The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued this statement: “Canada congratulates Maia Sandu on her re-election as President of the Republic of Moldova.
November 4, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued this statement:
“Canada congratulates Maia Sandu on her re-election as President of the Republic of Moldova.
“We also congratulate the people of Moldova for exercising their democratic rights in these elections. We continue to support Moldova’s democratic and European pathway and are pleased to see that Moldovans have confirmed their desire to join the European Union.
“Canada supports Moldova’s democratic integrity in the face of Russia’s destabilization efforts in the region and will continue to support the democratically elected Government of Moldova.
“We look forward to working with Moldova on shared priorities, continuing to bolster our bilateral relationship and collaborating on some of today’s most pressing global challenges.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
London ETO celebrates Hong Kong’s cinematic brilliance at London East Asia Film Festival 2024 (with photos) London ETO celebrates Hong Kong’s cinematic brilliance at London East Asia Film Festival 2024 (with photos) ******************************************************************************************
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO), the Film Development Fund, and the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region supported the London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) from October 23 to November 3 (London time), which showcased six selected Hong Kong films and hosted three live question and answer sessions with creative talent from Hong Kong. A reception was held following the closing gala screening, bringing together creative talent from Hong Kong and over 50 guests from the local cultural and business sectors. The Director-General of the London ETO, Mr Gilford Law, addressed the audience at the closing gala ceremony. “The London ETO is proud to partner with LEAFF for the ninth time to shine a spotlight on Hong Kong cinema. Known as the ‘Hollywood of the East’, Hong Kong boasts a vibrant community of creative and ambitious talent which shares the vision of establishing Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges, as supported by the National 14th Five-Year Plan,” he said. Four creative talents from Hong Kong graced the festivities, with actor Simon Yam and actress Sandra Ng receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award and Honorary Award respectively. Director Vincent Chow joined Mr Yam for a Q&A session on November 3, while Ms Ng participated in her own Q&A session on November 2. Director and screenwriter Felix Chong also talked about directing and screenwriting in East Asia during a Q&A session on October 24. Further highlighting Hong Kong’s cinematic achievements, “Love Lies” was awarded the Best Film in Competition. The 11-day festival featured the world premiere of “Little Red Sweet”, along with the United Kingdom premieres of “Out of the Shadow”, “High Forces” and “Love Lies”, as well as “Stuntman” and “Shanghai Blues”.
Contemporary economic challenges in Africa appear to be shifting the continent into a new era of development. From COVID-19 to war-induced inflation, many countries in Africa are facing significant economic challenges. The crises of recent years come on top of longer-term increases in debt, especially after the 2014 commodity price shock.
These circumstances have been the backdrop to recent conflicts, coups, and regime changes. But these contemporary crises follow a period of relatively successful state-led development in the first two decades of the 21st century, resulting in a hype about the new “African lions” and the emergence of an “Africa rising” narrative.
Two cases stand out as emblematic of this era: Rwanda’s vision of a Dubai-style financial and service hub, and Ethiopia’s rapid manufacturing and infrastructure ambitions.
Much has been written about the international factors behind this era of state-led development. The focus has been on the extension of private finance and the growth of “new” lenders such as China, India and Brazil. But these perspectives often overlook important questions. What has inspired ambitious African national plans over the last two decades? What assumptions were made about how development happens and how it should look?
In new research published in a special issue of a journal, we analyse these modernising visions. We unpick their differences and commonalities using cases from multiple countries.
Our emphasis is on understanding ideas, beliefs, and norms in shaping development plans. Such perspectives are often overlooked in the study of Africa. Scholars have often presumed that ruling elites are primarily interested in narrow material power or self-enrichment. We argue that ideas and beliefs underpin the goals and content of development plans.
The research covered in the special issue covers Angola, Eritrea and Tanzania, but in this article we will unpack our analysis of Ethiopia and Rwanda.
20th century modernist development
Many of the elements of development this century look like resurgent 20th century “high modernism”. This is a term coined by scholar James Scott to describe top-down, state-led, authoritarian programmes of economic development. These programmes typically used infrastructure and technology to engineer supposedly “backward”, “traditional” people and landscapes into efficient, modern, rational alternatives.
Perhaps the chief examples here are large dams. Historically, dams were viewed as the hallmark projects of modernisation. They could tame nature and deploy technology, whether electricity or irrigation, to found modern economies and workers. Ghana’s Akosombo Dam is one such project.
But building dams paused from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s as the World Bank and other major funders withdrew. Dam projects were seen as having too-high social and economic costs and as not performing well. Such negative impacts also generated significant protests.
Rwanda’s case
Underpinning Rwanda’s model is a concentrated Leninist-style power structure. The president and associated elites chart the path to progress. The party, with its affiliated companies and investment funds, is all powerful – not solely the state. Rwanda also revived mid-century plans, from dams to an east African railway corridor. Electricity was deemed central, resulting in a rapid, but overambitious five-fold increase in over 15 years.
This recent period was not just a reproduction of the 1960s, however. It had new elements. A Dubai-style aesthetic is central to the reinvented capital, Kigali, where the goal is to create a new corporate service hub, replete with skyscraper, conference centres, shopping malls and a new international airport. This replaces the 20th century obsession with industrial sites and brutalist concrete.
Rather than the state-led programmes of the 20th century, pro-market reforms have been incorporated. There’s an embrace of private enterprise, a stock market and investment. The country’s electricity boom was largely enacted by private firms and Rwanda consistently ranks as one of the top countries in the Ease of Doing Business index. It takes hours, not weeks, to set up a company and there’s a speedy regulatory bureaucracy.
In some cases, “neoliberal” reforms have been brought in, with private enterprise and investment in previously state-controlled domains. Rwanda embraced corporate investment and ownership while making business-friendly, low-tax reforms. The private sector was given a big role in Rwanda’s boom to build over 40 microhydro plants in 15 years.
New public management techniques, with individual incentives and civil service targets, were adopted.
Ethiopia’s case
Ethiopia focused on investments in large agricultural plantations and industrial parks. The result evoked 20th century modernisation drives. A broad-based infrastructure boom and an industrialisation strategy that moved agricultural produce up the value chain would transform the structure of the economy. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the Addis-Djibouti Railway and other megaprojects became symbols of this vision. The aim was to maintain state control of the commanding heights of the economy (electricity, water, telecommunications and aviation, among others), while building an industrial base that would absorb the surplus agricultural labour.
This was coupled with investments in education and health. In 2016, Ethiopia had the third highest ratio of public investment to GDP, but also one of the fastest economic growth rates globally.
Unlike Rwanda, this ideology has not survived. Progress in health, education and income was achieved but political tensions grew. By the mid 2010s, the material reality of people’s livelihoods could no longer keep up with the promises the ruling party had evoked. Dissent was not tolerated and led to mass protests, riots, and the eventual demise of the party. Since 2018, there has been a dramatic shift in ideology and vision with an openness to liberalisation, and a focus away from industrialisation to the service sector.
Continuity and change
Overall, our analysis reveals a combination of continuity and change during this period. It marks the triumph of an “African left”, with old titans like Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi or Mozambique’s Frelimo joined by new revolutionary parties also inspired by Marxism.
The language of communism or socialism is not used explicitly. But a belief endures that top-down schemes and mega-infrastructure can catapult people into an “enlightened” future. Structural economic barriers are surmountable through technology and engineering.
Simultaneously, one cannot escape the language of the Davos establishment about the supremacy of markets, importance of foreign investment and pledges to tackle climate change and poverty. This illustrates the degree to which these illiberal modernisers are connected to international policymaking.
Our publication conceptualises this pattern of continuity and change, as a 10-point “illiberal modernisers” manifesto. Although holding considerable variation between countries, we argue that these these hegemonic ruling parties shared common goals of transforming society through an elite-defined programme.
Ultimately, the pattern of continuity and change demonstrates the importance of analysing ideas, beliefs, and values. Elites in Africa, just as elsewhere, are not only interested in power but are influenced by ideas about development.
Barnaby Joseph Dye receives funding from the Economic and Social Science Research Council (UK).
Biruk Terrefe received funding from the Heinrich Böll Foundation (Germany).
The ninth annual #MedSafetyWeek takes place this week, with regulators from 94 countries and 107 organisations taking part across the globe.
#MedSafetyWeek forms part of international efforts to raise awareness about the importance of reporting suspected side effects to national medicines regulatory authorities such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
This year’s campaign, which runs from 4 to 10 November, focuses on the importance of using medicines correctly to prevent side effects.
This means taking the right medicines, at the right time, in the right way and at the right dose, and carefully following instructions for use of medical devices. Following these steps can drastically reduce the risk of some side effects and safety issues.
When side effects do arise, this MedSafetyWeek, we ask that they are reported directly to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme and local reporting systems as soon as possible. Anyone can make a report: patients, parents, carers and healthcare professionals.
Reporting to the scheme allows the MHRA to not only identify new adverse effects but also gain more information about known adverse effects. This helps to improve the safety of medicines and healthcare products for all patients.
Safety concerns about medical devices, blood factor and immunoglobulin products, e-cigarettes and defective, low-quality or fake healthcare products should also be reported on the Yellow Card website.
This year’s MedSafetyWeek theme of ‘preventing side effects’ aligns with the third World Health Organization (WHO) Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm.
Preventable side effects contribute significantly to an increasing burden on patients and healthcare services, with studies consistently showing that between one third and a half may be potentially preventable.
Anticipating and managing side effects is key to reducing this burden and protecting patients from avoidable harm.
Please support #MedSafetyWeek by sharing, liking and reposting our social media posts:
In the UK, the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme is a critical source of information for us as the regulator to monitor the safety of healthcare products once they are on the market.
Importantly, Yellow Card reports can help to identify previously unknown side effects – or adverse drug reactions (ADRs) – and provide new safety knowledge to ensure risk is minimised.
Examples include a report of a three-month-old baby who was prescribed Gaviscon Infant to manage reflux and two days later had severe constipation.
MHRA experts investigated the report and found six other reports of constipation with Gaviscon Infant in children. The ages of the patients varied between two weeks and nine months, except for one child who was a one-year-old.
As the medicine is indicated for children aged one to two years, it appeared that in the vast majority of these cases the product had been prescribed by a healthcare professional in an unapproved patient age group.
It was decided that regulatory action was needed to make the product information clearer with the relevant warnings and precautions.
Yellow Card Biobank
The Yellow Card Biobank is an MHRA and Genomics England pilot project with the goal of increasing understanding of how a patients’ genetic makeup may increase their risk of side effects from prescribed medications.
The MHRA is currently looking for patients who have experienced severe skin reactions when taking allopurinol or severe bleeding when taking direct oral anticoagulants to join the study, before mid-January 2025.
If you or your patient have experienced a side effect to either of these drugs please complete a Yellow Card report. If you have any questions on the Biobank study, please email Yellowcardbiobank@mhra.gov.uk
A consultation has opened into proposed changes to the social housing allocations policy of St Albans City and District Council.
Anyone with an interest in housing in the District is urged to complete a short survey and give their views.
The Council has around 4,800 social rent homes and has the nomination rights to a further 1,200 housing association homes for people on the Housing Register.
Around 300 properties are let each year with new tenants being selected from the District’s Housing Register.
The Allocations Policy sets out how this process is undertaken and covers key issues such as the eligibility criteria for the Housing Register and how properties are allocated.
The overall aim of the Allocations Policy is to provide a framework for fair and effective allocation with priority given to those in greatest housing need.
Among the changes proposed is raising the maximum amount of household income of people allowed to be on the Housing Register.
This has been revised upwards since it was last agreed three years ago to take into account the impact of inflation.
Another proposal is to lower the age limit from 60 to 55 for applications for bungalows, provided the applicant can show a medical need such as reduced mobility.
Under the changes, an additional priority would be given to applicants transferring from a property with four or more bedrooms to a two-bedroom property. This is to increase the availability of larger homes and complements the existing policy whereby people downsizing from a three-bedroom to a one-bedroom get priority.
Councillor Jacqui Taylor, Chair of the Housing and Inclusion Committee, said:
These are significant changes which we are proposing so I would urge anyone involved with the District’s social housing to take part in the consultation.
We want to hear from tenants, people on our Housing Register and those with an interest in the issue to let us know their views. All feedback will be analysed before any decisions are made.
One key aim is to increase the availability of larger properties by making it easier for some of our tenants to downsize.
The consultation opens on Monday 4 November for six weeks and can be accessed here.
A report will be given to the Housing and Inclusion Committee on Monday 20 January when Councillors will decide whether to accept the changes.
The current Annual Gross Household Income Limits are £36,295 for a one-bedroom home which sould be updated to £46,686.20.
For a two-bedroom property the limit would be updated from £48,173 to £61,964.86; for a three-bedroom property, it would rise from £56,152 to £72,228.23; and for a property of four or more bedrooms, it would increase from £69,608 to £89,536.67.
Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council: 01727-919533
Create your own Glass Lantern Workshop at the Alley Theatre
4 November 2024
A five-week workshop in the Alley Theatre will allow participants to create their own handmade glass lantern under the guidance of sculptor and ceramic artist Leona Devine.
This workshop, starting on Wednesday 6th November, will involve painting and creating a bespoke lantern. Participants will have fun with fusion and will be introduced to a selection of materials and tools. Each stage will be demonstrated.
There are limited spaces for this fun and creative workshop running Wednesdays 6th 13th, 20th, 27th November and Wednesday 4th December at 11am each day. All abilities welcome. Cost is £60, to book visit www.alley-theatre.com or call the Alley Theatre Box Office on 028 71 384444.
Country sensation Claudia Buckley comes to the Alley Theatre
4 November 2024
The Alley Theatre is set to give country sensation, Claudia Buckley a very warm welcome on Thursday 7th November. Joining Claudia will be special guests Hugo Duncan and Shunie Crampsey
In two short years, Claudia Buckley has succeeded in establishing herself as one of Ireland’s most popular Country Music singers having had six Number One singles in the Country Charts in Ireland, and her recent self-penned single ‘Honey Bee’ made the top 10 in the Irish Pop Charts. Recently Claudia secured the title of ‘Female Vocalist of the Year for 2024’ at the Hot Country Music Awards, she is one of the youngest ever recipients of this special recognition.
The Athenry native, who is the daughter of country superstar Jimmy Buckley, is thankful for the passion she has for her craft and feels totally blessed to have landed this opportunity to not only record, but also perform live to audiences.
In 2019 a lifelong ambition was realised when she co-presented her own TV Show with her dad Jimmy Buckley on The Spotlight Satellite Channel. In the last year Claudia has performed on some of Ireland’s top TV shows including The Late Late Show, The Six O’ Clock Show, Up for the Match and BBC’s Keepin Er’ Country.
Claudia is currently working on her second studio album and cannot wait to embark on her tour all over Ireland and the UK to showcase some of her hits such as ‘Drinking with Dolly’, ‘Diane’ and some old favourites that she hopes everyone will love.
A night of toe-tapping country is guaranteed at the Strabane venue. Tickets are £25 and available on the Alley website www.alley-theatre.com or call 028 71 384444.
easyJet launch first flights to Liverpool and Edinburgh from City of Derry Airport
4 November 2024
easyJet, Northern Ireland’s largest airline, has this week launched the first flights on two new domestic routes from City of Derry Airport to Liverpool and Edinburgh.
The new twice-weekly services – providing customers in Northern Ireland even more convenient connections across the UK – took off for the first time today with both routes operating every Monday and Friday throughout the year.
To mark the occasion, the Airport surprised the inaugural departure and arrival passengers with an easyJet orange celebration where they were treated to complimentary drinks, refreshments and giveaways before setting off.
Special guests, the Mayor Derry City & Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr, Chief Executive at Visit Derry, Odhran Dunne, President of Derry Chamber of Commerce, Greg McCann, President of Causeway Chamber of Commerce, James Kilgore, and Chief Executive of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, Toni Forrester, joined the celebrations.
The new routes provide stronger domestic connectivity and serve increasing demand for flights between Northern Ireland and key cities across the UK.
Both Edinburgh and Liverpool are known for their rich history and wide range of cultural attractions, including museums, art galleries, theatres, and music venues. Edinburgh is famous for its festivals, while Liverpool is known for its music scene, particularly The Beatles.
Whether customers are looking for a city break, to visit friends and family, need a convenient business connection, or are connecting to onward destinations across Europe and beyond, easyJet offers great value fares and flights for business and leisure travellers alike.
Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said:
“We are thrilled to be celebrating the launch of our year-round operations from City of Derry Airport to Liverpool and Edinburgh today, and to be providing even more choice for our business and leisure customers alike.
“We are proud to be the largest airline in Northern Ireland offering great value fares and convenient connections for our customers here as, well as those across the UK looking to explore the fantastic experiences Northern Ireland has to offer.”
Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport stated:
“This is a special day for City of Derry Airport as easyJet takes off from the Northwest for the first time. This is a day that should be celebrated for the entire Northwest region. easyJet brings an undeniable level of brand credibility, customer confidence, not to mention great value fares for travellers across our catchment area.
“We are very pleased for the return of connectivity to Edinburgh and Liverpool for our local region as year-round services to these destinations have been in demand from both corporate and leisure travellers for some time, and the flight schedule for Monday’s and Friday’s offers ideal timings for business travel during the week and weekend breaks for the leisure market.
“The launch of easyJet services will be an additional economic driver for business investment in the Northwest and inbound travel and tourism, we are proud to be able to help grow and develop these sectors in our local area.”
easyJet is the largest airline in Northern Ireland, offering over 45 routes across Europe and North Africa.
Great value seats are available to book from £14.99* on easyJet.com and via the mobile app. To discover more about easyJet’s Northern Ireland network and to book, visit easyJet.com.
Mayor rallies troops as 25,000 Derry City fans expected in Aviva this Sunday
4 November 2024
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr, has issued a rallying call to the red and white army ahead of Derry City’s bid to win the FAI Cup this Sunday.
Ruaidhri Higgins’ side will take on Drogheda United in the Aviva Stadium showpiece with an estimated 25,000 Candystripes fans expected to make the trip to Dublin 4.
Mayor Barr has called on businesses and residents from all corners of the North West to get their flags and colours out this week. “The excitement and anticipation is palpable across the North West as Derry City bid to bring home the FAI Cup this Sunday,” she said. “It’s the ultimate Derry day out and I want to appeal to the public to do all you can this week to get behind the team and paint the town red and white.
“Get your homes, businesses, social media profiles and cars decked out for Derry and let’s have a record breaking support travelling to the Aviva for the final.”
The Mayor this week recorded a special video message at the Ryan McBride Brandywell for the fans and players and is changing her social media profile pictures in support of the team.
She has attended a number of home games this season and was at Friday night Derry’s final league game of the season against Shelbourne.
“In the games I’ve attended at the Brandywell, I have experienced first-hand the special relationship that exists between the team and the supporters of this wonderful football club,” she acknowledged. “The support of the fans is like having a 12th man on the pitch and can lift the players to new heights this weekend.
“I want to wish Ruaidhri and his players the best of luck as they finalise their preparations, it’s going to be an unforgettable occasion for everyone to enjoy so let’s pack out the Aviva and roar the team to victory on Sunday.”
Tickets for the final which has a 3pm kick off are available online at via Ticketmaster.
A link to choose tickets in the Derry City section is available on the Derry City Football Club website and the club’s social media pages.
The Official Partners sponsoring the UK’s Pavilion at COP29 are: AVEVA, Corporate Leaders Group, DP World, National Grid, Octopus Energy, SSE and Standard Chartered.
This year’s COP29 UK Pavilion Official Partners represent UK industry’s outstanding reputation for addressing climate change through enterprise and innovation.
Throughout the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, the UK Pavilion will host a series of events including panel talks, roundtable discussions and networking receptions. These will raise awareness of the best of British climate leadership and share insights on climate change from UK organisations, policy and business.
The funding by the UK Pavilion sponsors reduces cost to the taxpayer, while enabling official partners to demonstrate the vital role industry plays in progressing the climate agenda.
National Grid and SSE are returning as official partners from COP26 in Glasgow, COP27 in Sharm-El Sheikh and COP28 in Dubai, while Octopus Energy is returning from COP28 – showing the ongoing commitment of these companies to cutting emissions and accelerating towards net zero, and to working with the government on this important mission.
The UK government has also welcomed 4 new businesses to the COP29 sponsor portfolio: AVEVA, Corporate Leaders Group, DP World and Standard Chartered, resulting in the highest ever number of official partners at a COP summit.
COP29 runs from 11-22 November and the UK Pavilion will be open for the duration of the conference.
The sponsors
AVEVA
Headquartered in the UK, AVEVA is a global leader in industrial software, driving responsible use of the world’s resources. Over 25,000 enterprises in over 100 countries rely on AVEVA to help them deliver life’s essentials: safe and reliable energy, food, medicines, infrastructure and more. By connecting people with trusted information and AI-enriched insights, AVEVA enables teams to engineer efficiently and optimize operations, driving growth and sustainability. AVEVA attends COP29 with a wholehearted commitment to ensure that COP29 remains the key mechanism for driving collaborative progress on net zero. With the industrial sector contributing to a quarter of global emissions, AVEVA aims to demonstrate digitalization’s critical role in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors while enabling innovation in low-carbon paradigms that can support a just transition to a more sustainable future. Sponsoring the UK Pavilion is a key opportunity to collaborate with business, government and civil society leaders, supporting the transformation of UK economic interests to support COP objectives and accelerating the drive for net zero worldwide.
Caspar Herzberg, CEO, AVEVA:
As a UK-headquartered global leader in industrial intelligence software, AVEVA is proud to support the UK Pavilion at COP29. With industry responsible for a quarter of global emissions, industrial digitalisation is revolutionising decarbonisation strategies. Our work with more than 20,000 enterprises worldwide shows how cross-sector collaboration and untapped industrial data are driving breakthrough sustainability solutions. The UK continues to demonstrate leadership in sustainable industrial innovation, and alongside our government and industry partners, we’re committed to accelerating measurable action on our path to net zero.
Corporate Leaders Group UK
The UK Corporate Leaders Group (CLG UK) is a cross-sector, impact-driven business membership group that provides a strong corporate voice to support UK leadership for the transition to a climate neutral, nature positive and socially inclusive economy. CLG UK’s ongoing mission is to increase business and government leadership through a reinforcing virtuous cycle of increasing ambition and implementing action. It has convened and helped build consensus across the UK business community in support of the transition to competitive, climate-neutral, nature-positive and socially inclusive economies.
Beverley Cornaby, Director, UK Corporate Leaders Group:
The UK Corporate Leaders Group (CLG UK) is delighted to be sponsoring the UK Pavilion at COP29. The timing could not be more important, with the window of opportunity to transition to a clean future closing rapidly. CLG UK is urging governments to be decisive, provide clear policy frameworks and stay on course to meet net zero through strong delivery and implementation plans. To succeed, the UK government must bring business with it on its journey. That is where CLG UK is perfectly positioned to work with the UK Pavilion’s partners, businesses and change-makers to mobilise investment, technology and innovation to achieve our shared goals. We must work together to unlock the power of UK leadership, shift markets and economies, and maintain ambition for climate, nature and people.
DP World
DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities it serves globally. With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 115,000 employees from 160 nationalities, spanning 78 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future. DP World is rapidly transforming and integrating its businesses – Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting its global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient and sustainable end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.
Rashid Abdulla, CEO & Managing Director, Europe:
DP World’s ambition is to streamline and sustain global trade while building a resilient, lower-carbon supply chain. At COP29 with the UK government, we will champion sustainable end-to-end solutions that address climate challenges head-on, playing our part in connecting stakeholders across sectors, promoting collaboration and creating shared value.
National Grid
National Grid plays a crucial role in connecting millions of people to the energy they use safely, reliably and efficiently. National Grid is pioneering ways to decarbonise the energy system; from building interconnectors to allow the UK to share clean energy with Europe, to investing in renewable energy generation in the United States.
Rhian Kelly, Chief Sustainability Officer, National Grid:
Collaboration across borders and the sharing of best practice is vital if the global ambition for a clean energy future is to be met. Energy networks are an important part of this, enabling clean, green energy to flow from where it’s generated to where it’s needed. National Grid is proud to support the UK Pavilion at COP29, and we look forward to sharing our experiences and learning more from the international community.
Octopus Energy
As a British-born company, Octopus Energy showcases how the UK is leading the world in green innovation, investing billions in clean technologies to drive meaningful change globally. With operations in 18 countries, and 54 million households running on its tech platform Kraken, Octopus is bringing cheaper power to millions of customers globally. Launched just eight years ago, Octopus is now the largest electricity supplier in the UK and one of the largest investors in renewables in Europe, managing a portfolio worth £7 billion. Its relentless focus on smart tech and innovations has unlocked the world’s largest virtual power plant and homes with zero energy bills, delivering clean solutions that save people money and power the world.
Zoisa North-Bond, CEO Octopus Energy Generation:
The UK is the vanguard of green innovation, brimming with the talent and technology needed to accelerate the global energy revolution – and COP is a great opportunity to showcase this. From microgrids to wind farms and EVs – the solutions to empower global communities and stop climate change are available today. By working with policymakers and industry leaders worldwide, we can make green energy accessible for all and drive the solutions that will power the world.
SSE
SSE is the UK and Ireland’s clean energy champion, investing over £20 billion into homegrown energy. Our purpose is to provide the energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in world-class electricity infrastructure that is vital to the clean energy transition. We were the first company in the world to develop a ‘just transition strategy’, aimed at ensuring the benefits of the clean energy transition are shared by workers and communities. SSE has aligned its business strategy to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing a powerful framework to guide the creation of shared value for shareholders and society.
Martin Pibworth, SSE Chief Commercial Officer:
At SSE, we’ve put delivering net zero at the heart of our strategy backed up with of a multi-billion-dollar investment programme focused on mission-critical clean energy infrastructure. COP29 provides the opportunity to speed up the pace of the transition working with a range of international partners to collectively deliver a global just transition.
Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered has an important role to play in supporting our clients, sectors and markets to accelerate the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient economy. We’re pleased to partner with the UK at COP29, creating a platform to bring together partners, stakeholders and decision makers to help deliver outcomes in support of the Paris Agreement. As a major financial hub, the UK has some of the deepest pools of internationally oriented capital and as a leading international cross-border bank, headquartered in the UK, Standard Chartered is uniquely positioned to mobilise this capital and investment towards our footprint markets across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Marissa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer, Standard Chartered:
We’re pleased to partner with the UK at COP29 and will use this platform, alongside the full breadth of our sustainable finance expertise, to help scale finance and innovative solutions in support of the Paris Agreement. The UK has some of the deepest pools of internationally oriented capital and as a leading international cross-border bank, headquartered in the UK, Standard Chartered is uniquely positioned to mobilise this capital towards sustainable and inclusive growth across our footprint markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Manchester will pay its respects during the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations, turning our collective thoughts to the servicemen and women who gave their lives for this country.
Ahead of the 11am two minutes silence, a procession of veterans, military personnel and cadets will begin their march from John Dalton Street to the Cenotaph in St Peter’s Square at 10.25am, led by the Lancashire Artillery Volunteers Band and the Greater Manchester Police Band.
The Civic procession will depart from Mount Street at 10.40am for the Cenotaph, led by the Scots Guards Association Pipe Band.
Civic dignitaries, servicemen and women, service and ex-service organisations, faith leaders, emergency services and other uniformed organisations will be invited to pay their respects at the Cenotaph in St. Peter’s Square along with members of the public.
The service and two-minute silence will be held at 11am. The firing of a maroon* will mark the beginning and ending of the silence.
Traditional wreaths will be laid by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester on behalf of His Majesty The King; The Lord Mayor of Manchester on behalf of the City; Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force; Reserve Forces represented by 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery; The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and 206 (NW) MMR; Royal British Legion on behalf of ex-service men and women; Manchester Consular Association on behalf of Commonwealth Allies; Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Young Faith Representatives.
At the end of the Service there will be a short march to Peter Street across St Peter’s Square.
Crowd control barriers will be removed at the end of the Service to allow members of the public the opportunity to place their tributes around the memorial.
Councillor Paul Andrews, Lord Mayor of Manchester, said: “Remembrance Sunday is a time for us all to reflect and honour the immeasurable sacrifices our servicemen and women have made both in times of war and peace.
“We pay tribute to the great strength and courage shown by the men and women currently serving as well as the veterans from conflicts gone by.
“We also take time to remember the fallen civilians – men, women and children – who have faced the horror of conflict. I am proud and privileged to marking this most solemn of occasion for everyone in Manchester.”
Liverpool City Council is set to phase in camera enforcement at six further locations around primary schools to improve safety and boost air quality.
Known as School Streets, this project involves introducing a range of measures on roads close to schools that will reduce or calm motorised traffic, aiming to not only keep children, parents and residents safer by reducing congestion, but also to improve air quality and encourage active travel.
Measures include restricting access to roads, or sections of roads, close to schools when pupils are being dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon.
Schools work in partnership with the council to implement the measures and four further schools will join the six primary schools in the city which are already part of the national initiative.
The six additional locations to be phased in from today, Monday 4 November, and the affected roads are:
St Clare’s Catholic Primary School – Whole of Garmoyle Close
St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School – Church Road (from Prescot Road to Selkirk Road)
St Cleopas C of E Primary School – Whole of Barclay Street
Christ the King Catholic Primary School – Whole of Fieldway and Meadway (Entire length from Wavertree Nook Road)
Rice Lane Primary school – Whole of Brockenhurst Road from Rice Lane will be added to the existing timed access restriction on Lynwood Road.
St Michaels in the Hamlet Community Primary School – Camera enforcement to be included Neilson Road from St Michael’s Road.
The times when the School Streets restrictions are in operation for all the above are from 8.15am to 9.15am and from 2.30pm to 3.30pm during term time.
Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will be used at these schools to support enforcement of the restrictions however exemptions can apply.
School staff or parents who have a Blue Badge, or who need to drop off or pick up a child with SEND, can ask the school to apply for a camera exemption permit.
People who live on a School Street or someone who is a carer or a Blue Badge holder who regularly visits a resident on a School Street can apply for an exemption via the council’s website.
Various School Street measures are already in place at: Mab Lane, Much Woolton Catholic, Greenbank, St Michael in the Hamlet, Rice Lane, and St Gregory’s. These projects have shown that School Streets are effective in improving air quality by reducing congestion around the school site.
Monday’s phasing in will help the Council achieve its objective of creating up to 50 School Streets over the next four years, as set out under Pillar 5 of the Council Plan – A well-connected, sustainable and accessible city. Earlier this year, consultations were carried out at 20 further schools and it is hoped that School Streets will be implemented at these in the next year.
Cllr Dan Barrington, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity, said: “After the success of the first School Streets, I’m so pleased that the Council is able to support further schools to make their communities safer.
“School Streets are a great example of the Council working with whole communities – schools, parents and residents who live near the schools – to make our environment safer and more pleasant for everyone.
“Schemes like School Streets succeed because the majority of people understand their value and pull together to make them work. I have every confidence that these new School Streets locations will bring improvements for everyone in the community.”
Simon O’Brien, Liverpool City Region’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “There is nothing more important than the health of our children. So clean air and a feeling of calm around our schools at drop off and pick up are vital to help the pupils grow and learn in a positive environment.
“Well done to Liverpool City Council for enabling more schools to achieve these aims.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Explanation of vote by David Riley OBE, UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament, at the UN First Committee.
Location:
United Nations, New York
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
I am delivering the UK explanation of vote against the draft resolution L.39 ‘Nuclear War Effects and Scientific Research’.
We have always recognised that a nuclear war could have devastating consequences for humanity. This point is not new: it was written into the Preamble of the NPT in 1968, captured in the outcome document of the first Special Session on Disarmament in 1978, and reaffirmed many times since.
The international community has long been aware of the facts in this area.
The UK supports the use of scientific research, to keep at the forefront of minds, for future generations, the long-held knowledge of the devastating consequences of nuclear war, as set out in the NPT.
The UK has supported efforts to ensure this understanding continues.
Against this background of clearly established views on the effects of a nuclear war, we are not persuaded of the utility of an Independent Scientific Panel as proposed by the Resolution. Such a panel could not change our collective understanding of the horror of a nuclear war.
There is abundant scientific information and research available on this topic. A panel of the type proposed could not produce “new” evidence. It cannot advance us towards our collective long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons.
We also consider that the objectives of the Panel are ill-defined and ambiguous.
It is for these reasons that the UK was unable to support this Resolution.
Additionally, Madame Chair, this Resolution contains budgetary implications. In a year of multiple requests and constrained resources, we hope these costs can be met through voluntary contributions.
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The leaders discussed the situation on the ground, and Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to providing military, financial, humanitarian, and other support to Ukraine until it achieves victory against Russia’s unjustifiable war of aggression.
Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s support for President Zelenskyy’s ongoing diplomatic efforts toward a just and sustainable peace. The two leaders also discussed Ukraine’s victory plan, and the Prime Minister conveyed Canada’s support for the plan’s objectives.
The leaders condemned North Korea’s troop deployment to support Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
The Prime Minister and the President noted the success of the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s 10-Point Peace Formula, which was held last week in Montréal, Quebec. They highlighted the efforts made at the Conference to help return deported children, unlawfully detained civilians, and prisoners of war currently held by Russia, as well as to reintegrate them back into their daily lives in Ukraine.
The leaders agreed to remain in close and regular contact.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government Non-Ministerial Departments
In this Technical Bulletin, GAD summarises various aspects of the Autumn Budget 2024. We focus on a selection of measures most closely linked to GAD’s work.
Credit: Shutterstock
The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) has produced a summary of various aspects of the Autumn Budget 2024. It focuses on a selection of the Budget measures most closely linked to GAD’s work.
Budget relevance to GAD
As a department which advises on financial risk, the implications of a new budget are important for GAD’s work and the clients we support. GAD provides actuarial solutions on a non-profit basis for the government and wider public sector using:
risk analysis
modelling
quality assurance and advice
data insights to identify trends and share insights
A significant proportion of our work is on aspects of public service pension schemes. These affect 15 million working and retired people including police, firefighters, teachers, civil servants, doctors and nurses.
Credit: Shutterstock
Our skills further support government departments and stakeholder initiatives. Examples of these include reports on Great Britain’s National Insurance fund and on the State Pension age.
Topics covered
The Autumn Budget 2024 covered a number of topics relevant for GAD, ranging from National Insurance to pensions, and from fiscal forecasts to investment in public services. Further details can be found in the GAD Technical Bulletin.
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN at the UN Security Council meeting on non-proliferation/Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Location:
United Nations, New York
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
The United Kingdom unequivocally condemns the DPRK’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch.
This was the longest launch ever conducted by the DPRK, lasting 86 minutes.
This is yet another egregious violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. It shows that the DPRK continues to advance its illegal nuclear and ballistic weapons programmes, posing a clear threat to global peace and security.
In 2024 alone, the DPRK has recklessly launched one failed satellite, two intermediate-range ballistic missiles, and at least 36 short-range ballistic missiles. The DPRK also attempted to launch one multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicle.
Year by year, the DPRK flaunts its growing nuclear capabilities. Yet still, some Council members prevent us from speaking out with one voice.
This strategy of silence has failed. It is time for us to act, to defend the global non-proliferation architecture, to uphold the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and to deliver on the mandate of this Council to address the most pressing threats to peace and security.
Colleagues, it is less than a week since we last discussed the DPRK’s flagrant violations of UN Security Council resolutions.
The Russian Foreign Minister alarmingly said that, “Applying the term denuclearisation to DPRK no longer makes any sense. This is off the table.”
This statement of fiction, alongside Russia’s veto of the 1718 Committee’s Panel of Experts earlier this year, has emboldened the DPRK to continue its unlawful behaviour knowing it has impunity from a permanent member of this Council.
I call on Russia, and all Members of this Council, to condemn this launch and restate their commitment to implementing all relevant Council resolutions.
I urge the DPRK to abandon its illegal nuclear and ballistic weapons programmes, which are diverting resources away from improving the lives of the DPRK’s people.
The UK is committed to securing peace on the Korean peninsula. We call on the DPRK to take up repeated offers from the United States and the Republic of Korea towards dialogue. Diplomacy is the only route to sustained peace on the peninsula.
The grouping which originally began with Brazil, Russia, India, China – was coined in 2001 by then Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O’Neill – expanded to include South Africa in 2010.
The bloc was founded as an informal club in 2009 to provide a platform for its members to challenge a world order dominated by the United States and its Western allies.
Its creation was initiated by Russia.
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The group is not a formal multilateral organisation like the United Nations, World Bank or the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
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The heads of state and government of the member nations convene annually with each nation taking up a one-year rotating chairmanship of the group.
It now represents around 3.5 billion people – 45 per cent of the world’s population.
Its combined economies are valued at over $28.5 trillion – nearly a third of the global economy.
But which countries have recently joined? Which want to join now and why? And what does the expansion mean for the West?
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the 16th Brics Summit in Kazan, let’s take a closer look at how Brics is expanding.
Which countries joined recently?
Brics in 2023 invited six countries – Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – to become new members of the bloc.
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The formal invitation was made during a summit in August in Johannesburg.
While all BRICS members had publicly expressed support for growing the bloc, there were divisions among the leaders over how much and how quickly.
Members at the time said the move would help reshuffle a world order they view as outdated.
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In January, five of these nations – Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – said they were joining the BRICS bloc.
Argentina declined the invitation to join.
As per Al Jazeera, this came after President Javier Milei took office.
Milei has vowed to increase ties with the West.
However, Saudi Arabia later said it is not yet joining the group and that the matter is being considered by its leadership.
Ultimately, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and UAE joined the bloc.
Which want to join now and why?
Dozens of countries have voiced interest in joining the grouping.
Algeria, Bolivia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Turkiye, Comoros, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia have all expressed interest in joining the forum.
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Turkiye, a Nato member, formally requested to join BRICS in September.
As p_er Bloomberg,_ Turkiye is looking to become part of the bloc as it eyes increasing its global influence.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration is looking further than its time-tested allies in the West, people familiar with the development told the outlet.
Erdogan’s government believes the centre of geopolitics is moving away from the developed economies.
Turkiye is also eyeing improving its economic relationship with Russia and China.
Turkiye under President Tayyip Erdogan is looking to join Brics. Reuters
This is a departure for the NATO member nation which has historically been suspicious of Moscow and been a US ally.
Turkiye is also thought to be upset over the lack of forward movement in its decades-long attempt to join the European Union.
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According to Al Jazeera, Thailand said it was interested in joining the grouping during the BRICS Dialogue with Developing Countries held in Russia in June.
Malaysia too expressed interest in becoming a member ahead of a visit from Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
The bloc “can help Malaysia’s digital economy grow faster by allowing it to integrate with countries that have strong digital markets and also take advantage of best practices from other members,” Rahul Mishra, associate professor at the Center for Indo-Pacific Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, told DW.
“Thailand would also be able to draw investments in important industries including services, manufacturing, and agriculture,” Mishra added.
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Bolivia’s President Luis Arce has expressed interest in BRICS membership.
His government has said it is determined to curb dependence on the US dollar for foreign trade, instead turning to the Chinese yuan, in line with BRICS leaders’ stated aim to reduce dependence on the US currency.
Algeria last July it has applied for BRICS membership and to become a shareholder in the New Development Bank, the so-called BRICS Bank.
The North African nation is rich in oil and gas resources and is seeking to diversify its economy and strengthen partnership with China and other countries.
The countries hope the bloc can level the global playing field. Most nations view BRICS as an alternative to global bodies viewed as dominated by the traditional Western powers and hope membership will unlock benefits including development finance, and increased trade and investment.
Dissatisfaction with the global order among developing nations was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic when life-saving vaccines were hoarded by the rich countries.
“That so many countries are willing to go to Russia, deemed a pariah state not so long ago for having violated international law by invading Ukraine, confirms a trend followed by an increasing number of countries in the world: They don’t want to have to choose between partners,” Tara Varma, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institute, told Al Jazeera.
Adam Gallagher, writing for USIP.org, noting the size of the bloc, said there are clear economic benefits to joining the grouping.
“Intra-BRICS trade is one area that the group has found its footing,” Gallagher said. He noted how the June 2024 BRICS foreign minister’s meeting encouraged “enhanced use of local currencies in trade and financial transactions” by Brics members.
Gallagher said that countries like Malaysia, who want to join the grouping, are looking to form alliances across the globe and preserve their strategic autonomy.
“For these countries, it’s not about taking sides. Some countries also believe BRICS membership will give them a greater voice and representation in international politics. It’s not all about anti-Western ideology,” Gallagher wrote.
James Chin, a professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania told DW “both Thailand and Malaysia are seen as middle powers.”
“It’s better for them to join groups like BRICS so that they will have a larger voice in the international arena. But the major benefit will be trade,” Chin added.
What does the expansion mean for the West?
Experts say that these growing number of nations who want to join Brics shows that they want their financial independence – and that the established world order may be vulnerable.
“In the aftermath of the war in Gaza, Russia and China have more effectively harnessed this anti-Western sentiment, capitalising on frustrations over Western double standards as well as the use of sanctions and economic coercion by the West,” Asli Aydintasbas, a Turkish foreign policy expert, was quoted as telling the Brookings Institute as per Al Jazeera.
“It doesn’t mean that middle powers want to trade US dominance for Chinese, but it means they are open to aligning with Russia and China for a more fragmented and autonomous world.”
As per Al Jazeera, Brics members and their associates clearly want to decrease their reliance on the US dollar and Europe’s Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) network.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim walks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Anwar’s ceremonial reception at India’s Presidential Palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, August 20, 2024. REUTERS
This comes after Russia was cut-off from the system in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“China now has an alternative to the SWIFT payment system, though limited in use, and countries like Turkiye and Brazil increasingly restructure their dollar reserves into gold,” Aydintasbas added. “Currency swaps for energy deals are also a popular idea – all suggesting a desire for greater financial independence from the West.”
As per CFR.org, Western nations until now have talked down the bloc as a threat.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said Brics isn’t a geopolitical rival, while Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has downplayed the de-dollarisation strategy of Russia and China.
But some argue that the West needs to do some serious introspection.
“The accusation that the West is arrogant toward the needs of the Global South is serious. It cannot be answered by offering ‘value-based partnerships’ and a ‘rules-based’ multilateralism when the interest of the BRICS is focused on changing those rules in global finance, trade, and other standard-setting procedures,” Günther Maihold, senior fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, was quoted as saying by CFR.org.
“Ignoring BRICS as a major policy force—something the U.S. has been prone to do in the past—is no longer an option,” Tufts University scholars wrote in 2023.
It remains to be seen how the US-led West will react.
(Bloomberg) — The American Sikh separatist targeted in a foiled assassination plot allegedly planned by India said that intelligence agents in New Delhi still want him dead and said that the Biden administration’s “quiet diplomacy” has failed to deter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
“The risk has increased,” Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said in an interview at his office in New York. “The Modi regime has not faced any consequences. They have not been held accountable. Why would they stop?”
The Indian government has branded him a terrorist and declared that his group Sikhs for Justice — which advocates for a Sikh nation known as Khalistan to be carved out of India’s Punjab state — is an “unlawful organization” that poses a threat to India’s sovereignty.
Pannun’s case first disrupted US-India ties late last year. That’s when the US Justice Department unsealed a superseding indictment in the Southern District of New York alleging that Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, was recruited by an Indian government employee — known as “CC-1” — to have Pannun killed as part of a broader plan to assassinate overseas activists. At the time, Pannun’s group was organizing unofficial Khalistan referendums among Indian diaspora communities.
Gupta has plead not guilty.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs declined to respond to Pannun’s allegation that he remains a target of assassination. A ministry spokesman previously said the indictment was a “matter of concern,” that the allegations run “contrary to government policy” and that there is a “high-level committee” looking into the issue.
Months earlier in Canada, a Sikh separatist called Hardeep Singh Nijjar — a long-time associate of Pannun’s — was slain in a shooting that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blamed on India, which rejected the accusations as “absurd.” But the US assassination plot on Pannun was foiled, according to the indictment, when an Indian national, operating under the Indian agent’s direction, inadvertently hired an undercover US agent posing as a potential hit-man.
Indian and US security agencies are in touch, and New Delhi continues to investigate the alleged murder plot, Vikram Misri, India’s foreign secretary, told reporters recently in New Delhi.
Earlier: India, Canada Meet as Arrests Point to Another Sikh Murder Plot
The case has been embarrassing for the Biden administration, which has continued to court Modi in an effort to counterbalance China.
“The question that this episode raises is whether we really are on the same page with this Indian government, and the extent to which an inclination to want to achieve a broader strategic end is maybe leading us to overlook the actually very transactional nature of the relationship,” said Daniel Markey, a former State Department official who’s now at the US Institute of Peace.
The case also represents a collision of geopolitical, criminal and constitutional considerations. India takes separatist movements seriously, given the militant history of the Sikh separatist movement in the 1980s and ongoing political violence in Kashmir. India blames overseas groups for fueling instability and potential violence at home.
Pannun, who worked at a Wall Street bank before turning to human rights law, now has five security guards to protect him and search the bags of even his close friends and associates, he said.
“I can continue to fight for the liberation of Punjab only if I stay alive,” he said. “You are doing a peaceful and democratic referendum, you are sitting at a place — and India has the resources and the proxies and the weapons and the money to kill you. You have to make sure that you survive and you continue the campaign.”
In a recent twist, Pannun filed a civil case in the US seeking restitution against senior Indian officials he alleges are responsible for the assassination attempt. Those allegations are “unsubstantiated” and “unwarranted,” Misri, the foreign secretary, said.
In Canada, which saw India expel dozens of diplomats after Trudeau accused India, the government is holding firm on its accusation that India was behind the killing of Nijjar. “That’s the ultimate breach of our country’s sovereignty,” Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told Bloomberg in an interview on Sept. 30. “That can’t happen again.”
About Sikh Separatists India Is Accused of Targeting: QuickTake
‘Terrorism’ Issue
“For India, the issue is that of terrorism,” said Aparna Pande, a research fellow at the Hudson Institute who put out a report pointing to ties between Khalistan groups and Pakistan, which India blames for fomenting violence in Kashmir. “India also believes that Western countries have shown tolerance towards groups and individuals deemed extremists and terrorists by the Indian government.”
Western law enforcement agencies are now attempting to balance protecting constitutional guarantees of free speech against what India views as a movement with the intent to break up the country — and that it alleges has ties to criminal gangs and smuggling. India also views Sikh protests outside its consulates and embassies as threatening.
Pannun, who was born in Amritsar, India, came to the US as a student. He made the new allegations that his life was still at risk after Sikh separatists in California had their truck “sprayed with bullets,” his group said.
That new attack is reviving concerns among US lawmakers after the original assassination plot prompted some Democratic senators to call on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to mount a strong diplomatic response “no matter the perpetrator.”
Senator Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, said it was crucial to investigate the California incident and to “send a strong message deterring potential future efforts to undermine the values of free speech and protest that we as a nation hold dear.”
Senior Biden administration officials, including White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, have raised Pannun’s case with Modi’s government. Sullivan said in July that the issue “is sensitive, it is something we are working through,” but that the US effort “has been effective, in my view, mostly because it is taking place behind closed doors.”
Pannun, however, says that “quiet diplomacy” hasn’t worked “in the last 15 months” and that “it will not work in the next three years.” He also the Biden administration was handling his case differently because of its desire to have a strategic relationship with New Delhi.
“Had it been Iran, had it been China, had it been Russia — would the administration’s response be the same?” he asked.
–With assistance from Laura Dhillon Kane and Sudhi Ranjan Sen.
(Updates in last paragraph with additional quote.)
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has been urged to rule out the introduction of tuition fees under any future Scottish Labour government, following reports that the UK Labour government will hike fees for students in England to record levels.
Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer has urged Mr Sarwar to condemn the unfair decision and to instruct Scottish Labour MPs to vote against it.
“Tuition fees are a fundamentally unfair policy, saddling young people with decades of debt and financial anxiety that many will never pay off.
“We all benefit from a well-educated society where higher education is open to everyone, not just those that can afford it.
“England already has some of the highest university fees in the world, but Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour colleagues seem happy to repeat Nick Clegg’s mistakes with a whole new generation of students – raising fees beyond anything the Tories and Lib Dems introduced.
“Scottish Labour must explain whether their MPs support this hike and where it leaves their tuition policy for Scotland. Anas Sarwar should not only condemn this decision, he should show some leadership by instructing Scottish Labour MPs to oppose it. Most importantly though, he must rule out any attempt to inflict tuition fees on students in Scotland.
“TheScottish Greens will always stand up for students and oppose attempts by Labour or any other party to reintroduce tuition fees in Scotland.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Environment Agency has prosecuted a Midlands company for failing to complete safety works on a Lancashire reservoir.
Ward’s reservoir near Belmont, Lancashire. Credit: Environment Agency
Midlands-based company fails to carry out safety recommendations at reservoir near Belmont
Enforcement notice required completion of safety works
The Environment Agency has prosecuted a Midlands company which failed to safely maintain Ward’s Reservoir in Lancashire, putting residents in nearby Belmont at risk.
At Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court on 8 October 2024, Blue Lagoon Heritage Limited, of Old Marlbrook Quarry, Lydiate Ash, Bromsgrove, admitted failing to comply with an enforcement notice. This was issued under the Reservoirs Act 1975.
This required the company to complete essential maintenance and construction works in the interests of public safety. The company was ordered to pay fines and costs of £5,445.
Safety checks
The court heard that a notice was served on the company by the Environment Agency’s National Reservoir Safety Team in May 2021. This was to carry out safety measures under the supervision of a qualified civil engineer.
However, the company by October 2021 had failed to carry out the work and weekly safety checks by Environment Agency officers were started.
In June 2022, the Environment Agency intervened to protect public safety, commissioning contractors to inspect and free the outlet valve.
This allowed levels in the reservoir to be managed and maintained at 5.25 metres below the maximum top water level, significantly reducing its risk of failure.
In the continued absence of adequate management by the company the Environment Agency has since been conducting site visits and engineer safety checks.
The reservoir spillway which was not maintained. Credit: Environment Agency
Karl Hunter, Enforcement Advisor for the Environment Agency’s National Reservoir Safety Team, said:
The director and owners of Blue Lagoon Heritage Limited failed to respond to advice and enforcement notices to improve the unacceptable and unsafe condition.
This failure to comply came despite repeated site inspections and warnings from Environment Agency officers and independent expert engineers.
This caused unacceptable risks to local residents and businesses in the village of Belmont and surrounding areas downstream of the reservoir.
The owners of all Large Raised Reservoirs are regulated under the Reservoirs Act 1975 by the Environment Agency.
The Act requires owners to maintain their reservoirs in full compliance with safety recommendations, set periodically by independent reservoir engineers.
Blue Lagoon Heritage Limited took ownership of Ward’s Reservoir in 2019 and has consistently failed in its legal duty.
We will continue to work to tackle inadequate maintenance of reservoirs which puts lives at risk. We are committed to ensuring that reservoir safety standards are adhered to.
The charge:
That Blue Lagoon Heritage Limited, (Company number 07390323) by 29 July 2021 as undertaker of Wards (Blue Lagoon) Reservoir, had failed to comply with the requirements of a Notice.
This was made on the 20 May 2021 under Section 10(7)(b) of the Reservoirs Act 1975. This required safety measures to be put into effect at Wards (Blue Lagoon) Reservoir under the supervision of a qualified civil engineer by the 28 July 2021. Contrary to Section 22(1)(b) of the Reservoirs Act 1975.
Background Information
Reservoirs in England and Wales capable of holding more than 25,000 cubic metres of water must be registered with the Environment Agency.
The owners (‘Undertakers’) must comply fully with the requirements of the Reservoirs Act 1975.
The Act is designed to provide a regulatory framework for maintaining reservoir safety to prevent an uncontrolled release of water and risk to life.
People can report environmental incidents to our 24/7 hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers anonymously and in confidence on 0800 555 111.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
From 28-30 October, charity regulators from eight nations gathered in the UK for a three-day meeting.
Representatives and Heads of Regulators from Australia, Canada, England and Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, in addition to an observing invitee from the United States, met to discuss matters of mutual interest and concern.
Regulators recognised the world is currently dealing with substantial challenges including evolving social environments with changing patterns of volunteering, climate change and more natural disasters, cost of living pressures driving higher demand for services and costs of running organisations, and the need to support populations through conflict not seen for a generation.
Regulators affirmed that given this current global context, the work of charities and not-for-profit organisations has never been more important. Charities and not-for-profit organisations have a long history of enabling society to adapt, improving the lives of millions globally, and supporting and enabling cohesion where there has been division. Working across sectors to find solutions to the world’s most challenging problems, they are fundamental to world class research, scientific endeavour and policy change that enables health, environmental and animal welfare issues to be advanced.
Regulators shared examples of how effective, expert regulation plays a fundamental part in allowing charities to thrive and allows the public to have trust and confidence in the work of charities. Our organisations each contribute to supporting and ensuring strong governance in charities, so that they deliver their charitable purpose for the benefit of all. Regulators have been delighted to advance our shared objectives at this meeting through the exchange of knowledge and best practice.
The meeting covered four key themes:
Charity registration and charitable status
Registration is the start of the journey for new charities and trustees, and at the core of each of our roles is making efficient, effective decisions to ensure genuine applicants can begin delivering their charitable purpose.
Regulators:
shared improvements to our respective processes for registration, acknowledging the constraints inherent in applying a legal test.
gained valuable insights from other jurisdictions approaches to improve the quality of applications from prospective charities
shared plans to digitise and improve registration services within jurisdictions
shared trends and case studies on those seeking to abuse charity status but were prevented from doing so
agreed, subject to national jurisdictions laws and restrictions, to improve data sharing to prevent cross border abuse of charity status via the registration process
agreed to explore how to enable simpler but robust registration services for those who work across borders
Digital, technology and data
Regulators are at different stages in their journeys of delivering new digital technologies, with a particular focus across each jurisdiction on using online services to enhance relationships with charity trustees, ensuring we provide charities with the best guidance and tools, as well as driving regulatory efficiency. Regulators discussed experiences in delivering recent innovations, and how charities in their jurisdiction responded, to inform each of our future plans.
Regulators:
agreed to share digital and technology plans to enable better cross jurisdiction co-operation and experience for charities and the public
agreed, subject to national laws and regulations, to share emerging trends, issues, impacts of technology on charities, charity regulation and policies to enable the benefits of technology to be exploited whilst mitigating risks and unintended consequences.
Communication, education and public trust
Regulators identified many commonalities in our approaches to using social media, events and guidance to secure greater engagement with charities, particularly those who are traditionally harder to reach or might have less knowledge.
Regulators:
identified several approaches that have been successfully applied in individual nations and have taken away from the meeting ideas as to how these could potentially be translated into new national initiatives.
welcomed the contribution such work programmes make in delivering our core remit to build public trust and confidence in charity, and in our own effectiveness.
Compliance
Regulators reviewed global trends in charity non-compliance, and how these have been addressed through use of regulatory powers. Discussion of recent domestic cases with international significance, allowed identification of issues in common, that might damage the vast majority of genuine, compliant charities.
With many charities and voluntary organisations working extensively across international borders, Regulators:
affirmed that, subject to national laws and regulations, we will continually share appropriate insight so we can each effectively tackle such risks, acting within our legislative frameworks.
affirmed, we each have a central role to play in supporting compliance with The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, to ensure the substantial amount of money that flows across borders to facilitate the vital work of the sector is safe and secure and charities may continue to deliver vital services to the world’s most vulnerable.
The group will be hosted by a different member when they next reconvene in the spring of 2026. Until then, Regulators will continue their online quarterly meetings to build on these positive discussions to ensure lessons continue to be shared and the international community of charity Regulators remains united.
Delegate List
David Holdsworth – Chief Executive, England & Wales
Orlando Fraser KC – Chair, England & Wales
Paul Latham – Director of Communications & Policy, England & Wales
Sue Woodward AM – Commissioner, Australia
Natasha Sekulic – Assistant Commissioner – General Counsel, Australia
Sharmila Khare – Director General, Charities Directorate, Canada
Madeleine Delaney – Chief Executive, Ireland
Geraldine McCarthy – Head of Communications, Ireland
GSC rolls out Action Plan following major traffic survey
Alderney’s General Services Committee at its meeting of November 1st unanimously agreed to implement a phased traffic improvement programme following comprehensive consultation and a public survey.
Survey responses covered issues such as parking, the number and size of vehicles, policing and abandoned vehicles. Proposals have been presented in consultation with the States Works Department and Bailiwick Law Enforcement.
Now GSC has approved short, medium and long-term plans which will be communicated to the public as they are rolled out.
Initial short-term action includes:
· Identifying areas for improved road markings and signage.
· Trial pedestrianisation of the lower end of Victoria Street (Les Roquettes to Ollivier Street junctions) on four consecutive Saturday mornings from December 14th to create a better shopping experience for residents and visitors. This will serve as a “soft opening” before an additional trial will take place during the island’s busier periods – the community will have the opportunity to feed back to the States.
· Continuation of Problem Orientated Policing (POP) instigated by local Police to educate the public on how traffic and parking missteps can be resolved with better understanding of the consequences.
· A proposed ‘Active Travel to Work’ campaign to include messages such as ‘Walk to Work Day’ and ‘Cycle to Work Week’ to discourage vehicle usage and town parking.
· Liaison with Alderney’s new Planning Officer to review parking space allocation at new developments.
· A review of recent requests for more disabled parking spaces will be submitted to GSC.
Meanwhile, disincentivising the import of large private vehicles is being implemented by the Policy and Finance Committee via the fees ordinance and by subsequent legislation.
Medium-term action agreed by GSC will look to address the problem of abandoned vehicles and the Committee will liaise with Bailiwick Law Enforcement to conduct average speed checks using recording devices in areas where the speed limit is less than 35mph, and use this data to consider installing physical deterrents to speeding.
In the longer term, proposals are being considered for a permit parking system for residents in order to distinguish between residents and consumers where there is a mix of commercial and residential properties in St Anne town. The permit system will seek to limit long-term parking in the inner and outer town areas to a maximum of 28 days, after which a vehicle would be considered abandoned.
The biggest concerns from the 267 survey responses, which represent 503+ driving licence holders and 405+ drivers of vehicles, were the increase in larger vehicles (73%) and the issue of abandoned vehicles (53%).
However, the figures indicate that a number of people who own more than one car per household park their vehicles both on their driveway and on public roads, contributing to congestion in St Anne’s residential streets.
The States has worked collaboratively with its associated partners to understand the community’s views and the Traffic Improvement Programme seeks to provide solutions to well evidenced issues through a manageable progressive programme.
Washington, D.C. —House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul sent a letter urging President Biden toend bureaucratic delays and surge defense articles to Israel amid increasing threats from Iran and its terrorist proxies.
“We are seeing mounting, tangible evidence of the myriad ways that Russia, China, and Iran are enabling each other’s aggression against the United States and our partners. This is a watershed moment that requires moral and strategic clarity. We need to double down on our partnerships and shore up our alliances, starting with a policy directive to ship the 2,000-pound bombs and to prioritize all pending Direct Commercial Sale and Foreign Military Sale cases to Israel, including the numerous cases that have been subjected to unprecedented bureaucratic delays.”
The full text of the letter can be found here and below:
Dear President Biden,
I urge you to take immediate, public action to surge defense articles to Israel, including 2,000-pound bombs, and to eliminate bureaucratic and other delays that are currently slowing more than ten critical weapons cases purchased via Direct Commercial Sale to Israel. It is apparent that Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah, are attempting to exploit perceived divisions between the United States and Israel, exacerbated by recent actions of senior Biden-Harris administration officials. It is imperative that you act now to deter our adversaries by showing that there is no daylight between the United States and Israel.
Iran and its proxies are brazenly and persistently attacking the United States and Israel. In recent weeks, a drone launched by Iran-backed Hezbollah targeted a residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Hezbollah fired projectiles at Israel while Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the country. Yet instead of surging arms exports to Israel to deter further attacks, Secretary Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sent a letter threatening to withhold further support to Israel. It is unconscionable that this letter was sent less than two weeks after Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. Every U.S. ally in the world is watching with disgust and questioning our reliability.
Worse still, the Blinken-Austin letter was sent with no prior consultation with or notification to Congress, despite Congress’ longstanding role in appropriating security assistance to Israel and approving arms sales. The administration has significantly delayed briefing Congress on these issues despite repeated requests. This is particularly egregious when just six months ago, Congress enacted a national security supplemental spending bill with significant aid to Israel, which your administration requested, and which placed no additional restrictions on assistance to our ally. Bipartisan congressional intent of staunch, ironclad support for Israel is clear, yet your administration is acting to the contrary.
In May, you halted a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs over disagreements regarding Israeli military operations in Rafah – the city where the Israeli military recently eliminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and where numerous hostages, including American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were executed by Hamas terrorists in August. Major military operations in Rafah have concluded, yet the shipment is still blocked. As misguided as this decision was at the time, it is now downright dangerous. Israel has endured months of attacks from Hezbollah, and a second ballistic missile attack from Iran. Robust action is needed to deter Iran and its proxies. It is past time for you to publicly lift the hold on these bombs, making clear that the United States will provide Israel all support needed to restore its security against these lethal adversaries.
We are seeing mounting, tangible evidence of the myriad ways that Russia, China, and Iran are enabling each other’s aggression against the United States and our partners. This is a watershed moment that requires moral and strategic clarity. We need to double down on our partnerships and shore up our alliances, starting with a policy directive to ship the 2,000-pound bombs and to prioritize all pending Direct Commercial Sale and Foreign Military Sale cases to Israel, including the numerous cases that have been subjected to unprecedented bureaucratic delays. Lastly, I expect your administration to consult with Congress prior to any further withholding of assistance to our close ally Israel.
Headline: Governor Cooper Proclaims Employ a Veteran Week
Governor Cooper Proclaims Employ a Veteran Week mseets
North Carolina will celebrate “Employ A Veteran Week,” Nov. 11-15, and a variety of events before and during that week will help connect veterans to jobs and other services, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.
“Veterans strengthen our communities and enrich our businesses as citizens, skilled workers and leaders,” said Governor Cooper. “We owe veterans and their families a deep debt of gratitude for their service, and, as America’s most military and veteran-friendly state, North Carolina honors them by helping them get good jobs in growing industries.”
“It’s our privilege to serve our Veterans, the more than 20,000 military service members who transition from active duty in North Carolina each year, and their families, through our NCWorks Career Centers and other state programs,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “The talent found within our military community brings a strong work ethic, leadership experience, adaptability, integrity, and specialized training to our workforce—attributes every business needs to be successful—and part of what makes North Carolina such an attractive state for innovative companies.”
“Veterans bring invaluable skills and experiences to our communities and demonstrated resilience, leadership, and dedication during their service. The N.C. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NC DMVA) expresses our profound gratitude for their sacrifices,” said NC DMVA Secretary Grier Martin. “A successful transition to civilian life is important for a veteran and also harnesses their talents to benefit our economy.”
Local events focused on helping veterans find employment and access other services include:
Tuesday, Nov. 5 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Union County will hold a Veterans Appreciation Event at 1125 Skyway Drive, Monroe, NC. Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) workshops will be offered to veterans and their spouses at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. A hiring event with at least two employers will take place from 1-4 p.m., with the first hour reserved for veterans. Lunch will be provided to the first 20 veterans to attend the workshops or the hiring event. To register, call 704-283-7541.
Tuesday, Nov. 5 (11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center -Iredell/Statesville will hold a Veterans Lunch and Learn session at 133 Island Ford Road, Statesville, NC. Attendees will learn about VA benefits, Iredell County Veteran Services and other resources.
Wednesday, Nov. 6 (8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center -Iredell/Statesville will offer Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) workshops to veterans at 133 Island Ford Road, Statesville, NC. The general public is also welcome. Workshops include “Marketing Yourself & Other Job Search Tactics,” “Interview Skills,” “Networking & Professional Introductions,” and “Job Fair Strategies & On the Spot Interviews.”
Wednesday, Nov. 6 (9 a.m. – noon) – The NCWorks Career Center – Lincoln will present a Veterans Job & Resource Fair at Gaston College – Lincoln Campus, Room LC 139, 511 South Aspen Street, Lincolnton, NC.
Wednesday, Nov. 6 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Onslow will present a Veterans Career Fair at the American Legion building, 146 Broadhurst Road, Jacksonville, NC. The event is open only to veterans and their dependents from 10 to 11 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 6 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Cumberland County will hold a Veterans Hiring Event at 490 N. McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville, NC.
Wednesday, Nov. 6 (2 – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Catawba and partners will present the annual Veterans, Students & Civilians Job Fair, with approximately 25 employers, at Appalachian State University’s new Hickory campus, 800 17th St. NW, Hickory, NC.
Thursday, Nov. 7 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center -Iredell/Statesville will hold a Veterans Job and Resource Fair at 133 Island Ford Road, Statesville, NC. The general public is also welcome.
Thursday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Hoke County will hold a Veterans Job Fair at 304 Birch Street, Raeford, NC, with at least four employers, plus Dress for Success. The general public is also welcome.
Thursday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Cumberland County will hold a Veterans Hiring Event at 490 N. McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville, NC.
Thursday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Pitt County will hold a Veterans Job Fair at 3101 Bismarck St., Greenville, NC. The first hour is reserved for veterans; members of the general public are welcome at 11 a.m.
Thursday, Nov. 7 (2-4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Rowan will hold the “Veterans Day Expo” at 1904 S. Main St., Salisbury, NC. This event will include Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) workshops with a focus on Networking & Professional Introductions at Job Fairs, Job Fair Strategies, and On-the-Spot Interviews, and Federal Hiring, as well as an Expo with community organizations presenting information on their services, and employers seeking to fill positions.
Thursday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Craven will conduct the 4th Annual Veterans Day Job Fair at the National Guard Armory, 301 Glenburnie Drive, New Bern, NC. The job fair is also open to the general public.
Thursday, Nov. 7 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – The 2024 Foothills Veterans Winter Stand Down will take place at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center, 1909 Hickory Blvd., Lenoir, NC. The event provides access to medical services, food, clothing, employment services and more.
Thursday, Nov.7 (2:30 – 6 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Rockingham County will host a Veteran Job Fair. The event is also open to the public. At least five employers will participate, as will partnering organizations that offer resources to veterans.
Friday, Nov. 8 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – Partners including the NCWorks Career Center – Craven will present the 9th Annual Craven County Veterans Stand-down at the National Guard Armory, 301 Glenburnie Drive, New Bern, NC.
Friday, Nov. 8 (10 a.m. – noon) – The NCWorks Career Center – Richmond County will hold an “Honoring Veterans” event to educate veterans and their dependents on services and benefits to which they are entitled, at 115 W. Franklin St., Rockingham, NC.
Tuesday, Nov. 12 (9 a.m. – noon) – The NCWorks Career Center – Haywood invites all Veterans to a “Thank A Vet” event, featuring breakfast as well as information on local veterans’ resources, at 1170 North Main Street, Waynesville, NC.
Wednesday, Nov. 13 (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Charlotte (Mecklenburg) will host a Veterans Hiring Event at 8601 McAlpine Park Drive, Suite 110, Charlotte, NC. Mock interviews and reviewing of resumes will be offered from 9 – 10 a.m. The hiring event will be open to veterans only from 10 – 11 a.m., and open to the public thereafter.
Wednesday, Nov. 13 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center -Halifax/Northampton County will hold a Veterans Career Fair at 1560 Julian R. Allsbrook Hwy., Roanoke Rapids, NC.
Wednesday, Nov. 13 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Centers – Pasquotank & Chowan Counties will hold a Veterans Day Job Fair & Resource Expo at the American Legion, 1317 W. Queen St., Edenton, NC. This event is open to Veterans and the general public.
Wednesday, Nov. 13 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Cumberland and other partners will present a Women Veterans Career & Resource Fair at Soldier Support Building, 2843 Normandy Drive, Fort Liberty, NC.
Wednesday, Nov. 13 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) – NCWorks will present a Yancey County Veterans Stand Down event at Burnsville Town Center, 6 S. Main St., Burnsville, NC.
Wednesday, Nov. 13 (1 – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Randolph County and partners will hold a Veteran-Centered Hiring Event at the National Guard Armory, 1430 South Fayetteville Street, Asheboro, NC. The first hour (1-2 p.m.) is reserved for Veterans only.
Wednesday, Nov. 13 (1 – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Wilkes County will present a “Veterans and Job Seekers Job/Resource Fair” at 1320 West D Street, Suite #2, North Wilkesboro, NC.
Wednesday, Nov. 13 (3 – 7 p.m.) – NC4ME presents a “Beers & Careers” networking event for Veterans, Transitioning Service Members, Guard/Reserve Members and Military Spouses in the Camp Lejeune area, at Angry Ginger Irish Pub, 1202 Gum Branch Road, Jacksonville, NC. Register at Eventbrite.
Thursday, Nov. 14 (9 a.m. – noon) – NCWorks Veterans Services invites all Veterans to a “Thank A Vet” event, featuring breakfast as well as information on local veterans’ resources, at the Steve Youngdeer American Legion Post located at 1526 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC.
Thursday, Nov. 14 (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – NCWorks will present a Macon County Veterans Stand Down event at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building, 1288 Georgia Road, Franklin, NC.
Thursday, Nov. 14 (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Greensboro (Guilford) will hold “Hire a Vet Day” at 2301 W. Meadowview Road, Greensboro, NC.
Friday, Nov. 15 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – Partners including NCWorks will present the Rocky Mount Veteran Resource Fair, at Word Tabernacle Church, 821 Word Plaza, Rocky Mount, NC.
Monday, Nov. 18 (2 – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Cabarrus will hold a “Veterans Day Expo” at 845 Church Street North, Suite 201, Concord, NC. This event will include resources for veterans and employers onsite.
The Department of Commerce, working in close partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, has 50 NCWorks Veterans Services professionals (all of whom are veterans themselves). Their primary mission is to help veterans find good jobs and training opportunities. These professionals are located across the state at local NCWorks Career Centers, which serve veterans and other jobseekers, while also helping employers meet their talent needs. In many parts of the state, they also play a key role as partners in Veterans Treatment Courts. The department also partners with North Carolina For Military Employment (NC4ME) on special hiring events.
Contact information for each career center can be found at www.NCWorks.gov. In addition, veterans and employers can access services through the NCWorks Veterans Portal at veterans.ncworks.gov.
Since 2022, the Commerce department has added a new resource for veterans, in the form of a national partnership with the Hilton Honors Military Program. Through this partnership, when veterans, transitioning service-members and qualified military spouses need to travel related to their search for work (for example, to go to an in-person job interview or to required training), they may be eligible for free accommodations at a Hilton property. To participate, veterans should contact or visit their local NCWorks Career Center and ask to speak with a veterans representative.
Read the “Employ a Veteran Week” proclamation here.
###
NCWorks Veterans Services are supported by the Jobs for Veterans State Grant from the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) of the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award to North Carolina totaling $5,703,016, with 0% financed from non-governmental sources.
Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin
“Regardless of your political affiliation, we should all agree that Trump’s attempt to rebrand himself insults the sacrifices of the many actual prisoners still suffering around the world,” wrote Chair Cardin.
WASHINGTON – Today, MSNBC published an opinion piece by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, challenging former President Donald Trump’s self-characterization as a “political prisoner.” In his op-ed, Chair Cardin contrasts the former president’s false claim with the profound sacrifices of true political prisoners around the world – courageous individuals who have risked everything, facing torture, imprisonment, and even death, in their fight for freedom and justice.
“Regardless of your political affiliation or partisan allegiance, we should all agree that Trump’s attempt to brand himself a political prisoner in order to fuel his campaign war chest insults the sacrifices of the very real political prisoners who have suffered and continued to suffer around the world,” wrote Chair Cardin in his MSNBC op-ed. “As America votes on Election Day, let’s remember those who have actually given up their freedom and even their lives for democracy and the protection of human rights — because they think those fundamental principles are still worth fighting for.”
CLICK HERE to read Chair Cardin’s MSNBC op-ed.
The text of the Chair’s op-ed has been provided below:
Over the summer, minutes after Donald Trump became the first former president in American history to be convicted of felony crimes, his campaign began fundraising. Emails flooded supporters’ inboxes with the words “I’M A POLITICAL PRISONER” and Trump’s picture. “Your support is the only thing standing between us and total tyranny,” the appeals declared.
Throughout my career, and especially as chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I’ve encountered numerous political prisoners and their families. I’ve embraced the spouses and partners of individuals imprisoned for speaking truth to power. I’ve stood beside the loved ones of journalists and opposition leaders, demanding their immediate release. I’ve mourned the deaths of these courageous individuals, whose lives were cut short by authoritarians who saw their dissent as a direct challenge to their rule.
Let me be clear: Donald Trump is no political prisoner. However, Narges Mohammadi is.
Since 1998, Mohammadi — an Iranian human rights lawyer and activist — has faced relentless persecution at the hands of a misogynist Islamic Republic of Iran for her unwavering commitment to Iranians’ human rights. Her activism has led to repeated incarcerations, with her most recent sentences totaling almost 14 years in Tehran’s Evin prison, accompanied by more than 150 lashes. Last month, it was reported that she has once again been sentenced to additional prison time, the latest in a string of sentence extensions, and the Iranian regime continues to deny her critical medical care despite her deteriorating health.
Despite countless arrests and threats to her family, Mohammadi remains resolute in her campaign against mandatory hijab laws and the broader repression of all human rights, but especially the rights of women and girls. Around the world, her defiance stands as a powerful testament to resistance.
Last year, Mohammadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her human rights work. Her teenage children accepted the award on her behalf and read aloud her speech, which had been smuggled out of her prison cell.
“I write this message from behind the high, cold walls of a prison. The Iranian people, with perseverance, will overcome repression and authoritarianism,” she declared.
Her plight underscores the growing attempts by authoritarian regimes to stifle dissent and crush fundamental freedoms. Political prisoners like her endure torture, inhumane living conditions, forced disappearances and unimaginable forms of abuse. Despite these harrowing challenges, their courage is profoundly inspiring. It is a level of bravery that Trump can scarcely imagine as he relaxes amid his Mara-a-Lago comforts.
Make no mistake: Trump has never had to fight for his survival. But columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winner Vladimir Kara-Murza has.
Kara-Murza is a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin who has condemned the dismantling of democratic institutions in Russia and the state-sponsored violence against political opposition and independent voices. Following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, he was one of the most prominent figures to denounce the annexation of Crimea and the Kremlin’s support for separatist forces.
His columns, rich in intellectual rigor and emotional depth, painted an unflinching portrait of Russia’s descent into authoritarianism. His public defiance against Putin, rare in Russia, showcased his staunch commitment to political reform, press freedom and civil rights.
Hours after an American television appearance where he was critical of Putin’s leadership, Kara-Murza was arrested for “spreading false information,” labeled a “foreign agent” and sentenced by Russia’s flawed judiciary to 25 years in Siberian penal colonies. His detention in these notorious prisons underscores the fear he instilled in Putin and his cronies.
Until recently, when he was released in a historic prisoner exchange, Kara-Murza was one of an estimated 1 million political prisoners worldwide who have been unjustly imprisoned for defending human rights, advocating for religious freedom, fighting corruption and exposing the dangerous acts of tyrants. These actual political prisoners have endured profound personal and familial upheaval, resulting in irrevocable changes to their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
That is not what happened to Trump, who was convicted by a free, fair and legitimate judicial process on 34 felony charges. Real political prisoners, like Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez — unjustly incarcerated for more than 500 days and facing a 26-year sentence — often don’t get the luxury of fair trial and may be forced to live in exile, never to return to their homes.
Álvarez is a fierce critic of Nicaragua’s government and has forcefully spoken out against President Daniel Ortega’s totalitarian regime and its ongoing persecution of the Catholic Church. On Aug. 4, 2022, authorities blocked Álvarez from leaving his residence to lead mass at the local cathedral. Álvarez had been a vocal critic of the government’s shutdown of Catholic radio stations and cruel human rights abuses as tensions deepened over the church’s support for anti-government protests that broke out in 2018 following social security changes. Consequently, he was placed under house arrest and investigated on allegations of “organizing violent groups” and inciting “acts of hate against the population.”
While detained, Álvarez shared a powerful message of love with the world, asserting “we must respond to hate with love, to despair with hope, and to fear with the strength and courage granted to us by the glorious and resurrected Christ.” Earlier this year, the imprisoned bishop was finally released and expelled from the country along with 18 other clergy members. They now live in exile in Vatican City.
These courageous people merit our sincere respect, collective attention and deepest empathy. Think of Buzurgmehr Yorov, a Tajik human rights lawyer renowned for defending the politically persecuted, who recently saw his 28-year prison term extended by 10 years on dubious fraud charges. Or Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a retired physician and ethnic Uyghur, sentenced to 20 years in prison by Chinese authorities on baseless charges. Reflect on Maykel Castillo Pérez, also known as “Osorbo,” a prominent Cuban musician and human rights advocate, who was arrested by security forces and remains behind bars after his song “Patria y Vida” become a national anthem for protest against the Cuban government.
These are the true faces of resolve and injustice.
Trump’s sentencing was delayed until after Election Day to avoid any impression of political influence or impropriety. As Justice Juan Merchan wrote in a letter to lawyers in the case, “the Court is a fair, impartial and apolitical institution.”
Regardless of your political affiliation or partisan allegiance, we should all agree that Trump’s attempt to brand himself a political prisoner in order to fuel his campaign war chest insults the sacrifices of the very real political prisoners who have suffered and continued to suffer around the world. As America votes on Election Day, let’s remember those who have actually given up their freedom and even their lives for democracy and the protection of human rights — because they think those fundamental principles are still worth fighting for.
Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
BROADCAST-QUALITY AUDIO AND VIDEO OF THE FULL MEDIA AVAILABILITY IS AVAILABLE HERE
WASHINGTON – With just five days until the election, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today issued a special message to Virginians, urging them to remain level-headed in the lead up to the election and the days after – especially in the face of surging election disinformation, conspiracy theories, and false videos generated or altered with artificial intelligence.
On the broad feeling of uncertainty plaguing 69 percent of Americans who report feeling anxious or frustrated about the election, Sen. Warner said:
“I think we’re all going to be tested. Because what’s more important than whatever candidate you’re supporting, is making sure that we have faith in our system. I have been blessed to have been your governor and your senator. I have faith in our democracy, I have faith in the integrity of the literally thousands of folks who give their time and volunteer at our polling locations.” (2:21)
On the likely outcome that the election will not be immediately called on election night, Sen. Warner said:
“If your election is not called right away on Tuesday night – even if it doesn’t appear to be that close – there are reasons. Rules have changed. Certain jurisdictions are hand-counting ballots now. That just takes a lot more time. Just because it takes a while to have an election called doesn’t mean there’s anything nefarious or bad going on.” (1:58). He continued, “This is not going to end in Virginia when our polls close at 7 o’clock on Tuesday, or later in the evening as later states close. We’re probably not going to have a declared winner on Tuesday night. I think we just all got to be prepared for that, and have a little patience with a system that has served us well.” (9:25)
On the barrage of disinformation and artificial videos targeting Americans, Sen. Warner said:
“It’s going to be a tense time. Please don’t jump to conclusions. As we all tell our kids: just because you see it on the internet, does not mean it’s true. And if you see some story or conspiracy that seems so outrageous, take a deep breath, take a moment, and check other news sites to see if that story is being repeated or if it may just be a one-off.” (3:04). He continued, “If it comes from a meme or a TikTok video, chances are that may not be accurate. We all need to recognize that these next few days and the hours and days after the election are going to be some of the most critical time, I think, in recent history.” (1:34)
On efforts to cast doubt on the integrity of our election, Sen. Warner said:
“I’ve said this many times as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee: there are other nations – China, Iran and Russia in particular – who want to interfere in our elections. They may have a candidate choice, but at the end of the day, what they mostly want to do is undermine our confidence in our system. In two years, we’ll be celebrating the 250th anniversary of our nation. Our democracy has stood up to the test of time, but over these next few days, it may be tested again. At the end of the day, I want to count on my fellow Virginians. We’ll get to a fair result. Whether your candidate wins or loses, we’ll make sure the process is fair, that the votes are counted fairly, and I again implore you, if you see crazy stuff, don’t take rash action.” (3:31)
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Tuition fees to rise in line with inflation, helping put universities on a secure footing alongside inflation-linked lift to maintenance loans.
The government has today (4 November 2024) unveiled a significant package of measures to support students and stabilise the university sector.
Students facing cost of living pressures will be supported with an inflation-linked increase to maintenance loans, alongside new steps to boost access for disadvantaged learners.
The increase in cash-in-hand support of 3.1% will provide as much as £414 extra per year, to help students from the lowest income families.
Higher education providers’ financial sustainability will also be bolstered, after seven years of no increases to domestic tuition fee caps – meaning fees have not kept pace with inflation.
If a borrower’s income is below the repayment threshold, they aren’t required to make any repayments. And after 40 years any outstanding loan debt, including interest accrued, will be written off.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:
This government’s mission is to break down barriers to opportunity, which is why we are doing more to support students struggling with the cost of living despite the fiscal challenges our country faces.
The situation we have inherited means this government must take the tough decisions needed to put universities on a firmer financial footing so they can deliver more opportunity for students and growth for our economy.
Universities must deliver better value for money for students and taxpayers: that is why this investment must come with a major package of reforms so they can drive growth around the country and serve the communities they are rooted in.
In exchange for this additional investment students are being asked to make, the government is calling on universities to significantly step up work to boost access for disadvantaged students and break down barriers to opportunity.
Providers will be expected to play a stronger role in expanding access and improving outcomes for disadvantaged students, and the department for Education will announce a package of reforms in the coming months.
Recent data shows that the gap between disadvantaged students and their peers in progression to university by age 19 is the highest on record, and the Education Secretary has called on universities to do more to address this.
Graduates earn an average of £100,000 more over their lifetime than non-graduates, underlining the continued value of a university degree to employers and learners alike. But these statistics have shown that that too often background and personal circumstances are barriers to people getting on in life.
The increase in fees will mean providers can start to address systemic problems, with 40% forecasted to be in budget deficits, and help ease pressure on their finances. It also means providers can continue to deliver high quality education that boosts the life chances of those who choose this path, as well as protecting their status as engines of economic growth.
The move follows the Education Secretary’s immediate action this summer to refocus the Office for Students’ role, and ensure it more closely monitors financial sustainability to safeguard the future of higher education.
The Education Secretary has also announced today that maximum tuition fees for classroom-based foundation years courses will be reduced to £5,760 from the start of the 2025 to 2026 academic year. This will ensure that courses are delivered more efficiently and at lower costs to students.
The announcement follows last week’s update to plans for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), a transformation of the student finance system which will expand access to high-quality, flexible education and training for adults throughout their working lives.
After careful consideration the LLE will now launch in academic year 2026 to 2027, to ensure it meets the government’s ambitions to fill skill gaps and kickstart economic growth.
This will enable plans to be refined, help collaboration with Skills England to support the government’s industrial strategy, and give education providers the necessary time to prepare for this new system.
Further information on fees
The latest Q1 2026 RPIX forecast of 3.1% gives the following uplifts to fees and maintenance loans for 2025 to 2026.
Type
Fees 2024 to 2025
Fees for 2025 to 2026
Uplift
Full-time
£9,250
£9,535
£285
Part-time
£6,935
£7,145
£210
Accelerated
£11,100
£11,440
£340
Note: Figures rounded down to the nearest £5 – figures are higher amounts.
Student
Maintenance loans 2024 to 2025
Maintenance loans 2025 to 2026
Uplift
Home
£8,610
£8,877
£267
London
£13,348
£13,762
£414
Elsewhere
£10,227
£10,544
£317
Overseas
£11,713
£12,076
£363
Note: Figures for full-time students not eligible for benefits and part-time students (100% FTE). Figures rounded to nearest £1.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics looks at the association between screen time and autism diagnosis in children.
Prof Chris Ferguson, Professor of Psychology, Stetson University, said:
“The problem with this study is both straightforward and common. They report an effect size for screens and autism that is little different from zero. However, because the sample size is large, this becomes “statistically significant”. This is common for methodological noise in big sample studies. This should not be interpreted as evidence supporting the hypothesis. If this study was taken as suggesting that screen time is linked with autism, the public could be misinformed or misled. Put simply, there is no actual evidence here for a link between screen time and autism.
“Also, the authors claim previous research suggests an association between screen time and autism – this worries me as in my view the evidence base as a whole does not suggest this.”
Dr James L. Findon, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, King’s College London,said:
“While this study found an association between screentime before 2 years of age and being diagnosed with autism before 12, it does not suggest a causality. This is consistent with our understanding of the development of autism which is predominantly genetic. What the results show us is that autistic children are more likely to have higher screentime than their neurotypical peers. Screentime often gets bad press, but for many autistic children screentime can be beneficial. This might be because screentime helps them regulate their emotions and calms them during periods of sensory overload.”
Dr Rachel Moseley, Principal Academic in Psychology, Bournemouth University, said:
“While the authors have done a good job of controlling for variables which might explain the association, the study can in no way tell us anything about causation – that screentime causes a later autism diagnosis. The authors are actually appropriately tentative in their conclusions, where they highlight, rather, that behaviour related to screentime might instead be a useful indicator of differences in social-emotional development. Autism is a complex, heritable and brain-based difference which, categorically, cannot be caused by spending more or less time on screens.
Do the findings of this study address the reverse directionality of the association wherein autistic children may be more likely to spend time on screens rather than screentime leading to autism?
“No – the findings of this study cannot tell us anything about the direction of the relationship between being autistic and time spent on screens. Given my comment above, it is more likely that children who are already autistic but not yet diagnosed, and their parents, might be finding particular benefits of screen-time. Note that autism is quite rarely diagnosed before 2 years of age, but autistic children ARE still autistic and developing differently before that point. It might well be that within this different developmental trajectory, they find it easier to engage with screens, or find benefits from doing so. To warn parents away from screentime could actually be counterproductive, in this case – and there is certainly nothing which warrants scaring people that “screentime causing autism”. The authors come to a responsible and measured conclusion, which I hope will not be lost in the reporting.”
‘Screen Time Before 2 Years of Age and Risk of Autism at 12 Years of Age’ by Lin et al., 2024 was published in JAMA Pediatrics at 18:00 UK time on Monday 4th of November.
The AQMAs have been kept under regular monitoring since their introduction in 2006 and 2014 respectively. Those assessments have led to proposals which are now open to public comment.
In Perth, revisions to the city’s Air Quality Action Plan, first published in 2009, reflect both the progress on the original actions in the plan and the major changes that Perth as a place has undergone since that time. Public comment is being sought to determine which of the draft air quality improvement measures will be included in the finalised version of the new AQAP. More details are available online at the Consultation Hub and the consultation is open for six weeks from 4 November to 16 December 2024.
In addition, several drop-in sessions are being organised for anyone who would like to speak to staff from the Air Quality team before submitting their comments. Further details of these sessions will be announced as soon as possible.
For Crieff, a continued drop in the level of pollutants and air quality complying with national standards for five years in a row has led to the recommendation for lifting the town centre’s Air Quality Management Area, with air quality monitoring to continue and the associated Air Quality Action Plan measures remaining in place to help prevent any future rises in pollutants. Local residents and businesses will have the opportunity to give feedback on the revocation via email to EH@pkc.gov.uk between 4 November and 25 November 2024. A document detailing reasons for the recommended revocation is available from our Air Quality pages.
Convener of the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, Councillor Richard Watters said: “The purpose of introducing Air Quality Management Areas in Perth and Crieff has been to address a rise in air pollutants which adversely affect our local environment and the health of our communities. Ongoing monitoring and review of the AQMAs, together with recognition of changes in both locations, has now led to proposed changes for Perth’s Air Quality Action Plan, and the revocation of the AQMA in Crieff.
“I would encourage members of the public to take part in the consultation for Perth, and to provide feedback on Crieff – our aim is to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to maintain air quality standards for everyone who lives, works and visits the local area.”
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
00:00 – 00:08 A look back at August 2024 in the Biden-Harris White House
00:09 – 4:12 President Biden greets families of those released in a prisoner swap with Russia
4:13 – 4:23 President Biden and Vice President Harris wait with families of released prisoners at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
4:25 – 5:32 President Biden and Vice President Harris Greet Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
5:33-7:05 President Biden calls to congratulate American swimmer Katie Ledecky on her Olympic wins
7:05 – 7:21 Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff visits Team USA athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris
7:22 – 8:31 President Biden welcomes the Texas Rangers to the White House to celebrate their 2023 World Series championship season
8:40 – 8:58 President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pose for a photo with the 2024 White House summer intern class
9:03 – 9:58 President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden receive a briefing on lab technology for cancer research at Tulane University in New Orleans
10:00 – 10:44 President Biden delivers remarks at the Creator Economy Conference
10:44 – 12:57 President Biden and Vice President Harris announce the Administration’s efforts to lower prescription drug costs for Americans in Largo, Maryland
12:58 – 13:36 President Biden greets journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza and his family.
13:39 – 14:38 President Biden, joined by members of Congress and Civil Rights leaders signs the Springfield Race Riot National Monument Designation