Over the weekend, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her participation in the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers-Canada Consultation, in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).
September 23, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
Over the weekend, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her participation in the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers-Canada Consultation, in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).
During the consultation, Minister Ng highlighted the progress Canada and ASEAN member states have made toward an ASEAN-Canada free trade agreement, and underscored the importance of intensifying efforts to conclude the agreement negotiations in 2025.
At the meeting, Minister Ng and ASEAN partners discussed the increased trade and economic cooperation since the launch of Canada-ASEAN Strategic Partnership a year ago, including the advancement of initiatives under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy in key areas such as inclusive trade, digital trade, agriculture and agri-food and sustainability.
The Minister also acknowledged the Canada-ASEAN Business Council’s participation in the consultations and recognized its support of Canada’s commitment to creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses and investors.
On the margins of the consultations, Minister Ng also interacted with several international partners to advance discussions on trade priorities of mutual interest.
These included:
Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR
Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia
Filipus Nino Pereira, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Timor-Leste
Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN
Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia
Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Switzerland
Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Trade, Australia
Douglas Alexander, Minister of State (Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security), the United Kingdom
“These in-person engagements in the Lao PDR were an excellent opportunity for us to continue strengthening the ASEAN-Canada bilateral commercial relationship and contribute to our mutual economic prosperity and growth. Canada will keep working with ASEAN partners to deepen trade ties that will benefit Canadian businesses and workers, create good jobs and generate strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth from coast to coast to coast.”
– Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
Huzaif Qaisar Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development 343-575-8816 Huzaif.Qaisar@international.gc.ca
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MILAN and TURIN, Italy, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intesa Sanpaolo has been ranked the world’s leading bank among the 100 most inclusive and diversity-sensitive workplaces in the FTSE Diversity & Inclusion Index – Top 100, the FTSE Russel (formerly Refinitiv) international index. The Group ranks seventh globally among all companies, and is the leading banking group worldwide as well as the only Italian bank in the index.
The analysis by FTSE Russell assesses more than 15,500 listed companies worldwide, using 24 parameters that fall into four key categories: gender diversity, inclusion, people development and controversies. FTSE Russell is a leading global provider of benchmarking, analytics and data solutions.
Inclusion in the FTSE Diversity & Inclusion Index – Top 100 underlines the commitment of Intesa Sanpaolo, led by CEO Carlo Messina, to promoting diversity and inclusion as essential components for growth. It also reflects the Group’s commitment to promoting an inclusive workplace, that welcomes and values all forms of diversity, supported by a process of continuous measurement, evaluation and enrichment of the results obtained.
“Society, the business world, and especially the banking sector are experiencing rapid, transformative changes driven by new technologies.
“At Intesa Sanpaolo, we believe that the human factor – the talent and dedication of our people – is more important than ever to face these new realities. That’s why we invest significant effort, resources, and innovative programs in our employees, aimed at building a bank that nurtures the best talents with a focus on inclusivity and appreciation for the richness of human capital in terms of gender and other forms of diversity.
“This recognition from such a prestigious index is both an honor and an encouragement to keep advancing in this direction.”
Intesa Sanpaolo Intesa Sanpaolo, with over €422 billion in loans and €1.35 trillion in customer financial assets at the end of June 2024, is the largest banking group in Italy, with a significant international presence. It is a European leader in wealth management, with a strong focus on digital and fintech. The Group will provide €115 billion of Impact lending by 2025 to support communities and the green transition, together with a €1.5 billion program (2023-2027) to help people in need. The Bank’s network of museums, the Gallerie d’Italia, hosts its owned artistic heritage and cultural projects of recognized value.
Over the weekend, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her participation in the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Canada Economic Ministers’ Consultation in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).
September 23, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
Over the weekend, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her participation in the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Canada Economic Ministers’ Consultation in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).
During the consultation, Minister Ng highlighted the progress made by Canada and ASEAN Member States towards an ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement and stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve the goal of concluding negotiations for the agreement in 2025.
At the meeting, Minister Ng and ASEAN partners discussed the trade and economic cooperation that has grown since the launch of the Canada-ASEAN Strategic Partnership a year ago, including advancing initiatives under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy in key areas such as inclusive trade, digital trade, agriculture and agri-food, and sustainability.
The Minister also welcomed the participation of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council in the consultations and acknowledged its support for Canada’s commitment to creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses and investors.
On the sidelines of the consultations, Minister Ng also met with several international partners to advance discussions on trade priorities of mutual interest.
She met in particular:
Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia Filipus Nino Pereira, Minister of Trade and Industry, Timor-Leste Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Switzerland Tim Ayres, Deputy Minister for Trade, Australia Douglas Alexander, Minister of State (Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security), United Kingdom
“These face-to-face exchanges in Lao PDR provided us with an excellent opportunity to continue to strengthen the ASEAN-Canada bilateral trade relationship and contribute to the economic prosperity and growth of both our countries. Canada will continue to work with our ASEAN partners to deepen commercial ties that will benefit Canadian businesses and workers, create good jobs, and generate strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth from coast to coast to coast.”
– Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
Huzaif QaisarPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development343-575-8816Huzaif.Qaisar@international.gc.ca
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
Statement fromDetective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, who is in charge of policing for Greenwich, following the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy.
“I’m very sad to say that we have launched a murder investigation following the stabbing of a teenager last night, Sunday 22 September, in Greenwich.
“Police were called at about 6.35pm to reports of a disturbance on Eglinton Road in the Woolwich area.
“Our officers attended and found a 15-year-old boy with a stab injury. Despite the efforts of officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service, sadly he died a short time later.
“His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers from the Met.
“Once again we have had to tell a child’s family that their loved one has been killed in an act of violence using a knife. Our thoughts are with them as they struggle to comprehend what has happened.
“The fact that a 15-year-old teenager, who had his whole life ahead of him, has been taken from his family in this way, is a stark and sobering reminder of the danger of ‘zombie-style’ knives. We are committed to doing everything in our power to taking these weapons off our streets.
“We know that this murder will also send shockwaves throughout the community and I understand the genuine concern this will create. We share those concerns.
“You can expect to see your local officers in the area over the coming days. Please speak with them if you have any questions or need any support or advice.
“Local teams are working closely with the specialist homicide detectives so that we can establish exactly what happened as quickly as possible. Enquiries continue at pace today.
“We need your help to find answers the victim’s family desperately needs. Do you have any information that might help our detectives? Even the smallest detail might prove vital.
“Were you in the area of Eglinton Road on Sunday evening around 6.30pm? Did you see anyone running from the area?
“If you live in the area do you have any CCTV, doorbell cameras or dash cam footage? We have an online portal where you can upload images or video footage.
“If you have useful information, please call us on 020 8721 4005 quoting Operation Baghaze.
“Alternatively, if you are not comfortable speaking to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. They will not share your personal details with the police.”
Bus passengers in Portsmouth have reason to celebrate as bus operators and local authorities join forces to launch a new bus ticket that promises to make bus travel more convenient, affordable and accessible to all.
The new SolentGo ticket, the Greater Portsmouth Travelcard, is now available to purchase online, or direct from the driver. This ticket allows interchangeable and unlimited travel on both First and Stagecoach buses in Portsmouth and beyond. These tickets have been developed in partnership with local bus companies, First Solent and Stagecoach South, and local authorities Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council as well as the Solent Transport Partnership.
Passengers can now travel for work or leisure to Emsworth, Horndean, Bishops Waltham, Botley, Fareham, Gosport, Hayling Island and Portsmouth. Daily and weekly tickets are available, which cost £7.50 and £30 respectively and are designed to take people where they need to go, with convenience in mind. These travelcards allow unlimited travel within the extended area, and you can tap on, tap off with your ticket, or use your mobile phone app.
Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport at Portsmouth City Council said:
“The new SolentGo Greater Portsmouth Travelcard is a great step towards making bus travel easier, more affordable and more convenient. Passengers can now travel seamlessly across different bus operators, both within the city and to nearby areas. This launch is the result of strong collaboration between local councils and bus companies, and this initiative comes from consultation with the public, all with the aim of improving public transport for everyone.”
Cllr Lulu Bowerman, Cabinet Member for Highways at Hampshire County Council said:
“This is a good example of how, by working collectively to bring about bus service improvements, through the Bus Service Improvement Plan, we can make travel easier and, in this case, the cost of travel more affordable. We know many bus users who live in the areas outside the City, travel in regularly for work, shopping and leisure. If they use the services of more than one bus operator, they can now buy one ticket for the whole of their daily travel needs.”
Marc Reddy, Managing Director of Stagecoach South said:
“We are delighted to announce the arrival of this newest addition to the SolentGo range of travelcards which give customers the chance to travel between the services of different operators on a single ticket. They are easy to buy on your phone, or – if you just want a day travelcard – from the driver.”
Simon Goff, Managing Director of First Solent said:
“We are very keen to make travel by bus as easy as possible, and SolentGo is one of the ways we do this. Over 200,000 journeys are made each year in south Hampshire on SolentGo travelcards by customers who use the services of more than one operator, and we are sure this new Greater Portsmouth ticket will be a popular addition to the range”
Maggie Chapman MSP reacts to Rachel Reeves’ conference speech
More in Economy
The Winter Fuel Payment cut is the political choice of a Labour Chancellor who is refusing to break from Tory economics, says the Scottish Greens social security spokesperson, Maggie Chapman MSP.
This follows a Labour conference speech by Rachel Reeves that doubled down on the punishing cut.
Ms Chapman said:
“The Chancellor promised people across the UK that there would be no return to austerity, but having listened to her conference speech, I am not sure she knows what that means.
“She said she had no choice except to cut the Winter Fuel Payment because there wasn’t enough money for it. But she could make different choices: she could raise taxes on the biggest corporations or the wealthiest people.
“Only this morning, Labour doubled down on nuclear weapons. She could choose to use the billions she is spending on weapons of mass killing to support families being plunged into poverty. She could stop public subsidies going to arms companies to make bullets and bombs being used in genocide.
“The cut is an entirely political choice, and so is the suffering and death that will be its consequence. The Chancellor would clearly rather punish pensioners than stand up to her wealthy donors. It was a shameful decision, and it was astonishing to hear Labour members and MPs applauding as she tried to defend it.
“For 14 years, people all across our country have suffered through Tory austerity, and, in July, they were told that they were voting for change. Many hoped this would be the end of the pain. But in reality, it’s just the next chapter of austerity, this time being written by Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)
Rep. Don Beyer today announced that Rep. Jennifer Wexton will receive the Clara Mortenson Beyer Women and Children First Award at his Eighth Annual Women’s Conference: The Time Is Now on September 26.
Rep. Jennifer Wexton serves Virginia’s 10th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to serving in the U.S. House, Wexton served the people of Northern Virginia for over two decades as a prosecutor, attorney, advocate for abused children, and state Senator. Throughout her legislative career, Wexton has been renowned for her success in working across the aisle to deliver results to better the lives of Virginians.
In September 2023, Wexton announced that her previous Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis had been updated to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy – a kind of ‘Parkinson’s on steroids’ – and would not seek reelection. Following this diagnosis, Wexton used her platform and time in office to raise awareness for and champion passage of the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act which was ultimately signed into law by President Biden. In July 2024, Wexton became the first member of the U.S. House to have a model of her voice generated by artificial intelligence speak for her on the House floor.
“A neurodegenerative disease diagnosis is extremely difficult news for anyone to receive, but Jennifer has faced her diagnosis with extraordinary grace, strength, and courage,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “She has never wavered in her service to the American people and was instrumental in the enactment of the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act, the most significant action Congress has taken in decades to combat Parkinson’s and related neurodegenerative diseases. I am so proud to know and serve with Jennifer and call her a friend.”
Rep. Beyer created the Clara Mortenson Beyer Women and Children First Award while Ambassador to Switzerland in 2011. It is named after his grandmother, who is credited with convincing the Roosevelt Administration to appoint Frances Perkins, the first female Cabinet Secretary in the United States. Clara Beyer served as Secretary Perkins’ right hand, working on child labor issues. She was the first woman appointed as US Representative to the International Labor Organization in Geneva.
The award is given annually to recognize exceptional work to empower women. Previous awardees include Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tanya J. Bradsher, Dr. Tahera Ahmadi, journalist Marie Ridder, gun violence prevention advocate Naomi Wadler, rock climber Sasha DiGiulian, diplomat Betty King, PeaceWomen founder Ruth Gaby Vermot, journalist Lisa Feldmann, Arlington community activist Portia Clark, and immigration advocate Ofelia Calderón.
This year’s conference will be held at George Mason University’s Arlington Campus on the evening of Thursday, September 26. Registration and additional information are available here.
Key representatives from Plymouth’s health and social care sector have met for the first time to share system-wide, collective workforce strategies across University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Livewell Southwest and adult social care.
The event hosted by Caring Plymouth, the city’s sector skills partnership for health and social care, brought together a range of stakeholders including adult social care providers, Plymouth City Council’s Commissioners, senior representatives from the NHS and Livewell Southwest, training providers including further and higher education, and representatives from Department for Work and Pensions.
Councillor Mary Aspinall, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “We now have shared understanding about the demands for this critical workforce so that we can better prioritise the coordinated actions that we need to take to deliver a sustainable, system-wide skilled workforce for the future. We know that this sector has the highest overall demand for recruitment in Plymouth, with approximately 350 unique job vacancies a month with highest demands for care workers and home carers as well as nurses, and there is also significant need for managerial and administrative roles.”
Speaking at the event, Darryn Allcorn, Chief Nurse & Director of Integrated Professions at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said: “It is exceptionally positive that we can work collaboratively across the city in order to understand our collective workforce demands and challenges. There is so much more to our workforce than the traditional caring roles associated with health and social care. Through working together, we can ensure our local communities not only have employment opportunities but supported to develop lifelong careers.”
Sharing their workforce strategy priorities, Nicky Varker, Assistant Director of Workforce at Livewell Southwest, said: “We share in the ambition to deliver the highest-quality health and care services to our population and to do this, we want to make sure Plymouth is the destination of choice for roles in the sector. This means creating attractive packages that bring the best people into the city and support them to unlock their potential. We’ve worked hard to open doors in recent years with new pathways into nursing that are helping people to achieve aspirations they had started to close a door on. The challenge is to spread this into our wider workforce to create clear development pathways to help people enter and grow within Livewell.”
The event also marked the launch of the city’s first dedicated Skills and Training Directory for the Health and Social Care sector which provides access and improved information, advice and guidance for people new to the sector as well as helping the existing workforce with career progression.
Parents in Stoke-on-Trent have been receiving extra support with finding free or affordable school uniforms with the help of a QR code
VAST have collated a resource of school uniform banks, exchanges, swap shops and donation points.
They are using this information to develop a toolkit to help communities find their nearest school uniform bank or find support with the huge cost of school uniform with the help of a QR code.
The cost of living crisis has hit many families in Stoke-on-Trent hard and finding money for school uniform can feel impossible, which is why this work by VAST has been so helpful to many across the city.
Faye Angus, Communications and Content Manager at VAST said: “As a parent, I am all too aware of the cost of school uniforms and how long they realistically last on growing children. It’s not as simple as popping to the local supermarket for the cheaper jumpers and cardigans, not when a lot of schools are insisting on branded blazers, ties, and sometimes even PE socks!”
“We worked closely with the sector to develop a cost-of-living comms toolkit; a range of content for voluntary sector organisations to share information on free and/or affordable food within their local communities. But we wanted that content to reach as many people as possible with the information and support they need, and what they needed support with was accessible school wear.”
“The survey responses we gathered meant we were able to connect communities with free or affordable second-hand school uniform. Whether it was a uniform exchange to take old and outgrown items and swap them for bigger ones, or it was a free bank for specific branded items – we were able to share where to access it.”
“We’re very grateful to the groups who responded to our survey and were able to help local parents and carers to access the uniform they need for their children, either for free, by exchanging outgrown items, or at a fraction of the retail price.”
Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for Education and Anti-Poverty, said: “This has been a brilliant campaign that VAST have put together to help families across Stoke-on-Trent with the high cost of school uniforms.
“With the cost of living crisis affecting so many and children growing out of school uniforms that then need replacing, it is a recurring cost that many find hard to afford.
“I am so pleased that so many families have been helped by this across the city and urge anyone still struggling with school uniform costs to check out the resources VAST have put together for extra support.”
A record-breaking response to the city’s Community Council elections has been hailed as great news for local democracy.
Applications earlier this month to become community councillors have resulted in an uncontested election on 16 September and 26 out of a possible 30 Community Councils being established; the most achieved at any triennial election.
Community councillors will take up their roles on 3 October.
Councillor Miranda Radley, Communities, Housing and Public Protection Convener, said: “This is fantastic news and a huge boost for local democracy in Aberdeen.
“Community Councils and community councillors play such a positive role in influencing the future of our city for the better.”
Community Councils act as a voice for their local area and express the views of local people on issues that are most important to them. They are also a statutory consultee on all planning applications and liquor licensing applications.
Community Councils usually meet once a month, to discuss concerns in their local area and through public engagement should encourage feedback and involvement from everyone in the local community. This could include consultations, public meetings and actively promoting the work of the Community Council.
Established under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, most Community Councils comprise of up to 12 members with some having more, depending on the size of the population for that location, with each community councillor elected to serve for a period of three years.
TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altus Group (TSX: AIF) introduced ARGUS Intelligence at its Altus Connect conference last week, a new product built to drive CRE portfolio performance.
ARGUS Intelligence is Altus’ next-generation software for CRE investment management. It is designed to transform the way investors model, monitor and manage their assets and portfolios by providing instant performance insights. It delivers new capabilities for asset, portfolio, and benchmark management, and includes industry-leading ARGUS Enterprise. With ARGUS Intelligence, CRE investors can now dynamically drill into data to quickly analyze and compare performance metrics to enhance returns and reduce risk.
“For more than 30 years, ARGUS has led the way in bringing valuation transparency to the CRE industry. ARGUS Intelligence builds and expands upon this foundation with automated data connectivity and advanced analytics to deliver performance insights,” commented David Ross, Chief Technology Officer at Altus. “This launch marks a significant evolution for ARGUS, transforming it from its forecasting and modelling roots into a mission-critical solution for driving CRE performance. CRE investors can now consistently measure their performance against both internal plans and relevant peers and identify key metrics to stress-test their cash flows.”
Ross continued, “Altus is investing in enhancing CRE intelligence. We’re leveraging AI to solve critical data challenges and providing the industry with a new data model that connects the ARGUS ecosystem. This provides us with an incredibly rich CRE dataset to bring unmatched intelligence back to our clients.”
ARGUS Intelligence core capabilities:
Asset Manager Functionality: Dynamically access asset-level metrics and underlying assumptions, and seamlessly conduct scenario analysis.
Automated Data Consolidation: Benefit from Altus’ scalable data model which streamlines ARGUS modelling data to unlock new insights.
ARGUS Enterprise: Utilize the industry-leading software for trusted commercial property valuation, budgeting and cash flow forecasting, essential for managing commercial assets and property portfolios.
ARGUS Intelligence add-on capabilities:
Portfolio Manager Functionality: Create custom asset groupings and conduct scenario analysis to gain insights into portfolio level performance metrics and quickly identify which assets are driving performance.
Benchmark Manager Functionality (available in early 2025): Compare performance against the ARGUS ecosystem and conduct comprehensive attribution analysis.
“It’s great to see Altus deliver a product that modernizes the way the industry can access and consume data,” added Merritt Poole, Chief Financial Officer at Core Spaces, who attended Altus Connect. “The interactive dashboard on the Portfolio Manager capability highlights the most critical performance insights, enabling CRE professionals to quickly identify and react to the key drivers of portfolio value and cash flow growth.”
To learn more about ARGUS Intelligence, click here.
About Altus Group
Altus Group is a leading provider of asset and fund intelligence for commercial real estate. We deliver intelligence as a service to our global client base through a connected platform of industry-leading technology, advanced analytics, and advisory services. Trusted by the largest CRE leaders, our capabilities help commercial real estate investors, developers, proprietors, lenders, and advisors manage risks and improve performance returns throughout the asset and fund lifecycle. Altus Group is a global company headquartered in Toronto with approximately 2,900 employees across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. For more information about Altus (TSX: AIF) please visit www.altusgroup.com.
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
Anyone conducting banking business or providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the required authorisation. Information on whether companies have been authorised by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.
The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German BankingAct (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).
Please be aware:
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
The Capital is gearing up to highlight the importance of Organ and Tissue Donation Week 2024 which runs from September 23-29 September.
This year the NHS Organ Donor Register celebrates its 30th birthday. To raise awareness of the incredible gift of organ and tissue donation, the City Chambers is turning pink.
The annual campaign raises awareness for the ongoing need for organ donation, whilst also encouraging people to make a decision about whether they wish to opt in or out of donation and making sure these wishes are discussed with family members.
Our Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), another landmark building on the city skyline, is also lighting up pink in support of the campaign.
Depute Lord Provost, Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron said:
Almost 60,000 lives have been saved since the NHS Organ Donor Register was created in 1994. Organ and Tissue Donation Week is the perfect opportunity to highlight this incredible fact.
As we mark the 30th anniversary of the NHS Organ Donor Register, we must also be mindful of the fact that more than 7,600 people in the UK are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant. There are thousands of people who could be given a new lease of life by a donor. To help as many people as possible we all need to play our part by considering and registering our decisions to be, or not to be, a donor.
These are conversations that need to be had amongst families, friends, colleagues, and communities as we go forward. Families are more likely to support donation when they are already aware of their loved one’s wish to be an organ donor.
Whilst it’s heartening that over half of people in Scotland have now registered their organ and tissue donation decision, a great many people still haven’t done so. Whatever your choice may be, the important thing is to make it, discuss it with loved ones, and record it.
I hope the aim of this week’s campaign of raising awareness of the lifesaving opportunities of organ donation encourages anyone who is 16 years old or over who have yet to record their decision to do so by visiting the official website today.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the cost of chronic diseases overwhelming family budgets and federal health care spending, Americans need better tools to manage their health, according to witnesses testifying before a Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing. Nearly 90 percent of the $4.1 trillion spent on health care in America each year is attributable to chronic disease. Addressing obesity, a risk factor for several chronic diseases, could save taxpayers up to $500 billion annually, and improve the nation’s physical and fiscal health. Witnesses pointed to the success of programs in various parts of Medicare – including innovative Medicare Advantage coverage options and value-based care delivery options – in improving patient health. The Health Subcommittee hearing follows the Ways and Means Committee voting earlier this year to provide innovative medical treatments to help more Americans manage chronic disease. In June, the Ways and Means Committee advanced bipartisan legislation requiring Medicare to cover certain anti-obesity medications, multi-cancer early detection tests, innovative medical devices and pilot a medically-tailored meal program. This week, the House of Representatives unanimously approved H.R. 3800, the Chronic Disease Flexible Coverage Act which passed out of the Ways and Means Committee as well and provides private health insurers with the flexibility to cover preventive medication and treatments.
New Report: Obesity Costs Taxpayers an Additional $9.1 Trillion
Obesity is a risk factor for several chronic diseases, including but not limited to, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Republicans on the Joint Economic Committee, led by Ways and Means Committee member Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-01), recently issued a report calculating that obesity and its associated health expenses will cost the federal government an additional $9.1 trillion over the next 10 years. Diabetes, a chronic disease, already accounts for a sizable portion of Medicare spending. These costs to taxpayers highlight the need to prevent and effectively manage chronic diseases.
Rep. Schweikert:“I’m the senior Republican on the Joint Economic Committee…We did the math on obesity in America. We calculate that over the next 10 years, obesity in America may add an additional $9.1 trillion additional health care costs…A bunch of the people on the Left and the Right came to me and said, I can’t believe you were willing to say it, but it’s true. You have a country where we are about to have the fifth year in a row where prime age males are dying younger. The Milken Institute says 47 percent of all U.S. health care is tied to obesity, and in many ways, we also have data that in four years, more than half of America will actually be up against that number. Diabetes now is 33 percent of all U.S. health care spending, 31 percent within Medicare.”
“Once you get the test, how do we act on that?” Connecting Innovative Screening to Treatment
Expanding coverage and access to innovative testing for chronic diseases – like multi-cancer early detection screenings – is a major first step in addressing the prevalence of chronic disease by allowing patients and providers to begin treatments even earlier than ever before. However, in response to a question from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), former Senator and physician Bill Frist highlighted how more can be done to bridge the gap between when a test result is received and care is provided – particularly for patients in rural communities.
Rep. Fitzpatrick: “I also want to highlight the importance of prevention services – specifically for cancer. Currently there are more than 1.7 million people who receive a cancer diagnosis every single year. Our committee has advanced legislation to increase Medicare access to multi-cancer early detection screenings. Many of us are on the Cancer Caucus which I co-chair. We’ve also introduced numerous pieces of legislation. Dr. Peters and Senator Frist – in your experiences, what other investments, aside from early screenings, should be made to prevent further cancer diagnoses, and get our arms around this terrible killer in America.”
Former Senator Bill Frist, M.D.: “…Once you get the test, how do we act on that? In terms of the companies that I work with in the field, there’s a huge gap between if you have a positive result or a negative result, what happens? How do you get to that facility, to that critical access hospital, to the local hospital, to the hospital two or three hours away. And that’s where an opportunity, that gap exists for things like telemedicine, patient navigation.”
“We Mop Up the Floor While the Sink Overflows”: America Ignores the Root Causes of Chronic Diseases
A common focus of the hearing was how food could be better utilized as preventive medicine to address America’s chronic disease epidemic and its associated cost to individuals, families, and taxpayers. Witnesses discussed the importance of preventive medicine in addressing chronic diseases versus the prevailing approach of simply managing them after Americans have already become ill. As one witness told Health Subcommittee Chairman Vern Buchanan (FL-16), the status quo approach is similar to “mop[ping] up the floor while the sink overflows.”
Rep. Buchanan:“Dr. Hyman…we’re spending over a trillion dollars. We’re spending more money than we’ve ever spent, but we’re going in the wrong direction in terms of health care. When you look at 42 percent…obesity of adults, 20 percent with children. That’s wrong. That’s sad. We can do a lot better. What are your thoughts on it?”
Dr. Mark Hyman, Institute for Functional Health:“The science and the data are clear that we can solve this chronic disease epidemic by focusing on its root causes. I practice root cause medicine…What is the root cause? In America, we mop up the floor while the sink overflows. How do we turn off the faucet, so we deal with the root cause of the problem, which is the food that’s driving the chronic disease epidemic. I think there are a lot of levers that the government can pull…I think a deep understanding of food as medicine is very important.”
More Innovative Medicare Programs Can Be Part of Solving Chronic Diseases
Medicare Advantage has various programs and payment models specifically designed to prevent and treat chronic diseases. Recent data shows that nearly four million seniors are enrolled in plans that offer food and produce benefits. Additionally, Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) offer specialized care for individuals with severe or debilitating chronic disease (C-SNPs). One study on SNPs found that C-SNP enrollees with diabetes were 38 percent less likely to be admitted to a hospital and 22 percent more likely to have a primary care visit. Primary care providers treating patients upstream is key to chronic disease management. A Medicare Advantage provider detailed to Rep. Adrian Smith (NE-03) specific innovative coverage options targeted to seniors with chronic conditions.
Rep. Smith:“Dr. Rinaldo, based on your experience with Medicare Advantage, how would you say plan design can better incentivize patients to build stronger relationships with their primary care providers?”Dr. Francesca Rinaldo, Chief Clinical Innovation Officer, SCAN Health Plan:“In our benefit design, we often eliminate or reduce costs for preventive care services like primary care visits, especially those that are related to chronic condition management. For example, we have our chronic condition ‘special needs’ plans related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and end-stage renal disease. Specifically, for our diabetic members, we provide services and benefits that include no-cost insulin and low-cost other drugs, no-cost diabetic supplies and no-cost diabetic self-management training. For our cardiovascular disease members in our ‘Heart First’ plan, we provide $0 cardiologist visits as well as low-cost cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, and we provide no-cost primary care visits for these patients as well.”
A Manchester resident who made the lives of his neighbours miserable through repeated waste burning in his garden is now facing hefty fines handed down by the courts.
Haroon Razzaq, of Victoria Avenue East, was found guilty of four offences committed over months following a hearing at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on 19 September.
There were four incidents of burning with three taking place in December 2023 and one in March 2024.
The 34-year-old was also ordered to pay a hefty £1,500 fine. He was also slapped with a £600 victim surcharge and £3, 116 in total costs.
The council received repeated complaints from residents about frequent “nuisance” burning taking place at Razzaq’s property.
The burning was having a severe effect on people in the area because of the smell and smoke caused by the fires which prevented them from being able to use their gardens or being able to open their windows.
Razzaq was contacted by a Neighbourhood Compliance Officer and was swiftly warned his behaviour was causing problems for his nearby neighbours.
Burning continued to take place at Razzaq’s house and negatively impacted residents. At this point, multiple witnesses came forward and reported the notice had been breached on several occasions.
Once approached by the council again, Razzaq admitted to bringing wood and pallets from his business monthly to burn in his garden. He believed this wasn’t a problem and that it shouldn’t cause issue for other residents
He claimed this activity wasn’t an issue and disputed that it would cause a problem for anyone nearby.
Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbours, said: “The comfort and safety of our residents choosing to make Manchester home is an utmost priority. It is unacceptable that one individual could ignore and dismiss the legal requirements from authority and cause ongoing disturbance for neighbours in the comfort of their own homes and gardens.
“I am pleased to see prosecution has been brought in this case of a resident choosing to burn materials in his garden without consideration of others and the environment. The work of our legal team and Neighbourhood Compliance Team has been exemplary in bringing about justice. This case should serve as a warning to other residents who choose to ignore the law and show disregard for the community.”
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has announced radical plans to “remix the music sector” by embracing AI and VR to future-proof music tourism, recording and education.
Liverpool City Council has mapped out an ambitious programme of four ground-breaking, interlinked projects which would revolutionise the industry and have a multi-million-pound economic impact for decades to come.
The proposals are expected to be funded by private sector sources with Government support, with media giant Universal expressing their commitment to the concept.
The four projects are:
The Music Futures Lab – this bespoke facility will bring together music businesses and musicians from across the creative and digital sectors to reimagine the way we all create, consume and experience music in the future. This new R&D lab would be the first of its kind in the UK, taking advantage of the opportunities AI and VR brings, and would build on – and future-proof – the incredible creative and digital sector which the city already boasts.
MusicFutures Cluster – a mix of academic and private sector bodies creating the talent and training pipeline to make the most of the facilities which the music lab will offer. A Creative Cluster has already been established to kickstart this R&D in bringing together the music and creative industries.
Immersive Liverpool – this fully immersive audio and visual visitor attraction will reimagine the way that audiences experience the music they love. A world first, this attraction will offer a rotating set of experience ‘residencies’ with the biggest music artists. Liverpool City Council is undergoing a site selection process and is in partnership with industry leaders to help develop the scheme.
Recording and Rehearsal space – this space would become a new rehearsal home for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and a leading national facility for emerging and established artists. This would be the only UK studio of its kind and capacity outside London – “the Abbey Road of the North” – and as well as boosting the city’s ability to offer recording facilities for musicians, TV, film and gaming, it would also provide first-class training, performance and rehearsal spaces all year-round for young people across the region.
Mayor Rotheram revealed the ambitious plans at a Creative UK event as part of the Labour Party conference in the city.
The draft business cases, funded by monies received from the DCMS, are to be presented to Government in the coming weeks with detailed plans expected to be announced in 2025 – 10 years after Liverpool was appointed a UNESCO City of Music.
Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “Music is the heartbeat of Liverpool and for generations it has defined the city’s global appeal. The time has come to translate that heritage into an offer that shapes our future.
“We have ambitious plans to remix what it means to be a music city. These projects will help define and shape the next generation of talent and businesses and will increase the impact music can have on our communities and individuals from all walks of life.
“Our ‘Music 2030’ vision harnesses ambitious thinking and focused investment to turn music into a driver of social, economic and environmental advancement, with the sector becoming the backbone for new high-paying jobs, re-energising the music tourism sector and becoming a vanguard sector for positive environmental change.
“We have entered into a development relationship with Mercury Studios and Universal Music Group to help create the future of immersive music entertainment right here in Liverpool. The expertise and innovation of Mercury Studios will empower our own homegrown talent. This city is known for our incredible music heritage. Together, we will lean on that heritage to become the birthplace for a new form of music entertainment and create a digital future.
“I’m delighted with the progress made to date and super excited for what is to come. I look forward to further conversations with our partners and the Government on how we can develop and deliver these projects.”
Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, said: “The Liverpool City Region has always had music running through its veins—it’s part of who we are.
“We’re launching bold, groundbreaking projects that will remix the way music is made and experienced—right here in the heart of the UK.
“With cutting-edge technology like AI and VR, we’re creating opportunities for the next generation, making sure that Liverpool isn’t just a city with a rich musical history, but a global leader in the music of the future.
“This isn’t just business—it’s about giving young people the chance to thrive and putting our region back on the world stage.
“We’re setting the standard for what a music city should be in the 21st century.”
Culture Liverpool Director Claire McColgan said: “Liverpool is reimagining the role music plays in the regeneration of a city. By bringing musicians and the creative and digital industries closer together and building the facilities to make the most of our enviable talent pool, we believe this approach can be a driving force in positioning Liverpool as a music city remixed.
“These projects are at a really exciting stage, and we are now starting to get a sense of their scope and potential impact which could redefine what music means to Liverpool and to the rest of the country. We’re looking at a 10 year-plan to supercharge not just our visitor economy but the way that young people get access to the best music education in the world.
“It will give talented creative graduates a further reason to set up their business here. It’s taking music seriously as a catalyst for regeneration, both in terms of buildings and people.”
Michael Eakin, Chief Executive of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, said: “This centre, as part of Liverpool’s overall investment in – and development of – the music sector will be transformative for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and for young talent in the city. It will be a major regeneration driver in its location. It will provide economic growth for the city as part of the growing film, television and creative industries sector.
“It will help secure the long-term sustainability of one of the country’s most important and forward-looking orchestras and music organisations. And it will make Liverpool uniquely strong in delivering true creative education opportunities in music for children and young people across our communities.”
Coventry City Council will report on its performance across Adult Social Care to Cabinet next week in readiness for national inspections of the service.
Each year the Council publishes its annual report and this year, for the first time, it will also report on its self-assessment, reflecting on the way its Adult Social Care services have been performing over the past 12 months.
Both reports are expected to be approved at its Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 1 October.
The new self-assessment is something Councils must now produce because the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will be measuring how well Councils perform their adult social care duties. This is similar to the way the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills measure services.
The CQC is responsible for assessing Local Authorities’ delivery of their adult social care functions.
The CQC will be visiting the Council at a future date to meet with officers and services users to take a closer look at local adult social care services – and will refer to the Local Authority’s self-assessment to inform its findings. A date hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Local Authorities are required to complete a Self-Assessment for issuing to the CQC following receipt of a ‘Notification of Inspection’ – that’s when the CQC identifies a date to carry out an inspection.
Reviewing its services and preparing its self-assessment will support Coventry’s Adult Social Care’s readiness for any future inspection.
Cllr Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “We want to be completely open about adult social care services. In fact, the more that local people and stakeholders know, the better.
“It’s really important that people understand what we and other health agencies and care services can offer.
“We have a lot of information on our website and during the past year have been holding community events to tell people more about what residents can expect from our services.
“Both the annual report and self-assessment offer an overview that I think is really useful for everyone to read.
“We try to focus our own reporting on the views of people who use our services to get a good understanding about how our services make an impact on residents.
“Both reports cover each of the four CQC themes for inspection and the quality statements associated with these themes.”
She added: “It’s a good way for us to review where we are doing well and more importantly where we need to make improvements, and it makes sense to focus on the CQC themes.
“We’ll be updating the self-assessment annually and presenting it with the Annual Report. We’ll also provide it to the CQC when the Council is selected for an inspection.”
The report states: ‘The approach taken both to the Self-Assessment and Annual Report demonstrates an open approach to our successes, challenges and where we can develop further in order to improve outcomes for people with care and support needs and their unpaid carers within Coventry.
‘The Self-Assessment also provides the opportunity to present the context within which CQC will be inspecting Adult Social Care in Coventry. The production of the 2023/24 report has drawn on the pool of feedback and information that was gathered over the year from a range of sources including social care staff, Partnership Boards, the Adult Social Care Stakeholder Group, providers, partner organisations and people who have been in contact with Adult Social Care, along with their families and carers.’
Around 13 per cent of the population in Coventry is over 65. This is expected to increase by 27.7 per cent by the year 2043.
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Cities are on the front lines of addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to migration as well as natural disasters and socioeconomic inequalities.
City leaders from across the globe will convene for the 4th Forum of Mayors (Geneva, 30 September – 1 October) to discuss the implications for local governments of the Pact for the Future, which will be agreed upon by UN Member States at the United Nations Summit of the Future (New York, 22-23 September).
At the Forum of Mayors, cities will collaboratively draft an Outcome Statement on the Future of Cities.
This statement will emphasize the vital role of cities and local actors in driving a sustainable and brighter future for all. It will then be transmitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations as a contribution to strengthening the engagement of local and regional governments in UN intergovernmental bodies and processes.
As a unique platform within the United Nations system, the Forum of Mayors connects local and national authorities within a normative intergovernmental framework, contributing to a more networked and inclusive multilateralism.
The Forum will be chaired by Ms. Danela Arsovska, Mayor of Skopje (North Macedonia), with Vice-Chairpersons Mr. Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga (Portugal), Ms. Susan Aitken, City Leader of Glasgow Council (United Kingdom) and Mr. Sami Kanaan, Deputy Mayor of Geneva (Switzerland). The keynote address will be delivered by renowned architect Lord Norman Foster.
Leaders from a diverse range of cities across the pan-European region and North America will participate, including mayors and deputy mayors from Tirana (Albania), Gyumri (Armenia), Vienna (Austria), Ganja (Azerbaijan), Quebec (Canada), Osijek (Croatia), Nicosia (Cyprus), Ostrava (Czech Republic), Tallinn (Estonia), Turku (Finland), Strasbourg Eurometropolis (France), Heidelberg (Germany), Athens (Greece), Debrecen (Hungary), Bat Yam (Israel), Valmiera (Latvia), Balzan (Malta), Podgorica (Montenegro), Utrecht (Netherlands), Łódź (Poland), Mafra (Portugal), Bucharest (Romania), Novo Mesto (Slovenia), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Konya (Türkiye), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Mykolaiv (Ukraine), London (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), New Orleans (United States of America). Additional Mayors are expected to confirm their participation.
Additionally, through collaboration with other Regional Economic Commissions (ESCWA, ECLAC, ECA, ESCAP) and the Global Cities Hub, and in recognition of the global connections between urban areas and the opportunities they present for learning, partnerships, and exchange, the Forum will also unite Mayors from the UNECE region with their counterparts from cities such as Buenos Aires (Argentina), Ifangni (Benin), San Jose (Costa Rica), Pichincha (Ecuador), Irbid (Jordan), Klang (Malaysia), Turbat Kech (Pakistan), Dakar (Senegal), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Lusaka (Zambia), Rabat (Morocco).
The Forum will also feature a rich programme of side events, tackling key issues such as the underrepresentation of women in local government leadership, urban peace dialogues, cities’ solutions to the triple planetary crisis, and cities’ experiences with Voluntary Local Reviews of SDGs progress.
I am thrilled to be with you all at this high-level dialogue.
We meet at a pivotal time.
The SDGs are off-track. Hunger is rising. Fossil fuel use and global temperatures have reached unprecedented new highs. Conflicts are spreading. And the fight for gender equality has stalled.
Meanwhile, financing gaps are large and growing.
Multilateral Development Banks are a critical part of the solution to salvage the SDGs and spur progress towards the future we want and need.
MDBs are an essential source of affordable, long-term finance to developing countries.
They provide vital countercyclical support in times of crisis.
And they are uniquely capable of mobilizing other sources of finance with the SDGs, including private investments.
But to fulfill this role effectively, MDBs must become bigger, better and bolder.
This message is being clearly articulated by Member States at the Summit of the Future.
In the Summit’s Pact, Member States welcome the reforms taking place across the MDB system, while declaring that further reforms are urgently needed.
What we will hear today is that MDBs are rising to this challenge.
This meeting provides a unique opportunity for MDB Principals to share their vision for reform, explain how it can accelerate SDG action, and take stock of progress.
They will also explain where they need your support to push their reforms – and impact – further.
I’m delighted that the MDB Principals are delivering these messages here – in New York, the home of the SDGs – and now, against the backdrop of the Summit of the Future.
This sends a powerful message of the bridges we are building between the UN and MDBs, between New York and Washington DC, and between Ministries of Finance and Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
Over the coming months, the UN will be working with our MDB partners to agree on further steps to increase development finance and to reform the international financial architecture, as we prepare for the
Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain in 2025.
This is our once-in-a-decade opportunity to transform financing to serve sustainable development everywhere.
The United Nations is proud to be travelling this path with you.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Investigation into the derailment of a freight train at Audenshaw, Manchester, 6 September 2024.
Derailed wagons on the bridge.
At around 11:25 on 6 September 2024, a freight train travelling between Peak Forest and Salford derailed as it passed over a bridge in Audenshaw, Manchester.
The train involved was made up of 2 class 66 locomotives and 24 wagons, which were loaded with aggregate. The 2 locomotives and the leading 10 wagons passed safely over the bridge, but the next 9 wagons derailed, with the last of the derailed wagons coming to a stand on the bridge itself.
No injuries were caused by the accident. However, the derailment caused substantial damage to railway infrastructure and damaged some of the wagons involved.
Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events that led to the accident. It will also consider:
the condition of the infrastructure at the time of the derailment
the status and condition of the wagons involved
any underlying management factors.
Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.
We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation. This report will be available on our website.
You can subscribe to automated emails notifying you when we publish our reports.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with group of Independent Experts on Belarus. Delivered at the 57th Human Rights Council in Geneva.
We are deeply concerned by brutal and systematic human rights violations in Belarus. We condemn ongoing arbitrary arrests and widespread repression.
To mark the fourth anniversary of deeply flawed presidential elections in Belarus, we announced new sanctions on four commanding officers of penal colonies in response to ongoing human rights violations.
In addition, we announced £2.5 million support to Belarusian human rights defenders and civil society.
To the representatives of Belarus: while we welcome the recent release of some political prisoners, we urge you to immediately release the over 1,300 political prisoners who remain detained without reason.
Many face isolation, mistreatment, and a lack of medical care.
Six political prisoners are reported to have died since 2021.
The new UN regulation is expected to significantly improve road safety, while the regulatory provisions for the new braking systems in electric vehicles aim at improving energy efficiency.
Pedal misapplication more frequent among older drivers
Drivers sometimes press the acceleration pedal instead of the brake pedal by mistake, causing serious accidents. Relevant data from Asia and Europe suggest that older drivers tend to make this error more often than young drivers. For example, in Japan, they are 8 times more likely to make that mistake than other generations, leading Japan to propose a draft UN regulation to address this issue.
With population ageing affecting Europe, North America and most of Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, and estimates indicating that the number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide will more than double by 2050 the number of older drivers is also expected to rise. For example, in Japan, the number of driving license holders older than 75 is projected to increase from 4% in 2009 to 9.2% in 2025.
According to the United Nations, persons aged 65 years or above account for 30% of the overall population in Japan, 23% in Germany, 22% in France, 20% in Canada, 19% in the Republic of Korea, 18% in the United States, and 15% in China.
Given the suggested correlation between pedal misapplication and age, these figures imply a potentially increased risk of accidents in the future.
Another factor likely to contribute to this increased risk is the global rise in sales of vehicles with automatic transmission. Crash data from Japan and the United Kingdom reveal that such vehicles are more frequently associated with pedal misapplication cases. For example, in the United Kingdom, 7 out of 8 pedal misapplications with associated gear confusion are automatics.
The new UN regulation will therefore only apply to passenger cars with automatic transmission. Expected to enter into force in June 2025, the new regulation introduces a system designed to detect an object in front and rear of the vehicle and then prevent sudden acceleration.
New generation of braking systems for electric vehicles to boost energy efficiency
Hydraulic systems, typically used in passenger cars, rely on the muscular energy of the driver for the basic braking function, but may use reserves of stored energy for advanced safety features. Braking systems using compressed air (trucks and buses), and the advanced functions of passenger cars, rely on the energy converted from fossil energy. However, in electric vehicles, it is not efficient to convert electrical energy from batteries to stored energy (pressurized fluids) and then apply the brakes.
A new braking technology, employing stored electrical energy for both the control transmission and the energy transmission, aims to be more energy efficient for electric vehicles and is seen as an important element to advance the transition from vehicles employing internal combustion engines to alternatives powered by electric energy.
The hydraulic and pneumatic braking systems currently regulated by UN Regulations No. 13 (heavy vehicle braking) and No. 13-H (light vehicle braking) have reached a high level of safety, reducing the risk of dangerous crashes, especially when it comes to heavy-duty vehicles and those transporting dangerous goods.
The UNECE Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles has reviewed potential layouts for the new braking system in both light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, and it has defined relevant technical provisions to provide a comparable level of safety.
The new regulatory provisions will be adopted as amendments to UN Regulations No.13 and No.13_H. They are expected to enter into force in June 2025, while some manufacturers are anticipated to introduce new braking systems in compliance with the provisions already by end of 2025.
Note to editors
The UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) is a unique worldwide regulatory forum hosted within the institutional framework of the UNECE Inland Transport Committee. Overall, the regulatory framework developed by the World Forum WP.29 allows the market introduction of innovative vehicle technologies, while continuously improving global vehicle safety, and vehicles’ environmental performance.
GRVA is the Working Party preparing draft regulations, guidance documents and interpretation documents for adoption by the parent body, WP.29. GRVA deals with safety provisions related to the dynamics of vehicles (braking, steering), Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Automated Driving Systems and well as Cyber Security provisions.
GRVA meets three times a year, with around 160 experts present at each session. It gathers the decision makers (the representatives of Countries and REIOs – “the Contracting Parties”) as well as many stakeholders having a technical interest in the work of GRVA: the vehicle manufacturers (cars, trucks, buses etc.), the suppliers, the motorists, the test houses, the consumers representatives to name a few.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Over 100 graduates join the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group today as applications open for 2025.
NDA group graduate programme
As applications open for 2025, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group also welcomed its largest ever cohort of graduates today, with more than 100 new recruits ready to support delivery of one of the world’s most important environmental programmes.
This week over 100 recently graduated professionals start their new roles supporting the NDA group’s mission to decommission nuclear sites, manage the UK’s radioactive waste and transport materials globally.
It’s the largest intake to join the programme since its launch two years ago, providing experience throughout the NDA group as part of a two-year scheme. It sees recruits moving between functions and operating companies to complete a series of secondments, building knowledge and experience, as well as growing networks.
Jacq Longrigg, NDA Group People Development Director, said:
Our mission is so long-term that it stretches into the next century and our work is growing, as we take on responsibility for decommissioning more of the UK’s nuclear sites.
Around 6,000 people applied to join us this year and we increased the number of opportunities, up from 60 in 2023, to reflect the scale of our work.
We’re so proud to welcome over 100 graduates and look forward to seeing their careers develop as they contribute to our nationally important mission.
Last year the cohort was the most diverse yet and the NDA group continue to build on this progress with an even higher proportion of graduates this year identifying as an ethnic minority and reporting being a person with a disability. This year 20% of graduates are also from disadvantaged backgrounds.
NDA group graduate programme 2024 cohort
This year’s intake has started as recruitment opens for the 2025 graduate programme with a target of recruiting 120 graduates across a range of technical and business functions, based at locations across the UK.
From engineering and procurement, to IT and digital, environmental protection, or finance and risk, the programme provides one of the most diverse range of opportunities available. You can apply here: Our graduate roles – The NDA group.
Izzy Thomas-Horton recently completed the graduate programme after securing a job with the NDA as a Junior Sustainability Advisor. She said:
I was attracted to the NDA group because of the scale of the mission and the opportunity to contribute to such an important mission.
During my two years on the programme, I’ve worked across multiple disciplines and got the chance to work in central government at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
I’m grateful for the focus there has been on my development, from having a mentor to completing training courses – I would highly recommend this experience. Whatever your degree subject or career aspirations, it’s likely there is a role for you.
Candidates gain experience in the NDA and its subsidiary companies including Sellafield, Nuclear Restoration Services, Nuclear Waste Services or Nuclear Transport Solutions. NDA graduates benefit from:
A starting salary of £30,000 and 25-days annual leave, plus bank holidays, as well as six discretionary days leave for study and relocation.
A comprehensive package of benefits including pension, professional institute membership and additional support with travel, relocation, training and development
A commitment to personal and professional development, including a dedicated mentor and access to a team of experts.
In addition to the NDA group graduate programme, applications are also being welcomed for the highly-acclaimed Nuclear Graduates programme which sees the NDA partner with other leading employers in the nuclear sector.
Both schemes are open for applications until the end of November 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a recruitment and assessment event at Manchester Central in February 2025.
Both the NDA group graduate programme and Nuclear Graduates schemes are powered by NDA subsidiary Energus.
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The Advisory Group on Market Surveillance (MARS) was established in 2003 to promote global trade and economic cooperation. The Group brings together all players involved (public authorities, manufacturers, retailers, importers, consumers, etc.) to increase transparency and attract attention to the role and responsibilities of public authorities in the chain of control. It has developed comprehensive guidance and serves as a forum of best practice and development of recommendation guidelines.
This MARS Group meeting takes place to plan MARS Group meetings in 2025 and the modalities of implementing MARS work plan and WP.6 34th plenary decisions in 2024. The attendance is expected by WP.6 MARS members, market surveillance authorities and experts.
The meeting will have a guest speaker, Casper Vanden Bilcke (Single Liaison Officer for Market Surveillance, Directorate-general Quality and Safety, Belgium). He will present “Coordinating market surveillance activities nationally — how this was set up in Belgium: Practical experience of the Single Liaison Officer”.
Agenda
Item
Subject
Timing
1a
Roll call
5
1b
Approval of the agenda
5
2
Invited guest speaker:
Casper Vanden Bilcke (Single Liaison Officer for Market Surveillance, Directorate-general Quality and Safety, Belgium) on “Coordinating market surveillance activities nationally — how this was set up in Belgium: Practical experience of the Single Liaison Officer”.
20 minute presentation followed by discussion
40
3
Update on 34th annual session of WP.6 outcomes
Background information presented at the session:
Other presentations of interest:
10
4
Ideas on project development between MARS and GRM on better regulating digital vulnerabilities and how to harmonize these among regulatory agencies
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
SLC pays £0.9 billion in first term Maintenance Loan payments to students today.
The Student Loans Company (SLC) has paid £0.9 billion in first term Maintenance Loan payments into students’ bank accounts across the UK today (Monday 23rd September).
SLC enables more than 1.5 million students each year to invest in their futures by providing financial support to access further and higher education. And today marks the biggest payment date at the start of the 24/25 academic year, as students start or return to university. Similarly timed payments of £927 million were made in September 2022 and £798 million in September 2023, and tuition Fee Loan payments are paid directly to higher education providers later in the autumn.
Payments are released to students when their university or college confirms that they have registered/enrolled. Once SLC has this information, it will send a text message to students a few days before the expected payment date to let them know that their Maintenance Loan is on the way. SLC is encouraging students to log-in to their online account to track their application and payment progress.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
Defendants Sold Stolen Financial Information from Tens of Thousands of Victims Worldwide
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A citizen of Nigeria, who was extradited from the United Kingdom, was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his involvement in a conspiracy to sell stolen financial information on the darknet from tens of thousands of victims from around the world.
Simon Kaura was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to five years in federal prison without parole. At sentencing, the court found that Kaura’s crimes resulted in an intended loss of $6,338,500.
On May 22, 2024, Kaura pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of access device fraud. According to court documents, Kaura admitted to being part of a sophisticated, global conspiracy to obtain and sell stolen financial information on darknet markets — including a market he helped create and administer with his co-conspirators. Kaura operated under the online monikers “apples,” “applepiecards,” “cartman,” and “dpharoah.”
Kaura and his co-conspirators operated as prominent “carding” (stolen financial information) vendors, sometimes under the moniker brand “ggmccloud” and “ggmccloud1,” on multiple darknet markets. Each market allowed users to buy and sell stolen and fraudulent financial information. The markets operated much like conventional e-commerce websites, except that the goods sold on the markets were primarily criminal in nature. Each market required users to transact in digital currencies, such as Bitcoin. These sites enabled users to distribute illegal contraband to buyers throughout the world to perpetrate fraud.
Kaura and his co-conspirators obtained large quantities of stolen financial information and passed it along to other co-conspirators to check, organize, and sell on numerous darknet markets. Kaura and his co-conspirators possessed card information belonging to victims from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Kaura and his co-conspirators were responsible for conducting tens of thousands of illegal transactions on darknet markets from Feb. 22, 2016, to Oct. 1, 2019.
During the conspiracy, Kaura and his co-conspirators also created, launched, and administered their own darknet market, Skynet. From April 2016 to October 2019, the co-conspirators’ market offered stolen financial information and other contraband for sale. The market also hosted a messaging forum and private messaging service, allowing cybercriminals from around the world to meet and communicate freely about their crimes.
Co-defendant Taylor Ross Staats, 41, of Texas was sentenced on Jan. 25, 2024, to 18 months in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Staats’s main role in the conspiracy was to determine, prior to being advertised for sale, whether the stolen payment cards were still active and capable of use. If so, he organized the card information, and it was posted for sale on the darknet. Staats operated under the online moniker “f9ac4”.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice continue to seek forfeiture of more than $4.5 million in criminal proceeds resulting from the co-conspirators crimes.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of the United Kingdom to secure the arrest and extradition of Kaura.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Heberle, Matthew Blackwood, and John Constance of the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorneys Michael Christin and Louisa Becker from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. It was investigated by the FBI.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Statement by the Governments of Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States on the announcement by South Sudan’s leaders of an extension of the country’s transitional period.
The Governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States note with deep concern the announcement by South Sudan’s leaders of an extension of the country’s transitional period by two years.
This announcement demonstrates the persistent and collective failure of South Sudan’s leaders to create the conditions necessary to hold credible and peaceful elections in accordance with an established, publicly agreed-upon timeline. Responsibility for this failure is shared by all parties in the transitional government. As South Sudan’s leaders vie for power and fail to organise credible and peaceful elections, the people of South Sudan suffer the consequences. Millions face acute food insecurity year after year.
We acknowledge that elections cannot be credibly held as scheduled in December. This is because of South Sudanese leadership failures and lack of political will. Nevertheless, we cannot in good conscience endorse the extension of a status quo that prioritises the privileges of the elite over the welfare of the South Sudanese people.
We call on the transitional government to act with urgency to demonstrably create the conditions necessary for credible and peaceful elections. This includes expanded political and civic space to enable citizens to express their views without fear or repercussions, politically neutral security forces, funded and operationalized electoral institutions, and leaders’ public commitment to dialogue and the rejection of violence as a tool for political competition.
We urge South Sudan’s leaders to work toward sustainable peace, in particular through the Tumaini Initiative in Nairobi and broad-based leadership-level dialogue in Juba. It is also essential that the voices of women and youth are heard.
The Troika remains committed to the people of South Sudan in their journey towards a democratic future free from conflict.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Step forward in government’s drive to hand more power from Westminster to local people with skin in the game
Four areas will receive more power from Westminster in the latest step in the government’s devolution revolution, which will deliver real change by boosting economic growth across the country.
The government has today (19) signed off on agreements for regional mayors in Greater Lincolnshire and in Hull & East Yorkshire, and to establish combined county authorities in both Devon & Torbay and Lancashire.
The agreements signed today will mean local leaders have the power to make decisions in areas such as transport, adult education, and housing, boosting economic growth and opportunity, which are at the heart of the government’s agenda.
Mayors will be elected in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire – the last part of Yorkshire to be covered by a devolution deal – in May 2025 and will have control over transport, housing, skills, and investment to shape the future of their area.
For Devon & Torbay and Lancashire, combined county authorities will be established in early 2025 handed the responsibility for adult education. Ministers are encouraging local leaders to deepen these devolution deals and take strides towards mayoral devolution as a gold standard.
Subject to parliamentary approval and local consent, the devolution agreements will mean local leaders can make decisions that benefit their communities and harness the unique opportunities of their areas.
Devolution is central to the government’s mission to economic growth, but only around half of the people in England currently benefit from these arrangements. The Deputy Prime Minister wants every area to have the opportunity to benefit from new powers.
At the heart of the government’s drive to shift powers away from Westminster is the flagship English Devolution Bill, which will be introduced to give new powers to mayors and combined authorities – and roll out Local Growth Plans designed to maximise opportunities for growth.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:
“This is only the first step of our major ambition to drive forward our devolution revolution, and ensure we empower more communities and strengthen the existing powers of our brilliant mayors.”
The government is also minded to progress with the four non-mayoral ‘Level 2’ Single Local Authority devolution agreements with Cornwall Council, Buckinghamshire Council, Warwickshire County Council, and Surrey County Council, subject to further statutory tests being met. These agreements are an important step for places to see early benefits from devolution in the short-term. However, in making this downpayment in good faith, the government is encouraging these areas to continue working to explore the next steps towards deeper and wider devolution.
Today’s announcement comes after the Deputy Prime Minister’s letter inviting councils to share proposals for new devolution agreements over sensible geographies. The letter kickstarted the devolution revolution and the government expects more deals to be announced in the months to come.
The government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader. Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible. Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the government’s approach to English devolution.
The government will therefore not proceed with the mayoral deals with Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council agreed with the previous government in December 2022 and instead intends to continue discussions over devolution in Norfolk & Suffolk.
The government will publish further detail on our approach to devolution in due course.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Top perpetrators of Violence Against Women and Girls to be targeted under new data-driven National Strategy
Women and girls will be better protected under a new national strategy using advanced data analysis and algorithms to relentlessly target the most dangerous perpetrators of abuse.
This initiative is part of an ambitious, unprecedented mission to reduce such violence by 50% within the next decade. It will see police forces use new data-driven tools to focus on the small number of offenders responsible for the highest levels of harm.
Working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), and the College of Policing, the Home Secretary will oversee the development of a new national approach to the use of these data-driven tools – which use computer programmes to bring together and analyse a range of police data to identify and pursue offenders involved in domestic abuse, sexual assault, harassment, and stalking.
These tools, used alongside police officers’ expert judgment, will help law enforcement prioritise and pursue the most dangerous offenders, enabling a more effective allocation of police resources.
The government is committed to providing both local and national capabilities to tackle these devastating crimes and ensure law enforcement agencies pursue the most prolific offenders.
In addition, the technology will assist in building risk profiles for both perpetrators and victims, enabling law enforcement and partner agencies to implement robust management plans that disrupt offenders’ behaviour and enhance victim safety.
This new approach will standardise the use of predictive technologies across police forces, ensuring those who pose the greatest threat are identified and managed through the criminal justice system or community-based, multi-agency interventions.
The Home Office funded National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Taskforce will lead the charge in creating a framework for forces to follow. This framework will focus on identifying and managing the most dangerous offenders and drive forward a consistent national approach that allows those in operational policing to help meet the ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.