Source: Europol
The clan leader was apprehended in Barcelona on 18 October, followed by the arrest of his lieutenant on 22 October. Both were wanted for charges including murder, attempted murder and kidnapping of rival gang members in Serbia, Austria, Germany and Spain.The clan leader was considered one of Europe’s most wanted and dangerous fugitives.The ” VračarClan”, a sub-clan of the “Kavač”…
Source: Huawei
Headline: 2024 ICPC Challenge Championship Powered by Huawei Concludes in Shenzhen
Oct 25, 2024
[Shenzhen, China, October 25, 2024] ICPC Challenge Championship powered by Huawei (the Championship) just ended in Shenzhen, marking the second consecutive year the event was held in China. The Championship is jointly organized by Huawei and the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC). It brings together top programmers from around the world to discuss solutions to real-world industry problems, as well as key technology trends and future challenges. This year’s event was attended by more than 90 coaches and contestants from 35 countries and regions.
After five hours of intense competition, Japan’s Hirotaka Yoneda won the Championship. Nine other contestants from China, Armenia, Poland and other countries shared second and third prizes.
At the opening ceremony, Zhou Hong, President of Huawei’s Institute of Strategic Research, said: “We will enter an intelligent world within the next 20 to 30 years. This is bringing about unprecedented opportunities, but also creating huge challenges that can only be solved through the joint efforts of bright minds from around the world. Huawei is committed to sharing real-world challenges currently and our hypotheses for the future, opening up our platforms, and working alongside academic and industrial experts and talent, in order to promote major breakthroughs in theoretical research of fundamental science, push the boundaries of application technology, and contribute to a prosperous world.”
Zhou Hong, President of Huawei’s Institute of Strategic Research, at the opening ceremony
The Championship is part of Huawei’s ongoing commitment to opening up research platforms in the device, computing, and connectivity fields. It provides next-generation problem-solvers an opportunity to showcase their talent. Since 2019, Huawei and ICPC jointly organized the ICPC Challenge, which has grown into a major event in the world of programming. In 2023, the first ICPC Challenge Championship powered by Huawei was held. The event is mostly for winners of previous ICPC Challenges as well as outstanding contestants from ICPC regional contests and world finals, providing a networking and competitive platform for top programming talent.
During the Championship competition, contestants had five hours to program a solution to the problem of optimal photo-story matching, which is closely linked to our daily lives. The Championship tested not only contestants’ programming and optimization skills, but also their modeling capabilities and innovative thinking.
A partial view of competitors during the Championship
During the Championship, a range of side activities were organized for participants. For instance, problem designers and contestants from previous competitions shared their experiences. At sessions called Tech Talks, senior Huawei technology leaders shared their insights into technology trends and challenges faced by industries, while encouraging young talent to hone their creativity and potential. Presenters included Huawei Fellow Chen Haibo; Chief Scientist of Huawei Consumer BG, Tian Qi; Media Algorithm Scientist of Huawei HiSilicon, Michael Bi Mi; and Director of Huawei Consumer BG Software Engineering Human Resource Dept., You Jin.
Huawei will continue supporting top international competitions. By designing problems and facilitating technical exchanges, Huawei will help coaches and contestants explore the latest industrial knowledge and challenges, encourage more talented people to engage in innovation, and drive the flow of knowledge and skills worldwide. Ultimately, this will promote global technology and industry development and improve social well-being.
Source: Huawei
Headline: 2024 ICPC Challenge Championship Powered by Huawei Concludes in Shenzhen
[Shenzhen, China, October 25, 2024] ICPC Challenge Championship powered by Huawei (the Championship) just ended in Shenzhen, marking the second consecutive year the event was held in China. The Championship is jointly organized by Huawei and the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC). It brings together top programmers from around the world to discuss solutions to real-world industry problems, as well as key technology trends and future challenges. This year’s event was attended by more than 90 coaches and contestants from 35 countries and regions.
After five hours of intense competition, Japan’s Hirotaka Yoneda won the Championship. Nine other contestants from China, Armenia, Poland and other countries shared second and third prizes.
At the opening ceremony, Zhou Hong, President of Huawei’s Institute of Strategic Research, said: “We will enter an intelligent world within the next 20 to 30 years. This is bringing about unprecedented opportunities, but also creating huge challenges that can only be solved through the joint efforts of bright minds from around the world. Huawei is committed to sharing real-world challenges currently and our hypotheses for the future, opening up our platforms, and working alongside academic and industrial experts and talent, in order to promote major breakthroughs in theoretical research of fundamental science, push the boundaries of application technology, and contribute to a prosperous world.”
Zhou Hong, President of Huawei’s Institute of Strategic Research, at the opening ceremony
The Championship is part of Huawei’s ongoing commitment to opening up research platforms in the device, computing, and connectivity fields. It provides next-generation problem-solvers an opportunity to showcase their talent. Since 2019, Huawei and ICPC jointly organized the ICPC Challenge, which has grown into a major event in the world of programming. In 2023, the first ICPC Challenge Championship powered by Huawei was held. The event is mostly for winners of previous ICPC Challenges as well as outstanding contestants from ICPC regional contests and world finals, providing a networking and competitive platform for top programming talent.
During the Championship competition, contestants had five hours to program a solution to the problem of optimal photo-story matching, which is closely linked to our daily lives. The Championship tested not only contestants’ programming and optimization skills, but also their modeling capabilities and innovative thinking.
A partial view of competitors during the Championship
During the Championship, a range of side activities were organized for participants. For instance, problem designers and contestants from previous competitions shared their experiences. At sessions called Tech Talks, senior Huawei technology leaders shared their insights into technology trends and challenges faced by industries, while encouraging young talent to hone their creativity and potential. Presenters included Huawei Fellow Chen Haibo; Chief Scientist of Huawei Consumer BG, Tian Qi; Media Algorithm Scientist of Huawei HiSilicon, Michael Bi Mi; and Director of Huawei Consumer BG Software Engineering Human Resource Dept., You Jin.
Huawei will continue supporting top international competitions. By designing problems and facilitating technical exchanges, Huawei will help coaches and contestants explore the latest industrial knowledge and challenges, encourage more talented people to engage in innovation, and drive the flow of knowledge and skills worldwide. Ultimately, this will promote global technology and industry development and improve social well-being.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A further billion pounds of investment will be injected into the British economy as the Prime Minister continues his drive to attract foreign business back to the UK.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer continues drive on growth during historic first visit to the Pacific
This comes as Australian superannuation fund Aware Super forms a strategic partnership with a British property firm to invest up to £1 billion in UK property
Australian boost builds on the major success of International Investment Summit last week, which included a further £2.4 billion of investment from Down Under
A further billion pounds of investment will be injected into the British economy as the Prime Minister continues his drive to attract foreign business back to the UK.
The boost comes as UK firms break into the New Zealand banking sector, growing jobs in the UK, and expanding their global operations.
Australia’s biggest pension fund, AustralianSuper is also preparing to bolster its international investment team in London, in a major vote of confidence for the UK as a global asset management centre.
The Fund expects to manage £250 billion from its London office by 2035, an increase of more than 10 times over the next decade, from its current management of around £15 billion from its UK base.
The Prime Minister met the CEO of the Australian firm, Paul Schroder, on arrival in Samoa yesterday to discuss the move.
Meanwhile, Aware Super, one of Australia’s top performing and largest profit-for-member superannuation funds, has formed a strategic partnership with Delancey Real Estate to invest up to an initial £1 billion in UK property, further bolstering UK – Australia economic ties.
Its initial focus will be on Central London office sites in prime locations, upgrading and renovating properties to ensure they meet environmental standards and deliver on the partnership’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the property market.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“These investments are a major vote of confidence in the UK, and in this government.
“I am determined to ensure that UK is the best place in the world to invest and do business, so we improve the lives of hardworking people.
“By attracting strong, sustained investment, we will also build the expertise we need to drive innovation, stay ahead of the global game, and support economies around the world with British backed projects.”
AustralianSuper chief executive Paul Schroder said:
“We invest heavily in Australia, but our size requires an increasingly international focus. We are ramping up our investment capabilities in the UK as it is one of the world’s leading gateways to both talent and global markets, which are key for driving future returns for members.
“By 2035 we expect to manage approximately £250 billion of investments from our London hub, which will represent a significant portion of our global portfolio. We have great confidence in the fundamentals of the UK economy and the country’s commitment to global growth.
“This underpins our confidence in the investments we have already made in the UK such as the Canada Water urban regeneration project, London’s King’s Cross Estate, Peel Ports Group and Vantage Data Centers. We also see great potential for new investment opportunities in the energy transition, digital infrastructure, mixed-use estates, transport and logistics.”
Aware Super chief executive Deanne Stewart:
“Aware Super has strong confidence in the UK economy and markets and is pleased to announce a ground-breaking new commercial partnership that will invest up to an initial £1 billion, an exciting milestone that will coincide with the first anniversary of establishing our London Office.”
Meanwhile, UK firms obconnect and Raidiam have been making waves in the New Zealand banking sector, rolling out the British Confirmation of Payee (CoP) system to revolutionise banking in the country, in partnership with the NZ Banking Association.
No other companies are currently able to offer the same service, with the partnership combining specialist expertise of the two British companies to serve as a fulcrum for data sharing and facilitating fraud prevention across any territory.
The deal has allowed the companies to expand their UK operations to more than 250 people.
The win for the British companies come after mobile banking app Revolut broke into the New Zealand market last year. The firm is preparing to expand their operations in the country from 4 FTEs focused on New Zealand investments, to 10 over the next 12 months.
The British business wins coincide with the UK securing CPTPP ratification from Australia in the next step towards accession of the trading bloc – the first non-founding country to do so.
The boost in Australian investment also comes after a string of Australian announcements as part of the government’s International Investment Summit, which attracted more £63 billion of investment into the UK economy and created 38,000 jobs.
They included Australian firms Macquarie supporting investment of £1.3 billion into new green infrastructure and IFM investing more than £1.1 billion through Manchester Airports Group into London Stansted Airport to expand its existing terminal by around a third. The investment will secure new air routes to key business and leisure destinations, boost local supply chains and create 5,000 jobs.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is the first by a sitting Prime Minister to a Pacific Island. During the summit, the Prime Minister will make the case to build resilient economies across the Commonwealth to unlock growth and investment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Prime Minister met the President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Prime Minister met the President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
They reflected on the long-shared history between the two countries and their commitment to a growing economic and trade relationship.
The President updated on Guyana’s new Global Biodiversity Alliance, and they discussed the work the two countries have undertaken on the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership.
They agreed to continue to look for opportunities to deepen ties on trade, climate finance and biodiversity.
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
A further billion pounds of investment will be injected into the British economy as the Prime Minister continues his drive to attract foreign business back to the UK.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer continues drive on growth during historic first visit to the Pacific
This comes as Australian superannuation fund Aware Super forms a strategic partnership with a British property firm to invest up to £1 billion in UK property
Australian boost builds on the major success of International Investment Summit last week, which included a further £2.4 billion of investment from Down Under
A further billion pounds of investment will be injected into the British economy as the Prime Minister continues his drive to attract foreign business back to the UK.
The boost comes as UK firms break into the New Zealand banking sector, growing jobs in the UK, and expanding their global operations.
Australia’s biggest pension fund, AustralianSuper is also preparing to bolster its international investment team in London, in a major vote of confidence for the UK as a global asset management centre.
The Fund expects to manage £250 billion from its London office by 2035, an increase of more than 10 times over the next decade, from its current management of around £15 billion from its UK base.
The Prime Minister met the CEO of the Australian firm, Paul Schroder, on arrival in Samoa yesterday to discuss the move.
Meanwhile, Aware Super, one of Australia’s top performing and largest profit-for-member superannuation funds, has formed a strategic partnership with Delancey Real Estate to invest up to an initial £1 billion in UK property, further bolstering UK – Australia economic ties.
Its initial focus will be on Central London office sites in prime locations, upgrading and renovating properties to ensure they meet environmental standards and deliver on the partnership’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the property market.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“These investments are a major vote of confidence in the UK, and in this government.
“I am determined to ensure that UK is the best place in the world to invest and do business, so we improve the lives of hardworking people.
“By attracting strong, sustained investment, we will also build the expertise we need to drive innovation, stay ahead of the global game, and support economies around the world with British backed projects.”
AustralianSuper chief executive Paul Schroder said:
“We invest heavily in Australia, but our size requires an increasingly international focus. We are ramping up our investment capabilities in the UK as it is one of the world’s leading gateways to both talent and global markets, which are key for driving future returns for members.
“By 2035 we expect to manage approximately £250 billion of investments from our London hub, which will represent a significant portion of our global portfolio. We have great confidence in the fundamentals of the UK economy and the country’s commitment to global growth.
“This underpins our confidence in the investments we have already made in the UK such as the Canada Water urban regeneration project, London’s King’s Cross Estate, Peel Ports Group and Vantage Data Centers. We also see great potential for new investment opportunities in the energy transition, digital infrastructure, mixed-use estates, transport and logistics.”
Aware Super chief executive Deanne Stewart:
“Aware Super has strong confidence in the UK economy and markets and is pleased to announce a ground-breaking new commercial partnership that will invest up to an initial £1 billion, an exciting milestone that will coincide with the first anniversary of establishing our London Office.”
Meanwhile, UK firms obconnect and Raidiam have been making waves in the New Zealand banking sector, rolling out the British Confirmation of Payee (CoP) system to revolutionise banking in the country, in partnership with the NZ Banking Association.
No other companies are currently able to offer the same service, with the partnership combining specialist expertise of the two British companies to serve as a fulcrum for data sharing and facilitating fraud prevention across any territory.
The deal has allowed the companies to expand their UK operations to more than 250 people.
The win for the British companies come after mobile banking app Revolut broke into the New Zealand market last year. The firm is preparing to expand their operations in the country from 4 FTEs focused on New Zealand investments, to 10 over the next 12 months.
The British business wins coincide with the UK securing CPTPP ratification from Australia in the next step towards accession of the trading bloc – the first non-founding country to do so.
The boost in Australian investment also comes after a string of Australian announcements as part of the government’s International Investment Summit, which attracted more £63 billion of investment into the UK economy and created 38,000 jobs.
They included Australian firms Macquarie supporting investment of £1.3 billion into new green infrastructure and IFM investing more than £1.1 billion through Manchester Airports Group into London Stansted Airport to expand its existing terminal by around a third. The investment will secure new air routes to key business and leisure destinations, boost local supply chains and create 5,000 jobs.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is the first by a sitting Prime Minister to a Pacific Island. During the summit, the Prime Minister will make the case to build resilient economies across the Commonwealth to unlock growth and investment.
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
The Prime Minister met the President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Prime Minister met the President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
They reflected on the long-shared history between the two countries and their commitment to a growing economic and trade relationship.
The President updated on Guyana’s new Global Biodiversity Alliance, and they discussed the work the two countries have undertaken on the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership.
They agreed to continue to look for opportunities to deepen ties on trade, climate finance and biodiversity.
Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The government has created conditions for improving the quality of work of employees of state-owned companies, as well as individual non-profit organizations. An order has been signed establishing an expanded list of indicators for depriving officials and managers of such structures of bonuses if they fail to achieve the established key performance indicators (KPIs).
New grounds for reducing the size of annual bonuses include failure to comply with recommendations related to reducing the level of operating expenses of the organization. The funds freed up by such reduction allow for more effective resolution of tasks defined by national development goals. For failure to achieve the established results of such work, the CEO of the organization may lose 20% of the bonus.
Also, officials and managers who fail to meet the established indicators of the organization’s digital transformation will be subject to a 20% bonus reduction.
In 2021, the Government initiated a reform of development institutions and state-owned companies. The transformations were aimed at making these structures more efficient and reorienting them towards achieving the national development goals approved by the President of Russia.
With regard to state-owned companies, methodological recommendations for the formation of key performance indicators were approved for a more accurate assessment of their activities.
KPIs were divided into two groups: financial, characterizing the profitability of the organization, and industry-specific, related to national development goals.
State-owned companies were required to publish reports on the achievement of key performance indicators, and top managers’ remuneration began to be calculated depending on the achievement of specified parameters.
The document will be published.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: European Central Bank
25 October 2024
The median rate of perceived inflation over the previous 12 months declined further in September to 3.4%, from 3.9% in August. Perceptions of past inflation have thus declined by 5.0 percentage points since their peak of 8.4% in September 2023. Median expectations for inflation over the next 12 months declined to 2.4%, from 2.7% previously, and stood at their lowest level since September 2021. Median expectations for inflation three years ahead also declined in September, by 0.2 percentage points to 2.1%, their lowest level since February 2022 (when Russia invaded Ukraine). Inflation expectations at the one-year and three-year horizons remained below the perceived past inflation rate. Uncertainty about inflation expectations over the next 12 months remained unchanged, also at its lowest level since February 2022. While the broad evolution of inflation perceptions and expectations remained relatively closely aligned across income groups, expectations for lower income quintiles were slightly above those for higher income quintiles. Younger respondents (aged 18-34) continued to report lower inflation perceptions and expectations than older respondents (those aged 35-54 and 55-70), albeit to a lesser degree than previously. (Inflation results)
Consumer nominal income growth expectations increased to 1.3%, from 1.2% in August. The increase in income expectations continued to be driven by the lowest two income quintiles. Perceptions of nominal spending growth over the previous 12 months remained unchanged at 5.2%. Similarly, expectations for nominal spending growth over the next 12 months remained stable at 3.2%, their lowest level since February 2022. For the first time since March 2023, there was no drop in either perceptions or expectations of nominal spending, while inflation perceptions and expectations both continued on their downward trajectory, which might indicate a positive turning point for real spending. (Income and consumption results)
Economic growth expectations for the next 12 months were stable in September, standing at -0.9%. Meanwhile, expectations for the unemployment rate 12 months ahead increased to 10.6%, from 10.4% in August. Consumers continued to expect the future unemployment rate to be only slightly higher than the perceived current unemployment rate (10.3%), implying a broadly stable labour market. The lowest income quintile continued to report the highest expected and perceived unemployment rate, as well as the lowest economic growth expectations. (Economic growth and labour market results)
Consumers expected the price of their home to increase by 2.8% over the next 12 months, which was slightly higher than in August (2.7%). Households in the lowest income quintile continued to expect higher growth in house prices than those in the highest income quintile (3.4% and 2.5% respectively). Expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead declined slightly to 4.7%, 0.8 percentage points lower than their peak in November 2023 and the lowest level since September 2022. As in previous months, the lowest income households expected the highest mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead (5.3%), while the highest-income households expected the lowest rates (4.2%). The net percentage of households reporting a tightening (relative to those reporting an easing) in access to credit over the previous 12 months declined, as did the net percentage of those expecting a tightening over the next 12 months. (Housing and credit access results)
The release of the CES results for October is scheduled for 29 November 2024.
For media queries, please contact: Eszter Miltényi-Torstensson, Tel: +49 171 769 5305
Source: European Central Bank
25 October 2024
The annual growth rate of the broad monetary aggregate M3 increased to 3.2% in September 2024 from 2.9% in August, averaging 2.8% in the three months up to September. The components of M3 showed the following developments. The annual growth rate of the narrower aggregate M1, which comprises currency in circulation and overnight deposits, was -1.2% in September, compared with ‑2.1% in August. The annual growth rate of short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) decreased to 9.7% in September from 10.4% in August. The annual growth rate of marketable instruments (M3-M2) decreased to 21.8% in September from 22.3% in August.
Monetary aggregates
(annual growth rates)
Looking at the components’ contributions to the annual growth rate of M3, the narrower aggregate M1 contributed -0.8 percentage points (up from -1.4 percentage points in August), short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) contributed 2.8 percentage points (down from 2.9 percentage points) and marketable instruments (M3-M2) contributed 1.3 percentage points (as in the previous month).
Among the holding sectors of deposits in M3, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by households increased to 2.8% in September from 2.3% in August, while the annual growth rate of deposits placed by non-financial corporations decreased to 1.6% in September from 1.8% in August. Finally, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by investment funds other than money market funds increased to 11.9% in September from 11.7% in August.
The annual growth rate of M3 in September 2024, as a reflection of changes in the items on the monetary financial institution (MFI) consolidated balance sheet other than M3 (counterparts of M3), can be broken down as follows: net external assets contributed 3.9 percentage points (down from 4.0 percentage points in August), claims on the private sector contributed 1.1 percentage points (as in the previous month), claims on general government contributed -0.5 percentage points (down from -0.4 percentage points), longer-term liabilities contributed -1.8 percentage points (as in the previous month), and the remaining counterparts of M3 contributed 0.5 percentage points (up from 0.0 percentage points).
Contribution of the M3 counterparts to the annual growth rate of M3
(percentage points)
Data for contribution of the M3 counterparts to the annual growth rate of M3
The annual growth rate of total claims on euro area residents stood at 0.5% in September 2024, unchanged from the previous month. The annual growth rate of claims on general government stood at -1.2% in September, compared with -1.1% in August, while the annual growth rate of claims on the private sector stood at 1.2% in September, unchanged from the previous month.
The annual growth rate of adjusted loans to the private sector (i.e. adjusted for loan transfers and notional cash pooling) stood at 1.6% in September, compared with 1.5% in August. Among the borrowing sectors, the annual growth rate of adjusted loans to households stood at 0.7% in September, compared with 0.6% in August, while the annual growth rate of adjusted loans to non-financial corporations increased to 1.1% in September from 0.8% in August.
Adjusted loans to the private sector
(annual growth rates)
Data for adjusted loans to the private sector
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Prime Minister met Samoan Prime Minister Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa this morning, as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa this morning, as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Fiamē for hosting such a successful summit and for the generosity and kindness of the Samoan people.
The summit had offered a chance for leaders to reflect on the importance of the Commonwealth family and how the group could go further to support all members in the face of shared challenges, such as climate change, he added.
The leaders also discussed the importance of leveraging international finance to support Small Island Developing States, especially in the Pacific.
The leaders agreed to stay in touch.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Prime Minister met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this week.
The Prime Minister met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this week.
The Prime Minister began by expressing commitment to visit Australia in the near future.
The leaders reflected on the future of the Commonwealth, including the opportunity to drive trade and growth, and build brighter futures for the next generation.
Turning to the impact of climate change in the region, and the importance of ensuring resilience among Commonwealth members, including in the Pacific, the Prime Minister said he was pleased that Australia had bid to host COP31.
The leaders discussed the opportunity of transitioning to clean energy and ensuring energy security throughout the transition.
The leaders also discussed global stability, including the situation in the Middle East and the importance of regional security in the Pacific.
The Prime Minister looked forward to speaking again soon.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Prime Minister spoke to the crew of HMS Tamar this evening to thank them for their service and praise their role in securing Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui earlier this month.
The Prime Minister spoke to the crew of HMS Tamar this evening to thank them for their service and praise their role in securing Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui earlier this month.
The Prime Minister heard firsthand from members of the ship about their 650-mile high-speed transit from Fiji following the mayday call on October 5. They remained at the scene for almost two weeks providing recovery and pollution control efforts.
This week, the ship has been bolstering security to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, patrolling off the coast of the island while the summit is taking place.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the crew’s dedication and commitment so far away from home.
He asked the ship’s company to pass on his sincere thanks to their families for their sacrifice at home too.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A further billion pounds of investment will be injected into the British economy as the Prime Minister continues his drive to attract foreign business back to the UK.
A further billion pounds of investment will be injected into the British economy as the Prime Minister continues his drive to attract foreign business back to the UK.
The boost comes as UK firms break into the New Zealand banking sector, growing jobs in the UK, and expanding their global operations.
Australia’s biggest pension fund, AustralianSuper is also preparing to bolster its international investment team in London, in a major vote of confidence for the UK as a global asset management centre.
The Fund expects to manage £250 billion from its London office by 2035, an increase of more than 10 times over the next decade, from its current management of around £15 billion from its UK base.
The Prime Minister met the CEO of the Australian firm, Paul Schroder, on arrival in Samoa yesterday to discuss the move.
Meanwhile, Aware Super, one of Australia’s top performing and largest profit-for-member superannuation funds, has formed a strategic partnership with Delancey Real Estate to invest up to an initial £1 billion in UK property, further bolstering UK – Australia economic ties.
Its initial focus will be on Central London office sites in prime locations, upgrading and renovating properties to ensure they meet environmental standards and deliver on the partnership’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the property market.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
These investments are a major vote of confidence in the UK, and in this Government.
I am determined to ensure that UK is the best place in the world to invest and do business, so we improve the lives of hardworking people.
By attracting strong, sustained investment, we will also build the expertise we need to drive innovation, stay ahead of the global game, and support economies around the world with British backed projects.
AustralianSuper chief executive Paul Schroder said:
We invest heavily in Australia, but our size requires an increasingly international focus. We are ramping up our investment capabilities in the UK as it is one of the world’s leading gateways to both talent and global markets, which are key for driving future returns for members.
By 2035 we expect to manage approximately £250 billion of investments from our London hub, which will represent a significant portion of our global portfolio. We have great confidence in the fundamentals of the UK economy and the country’s commitment to global growth.
This underpins our confidence in the investments we have already made in the UK such as the Canada Water urban regeneration project, London’s King’s Cross Estate, Peel Ports Group and Vantage Data Centers. We also see great potential for new investment opportunities in the energy transition, digital infrastructure, mixed-use estates, transport and logistics.
Aware Super chief executive Deanne Stewart:
Aware Super has strong confidence in the UK economy and markets and is pleased to announce a ground-breaking new commercial partnership that will invest up to an initial £1 billion, an exciting milestone that will coincide with the first anniversary of establishing our London Office.
Meanwhile, UK firms obconnect and Raidiam have been making waves in the New Zealand banking sector, rolling out the British Confirmation of Payee (CoP) system to revolutionise banking in the country, in partnership with the NZ Banking Association.
No other companies are currently able to offer the same service, with the partnership combining specialist expertise of the two British companies to serve as a fulcrum for data sharing and facilitating fraud prevention across any territory.
The deal has allowed the companies to expand their UK operations to more than 250 people.
The win for the British companies come after mobile banking app Revolut broke into the New Zealand market last year. The firm is preparing to expand their operations in the country from 4 FTEs focused on New Zealand investments, to 10 over the next 12 months.
The British business wins coincide with the UK securing CPTPP ratification from Australia in the next step towards accession of the trading bloc – the first non-founding country to do so.
The boost in Australian investment also comes after a string of Australian announcements as part of the government’s International Investment Summit, which attracted more £63 billion of investment into the UK economy and created 38,000 jobs.
They included Australian firms Macquarie supporting investment of £1.3 billion into new green infrastructure and IFM investing more than £1.1 billion through Manchester Airports Group into London Stansted Airport to expand its existing terminal by around a third. The investment will secure new air routes to key business and leisure destinations, boost local supply chains and create 5,000 jobs.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is the first by a sitting Prime Minister to a Pacific Island. During the summit, the Prime Minister will make the case to build resilient economies across the Commonwealth to unlock growth and investment.
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
The Prime Minister met Samoan Prime Minister Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa this morning, as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa this morning, as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Fiamē for hosting such a successful summit and for the generosity and kindness of the Samoan people.
The summit had offered a chance for leaders to reflect on the importance of the Commonwealth family and how the group could go further to support all members in the face of shared challenges, such as climate change, he added.
The leaders also discussed the importance of leveraging international finance to support Small Island Developing States, especially in the Pacific.
The leaders agreed to stay in touch.
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
The Prime Minister spoke to the crew of HMS Tamar this evening to thank them for their service and praise their role in securing Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui earlier this month.
The Prime Minister spoke to the crew of HMS Tamar this evening to thank them for their service and praise their role in securing Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui earlier this month.
The Prime Minister heard firsthand from members of the ship about their 650-mile high-speed transit from Fiji following the mayday call on October 5. They remained at the scene for almost two weeks providing recovery and pollution control efforts.
This week, the ship has been bolstering security to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, patrolling off the coast of the island while the summit is taking place.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the crew’s dedication and commitment so far away from home.
He asked the ship’s company to pass on his sincere thanks to their families for their sacrifice at home too.
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
The Prime Minister met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this week.
The Prime Minister met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this week.
The Prime Minister began by expressing commitment to visit Australia in the near future.
The leaders reflected on the future of the Commonwealth, including the opportunity to drive trade and growth, and build brighter futures for the next generation.
Turning to the impact of climate change in the region, and the importance of ensuring resilience among Commonwealth members, including in the Pacific, the Prime Minister said he was pleased that Australia had bid to host COP31.
The leaders discussed the opportunity of transitioning to clean energy and ensuring energy security throughout the transition.
The leaders also discussed global stability, including the situation in the Middle East and the importance of regional security in the Pacific.
The Prime Minister looked forward to speaking again soon.
Source: City of Wolverhampton
The Government recently announced measures to ensure that the country achieves its ambition of becoming Smokefree by 2030, including the provision of a million free ‘Swap to Stop’ vaping kits which, combined with behavioural support, are designed to help them quit smoking.
The City of Wolverhampton Council has made these available at a range of community venues, including the city’s 8 Family Hubs and Central and Warstones libraries.
The service is being delivered by trained members of staff, who are offering free vape starter kits alongside support and weekly ‘check in’ sessions delivered from the convenience of local community venues to help people on their quitting journey over a period of 12 weeks.
Scores of would be quitters have already come forward to get help – and others are invited to sign up for free at Swap to Stop.
John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health and the health of those around you.
“Smoking is still the single largest preventable cause of death in England, accounting for around for 64,000 deaths annually. Almost every minute of every day someone is admitted to hospital with a smoking related disease – but, when you stop smoking, there are almost immediate improvements to your health.
“And it’s not just your body which will benefit, your purse or wallet will too. On average smokers spend £38.59 a week on tobacco – and that means you could have around £2,000 more to spend a year by quitting, and even more if you are a really heavy smoker.
“Nicotine vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking and is also one of the most effective tools for quitting, so we are delighted to deliver this Swap to Stop support in the community in Wolverhampton. If you want to quit, please sign up today.”
Meanwhile, support to quit is also available through Live Well Wolverhampton, a new healthy lifestyles service offering people information, advice, guidance, self help tools and lifestyle interventions to enable them to make and maintain positive lifestyle choices. Please visit Live Well Wolverhampton or call or text ‘QUIT’ to 07378 768046 and an advisor will contact you.
For more help and support to stop smoking, please visit Quit Smoking.
Source: Aisle of Wight
Island residents have one week left to take part in a major consultation on proposals to tackle the high number of surplus places in Isle of Wight primary schools.
Hundreds of people have already shared their views on Isle of Wight Council plans to address almost 1,900 empty classroom seats by attending one of six in-person public meetings or completing the consultation survey.
The council is seeking the widest possible range of views and is urging everyone to have their say before the deadline for comments on 1 November.
The authority would welcome any viable alternative proposals that would reduce the level of surplus places while improving the quality of education.
Amid a rapidly decreasing pupil population due to falling birth rates, the council must reduce school places and is consulting on the potential closure of Arreton CE, Brading CE, Cowes, Godshill, Oakfield CE and Wroxall primary schools, and a reduction in the Published Admissions Number (PAN) at The Bay CE School (from 60 to 45) and Greenmount (from 60 to 45).
Alongside this the council is proposing to expand provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to meet a growing need across the Island.
Since the Island-wide consultation launched last month, a peer review by the Local Government Association (LGA) has described the council’s proposals as a pragmatic and necessary response to the ongoing educational financial challenges on the Island.
Following the consultation, a further report will be presented to Cabinet in December detailing the responses and making recommendations about the next steps.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “I can’t emphasise strongly enough how important it is for everyone — whether they are linked to the named schools or not — to join this Island-wide conversation to help shape the future of education on the Isle of Wight.
“This process is part of our wider draft Education Strategy which is about raising educational standards on the Island. We are at the bottom of the national tables for educational standards, we have to do something.
“If we are going to do the best for our young people we have to take drastic action to turn things around. This is about taking the long term view for the whole Island in order to achieve the best for our young people, their upbringing and their futures and build a more thriving Island as a result.
“While our plans would see a reduction in the number of school places to respond to the falling birth rate, they would enable our remaining schools to be in the best possible position to improve outcomes for our children and young people by giving our school system and those within it the security that is desperately needed.
“Indeed, the recent LGA Peer Review supports our decision to consider school closures as a way to address the issues facing the Island. It also commends our plans to expand SEND provision stating that this element of the plan is both timely and necessary.”
How can I comment?
There are several ways people can take part in the consultation:
Why is this happening?
Because schools are funded per pupil, the oversupply of places in primary schools has had a negative impact on the standard of education children receive on the Island, preventing them from having the best opportunity for the highest quality teaching and learning within well-equipped schools.
While almost 1,900 classroom seats go unfilled in mainstream schools, there is conversely a growing demand for SEND provision across the Island with hundreds of new specialist places desperately needed.
The number of births on the Island has now reached its lowest level since 1941. This is having a significant impact on the Island where, by 2027, just 876 children are expected to start reception — a considerable drop from 1,404 in 2018.
As of October 2023 there were 1,898 unfilled school places across the Island. By September 2027, this number is forecast to rise to 3,056.
For every empty seat, schools receive £4,500 less in funding affecting resources, opportunities and the quality of education children receive. The ongoing trend indicates that by March 2027, 22 primary schools may face budget deficits, potentially amounting to a total deficit of more than £7.4 million.
Surplus places mean schools struggle to maintain a broad and high-quality curriculum. Falling rolls also make planning and staffing decisions difficult, with schools potentially having to make year on year redundancies or having to restructure.
More information
Photo: Getty Images
Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen
Aberdeen City Council has today launched the second and final phase of its Budget 2025/26 consultation.
The second phase provides additional proposed savings options and invites people to have their say on these, and comment on how changes might affect them if taken forward.
Councillor Alex McLellan, Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, said: “The next phase of the consultation continues to offer the public an opportunity to express their views on proposed savings being put forward by council officers ahead of the Council setting the 2025/26 budget.
“It is important that people participate as this will give us a greater understanding of what services are important to individuals and their families, and the potential impact any change or removal of a service may have on them.”
Anyone who has access to the internet at home or on their mobile phone can access the consultation here.
For anyone who does not have internet access at home, digital assistance is available at local libraries including the Central Library, and at the Customer Service Centre, Marischal College during opening hours.
A series of virtual and in-person events have been arranged to help encourage public engagement. During these events, the public will have the opportunity to discuss any of the proposed options with council staff. There will also be targeted engagement with community groups and other stakeholders.
Monday 4 November – 5.30pm-7pm – virtual
Microsoft Teams
Advanced booking is required. To book, please click here
Monday 11 November – 11am-12.30pm – in-person
Town and County Hall, Town House (entry via Union Street)
Advanced booking is required. To book, please click here
Tuesday 12 November – 5.30pm-7pm – virtual
Microsoft Teams
Advanced booking is required. To book, please click here
Wednesday 6 November – 6pm-7.30pm – in-person
Customer Service Centre, Marischal College, Broad Street
Advance booking is required. To book, please click here
The Council will host a series of pop-up events to offer digital assistance to citizens who would like support to complete the consultation online. These sessions will be held within Aberdeen City Vaccination Centre located inside the Bon Accord Shopping Centre, George Street.
Advanced booking is NOT required to attend the below pop-up sessions.
For anyone who needs information provided in a different format, such as accessible PDF, large print, easy to read, audio recording or braille, or have any accessibility requirements, please email equality_and_diversity@aberdeencity.gov.uk
The consultation closes on Sunday, November 17 and the results will be presented to Full Council on Wednesday, December 11.
Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
On October 20 and 21, the BRICS Scientific and Educational Congress on Ecology and Climate Change was held at the Sirius Federal Territory. It brought together more than 500 representatives of science, education, the business community and governments of BRICS member countries, including India, Brazil, Iran and Ethiopia.
The event was attended by the Director of the Institute of Civil Engineering of SPbPU Marina Petrochenko, Professor of the Higher School of Hydrotechnical and Power Engineering (HSHPE) Natalia Politaeva and Associate Professor of the HSHPE Alexander Chusov.
Over the course of two days, business representatives and scientists discussed the following issues:
The role of education in addressing global climate change issues; Water management in the context of climate change; New technologies for clean energy; Talent economy: New professions and skills in the context of “green” energy; Permafrost and climate change; Water purification technologies.
In the expert session “New technologies for environmentally safe waste management and their role in the closed-loop economy” Natalia Politaeva presented a report “Innovative waste processing technologies”. In the poster session, the Civil Engineering Institute presented a team report “Utilization of organic waste with the production of biomethane”.
On the second day of the event, with the assistance of SPbPU partner, the investment and technology company EFIR (RUSNANO Ecology and Nature Management cluster), representatives of the ISI held talks with Sirius University and the Russian-Singapore Business Council on the development of cooperation in the field of scientific and educational activities.
The congress participants went on excursions to the Sirius educational center and the laboratory complex of the local university, where the latest infrastructure for training and supporting scientific research of talented young people is presented.
At the congress, Polytech presented its unique technologies and developments in the field of waste management, which are of interest to businesses and the federal environmental operator that organizes and controls the collection, transportation, processing, recycling, neutralization and placement of waste of the first and second hazard classes. It was also important for us to exchange opinions with our foreign colleagues from Brazil, India and other countries. Everyone has common problems. It is obvious that we need to combine efforts and use the resource base, as well as the potential of foreign partners to solve the main problems of the environmental agenda, – commented on the results of the work, Director of the Civil Engineering Institute Marina Petrochenko.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
A further billion pounds of investment will be injected into the British economy as the Prime Minister continues his drive to attract foreign business back to the UK.
A further billion pounds of investment will be injected into the British economy as the Prime Minister continues his drive to attract foreign business back to the UK.
The boost comes as UK firms break into the New Zealand banking sector, growing jobs in the UK, and expanding their global operations.
Australia’s biggest pension fund, AustralianSuper is also preparing to bolster its international investment team in London, in a major vote of confidence for the UK as a global asset management centre.
The Fund expects to manage £250 billion from its London office by 2035, an increase of more than 10 times over the next decade, from its current management of around £15 billion from its UK base.
The Prime Minister met the CEO of the Australian firm, Paul Schroder, on arrival in Samoa yesterday to discuss the move.
Meanwhile, Aware Super, one of Australia’s top performing and largest profit-for-member superannuation funds, has formed a strategic partnership with Delancey Real Estate to invest up to an initial £1 billion in UK property, further bolstering UK – Australia economic ties.
Its initial focus will be on Central London office sites in prime locations, upgrading and renovating properties to ensure they meet environmental standards and deliver on the partnership’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the property market.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
These investments are a major vote of confidence in the UK, and in this Government.
I am determined to ensure that UK is the best place in the world to invest and do business, so we improve the lives of hardworking people.
By attracting strong, sustained investment, we will also build the expertise we need to drive innovation, stay ahead of the global game, and support economies around the world with British backed projects.
AustralianSuper chief executive Paul Schroder said:
We invest heavily in Australia, but our size requires an increasingly international focus. We are ramping up our investment capabilities in the UK as it is one of the world’s leading gateways to both talent and global markets, which are key for driving future returns for members.
By 2035 we expect to manage approximately £250 billion of investments from our London hub, which will represent a significant portion of our global portfolio. We have great confidence in the fundamentals of the UK economy and the country’s commitment to global growth.
This underpins our confidence in the investments we have already made in the UK such as the Canada Water urban regeneration project, London’s King’s Cross Estate, Peel Ports Group and Vantage Data Centers. We also see great potential for new investment opportunities in the energy transition, digital infrastructure, mixed-use estates, transport and logistics.
Aware Super chief executive Deanne Stewart:
Aware Super has strong confidence in the UK economy and markets and is pleased to announce a ground-breaking new commercial partnership that will invest up to an initial £1 billion, an exciting milestone that will coincide with the first anniversary of establishing our London Office.
Meanwhile, UK firms obconnect and Raidiam have been making waves in the New Zealand banking sector, rolling out the British Confirmation of Payee (CoP) system to revolutionise banking in the country, in partnership with the NZ Banking Association.
No other companies are currently able to offer the same service, with the partnership combining specialist expertise of the two British companies to serve as a fulcrum for data sharing and facilitating fraud prevention across any territory.
The deal has allowed the companies to expand their UK operations to more than 250 people.
The win for the British companies come after mobile banking app Revolut broke into the New Zealand market last year. The firm is preparing to expand their operations in the country from 4 FTEs focused on New Zealand investments, to 10 over the next 12 months.
The British business wins coincide with the UK securing CPTPP ratification from Australia in the next step towards accession of the trading bloc – the first non-founding country to do so.
The boost in Australian investment also comes after a string of Australian announcements as part of the government’s International Investment Summit, which attracted more £63 billion of investment into the UK economy and created 38,000 jobs.
They included Australian firms Macquarie supporting investment of £1.3 billion into new green infrastructure and IFM investing more than £1.1 billion through Manchester Airports Group into London Stansted Airport to expand its existing terminal by around a third. The investment will secure new air routes to key business and leisure destinations, boost local supply chains and create 5,000 jobs.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is the first by a sitting Prime Minister to a Pacific Island. During the summit, the Prime Minister will make the case to build resilient economies across the Commonwealth to unlock growth and investment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
John Tuckett, Immigration Services Commissioner, has been reappointed for a second 5 year term.
The Immigration Services Commissioner, John Tuckett, has been reappointed for a further five years.
The Commissioner oversees the immigration advice sector, protecting advice seekers through regulation, enforcement and promoting best practice. John Tuckett, who took up the post on 8 July 2019, will remain in the position until 7 July 2029.
Please see here a Home Office announcement on this public appointment.
Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
From October 14 to 19, representatives of the Polytechnic University Competence Assessment and Development Center visited the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University.
The days of the Polytechnic University Competence Center at KRSU became one of the first major projects in a series of planned events aimed at improving the quality of training of engineering personnel at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, said Lyudmila Pankova, Vice-Rector for Educational Activities at SPbPU.
The program of events opened with an information session, at which the ambassadors of the Polytechnic University Competence Center told KRSU students about the opportunities of the Competence Centers project of the presidential platform Russia — the Country of Opportunities for career growth, as well as how the project will help to reveal their potential, and, of course, about the role of ambassadors.
The Deputy Director General of the ANO “Russia – Country of Opportunities” Dmitry Guzhelya addressed the students with a welcoming speech. He wished the guys not to stop there and to more actively join the projects of the presidential platform.
Fascinating surveys on supra-professional competencies made the children think about their strengths and opportunities for self-development. A humorous quiz, in which more than 350 people took part, became a bright conclusion to the information session.
The days of the Polytechnic Competence Center at KRSU became an important stage in the development of the first and so far the only competence center outside the Russian Federation. We see and feel the positive and interested attitude of Russia, whose ambassadors were representatives of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, — shared the head of the KRSU Competence Center Almaz Asankulov.
The week in Bishkek was eventful and productive. Both sides organized many joint events to bring together university youth and develop soft skills – from a trip to the snowy mountains of the Ala-Archa National Park to a two-day Soft Skills board game tournament. There, KRSU students analyzed information and learned to make decisions, mastered innovation, emotional intelligence, following rules and focus on results.
Our team prepared for such an important trip for a long time and carefully. We are very happy that KRSU students responded enthusiastically and actively participated in all the events of our program, the most memorable of which was, perhaps, the final of the Soft Skills tournament. The teams developed and defended very interesting and, at times, incredible ideas for startup projects, – said Elena Zima, Director of the SPbPU Competency Assessment and Development Center.
The trip gave the ambassadors of the Polytechnic University Competence Center a lot of new and interesting things.
We have become even more united, have significantly developed stress resistance and planning skills, have broadened our horizons, and have gained new knowledge about the culture and traditions of Kyrgyzstan. Most importantly, we have found new friends in lively and sincere communication, – shared Victoria Anikieva, a student of SPbPU and the head of the community of ambassadors of the Polytechnic University Competence Center.
During the visit, the partners launched a professional development program called “Modern Approaches to Managing the Educational Process.” Elena Zima gave two lectures to KRSU teachers on the specifics of Russian Federation legislation in the field of higher education.
On behalf of the KRSU management, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Polytechnic staff for fruitful cooperation and support in the development of our university as one of the best universities in Kyrgyzstan, said Elena Devyatova, Vice-Rector for Educational Activities at KRSU.
A return visit of the KRSU Competence Center ambassadors to the Polytechnic University is ahead.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 25) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Ostrów Wielkopolski District of the Wielkopolskie Region in Poland, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 1 620 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland in the first six months of this year.
“The CFS has contacted the Polish authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
Ukraine is at the heart of this Lords debate on Friday 25 October. Lord Coaker, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, will put forward the debate.
Find out more and see the full list of members speaking https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2024/october/ukraine-at-the-heart-of-lords-debate/
Catch-up on House of Lords business:
Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/
Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media:
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/UKHouseofLords
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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKHouseofLords
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#HouseOfLords #UKParliament #StateOpening
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s passenger jet C919 makes outstanding achievements during new stage of operation
China’s first domestically developed single-aisle passenger jet C919 has entered a new stage of multi-carrier operation. So far, 11 aircraft have been delivered, transporting more than 700,000 passenger trips, said its manufacturer on Friday.
The commercial operation of the C919 planes has topped 13,000 flying hours, said He Dongfeng, chairman of Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, the manufacturer, during a speech at the opening ceremony of the second CATA Aviation Conference, organized by the China Air Transport Association, in Beijing.
Meanwhile, China’s first home-developed regional passenger jet, the ARJ21, has seen its commercial operation exceed 500,000 flying hours.
“This is an important milestone that marks further validation of the safety and reliability of the ARJ21 aircraft,” He said.
The ARJ21 aircraft has been operating in domestic regions such as Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Heilongjiang province, in addition to overseas markets such as Indonesia. A total of 148 aircraft have been delivered, serving 156 cities and carrying 17 million passenger trips.
In another development, CR929, a long-haul wide-body aircraft that is under research and development by China and Russia, is in the process of preliminary design and selection of suppliers, COMAC said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CHONGQING, Oct. 25 — An ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Express train set off for Poland’s Malaszewicze via southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality on Friday morning, marking the opening of a fast-track route for Asia-Europe trade.
The train, loaded with automotive electronic components and other goods, left Chongqing’s Tuanjiecun Station at about 5:00 a.m. and is expected to reach its destination in around two weeks.
It originally departed from Hanoi, Vietnam, on October 15, before arriving in Chongqing for reconfiguration.
The first ASEAN Express to depart from Chongqing symbolizes the seamless connection between the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the China-Europe freight train service — two vital international trade routes.
The total journey, which starts in Vietnam, is expected to take approximately 25 days, reducing the transit time by five to 10 days compared to previous Asia-Europe cross-border transportation routes.
The express is jointly operated by Yuxinou (Chongqing) Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. and New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co., Ltd. This collaboration facilitates a streamlined process, enabling faster transit times and improved services for quick customs clearance, according to Liu Taiping, general manager of Yuxinou (Chongqing) Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd.
Previously, freight transportation between ASEAN and Europe had primarily relied on maritime shipping.
Source: Scottish Government
UK Government urged to remove limit on funds raised for good causes.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has written to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy to urge the UK Government to remove the cap on charity lottery sales.
Charity lotteries raise money for local, national and international good causes through their ticket sales. However, the current sales cap means that charities can raise no more than £50m for these causes per year.
Ms Somerville said:
“As the difficult economic climate has made it harder for charities to raise funds, while also increasing the need of the communities they serve, the cap on charity lottery sales is only serving to restrict the positive impact they could have in raising money for good causes.
“The UK Government should undertake a review of the cap and consider the huge difference that lifting it could bring to lives and communities across the country.”
People’s Postcode Lottery Managing Director, Clara Govier, said:
“The charity lottery sales limits are causing increasing difficulties for charity fundraising at a time when charities need these vital funds to respond to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
“Charity lotteries exist to benefit society, yet have sales limits in place which do not apply to any other type of gambling product, and ultimately make raising funds for charity more difficult.
“Removing them would cost the Treasury nothing but benefit many charities. We welcome the Scottish Government’s call for these outdated sales limits to be removed, and urge the UK Government to take action.”
Background
The full text of the Social Justice Secretary’s letter: Charity lottery sales limits: Letter to UK Government – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Source: City of Westminster
We want everyone to be able to safely enjoy Halloween and Bonfire Night in Westminster this year which is why we have re-launched our Autumn Nights campaign.
Halloween and Bonfire night, and the days running up to them, are traditionally some of the busiest nights of the year for our anti-social behaviour case officers, the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade and other agencies.
This is why we have launched our Autumn Nights campaign to make sure everyone has the information they need to enjoy it safely.
We are working with our community safety partners, the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade, to urge communities in Westminster to do their bit this Autumn.
To keep our city safe, we ask you to take extra care this autumn and take note of the following advice:
This Autumn Nights season, help us to keep your neighbourhood safe by reporting any incidents.
If you’re a Westminster City Council tenant you can report anti-social behaviour in housing to us in confidence 24/7 via your MyWestminsterHousing online account or contact us on 0800 358 3783 or email [email protected]
To report misuse of fireworks, call the police on the non-emergency number 101. In an emergency, or if you are in immediate danger, always call 999.
All residents can report crime anonymously to Crimestoppers by phoning 0800 555 111.
Read more about fireworks safety advice from the London Fire Brigade.
Thank you for your help and enjoy Halloween and Bonfire Night safely.