Blind and partially sighted supporters to avail of new commentary service at Brandywell games
24 September 2024
Visually impaired or blind spectators attending Derry City games at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium can now avail of a new service that will give them a live audio description of games.
The new programme has been designed to allow the supporters to listen to descriptive commentary that will be transmitted to a radio receiver through a headset from anywhere within the stadium. The commentary will be provided by Drive 105.
The new service will be available for Derry City’s forthcoming games versus Sligo Rovers, Bohemians and Shelbourne and is available to home and away supporters.
The equipment has been installed by stadium owners Derry City and Strabane District Council following a report on accessibility improvements at the stadium being approved by Elected Members of Council’s Health and Community Committee in May.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, said it will allow more supporters to enjoy the match day experience.
“This is brilliant news for blind and visually impaired supporters who can now be more involved and enjoy an enhanced match day at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
“I have had the opportunity to attend a number of games in recent months when I experienced the noise and excitement for myself, and I am so delighted more people can now feel included and part of that.
“I would like to thank Council Officers for bringing the project to fruition so quickly, the RNIB for their input in the project development, Derry City FC who will manage the service at games and Drive 105 for providing commentary from their Match Night Live service.”
The service at the Ryan McBride Stadium is similar to the Soccer Sight programme that was successfully implemented at Windsor Park in Belfast.
Campaigns Officer for RNIB Northern Ireland, Michéal Smith, attended Friday’s match at The Brandywell and said: “RNIB Northern Ireland is delighted to be involved in this initiative.
“Blind and partially sighted fans should be able to enjoy watching a live football match in an accessible environment which welcomes both participants and those who visit sporting facilities to follow the action.
“Too often, access to and within grounds and stadia, the facilities on offer, the accessible communication and the return travel, can be difficult to negotiate or completely absent. In many cases this deters sports fans with sight loss from getting involved.
“Football is for everyone and we commend The Brandywell for introducing Audio Description technology to the stadium. Many thanks to stadium announcer Martin Bradley for all his assistance.
“We thank local RNIB volunteer Rory McCartney and Richard Moore from Derry’s Drive 105 community radio station for their brilliant work together to make this happen. We also thank Derry and Strabane District Council – particularly Councillor Emma McGinley, Councillor Aisling Hutton and Leisure Area Manager Steve Setterfield, for helping bring this project to fruition. This is a great example of the Council’s ongoing partnership with RNIB to help Derry/Londonderry become a ‘Visually Aware City.’”
Derry City’s Robert Martin added: “Derry City FC is delighted to note the success of the new ‘Brandywell Audio Assistant’ service that was trialled in our home game against Shamrock Rovers on Friday night.
“Anything that enhances the match night experience at the ground is warmly welcomed and no doubt our visually impaired supporters will be happy to make use of the headsets going forward.
“We congratulate all involved in the development of this project and encourage anyone who feels they may benefit from the service to speak with stadium stewards.
“The sets will be stored in the Communications room and signed in and out by an appointed club delegate.”
For further information on accessing the new service contact Rory McCartney (RNIB), [email protected].
Record high NHS 24 workforce to meet increased demand.
A record number of NHS 24 call handlers will support the public to access the most appropriate care this winter as services deal with increased demand.
Through the Scottish Government and COSLA’s joint Winter Preparedness Plan, continued investment for NHS 24 will increase service capacity to provide clinical supervision for at least 150,000 additional calls per year and help prevent unnecessary A&E attendances.
Key measures to support services in the face of increased demand, include; improving discharge planning for patients admitted to acute or community hospitals, maintaining established care at home packages and a Government led delayed discharge response team to directly support Boards in need of assistance. Planned care capacity will also be safeguarded with a continued focus on clearing long waits.
The annual winter vaccination programme, which includes respiratory condition RSV for the first time, will support a reduction in severe disease, hospitalisation and mortality – while protecting health and social care service capacity. The joint plan also sets out action to support the mental health and well-being of service staff through increased flexible working options and dedicated mental health resources.
This year’s plan has been published a month ahead of last year, and earlier than ever before, to allow more time for NHS Boards and care providers to prepare for winter surges in demand.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said:
“As winter approaches, the NHS will see surges in demand across all health, social care and social work services. Our joint-plan Winter Plan with COSLA is just one part of a wider programme of work to respond to heightened demand.
“A record number of NHS 24 call handlers will be available this winter to direct people to the most appropriate care, helping reduce unnecessary A&E attendances. We will continue our work to reduce delayed discharge in hospitals with an increased focus on effective discharge planning and protecting care at home packages. We will also ensure planned care capacity is protected as much as possible in the face of winter pressure so patients are seen as quickly as possible.
“We are prioritising frontline services with over £14.2 billion investment in our boards this year – an almost 3% real terms uplift – and also investing £2 billion in social care services.
“I thank all health, social care and social work staff for their continued efforts and dedication to deliver high quality care. It is fundamental we safeguard their wellbeing, and improved options on flexible working and continued access to mental health resources will ensure staff are supported over this challenging period.”
COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly said:
“It is our shared responsibility to ensure that people and communities have timely access to quality care and support when they need it most. We know that Local Government and Health and Social Care Partnerships across Scotland are working hard to plan and deliver the essential health and social care services our communities rely on every day.
“The context within which this takes place is increasingly challenging, which is why COSLA have worked jointly with the Scottish Government to produce this plan. Local Government plays a key role in supporting people to experience better wellbeing and better outcomes, so it was only right that this plan reflects the whole system of integrated health and social care, from acute and primary care to social work, our care homes, community settings, and our partners across the sector.
“Winter is often a time of exceptional pressure on our services so I am pleased that this plan, produced with our partners across the sector, reflects the challenges and the opportunities we face.”
Leeds’s South Bank is to enjoy more affordable and lower carbon heating after £24.5m funding was secured to further expand the Leeds PIPES district heating network.
The expansion is planned to include up to 28 buildings, with up to 8,000 residents and mixed-use customers benefitting from connections, making it the most significant single investment into the project since its inception.
Households benefitting from the expansion will enjoy more reliable, more affordable, lower carbon heating.
By using heat recovered from the city’s non-recyclable domestic waste to provide warmth and hot water to buildings in the city, the Leeds PIPES district heating project is helping businesses and residents to move away from costly fossil-fuel powered heating systems.
The continued expansion of the district heating network is supporting efforts to end the city’s contribution to climate change by transitioning to lower carbon heating systems. Last year, 5,945 tonnes of carbon were saved through the network.
The original project connected over 1,900 homes and non-domestic buildings to the energy-from-waste scheme. Earlier this year, over two hundred and fifty council properties in Lovell Park Heights, Lovell Park Grange, and Lovell Park Towers were set up to receive heat from the network.
This year, connections have been completed at Leeds Conservatoire and the former Technology Campus Student Residential development and both sites are now receiving heat from the network.
Over the summer, agreements have also been signed with the new Railway Street affordable homes scheme, 24-28 Great George Street, which is to become student apartments with the Victoria Hotel pub reopening on the ground floor, Leeds College of Building’s North Street Campus and the Co-op Academy Brierley SEND School in Cross Green.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space and Councillor Jessica Lennox, executive member for housing, said:
“We are both pleased that many more residents will soon be paying significantly less to heat their homes thanks to this latest expansion of the Leeds PIPES network.
“UK’s homes are some of the least efficient and most reliant on costly fossil fuel gas in Europe, and too many families in our city struggle to pay their energy bills. We are committed to helping households by making our homes greener and fit for the future.
“Leeds is working towards becoming the first net zero city in the UK, and connecting more homes to affordable low carbon heating like Leeds PIPES is a step in the right direction.”
A prestigious international convention on Fair Trade and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be hosted in the capital in August next year.
They will take part in a three-day (29 to 31 August) series of discussions themed around the SDGs and the importance of Fair Trade in driving progress towards them. The conference will also highlight the important contributions that Edinburgh has made to Fair Trade.
Fair Trade is an international movement that aims to secure better prices, fair terms of trade, and improved working conditions for farmers, producers and workers in the global south. The movement now works with farmers and workers in more than 1,900 producer organisations across 70 countries.
The event is expected to welcome over 150 representatives from around the world, and to have 100 or more Edinburgh schoolchildren participate.
City of Edinburgh Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said:
It is a great honour that Edinburgh will be hosting this fantastic event. It gives Edinburgh and our friends across the globe the opportunity to share know-how, expertise, and best practice, while showcasing the best our city has to offer. This is a very powerful example of joint working between international partners.
As a Fairtrade City, Edinburgh is dedicated to motivating residents to work towards a common goal and stay on course by advocating for environmental sustainability and supporting local sustainable businesses.
This year Edinburgh marks 20 years as a Fairtrade City, and Scotland has recently celebrated 10 years as a Fairtrade Nation. I look forward to the gathering next year and celebrating yet another milestone in our aim to make this a world in which trade is based on fairness, and where the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are successfully implemented.”
Headline: New York State Joins the Global Offshore Wind Alliance
24 September 2024, New York, USA | The State of New York announced its membership of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) – joining a network of governments, international organizations, and private sector actors committed to expanding offshore wind capacity globally and driving the transition to a clean energy future.
GOWA is a multi-stakeholder alliance that aims to speed up the global deployment of offshore wind power. The alliance was launched at COP27 by Denmark, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Twenty governments have already joined GOWA. The addition of the State of New York further strengthens the global collaboration between regional and national governments and creates a more unified and coordinated approach to offshore wind development across the globe.
Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), said:“New York is honored to join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance as we work with other government partners to grow and build-out the offshore wind industry, which is a critical component of the renewable energy infrastructure in New York and worldwide. This collaboration, which spans from sharing lessons and best practices to helping scale up offshore wind projects, will help further advance and sustain this powerhouse industry as we harness its full potential to secure a clean energy future.”
“New York’s decision to join GOWA is a very timely step in uniting global efforts to expand the deployment of offshore wind energy. The commitment of New York not only enhances the alliance but also strengthens the collaboration between regional and national actors, improves energy security and pushes forward toward our shared global climate goals,” said Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Lars Aagaard.
Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, welcomed New York State joining GOWA: “Through GOWA, we work closely with governments, industry, and investors to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind projects worldwide. Offshore wind offers a pathway to decarbonize our power systems, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth. Our World Energy Transitions Outlook projects that offshore wind capacity must increase sevenfold by 2030 and more than thirtyfold by 2050 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. We need policies that incentivize investment, streamlined permitting processes, and innovative financing solutions.”
As a pioneer in renewable energy, New York has already set ambitious targets under its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, including the deployment of at least 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, a goal of at least 70 percent of New York’s electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2030 and a commitment to 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040. By joining GOWA, New York contributes to the global effort to accelerate renewable energy development, including the push for tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, a key global goal decided at COP28.
The GOWA membership fosters collaboration between regional and national governments, a partnership important for advancing the offshore wind industry. This cooperation enables more efficient offshore wind deployment by combining the innovation and localized expertise of regional governments with the broader policy frameworks and resources provided by national authorities.
“The continuous growth of GOWA’s membership reflects a steadfast commitment to offshore wind as a vital force in achieving net zero, supported by multi-national, national, and sub-national governments. I’m encouraged by the eagerness of key players to join our community, united in addressing the challenges of accelerating offshore wind development. New York’s decision to join GOWA at this critical juncture will bring invaluable expertise from a market that has weathered challenging conditions. I look forward to collaborating with New York and all GOWA members as we chart the global offshore wind pathway toward 2050.”– Amisha Patel, Head of Secretariat (Interim), Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA).
Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC,said: “The growth of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance demonstrates the vital role offshore wind plays in the energy transition and the importance of collaboration to delivering on the world’s renewable energy ambitions. The addition of the State of New York to the Alliance brings another strong voice and invaluable expertise to the group. The US offshore wind industry is a key part of the energy transition’s acceleration this decade, and we look forward to supporting the State of New York’s efforts in making their offshore wind sector an example for the rest of the world to follow”
He also highlighted GWEC’s research findings:
“GWEC’s research suggests the world could deliver GOWA’s target of 380 GW of offshore wind by 2030, but only with the right frameworks in place. The collaborative work of the Alliance is fundamental to establishing and expanding this framework around the world and ensuring offshore wind delivers on its potential as a key tool of the energy transition.”
GOWA’s goal is to significantly increase the global offshore wind capacity, aiming for a total of at least 380 GW by 2030 and at least 70 GW each year from 2030 onwards. This expansion is essential for reaching global climate neutrality by 2050 and limiting global warming to below 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.
With New York State as its newest member, GOWA now includes 21 member governments, including the European Commission and three subnational governments, and ten other key stakeholders, including the offshore wind sector, inter-governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
Headline: New York State Joins the Global Offshore Wind Alliance
24 September 2024, New York, USA | The State of New York announced its membership of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) – joining a network of governments, international organizations, and private sector actors committed to expanding offshore wind capacity globally and driving the transition to a clean energy future.
GOWA is a multi-stakeholder alliance that aims to speed up the global deployment of offshore wind power. The alliance was launched at COP27 by Denmark, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Twenty governments have already joined GOWA. The addition of the State of New York further strengthens the global collaboration between regional and national governments and creates a more unified and coordinated approach to offshore wind development across the globe.
Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), said:“New York is honored to join the Global Offshore Wind Alliance as we work with other government partners to grow and build-out the offshore wind industry, which is a critical component of the renewable energy infrastructure in New York and worldwide. This collaboration, which spans from sharing lessons and best practices to helping scale up offshore wind projects, will help further advance and sustain this powerhouse industry as we harness its full potential to secure a clean energy future.”
“New York’s decision to join GOWA is a very timely step in uniting global efforts to expand the deployment of offshore wind energy. The commitment of New York not only enhances the alliance but also strengthens the collaboration between regional and national actors, improves energy security and pushes forward toward our shared global climate goals,” said Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Lars Aagaard.
Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, welcomed New York State joining GOWA: “Through GOWA, we work closely with governments, industry, and investors to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind projects worldwide. Offshore wind offers a pathway to decarbonize our power systems, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth. Our World Energy Transitions Outlook projects that offshore wind capacity must increase sevenfold by 2030 and more than thirtyfold by 2050 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. We need policies that incentivize investment, streamlined permitting processes, and innovative financing solutions.”
As a pioneer in renewable energy, New York has already set ambitious targets under its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, including the deployment of at least 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, a goal of at least 70 percent of New York’s electricity being generated from renewable sources by 2030 and a commitment to 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040. By joining GOWA, New York contributes to the global effort to accelerate renewable energy development, including the push for tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, a key global goal decided at COP28.
The GOWA membership fosters collaboration between regional and national governments, a partnership important for advancing the offshore wind industry. This cooperation enables more efficient offshore wind deployment by combining the innovation and localized expertise of regional governments with the broader policy frameworks and resources provided by national authorities.
“The continuous growth of GOWA’s membership reflects a steadfast commitment to offshore wind as a vital force in achieving net zero, supported by multi-national, national, and sub-national governments. I’m encouraged by the eagerness of key players to join our community, united in addressing the challenges of accelerating offshore wind development. New York’s decision to join GOWA at this critical juncture will bring invaluable expertise from a market that has weathered challenging conditions. I look forward to collaborating with New York and all GOWA members as we chart the global offshore wind pathway toward 2050.”– Amisha Patel, Head of Secretariat (Interim), Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA).
Ben Backwell, CEO of GWEC,said: “The growth of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance demonstrates the vital role offshore wind plays in the energy transition and the importance of collaboration to delivering on the world’s renewable energy ambitions. The addition of the State of New York to the Alliance brings another strong voice and invaluable expertise to the group. The US offshore wind industry is a key part of the energy transition’s acceleration this decade, and we look forward to supporting the State of New York’s efforts in making their offshore wind sector an example for the rest of the world to follow”
He also highlighted GWEC’s research findings:
“GWEC’s research suggests the world could deliver GOWA’s target of 380 GW of offshore wind by 2030, but only with the right frameworks in place. The collaborative work of the Alliance is fundamental to establishing and expanding this framework around the world and ensuring offshore wind delivers on its potential as a key tool of the energy transition.”
GOWA’s goal is to significantly increase the global offshore wind capacity, aiming for a total of at least 380 GW by 2030 and at least 70 GW each year from 2030 onwards. This expansion is essential for reaching global climate neutrality by 2050 and limiting global warming to below 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.
With New York State as its newest member, GOWA now includes 21 member governments, including the European Commission and three subnational governments, and ten other key stakeholders, including the offshore wind sector, inter-governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Reforms to apprenticeship system in England announced, alongside publication of first Skills England report highlighting nationwide skills gaps
The government is boosting opportunities for young people through ambitious apprenticeship reforms in England.
The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson today announced a new growth and skills levy which will replace the existing apprenticeship levy and include new foundation apprenticeships.
These new apprenticeships will give young people a route in to careers in critical sectors, enabling them to earn a wage whilst developing vital skills.
The new levy will also allow funding for shorter apprenticeships, giving learners and employers greater flexibility over their training than under the existing system – where apprenticeships must run for at least 12 months.
The training eligible for funding under the new levy will develop over time, informed by Skills England’s assessment of priority skills needs.
The Department for Education will set out further details on the scope of the offer and how it will be accessed in due course.
To fund this, employers are being asked to rebalance their funding for apprenticeships, asking them to invest in younger workers. This will also involve businesses funding more of their level 7 apprenticeships – equivalent to a master’s degree and often accessed by older or already well qualified employees – outside of the levy.
The first report from Skills England, the government’s new body for the skills system, has also been published today. It provides an initial assessment of the nation’s working skills, as well as future skills needs and gaps which employers are struggling with across the country.
The report has found that employer investment in training has been in steady decline over the past decade, with training expenditure at its lowest level since records began in 2011, with investment per employee down by 19% in real terms. This highlights the need for government reforms to the skills and apprenticeships system.
It also shows that, across the UK, almost 1 in 10, or over 2.5 million roles are in critical demand, with more than 90% being in roles that require training or education.
The government launched Skills England in July to help identify skills needs. Skills England will play a crucial role in determining which types of training will be eligible for the expanded growth and skills levy and will set out shortly how they will work with stakeholders to inform their advice to DfE.
The need for jobs and skills varies across industries, with the health and social care sector experiencing the highest demand, followed by education, manufacturing, and science and technology.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.
Location:
Geneva
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
Merci Monsieur President, and welcome to the Special Rapporteur.
Let me thank her for her report this morning. It’s a sobering picture in which she depicts a worsening human rights situation.
And it’s clear what we’ve seen over the last year is a widespread and systemic application of oppressive legislation to further strengthen the Russian state’s oppressive hold over its own population and society. Just over that last year, it’s intensified its persecution of anyone it deems to be a political opponent. And it seems to be seeing enemies everywhere in Russian society, creating a climate of fear and making examples of specific individuals to intimidate the wider population.
Special Rapporteur, you noted in particular the deterioration of treatment of political prisoners. Of course, Alexei Navalny’s tragic death was a stark reminder to us all of the risks faced by those brave individuals who speak out against the Kremlin. The Russian state has to meet its international obligations and we in the UK will continue to hold those responsible for the violations of such obligations to account.
Mr President, Russia’s repression domestically both enables and is driven by its aggression abroad, and the international community must hold Russia to account for violations of human rights both domestically and internationally.
Evidencing the scale of human rights violations is key. So we support your request, Special Rapporteur, to travel to Russia as part of your mandate and we welcome your suggestions this afternoon in how we might support you.
Kenyan Army Lt. Col. Moses Mdzomba speaks with U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Wyche during the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) and global health engagements (GHE) concept development event (CDE) held in Vicenza, Italy, Sept.16-20, 2024. The MEDREX GHE CDE brought together military medical professionals, planners, and experts from SETAF-AF, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Medical Command, and others, along with medical providers and representatives from 17 African partner nations. Participants worked collectively to refine the fiscal year 2025 MEDREX and Global Health Engagements execution strategy and discussed the framework for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) VIEW ORIGINAL
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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa
VICENZA, Italy — Strengthening partnerships through medicine is exactly what U.S. and African military forces prescribe for a more stable future.
Military medical professionals from the U.S. joint force and 17 African nations came together here from Sept. 16-20, 2024, to shape the future of medical engagements on the African continent.
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) hosted a concept development event (CDE) for global health engagements (GHE) and medical readiness exercises (MEDREX). Planners from U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Medical Command, and other military units discussed and refined the medical strategy for fiscal year 2025 alongside African partners. Together, they also laid the groundwork for future collaboration through 2028.
Benin Army Lt. Col. Mahounakpon Hounkpevi listens during the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) and global health engagements (GHE) concept development event (CDE) held in Vicenza, Italy, Sept.16-20, 2024. The MEDREX GHE CDE brought together military medical professionals, planners and experts from SETAF-AF, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Medical Command and others, along with medical providers and representatives from 17 African partner nations. Participants worked collectively to refine the fiscal year 2025 MEDREX and GHE execution strategy, and discussed the framework for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) VIEW ORIGINAL
“We’re coordinating activities across Africa to meet the medical needs of our partners,” said U.S. Army Capt. Jeffery Sparda, SETAF-AF GHE officer. “This event is about planning for the next three years and finalizing our medical activities for fiscal year 2025.”
Some participants in the CDE have partaken in previous MEDREXs, bringing firsthand experience to the event. U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Kloberndaz, a MEDREX planner from the 30th Medical Brigade, highlighted the hands-on training aspect of the program.
“MEDREX gives us the opportunity to train in real-world environments, treating cases we don’t see at home,” said Kloberndaz. “It’s a critical part of our readiness and allows us to share best practices with our African partners.”
As both a planner and participant, Kloberndaz emphasized the mutual benefits of the knowledge exchange between U.S. and African medical teams.
1 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Col. Kelly Togiola, global health engagements chief, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), speaks to participants at the SETAF-AF medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) and global health engagements (GHE) concept development event (CDE) held in Vicenza, Italy, Sept.16-20, 2024. The MEDREX GHE CDE brought together military medical professionals, planners, and experts from SETAF-AF, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Medical Command, and others, along with medical providers and representatives from 17 African partner nations. Participants worked collectively to refine the fiscal year 2025 MEDREX and Global Health Engagements execution strategy and discussed the framework for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Mary Izaguirre, U.S. Army Surgeon General, speaks during the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) and global health engagements (GHE) concept development event (CDE) held in Vicenza, Italy, Sept.16-20, 2024. The MEDREX GHE CDE brought together military medical professionals, planners, and experts from SETAF-AF, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Medical Command, and others, along with medical providers and representatives from 17 African partner nations. Participants worked collectively to refine the fiscal year 2025 MEDREX and Global Health Engagements execution strategy and discussed the framework for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Mary Izaguirre, U.S. Army Surgeon General, listens to a brief during the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) and global health engagements (GHE) concept development event (CDE) held in Vicenza, Italy, Sept.16-20, 2024. The MEDREX GHE CDE brought together military medical professionals, planners, and experts from SETAF-AF, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Medical Command, and others, along with medical providers and representatives from 17 African partner nations. Participants worked collectively to refine the fiscal year 2025 MEDREX and Global Health Engagements execution strategy and discussed the framework for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) VIEW ORIGINAL
With each medical exercise lasting about two weeks, SETAF-AF plans to conduct eight MEDREXs in Africa, spread throughout fiscal year 25. Host nations include Angola, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Chad, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia.
With clear plans for the next three years, SETAF-AF and its African partners worked diligently to ensure that these engagements will not only enhance medical capabilities, but also strengthen the relationships critical for future cooperation across the continent.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Andrew C. Gainey, commanding general of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), greets Italian Army Lt. Col. Dragotta during the SETAF-AF medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) and global health engagements (GHE) concept development event (CDE) held in Vicenza, Italy, Sept.16-20, 2024. The MEDREX GHE CDE brought together military medical professionals, planners, and experts from SETAF-AF, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Medical Command, and others, along with medical providers and representatives from 17 African partner nations. Participants worked collectively to refine the fiscal year 2025 MEDREX and Global Health Engagements execution strategy and discussed the framework for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Kenyan Army Lt. Col. Moses Mdzomba speaks with U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Wyche during the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) and global health engagements (GHE) concept development event (CDE) held in Vicenza, Italy, Sept.16-20, 2024. The MEDREX GHE CDE brought together military medical professionals, planners, and experts from SETAF-AF, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Medical Command, and others, along with medical providers and representatives from 17 African partner nations. Participants worked collectively to refine the fiscal year 2025 MEDREX and Global Health Engagements execution strategy and discussed the framework for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) VIEW ORIGINAL
About MEDREX
MEDREX is a medical readiness exercise, planned and executed by SETAF-AF, enabling military health professionals from the U.S. and their African partners to exchange medical practices, procedures and techniques that enhance treatment capabilities and result in lasting relationships between the participants.
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland. The Secretary-General and the President discussed the global geopolitical situation and the role of the United Nations in addressing global challenges. They also discussed UN Security Council reform and the Summit of the Future.
Atlantic halibut is found in waters from eastern Newfoundland to the northeastern United States. The majority of the stock is found in Canadian fishing waters, with a small percentage of the stock also found in the French maritime zone off Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
September 23, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario – Atlantic halibut is found in waters from eastern Newfoundland to the northeastern United States. The majority of the stock is found in Canadian fisheries waters, with a small percentage of the stock also found in the French maritime zone off Saint Pierre and Miquelon. The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of this stock to both Canadian and French fisheries.
Today, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, announced that after several months of negotiations, Canada has reached an agreement with France (with respect to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon) on the sharing of Atlantic halibut.
The agreement, concluded on September 20, 2024, will allow French fishermen in Saint Pierre and Miquelon to catch 3% of Canada’s total allowable catch. This allocation will allow for measured growth in the Atlantic halibut fishery in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, while providing benefits to Canadian coastal communities through French landings of Atlantic halibut in Canadian ports. This agreement supports the health and sustainability of the Atlantic halibut stock, and recognizes the importance of this fishery to coastal communities in Atlantic Canada, as well as the significant investments made by Canada and its fishing industry to develop and manage the fishery.
Since 2016, Canada has been working with France to reach an agreement on sharing Atlantic halibut quotas, with representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada leading the negotiations.
“I am pleased with the outcome of our negotiations with France. I am confident that we have reached a fair agreement that will ensure the long-term health of the Atlantic halibut stock, while supporting the economies and coastal communities of Canada and France.”
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
UK national statement by Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the UN Summit of the Future.
Location:
United Nations, New York
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
Mr President, I stand here as a man of multiple identities.
A Londoner. A patriotic Brit. A lawyer.
Proud of my African, Guyanese, Caribbean and Indian heritage.
A committed multilateralist, who believes in the importance of the United Nations.
I agree with my great predecessor, Ernie Bevin, when he said in 1945:
“Our eyes should be fixed upon the United Nations… All nations of the world should be united to look that way.”
The purposes and principles of the UN remain as indispensable today as in Bevin’s time.
Our task is to recapture that founding spirit so that when we reach the UN’s centenary, their legacy endures.
But we cannot ignore the challenges we face. More conflicts than at any time since 1945, costing the global economy over 900 billion dollars, and creating the most refugees and displaced people on record.
Geopolitical tensions arising. Progress against the Sustainable Development Goals stalling. Trust in multilateralism faltering.
The Pact for the Future and this Summit offer a chance for Member States to show responsible global leadership, to engage with the rapid changes of our age, and go further in meeting the needs of everyone – especially the most vulnerable.
As I know all too well, countries of the Global South suffered great injustices in the past. And I have heard repeatedly how frustrated partners are by the unfairness of the global system.
We cannot ignore these frustrations. We must act.
First, as the Secretary-General has said, we need greater collective efforts to prevent and end conflict. For Britain, that means upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty, urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, and supporting an end to the fighting in Sudan.
It means robustly challenging Member States who violate the Charter, rejecting a world in which might makes right.
It means a more representative Security Council.
It means supporting the international rule of law, and applying it equally and fairly which is why Britain has proposed the outstanding Professor Dapo Akande for election as a judge at the International Court of Justice.
Second, we need urgent action on the climate and nature crisis.
With this new Government, Britain is renewing our ambitions at home, aiming to deliver clean power by 2030.
And I am determined that we also reconnect abroad, building a Global Clean Power Alliance, championing creativity and reforms to unlock international climate and nature finance, particularly from the private sector, and bolstering efforts to protect at least thirty per cent of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030.
Third, countries like Britain must modernise our approach to development.
This Government believes partnership, not paternalism, is the way to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.
Making best use of technology and innovation. Putting indigenous people and local communities, including women and girls, at the centre of decision-making on development programmes.
Driving faster reform of the global financial system to strengthen the voice of the most vulnerable and tackle unsustainable debt.
Friends, action on conflict, climate and poverty. Delivered by a reformed multilateral system. This is the path to peace and prosperity on a liveable planet.
All over the world, in every war zone, every refugee camp, the UN is there. A beacon of hope and humanity to which, as Bevin said, the gaze of all nations should turn.
This Summit must direct the world’s eyes towards that beacon once again. And Britain is proud to support it.
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg. The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister discussed the United Nations reform, the Summit of the Future, the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
***
Le Secrétaire général a rencontré S.E. M. Luc Frieden, Premier ministre du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Le Secrétaire général et le Premier ministre ont discuté de la réforme des Nations Unies, du Sommet de l’avenir, de la guerre en Ukraine et de la situation au Moyen-Orient.
A slow-moving storm triggered days of intense rainfall across central and eastern Europe in September 2024. The deluge submerged entire neighborhoods and forced tens of thousands to evacuate flooded towns and cities. Between September 11 and 18, a low-pressure storm system battered parts of Austria, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic (Czechia) with torrential rainfall. The storm formed when a wave of cold Arctic air plunged into southern Europe and met with warm, moist air from the Mediterranean. The low-pressure system became cut off from the prevailing jet stream (known as a cut-off low), allowing it to linger in the region for several days. Named Storm Boris by the UK Met Office, the system hit hardest in the Czech Republic and Austria, which in one week saw up to three times the amount of rainfall typical for the entire month of September, according to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. In eastern Austria, near Vienna, 215 millimeters (8.5 inches) of rain fell during that week. All of this rainfall, however, had consequences beyond the hardest-hit areas. On September 18, water levels along the Oder River in southeastern Poland surpassed the highest alert category set by the country’s institute of meteorology. The river originates in the Oder Mountains in the Czech Republic and runs north through Poland to Germany. Water overtopped the banks of the river near Wrocław and flooded the surrounding farmland, visible in the image above (right), acquired on September 20, 2024. The image on the left shows the same region on September 4, before the storm. Both images were acquired by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 and are false color to emphasize the presence of water (dark blue). The Danube River overtopped its banks in Slovakia, sending floodwaters into the capital, Bratislava. The false-color image below, acquired by the OLI-2 on Landsat 9, shows inundated areas along the Danube on September 21. According to news reports, the relentless rain forced dozens of people from their homes.
In Poland’s mountain town of Stronie Slaskie, near the border with the Czech Republic, a dam burst and caused deadly flooding. As of September 20, flooding across central and eastern Europe and into Italy has contributed to the displacement of over 25,000 people, according to the European Union. NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Emily Cassidy.
Protected zones around abortion services now in place.
Protected zones of 200 meters around all abortion services in Scotland are now in place.
Within these zones, it is now a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly behave in ways that could influence the decisions of women and staff to access services; impede their access; or otherwise cause alarm, harassment or distress.
Police Scotland are responsible for enforcing the legislation. People who break the law can be fined up to £10,000, or be given an unlimited fine, depending on the court procedure.
Determining whether an offence has been committed will be a matter for Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Courts. Depending on the facts and circumstances of each case, some examples of criminal behaviour may include: approaching someone to try and persuade them not to access abortion services, surrounding people as they try to go in or out of the clinic or hospital, handing out leaflets, religious preaching and silent vigils.
Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto said:
“The introduction of Safe Access Zones is a crucial milestone in protecting women’s abortion rights – no one has the right to interfere in women’s personal medical decisions and the law now makes that abundantly clear.
“I thank Gillian Mackay and all those involved for their work to progress this legislation. I would like especially recognise the women who showed incredible courage in speaking up and sharing their experiences during the Bill process.
“The new zones of 200 meters around all abortion services will help ensure women have safe access to healthcare – free from intimidation. This law is about protection for women at a time when many will feel incredibly vulnerable around taking a deeply personal and difficult decision.”
Background
Full details of the penalties that apply for committing an offence.
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Robert Golob, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia.
The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister exchanged views on the Summit of the Future. They also discussed developments in the Middle East and Ukraine as well as their global implications. The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for the role of Slovenia in the Security Council.
MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –
Source: Republic of France in FrenchThe French Republic has issued the following statement:
Image 1Credits: lichtmeister – stock.adobe.com
An employee hired on a permanent contract after having completed 3 fixed-term contracts is dismissed during her trial period. She contests the termination of the contract before the judge and requests that the trial period be declared null and void given the 3 fixed-term contracts she previously completed.
The Court of Appeal dismissed the employee’s application. In its view, the first two fixed-term contracts (which took place in May and June) were not a continuation of the third fixed-term contract (which took place in August) and the permanent contract concluded afterwards. According to the Court of Appeal, there was therefore no continuous employment relationship between the employee and her employer. It considered that the employer was still within the time limit to terminate the permanent contract.
The Court of Cassation overturns and annuls the decision rendered by the Court of Appeal. According to it, the employee carried out her duties without any functional discontinuity. Thus, she had the same working relationship with the employer during these different contracts.
The duration of the 3 fixed-term contracts must therefore be deducted from the trial period provided for in the permanent contract. The dismissal is unfair.
Please note
The Court of Cassation here confirms its previous case law (October 9, 2013, no. 12-12.113).
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
The G7+ Group on Ukraine Energy Sector Support today issued the following statement on the occasion of their fifth Ministerial Meeting on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly
September 23, 2024 – New York City, New York – Global Affairs Canada
The G7+ Group on Ukraine Energy Sector Support today issued the following statement on the occasion of their fifth Ministerial Meeting on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly:
“We, the G7+ Ministerial Group, met on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly [UNGA] to reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal and unjust attacks on Ukraine and its energy infrastructure.
“We reaffirm our strong commitment to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and to focus on the key priorities needed to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on international law, including the UN Charter and its principles.
“We strongly condemn Russia’s continuous missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and cities across Ukraine, which have escalated since March 2024 and severely threaten Ukraine’s energy security and the Ukrainian people’s access to critical services, including electricity, heat and water, during the cold winter months, which could be the harshest for Ukraine since at least its independence. We highlight the regional implications of such attacks, notably on the Republic of Moldova’s energy security. Russia must end its war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused.
“We recommit to supporting Ukraine’s immediate and medium- and long-term recovery and reconstruction in line with its path toward the EU and to working to involve our private sectors and local governments in the sustainable economic and social recovery of Ukraine. We welcome, and underscore the significance of, Ukraine’s commitment to business-enabling reforms that will establish a level playing field for investment in the energy sector. We stress the importance of the implementation of the National Energy and Climate Plan and the monitoring of this process. We will continue to support efforts of the Ukrainian government and people in these endeavours.
“We stress the importance of the implementation of energy sector reforms in line with the EU accession path and fulfilling obligations under the Energy Community Treaty, including OECD-compliant corporate governance standards. This is especially crucial ahead of the winter, given the scale of repairs and new energy infrastructure needs.
“We acknowledge the need for international assistance to protect energy infrastructure from attacks, including through the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defence capabilities by the committed countries, and reaffirm our readiness to continue providing such assistance.
“We condemn Russia’s seizure and continued control and militarization of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which threatens energy security. We emphasize that any use of nuclear energy and nuclear installations must be safe, secured, safeguarded and environmentally sound. With reference to the UNGA resolution of July 11 entitled Safety and Security of Nuclear Facilities of Ukraine, Including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, we stress that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant must return to the full sovereign control of Ukraine in line with IAEA principles and under its independent supervision.
“We are convinced that rebuilding Ukraine’s energy system in the short- and long-term is in the interest of enhancing global energy security and sustainability.
“We welcome further commitments to providing funding and in-kind support to address the Ukrainian energy sector’s most urgent needs, including repairs of damaged power plants and district heating systems; deployment of new, distributed power generation; emergency backup power for critical services; and passive protection for energy infrastructure. We call on the global community to urgently strengthen efforts in that regard and provide Ukraine with all the assistance needed.
“We underline the important work of international partners, banks and the Energy Community’s Ukraine Energy Support Fund in this regard. We call on international partners to elevate their financial contributions, in particular to this latter fund, to improve Ukraine’s resilience next winter.
“Based on the work of the Working Group on Energy Security and the outcomes of the first Global Peace Summit, held on June 15 and 16, 2024, in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, as well as the results of a productive and constructive dialogue at the Energy Security Conference, held on August 22, 2024, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
“Based on the Japan-Ukraine Conference for the Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction, held in Tokyo, Japan, in February 2024; the 2024 Ukraine Recovery Conference [URC], held in Berlin, Germany, in June 2024; and looking ahead to the November 2024 UN Climate Change Conference and the 2025 URC, in Italy, we are committed to continuing to support immediate needs and Ukraine’s vision of a more decentralized, diversified, resilient and renewable and sustainable energy system that is fully integrated with Europe.”
The G7 Group on Support for Ukraine’s Energy Sector today issued the following statement at its fifth ministerial meeting on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly:
September 23, 2024 – New York, New York – Global Affairs Canada
The G7 Group on Support for Ukraine’s Energy Sector today issued the following statement on the occasion of its fifth ministerial meeting on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly:
“We, the members of the G7 Group of Ministers, have gathered on the margins of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly to reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal and unjust attacks on Ukraine and its energy infrastructure.
“We reaffirm our strong commitment to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. We also reiterate our determination to focus on the essential priorities necessary for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and its principles.
“We strongly condemn the continued Russian missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and cities. These strikes have intensified since March 2024 and pose a serious threat to Ukraine’s energy security and the Ukrainian people’s access to essential services, including electricity, heat, and water, during the cold winter months, which could be the most difficult for Ukraine since at least its independence. We underscore the regional implications of such attacks, including on the energy security of the Republic of Moldova. Russia must end its war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused.
“We reaffirm our commitment to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction in the immediate, medium and long term, in line with the country’s path towards EU membership, and to work to engage the private sector and our local governments in Ukraine’s sustainable economic and social recovery. We welcome Ukraine’s commitment to implementing business-friendly reforms that will level the playing field for investments in the energy sector, and underline the importance of this initiative. We also highlight the importance of implementing the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan and monitoring this process. We will continue to support the efforts of the Government and people of Ukraine in these initiatives.
“We stress the importance of implementing energy sector reforms in line with the EU accession path, and of respecting obligations under the Energy Community Treaty, including corporate governance standards in line with those of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. This is particularly important as winter approaches, given the scale of repairs and new energy infrastructure needs.
“We recognize the need for international assistance to protect energy infrastructure from attack, including through the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense capabilities by participating countries, and we reaffirm our readiness to continue providing such assistance.
“We condemn the seizure and continued control and militarization of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant of Ukraine, which threatens energy security. We stress that any use of nuclear energy and nuclear facilities must be safe, secure, protected and environmentally friendly. With regard to the UN General Assembly resolution of 11 July entitled Safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, we stress that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant must return to the full sovereign control of Ukraine, in accordance with the principles of the International Atomic Energy Agency and under its independent supervision.
“We are convinced that the reconstruction of the Ukrainian energy system in the short and long term is in the interests of improving global energy security and sustainability.
“We welcome the new commitments to provide financial and non-financial support to address the most urgent needs of Ukraine’s energy sector, including the repair of damaged power plants and district heating facilities, the deployment of new distributed power generation networks, emergency backup power for essential services, and passive protection of energy infrastructure. We call on the international community to urgently step up its efforts in this regard and provide Ukraine with all the assistance it needs.
“We highlight the important work of international partners, banks and the Energy Community’s Energy Support Fund of Ukraine in this regard. We call on international partners to increase their financial contributions, including to this fund, in order to improve Ukraine’s resilience next winter.
“Taking into account the work of the Energy Security Working Group, the outcomes of the first World Peace Summit, held on June 15-16, 2024 in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, as well as the results of a productive and constructive dialogue at the Energy Security Conference, held on August 22, 2024, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
“Considering the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promoting Economic Growth and Reconstruction, held in Tokyo, Japan, in February 2024, the 2024 Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine [CRU] held in Berlin, Germany, in June 2024, and looking ahead to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November 2024 and the 2025 CRU in Italy, we are determined to continue supporting Ukraine’s immediate needs and vision of a more decentralized, diversified, resilient, renewable and sustainable energy system, fully integrated with Europe.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Chancellor Scholz underscored the close relationship between Canada and Germany. They discussed shared priorities, such as addressing climate change, advancing clean energy including green hydrogen, expanding economic co-operation, promoting trade and investment, and achieving progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the actions committed to at the Summit of the Future.
The two leaders discussed shared concerns over recent escalations in the Middle East and agreed on the importance of promoting lasting peace and security in the region. They also reiterated their commitment to stand with Ukraine as Russia continues its unjustifiable war of aggression.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Chancellor Scholz agreed to remain in close and regular contact and looked forward to continue working together to advance shared priorities, including in the context of Canada’s G7 Presidency next year.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FS continues to visit Madrid, Spain (with photos/video) FS continues to visit Madrid, Spain (with photos/video) *******************************************************
The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit to Madrid, Spain, yesterday (September 23, Madrid time). Mr Chan visited the Plenary of the City Council of Madrid yesterday and met with its President, Mr Francisco de Borja Fanjul Fernández-Pita. They exchanged views on strengthening co-operation between the two places. Mr Chan presented the latest developments in Hong Kong across various sectors and noted that, with staunch support from the Central Government, the “One Country, Two Systems” arrangement will continue to be implemented in Hong Kong in the long run. He emphasised that Hong Kong will maintain an international, open and friendly business environment practising the common law. Mr Chan expressed hope for enhancing mutually beneficial co-operation in areas such as finance, innovation and technology (I&T), culture, and education. He also welcomed Spanish enterprises to invest in Hong Kong and leverage it to explore the vast markets of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, broader Mainland China, and Asia. In the afternoon, Mr Chan called on the Chinese Ambassador to Spain, Mr Yao Jing. Mr Chan briefed Ambassador Yao the latest situation in Hong Kong, as well as its development direction and strategies. They had in-depth exchanges on topics including economic and trade co-operation between China and Spain, and promoting collaboration in business and I&T between Hong Kong and Spain. Mr Chan then met with Mr José Moisés Martín Carretero, the Director General of the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (CDTI). The CDTI provides funding support for projects aligned with Spain’s I&T development strategy, and promotes technological co-operation between Spain and other countries and regions. Mr Chan highlighted the progress Hong Kong has made in recent years by investing substantially in I&T, and presented the support provided by Hong Kong’s full-spectrum financial services to I&T enterprises and projects at various development stages. They also exchanged ideas on strengthening co-operation on technology projects and the matching of funds with projects. In the morning, Mr Chan led the delegation of technology startups to visit Wayra, one of Spain’s innovation accelerators and venture capital funds, where he met with its investment team leaders. Through its global network, Wayra helps startups connect with technology and capital worldwide and provides guidance to expand their markets. During the meeting, Wayra’s technology and investment teams introduced the organisation’s operations and development strategies, and both sides discussed ways to promote mutual co-operation. Mr Chan expressed hope that the visit would facilitate better connections between the I&T ecosystems of both places and create more practical collaboration opportunities for their startups. The Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Dr Peter Lam; the Executive Director of the HKTDC, Ms Margaret Fong; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Techlogy Parks Corporation, Mr Albert Wong; the Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport, Mr Eric Chan, and the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Miss Shirley Yung, participated in all or parts of the visit above. Mr Chan will continue his visit in Madrid today (September 24, Madrid time), including attending a themed business luncheon organised by the HKTDC to promote Hong Kong’s advantages to local political, business, financial, and innovation communities.
Ends/Tuesday, September 24, 2024Issued at HKT 9:00
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz on the margins of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Chancellor Scholz highlighted the close relationship between Canada and Germany. They discussed shared priorities, including combating climate change, advancing clean energy such as green hydrogen, expanding economic cooperation, promoting trade and investment, and making progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through actions announced at the Future Summit.
The two leaders discussed their shared concerns over the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East and agreed on the need to promote lasting peace and security in the region. They also reiterated their readiness to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s continuation of its unjustifiable war of aggression.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Chancellor Scholz agreed to remain in close and regular contact and looked forward to continuing to work together to advance their shared priorities, including in the context of Canada’s G7 presidency next year.
Related links
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, President of the Government of Spain. The Secretary-General and the President of the Government discussed the situation in the Middle East and in Venezuela. They also exchanged views on the Summit of the Future and Spanish support for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, including through the upcoming Conference on Financing for Development to be held in Seville, Spain in 2025.
***** El Secretario General se reunió con el Excelentísimo Señor Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, Presidente del Gobierno de España. El Secretario General y el Presidente del Gobierno abordaron la situación en el Medio Oriente y en Venezuela. También intercambiaron puntos de vista sobre la Cumbre del Futuro y el apoyo de España para la implementación de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, incluyendo mediante la próxima Conferencia sobre la Financiación para el Desarrollo que tendrá lugar en Sevilla, España en el 2025.
The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, delivered a speech at the Atlantic Council’s Global Citizen Awards ceremony in New York this evening, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) departed from HMAS Stirling, Western Australia, after a regularly scheduled port call, Sept. 14. HMAS Stirling was the seventh port call in Australia of Emory S. Land’s current deployment, which began May 17.
Emory S. Land arrived at HMAS Stirling Aug. 16 with a mixed crew of active-duty and Reserve U.S. Navy Sailors, Royal Australian Navy sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners to conduct a submarine tended maintenance period (STMP) with Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776).
“It was a great experience working with our Australian counterparts, expanding the sustainment options for U.S. SSNs while helping the Royal Australian Navy prepare for Submarine Rotational Force – West and eventually their own Virginia-class submarines,” said Capt. Brent Spillner, commanding officer of Emory S. Land. “We have a lot of very complementary aims and capabilities, and it was very rewarding to find new ways to support each other’s fleets.”
The STMP marked a significant step toward Australia gaining the capability to operate, maintain, and support a fleet of sovereign conventionally armed SSNs, which is a central requirement in executing Pillar 1 of the AUKUS security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
During the STMP, Australian Sailors who have been attached to the submarine tender since January took the lead on conducting repairs aboard USS Hawaii. Emory S. Land also worked in conjunction with the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Support Unit-West at HMAS Stirling, which provides repair and maintenance services to the Australian fleet.
“The work that we’ve done during the STMP is critical in demonstrating the tasks required to repair and sustain nuclear powered submarines,” said Cmdr. Calvin Hargadine, Emory S. Land’s repair officer. “The Royal Australian Navy sailors embedded with Emory S. Land were directly involved with each of the jobs accomplished during the availability, highlighting the interchangeability and proficiency of these sailors in conducting maintenance on these vessels. They became a part of our crew while they were here for over seven months and became family in a short amount of time. It is sad to see them go, but I know they’re going to be doing great things when they get back to their own fleet.”
At the end of Emory S. Land’s port call, the Royal Australian Navy sailors bid farewell to their American counterparts and returned to their parent commands around Australia.
“I think that the skillset that we learned and the experiences that we got will help the Royal Australian Navy in a number of ways,” said LEUT Joseph Melbin, the officer in charge of the Australian detachment aboard the submarine tender. “The biggest one is not necessarily on the technical front, but more so on the social front in terms of the connections we’ve made with the crew aboard as well as the differences that we learned from each other in the engineering systems that we use.”
For the STMP, Melbin assumed the position as the ship’s production maintenance assistant, a vital role tasked with coordinating and communicating all major repairs performed on the submarine.
“The Fleet Support Unit is very, very good at what they do, and it was a pleasure to work with them throughout this exchange program,” said Spillner. “LEUT Melbin and his team really took the reins and made the STMP a success, performing just as well as USN personnel who’ve been doing this work far longer. There’s already a high degree of trust and interchangeability between our navies, and I’m sure we’ll only draw closer in the future. It really is exciting to have such capable and energetic partners and to be able to more rapidly exchange new technologies and best practices with each other.”
While with Emory S. Land, Royal Australian Navy sailors were trained within the repair department of the ship, working in varying divisions such as the hull maintenance division, electrical repair division and the ship’s mechanical repair division.
Royal Australian Navy Able Seaman Marine Technician April Franklin commented on the goal of working side-by-side with her U.S. counterparts stating, “The main mission overall was to get as many skills and integrate as best as we could with the Emory S. Land Sailors and adapt as much as we could, and I think we’ve definitely done that. I think we went above and beyond, and exceeded.”
Also embedded with the crew of the submarine tender were U.S. Navy Reservists. For this portion of the deployment, 66 Reservists activated and mobilized to HMAS Stirling to assist with repairs and ship husbandry.
“I joined the Navy for a sense of service and to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Bryan Overton, one of the Reservists. “The best part of active duty was experiencing the submarine community and the camaraderie the community offers.”
While the STMP was a pivotal part of the port call, Sailors were also able to strengthen cultural ties with the Australian public by participating in community relation events (COMREL) such as volunteering at the food bank, cleaning enclosures at a zoo, and playing sports with local organizations in order to foster collaboration and understanding between the U.S. Navy and local communities.
“I took part in two Ronald McDonald House COMRELs, helping out by cooking in the kitchen,” said Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Sean Reese. “It is a good feeling to know that I was there to make a difference for the local kids and families in Australia. That is an experience worth doing every time.”
While moored at HMAS Stirling, Emory S. Land also hosted a series of tours to a wide range of guests, including Prime Minister Albanese, several other cabinet members, senior military leaders including Acting Undersecretary of the U.S. Navy Thomas Mancinelli, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Vice Adm. Mark Hammond, and Director-General of the Australian Submarine Agency Vice Adm. Jonathan Mead, as well as a wide range of international diplomats, state and local government officials, business leaders, academics, civic groups, and media.
“I am very proud to be able to show our medical capabilities during tours, because when people think of military medicine, they think of medics, who are more specialized, whereas Corpsmen, we can bounce back and forth between many specialties,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Oriana Winebrinner. “Showing people that we have the capabilities and training onboard to save lives was an incredibly proud moment.”
During the previous five months, Emory S. Land conducted scheduled port calls in Darwin, Cairns, Sydney, Eden, Melbourne, and Adelaide. The ship’s Sailors had the opportunity to volunteer in the community, host tours, and repair allied nations’ ships in these cities. Emory S. Land is on deployment supporting the U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward deployed numbered fleet, operating with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Emory S. Land provides expeditionary intermediate-level maintenance, services, and logistics support to deployed submarines.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanna Mendelssohn, Honorary Senior Fellow, School of Culture and Communication. Editor in chief, Design and Art of Australia Online, The University of Melbourne
The Nelson Packer Tank, that cavernous space at the very bottom of the Art Gallery of NSW’s Naala Badu building, has been waiting for art like this.
The former World War II oil storage tank is huge, held together by rows of structural columns. Their dominance means it is just not possible for viewers to have an unimpeded fields of vision for any art on display. Then there are the acoustics. Every sound resonates, but few carry far.
This is a room of echoes, embedded in the dark.
In this space Angelica Mesiti, an Australian living in France, has created The Rites of When: an event that rethinks ancient rituals of seasonal celebrations, while also marking the terrible changes wrought on our heating planet. Her tools are video, performers, music and song – all modified by the unique whispering echoes of the Tank.
The sky, and the snow
As the title implies, Mesiti has used the structure of Stravinski’s The rite of spring as one of the elements in her great design. But she shows a world far removed from mythical Russian peasants.
Each of the two movements are preceded by “Celestial Nebula”, where abstract forms of light dissolve into a vision of the night sky, presented on seven giant video screens.
This is not the sky as seen by city dwellers, where artificial light eliminates the stars, but rather the Milky Way in all its glory, with its hero stars which we call the Seven Sisters, but people in the northern hemisphere call the Pleiades.
Mesiti has said one of her inspirations was that, when COVID came, she and her partner began to spend time away from Paris in rural France. Here she came to know the night sky, and to see both the rhythms and the realities of rural life.
In the first movement, a dazzling starscape is gradually bleached by artificial light, which transforms into sunlight, and the viewer is looking at drone footage of a snow-capped pine forest which we then zoom through.
The dominant columns of The Tank combine with the straight tree trunks of this plantation forest give a sense of visual ambiguity. With the all surrounding sound, it is hard to work out where the screened image ends and where the columns begin.
A sudden shift of mood in the music, and the viewers are plunged into the middle of a Brueghel-like celebration of people dancing in the winter solstice. The colours are warm, the rustic dancers are wearing decorations made of the fruits of the field. They dance around a bonfire made from wooden planks, they form a procession with an effigy of a horned beast, stuffed with fireworks.
The fireworks and the dancers become a frenzy of ever increasing movement of rhythmic sound which explodes into dazzling white silence.
Capturing the summer solstice
When she was discussing The Rites of When at the media preview, Mesiti casually mentioned how hard it had been to film the snowy forest as, for the first time ever, winter was so mild it hardly snowed at all on the pine plantations of the Jura Mountains.
Global heating added an extra element when filming the summer solstice.
At first the viewer sees the seven screens as giant patterns of gold, marked by elegant patterns of vertical lines. Perspective changes when a tiny toy moving up one of the screens is revealed to be a harvester. This is a drone’s eye view of a wheat harvest in modern industrial scale farming. As the fields are slowly stripped of their crop, a puff of smoke appears, then a line of fire, and the gold is steadily eaten away to become charcoal.
This was not planned. Europe was so hot and dry last June that a single spark from a harvester grinding a stray stone turned the wheat to ash. Monoculture, so effectively described by those endless flat golden fields, has no defence against nature.
The mood of the music changes and golden smoke covering the wheat dissolves into golden light. A small, solemn procession appears and moves across each screen in turn. They elevate each member in turn, in a quiet ritual performance.
The colours of the background change with their movement– from gold, to red, to purple, to blue. As they reach the last screen the blue fades to grey, to rain.
In the silence, a single hand on a single screen snaps fingers. On the other side of the room, another responds. Now there is a rhythmic orchestra clicking, clapping and slapping – ever faster, ever louder. The hands become dancers, moving in a wild ecstatic dance of increasing intensity, as the bodies are caught up with the music and the light.
In her notes, Mesiti calls this section “Ecstatic Collectivity”. It seems an apt description.
At the very end, Mesiti returns us to the pure colours of the Celestial Nebula. Perhaps she is saying the folly of humanity may change the moods of the earth, but the stars will endure forever.
The Rites of When lasts just over 30 minutes. Because it is so dependent on its location, this is a piece that cannot travel. It is worth the price of an air fare.
The Rites of When is at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, until May 11 2025.
Joanna Mendelssohn has in the past received funding from the Australian Research Council.
Thirty-six Chinese and Greek musicians came together Sunday evening to perform classical and contemporary music in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, creating a new bridge of communication between the two countries.
“The Moon” was the theme of the event featuring musical pieces by composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven, alongside works by 20th-century Greek composer Manos Hatzidakis.
The event was co-organized by the Athens Conservatoire and the Athens State Orchestra.
This was not the first time the Athens State Orchestra has collaborated with Chinese artists in recent years. However, each occasion brings additional steps toward deepening bilateral understanding through art, members of the orchestra told Xinhua.
This time, the Athens State Orchestra was conducted by Chinese maestro Qian Junping. The audience was captivated by their surprise performance of the traditional Chinese song “Green Willow” at the closing.
“We had a wonderful collaboration, and we hope to meet again. I also hope the Chinese audience appreciated our effort to perform the Chinese song,” said Manos Gouvelis, who played the viola.
“We had limited time to practice together, but we all gave our best, and I believe the outcome was positive,” said violinist Faidon Miliadis.
“The audience responded very positively, and I enjoyed it immensely,” conductor Qian Junping told Xinhua. This marked his third visit to Greece since 2016 to perform and collaborate with Greek musicians.
For Chinese violinist Weng Qingzhu, this was his first visit to Greece. He performed the “Polonaise in D Major” by Henryk Wieniawski, accompanied by Chinese pianist Yu Hanwen.
“It was a wonderful atmosphere. The audience was very welcoming, and I felt that they enjoyed the piece, which features Chinese elements,” Weng said.
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Delegates attend a panel discussion during the Budapest Renminbi (RMB) Initiative Conference 2024 in Budapest, Hungary on Sept. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Hungary and China have agreed to strengthen financial cooperation and promote green finance at the Budapest Renminbi (RMB) Initiative Conference 2024 in Budapest on Monday.
At the conference, co-hosted by the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) and the Bank of China, Barnabas Virag, deputy governor of MNB highlighted the importance of the initiative in fostering Hungary-China relations and supporting sustainable investments.
“The Budapest Renminbi Initiative, launched in 2015, has been instrumental in deepening financial and economic ties between China and Hungary,” he said, adding that “this year, our focus is on green finance and the internalization of the RMB, two crucial areas for the future of our economies.”
Virag spoke highly of China’s strides in developing its green finance market, citing the issuance of green bonds and the financing of environmentally sustainable projects, a trend that Hungary is also embracing.
He also underscored the role of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in promoting sustainable development. “As the BRI evolves, its potential to promote sustainable future-proof investment is becoming increasingly clear. By aligning BRI projects with green finance principles, we can ensure that economic growth driven by the initiative is both inclusive and responsible,” Virag noted.
The BRI, which Hungary joined in 2015, has bolstered infrastructure projects and increased trade between the two countries, said Virag at the conference, which is also part of celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Yang Chao, minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, said the conference is a significant step toward expanding RMB cooperation and promoting green finance.
“China and Hungary share similar development concepts and policy goals. We hope to expand the breadth and depth of RMB cooperation and elevate financial cooperation to new heights under the Belt and Road framework,” Yang added.
The first half of 2024 saw robust growth in cross-border RMB settlements between China and Hungary. The Bank of China processed a total of 26.4 billion yuan in settlements through its domestic and Hungarian branches.
Lin Jingzhen, executive director and vice president of the Bank of China, said that after more than a decade of development, the global influence of the RMB has continued to expand.
“The Bank of China will continue to improve its green financial products and services, fully supporting Hungary and Central and Eastern European customers in implementing green strategies,” Lin noted.
Li Kexin, chief executive officer of the Bank of China (Central and Eastern Europe) Ltd., also reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to green finance, saying that the Bank of China helped Hungary issue 1 billion yuan in green sovereign panda bonds in 2021 and 2 billion yuan in 2022.
This year, the Hungarian branch also issued 500 million U.S. dollars in sustainable development bonds as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, Li said.
Philemon Yang, president of the General Assembly of the United Nations, speaks at the Summit of the Future at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
The two-day Summit of the Future concluded in the United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday evening, as a major part of the ongoing 79th UN Genernal Assembly (UNGA) with a clamor for multilateralism in the future governance of global affairs.
The summit featured the adoption of the Pact for the Future and its annexes — the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.
It is “a commitment to a new start in multilateralism,” said a UN release. “The centerpiece of the Summit of the Future is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the multilateral system and steer humanity on a new course to meet existing commitments and solve long-term challenges.”
“We stand at a crossroads of global transformation, facing unprecedented challenges that demand urgent, collective action,” UNGA President Philemon Yang said at the opening segment on Sunday. “From conflict and climate change to the digital divide, from inequalities to threats against human rights, together, we all face profound challenges. Yet, alongside these challenges, there is hope.”
“I called for this summit to consider deep reforms to make global institutions more legitimate, fair and effective, based on the values of the UN Charter,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the summit. “Our multilateral tools and institutions are unable to respond effectively to today’s political, economic, environmental and technological challenges. And tomorrow’s will be even more difficult and even more dangerous.”
Speaking on behalf of the least developed countries (LDCs) group, Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli said that millions of their children are hungry every day, highlighting the inequality evident around the globe.
“Nothing could be more unjust and ethnical than to be ignorant to the fact that millions of people in LDCs live in extreme poverty while a small minority in some corners of the world accumulate billions in wealth,” he said.
Olaf Scholz, chancellor of Germany, urged those present to take steps towards a more peaceful, fairer world, saying that while “the road ahead is rocky,” history will judge member states for their commitment to the plan at hand.
The pact can serve as a compass towards cooperation instead of conflict, showing determination to restore international justice and expelling all the talk of polarization, he added.
The Pact for the Future, covering a broad range of themes including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance, was adopted unanimously on Sunday. Over 130 heads of state and government attended the summit prepared over a period of over 1.5 years and made remarks about the documents it hammered out as its main outcome.
