Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
BUFFALO, NY – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Larry Jordan, 45, of Lancaster, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud for his participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, joined the announcement.
According to court documents, between April and September 2020, Jordan and his brother Sutukh El a/k/a Curtis Jordan a/k/a Hugo Hurt a/k/a Hugo Hermes Hurtington, conspired to submit eight fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of companies they owned or controlled. Three of the applications were submitted to Evolve Bank & Trust and the other five were submitted to Lendio, a financial technology company based in Utah. The applications contained false statements about the 2019 payroll expenses of each company, which were used to calculate the amount of PPP funds to which the applicant-companies would be entitled. To corroborate the applications, Jordan and El submitted IRS forms, which had never been filed with the IRS, as well as fraudulent payroll registers that purported to identify the names, personal information, and salary of the employees identified on the PPP applications.
For example, a PPP loan application was submitted on behalf of 5 Stems Inc to Evolve. The application represented that in 2019, 5 Stems Inc had 194 employees and an average monthly payroll of $242,133.33. In truth, 5 Stems Inc had nine employees in 2019 and paid those employees a total of approximately $57,380 for all of 2019. Evolve approved the application and funded a $605,200 loan. The money was deposited into an account controlled by defendant El. Some of the money was used for the defendants’ own investments, as well as personal expenses and home improvements.
Sutukh El was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of Inspector General, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Kruly and Grace Carducci for the Western District of New York and Trial Attorneys Ariel Glasner and Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Kevin Wilkerson and his companies illegally charged tens of thousands of dollars for shoddy work that increased the risk of underground fuel leaks
TACOMA — On Friday, a Pierce County judge ordered a local business owner to pay more than $360,000 in penalties and restitution for unlawfully charging gas station owners for unfinished, unnecessary, or shoddy work on underground fuel storage tanks. The order is the result of a consumer protection lawsuit filed by Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s Wing Luke Civil Rights Division.
The judgment includes full restitution, plus interest, for nine gas station owners — all but one of whom identify as Korean or South Asian — who were scammed by Kevin Wilkerson and his companies, Northwest Environmental Services and Core Environmental Group. Wilkerson collected payment from the small businesses for work he did not perform or performed so poorly the businesses had to pay thousands more to other companies for the same services. In many cases, Wilkerson stopped responding to the owners of the gas stations when they attempted to contact him and refused to refund what they paid.
“My office stands up for Washington small businesses that follow the rules and contribute to our economy,” Ferguson said. “Wilkerson and his companies not only took advantage of Washingtonians trying to follow the rules, he put their livelihoods at risk. We are committed to protecting hardworking small businesses from bad actors who prey on them.”
An Olympia gas station owner, who immigrated to the U.S. 40 years ago, told the Attorney General’s Office: “(Wilkerson) took my money and then didn’t respond to me and made excuses. I trusted him. He was supposed to be an expert in the field. He was supposed to know what he’s doing. If he had said something needed to be done, I listened and asked him to do it because I relied on his word. Instead, (Wilkerson) and NES did work they were not qualified to do and cost me thousands of dollars in the process.”
Wilkerson’s unlawful conduct affected small businesses in Pierce, King, Snohomish, Thurston, Grays Harbor and Lewis counties.
Wilkerson’s unlawful conduct violated the state Consumer Protection Act. On Friday, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Clarence Henderson, Jr., found that Wilkerson violated the law and ordered Wilkerson to pay a total of $360,741, which includes $195,000 in enhanced civil penalties for harming individuals in Washington based on their national origin. Wilkerson must pay nine gas station owners a total of $165,741, amounting to full restitution plus interest.
Moreover, Wilkerson and his companies must cease all unlawful conduct or face further penalties from the court.
Wilkerson’s companies advertise maintenance services for underground storage tanks, which are used by gas stations across Washington to store fuel. There are approximately 8,700 underground storage tanks located at more than 3,400 sites statewide. Gas stations, which are primarily independently owned and operated, are responsible for periodic testing, maintenance and servicing for underground storage tanks. Service providers for this maintenance work must be certified, follow state regulations, and report the services they perform to the state Department of Ecology, which enforces regulations for underground storage tanks. Despite advertising a “skilled and certified in-house team” that “performs to the highest of standards,” Wilkerson and his companies have been taking advantage of small business owners since at least 2015, including:
Accepting payment for services that were not completed or only partially completed;
Completing services that violated regulations and exposed customers to liability for environmental damages;
Misrepresenting certifications to customers;
Persuading gas station owners to purchase and install unnecessary equipment and make unnecessary, expensive repairs; and
Telling gas station owners they had submitted required documentation to Ecology when they had not.
In one instance, an Indian gas station owner in Toledo paid Wilkerson a $50,000 deposit to install new underground fuel storage tanks at his gas station. Six months later, the business owner learned that Wilkerson had not applied for the permits and, as a result, the work could not begin on time. The gas station owner had already purchased two new underground tanks, each capable of holding 25,000 gallons of fuel. With nowhere to install them, the owner had to pay an additional $7,000 to store them above ground behind the gas station. The gas station owner has hired a different contractor to complete the work, which will not be done until summer 2025. As a result, the business will lose a significant portion of monthly sales until then. The court ordered Wilkerson to repay the business owner $94,119 for this and other shoddy work, an amount that includes 12 percent interest.
In another instance, a Korean gas station owner in Olympia paid Wilkerson nearly $9,000 for upgrades to the gas station’s cathodic protection system, which protects underground storage tanks from corrosion to prevent underground fuel leaks. Wilkerson performed the work without proper certification and never returned to do required testing to ensure the system was working properly. When the gas station owner paid another service provider to come out to do the required testing, the system failed. The owner discovered Wilkerson had used incorrect parts and had to pay to have all the work redone. Wilkerson stopped responding to the gas station owner and never refunded the money he was paid for the shoddy work. The court ordered Wilkerson to repay the business owner $13,163, which includes 12 percent interest.
While the restitution provided by the court on Friday is limited to the nine impacted business owners who submitted declarations to the court, the Attorney General’s Office believes more businesses may have been harmed by Wilkerson’s conduct. Business owners who wish to report harm from Wilkerson or his companies should contact the Attorney General’s Office at civilrights@atg.wa.gov or toll-free by calling 1-833-660-4877 and selecting option 1.
Assistant Attorneys General Emily C. Nelson and Alyssa P. Au, Investigator Rebecca Pawul, and Paralegal Logan Young handled the case for Washington.
Ecology asks Attorney General to investigate Wilkerson’s repeat violations
The Attorney General’s Office filed the lawsuit against Wilkerson in March after the state Department of Ecology requested the office’s intervention. For years, Wilkerson repeatedly violated state regulations and disregarded penalties from Ecology.
Ecology received repeated complaints over many years from gas station owners and operators regarding Wilkerson. He faced multiple complaints for shoddy work that increased the risk of environmental damages, such as underground fuel leaks.
Despite the penalties, Wilkerson remains undeterred. Ecology continues to receive new complaints about similar conduct by Wilkerson.
To report a complaint to Ecology’s underground storage tank program, email tanks@ecy.wa.gov or call the UST Hotline at 800-826-7716.
Anyone who believes they are the victim of unfair or deceptive business practices should file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office: https://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint
Read the Korean translation of this press release here.
Read the Punjabi translation of this press release here.
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Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit http://www.atg.wa.govto learn more.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) response regarding H.R. 1750, the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act of 2023 introduced by Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL-18), Rep. Cammack raised several important issues central to the Florida citrus industry.
During an Energy & Commerce Committee hearing earlier this summer, Rep. Cammack raised issues about the state of Florida citrus and the need to adjust the BRIX level in the Standard of Identity (SOI) with FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones. During the conversation, she reinforced the importance of passing H.R. 1750, which would alleviate the burden for the industry, especially when the FDA’s been sitting on a petition that was sent to them over two years ago.
The FDA assured that it was working diligently to publish a proposed rule to amend the SOI due to the lack of health risks with the proposal. Congresswoman Cammack looks forward to seeing the addition of the proposed rule as part of the Fall 2024 Unified Agenda based on follow-up from the FDA. This will also provide the FDA’s projected timeframe for publication of a rule.
“Florida’s citrus producers who depend on this prized domestic commodity need relief now,” said Rep. Cammack. “We appreciate the FDA’s focus and look forward to finding any available path to changing the out-of-date standard as quickly as possible.”
View Congresswoman Cammack’s remarks during the Energy & Commerce Committee on September 10, 2024 here.
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
October 21, 2024
The USDA ReConnect Loan will benefit residents of Clackamas County
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal loan of $2.8 million for Clear Creek Communications to expand high-speed internet access to households, businesses and farms in Clackamas County.
“It is more important now than ever to have reliable access to the internet, especially for rural Oregonians who need access to emergency services, telehealth appointments, school research and more,” Wyden said. “Just last year, I worked with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimundo to fix broadband maps that have since provided Oregonians nearly $700 million to modernize and expand broadband services in rural parts of our state. I applaud this new $2.8 million federal loan for Clackamas County, and I am committed to building on the successes we have had getting more federal resources for rural broadband services.”
“It is critical for individuals, families, and small businesses in every corner of Oregon to have access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet,”?Merkley said.?“This federal support?will boost the broadband access needed in Clackamas County to better support stronger, more connected rural Oregon communities.”?
This investment from the USDA’s ReConnect Loan Program will go to Clear Creek Communications to deploy fiber broadband that will provide high-speed internet to 102 people, three businesses and five farms in Clackamas County.
“This project will start to add Redland members to the national fiber footprint,” said Clear Creek Communications President Jay Henke. “It will also better support the growing number of internet-connected devices the average subscriber has in their home today like smartphones, tablets, gaming systems, health trackers and doorbell cameras.”
Wyden and Merkley have both advocated for more resources to expand access to broadband services in rural Oregon. In June 2023, Wyden announced $689 million in federal funding from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce after Wyden successfully fought to fix inaccurate Federal Communications Commission maps. In August 2023, Wyden and Merkley announced $25.7 million to bring broadband to homes and businesses in Marion, Lane, Benton and Lincoln counties. In June 2024, Wyden and Merkley announced $25 million to help local organizations, cooperatives and Tribes expand affordable, high-speed internet projects in rural communities throughout Oregon and nationwide.
When temperatures drop, Alberta’s Winter Rules for utilities are designed to keep the power and heat on for Albertans during the cold winter months. Ensuring Albertans have access to reliable and affordable energy is a top priority for Alberta’s government.
From Oct. 15 to April 15, electricity and natural gas services in Alberta cannot be fully disconnected by retailers. This also applies to any time during the year when the forecast for the next 24 hours indicates temperatures below zero degrees.
“During Alberta’s harsh winters, no one should be forced to choose between heating and eating. We’re keeping the lights on for the most vulnerable and taking action to lower power bills for all Albertans. I encourage anyone having difficulties with their utility bill to contact the Utilities Consumer Advocate and learn what options are available.”
Under the Winter Utilities Reconnection program, customers with disconnected utilities are contacted to help get them reconnected before the cold weather hits. This is led by the Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA), in partnership with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC), utility retailers and distributors and other government agencies. Albertans who are having difficulty with paying their utility bills, communicating with their retailer or making manageable payment arrangements should contact the UCA.
“The Winter Utilities Reconnection Program is an important protection for customers struggling with utility bills. UCA Mediation Staff are available to help customers get energy utilities reconnected and stay safe during winter. They can be reached at 310-4822.”
Alberta’s government is working tirelessly to lower utility bills and protect ratepayers, ensuring Albertans keep more of their hard-earned dollars in their bank accounts. With more still to come, Alberta’s government has already taken action by stabilizing local access fees through new legislation, introducing regulations to prevent power price spikes and investing in programs to help municipalities and rural Albertans manage and lower their energy costs. Additionally, the UCA continues to help consumers better understand and navigate the utility market, and their advocacy has led to Albertans saving more than $3.2 billion over the past two decades.
Affordable electricity options are available
Alberta has a unique competitive electricity market, which gives Albertans the power to choose the best energy provider, plan and payment option to fit their needs. Consumers can purchase their power from more than 50 competitive retailers, with the choice of either fixed or variable rate contracts.
Albertans are encouraged to explore their options and find the competitive rate best-suited to their needs. Last year, tens of thousands of households moved off the Rate of Last Resort to competitive contracts for a more affordable option. Albertans who are looking for help with their utility bills or are experiencing a dispute with their provider should contact the Utilities Consumer Advocate at 310-4822, via email, or through their website.
Related information
Utilities Consumer Advocate
Financial Assistance Resources (UCA)
Alberta Utilities Commission
Farm fuel and rural utility programs
Related news
Introducing the Rate of Last Resort (Sept. 25, 2024)
Helping Alberta communities lower energy costs (Sept. 24, 2024)
Helping Calgarians save millions on their power bills (Sept. 19, 2024)
Power rates slashed in half by new market rules (Sept. 5, 2024)
Power watchdog supports Alberta’s electricity market reforms (Aug. 5, 2024)
Preventing power price spikes (June 26, 2024)
Making utility bills more affordable (April 22, 2024)
Making electricity more affordable (April 18, 2024)
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)
Goldman Joined by Andrew Flamm, Director of the Pace University Small Business Development Center
Goldman, Flamm Highlighted Resources Provides to Help Boost Small Business Owners Boost Their Businesses
Photos from the Event Can Be Found Here
Brooklyn, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) yesterday convened a townhall workshop with Councilmember Alexa Avilés, Pace University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director Andrew Flamm, and partnering organizations to inform small business owners of the resources available to support them in New York City. The small business workshop connected the primarily minority-owned small businesses in Sunset Park to resources available to help boost their businesses.
The small business workshop follows Congressman Goldman’s discussions in April with small business owners, where they relayed the difficulty they experience while trying to scale and market their business in New York City.
“With 200,000 small businesses in New York City alone, ensuring small business owners have the resources they need to grow and expand is paramount for the health of our economy and our communities,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “I was thrilled to join Pace University’s Small Business Development Center in Sunset Park today to discuss the invaluable resources they offer to small business owners. From financial modeling to access to financial markets and business strategy discussions, Pace’s Small Business Development Center is a crucial resource for our city. Small businesses are the foundation of Sunset Park and I will continue to provide as many tools as possibly to small business owners to expand their businesses and achieve the American dream.”
Following a presentation from Pace University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director Andrew Flamm on resources provided by the Pace SBDC, Flamm and other local organizations held a resource fair to provide additional information and targeted resources to business owners.
Also in attendance were the Sunset Park Business Improvement District, the Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and the Sunset Park Lions Club.
Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to supporting small businesses across NY-10.
Earlier this year, Goldman toured small businesses in New York City’s East Village to discuss the issues that they face and presented New York’s Small Businessperson of the Year, Chef Aneesa Waheed, with a Congressional Proclamation in recognition of her selection as the 2024 New York Small Businessperson of the Year by the United States Small Business Administration.
In May, Goldman cosponsored the bipartisan ‘Employee Equity Investment Act’ (EEIA), which would incentivize employee business ownership by reducing the cost barriers that small business owners currently face when transferring ownership to their employees and empower owners to preserve family legacies and community jobs.
Additionally, the Congressman cosponsored the ‘Child Care Small Business Insight and Improvement Act’ to increase U.S. Small Business Administration support for childcare small businesses. This bill would expand the U.S. Small Business Administration’s role in supporting for-profit childcare small businesses across the country.
Kevin Wilkerson과 그가 운영하는 회사들은 지하 연료 누출의 위험을 높이는 부실한 작업을 해놓고 수만 달러를 불법적으로 청구했습니다.
TACOMA — 금요일, Pierce 카운티 판사는 지하 연료 저장 탱크에 대한 작업을 완료하지 않았거나, 불필요하거나 부실한 작업을 해놓고 주유소 소유주들에게 불법적으로 비용을 청구한 현지 사업주에게 36만 달러가 넘는 벌금과 배상금을 지불하라고 명령했습니다. 해당 명령은 법무장관 Bob Ferguson의 Wing Luke Civil Rights Division(민권담당과)이 제기한 소비자 보호 소송의 결과로 내려지게 되었습니다.
해당 판결에는 Kevin Wilkerson과 그가 운영하는 회사인 Northwest Environmental Services 및 Core Environmental Group으로부터 사기를 당한 주유소 소유주 9명(한 명을 제외하고는 모두 한국인 또는 남아시아인으로 확인됨)에게 전액 배상(이자 포함)을 하라는 명령도 포함되었습니다. Wilkerson은 본인이 수행하지 않았거나 부실하게 진행한 작업에 대해 해당 주유소들로부터 돈을 받았으며, 이 주유소들은 결국 제대로 작업을 마무리하기 위해 다른 사업체에 추가적으로 비용을 지불해야 했습니다. 대다수의 경우, Wilkerson은 주유소 소유주들의 연락에 응대를 하지 않았고, 해당 소유주들이 지불한 금액에 대한 환불 또한 거부했습니다.
Ferguson 장관은 “법무장관실은 규칙을 준수하고 경제에 이바지하는 워싱턴의 소규모 사업체들을 대변합니다. 그들의 신뢰를 저버리고 생계를 위험에 빠뜨리는 것은 수치스러운 일입니다. 우리는 열심히 일하는 워싱턴의 소규모 사업주들을 상대로 사기 행위를 저지르는 사람에 대해 엄격한 조치를 취할 것입니다.”라고 강조했습니다.
40년 전 미국으로 이민 온 Olympia 주유소 소유주는 Attorney General’s Office(법무장관실)에 다음과 같이 토로했습니다. “(Wilkerson)은 제 돈을 받은 이후로 제대로 된 응답은 하지도 않고 그저 변명만 했습니다. 저는 그를 믿었습니다. 그가 관련 분야의 전문가라고 생각했습니다. 그가 자신이 하는 일을 제대로 알고 있을 거라고 생각했습니다. 그가 어떤 작업이 필요하다고 말하면, 저는 그 작업을 해달라고 요청했습니다. 전적으로 그의 말을 믿었기 때문입니다. 그런데 (Wilkerson)과 NES는 수행 자격도 없는 작업을 한다고 했고, 그 과정에서 수천 달러의 비용이 소모되었습니다.”
Wilkerson의 불법 행위로 Pierce, King, Snohomish, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Lewis 카운티의 소규모 사업체들이 피해를 입었습니다.
Wilkerson의 불법 행위는 주 Consumer Protection Act(소비자 보호법) 위반입니다. 금요일, Pierce 카운티 고등법원 판사 Clarence Henderson, Jr.는 Wilkerson의 법률 위반 사실을 파악하고 Wilkerson에게 워싱턴 주에서 특정 개인에게 출신 국가를 근거로 피해를 입힌 건들에 대해 강화된 민사 벌금 195,000달러를 포함하여 총 360,741달러를 지불하라고 명령했습니다. Wilkerson은 주유소 소유주 9명에게 배상금 전액과 이자를 합쳐 총 165,741달러를 지불해야 합니다.
또한, Wilkerson과 그가 운영하는 회사들은 모든 불법 행위를 중단해야 하며, 그렇지 않을 경우 법원으로부터 추가적인 처벌을 받게 될 것입니다.
Wilkerson이 운영하는 회사들은 워싱턴 전역의 주유소에서 연료 저장에 사용되는 지하 저장 탱크에 대한 유지보수 서비스를 제공한다고 광고하고 있습니다. 주 전역에 걸쳐 3,400여 곳에 약 8,700개의 지하 저장 탱크가 있습니다. 주로 독립적으로 소유 및 운영되는 주유소는 지하 저장 탱크를 정기적으로 검사하고 유지보수 및 정비해야 할 책임이 있습니다. 이러한 유지보수 작업을 담당하는 서비스 제공자는 인증을 받아야 하고, 주 규정을 준수해야 하며, 지하 저장 탱크에 대한 규정을 시행하는 주 Department of Ecology(생태부)에 수행한 서비스에 대해 신고해야 합니다. Wilkerson과 그가 운영하는 회사들은 “최고 수준의 성과를 보장하는 숙련되고 인증된 사내 팀”을 갖추고 있다는 광고를 했음에도 불구하고, 적어도 2015년부터 소규모 사업주들을 속여 왔습니다. 몇 가지 사례를 꼽자면 다음과 같습니다.
완료되지 않았거나 부분적으로만 완료된 서비스에 대한 지불금을 받음
규정을 위반하고 고객이 환경 피해에 대한 책임을 물어야 하는 방식으로 서비스를 완료함
고객에게 인증에 대한 잘못된 사실을 전달함
주유소 소유주들에게 불필요한 장비를 구매 및 설치하도록 하고 불필요하고 비용이 많이 드는 수리 작업을 하도록 설득함
주유소 소유주들에게 Ecology에 필요한 서류를 제출했다고 말했으나, 실제로는 제출하지 않음
한 사례에서, Toledo의 한 인도인 주유소 소유주는 그가 운영하는 주유소에 새로운 지하 연료 저장 탱크를 설치하기 위해 Wilkerson에게 5만 달러의 보증금을 지불했습니다. 6개월 후, 그는 Wilkerson이 관련 허가를 신청하지 않았다는 사실을 알게 되었고, 결과적으로 적시에 설치 작업을 시작할 수 없게 되었습니다. 그는 이미 각각 25,000갤런의 연료를 담을 수 있는 두 개의 새로운 지하 탱크를 구입한 상황이었습니다. 이 탱크들을 설치할 곳이 마땅치 않아 주유소 뒤편의 지상에 설치하기 위해 추가로 7,000달러를 지불해야 했습니다. 그는 다른 계약업체를 고용하여 설치 작업을 완료했지만, 해당 작업은 2025년 여름이나 되야 끝날 예정입니다. 결과적으로 그가 운영하는 주유소는 그때까지 월 매출에 있어 상당 부분 손실을 겪게 될 것입니다.
또 한 가지 사례에서, Olympia의 한 한국인 주유소 소유주는 지하 연료 누출을 방지하기 위해 지하 저장 탱크가 부식되지 않도록 보호하는 음극 방식 보호 시스템을 업그레이드하기 위해 Wilkerson에게 약 9,000달러를 지불했습니다. Wilkerson은 적합한 인증을 받지 않은 상태에서 해당 작업을 수행했고, 이 시스템이 제대로 작동하는지 확인하는 데 필요한 검사를 실시해야 하는 데 그러지 않았습니다. 해당 주유소 소유주는 다른 서비스 제공업체에 비용을 지불하고 필요한 검사를 진행하려 했지만, 시스템이 고장이 나버렸습니다. 그제서야 Wilkerson이 잘못된 부품을 사용했다는 사실을 발견했고 모든 작업을 다시 진행할 수 밖에 없어 해당 비용을 추가로 지출하게 되었습니다. 그러나 이에 대해 Wilkerson은 아무런 응답도 하지 않았고, 부실한 작업에 대해 받은 돈도 환불해 주지 않았습니다.
금요일 배상 판결은 법원에 피해 사실에 대해 진술서를 제출한 9명의 사업주에게만 해당되는 것이지만, Attorney General’s Office에서는 Wilkerson의 행동으로 인해 더 많은 사업체가 피해를 입었을 것으로 생각합니다. Wilkerson이나 그가 운영하는 회사에게 입은 피해를 신고하고자 하는 사업주들은 Attorney General’s Office로 이메일 civilrights@atg.wa.gov 또는 무료 전화 1-833-660-4877번(옵션 1 선택)으로 연락하시기 바랍니다.
법무차관보 Emily C. Nelson과 Alyssa P. Au, 조사관 Rebecca Pawul, 준법률가 Logan Young이 워싱턴의 해당 사건을 처리했습니다.
Ecology는 법무장관에게 Wilkerson의 반복적인 위반 행위에 대한 조사를 촉구합니다.
Attorney General’s Office는 주 Department of Ecology(생태부)가 법무장관실의 개입을 요청한 후 지난 3월에 Wilkerson을 상대로 소송을 제기했습니다. Wilkerson은 수년간 주 규정을 반복적으로 위반했고 Ecology의 처벌을 무시해 왔습니다.
Ecology는 수년간 주유소 소유주와 운영자로부터 Wilkerson과 관련된 불만을 여러 건 접수해 왔습니다. 그에 대해 지하 연료 누출 등 환경 피해의 위험을 높이는 부실한 작업에 대한 여러 건의 민원이 접수되었습니다.
처벌에도 불구하고 Wilkerson은 시정할 생각이 없어 보입니다. Ecology에는 Wilkerson이 저지른 유사 행위에 대한 새로운 민원이 계속해서 접수되고 있습니다.
Ecology의 지하 저장 탱크 프로그램에 대한 민원을 제기하려면, 이메일 tanks@ecy.wa.gov 또는 UST 핫라인 전화 800-826-7716번으로 연락해 주시기 바랍니다.
Headline: Governor Cooper Visits Community Care Station in Buncombe County with FEMA Administrator Criswell
Governor Cooper Visits Community Care Station in Buncombe County with FEMA Administrator Criswell mseets
Today, Governor Roy Cooper traveled to Buncombe County with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and visited a Community Care Station to speak with volunteers and give an update on relief efforts in Western North Carolina. The Community Care Station offers food and water distribution, basic hygiene services and medical care to the community.
“Today, I visited a Community Care Station in Asheville where I saw the massive effort by local, state and federal responders and volunteers to bring relief to Western North Carolina,” said Governor Cooper. “I urge everyone to confirm reports and information from trusted news sources and officials and be wary of bad actors on social media and the internet.”
Those impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for assistance for buying food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) which was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on October 18. NCDHHS estimates more than 150,000 people will apply for up to $120 million in D-SNAP benefits. Eligible households may apply for D-SNAP through Thursday, October 24 by phone or in person. More information including a list of application sites by county is available at ncdhhs.gov/dsnap.
North Carolina National Guard and Military Response
Over 3,150 Soldiers and Airmen are working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to people in Western North Carolina.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through this website.
FEMA Assistance
Approximately $129 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western North Carolina disaster survivors and approximately 207,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. Over 6,200 people have been helped through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance. More than 5,100 registrations for Small Business Administration Loans have been filed.
Approximately 1,500 FEMA staff are in the state to help with the Western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.
North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.
Help from Other States
More than 1,600 responders from 39 state and local agencies have performed 146 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.
Beware of Misinformation
North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.
Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout Western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.
Storm Damage Cleanup
If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.
Power Outages
Across Western North Carolina, approximately 5,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.
Road Closures
Some roads are closed because they are too damaged and dangerous to travel. Other roads still need to be reserved for essential traffic like utility vehicles, construction equipment and supply trucks. However, some parts of the area are open and ready to welcome visitors which is critical for the revival of Western North Carolina’s economy. If you are considering a visit to the area, consult DriveNC.gov for open roads and reach out to the community and businesses you want to visit to see if they are welcoming visitors back yet.
NCDOT currently has approximately 2,000 employees and 900 pieces of equipment working on over 7,200 damaged road sites.
Fatalities
Ninety-five storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. This number is expected to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911.
Volunteers and Donations
If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.
For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc.
Additional Assistance
There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.
If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.
For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.
If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Smith, Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has often been accused of copying former US President DonaldTrump’stactics. Some analysts even refer to Dutton, like Trump, as a “populist” who seeks political gain by pitting ordinary citizens against corrupt “elites”.
There is evidence of this populism in the willingness of Trump, Dutton and other figures in their parties to attack “big business”.
But they do not believe there is a natural conflict between business and workers, or between different sections of the economy. And they usually align with big business on the critical issues of taxation and government regulation.
So Dutton’s declaration earlier this year that the Liberal Party is “not the party of big business” but “the friend of the worker” marks a notable rhetorical shift, even if there is reason to doubt the substance behind it.
It mirrors a similar shift to pro-worker rhetoric among leading Republicans. Florida Senator Marco Rubio said in 2020, for instance, the future of the Republican Party is based on “a multiethnic, multiracial, working-class coalition”.
However cosmetic these gestures are, many conservatives see major corporations as culturally hostile to them. More importantly, they no longer see big business and finance as reliable political backers.
These changing conditions have given Republicans and Liberals a free hand to make big business – never a popular entity – into a target of populist campaigns.
Many of their attacks are about “wokeness”. But not all. Consumer protection has also become an opportune theme, given the cost of living crisis in both the United States and Australia.
They can propose these ideas because voters usually trust the Republican and Liberal parties more than their opponents on economic issues. Most Democratic and Labor politicians would be unwilling to take populist measures that far because of their perennial fears of being seen as economically irresponsible.
But when it comes to actually siding with workers over business, a different picture emerges.
In Trump’s current campaign to re-enter the White House, unions have criticised him for holding a rally appealing to “union workers” at a non-union shop, and for praising tech billionaire Elon Musk because he sacked workers who threatened to strike.
Trump also said recently that as a business owner he hated paying overtime. He has also previously said he preferred to use non-union workforces.
Although unions as organisations usually support Democrats, the number of voters in union households who support Republicans is sometimes more than 40%.
This year, Trump sought the endorsement of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the North American truck drivers’ union with 1.3 million members. The Teamsters have supported Democratic candidates in every presidential election since 2000, but prior to that, the organisation had also backed Republican candidates like Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush.
This year, the Teamsters did not join most other unions in quickly endorsing Democratic incumbent Joe Biden before he stepped aside for Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Teamsters’ president, Sean O’Brien, almost got into a fight with a Republican senator in a committee hearing in 2023 after calling him a “greedy CEO who acts like he’s self-made”. Nonetheless, he got an invitation to speak at this year’s Republican National Convention. He praised Trump as a “tough SOB”, but then blasted various businesses and business organisations for being anti-union, to the discomfort of the audience.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien addressing the Republican National Convention.
Trump-era Republicans frequently praise “union workers” rather than actual unions. When Senators JD Vance (now Trump’s running mate) and Josh Hawley supported the striking United Auto Workers last year, they criticised the union’s leadership. But they are happy to be seen as being on the side of unionised workers against big businesses who send manufacturing jobs overseas, a trend Trump promises to reverse.
The term “union workers” prompts conservative nostalgia, especially for a group like the Teamsters with their mostly male membership and reputation for toughness. It evokes the anti-communist, blue-collar workers of the 1960s and ‘70s who supported Nixon and brawled in the streets with college-educated anti-Vietnam War protesters.
That is not the only nostalgic element. Through heavily protectionist measures, Trump is promising to restore millions of manufacturing jobs to the United States – the kinds of jobs that used to be largely unionised. He also promises to roll back environmental regulations to expand mining, drilling and fracking on federal land. Again, these are the kinds of jobs often associated with “union workers”.
When Trump and others praise “union workers”, they are not really talking about unions, but a certain type of blue-collar job they are promising to create and protect. “Union” in this context has the positive connotation of well-paid, stable work.
But Trump claims it is his policies that will guarantee these jobs, making unions themselves virtually irrelevant.
Where Liberals won’t follow
Dutton may praise workers, but he is unlikely to add the prefix “union” anytime soon. It is hard to imagine any Liberal leader courting the support of a union because Australia’s party system effectively enshrines the country’s adversarial industrial relations system in its politics.
The Australian Labor Party began as the parliamentary wing of the union movement, and to this day affiliated unions are entitled to 50% of delegates at party conferences. American unions are not linked to the Democratic Party in the same way.
This does not mean the votes of union members are off-limits to other parties. In 2006, then-economist (now Labor MP) Andrew Leigh estimated about a third of union members voted for the Coalition on a two party-preferred basis from 1966 to 2004. But Liberals will not appeal to these voters as “union workers” in the same way Republicans do.
Trump’s dream of restoring American manufacturing dominance would involve a resurgence of long-term employment in large and medium-sized firms. He is promising the stability once associated with unions, not the “flexibility” that Australia’s Liberals want in workplaces.
For the most part, Liberals still prefer to talk about blue-collar workers as independent tradespeople or aspiring business owners rather than employees.
Dutton says the modern Liberal Party is the friend of “small business owners and employees in that business”. This conjures images of family-like operations where staff loyally put in unpaid overtime – instead of larger, impersonal workplaces (where unpaid overtime is also the norm).
Some doubt whether Trump is a genuine populist. But he has a wider scope for genuinely populist rhetoric than Dutton, at least for now.
Even though he’s a symbol of capitalist excess, part of Trump’s message is that capitalism has taken a wrong turn. Not just into excessive wokeness, but into globalisation and financialisation, where investment and speculation are more profitable than production.
There are limits to how much any Liberal leader, even Dutton, can tap into anger with capitalism itself.
David Smith 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: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The extended Singles Day shopping festival this year saw booming sales during its grand opening on Monday evening, with high-quality and intelligent electronic products and livestreaming sessions gaining popularity among Chinese consumers.
As China’s biggest online shopping event, the 11-11 or Double Eleven promotional campaign is expected to play a vital role in further stimulating the purchasing appetite of consumers, bolstering the recovery of consumption and shoring up economic growth, experts said.
Data from Tmall, Chinese tech heavyweight Alibaba Group’s business-to-customer platform, showed that in the first four hours after the shopping carnival kicked off at 8 pm, 174 brands saw their sales surpass 100 million yuan ($14 million).In addition, the turnover of more than 12,000 brands surged over 100 percent year-on-year and the sales of nearly 6,000 brands skyrocketed more than 500 percent compared with the same period last year.
The transaction volume of Apple’s products on Tmall exceeded 1 billion yuan within five minutes, while sales of domestic smartphone brands such as Huawei, Xiaomi and Vivo all surpassed 100 million yuan in the first four hours of the promotional event, according to Tmall.
Consumers preferred snapping up bargains via livestreaming on e-commerce platforms, with sales from some top-tier livestreamers on Taobao Live, Alibaba’s livestreaming arm, surpassing 100 million yuan within a short period of time.
JD, another major Chinese e-commerce player, has intensified efforts to offer big discounts and lower-priced products, giving subsidies for commodities included in the consumer goods trade-in program, such as home appliances and computers. It has also stepped up efforts to upgrade supply chain systems and logistics services.
Furthermore, a series of products that represent scientific and technological innovations achieved by Chinese enterprises have been made available on the e-commerce platform Taobao. These products cover fields such as information technology, artificial intelligence, aerospace, new energy and quantum technology.
For example, consumers can directly purchase the country’s independently developed AS700 civil manned airship and enjoy discounts. The airship can be used for sightseeing, emergency rescue and aviation geophysical exploration, among other things.
Wang Yun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, said, “Consumption has become the main driving force behind China’s economic growth, and the Singles Day shopping carnival plays a pivotal role in unleashing consumers’ purchasing potential, bolstering domestic demand and promoting consumption recovery.”
Source: United States Small Business Administration
“As communities across the Southeast continue to recover and rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the SBA remains focused on its mission to provide support to small businesses to help stabilize local economies, even in the face of diminished disaster funding,” said Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “If your business has sustained physical damage, or you’ve lost inventory, equipment or revenues, the SBA will help you navigate the resources available and work with you at our recovery centers or with our customer service specialists in person and online so you can fully submit your disaster loan application and be ready to receive financial relief as soon as funds are replenished.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to California businesses and residents affected by the Park and Borel fires that occurred July 24–Aug. 26, announced Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request SBA received from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s authorized representative, Director Nancy Ward, of the California Office of Emergency Services on Oct. 15.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Plumas, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Ventura and Yuba counties in California.
“Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster,” said Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “Within a few days, SBA will announce the opening of a Disaster Loan Outreach Center where SBA disaster representatives will be on hand to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their application,” Sánchez continued.
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
“SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” Sánchez added. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”
Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.
Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.
On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to apply for property damage is Dec. 20, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is July 21, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.sba.gov.
Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced new endorsements from local chambers of commerce for her Tax Relief for New Businesses Act, which would increase the startup tax deduction from $5,000 to $50,000. This legislation is being endorsed by the AAPI Chamber of Southern Nevada, the Urban Chamber of Commerce, the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce, the Latin Chamber of Commerce, and the Henderson Chamber of Commerce. The legislation was previously endorsed by the Vegas Chamber, the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Alliance, and Center for American Entrepreneurship.
“Small businesses are critical for growing Nevada’s economy, and I’m working to help lower costs and cut taxes for people looking to start their own business,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce additional new endorsements for my common-sense bill to increase the startup tax deduction from $5,000 to $50,000. I’ll continue working with these local chambers of commerce and business groups to support our entrepreneurs and bolster our state’s economic growth.”
“The AAPI Chamber of Commerce of Southern Nevada proudly endorses this bill, as we believe it will greatly enhance economic opportunity not only for the AANHPI community but for all small business owners throughout Nevada and the United States,” said Catherine Francisco, President of the AAPI Chamber of Commerce of Southern Nevada. “The proposed increase of the startup tax deduction will provide a crucial financial lifeline to entrepreneurs who often face overwhelming startup costs and will be particularly beneficial for minority and immigrant business owners, many of whom struggle to access adequate capital and resources when starting their ventures.”
“The Tax Relief for New Businesses Act would help address the problem of excessive startup costs, which will expand opportunities for local entrepreneurs to launch their ideas,” said Assemblyman Cameron Miller, President of the Urban Chamber of Commerce. “The Urban Chamber of Commerce is proud to endorse this legislation to empower more Nevadans to achieve their dreams of owning a small business.”
“As Las Vegas’ AAPI communities grow and the dreams of being a business owner become a reality, the Tax Relief for New Businesses Act will reduce obstacles new business owners face during the startup phase,” said Ana Wood, Government Affairs Chair of the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce. “In a community comprised of diverse ethnicities, ensuring support for the Tax Relief for New Businesses Act is in the best interest of all Nevadans, including AAPI entrepreneurs and small businesses.”
As a member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Senator Rosen has been working to bolster Nevada’s small businesses. Every year, she leads her Senate colleagues in pushing for robust funding to support small businesses and cut burdensome red tape. Senator Rosen has also introduced the bipartisan Minority Entrepreneurship Grant Program Act to establish a Minority Entrepreneurship Grant Program through the Small Business Administration (SBA) to award grants to Minority Serving Institutions to promote and increase opportunity. Last year, Senator Rosen introduced the bipartisan One Stop Shop For Small Business Licensing Act to require the SBA to create a centralized website that includes federal, state, and local licensing and business permit information for starting a small business.
A closure of State Highway 2 (SH2) Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) is required, for 1 direction at a time, over 3 nights starting Monday 4 November between 8pm and 6am.
To ensure the safety of contractors and the travelling public, the closures are required to remove the temporary steel barriers and repair the road surface.
What to expect:
Monday 4 November – SH2 TELTR west bound lane closed between 8pm and 6am with a detour starting at the Domain Road Interchange, joining the Te Puke Highway, through Te Puke to the SH2/SH33 Paengaroa roundabout.
Tuesday 5 November – SH2 TELTR east bound lane closed between 8pm and 6am with a detour route starting at the SH2/SH33 Paengaroa roundabout joining the Te Puke Highway, through Te Puke to the Domain Road Interchange.
Wednesday 6 November is a contingency day, which may be required if work hasn’t been completed on either lane.
Outside of the closure times the current temporary traffic management remains, with a single lane open in each direction and a temporary speed limit of 70km/h.
For more information, please visit Rangiuru Business Park:
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rod Sims, Professor in the practice of public policy and antitrust, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Meta’s announcement nearly eight months ago that it would no longer do commercial deals under the News Media Bargaining Code has led to much speculation as to how the government would respond.
The code became law in 2021. Facing the threat of designation under it – which would involve further legal obligations platforms may wish to avoid – both Google and Facebook (now Meta) did deals with news media businesses worth up to A$250 million per year.
Google did deals with essentially all qualifying news media business, large and small – the criteria largely being that their journalists provide news. Facebook did deals with news businesses likely employing up to 85% of Australian journalists
With little response from the government so far, a new report from a federal parliamentary committee investigating the impact of social media on Australian society provides welcome focus on this issue.
Key recommendations
The committee makes 11 recommendations, three of which in particular are worth focusing on.
Recommendation two says the Australian government should explore alternative revenue mechanisms to supplement the code, such as a digital platform levy. But it also says “exploration should include consideration for preserving current and future commercial deals”, presumably under the code.
Recommendation three says the Australian government should develop an appropriate mechanism to guide the fair and transparent distribution of revenue arising from any new revenue mechanisms. In particular, this would support the:
sustainability of small, independent and digital only publishers, as well as those operating in underserved communities and rural, regional and remote areas.
Recommendation six says the Australian government “should investigate the viability and effectiveness of ‘must carry’ requirements for digital platforms in relation to Australian news content”.
Coalition members provided a different perspective on some of the committee’s recommendations. They expressed concern about the lack of action from the government in response to Meta’s decision to not do more deals under the code. Further, they read the report as saying that the code is “no longer fit for purpose” – a view they strongly disagree with.
the realities of how our platforms work, the preferences of the people who use them, and the value we provide news publishers who choose to post their content on our platforms.
Meta, parent company of Instagram and Facebook, is strongly opposed to paying a levy to fund news media. QubixStudio/Shutterstock
Not so simple
The committee’s recommendations raise many questions.
First, how would the levy sit with wanting to maintain existing and future deals under the code? In any solution to dealing with Meta it would seem silly to damage the current arrangements with Google, which has committed to continue supporting news organisations under the code, and who are paying the majority of the up to $250 million per year?
Second, biasing any revenue to smaller and/or rural and regional publishers may mean that, despite most news stories coming from the larger media companies, they would not benefit in accordance with their content being used. The code did see benefit to large, medium and small media businesses. But, of course, the larger companies gained most money as they provided most content.
Some smaller media businesses did miss out on funding. But it was often judged that they do not provide news journalism, which was what the code is seeking to promote.
In 2018, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (of which I was then chair) made a number of recommendations to the government. These included the code. They also included government funding for journalism in underserved areas and support for other objectives, such as boosting smaller news media companies. A different objective requiring a different policy instrument.
Third, the problem that arose with Meta’s decision to not do further deals under the code saw many calls for Meta to be designated under the code. This would have meant they would be forced to do deals and potentially face arbitration if the news media businesses were not happy with the outcome.
As the parliamentary committee would be aware, when Canada largely copied the code, it automatically designated Meta. In response, Meta took all news and links to news off its platform. This allows Meta to escape the Canadian version of the code as it only applies to platforms that carry news.
One solution to this is to insist the tech platforms “must carry” news, as suggested in recommendation six. Then they would be back under the code and could be successfully designated and forced to negotiate. It is unclear in the report whether the “must carry” idea, which would make the code relevant to all platforms, is an alternative to the levy.
A way through
Overall, the report provides welcome renewed focus on this topic. By recommending the government “explore” a levy or “investigate” must carry obligations, the committee appears to recognise the potential difficulties with these options.
Would there be international trade implications from a levy? How would money from a levy be distributed? It is one thing to have a fund to help small players in underserved markets; quite another for the government to be distributing money to large media players.
And how would the “must carry” provision be enforced given that carrying content may not be the same as users discovering it?
But there may be a way through these problems. Allow Google to continue as they are under the code, look at what other platforms need to be covered by the code, and threaten that if Meta or another platform were to take news off their site, then a levy or a must carry provision would be introduced. In the case of Meta, such threats, which must be real, could see them revert to doing deals under the code.
To help new and emerging news journalism, particularly in underserved areas, this would seem to require government funding, as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recommended all the way back in 2018.
Rod Sims is a former chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Tourists take the sight-seeing cable car in Chongqing, southwest China, Aug. 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Many U.S. companies are seeking investment opportunities in the Chinese market amid China’s introduction of a host of incremental policies to support economic growth.
On Monday and Tuesday, a roundtable meeting between the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and U.S. multinationals was held in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality.
Representatives from about 60 U.S. companies and chambers of commerce participated in the meeting.
Several U.S. companies have recently announced increases in their investments in China, viewing it as a long-term, high-growth market, said Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, while adding that he hopes China’s opening-up policies rolled out this year will inject vitality into the Chinese economy.
China’s recent incremental policies have reinforced enterprises’ confidence in the Chinese market, encouraging them to expand research and development, production and recruitment, said Tao Lin, vice president of Tesla.
A number of foreign enterprises have participated in China’s national program of large-scale equipment renewals and trade-in of durable consumer goods, according to NDRC official Wen Hua. The program, which targets green and digital transformation, is open to foreign companies, including American firms, that can leverage their own strengths and offer competitive products and technologies, Wen said.
The NDRC is revising the Catalog of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment, and efforts will be made to enhance the transparency of policy formulation and improve services for foreign-funded enterprises, said Hua Zhong, an official of the NDRC.
The NDRC established the roundtable meeting mechanism in 2021 and nine related activities have taken place thus far. The aim of this mechanism is to encourage U.S. enterprises to participate deeply in building a higher-level open economy, while also sharing in the dividends resulting from the high-quality development of China’s economy.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The current global economic slowdown and shocks to industrial and supply chains have presented China and Africa with a crucial opportunity to scale up mutual cooperation and move it to a higher level, officials and experts said.
A shift in China-Africa investment cooperation toward higher-end industries, digitalization, and green development is a vital step in facilitating the inclusive growth of both sides, they said.
They made the remarks at the Symposium on High-Quality Development of China-Africa Investment Cooperation on Monday, which was jointly hosted by the China-Africa Development Fund and the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Development in Beijing.
The complementary economic and industrial development profiles of China and Africa have formed a solid basis for their thriving cooperation, said Jing Ning, deputy director-general at the department of Western Asian and African affairs under the Ministry of Commerce.
The synergistic pairing of China’s technologies, equipment and management expertise with Africa’s markets and human resources has been a key driving force behind the advancement of the continent’s industrialization, technological innovation, and youth employment, Jing said.
China’s investments in Africa are not only growing in volume but are also strategically oriented toward ensuring that Africa becomes a global manufacturing hub, said Rahamtalla M. Osman, permanent representative of the African Union to China.
Africa’s green development potential, renewable energy needs, youth population and emerging consumer markets, coupled with the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, have made it a promising investment destination, Osman said.
The Chinese government announced plans to facilitate at least 70 billion yuan ($9.8 billion) in investments by Chinese companies in Africa over the next three years during the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing in September.
Meanwhile, China and Africa will establish a joint digital technology cooperation center and 20 flagship digital demonstration projects. China is committed to equipping African nations with the latest advancements in clean energy technologies, including solar, wind, and hydropower systems.
As Chinese enterprises expand their investments in Africa, they are not only pursuing their own interests, but also striving to bring tangible benefits to African countries, said Wang Shaodan, chairman of the China-Africa Development Fund.
CADF, along with partner enterprises, is actively promoting technology transfers to African countries, transitioning from “Made in China” to “Made in Africa” and enhancing the local industrial development capabilities, Wang said.
In 2013, Chinese home appliances manufacturer Hisense and the CADF jointly invested $350 million to establish Hisense South Africa Industrial Park, where the company has promoted technology transfer and upskilled local workers.
This has enabled South Africa to acquire manufacturing capabilities and develop export-ready brands for the European market, Wang added.
China is also working to facilitate the transfer of agricultural technologies to Africa through a wide range of cooperation modalities, which is crucial for enhancing Africa’s food security, said Yu Zirong, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Development.
Africa is currently facing the dual dilemma of debt and development, and Chinese financial institutions and enterprises are exploring the expansion of new collaborative models to address this challenge, said Yu Yong, deputy director-general of the department of African affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
These new approaches, including public-private partnership, and integrated investment-construction-operation model, are designed to ensure the continuous funding and liquidity needed to support Africa’s industrialization, ultimately leading to a reduction in the continent’s debt burden, Yu said.
Expressions of interest are open for an Expert Advisory Group to inform the redesign of community-based mental health and wellbeing services in Victoria.
The department is undertaking a significant reform program to redesign community based mental health and wellbeing services delivered by Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, including in partnership with non-government organisations.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Community Redesign (Community Redesign) project aims to deliver a comprehensive system design and strategy to improve community-based service responses for people of all ages with moderate to severe mental illness who have more intensive treatment, care, and support needs.
Recommendations 3.2 b and c, 5–8, 19 and 20 of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System detail some of the service delivery expectations for community-based mental health services. In 2024–25, a new phase of implementation will focus on reform priorities that translate policy and planning into systemic, operational change.
Role and Scope
The Expert Advisory Group is a time-limited group comprising leaders and representatives, including those withlived and living experienceof the mental health and wellbeing sector.
It will help address key questions and considerations that may arise during the planning and design phases. It will provide advice on the implications and risks for specific communities, services and stakeholders and guidance on the approach to engagement with stakeholders.
Who can apply?
This expression of interest is open to:
Consumers with a lived experience of accessing community-based mental health and wellbeing services including psychosocial supports.
Carers, families and supporters of people accessing community-based mental health and wellbeing services including psychosocial supports.
People who have experience working in or managing Area Mental Health Services for the Adult and Older Adult and Infant, Child and Youth cohorts.
People who have experience supporting diverse communities who are accessing community-based mental health and wellbeing services.
People who represent First Nations mental health and wellbeing services.
Representatives of non-government organisations delivering community-based mental health and wellbeing services.
Representatives of the mental health and wellbeing workforce or industrial relations.
Do you have:
A special interest or passion for infant, child and youth and/or adult and older adult mental health and a strong desire to see service system improvements?
Expertise and/or experience in policy development and/or service or system level design and implementation?
A commitment to centring the voices of people who have, and continue to, access Victoria’s mental health system and harnessing their knowledge and experience?
Knowledge or experience of the needs of diverse communities, for example Aboriginal communities, LGBTQIA+, disability and multicultural communities including people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds?
Period of appointment and expected time commitment
The initial period of appointment is 12 months but may be subject to review pending the outcomes of the project phasing. Expert Advisory Group members will be required to meet online for one or one and half hours, up to 6 times in 2025, commencing in January.
Meeting dates and times are to be determined when the appointments have been finalised. Some meetings may be held in person; adequate notice will be provided for in-person meetings. Meeting frequency may be subjected to review.
The department will confirm upon appointment whether members have adjustment requests to support disabilities or health conditions, and this will be factored in to all planning activities.
Conditions and remuneration
Lived and living experience members whose participation is not part of their employment will be paid through the participation registers managed by the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council and Tandem.
Reasonable expenses will be covered for in-person meetings and will be subject to the department’s remuneration policies, outlined in the terms of reference.
Selection process
Applications will be reviewed in confidence. Shortlisting and Expert Advisory Group member selection will be led by the Victorian Department of Health. The department handles all personal information in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic).
How to apply
Complete the application form to express your interest in joining the Expert Advisory Group.
Essential workers will receive significantly more support to move and settle into the Northern Rivers thanks to a successful Minns Labor Government initiative, The Welcome Experience, being extended into the region making it easier for local organisations to attract workers to making the move.
Originally piloted during 2023 in Broken Hill, Muswellbrook, Bega, Walgett, Coffs Harbour, Corowa, Griffith and Goulburn, The Welcome Experience has been such a success it is now being rolled out to additional locations since September this year and is now operating in 55 Local Government Areas.
The Welcome Experience will now provide workforce support to the additional town locations of Tweed, Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Richmond Valley thanks to a successful tender application from new host agency, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers.
As part of The Welcome Experience, host agencies help essential workers make the regions their home, forge social connections, access childcare and schooling options, join sporting clubs and even assist with finding job opportunities for partners.
Launched in June last year, The Welcome Experience has helped 665 essential workers and their families to move to regional New South Wales, including 346 health workers, 110 educators and 42 police staff.
The Northern Rivers can look forward to similar type success stories that have emerged after the program was rolled out to other regions over the last few months.
Host Agencies in new delivery locations such as Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Kiama and Inverell are now onboarding Local Connectors, plus engaging their local communities and gathering feedback to assist them to tailor the delivery of The Welcome Experience to meet specific needs of communities.
Among the new host agencies is RDA Murray, which has reported a positive stream of enquiries since September from essential workers considering the move to the Albury area.
RDA Program Manager for Albury Karin Willcox is already assisting two registered nurses and their children move to the region from New Zealand.
Karin has organised arrangements for the family ahead of their arrival, including airport pickup, car rental, childcare, schooling options, and even securing furniture for their new home.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
“Our Government is focusing on ensuring regional NSW receives the services it needs and attracting essential workers is critical to making that happen.
“If people get to hear first-hand info about schools or childcare, and that there is a good bunch of people in the local netball team, plus insights on cafes and places to fish, you are making them feel welcome.
“Recognising the area’s needs, the Government is pleased the procurement process has been completed to engage RDA Northern Rivers to set up services in five towns that will boost the attraction of essential workers.
“The Welcome Experience has a strong track record of warmly welcoming workers to regional NSW and encouraging them to build lasting connections in their new communities, and I look forward to seeing RDA continue this valuable work in the Northern Rivers region.”
NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:
“I congratulate Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers on successfully tendering to be host agency for The Welcome Experience in towns across our region as this organisation has a track record of building capacity through strengthening networks.
“We need to attract and retain more essential workers as our population grows, and providing workforce support with relocations and settling into a new community for workers and their families is a no-brainer.
“Some councils provide new residents with a welcome pack to help them navigate their new surroundings, and this Minns Labor Government initiative is that concept writ large, offering a wraparound set of services specific to our region.
“The Welcome Experience’s pilot sites have been successful in helping hundreds of health workers, educators and police move to the regions, and I look forward to more success in Lismore, Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Richmond Valley.”
RDA Northern Rivers Director of Regional Development Anthony Schreenan said:
“The Welcome Experience will support new essential workers through every step of the relocation process, from when they first consider the move, to when they decide to make their home in the Northern Rivers and build connections in the community,” Mr Schreenan said.
“We are so happy to be able to benefit from The Welcome Experience, the pilot showed that the key to retaining workers is welcoming them into the community, and that’s more than finding a house to live in and school for the kids.
“It’s becoming part of the local sports club, getting to know fellow parents, connecting with the people at your local and building networks of friendship.
“Our Local Connector will provide a concierge service, connecting with essential workers who are considering relocating to our region and providing information about the region, finding a place to live, access to schools and amenities, and services available.
Locations delivering The Welcome Experience:
Region
Location Government Areas
Successful Host Agency
Northern NSW
Glen Innes Severn and Inverell
Attract Connect Stay Glenn Innes
North Coast & Rivers
Tweed, Lismore, Ballina, Byron and Richmond Valley
RDA Northern Rivers
Mid North Coast
Kempsey, Nambucca and Port Macquarie Hastings
RDA Mid North Coast
Mid North Coast
Coffs Harbour and Bellingen
Boambee East Community Centre
Hunter
Muswellbrook, Singleton and Upper Hunter
Muswellbrook Shire Council
New England
Armidale, Tamworth and Uralla
RDA Northern Inland
Moree Plains
Moree Plains
Moree Plains Shire Council
Orana region
Bourke, Dubbo (incl Wellington) and Walgett
RDA Orana
Central West
Bathurst, Cowra, Lachlan, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin
Skillset
Western NSW
Balranald, Broken Hill, Central Darling,
Regional Solutions Community Development
Far West NSW
Unincorporated Far West and Wentworth
Regional Solutions Community Development
Murray
Albury, Federation and Greater Hume
RDA Murray
Eastern Riverina
Temora, Tumut, Wagga Wagga
RDA Riverina
Western Riverina
Griffith, Leeton,
RDA Riverina
Southern NSW
Goulburn Mulwaree, Hilltops, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Snowy-Monaro, Upper Lachlan, Wingecarribee and Yass Valley
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Kennedy Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (October 23):Question: The Exit and Entry Administration of the country announced on July 1 this year the issuance of Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens) (non-Chinese Permits) to non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents who make an application starting from the 10th of that month. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:(1) given that since September 1, 2018, relevant Mainland authorities have further facilitated the use of the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (commonly known as Home Return Permit) by Hong Kong and Macao residents for easy application of the Home Return Permit in areas such as transport, finance, communications, education, healthcare, social security, industry and commerce, taxation and accommodation, and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare said in July this year that the measures relating to the non-Chinese Permit would be conducive to the talent exchange between the Mainland and Hong Kong and further facilitate Hong Kong’s better integration into the overall development of the country and its contribution to the country’s high-quality development, but it is learnt that currently holders of non-Chinese Permits are still unable to enjoy any convenience on the Mainland, including their inability to directly open bank accounts, apply for telephone cards and purchase railway tickets, whether the authorities will seek to secure the wider and more convenient use of the non-Chinese Permit on the Mainland, so that holders of the permit can enjoy the same convenience afforded to holders of the Home Return Permit; if so, of the specific details; if not, the reasons for that;(2) of the total number of persons who have applied for non-Chinese Permits so far, their main nationalities and the situation of their use of the permit; and(3) of the channels used by the Government to promote the non-Chinese Permit, so as to ensure that non-Chinese residents in Hong Kong who are eligible can receive the relevant information in a timely manner, and whether assistance is provided for holders of non-Chinese Permits at the relevant control points?Reply:President, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) warmly welcomes and expresses gratitude to the country for issuing non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents a card???type document with five-year validity (Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens)) with effect from July 2024. The new measure represents a major policy breakthrough under “one country, two systems” implemented by the Mainland authorities with innovative thinking and fully highlights the unique status of the HKSAR. Before the introduction of the new measure, foreigners (including non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents) could only go through the manual channels at control points of the Mainland with their foreign passports and fill in an arrival card each time. Even though persons of certain nationalities can enjoy visa-free access to the Mainland, they still have to use the manual channels for clearance using their passports at Mainland control points. After the introduction of the new measure, individuals holding the card-type document are able to enjoy self-service clearance at control points of the Mainland, and they are no longer required to fill in any arrival card. It has significantly enhanced clearance efficiency and facilitated access to the Mainland for business, travelling and visiting relatives by non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents. In consultation with the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB), Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the Information Services Department (ISD) and the Home Affairs Department (HAD), my reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:(1) The issuance of new card-type document to non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents has significantly enhanced clearance convenience. We understand that various sectors of the community expect wider use of the new document on the Mainland. The HKSAR Government has been in close communication with relevant Mainland authorities and will continue to do so in enhancing the level of convenience of Hong Kong residents living on the Mainland, with a view to promoting better integration of the HKSAR into the overall development of the country.(2) The application, approval, and issuance of the new card-type document fall within the remit of the Mainland authorities. According to the figures provided by the Exit and Entry Administration of the country (EEA), from July to mid-October 2024, a total of about 55 000 non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents had made appointments for application, and about 20 000 new card-type documents were issued by the EEA. The number of visitor arrivals/departures made using the card-type document amounted to a total of 53 000. Applicants mainly included nationals from European, North American, Southeast and South Asian countries. Based on the HKSAR Government’s understanding, the first batch of people who obtained and used the card-type document for travelling to the Mainland (including those from the business and school sectors) greatly welcomed the new measure. They also considered that the measure could substantially shorten the clearance time and fully satisfy their needs for visiting the Mainland for business, academic and cultural exchanges, and travelling purposes. Some of them also said that the measure had given them a stronger sense of identity and facilitated their greater participation in the development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA).(3) The Security Bureau has been actively promoting the new measure together with relevant bureaux and departments, including the CEDB, InvestHK, the ISD, the HAD, as well as Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices overseas and on the Mainland, etc. Apart from promoting through various channels, including mass media and social media, we have been particularly promoting this measure to foreign chambers of commerce in Hong Kong, encouraging international talents of Hong Kong companies who are permanent residents to make use of the card-type document to better seize the opportunities of the country’s rapid development, especially in the building of the GBA. In addition, we have especially introduced the measure to ethnic minorities through the eight support service centres for ethnic minorities funded by the HAD and promoted the measure to ethnic minority groups, community groups and schools, etc. through relevant District Offices in districts where more ethnic minorities live. We have also been maintaining close communication with the Mainland authorities to ensure the smooth implementation of first-time registration for the use of this permit and clearance arrangement at Mainland control points, including the provision of more directional signs in English and additional manpower to assist card holders when necessary.
The US saw a slight year-on-year (YoY) improvement in terms of venture capital (VC) funding deals value during the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) of 2024 despite a decline in deal volume. A total of 3,529 VC deals of worth $91.7 billion were announced during the period. This represents a YoY growth of 0.9% in funding value even as VC deal volume fell by 35.1%, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database revealed that the US saw the announcement of 5,520 VC deals of worth $90.9 billion during Q1-Q3 2023.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, and the ongoing conflicts have affected the US VC deal landscape in terms of deal volume. However, this did not impact the US’ dominance in global VC funding landscape. as it continues to maintain a significant lead in VC funding activity by deal volume as well as value to other countries but the lead is now much more pronounced in terms of funding value. The US accounted for more than half of the VC funding amount raised globally during Q1-Q3 2024.”
The US accounted for 28.9% share of the total number of VC deals announced globally during Q1-Q3 2024 while its share of the corresponding funding value stood much higher at 50.1%.
It is also noteworthy that the US witnessed announcements of 209 VC deals valued more than or equal to $100 million during Q1-Q3 2024 whereas the number of such deals during Q1-Q3 2023 stood at 162.
Some of the notable VC funding deals announced in the US during Q1-Q3 2024 include: $6 billion raised by X.AI, $1.5 billion by Anduril Industries, $1.1 billion by CoreWeave, $1 billion by Scale AI, $1 billion by Wiz, $1 billion by Xaira Therapeutics and $1 billion worth funding raised by Safe Superintelligence.
Note: Historic data may change in case some deals get added to previous months because of a delay in disclosure of information in the public domain.
Sustainable eating encompasses of practices such as minimizing food waste, prioritizing plant-based diets, and consuming locally sourced foods. India is known for its extensive history of vegetarian diets. As the world grapples with the urgent need to address climate change, India’s sustainable eating habits offer a glimmer of hope to address the heightened ecological concerns, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
India’s traditional, climate friendly dietary habits have been spotlighted as a global blueprint for sustainable living in a recent Living Planet Report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It identified India’s food consumption pattern as the most climate friendly among G20 nations. The report further stated that if all countries across the globe would adopt the current food consumption pattern of India, the world would need 0.84% of an Earth to support food production by 2050+.
Shravani Mali, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “In recent years, India observed an intensified vegan movement, especially in metropolitan cities. The country’s current food consumption practices, emphasizing plant-based diets and climate-resilient crops such as millets, require fewer resources and generate lower emissions compared to meat-heavy diets. This transition is also connected to a wider focus on sustainability. Underlining this trend, 79% of Indian respondents in GlobalData’s recent consumer survey stated that the sustainable/environmentally friendly feature is essential/nice to have when deciding to make a food and drinks purchase*.”
Mali adds: “Traditional Indian diets primarily consist of lentils, grains, and vegetables. For instance, “Thali” is a meal that includes a combination of various food groups and shows a strong connection to the country’s land and history. These traditional diets, which place an emphasis on seasonal and local produce, are becoming more popular as environmental issues gain more attention. Consequently, with increasing awareness, consumers will look forward to curtailing environmental burdens by adopting traditional dietary practices that prioritize plant-based foods.”
Deepak Nautiyal, Consumer and Retail Commercial Director, APAC and Middle East at GlobalData, notes: “The Indian government has introduced several initiatives to promote environmentally sustainable practices in the country. For instance, the government launched schemes such as National Millet Campaign and the International Year of Millets (2023) to enhance the production and consumption of millets since it is an environmentally sustainable source of food and nutrition. In addition to this, the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) aims to improve climate-resilient farming.
“Furthermore, the socioeconomic advantages of sustainable food production are exemplified by the Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) program in southern India. Hence, these initiatives have positively contributed to India’s food practices as a model of sustainability.”
Mali concludes: “By adopting climate-friendly diet, individuals can make a tangible impact on the environment. Adopting Indian sustainable eating habits worldwide offers a clear path to address critical environmental and health challenges. With the food system being one of major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, shifting towards plant-based diets, as exemplified by Indian cuisine, could reduce emissions significantly, creating a more sustainable future for generations to come.”
*GlobalData 2024 Q3 Consumer Survey – India, with 500 respondents, published October 2024
La Hulpe, Belgium–23 October 2024, 7:00 am. CET– INSIDE INFORMATION– Unifiedpost Group SA (Euronext Brussels: UPG) (Unifiedpost, Company), a leading provider of integrated business communications solutions, announces the appointment of Nicolas de Beco as its CEO, effective December 1, 2024. Founder and current CEO Hans Leybaert will transition to Executive Chairman. Additionally, the Board has co-opted two new members: Crescemus BV, represented by Pieter Bourgeois, and PDMT Investments LLC, represented by Peter Mulroy. The Board further plans to nominate potential Board members at the next Ordinary General Shareholder Meeting. These changes align with our commitment to enhance governance and strengthen the position of Unifiedpost.
Summary of appointments:
Nicolas de Beco has been appointed as the new CEO of Unifiedpost, effective December 1, 2024. Nicolas succeeds Hans Leybaert, who will transition to Executive Chairman of the Board.
Crescemus BV, represented by Pieter Bourgeois, has been co-opted as a non-executive director, replacing AS Partner BV, represented by Stefan Yee, who stepped down on October 1, 2024. Crescemus will represent Alychlo NV in the Board. The mandate will take effect as from October 23, 2024.
PDMT Investments LLC, represented by Peter Mulroy, has been co-opted as independent director, replacing Sopharth BV, represented by Philippe De Backer, who stepped down on October 1, 2024. The mandate will take effect as from October 23, 2024.
The Board plans to nominate four potential Board members at the next Ordinary Shareholder Meeting in May 2025.
Appointment of Nicolas de Beco as CEO; Hans Leybaert becomes executive chairman.
Unifiedpost is pleased to announce Nicolas de Beco as its new CEO, effective December 1, 2024. Nicolas will succeed Hans Leybaert, who will transition into the role of Executive Chairman. Nicolas brings extensive experience in scaling SaaS businesses and driving operational excellence, both of which are essential to Unifiedpost’s current strategic priorities, as the company continues to execute on its organic growth plans and capitalise on opportunities arising from regulatory reforms across Europe. Hans Leybaert will remain on board to guide the strategy implementation of the company.
Hans Leybaert stated, “We welcome Nicolas as our new CEO, and I am excited to transition into the role of Executive Chairman. Nicolas brings a wealth of experience to Unifiedpost, having served as Senior Vice President of Strategy at Quadient and President of the French Foreign Trade Advisors in New England. His proven ability to understand and address customer needs aligns with our commitment to customer-centric innovation. I am confident that this transition will keep Unifiedpost on track to becoming the leading digital platform for administrative, financial, payment, and communication processes. Nicolas will bring fresh ideas that will accelerate our growth.”
Nicolas de Beco stated: “I’m excited to join Unifiedpost, Europe’s leading SaaS provider for Financial Automation. With the support of 1.000+ dedicated employees and a strong base of 1,3 million customers, I look forward to leading the team towards sustained, profitable growth and shareholder returns.”
Co-optation of new Board members
Following the announcement on July 8, 2024, Stefan Yee, representing AS Partners BV, has decided to voluntarily step down as chairman and member of the Board after nearly 10 years of service since 2014, effective October 1, 2024. Additionally, Philippe De Backer, representing Sopharth BV, has also stepped down from the Board effective October 1, 2024, due to a new professional commitment that prevents his continued service on the Unifiedpost Board.
Following this, the Board of Directors has decided to co-opt Pieter Bourgeois, representing Crescemus BV, and Peter Mulroy, representing PDMT Investments LLC, as directors effective October 23, 2024. Pieter Bourgeois, who will replace Stefan Yee, is the CEO of Alychlo NV and will represent Alychlo on the Board. Peter Mulroy, replacing Philippe De Backer, will serve as an independent director and brings over 40 years of experience in global trade, receivables, and supply chain finance. The Board will seek ratification of these appointments from the Ordinary General Shareholder Meeting in May 2025. These changes reflect Unifiedpost’s commitment to maintaining a diverse and experienced Board, ensuring strong corporate governance. The newly appointed members’ extensive international experience aligns with Unifiedpost’s ambitions to accelerate the growth of digital services and enhance value for our shareholders and customers.
Commenting on the announcement, Hans Leybaert stated, “First and foremost, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Stefan Yee and Philippe De Backer for their significant contributions to Unifiedpost during their tenure on our Board. Their insights and dedication have been invaluable to our growth. As we welcome Pieter Bourgeois and Peter Mulroy as new members, I am confident that their expertise will further enhance our governance. Pieter, representing Alychlo, underscores our commitment to a strong Board, while Peter’s extensive background in global trade and finance will be instrumental as we continue to advance our strategic objectives. We look forward to the fresh perspectives our new Board members will bring while building upon the strong foundation laid by their predecessors”.
Pieter Bourgeois, CEO of Alychlo, added, “As long-term investors, we have always believed in the company’s potential and the value it can unlock for all shareholders. We appreciate the collaborative approach taken by Unifiedpost’s leadership to implement these governance changes, which we believe are a testament to Unifiedpost’s commitment to adopt best practices and strengthen oversight. I am honoured to join the board and look forward to working collaboratively with my fellow directors and management to drive sustainable growth, operational excellence, and long-term value creation for all stakeholders.”
Planned nominations by the Board.
To further expand the experience of the Board and give it a more international character, the Board shall propose to nominate four additional directors at the next Ordinary General Shareholder Meeting, scheduled for May 20, 2025:
Nathalie Van den Haute, representing Quilaudem BV, shall be proposed to be nominated as a non-executive director. Nathalie is an Investment Principal at Alychlo NV and will represent Alychlo on the Board. She has extensive experience in corporate finance and equity capital markets, having held various leadership positions at KBC Securities.
Koen Hoffman, representing Ahok BV, shall be proposed to be nominated as an independent director. Koen is the CEO of Value Square and serves on the boards of Greenyard, Fagron, and MDxHealth in independent capacities.
Leanne Kemp shall be proposed to be nominated as an independent director. Leanne is the founder and CEO of Everledger. A prominent figure in the technology sector, she co-chairs the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Manufacturing and participates in the Global Future Council on Blockchain. Additionally, Leanne leads workstreams at the Global Blockchain Business Council, co-chairs the Sustainable Trade Action Group for the World Trade Board and serves on the IBM Blockchain Platform Board of Advisors.
Nicolas de Beco, representing Beco Global Consulting LLC, shall be proposed to be nominated as executive director.
The Board shall propose to nominate them for a four-year term, effective from the next Ordinary General Shareholder Meeting. Additionally, the Board shall propose that the shareholders align the terms of the mandates for Crescemus BV and PDMT Investments LLC with this four-year term.
With these changes to its governance structure, Unifiedpost highlights the international experience of its Board. This reinforces the company’s ambition to become a leading Pan-European player in its market segment.
Please visit Unifiedpost’s website for more information about the Board of Directors.
Unifiedpost is a leading cloud-based platform for SME business services built on “Documents,” “Identity” and “Payments”. Unifiedpost operates and develops a 100% cloud-based platform for administrative and financial services that allows real-time and seamless connections between Unifiedpost’s customers, their suppliers, their customers, and other parties along the financial value chain. With its one-stop-shop solutions, Unifiedpost’s mission is to make administrative and financial processes simple and smart for its customers. For more information about Unifiedpost Group and its offerings, please visit our website: Unifiedpost Group | Global leaders in digital solutions
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: The statements contained herein may include prospects, statements of future expectations, opinions, and other forward-looking statements in relation to the expected future performance of Unifiedpost Group and the markets in which it is active. Such forward-looking statements are based on management’s current views and assumptions regarding future events. By nature, they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that appear justified at the time at which they are made but may not turn out to be accurate. Actual results, performance or events may, therefore, differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, Unifiedpost Group does not undertake any obligation to update, clarify or correct any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in light of new information, future events or otherwise and disclaims any liability in respect hereto. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
OSLO, Norway (23 October 2024) – TGS, a global leader in energy data and intelligence, today announced an extension to the Birmingham 3D seismic survey covering 276 square miles. The survey is strategically located on the western flank of the Appalachian Basin, aligning with the most prospective trend of the Utica-Point Pleasant formation and Clinton sands.
Kristian Johansen, CEO of TGS, commented: “The Birmingham-Gemini 3D survey reflects TGS’ commitment to uncovering the Appalachian Basin’s potential. Combined with our well-log database and analytical products, it provides clients with critical insights to drive exploration and production success, highlighting our dedication to delivering premium geoscience data for informed decision-making.”
The Birmingham-Gemini 3D seismic survey will target key formations in the Appalachian Basin, including the Ordovician Trenton, Black River, Utica/Point Pleasant, Cambrian reservoirs, and Silurian Clinton sands. Positioned up-dip from the Utica condensate and gas trend, the survey aims to explore the under-explored Point Pleasant oil window.
Using advanced seismic imaging, the project will map deep structures to identify hydrocarbon traps, analyze facies changes and optimize well placement. These insights will aid operators in refining exploration and production strategies.
TGS will enhance the seismic data by integrating it with its extensive Appalachian geologic and well database, including over 480,000 well logs. Proprietary formation tops and well performance metrics, available through the TGS Well Data Analytics platform, provide clients with comprehensive analysis for deeper insights into the region’s potential.
Recording for the Birmingham-Gemini 3D survey will commence in early 2025, with the fully processed dataset available to clients by year-end.
Bård Stenberg IR & Business Intelligence Mobile: +47 992 45 235 investor@tgs.com
About TGS TGS provides advanced data and intelligence to companies active in the energy sector. With leading-edge technology and solutions spanning the entire energy value chain, TGS offers a comprehensive range of insights to help clients make better decisions. Our broad range of products and advanced data technologies, coupled with a global, extensive and diverse energy data library, make TGS a trusted partner in supporting the exploration and production of energy resources worldwide. For further information, please visit http://www.tgs.com (https://www.tgs.com/).
Forward Looking Statement All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These factors include volatile market conditions, investment opportunities in new and existing markets, demand for licensing of data within the energy industry, operational challenges, and reliance on a cyclical industry and principal customers. Actual results may differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. TGS undertakes no responsibility or obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements for any reason.
Anirban Bose becomes CEOof the Americas Strategic Business Unit
Kartik Ramakrishnan becomes CEO of the Financial Services Strategic Business Unit
Jerome Simeon will take on the role of Chief Revenue Officer
Franck Greverie will become Chief Technology Officer
Paris, October 23, 2024 –Capgeminitoday announced some key leadership appointments. Anirban Bose succeeds Jim Bailey as CEO of the Americas Strategic Business Unit, effective November 1. Consecutively, Kartik Ramakrishnan is appointed CEO of the Financial Services Strategic Business Unit. Jerome Simeon will become Chief Revenue Officer and Franck Greverie Chief Technology Officer, both from January 1, 2025. Following anoutstanding 34-year long career at Capgemini,Olivier Sevillia, Chief Operating Officer, has decided to pursue new endeavors as an individual, and will leave the Group at the end of 2024. With his deep global experience and passion for digital transformation, Olivier will focus on promoting the techno-business ecosystem of European companies to help improve their competitiveness. The whole Capgemini team is looking forward to supporting Olivier in his next chapter.
“These appointments strengthen the Group’s growth ambition and reinforce Capgemini’s role as the go to business and technology partner for our clients. Anirban Bose has been at the helm of our Financial Services division for the last six years and instrumental in building and shaping this business acrossthe globe. Anirban is well positioned to accelerate our trajectory in the Americas, building on our progress in the region over the past 4 years under the leadership of Jim Bailey. I would like to thank Jim for his many contributions to Capgemini. Kartik Ramakrishnan, who has been running the Banking sector for the past six years, is Anirban’s natural successor, to ensure the global business will continue to go from strength to strength,” comments Aiman Ezzat, CEO of the Capgemini Group. “To bolster our laser focus on growth, Jerome Simeon will take on a new position of Chief Revenue Officer for the Group in the new year. His role will encompass our activities across sales, key clients and industries to bring even greater value to our clients as we accompany them on their business-critical transformations. Franck Greverie will add Chief Technology Officer to his scope of responsibility, also from January 1.His deep tech expertise and forward-thinking approach will accelerate our efforts to build innovative value creating solutions for our clients.I wish Anirban, Kartik, Jerome and Franck every success in their new roles.”
Aiman Ezzat continues, “After anoutstanding 34-year long career at Capgemini and an impressive track record in leading and operating strategic businesses across the Group, Olivier Sevillia will step down as Group COO at the end of 2024. We are all looking forward to supporting Olivier in his new endeavors as an individual, focused on applying his extensive experience in digital transformation to promote a rich techno-business ecosystem to help improve the competitiveness of European businesses. The board of directors joins me in thanking him and paying tribute to his commitment and service.”
Biography: Anirban Bose
Anirban was Head of Capgemini’s Financial Services Strategic Business Unit and a member of the Group Executive Board from 2018. He was also responsible for overseeing the Asia Pacific Strategic Business Unit.
Prior to this, Anirban was the Head of Capgemini’s Banking and Capital Markets Business Unit.
Between 2007 and 2015 Anirban led Capgemini’s Banking Business Unit. From 2004 to 2007, Anirban served as executive vice president at Kanbay before its 2007 acquisition by Capgemini.
Anirban resides in New York. He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology of Varasani with a Bachelor of Technology. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago.
Biography: Kartik Ramakrishnan
Kartik was the Deputy CEO of Capgemini’s Financial Services Strategic Business Unit and also led Capgemini’s Banking and Capitals Markets business. Kartik has been a member of the Group Executive Committee since 2023.
Prior to this, Kartik was responsible for managing sales teams across banking and capital markets.
Kartik has spent over 25 years consulting in the banking and payments industry. Over his career, he has been involved in launching new products and developing innovative, cost-effective solutions for financial services firms across the globe in countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Singapore, United Kingdom and United States of America.
Kartik has a bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology and a master’s degree from the Booth School of Business at University of Chicago.
Biography: Jerome Simeon
Jerome became the Head of Global Industries in 2023. He has been a Member of the Group Executive Board since 2021.
Prior to this, he was the CEO of the Southern Europe Strategic Business Unit. From 2018 to 2020, Jerome was Managing Director of Capgemini in France, when he also joined the Group Executive Committee.
From 2014, he was CEO, Application Services France after serving as Commercial Director (from 2012 to 2014).
Prior to this, from 2007 to 2010, he held commercial positions in Capgemini’s Telecom & Media business after managing the development and sales for the Property & Services Europe sector of BT Global Services for two years.
Jerome joined Capgemini in 1998, after eight years with the group Générale des Eaux/Vivendi. Jerome graduated from Toulouse Business School.
Biography: Franck Greverie
Franck Greverie has been the Chief Portfolio Officer at Capgemini since 2018.
Franck has been on the Group Executive Board since 2020, when he took on additional responsibilities overseeing Cloud Infrastructure Services (cloud & cybersecurity), Business Services and Insights & Data (Data & AI) Global Business Lines.
Prior to this, from 2016, Franck led the Cloud & Cybersecurity activities of Capgemini. He joined Capgemini in 2015 as Head of the Cybersecurity Global Service Line.
Between 2012 and 2015, Franck was an Executive VP at Bull, where he was in charge of the Security Division, and also led the Middle East, Africa and Asia activities.
Prior to that, Franck was the Managing Director of the Information Systems Security and Cybersecurity activities for Thales Group (France, UK, Germany, Norway, USA, Asia) since 2018. His career with Thales began in 2004, as Head of Strategy, Business Development and Marketing for the Security activity.
Franck is a graduate of ESME, engineering school, and of the Executive MBA of ESSEC Business School.
Note to Editors High-resolution photography of Anirban Bose, Kartik Ramakrishnan, Jerome Simeon and Franck Greverie is available on request.
About Capgemini Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organisations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fuelled by its market-leading capabilities in AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2023 global revenues of €22.5 billion. Get the future you want | http://www.capgemini.com
For jobseekers these days, staying on benefits is about accumulating points.
It used to be cruder. Until 2022, unemployed Australians who wanted to stay on benefits had to apply for up to 20 jobs per month, a requirement a parliamentary inquiry found
burdens employers, who are receiving masses of poor quality applications often from people who are not suited for the position.
Since July 2022, jobseekers have instead been required to collect points.
Creating or updating a profile earns five points, applying for a job earns five points, attending a job interview earns 25 points, attending a jobs expo earns 25 points, starting a job earns 50 points, and so on.
For most jobseekers the target is 100 points per month. The target can be eased by 20 points for jobseekers who live in locations that have fewer opportunities to work and by 40 points for jobseekers who are carers, have a reduced capacity to work or who are over 55.
Jobseekers who fail to report enough points or who fail to include four job applications per month in total face automatic suspension of benefits.
Workforce Australia.
41% of jobseekers are being failed
New data released by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations show 41.1% of participants are being tripped up by the system.
In the quarter between April 1 and June 30, 410,485 of the 999,470 jobseekers enrolled in the scheme failed to meet its requirements. And 212,915 of them reported no points whatsoever.
It’s an improvement on the previous year. For April to June 2023, 45.3% of participants failed to get enough points.
First Nations people, refugees, people with disabilities and young people are over-represented among those who fail to get enough points.
My calculations using the department’s data show 58% of Indigenous participants in the program, 49% of participants without a Year 12 education and 47% of participants on youth allowance are failing to meet the requirements.
Around two-thirds of breaches lead to suspensions. Between July 2022 and September 2023 1,838,410 payments were suspended.
My research just published in the Australian Journal of Social Issues finds that a shift away from face-to-face help to online interactions is partly responsible.
When jobseekers find it difficult to talk to humans about why they are unable to accumulate points their payments are more likely to be suspended.
Jobseekers’ fault or the system’s fault?
The Department of Employment has been working hard to increase understanding of the points system. Among other things, it has produced a series of fact sheets aimed at First Nations Australians.
But an independent evaluation of the system prepared for the department in June found two-thirds of the participants in it had little or no knowledge about how it worked.
This suggests the 41% failure rate might be an indictment of the system as much as the jobseekers who use it.
It might even be an indictment of the idea of points to quantify compliance with mutual obligations.
While the committee supported the use of points, it wanted the default requirement halved to 50 points, with human case managers given discretion to vary the target up or down based on their professional judgments.
Simone Casey is employed as a policy advisor at Economic Justice Australia, the peak organisation for community legal centres providing specialist advice to people on their social security issues and rights. The research and analysis for this article was completed in her academic capacity as recently published in the Australian Journal of Social Issues.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
A strategic session on interaction with the State Corporation Rosatom was held at the Institute of Power Engineering of SPbPU. Its participants — representatives of the university, scientific institutions and industrial enterprises — discussed promising areas in power engineering, mechanical engineering and digital technologies.
Acting Vice-Rector for Prospective Projects of SPbPU Maria Vrublevskaya gave a welcoming speech. She spoke about the successful model of interaction between the university and industrial partners, which allows training unique personnel and creating developments necessary for the technological sovereignty of the country.
Serious, large-scale tasks now really require a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach, which our university can provide, – says Maria Vrublevskaya. – The Polytechnic University has many areas, opportunities, a solid material base, equipment. We cooperate with a huge number of research institutes and departments, and also maintain contacts with industry. We know where to get resources, so the main thing for us is trust and tasks from the industry, for which we are ready to assemble teams and competencies, and solve interesting cases.
Director of the Department for Support of New Businesses of Rosatom State Corporation Dmitry Baidarov expressed hope that the results of the strategic session will be able to present specific tasks and ways to solve them for both parties.
Rosatom is a geographically distributed company that requires a large personnel reserve both in cities of federal significance and in other regions of the country, – noted Dmitry Baydarov. – Our goal is not only to hire graduates of Rosatom’s flagship universities, but also to ensure that those specialists come to us who want and can realize themselves with us. Another area that is interesting and necessary for Rosatom: we simply must have our own technologies that ensure our energy and resource security and technological sovereignty. This is required to solve the problems set before the nuclear industry.
Director of the Institute of Power Engineering Viktor Barskov introduced the guests to the work of the departments, the implemented projects of the Priority 2030 program, and educational solutions. It is planned to create design bureaus, new educational products, and expand the laboratory and technical base of the institute. All activities are closely related to the needs of the industry: the university develops unique solutions due to its flexibility and multidisciplinary nature.
The section “Digital Solutions in Energy and Engineering” featured reports from representatives of leading energy and engineering companies JSC TVEL, JSC Consyst-OS and JSC NPO KIS. Modern technologies for improving the efficiency of energy equipment and promising areas of IT in nuclear energy were discussed.
At the section “Reliability and durability of equipment”, representatives of the companies “AEM-technologies” and “OKBM Afrikantov” presented reports on extending the service life of unique designs, as well as on training engineering personnel for the implementation of high-tech projects.
The section “Nuclear Medicine” was devoted to the possibilities of cooperation between SPbPU and the V. G. Khlopin Radium Institute in the field of scientific and technological developments for medical applications of nuclear technologies.
Participants of the section “Reliability and Durability. Power Engineering” discussed scientific and technological solutions for upgrading equipment and increasing its reliability with the participation of specialists from JSC NPO CNIITMASH and JSC Atomenergomash. During the discussion, several areas of interest to representatives of both Polytechnic University and Rosatom were identified: joint work on standards, additive technologies, and the development of domestic software. In the educational area, participants discussed joint laboratories, basic departments, and the Digital Engineering PISH. The moderator of the section, Director of the Higher School of Power Engineering Alena Aleshina, summing up the results, emphasized that the leitmotif of the meeting was the issue of personnel: training young specialists, developing the infrastructure for their training, and additional education to improve their qualifications.
Participants in the “Electric Power Industry” section, moderated by the Director of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Power Engineering Alexander Kalyutik, highlighted several topics related to digitalization in the energy sector: digital technologies and digital modeling, their use in the design, operation and optimization of energy facilities, and the integration of digital models into existing solutions of Rosatom State Corporation.
Associate Professor of the Higher School of Atomic Energy and Technical Establishment Irina Anikin summarized the results of the section, noting the existing problems in her report and proposing their solutions. For example, the insufficient competence of operating personnel in the field of digital technologies can be improved with the help of training simulators, and the low awareness of students and teachers about the software products of the Rosatom State Corporation – by introducing them into the educational process.
Participants in the section “Electrical Equipment. Testing and Engineering” moderated by Professor of the Higher School of High-Voltage Power Engineering Vasily Titkov highlighted several topics in communication with industrial partners: adaptation of educational programs to the goals and objectives of Rosatom State Corporation enterprises and import substitution of power electrical equipment and software.
According to the participants, the solution to the problem of the gap between the results of the university’s research and the lack of effective mechanisms for their commercialization could be the organization of an application campaign to search for and select ideas and projects for IE and their subsequent examination at the Institute for Technology Transfer of JSC Rosatom RDS, which will certainly increase the efficiency of technology transfer and developments.
Understanding the demands of the industry helps to adjust the direction of work in the educational and scientific spheres, – Director of the Institute of Energy Viktor Barskov is sure. – The development of innovative solutions is possible only with constant dialogue, which was proven by today’s event. The solutions presented in various sections today can be implemented tomorrow, since such a pace is set by the constantly developing industry in the era of digitalization.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Aotearoa’s best and brightest Māori business leaders were honoured at the 2024 Ngā Tohu Kaiārahi Pakihi Māori o Aotearoa | Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards.
Whakatō te kākano, marotiritiri ai te māra, ka māea ngā hua | Plant the seed, cultivate the garden, reap the benefits.
A macadamia pioneer, sustainable fisheries champions and a plastic waste-to-product business, were among those honoured at the 2024 Aotearoa Māori Business Leaders Awards.
The event, held on 23 October and hosted by the University of Auckland Business School, celebrated the remarkable contributions of the Māori entrepreneurs, leaders and organisations shaping Aotearoa’s business landscape.
Six awards were presented, acknowledging the unique and powerful contributions of Māori leaders, each with their own inspiring story and unique approach to business.
Vanessa Hayes, founder of kaupapa Māori business Torere Macadamias, won the Entrepreneurial Māori Business Leader award.
Vanessa and her team are growing the New Zealand macadamia industry, which has historically relied on imported macadamias.
Torere Macadamias is working with Plant and Food Research, expanding its nursery and encouraging other growers and grower collectives by providing training, workshops and supplying plants from their nursery.
The company’s orchard produces around 20 tonnes of macadamias annually. And recently, Vanessa and the Torere team celebrated a milestone, winning a contract to supply Air New Zealand on their long haul and business class flights.
Moana New Zealand was honoured with the Kaitiaki Business Leader award for their dedication to sustainable fisheries management. The seafood company is a 100 percent iwi-owned organisation with a deep sense of responsibility and respect for New Zealand’s fisheries.
Māori Women’s Development Inc., a charitable trust formed, managed and operated by Māori women, earned the Mānuka Henare award for its continued support of Māori women in business, offering loans and wrap-around support.
Traci Houpapa, chair of the Federation of Māori Authorities, won the Māori Governance Leader award for her extensive leadership in business and governance, shaping the Māori business landscape. She holds a number of directorships and Ministerial appointments, including Chiefs Rugby and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
The Outstanding Māori Business Leader award went to Harry Burkhardt, co-founder and managing director of Replas Ltd, an innovative company transforming waste plastic into valuable products.
Meanwhile, the Dame Mira Szászy Alumni Award went to Karleen Everitt, a University of Auckland Business School graduate who has had a stellar career and is currently leading Te Ao Māori Strategy at ANZ Bank.
SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aurora Mobile Limited (NASDAQ: JG) (“Aurora Mobile” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China, today announced that its subsidiary EngageLab, a leading global multi-channel user engagement solution provider, has established a strategic partnership with Tao Ji Yun, a new generation consolidated shipping platform in Hong Kong under Shenzhen Trans-Jiang Logistics Co., Ltd. The partnership will help Tao Ji Yun achieve millisecond omni-channel messaging, improve the efficiency of global customer engagement, and further strengthen its global competitiveness.
Tao Ji Yun has become one of the largest and most capable consolidated shipping companies in cross-border e-commerce logistics in Hong Kong. Known for its professional and efficient services, Tao Ji Yun is committed to providing convenient and cost-effective consolidated shipping services to Mainland China e-commerce sellers and Hong Kong buyers, optimizing logistics processes and reducing shipping costs to facilitate mutual benefits for both parties.
The immediate update and accurate delivery of logistics information is core to Tao Ji Yun’s global operations. EngageLab’s AppPush, which provides push notification services for apps, integrates push messaging channels from eight mobile brands and one self-built channel, ensuring that every logistics update from Tao Ji Yun can be quickly and accurately delivered to users around the world. Whether it’s logistics tracking, freight settlement or after-sales service, users can access the latest logistics information anytime, anywhere. This instant cross-regional messaging not only greatly enhances shopping experience and customer satisfaction, but also will provide a strong impetus to Tao Ji Yun’s global sales growth.
EngageLab’s AppPush has a global network with multiple channels and data nodes, enabling complementary channel messaging, real-time intelligent redispatch, and multi-point service backups. It can handle large volumes of messages worldwide, and comprehensively ensures message delivery in terms of technical architecture and infrastructure. AppPush processes tens of billions of messages globally every day, ensuring messaging with high concurrency, reliability, stability, security, and efficiency. It achieves millisecond message delivery and ensures smooth operation even during peak business hours. This exceptional performance will enable Tao Ji Yun to maintain accurate and efficient messaging even in the face of immense global business volumes, significantly reducing user reach costs and improving operational efficiency.
In the area of personalized services, AppPush offers seven message styles and ten user segmentation rules, enabling precise user targeting. It supports full lifecycle data tracking and multi-dimensional message funnels, helping to build user behavior profiles and providing Tao Ji Yun with global intelligent support. Based on messaging data, Tao Ji Yun can build refined user profiles to provide more personalized logistics services and product recommendations. For example, for Hong Kong buyers who frequently purchase bulk goods, Tao Ji Yun can push more favorable consolidated shipping options and freight discount information, further enhancing customer loyalty and satisfaction and shaping its global brand reputation.
Improving service quality and optimizing customer experience are critical to maintaining a competitive edge in the global cross-border e-commerce logistics market. By working with EngageLab, Tao Ji Yun will not only improve the efficiency of customer engagement, but also accelerate its digital transformation and further strengthen its service capabilities. Going forward, Tao Ji Yun will continue to work with EngageLab, leveraging AppPush’s accurate, efficient, stable and secure push services as the foundation to continuously optimize logistics processes and improve customer engagement efficiency. This will provide global customers with more convenient and cost-effective consolidated shipping services. Meanwhile, Aurora Mobile will continue to support Tao Ji Yun to improve service quality, enhance corporate image, effectively promote its development, and jointly strive to create a more professional, efficient and convenient cross-border e-commerce logistics platform.
About EngageLab
As a leading provider of multi-channel user engagement solutions under Aurora Mobile, EngageLab is dedicated to delivering omnichannel messaging solutions to global enterprises and developers. These solutions enable more precise user outreach strategies, lower messaging costs, higher message delivery rates, and improved user conversion rates. EngageLab has steadily increased its market share and become an internationally recognized overseas messaging service platform. Currently, EngageLab has worked with hundreds of leading companies in 29 countries and regions worldwide and across various industries, including technology, internet, mobile, video, media, automotive and finance.
About Aurora Mobile Limited
Founded in 2011, Aurora Mobile (NASDAQ: JG) is a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China. Since its inception, Aurora Mobile has focused on providing stable and efficient messaging services to enterprises and has grown to be a leading mobile messaging service provider with its first-mover advantage. With the increasing demand for customer reach and marketing growth, Aurora Mobile has developed forward-looking solutions such as Cloud Messaging and Cloud Marketing to help enterprises achieve omnichannel customer reach and interaction, as well as artificial intelligence and big data-driven marketing technology solutions to help enterprises’ digital transformation.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Aurora Mobile’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Aurora Mobile may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Aurora Mobile’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Aurora Mobile’s strategies; Aurora Mobile’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Aurora Mobile’s ability to attract and retain customers; its ability to develop and effectively market data solutions, and penetrate the existing market for developer services; its ability to transition to the new advertising-driven SAAS business model; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand; the competition with current or future competitors; its ability to continue to gain access to mobile data in the future; the laws and regulations relating to data privacy and protection; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Aurora Mobile undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
Industrial relations will be hotly contested at next year’s election.
Labor has introduced a raft of new worker protections and pushed for wage increases for lower paid workers.
Business groups have argued against further red tape and claimed the government’s new regulations have contributed to rising costs.
The union movement, meanwhile, has been mired in the fallout from the CFMEU controversy, with some union leaders angry over the government and ACTU’s tough treatment of that union after revelations of its infiltration by criminals.
To talk about these issues and more, we’re joined by ACTU secretary Sally McManus and Innes Willox, the head of the Australian Industry Group, one of the peak employer groups.
On how to fix the construction industry, Willox advocates an oversight body but not the reintroduction of the Australian Building and Construction Commission,
We believe that the construction sector does require its own oversight. We had the ABCC previously. We’re not saying go back to that. You don’t have to replicate that model entirely. But the sector has shown that it does require an oversight body that has the ability to launch both civil and criminal claims for poor behaviour. You’re not going to clean it up through sort of task forces and the like, which actually don’t do anything on the ground to change and moderate behaviour.
What other changes to industrial relations would employers want from a Coalition government?
I think what we can expect or hope that the Coalition will look long and hard at things like the right to disconnect. Which came from nowhere. It came out of left field right at the end of a process. It’s created huge uncertainty in workplaces. It’s a bit of a minefield both for employers and employees.
The definition of’casual’ is now a 17-page manual that employers have to work through, rather than a straightforward definition. We’d hope that the Coalition would look at that. And, of course, union right-of-entry powers which have now tilted the balance totally in favour of unions. They’re the sort of things we think that they should look at as a priority and examine what they can do to take off the rough edges that have been put in place there.
On the unions’ wish list from Labor, McManus says they are talking with the government about further action on the issue of equality.
At the moment, the gender pay gap is at the lowest ever recorded. So that’s a good thing. But in terms of equality in the workplace, that issue is still a big one, and there is a big push that we are making for reproductive leave. This isn’t just for women, it’s also for men.
So many women suffer from things like painful periods. Of course, there’s a whole issue of menopause.
For men, there’s a whole lot of issues to do with reproductive issues as well. […] So this is something that we are talking to the government about and campaigning around.
Another issue is that of youth wages:
It’s really totally outrageous that 19, 20-year-olds are paid discount wages in Australia. It’s not acceptable in 2024-2025 and should be fixed. The union movement’s taking it up at the moment and have got rid of it in a lot of industries, and we want to finish the job. So we’re going to try and achieve that through campaigning and through the industrial commission. But if we don’t, if there’s no way of fixing it that way, there’ll be no option then other than to say to the government, listen, ball’s in your court now.
On the split in the union movement over the government and ACTU actions against the construction division of the CFMEU, McManus says the ACTU will continue to keep its door open,
Look, no one likes what’s happened. No one likes the fact that, obviously, that union was infiltrated by organised crime, outlaw motorcycle gangs. And no one supports corruption. The other construction union who works with the CFMEU all the time, which is the ETU, the Electrical Trades Union – they’re the ones who have disaffiliated from the ACTU.
They’re mates, they’re all mates, right? And so, obviously, they’re also not happy with what’s happened. And obviously we will always keep the door open and encourage unity. The ACTU is a place where truck drivers and community workers and teachers and nurses and road workers, everyone of every profession, gets together and talks. It’s always a good thing because you’re listening to other people and you’re stronger together.
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.
