipathy towards Harris as a Black and south Asian woman.
Jen O’Malley Dillon, Harris’ campaign director, and who headed the 2020 Biden campaign that defeated Trump, has told her troops, meanwhile, that undecided voters are “gettable”, adding:
We have multiple pathways to victory […] Our folks are voting at levels we need them to vote in order for us to win.
Harris has built a US$1 billion (A$1.5 billion) machine designed to reach voters in the swing states – through personal contact. This machine made three million phone calls and door knocks on homes in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin alone on Saturday. If this machine delivers, it could be the boost Harris needs on election night.
Harris’ campaign also signalled over the weekend that late-deciding voters, and especially women, are breaking their way by double digits. There is a sense among Democrats that Harris is now peaking as the campaign concludes.
The final analysis
If Harris wins, it will be because she has successfully sealed the deal with those voters and made the election a referendum on Trump – that on balance the country has had enough of him after eight years. It also means her ground game delivered the votes.
If Trump wins, it will mean voters trusted him to manage inflation and the cost-of-living squeeze on households, as well as what they see as out-of-control immigration and crime. These messages would also have been further embellished by unease about Harris, a Black and south Asian woman, as president.
Bruce Wolpe receives funding from the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He also worked on the Democratic staff of the US House of Representatives, most recently during President Barack Obama’s first term.
Wei Sixiao has won the 2024 Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize for his novel Tu Guang Cun Mu (Vast land, Small Tree), beating other four shortlisted writers.
Cofounded in 2018 by Swiss luxury watch brand Blancpain and Chinese publisher Imaginist, the annual prize was established to shed light on Chinese writers under 45. The winner receives a cash prize of 300,000 yuan ($42,022), and a Blancpain watch.
The theme of this year’s award was “Where is the originality in literature?” According to Leung Man-tao, chief consultant of Imaginist, with the theme, the award chose to inspire people to explore the experiences and creativity that define us as individuals, especially in the context of being surrounded by the cocoon of information, big data, and artificial intelligence.
The evaluation committee, which is composed each year of different writers, literary critics, and a celebrity reader from another field, consisted of poet and literary critic Zhang Dinghao, actor-director Joan Chen, writer Shuang Xuetao, who won the award in 2020, Xu Zidong, former director of Department of Chinese at Lingnan University, and writer Luo Yijun.
Representing the jury, Xu delivered the award speech for the 38-year-old’s winning entry. “Focusing on a village, rather than a single character or event, the book makes use of meticulous realism to carry on the tradition of Sheng Si Chang (The Field of Life and Death, by Xiao Hong).
“It deepens and develops the mainstream of Chinese rural literature in terms of space. In terms of time, it not only narrates the lives of farmers over the past few decades, as seen in Huo Zhe (To Live, by Yu Hua) and Pingfan De Shijie (Ordinary World, by Lu Yao), but also keeps pace with the times by depicting new rural scenes: tractors harvesting corn, farmers using social media, township elections and nursing homes.
“Amid the changes to the countryside, it reflects on unchanging aspects, namely the network of interpersonal relationships based on kinship and family ties as described in Fei Xiaotong’s Xiangtu Zhongguo (From the Soil: The Foundations of Chinese Society).”
However, at the prize-giving event on Oct 22 in Beijing, Zhang Dinghao raised the issue of whether Wei’s work was “repetitive”, suggesting that the structural innovation of the novel was designed to mask the repetition of content. He also raised the question of whether the writer was stuck in a habitual style, saying this was “a matter that Wei might need to reflect on”.
In response, Wei acknowledged that his limitation was the tendency to repeat themes.
“Some characters may recur, but it’s inevitable. After living in the countryside for over 30 years, I’ve witnessed the gradual development of many characters each year. So, I want to write coherently,” he says, adding that he tries to present fresh and overlooked elements with each new novel he writes.
Born in a village in Zibo, Shandong province in 1986, Wei focuses on the village as his subject.
His recent titles include The Rural Trilogy — Yu Shi Wu Qu (which roughly translates as “don’t do other things than suggested by traditional Chinese almanacs”), Doushi Renmin Qunzhong (The Masses), and Wang Nenghao (the name of the principal character), which was shortlisted for the 2022 Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize.
After Wang Nenghao, Wei was searching for a new way to write another novel about the village. He says that after the trilogy, there were still a great many things in Xinliu village that he had not written about previously.
“Even if it’s a small village with only a few hundred households, it’s a very complex little universe, which motivates me to continue writing about it,” he says.
In the end, he found the answer, to “dissect” the little-known village from different perspectives, as the title of his book indicates.
“The idea (for the title) is actually quite simple: to deconstruct the two Chinese characters for ‘village’ into four parts, and see how they could be rearranged to sound smoother. I chose this title as the novel seeks to describe different aspects of a village,” Wei says.
Wanting to break free from the constraints of the traditional novel, Wei made bold structural changes in his latest work.
The novel is divided into two parts. The first part, Aspects, places specific focus on some of the people, things and places in the village, revealing both the genealogies of characters in Xinliu, and the vicissitudes of life.
The second part, A Year, takes a nonfictional approach to documenting the events, large and small, such as agricultural work, weddings and funerals, providing a panoramic depiction of the authentic rural landscape of the present.
In the second part, Wei introduces his own perspective, leading readers through significant events in rural life.
“It was a bit like making a documentary,” he says.
Inspired by the writing style of German-English novelist, essayist, poet and scholar W.G. Sebald, which combines elements of memoir, fiction, history and biography, in Tu Guang Cun Mu, Wei explores a style that blurs the boundary between fiction and nonfiction.
Like scenes from a documentary, the multitude of living beings and everyday life in Xinliu village unfold gradually in the 400-page novel. Over 100 characters, through different festivals and seasons, experience birth, aging, sickness, and death, joy and sorrow, separations and reunions — behind each face is an endless story.
“Villages may seem similar to one another, and you don’t know how the villagers survive and live. Perhaps after reading my novel, readers may understand how they live and die, which might have been my original intention in writing,” Wei says.
“The work is vivid and powerful. Wei Sixiao possesses a deep understanding and affection for the land, yet he avoids sentimentality, using the most simple, compassionate and humorous tone to accurately depict the lives of the villagers,” says Joan Chen, commenting on the book.
“This allows us to feel intense, indescribable emotion and sentiment, reflecting the era and society through a tapestry of lives. I particularly enjoy the dialogues between the first-person narrator ‘I’ and the mother in the book, where they exchange all sorts of gossip about the city, the village, relatives and acquaintances, that bring a smile to the reader’s face.”
Death is one of the topics Wei often covers in his work, especially rural funerals, which he says are like a festival gathering, attended by a lot of relatives and friends.
“When faced with death, people often experience poetic moments. My view of funerals has changed over the years. I used to dislike insincerity of the wailing, but now I see it can comfort the deceased person’s close family, even if the tears aren’t real.”
Opened for entries on April 15, the 2024 Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize received 115 works of fiction, a record number of submissions, says Liu Ruilin, founder of Imaginist. Five, including Tong Mo’s novel Dadi Zhongxin De Ren (People at the Center of the Earth), short story collection Guowang De Youxi (The King’s Game) by Datouma, and Laoshi Haoren (Honest, Good People) by Gu Xiang were shortlisted, with the five judges commenting that they “demonstrate the young writers’ keen insight into reality and an impressively expansive view”.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hongkong Post to issue “Hong Kong Landscape – 10 Natural Wonders” special stamps (with photos) Hongkong Post to issue “Hong Kong Landscape – 10 Natural Wonders” special stamps (with photos) ******************************************************************************************
Hongkong Post announced today (November 4) that a set of special stamps and associated philatelic products on the theme of “Hong Kong Landscape – 10 Natural Wonders” will be released for sale on November 19 (Tuesday). Compact as it may be, Hong Kong possesses a diverse and vibrant array of natural landscapes. As a continuation of the “Hong Kong Landscape” stamp series, Hongkong Post will issue a set of eight stamps, two stamp sheetlets and associated philatelic products on the theme of “Hong Kong Landscape – 10 Natural Wonders”. This collection is based on the online voting results from the Top 10 Natural Wonders of Hong Kong organised by the Hong Kong Chronicles Institute in 2023. The most representative Top 10 Natural Wonders of Hong Kong were selected by voters from five categories of natural landscapes, namely mountains, waters, rocks, villages and islands. This set of special stamps showcases the exquisite natural beauty of Hong Kong and encourages the public to appreciate and cherish the local natural scenery. Official first day covers for “Hong Kong Landscape – 10 Natural Wonders” will be on sale at all post offices and on Hongkong Post’s online shopping mall ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from tomorrow (November 5). This set of special stamps and associated philatelic products will be on sale at all post offices and on ShopThruPost from November 19, while postage prepaid picture cards (air mail) and serviced first day covers affixed with the special stamps will be available at philatelic offices only. A hand-back date-stamping service will be provided on November 19 at all post offices for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address. Information about this set of special stamps and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk).
