The Fire Danger Period will commence on November 11
The Fire Danger Period (FDP) will begin at 01.00am on Monday, November 11, for the following municipalities in CFA’s northwest Region:
City of Greater Bendigo
Central Goldfields Shire Council
Mount Alexander Shire Council
Residents living in these districts are asked to take this opportunity ahead of the FDP to clean up their properties, while landowners are encouraged to conduct safe private burn-offs where possible.
CFA District 2 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Archie Conroy said residents should take note of the conditions and prepare accordingly.
“Conditions across the northwest region are drier than usual, warranting the implementation of restrictions to protect our communities,” Archie said.
“Macedon Ranges Shire is currently the exception, and we’ll be assessing conditions there closely.
“As we head into the warmer months, small actions like reducing vegetation and securing your property can make a significant difference in protecting both homes and lives.
“We’re working hard to monitor conditions, and every precaution you take now helps build a stronger line of defence against fire.”
Those conducting burn-offs must notify authorities online at the Fire Permits Victoria website (www.firepermits.vic.gov.au), or by calling ESTA on 1800 668 511.
By registering your burn-off online, you allow emergency call takers to allocate more of their time taking calls from people who need emergency assistance immediately.
No burning off is permitted during the FDP without a Permit to Burn, which can be applied for through the Fire Permits Victoria website.
There are very strict conditions attached to these permits and the liability sits with the permit holder to ensure they always act safely.
Fire Danger Period information:
A written permit is required to burn off grass, undergrowth, weeds or other vegetation during the FDP. You can apply for a permit atfirepermits.vic.gov.au. It can also be issued by the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer or the CFA District Office.
Lighting fires in the open without a permit can bring a penalty of more than $21,800 and/or 12 months imprisonment. For a full list of conditions, visitcfa.vic.gov.au/can.
To find out what you can and can’t do during FDP, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/canor by calling VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.
Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association
Headline: Media Release: Australia wins bid to host 2026 global carbon capture conference – Australian Energy Producers
The Australian oil and gas sector’s leadership in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) – a key emissions reductions technology – is set to be showcased on the world stage.
Australian Energy Producers is pleased to announce it will co-host the world’s leading CCUS conference in Perth in 2026, in partnership with the CSIRO, CO2CRC and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
The Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT) Conference, run by the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme, brings together over 1,000 CCUS researchers, industry leaders, government officials, and stakeholders from around the world to discuss and share the latest developments with the technology.
Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said Australia’s selection to host GHGT-18 reinforced its standing as a global leader in CCUS research, development and deployment.
“Australia has two of the largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects operating globally – Chevron’s Gorgon Project and the Santos and Beach Energy joint venture Moomba Project,” she said.
“These projects are today storing emissions equivalent to taking one million cars off the road each year.
“CCUS is a key technology in efforts to reach net zero in Australia and the region.
“The International Energy Agency, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and CSIRO have all found that there is no pathway to net zero without CCUS.”
The 2026 event will be the third time Australia has hosted the global conference, having hosted it in Cairns in 2000 and Melbourne in 2018.
The announcement last week in Canada during the closing session of GHGT-17 coincided with a major CCUS milestone for Australia, with the Moomba CCS Project achieving first injection and full ramp up.
“Australia has a comparative advantage in CCUS, with world class geology, industry experience, and strong links with regional trading partners looking to collaborate on CCUS,” Ms McCulloch said.
“Scaling up CCUS is an opportunity to not just reduce emissions but also create new jobs and attract new investment.”
Australia’s hosting of the conference is supported by Business Events Perth, reflecting the opportunity for GHGT-18 to amplify Western Australia’s global standing as a premier destination for impactful global events.
As a three-day fact-finding mission from a group of Pacific leaders drew to a close in New Caledonia, and with the outcomes report not expected before next year, the visit to the riot-hit French Pacific territory seems to have triggered a new sense of awareness locally about the values of Pacific regional mechanisms of “talanoa” embodied by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
Local President Louis Mapou stressed on several occasions during the visit that New Caledonia’s situation was the “subject of much attention” in the Pacific region.
He suggested that one of the reasons for this could be because of a potential “spillover” effect that could “jeopardise cohesion in the Pacific”.
However, Mapou also stressed that he had received the message conveyed by the PIF “Troika-Plus” group that “they’re ready to take part in [New Caledonia’s] reconstruction”.
‘New Caledonia’s regional integration in its region’ Mapou said that one of the recurrent themes during the PIF visit was “New Caledonia’s regional integration in its region”.
“Whatever might be said, in many ways, New Caledonia does not know its [Pacific] region very well. Because it has this affiliation relationship to Europe and France that has prevailed over all these years,” he told local media.
“So, in a certain way, we’re just discovering our region. And in this process, the Pacific Islands Forum could bring a sort of leverage,” he said.
Kanaky New Caledonia, as well as French Polynesia — both French Pacific entities — became full members of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2016, after several years of “associate members” status.
Mapou said New Caledonia’s current status vis-à-vis France was mentioned during talks with the PIF mission.
“I spoke with them about obstacles that should be removed, that are directly related to our current status. This is part of topics on which we should be working in future,” he said.
“They’re very open-minded, they don’t have any preconceived ideas, they’re happy to talk equally about the concepts of independence, just as they are for keeping [New Caledonia] within the French Republic,” he revealed.
One of the unexpected outcomes, beyond the specific fact-finding mission that brought this PIF “Troika-Plus” leaders’ delegation to New Caledonia, seems to have underlined the values of regionalism, as well as New Caledonia’s long-awaited and genuine integration in its “regional environment”.
These values seem to have been recognised by all sides of New Caledonia’s political spectrum, as well as all walks of life within the civil, economic, educational and religious society.
PIF’s “Troika-Plus” leaders meet with Southern Province President Sonia Backès (third from left) at SPC headquarters last Monday. Image: PIF/RNZ Pacific
Pacific diversity in status During the past few days, informal exchanges with the Pacific leaders have also allowed New Caledonia’s authorities to share and compare possible ways forward regarding the territory’s political status.
“They readily exchanged their own experiences with our government. The Cook Islands, which is a self-governing state in ‘free association’ with New Zealand; Tonga, which has never been colonised; and the Solomon Islands, who have also undergone inter-ethnic conflicts and where the young population was also involved. And Fiji, which obtained independence (in 1970), had decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth and is finally re-discussing its link with Great Britain,” Mapou briefed local media on Tuesday.
The leaders spent three days (October 27-29) in the French Pacific territory to gather information on the ground, after destructive riots broke out in May, resulting in 13 deaths and extensive economic damage estimated at €2.2 billion.
During the three days, the PIF leaders met a wide range of political, business, religious, and civil society leaders to get a first-hand account of the situation.
On Tuesday, the “plus” component of the troika, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, reiterated the mission’s assigned mantra in a manner of conclusion to their mission.
“We were here to understand and make recommendations. We have heard many extremely different attitudes. We hope it will be possible to find a solution for the people and the government,” Rabuka told religious leaders.
Bitterness from civil society The long series of talks, within a particularly tight schedule, also allowed groups within New Caledonia’s civil society — including traditional chiefs, youth, human rights activists, educationists, mayors and women — to express their views directly during the Pacific leaders’ visit.
Some of these groups also took the opportunity to point out that they were not always listened to in other circumstances.
“Today, peace has just been through a rough episode. And we, women, are being asked to help. But when was the last time we were heard?
“We’ve already said women should be part of all levels of decision-making, including on matters of dealing with violence and access for women to economic empowerment.
“We were ignored. And then, when fire breaks out, we’re being asked for help because this is the foundation of Pacific values,” said Sonia Tonga, the president of the Oceania Union of Francophone Women, which groups women’s groups from New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis-and-Futuna and Vanuatu.
Talking about the youth, she said there was an “ill-being”, “they don’t recognise themselves in this system, including for education. We’re trying to fit an Oceanian society into a framework that has not been designed for them.
“When will we be heard in our country?”.
As part of talks with church leaders, it was also pointed out that there were benefits from sharing experiences with Pacific leaders.
“I’ve been many times in Fiji, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and other Pacific islands. They too have had their hard times.
“And they too are familiar with the experience of violence which is difficult to bring back to a path of dialogue,” said 80-year-old Nouméa Catholic Archbishop Michel-Marie Calvet, a respected figure.
In terms of earlier crises in the Pacific region, among PIF member island states, in the early 2000s, civil unrest occurred in both Fiji and the Solomon Islands, with shops being targeted and looted.
Under Pacific Islands Forum mechanisms, especially the declaration of Biketawa, this prompted in 2003 the setting up of “RAMSI” (Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands), with mostly Australia and New Zealand military and police as its main contributors, with additional input from other Pacific island countries.
In Fiji, the mission to defuse the crisis, associated with an attempted coup and a MPs hostage situation within Parliament buildings in May 2000, was mainly achieved by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) through protracted negotiations and without violence.
Forum “Troika-Plus” leaders in New Caledonia conducting a fact-finding mission to assess the situation on ground. Image: X /@ForumSEC/RNZ Pacific
Supporting Pacific dialogue In the political sphere, there was a recognition of the benefits of a Pacific perspective.
“There is a Pacific tradition of dialogue and talanoa. So, I think [the PIF leaders] can invite pro-independence parties to come to the [negotiating] table,” said New Caledonia’s Mayors’ Association president Pascal Vittori.
“We’re actually expecting PIF will back this notion of dialogue — that’s what’s important now,” he told local media.
Sonia Backès, one of the staunchest defenders of New Caledonia remaining part of France, told reporters on Monday: “We didn’t ask for this [mission]. Now we’re waiting for this (troika) report based on their observing mission.
“We all know that there are biased views on the part of some, one way or the other.
“So we hope the final report will be as fair and neutral as possible so as not to add fuel to the fire.”
Following their visit to New Caledonia and based on the information gathered, the Forum “Troika-Plus” leaders are expected to compile a “comprehensive report” to be submitted to the next annual Forum Leaders’ Summit in the Solomon Islands in 2025.
“The terms of reference of this mission were discussed beforehand between the government of New Caledonia, the Pacific Islands Forum and the (French) State. We all agreed that what was most important was to have an assessment of the situation.
“There is a need to provide information to the public so that it is an informed opinion leader. It’s important in those times of misinformation and manipulation from one side or the other,” French ambassador for the Pacific Véronique Roger-Lacan told public broadcaster NC la 1ère TV on Tuesday evening.
Business sector now needs Pacific market overtures Even the business sector now seems to believe that, as a result of the widespread destruction caused by the riots, which has left more than 800 companies burnt down and looted, as well as thousands jobless, the wider Pacific region has now become a new potentially attractive market.
“Our local market has just shrunk considerably and so we will need to find new openings for our products. In that perspective, our cooperation with the Pacific is very, very strategic”, said business leaders association MEDEF-NC president Mimsy Daly.
She had once again presented a detailed view of the widespread devastation caused by the recent riots and those who took part.
“‘Were they aware of what they were doing?’ is one of the questions I was asked,” she wrote on social networks after her encounter with the “Troika-Plus”.
“A logical question when you know that what has been destroyed equals about 70 percent of the GDP of the Cook Islands, 100 percent of the GDP of the Solomon Islands and 40 percent of the GDP of Fiji.”
But she admitted the response to this complex question was “primordial” and “every light will have to be shed on the matter”.
In a wrap-up of the three days, President Mapou held a final meeting with the group on Tuesday.
Wide circle of ‘concertation’ needed French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc, after a final meeting with the delegation, said: “They have come here to seek the profound causes of what happened on May 13. They have been listening very closely.
“I understand their view is that a wide circle of concertation [cooperation] will be required to reach an agreement,” he said.
He elaborated, saying that the Pacific Forum leaders seemed to place a lot of hope in the notions of “trust”, the “necessity of living together” and the PIF’s “will to help, while saying that, at the same time, the solution lies in the hands of New Caledonia”.
French President Macron (right) with New Caledonia’s President Louis Mapou (left) and former New Caledonia Congress President Roch Wamytan (centre) earlier this year. Image: RNZ Pacific
Next: another ‘concertation and dialogue’ mission Following the PIF “Troika-Plus” mission, another visit is expected in New Caledonia in the next few days — this time coming from Paris.
This new high-level visit will be headed by the presidents of both houses of Parliament in France (Senate and National Assembly), respectively Gérard Larcher and Yaël Braun-Pivet, from November 9-14.
They will lead what is described as a “mission of concertation and dialogue”.
The dates come as a top-level meeting took place last week, presided by French Head of State Emmanuel Macron and attended by French minister for Overseas François-Noël Buffet (who had just returned from New Caledonia), French PM Barnier, Larcher and Braun-Pivet.
The objective, once again, was to reinforce the signal that the time had come to resume political dialogue.
Macron indicated earlier that he still intended to host a meeting in Paris sometime in November.
Buffet was also in New Caledonia earlier this month for four days to assess the situation and try to restore a path to dialogue between all political stakeholders, both pro-independence and pro-France.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Two decades ago, the fight against climate change was often framed as a personal choice. You might try to reduce your carbon footprint by avoiding flights or change your buying habits to avoid meat or reduce plastic.
But this approach lost popularity, as it shifted responsibility from producer to consumer. The carbon footprint, for instance, was famously popularised by oil company BP. In 2008, well-known American climate activist Bill McKibben pointed out the impotence of individual action without collective action.
Behavioural researchers also began finding a seeming paradox – many of us expressed strong interest in taking individual action on climate, but our actual behaviours barely changed.
Much focus shifted to top-down efforts such as government incentives for clean energy and commitments at a national level to cut emissions.
But there is still a role for individuals – especially around demonstrating what clean alternatives actually look like. For instance, the more solar panels are installed on rooftops in your neighbourhood, the more likely you are to consider it. This neighbourhood effect also affects uptake of electric vehicles and e-bikes. This is especially important if we are to see clean alternatives go mainstream rather than stop at a small fraction of the population.
Of course, individual actions can only go so far. As our research on sustainable consumption has shown, individual actions can be magnified with a backdrop of institutional support.
The neighbourhood effect has influence on solar and electric vehicle uptake. zstock/Shutterstock
What we say and what we do
Humans are complicated. We often say we want to make greener choices – but in reality, we act differently.
Individual climate action sounds great in theory. If many of us chose electric vehicles or bikes, installed solar panels and built energy efficient houses, our actions in aggregate could contribute to wider emissions goals. Then there are choices such as reducing dairy and meat, installing LED lights and buying produce with less packaging.
Everyday actions can contribute too, such as washing clothes in cold water, avoiding putting aircon too low or heating too high, and wearing extra layers of clothes. Recycling, repairing and reusing offer us still more methods to extend the life of our products, reduce waste and save money.
Yet it turns out the reality of individual action on climate is much more complicated – because we are complicated.
When surveyed, a majority of us say we want green, sustainable products. But when we go to the shops, we often don’t actually buy them. My colleagues and I have dubbed this the “Janus faced” consumer phenomenon – we often say one thing but do another.
Why might that be? One reason is many consumers believe green products – whether electric cars or detergents – will perform worse. Green products are also perceived to be more expensive and inconvenient to use.
Then there’s the question of virtue signalling. This is a phenomenon where consumers purchase highly visible green products primarily to signal they’re a person who cares about the environment without necessarily doing so.
Some of these challenges are being overcome. It’s hard to write off modern electric cars as inferior when they can accelerate faster and run much cheaper than fossil fuel cars. While early adopters of solar might once have been seen as virtue-signallers, the main reason Australian households go solar is to save money on the power bill, according to a CSIRO survey.
Individual action can only go so far. For individual action to create sustained impact, it needs supportive policies and institutional backing.
For instance, a 2023 report found many Australian clean energy organisations would like to re-use solar panels for community projects or as a low-cost option for households. This makes sense, given used solar panels are often 80% as good as new ones.
But for consumers to actually act on this, they need institutional scaffolding. If you’re going to buy used solar, you want to make sure they are in good condition. Without a certification process, their willingness will come to nothing.
While many of us say we would consider buying an electric vehicle, the uptake is constrained by things outside our control such as whether there are enough public chargers in cities and rural areas.
You can see the importance of institutional backing clearly in transport. The Melbourne-Sydney flight path is the fifth busiest in the world. That’s because there are no fast green alternatives. If there was high-speed rail as in China or Japan, many of us would choose to avoid the emissions caused by flying. But it doesn’t exist (yet), so our individual choices are curtailed.
Which way forward?
As climate change intensifies, more and more of us say we are willing to act on our beliefs and concerns on an individual level. Even better, more of us are actually doing what we say we will.
Not everywhere, of course. For many Australians, switching from petrol to electric might be easier than giving up meat or a flight to Japan. But some progress is better than none.
This groundswell is encouraging. But our individual efforts can only go so far. To make the most of it, we need institutional scaffolding. Australia has world-beating rooftop solar uptake because state and federal governments used subsidies and incentives to make the emerging technology cheaper. With incentives on offer, millions of us made individual choices to take it up.
We are more than consumers, of course. Our power as individuals isn’t limited to choosing specific products. As citizens, we can push for our governments to provide the essential scaffolding we need to make greener choices.
Sukhbir Sandhu has received research grants from Australian Research Council (Discovery), Green Industries SA, and the European Union.
Older people and children at increased risk of death and disease
Severe flooding in Pakistan’s Sindh province has left thousands of people suffering from disease and food insecurity amid government inaction, Amnesty International said.
Following major flooding in August 2024, more than 140,000 people were displaced with many now living in tents. Months later, affected communities are still struggling with health risks and lost livelihoods compounded by little international or government support. With disease rampant due to stagnant floodwaters, older people, children and pregnant women are at increased risk of illness and death.
By failing to guarantee access to adequate healthcare, food and housing in the wake of the floods, the government of Sindh has failed to fulfil economic, social and cultural rights set out in key human rights instruments ratified by Pakistan. The biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, who bear most responsibility for climate change-related disasters, must also minimize the harmful effects of climate change on human rights by phasing out fossil fuels as quickly as possible.
“Tens of thousands of people have been abandoned by the Sindh government and the international community after being devastated again by major floods,” said Scott Edwards, Amnesty International’s Crisis Response Programme Director.
“Many impacted communities were harmed by record-breaking floods in 2022, and have struggled to rebuild their lives. Inaction in the face of repeated disasters is evidence of waning resiliency and global lethargy.
“Climate change is not a tentative threat; lives are being lost today to global inaction and inadequate humanitarian response. The international community and Pakistani authorities must act urgently before more people suffer unnecessarily.”
In late September 2024, Amnesty International visited eight flood-affected villages in Badin and Dadu districts in Sindh province and interviewed 36 people, including older people, people with disabilities, children, pregnant women, and one doctor.
Headline: FEMA Senior Leaders Continue to Survey Impacted Areas and Meet with Local Officials as Helene, Milton Recovery Progresses
FEMA Senior Leaders Continue to Survey Impacted Areas and Meet with Local Officials as Helene, Milton Recovery Progresses
WASHINGTON – More than a month after Helene made landfall, FEMA officials remain on the ground coordinating with local officials in affected states to help guide their recovery. Visits included Victoria Salinas, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator, meeting with officials over several days in North Carolina and Florida. Salinas and other FEMA officials discussed how the communities were progressing in their recovery and surveyed the effectiveness of modern building codes in minimizing storm-related damage.FEMA has approved more than $1.3 billion in direct assistance to Hurricanes Helene and Milton survivors. These funds help survivors with housing repairs, personal property replacement and other essential recovery efforts. Additionally, over $1.1 billion has been approved for debris removal and emergency protective measures, which are necessary to save lives, protect public health and prevent further damage to public and private property. More than 1,400 FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance team members are in affected neighborhoods across affected states helping survivors apply for assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. Also,FEMA now has 76 Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the hurricane affected communities. Center locations can be found at FEMA.gov/DRC. Centers can provide survivors in-person help with their applications and answer questions they have about available resources to help with their recovery.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Operation Blue Roof which is a free service to homeowners for 25 counties in Florida impacted by Hurricane Milton. Residents can sign-up at www.blueroof.gov or by calling 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258). The sign-up period deadline is Nov. 5.FEMA encourages Helene and Milton survivors to apply for disaster assistance online as this remains the quickest way to start your recovery. Individuals can apply for federal assistance by: Applying online at disasterassistance.govUsing the FEMA AppCalling 800-621-3362, Staffed daily from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. local timeVisiting a Disaster Recovery Center to talk with FEMA and state agency officials and apply for assistancePresident Joseph R. Biden has approved major disaster declarations in six states–Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia–affected by Helene. He has also approved a major disaster declaration for Florida following Hurricane Milton.These photos highlight response and recovery efforts across states affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton.
SWANNANOA, North Carolina – FEMA sets up a mobile Disaster Recovery Center in an affected North Carolina community. Helene survivors in Swannanoa and nearby areas can visit this center to apply for federal disaster assistance and ask questions about available state and federal resources for their recovery. (Photo Credit: FEMA)
SAVANNAH, Georgia – FEMA staff and FEMA Corps members help survivors of Hurricane Helene at the Disaster Recovery Center in Savannah. (Photo Credit: FEMA)
CORTEZ, Florida – Victoria Salinas, FEMA Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator, and other FEMA personnel join Manatee County officials in the Hunters Point Neighborhood in Cortez. There they spoke with an owner of a property development to talk about how building codes helped the community following the recent hurricanes. (Photo Credit: FEMA)
COLLETSVILLE, North Carolina – Victoria Salinas, FEMA Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator, surveys the flood damage from Wilson Creek along Brown Mountain Road with members of the Collettsville Fire Department. Salinas also talked with the owners of the Brown Mountain Resort as they shared their story of surviving the flood from Hurricane Helene. (Photo Credit: FEMA)
FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Toolkit provides graphics, social media copy and sample text in multiple languages. In addition, FEMA has set up a rumor response web page to reduce confusion about its role in the Helene and Milton response and recovery. annie.bond Wed, 10/30/2024 – 17:58
Cai Xuzhe has started his new space journey just 22 months after his first Shenzhou mission, breaking the record for the shortest interval between two spaceflights for a Chinese astronaut. Cai is the commander of the Shenzhou-19 mission, which was launched at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The crew members, also including first-timers Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, will face new tasks and challenges during the mission, Cai told a press meeting on Tuesday ahead of the launch. He said they had collaborated with sci-tech workers to update training concepts and improve training methods and efficiency in order to meet the requirements of the new mission. Focusing particularly on the goal of achieving “zero error,” the trio will improve operation quality and enhance in-orbit emergency response capabilities, Cai noted. “We have been training as a team for more than a year, maintaining the best condition and the highest standards,” Cai said, adding that they are fully prepared and have the confidence, determination and ability to successfully complete this mission. Born in 1976 in the countryside of Shenzhou City, north China’s Hebei Province, Cai was fascinated with airplanes as a child. Every time he heard a plane flying past, he would rush outside and stare up at the sky as it flew away and disappeared. During his time in middle school, he idolized an air force commander and subscribed to the magazine China Air Force. Through its pages, he gained valuable knowledge about aviation and developed a keen appreciation for the art of piloting. Cai was admitted to an air force flight college in his final year at school. Upon graduation from college, he volunteered to work at an airport short of pilots. Despite the harsh conditions there, he dedicated himself to studying and training to sharpen his flying skills. In 2003, China’s first manned spaceflight, the Shenzhou-5 mission, was a resounding success. Sitting in front of the television, Cai was deeply attracted by the career of astronaut. As soon as he learned that the country was selecting the second batch of astronauts, Cai submitted application and was successfully recruited in May 2010. After arduous training and preparation for more than a decade, Cai had his moments. From June to December, 2022, he participated in the Shenzhou-14 space mission with colleagues Chen Dong and Liu Yang. During the extravehicular activities that lasted about five-and-half hours in November, 2022, they installed an out-of-cabin “bridge” that links the core module of the Tiangong space station with the Wentian and Mengtian labs. Cai completed the first cross-module spacewalk through the bridge. In his spare time in space, Cai was fond of overlooking at Earth through the porthole, especially when the space station flew over his hometown. In March 2023, the trio were awarded medals for their service to China’s space endeavors. Cai received a third-class medal and the honorary title of “Heroic Astronaut.” Back to Earth, the busy and fulfilling scenes of work and life in space were vivid in Cai’s memory, and he had been craving another journey to space. “I treat every spaceflight as my first one,” he said.
Released by: Minister for Health, Minister for Regional Health
Western Riverina communities will soon benefit from new and expanded healthcare facilities with the new Clinical Services Building a key component of the $250 million Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment nearing completion.
Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park and the Member for Murray Helen Dalton today toured the new hospital’s state-of-the-art Clinical Services Building, which will provide contemporary, high-quality healthcare under the one roof.
The new Clinical Services Building is on track for completion in the coming months. This will be followed by an operational commissioning period before health services are safely transferred from the current hospital to the new facility. It is expected to open in early 2025.
The new hospital will include:
An expanded Emergency Department
Two operating theatres, and an additional procedure room in the perioperative suite
A new and expanded ICU
Expanded medical imaging services and pharmacy services
Maternity and birthing and paediatric services
Surgical and medical wards with four new mental health inpatient beds to care for people over 16 years of age with low complexity mental health conditions who require a short stay admission
New aged care and rehabilitation beds
Three palliative care rooms, a family lounge and an outdoor terrace within the medical inpatient unit to provide end of life care for patients
An expansion of ambulatory care space for the community to access more specialist clinics including renal, oncology, hospital in the home, and expanded outpatient services.
The new three storey Clinical Services Building is located behind the existing hospital and when it opens, it will be accessible through the existing main entry until the new main entry is completed. Health services are continuing to operate during construction.
Once the new hospital opens, work will focus on carpark construction, refurbishment of the Ambulatory Care Hub and landscaping of the health campus.
Quotes attributable to Regional Health Minister Ryan Park:
“When complete, the purpose-built Clinical Services Building will house all major health services under the one roof, significantly transforming patient, carer and staff experience.
“Griffith and surrounding communities will benefit from a bigger Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and an additional procedure room in the operating suite at the new Hospital.
“An expanded medical imaging department will also deliver improved radiology services with a new CT and nuclear medicine service in purpose build and designed spaces.
“The Minns Labor Government is committed to improving healthcare in rural and regional communities.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Murray Helen Dalton:
“The Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment will support contemporary models of care and improve healthcare experiences for our community.
“I’m glad this new hospital has been designed in close collaboration with staff and clinicians and includes inpatient rooms with ensuites, a new café and landscaped community courtyards and gardens.
“Projects like this one not only support the health and wellbeing of our community, but also deliver direct and indirect jobs in health, construction and related industries.”
Released by: The Premier, Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Minister for Roads
Motorists in the Western Sydney suburbs of Blacktown and Baulkham Hills have collectively claimed more than $1 million in toll relief for each suburb under the Minns Labor Government’s $60 weekly toll cap.
Blacktown last week became the first suburb to pass $1 million in total toll relief claimed, followed by Baulkham Hills this week.
Other car-reliant suburbs like Auburn, Merrylands and Marsden Park are now closing in on the same milestone for toll relief.
More than 3,000 motorists in both Blacktown and Baulkham Hills have claimed toll relief so far – evidence that Labor’s $60 weekly toll cap is getting relief to where it is needed in the most heavily-tolled areas of Sydney.
More than 224,000 claims have been made, with $60.5 million already returned to motorists. The average rebate is $284.
More than 11,000 motorists have received quarterly toll relief rebates of more than $1,000 since the program started.
Tolling data shows it is the motorways that get people in and out of Western Sydney that are most commonly used by those claiming toll relief. They are:
WestConnex
M2 Hills Motorway
Westlink M7
Data shows motorists claiming toll relief are generally hitting the $60 toll cap by midweek, with journeys on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the most common days on which toll journeys are refunded.
There is $60 million in relief available to be claimed for trips made in the third quarter of the year between 1 July 2024 – 29 September 2024.
Toll relief is supporting motorists as the NSW Labor Government works on tolling reform to fix the damage wrought by the toll road privatisation of the former government.
The Liberal Party legacy left a total toll bill of $195 billion in nominal terms that must be paid by motorists out to 2060, on top of the billions they have already paid.
The NSW Government is currently preparing its response to the independent Toll Review of Professor Allan Fels and Dr David Cousins, which described Sydney’s toll road network as an unfair and poorly-functioning patchwork of numerous different price structures, with those in Western Sydney financially impacted the most.
Eligible drivers who have spent more than $60 a week on toll trips since 1 January can claim the toll relief via the Service NSW website with the rebate calculated and claimed each quarter.
Once your toll account details are linked to your MyServiceNSW Account, claims can easily be lodged.
Motorists can claim up to a maximum of $340 per week for each tag or licence plate number, as part of a “fair use” provision in place to ensure the program’s integrity.
People can claim their 2024 toll spend until 30 June 2025.
“The $60 toll cap is one of the most important cost-of-living measures the NSW Government is providing, and it is heartening to see that the relief is getting to where it is needed most – Western Sydney.
“We know people are doing it tough, and our toll cap is making it fairer for drivers that heavily rely on toll roads.
“Suburbs like Blacktown, like Baulkham Hills, are the places where paying tolls is really not a choice, it’s a fact of life.
“Motorists have so far claimed more than $1 million in toll refunds in each of these suburbs and we know every dollar is important in stretched family budgets.”
Minister for Roads John Graham said:
“The data tells us that it is the people whose journeys start and end in Western Sydney that are claiming the lion’s share of toll relief, and this is where it is needed most. These suburbs have fewer public transport alternatives.
“Toll relief is rolling out as we progress with toll reform. The current system is a poorly-functioning patchwork of numerous different price structures that has created complexity, inefficiency, inequities and unfairness, with those in Western Sydney financially impacted the most.
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:
“It’s good to see eligible motorists saving an average of $284 per quarter which is a massive boost for household budgets and could make the Christmas bills that little bit more manageable.
“We encourage motorists to apply, the online claims process is easy to use and support is available in Service NSW Centres or by calling 13 77 88.
“I encourage everyone to check their eligibility via the Service NSW website and to make a claim.”
Released by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
As part of the Minns Government’s commitment to deliver more well-located homes close to jobs and transport, the community surrounding the future Orchard Hills Station is being consulted on the precinct’s Stage One rezoning proposal.
The draft plans propose a new mixed-use local centre at the Orchard Hills Station, with opportunities for retail, commercial, and community uses.
Following consultation on precinct planning which began in 2022, this proposal includes thousands of new homes and up to 4,000 local jobs.
The precinct will be centred around a series of walkable and connected centres, home to local shops and entertainment, supported by crucial local infrastructure updates and around 50 hectares of public open space, including recreational and sporting fields.
Providing a catalyst for urban growth in the area is the Orchard Hills Station, currently under construction, which will service passengers taking off at Western Sydney International Airport.
The documents on exhibition also provide the community and landowners with certainty over the future intent for the remaining stages of the Orchard Hills precinct, which could provide capacity for more homes, new centres and more employment land. Development in these areas would be subject to future rezonings.
The rezoning proposal and draft structure plan builds on the feedback provided by the community on the Orchard Hills discussion paper in late 2022.
Orchard Hills was identified as a precinct suitable for state-led rezoning under the existing Greater Penrith to Eastern Creek (GPEC) strategic planning framework and the $73.5 million Rezone and Build initiative. The state-led rezoning process commenced in mid-late 2022.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will consider all feedback provided by the community during exhibition to inform a final rezoning and structure plan to be delivered in 2025.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“Western Sydney’s transformation continues to meet the growing needs of a changing population.
“Orchard Hills is a great opportunity to provide much needed housing as we strive towards our National Housing Accord Target of 377,000 homes by 2029.
“The NSW Government is getting on with the job of delivering more homes and the infrastructure needed to support growth, actively planning for the region’s future.
“We stand ready to capitalise on the development opportunities that the new Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport line, Western Sydney International Airport and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis will bring for communities like Orchard Hills.
“We are also seeking to provide certainty for current landowners over the future intent of the other stages of the Orchard Hills precinct.
“The work of the Independent Community Commission, Professor Roberta Ryan, will continue to support this exhibition process to assist the community and landowners with the rezoning proposal.
“We are now looking to create accessible, well-located housing in Orchard Hills. These future homes will be close to transport, schools and public spaces with opportunities for new cycleways and walkways to improve connectivity.”
he Oregon State Fire Marshal incident management team sent to North Carolina in mid-October will return home at the end of the week after a two-week deployment. The team was in Yancey County helping with Hurricane Helene recovery.
Oregon Incident Commander Lance Lighty and Plans Section Chief Bill Boos will replace departing personnel to ensure a seamless transition in leadership and maintain strong support for North Carolina’s ongoing recovery operations. Lighty will take command from Incident Commander Ian Yocum, leading the OSFM’s continued assistance efforts.
The incoming OSFM team members traveled Tuesday. After arrival, they will shadow the current team and take over command the following day, marking the next phase of the OSFM’s support in North Carolina.
“Our team is honored to contribute to the community’s continued recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. “The commitment and expertise of our incident management teams reflect Oregon’s dedication to supporting others in times of need.”
The OSFM has three all-hazard incident management teams. They typically respond to help communities when they are impacted by wildfire. The team was ordered through the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The compact provides help during governor-declared emergencies or disasters by allowing states to send personnel, equipment, and supplies to support response and recovery efforts in other states.
With outstanding human and natural history, Ōkārito on the South Island’s West Coast, will become the 28th site in the growing Tohu Whenua network.
Representatives from Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, the Ōkārito Community Association, Tohu Whenua, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Toanga, DOC, and Manatū Taonga the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, joined local school students to celebrate the area’s diverse history.
Ōkārito is an important place for Māori, Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio chairman Paul Madgwick says. “Ōkārito holds a special place in the history of Ngāi Tahu and also our earlier whakapapa of Ngāti Wairangi, Patea and Waitaha, and so Ngāti Māhaki are thrilled to be part of this.
“Tohu Whenua is fitting recognition for the mana of this place. Several pā and kāinga here testify to centuries of occupation—and war—plus Ōkārito was renowned far and wide for its whare wānanga for learning the traditions and lore of Te Tai Poutini.”
Manahautū/Chief Executive of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Chair of the Tohu Whenua Governance Group Andrew Coleman says Tohu Whenua sites provide unique opportunities to encounter and interact with the history that has created Aotearoa New Zealand’s story.
“Ōkārito has layers of fascinating history and we are thrilled to welcome it into our growing network.”
DOC South Westland Operations Manager Wayne Costello says the rich human history combined with the stunning natural environment at Ōkārito make it one of the feature spots of Te Wāhipounamu.
“This is a place of harvest, conservation and goldrush. Today—with the area being part of Predator Free South Westland—the mauri of the natural environment is being restored, making it a must-do place for New Zealanders to visit and connect with both nature and our history.”
To learn more about visiting Ōkārito and other sites on the Tohu Whenua itinerary, visit www.tohuwhenua.nz.
There are a number of ways to experience Ōkārito including beautiful walks featuring rimu, rātā and silver pine forests and the popular 4.3km Ōkārito Trig Walk. The Ōkārito Lagoon can be explored via foot, boat or kayak – giving visitors a close experience with over 70 species of birds, including the rare kōtuku/white heron, along with panoramic views of the Southern Alps.
Tohu Whenua will also encourage visits to the iconic Donovan’s Store, Ōkārito Wharf and boatshed. Bookable accommodation includes Ōkārito Community Campground and Ōkārito Schoolhouse – which is managed as a historic asset by DOC.
Tohu Whenua
Tohu Whenua is a free itinerary of places to visit and explore history where it happened. The visitor programme connects New Zealanders with their heritage and enhances their sense of national identity by promoting significant historical and cultural sites.
Tohu Whenua is a partnership between Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai (DOC), and Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Other Tohu Whenua sites in the Te Tai Poutini region include the Hokitika Port, Commercial and Government Centre, Historic Reefton, Te Kopikopiko o te Waka and Denniston, Waiuta, and Brunner Mine.
A recent survey commissioned by Tohu Whenua revealed that 78% of New Zealanders surveyed want to learn more about Aotearoa New Zealand history and many indicated a specific interest in Māori heritage.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered a keynote address at the New Mexico Veterans Business Summit highlighting how investments in veteran-owned businesses have grown New Mexico’s economy and created jobs New Mexicans can build their families around.
Heinrich secured $50,000 through the Appropriations process for the New Mexico Veterans Business Advocates Expo to provide New Mexico’s veteran-owned businesses an opportunity to interact with potential partners, customers, and employees, supporting their success and growth.
Heinrich also highlighted his work to expand veterans’ benefits and access to the health care they’ve earned and deserve.
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivers a keynote address at the New Mexico Veterans Business Summit, October 30, 2024.
“Small, locally-owned businesses — including veteran-owned businesses — are the beating hearts of our communities and backbone of our economy,” said Heinrich. “Our veterans leave their military service with unique skills and experience. I was proud to secure $50,000 in the 2024 Appropriations Bills to support the New Mexico Veterans Business Summit that is providing resources to help veteran-owned small businesses and military veterans looking for new career and entrepreneurial opportunities. I remain committed to supporting our state’s veterans and small business owners, lowering costs, growing our economy, and connecting New Mexicans to high-quality careers they can build their families around.”
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) at the New Mexico Veterans Business Summit, October 30, 2024.
Heinrich remains unwavering in his commitment to provide the care and benefits that veterans deserve and have earned.
This year, the VA has served more veterans than ever before and provided more care and benefits to veterans who were exposed to toxins during their time in the military because of the successful implementation of the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, bipartisan legislation that Heinrich helped lead as then-Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.
The PACT Act was signed into law in 2022 and has provided a record expansion of care and benefits for veterans. As a result, more veterans are filing claims and receiving their long overdue earned benefits, including disability compensation and GI Bill benefits.
Heinrich also recently passed legislation to protect veterans’ earned benefits and ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is able to continue to pay disability compensation, surviving spouses and dependent compensation, pension, and education benefits to veterans, including nearly 70,000 New Mexicans.
Additionally, Heinrich recently announced the Senate Appropriations Committee’s bipartisan, unanimous passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which included $3.2 billion to expand programs providing critical services and housing for veterans and their families. Heinrich also fought to include key language to protect access to abortion for veterans in cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is at risk, but the Committee did not ultimately include the provision.
In the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, Heinrich successfully advocated for major increases in funding to programs that support veterans in New Mexico and throughout the United States. He also successfully included key language to protect access to health care for veterans in New Mexico and nationally. Specifically, Heinrich secured increased funding to provide access to care for rural and Tribal veterans, transportation for rural veterans, rural health care for veterans, assistance to homeless veterans, construct state extended care facilities, improve veteran access to Suicide Prevention Coordinators, increase research on prosthetics and limb loss, and build on the work of neurology-related Centers of Excellence.
Additionally, in the Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, Heinrich successfully ensured that funding was not cut from the Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program, which provides rental assistance and supportive services to Nativ
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
BATON ROUGE –Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) hosted his final rural community funding summit of 2024, to connect elected leaders in the Capital Region with opportunities in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to improve roads, fix sewage and water problems, and reduce their risk of flooding.
“We have a partnership with mayors and other leaders in the Capital Region to use the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to meet the needs of this growing community,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Already we’re replacing gas lines in Donaldsonville and East Feliciana and reducing flood risk across the Baton Rouge area. This region is moving forward.”
Cassidy also discussed the IIJA before the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. Communities in the Capital Region have been major beneficiaries of the law. Just last week, Iberville Parish was awarded over $2.54 million and the village of Morganza over $1.87 million to upgrade their natural gas pipe systems. Additionally, Cassidy announced last October that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development received $88.3 million for Phase One of the LA 415 Interconnector Project, which would help fund the construction of highways and bridges and reduce traffic congestion in the Baton Rouge area, including in West Baton Rouge Parish.
Other major grant announcements for communities around Baton Rouge include over $10.4 million from the drinking water state revolving fund for the Livingston Ward 2 Water District and West Feliciana Parish, $30 million in 2023 and 2024 to replace aging gas pipes in the City of Donaldsonville, over $33 million for dredging and surveys along the Atchafalaya River and in Bayous Chene, Boeuf and Black, over $39 million for improvements to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and $100 million to launch a manufacturing plant in St. Gabriel that will produce lithium hexafluorophosphate, which is necessary for batteries. Major highway projects are also being funded throughout the region.
At the rural community funding summit and the West Baton Rouge Chamber, Cassidy was welcomed by community leaders and thanked for his service.
“I appreciate Senator Cassidy coming to Gonzales to make sure that communities in Ascension Parish and throughout the region know how we can take advantage of his infrastructure bill,” said Mayor Ryland Percy, of Gonzales, Louisiana. “I also appreciate his work to protect the energy industry that keeps people here and throughout the parish. That’s the kind of leadership we need in Washington.”
“Thanks to Senator Cassidy, the people in West Baton Rouge Parish employed by our manufacturers and energy companies will be able to stay employed and make a life in this community,” said Ms. Anna Johnson, Executive Director of the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. “And his infrastructure bill will make it easier for them to get to work, to their kids’ school, and back home in the evening. We appreciate Senator Cassidy for making life easier and better for our neighbors.”
Later, Cassidy toured Turner Industries’ modular fabrication facility in Port Allen, from which they also transport modules. They build major modules (or components) for industrial facilities such as refineries and petrochemical plants, and then ship them to worksites for more efficient installation. Their facility is also being used to build modules for LNG plants that will process liquefied natural gas, to be delivered to the rest of the world while supporting jobs in Louisiana.
“Turner is building modules for the Venture Global plant,” said Dr. Cassidy. “They’re part of a job creating process that starts at the wellhead and ends at the LNG terminal, but along the way produces thousands of great paying Louisiana jobs.”
Turner’s Port Allen facility features a 415 Yard, which spans 35 acres, has a 24,000-square-foot module assembly building, and sits along 1,100 feet of intracoastal waterway in order to more easily ship modules. The 415 Yard is one of three similar facilities that Turner owns. As part of their module construction, they provide welding, blasting and painting, steel and pipe support fabrication, and specialty alloy work. Additionally, Turner has a pipe fabrication facility nearby, which is capable of producing more than 6,500 spools per month. Turner Industries provides its array of services in over 400 facilities across the nation.
Cassidy has also worked to protect Louisiana’s energy industry. On October 16, Cassidy convened the Louisiana Energy Security Summit in Baton Rouge, which brought together senior officials from previous Republican administrations and leaders in Louisiana’s energy industry and research community to discuss how to bring back manufacturing jobs to the United States by developing the state’s energy resources. Cassidy also introduced the Foreign Pollution Fee Act, which would improve U.S. trade policy to help Louisiana’s manufacturers counter the unfair competition they face from foreign adversaries like China.
There are over 400 employees at Turner’s Port Allen facility. In total, Turner has over 19,000 employees. Cassidy was thanked in advance for his work in a statement by Mr. Stephen Toups, CEO of Turner Industries.
“On behalf of the Turner team, we thank Senator Cassidy for visiting us in Port Allen today,” said Mr. Toups. “I am so glad that he got to meet the men and women who are constructing the modules for the Liquefied Natural Gas projects here in the state. Our state has supported so many energy projects for our country and for the world. Thanks to our employees, we are supporting the Senators vision to keep America energy independent, and to use that energy to produce jobs here at home. We look forward to working with the Senator as he writes laws that continue to make our work possible.”
Source: The White House
The United States strongly condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) intercontinental ballistic missile test. This launch is a flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. While U.S. INDOPACOM has assessed it did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or territory, or to our allies, this launch needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region. It only demonstrates that the DPRK continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people. We urge all countries to condemn these violations and call on the DPRK to cease its destabilizing actions and engage in serious dialogue. The national security team is closely coordinating with our allies and partners. The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and Republic of Korea and Japanese allies.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (31 October 2024) — New Asian Development Bank (ADB) research finds the impacts of climate change could reduce gross domestic product (GDP) in developing Asia and the Pacific by 17% by 2070 under a high-end greenhouse gas emissions scenario, rising to 41% by 2100.
Rising sea levels and falling labor productivity would cause the greatest losses, with lower income and fragile economies hit hardest. The new research, presented in the inaugural issue of ADB’sAsia-Pacific Climate Report, details a series of damaging impacts threatening the region. If the climate crisis continues to accelerate, up to 300 million people in the region could be threatened by coastal inundation, and trillions of dollars of coastal assets could be damaged annually by 2070.
“Climate change has supercharged the devastation from tropical storms, heat waves, and floods in the region, contributing to unprecedented economic challenges and human suffering,” said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa. “Urgent, well-coordinated climate action that addresses these impacts is needed before it is too late. This climate report provides insight into how to finance urgent adaptation needs and offers promising policy recommendations to governments in our developing member countries on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at lowest cost.”
The report finds that regional public sentiment supports climate action. In an ADB climate change perception study this year, 91% of respondents across 14 regional economies said they view global warming as a serious problem, with many seeking more ambitious government action.
Adaptation responses need to be accelerated to address growing climate risks, along with an imperative to greatly upscale adaptation-focused climate finance. The report values annual investment needs for regional countries to adapt to global warming at between $102 billion and $431 billion—far exceeding the $34 billion of tracked adaptation finance in the region in 2021–2022. Government regulation reforms and enhanced recognition of climate risks are helping attract new sources of private climate capital, but far greater private investment flows are needed.
On the mitigation front, the report shows the region is well placed to embrace renewable energy in driving a transition to net zero, and that forging ahead with domestic and international carbon markets can help achieve climate action goals cost effectively.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
The United States presidential election will be held next Tuesday, with results coming in Wednesday AEDT. In analyst Nate Silver’s aggregate of national polls, Democrat Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump by 48.6–47.5, a slight gain for Trump since Monday, when Harris led by 48.6–47.4. Harris’ national lead peaked on October 2, when she led by 49.4–45.9.
The US president isn’t elected by the national popular vote, but by the Electoral College, in which each state receives electoral votes equal to its federal House seats (population based) and senators (always two). Almost all states award their electoral votes as winner-takes-all, and it takes 270 electoral votes to win (out of 538 total).
Relative to the national popular vote, the Electoral College is biased to Trump, with Harris needing at least a two-point popular vote win to be the narrow Electoral College favourite in Silver’s model.
In Silver’s averages, Trump has a 0.6-point lead in Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes), up from 0.3 on Monday. Trump has slightly larger leads of one to two points in North Carolina (16), Georgia (16) and Arizona (11). Harris is narrowly ahead by 0.1 point in Nevada (six) and about one point ahead in Michigan (15) and Wisconsin (ten).
In Silver’s model, Trump has a 54% chance to win the Electoral College, slightly higher than 53% on Monday. There’s a 29% chance that Harris wins the popular vote but loses the Electoral College. The FiveThirtyEight forecast gives Trump a 51% win probability.
Without a major event, there isn’t likely to be much change in the polls before the election, but a polling error where one candidate overperforms their polls could still occur. Silver’s model gives Trump a 22% probability of sweeping the seven swing states and Harris a 12.5% probability.
I wrote about the US election for The Poll Bludger yesterday, and also covered three Canadian provincial elections and Japan’s conservative LDP, which has governed almost continuously since 1955, losing its majority at an election last Sunday.
Biden a drag on Harris and favourability ratings
Joe Biden remains unpopular with a net -16.5 approval in the FiveThirtyEight national aggregate, with 55.8% disapproving and 39.3% approving. As Harris is the incumbent party’s candidate, an unpopular president is a key reason for Trump’s edge.
Biden’s remarks on Tuesday, in which he seemed to call Trump supporters “garbage”, resembled Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” in the 2016 presidential campaign. This won’t help Harris.
Biden is almost 82, Trump is 78 and Harris is 60. Trump’s age should be a factor in this election that favours Harris, but Silver said on October 19 that Democrats spent so much time defending Biden before he withdrew on July 21 that it’s now difficult for them to attack Trump’s age without seeming hypocritical.
Harris’ net favourability in the FiveThirtyEight national aggregate is -1.5, with 47.8% unfavourable and 46.3% favourable. Her net favourability peaked at +1 in late September. Trump’s net favourability is -8.5 with 52.1% unfavourable and 43.6% favourable; his ratings have improved a little in the last two weeks.
While Harris is more likeable than Trump, that’s not reflected in head to head polls. Silver said on October 23 that Trump’s campaign is promoting him as not-nice, but on your side, and as someone who will get things done. They argue Harris’ campaign lacks clear policies.
Harris’ running mate Tim Walz is at +2.6 net favourable, while Trump’s running mate JD Vance is at -6.9 net favourable. In the past few weeks, Vance’s ratings have improved slightly while Walz’s have dropped back.
Congressional elections
I last wrote about the elections for the House of Representatives and Senate that will be held concurrently with the presidential election on October 14. The House has 435 single-member seats that are apportioned to states on a population basis, while there are two senators for each of the 50 states.
The House only has a two-year term, so the last House election was at the 2022 midterm elections, when Republicans won the House by 222–213 over Democrats. The FiveThirtyEight aggregate of polls of the national House race gives Democrats a 46.2–46.1 lead over Republicans, a drop for Democrats from a 47.1–45.9 Democratic lead on October 14.
Senators have six-year terms, with one-third up for election every two years. Democrats and aligned independents currently have a 51–49 Senate majority, but they are defending 23 of the 33 regular seats up, including seats in three states Trump won easily in both 2016 and 2020: West Virginia, Montana and Ohio.
West Virginia is a certain Republican gain after the retirement of former Democratic (now independent) Senator Joe Manchin at this election. Republicans have taken a 5.4-point lead in Montana in the FiveThirtyEight poll aggregate, while Democrats are just 1.6 points ahead in Ohio.
Republicans are being challenged by independent Dan Osborn in Nebraska, and he trails Republican Deb Fischer by 2.3 points. Democrats did not contest to avoid splitting the vote. In Democratic-held Wisconsin, Democrats lead by 2.1 points, while other incumbents are ahead by at least three points.
If Republicans gain West Virginia and Montana, but lose Nebraska to Osborn, and no other seats change hands, Republicans would have a 50–49 lead in the Senate. If Harris wins the presidency, Osborn would be the decisive vote as a Senate tie can be broken by the vice president, who would be Walz. This is the rosiest plausible scenario for Democrats.
The FiveThirtyEight congressional forecasts give Republicans a 53% chance of retaining control of the House, so it’s effectively a toss-up like the presidency. But Republicans have an 89% chance to gain control of the Senate.
Adrian Beaumont does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over the 27th Chairperson’s Council meeting of the 14th CPPCC National Committee and delivers a speech in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] China’s top political advisor Wang Huning on Wednesday stressed that the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) should play a greater role as the country’s specialized consultative body. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, made the remarks when presiding over a meeting of the Chairpersons Council of the CPPCC National Committee. Wang called on political advisors to enhance their theoretical competence and improve their working mechanisms. He also emphasized the necessity of promoting extensive, multilevel and institutionalized development of consultative democracy. Political advisors should deepen research regarding major and difficult problems in reform and offer constructive suggestions for comprehensively deepening reform, Wang said, urging efforts to pool wisdom for promoting China’s economic recovery and growth. He urged political advisors to strengthen the theoretical study of the Chinese nation’s history and a community for the Chinese nation, and to enhance the public’s related knowledge. Wang encouraged political advisors to provide useful suggestions for building China into a powerhouse in culture and contribute to improving China’s communication with the foreign public. The Chairpersons Council meeting also reviewed and passed a document released by the CPPCC National Committee concerning the roles of its special committees and a set of regulations of the CPPCC National Committee aimed at enhancing its consultations with Party and government departments, a way of providing political advice to decision making.
Zheng Dazhe never imagined he would end up spending an entire afternoon touring porcelain workshops, engaging with craftsmen, and becoming captivated by their stories and creations, but when he visited the Taoyangli historical and cultural district in Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province, that’s exactly what happened.
Zheng visited the popular tourist destination in September to learn about porcelain. After exploring the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum, he found himself fascinated by the area’s many porcelain workshops in their centuries-old courtyards, and had engaging conversations with the craftsmen, learning about the intricate process of making porcelain, from the initial shaping of the clay, to the hand-painting of the designs.
“It’s like being in a movie. The porcelain artisans have lived and worked here for centuries. The buildings are old, and the city’s glorious history of porcelain making comes vividly alive,” says Zheng.
The Taoyangli historical and cultural district at the heart of Jingdezhen, which is known as the “porcelain capital of China”, consists of significant remains and ruins that bear witness to its millennium-old porcelain industry. This includes imperial and ordinary kilns dating back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, as well as workshops and trading houses once inhabited by ceramics makers and business owners.
Restored in 2016, the area has since become a popular destination for tourists like Zheng who are interested in porcelain. According to Liu Zili, president of the Jingdezhen Ceramic Culture Tourism Group, which oversees the district’s operation and restoration, Taoyangli received more than 3.7 million visits last year. During the National Day holiday earlier this month, daily visits peaked at 80,000.
Liu says that Taoyangli owes its birth to ceramics, and went on to develop a rich culture. The group aims to revitalize the historical district, and entice more young people to engage with its deeply rooted ceramic traditions.
Some 40 ceramic artisans and 300 apprentices are currently working in the historical workshops, mainly to demonstrate the intricacy of making porcelain and share their stories with visitors — tales of tradition, innovation, and the pursuit of beauty.
Sun Lixin, a fourth-generation inheritor of blue-and-white porcelain craftsmanship, continues the family legacy at his Taoyangli workshop. Growing up immersed in ceramic culture, he learned the craft from his grandfather, who also worked there.
The 57-year-old makes porcelain every day and enjoys engaging with the visitors who enter his courtyard. He has 60 apprentices, some of whom practice alongside him in the workshop.
“Most of the tourists coming here are young people. The district is a good window onto our porcelain culture. I believe as long as it interests young people, ceramic culture will continue to thrive and remain vibrant,” he says.
Apart from the traditional workshops, new shops have also been introduced. Two years ago, when Wen Jing first visited, she was captivated by Taoyangli’s blend of ancient architecture and old kilns. This January, she moved her aromatherapy shop from Shanghai to the district.
“Taoyangli is different to other ancient districts. It has not only imperial kilns and many old workshops, but also an abundant alleyway culture. It’s amazing to see all these well-preserved old homes and production spaces packed into such a small area,” says the 34-year-old.
Wen took the area’s tradition of ceramics into consideration when she worked with her designer to create a stylish bottle for her aromatherapy products. It is covered in thorns, like those of a rose, and so has to be handcrafted, and Wen says the mass production of such an item is only possible in Jingdezhen.
“It has a well-established system for everything, from molding to making porcelain, and there are many skilled craftsmen who can work with us,” she says.
Her shop is located in a centuries-old house and the interior can’t be changed due to preservation laws, so Wen has added some stylish furniture and decorations to create a blend of old and new.
“Being here allows us to connect with more young people and directly interact with customers, which is really helpful for developing our future products. We get a lot of valuable feedback from them,” she says.
As artisans deftly continue age-old traditions, visitors are invited to step back in time and experience the enduring legacy of this unique cultural enclave.
Taoyangli hosts numerous ceramic culture-related events each year to attract visitors. In addition to trying their hands at ceramics and exploring shops, tourists can visit the archaeological sites of the kilns that used to produce porcelain for the imperial families, participate in ceremonies held to mark the removal of freshly fired porcelain from the kilns, visit immersive ceramics exhibitions at the museum, and even do some role-playing.
“We will continue to explore cultural resources as a driving force for the integrated development of culture and tourism in Taoyangli,” says Liu.
In recent years, the group has been reaching out to former residents and craftsmen who moved out of Taoyangli, inviting them to return for a visit, and to record oral history videos.
“Their stories are an inseparable part of the culture and history of the old neighborhood.”
Israeli airstrikes targeted dozens of towns and villages in eastern and southern Lebanon on Wednesday, killing 31 people and injuring 27 others, according to official and military sources in Lebanon.
The Lebanese military sources, who spoke anonymously, told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes and drones carried out 55 airstrikes on towns and villages in southern Lebanon, including 17 raids on the southeast village of Khiam.
The official National News Agency (NNA) said that Israeli warplanes targeted the nuns’ neighborhood in the city of Nabatieh on Wednesday, destroying several buildings.
Meanwhile, towns and villages surrounding the eastern city of Baalbek were also subjected to 15 raids.
NNA reported that there was a massive displacement movement following Israel’s evacuation warning in Baalbek, in which about 100,000 citizens left their homes within several hours.
Many teams from the Civil Defense, the Lebanese Red Cross, and the Islamic Health Authority are still working to remove the rubble of destroyed homes in search of missing persons.
For its part, Hezbollah said in a series of statements that its fighters bombed several Israeli targets with dozens of missiles and drones, including the Adam Camp for special forces training southeast of Tel Aviv and a missile defense and regional brigade base east of Hadera.
Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been launching an unprecedented, intensive air attack on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah.
Since Oct. 8, 2023, Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been exchanging fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border amid fears of a broader conflict as the war between Hamas and Israel continues in the Gaza Strip.
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (31 October 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved an $80 million loan to enhance secondary education in Cambodia, spotlighting “21st century” skills like critical and creative thinking, inclusive teaching for boys and girls, and expanding pathways to post-secondary education. The Secondary Education for Human Capital Competitiveness Project will expand the number of inclusive climate-resilient school facilities—including an additional 400 classrooms—to address classroom overcrowding and expand access to quality upper secondary education.
“Cambodia needs to accelerate the shift to higher value-added economic activities, especially those driven by technology, to remain globally competitive and consolidate its remarkable economic progress in the recent past,” said ADB Country Director for Cambodia Jyotsana Varma. “A skilled and educated workforce is a prerequisite for this to happen. Building on ADB’s ongoing investments in education and skills development, this project aims to maximize the potential of Cambodia’s young population to drive future economic growth.”
Net enrollment in upper secondary education remains low in Cambodia at 35.5% due to factors such as inadequate school facilities and economic constraints, especially for boys who are expected to contribute to their household income. Teachers require additional training and support to develop in-demand skills and competencies in students. Moreover, students with special education needs face even greater barriers to quality secondary education.
The project will improve access to education, especially for students with learning disabilities by developing assistive technology and supporting special education secondary schools. The project will promote education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects to prepare a future cohort of workers possessing skills aligned with industry demand. To the same end, the project will seek to develop soft skills like communication, collaboration, and critical and creative thinking in students. The project will invest in improving professional development of teachers to encourage project-based teaching that incorporates group work, real-world problem solving, and community engagement. It will also review and strengthen the grade 12 national examination to better reflect the modernized curriculum, as well as develop fast-track courses in priority fields—like digital economy and applied mathematics—that aim to strengthen the pipeline of skilled human resources.
The project is a key component of ADB’s support for the government to enhance human capital development. It aligns with the government’s pentagonal strategy for growth, employment, equity, efficiency and sustainability, as well as ADB’s country partnership strategy for Cambodia, 2024–2028.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
Giant panda Xian Xian is pictured at the second-phase giant panda wild training fields of Tiantai Mountain in Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, June 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] China’s successful giant panda conservation efforts have seen the extinction risk of the species downgraded from endangered to vulnerable in 2016, with the population of giant pandas in the wild growing steadily from around 1,100 in the 1980s to nearly 1,900 as of last year. Against that background, giant panda lovers around the world have cheered the growing tribe of China’s national treasure. However, an article in The New York Times earlier this month voiced some concerns. Citing comments made by experts in 2006 and 2010, it said the methods used by China to survey the wild panda population were “not ideal” and that “China keeps its methodology a secret”. Chinese experts have responded by noting that assessing the population of pandas in the wild is by no means easy, although various complex and reliable methods are employed to enhance the accuracy of the count. Furthermore, there have been four giant panda censuses since the 1970s, with the most recent being completed in 2015 — a full five years after the 2010 comments were made by the sources cited by The New York Times. “Population assessment is a challenge in wildlife conservation research, especially for forest dwelling animals like giant pandas, which are often difficult to directly observe and count, and can only be assessed through collecting relevant trace information,” said Xu Weihua, vice-president of the Institute for National Parks. The nation’s protected area for giant panda habitats has expanded from 1.39 million hectares in the 1980s to 2.58 million hectares today. The establishment of the Giant Panda National Park in 2021, spanning the provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu, ensures the protection of about 70 percent of the pandas’ wild habitat. Thanks to careful monitoring, the number of giant pandas captured on camera and encountered in the wild has increased, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. In the third national giant panda survey, which began in 1999, and the fourth survey, which began in 2011, researchers set up survey lines every two square kilometers in key areas within the panda distribution range. In areas with fewer pandas, survey lines were set up every six sq km. “This is high-intensity information gathering. Surveyors collected data on panda feces and bite marks, and used distance and bite mark differentiation methods for a comprehensive analysis to evaluate the population of giant pandas nationwide,” Xu said, noting that both methods are scientifically validated and effective for conducting surveys on wild populations. The term “bite marks” refers to the undigested bamboo stem fragments found in pandas’ feces. The distance differentiation method involves calculating the distance between panda trace points obtained during field surveys, such as feces, footprints and fur, to determine if they come from the same panda, thereby confirming the number of pandas in the area. Regarding the counting method involved, Xu said: “Giant pandas are solitary animals, and except during mating and seasonal migration periods, their movement within a certain time frame is limited and stable. By determining the home range and dispersal ability of giant pandas, we can confirm whether trace points belong to the same panda. If the distance between two trace points exceeds the normal activity range of a giant panda, it is preliminarily determined that there is more than one panda in the area.” When the distance between two trace points falls within the potential activity range of a single panda, further identification using bite mark differentiation can be applied to enhance the accuracy of the census. “Ninety-nine percent of a giant panda’s diet consists of bamboo, which they cannot fully digest…. Due to variations in individual digestive capabilities, there can be significant differences in the average number of bite marks in feces,” Xu said. “By comparing characteristics like bite mark length, we can determine if the feces in an area was left by the same panda,” he added. In the article in The New York Times, some foreign experts proposed using infrared cameras and DNA analysis to assess the panda population. However, Chinese experts have argued that due to the similar appearance of pandas, it is challenging to differentiate individual pandas by examining photos from infrared cameras. In addition, DNA analysis requires fresh panda feces, making it impractical for large-scale operations and unsuitable for reflecting the total panda population nationwide. “The survey methods used by Chinese giant panda experts have a complete process flowchart and calculation method, and are currently the most reliable among existing methods,” Xu said. “We are also exploring new technologies for giant panda population assessment and individual identification. With advancements in technology, especially the application of artificial intelligence, big data and the emergence of new equipment, future panda surveys will be more efficient, and population assessments will be even more accurate,” he added.
The U.S. GDP grew at an annual rate of 2.8 percent in the third quarter of this year, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported in an advance estimate released Wednesday.
In the second quarter, real GDP rose 3.0 percent, according to the department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
The increase in real GDP in the third quarter primarily reflected increases in consumer spending, exports and federal government spending. Imports, a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.
The report noted that the slowdown in real GDP growth in the third quarter, compared to the second quarter, primarily reflected a downturn in private inventory investment and a larger drop in residential fixed investment.
These declines were partly offset by accelerations in exports, consumer spending and federal government spending, while imports also rose.
Disposable personal income rose by 3.1 percent in the third quarter, down from a 5.0 percent increase in the second quarter, suggesting potential weakness in future consumption.
Real disposable personal income, adjusted for taxes and inflation, grew by 1.6 percent, down from a 2.4 percent increase in the previous period.
The newly released GDP estimate for the third quarter is based on incomplete source data that may be revised by the BEA, the report said. The second estimate for the third quarter, based on more complete source data, will be released on Nov. 27.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A new expressway linking three major cities in Guangdong province officially opened on Wednesday afternoon, further promoting the integrated and high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Through the new Nansha-Zhongshan Expressway, vehicles can travel from Guangzhou’s Nansha district to the Shenzhen special economic zone in less than 20 minutes and to Zhongshan in about 15 minutes. Connected with the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link that operates across the estuary of the Pearl River, it further advances economic ties between cities in the eastern and western parts of the Pearl River delta.
Previously, it took more than an hour for drivers to complete the journey between Zhongshan and the Shenzhen special economic zone via the Humen or Nansha bridges, which have witnessed heavy traffic jams during peak periods. Now, they can drive between the two areas in about 30 minutes.
The 32.4-kilometer-long, six-lane two-way expressway, with a speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour, consists of the 21.6-kilometer-long main road and the 10.8-kilometer-long Wanqingsha Branch road. It will help Nansha Port improve its gateway function and achieve high-quality development.
The project is also expected to strengthen the direct connection between Nansha, located at the mouth of the Pearl River, and major cities in the GBA, said Guo Sheng, deputy director of Nansha district’s housing and urban-rural development bureau.
The expressway will provide huge opportunities for Nansha, a shipping hub in the southern Chinese region, to participate in the construction of the GBA and help the district open up more to the outside world.
The new highway further connects the three pilot free trade zones of Qianhai in Shenzhen, Hengqin in Zhuhai and Nansha together. Together with the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, people in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhongshan can reach each city within 30 minutes.
“Nansha already has subways, light railways and intercity railway networks to connect with major cities in the GBA,” said Guo.
Li Jing, chief planner with Department of Transport of Guangdong Province, said the province would further accelerate the construction of infrastructure and actively expand effective investment in transportation to further improve the highway network along the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link and surrounding areas.
The move aims to promote high-level connectivity within and outside the GBA, playing a pioneering role in transportation to better serve and support Guangdong’s opening-up to the outside world and high-quality development, Li said.
Meanwhile, transportation departments in Guangzhou and Shenzhen have also opened intercity bus routes to link Nansha district to Shenzhen and Nansha to the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport to strengthen the connection between the two cities on Wednesday.
The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, which opened in June, connects the city clusters of Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou in the eastern part of the Pearl River Delta to the prosperous cities of Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing in the western part, further enhancing infrastructure connectivity, cooperation and exchanges among the GBA cities.
Over the years, significant work has gone into investigating options for the consolidation of speedway activities in Auckland, with a solution now decided.
The council’s Governing Body agreed on 30 October 2024 to the request to transfer $11 million of existing Long-term Plan capital funding from Tātaki Auckland Unlimited to the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board. This funding will enable the delivery of critical works at Waikaraka Park and the consolidation of the two current four-wheel class speedway venues in Auckland into the Onehunga venue.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) supports the consolidation of four-wheel speedway classes at Waikaraka Park, which will enable the realisation of improved financial outcomes at Western Springs Stadium for the benefit of Auckland ratepayers.
The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board have been drivers and strong supporters of the consolidation to Waikaraka Park, seeing this activity as strategically important to the local board area and aligned to their approved Waikaraka masterplan.
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki local board chair Maria Meredith welcomes the investment into Waikaraka Park.
“This is a pivotal step forward for speedway activities at Waikaraka Park. The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board has been a longtime supporter of racing activities at this iconic Tāmaki Makaurau venue. This investment unlocks critical upgrades to the facility which are consistent with our approved Waikaraka Park Masterplan and help to ensure a bright and exciting future for the facility,” says Ms Meredith.
The decision to back and invest in Waikaraka Park provides a viable future for four-wheel speedway events in Auckland. It provides much-needed investment in facilities and infrastructure, improves safety and security, and allows for the confident planning of future high-quality events.
The Western Springs Speedway promoter came to the natural end of a four-year venue hire agreement in 2023, before being granted a one-year extension while seeking alternative future venues. Waikaraka Park has a secure lease arrangement in place until 2051.
Waikaraka Park is the current home of the Auckland Stock and Saloon Car Club. This decision paves the way forward for speedway and stock and saloon cars to share the same venue.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Diane Charleson, Senior Lecturer in media School of Arts Australian Catholic University, Australian Catholic University
Alina Gozin’a
Award-winning director Madeleine Hetherton-Miau’s latest offering is an evocative and hard-hitting documentary with a strong message. Mozart’s Sister investigates the life of Maria Anna Mozart, the older sister of the more famous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The film portrays a sensitive and well-researched investigation into Maria Anna’s life – illuminating how the draconian attitudes that prevailed during her time condemned her to a lesser life than her brother, even though she was similarly talented.
It also reminds us of the importance of championing women musicians today, as “if we don’t encourage women now, it (discrimination) only repeats”.
Who was Maria Anna Mozart?
Maria Anna was the first-born child of Leopold Mozart. He himself was a musician and composer and had his daughter schooled in music from a very young age.
Maria showed amazing talent – a child prodigy in playing and composing. When Wolfgang was born, he quickly became engrossed in playing and composing music with his sister.
Mozart’s Sister features wonderfully poignant recreations of this childhood bond over music – emphasising the siblings’ playfulness and engagement with music in a noncompetitive way.
Leopold recognised his children’s prodigious talents. He soon had them travelling and playing concerts all over Europe, where they were lauded by the highest aristocracy. Maria Anna and Wolfgang were inseparable during this time and composed many works together.
Maria Anna and Wolfgang composed many works together. Madeleine Hetherton-Miau
Women musicians in the 18th century
But all of this came to an abrupt end with Maria Anna turned 15. As custom would dictate, it was considered unsuitable and unseemly for a girl of that age to perform in public, likening this form of public performance to that of a prostitute.
The film portrays the unfortunate fate that befell many 18th-century women who wanted to pursue a career in music. Regardless of their aptitude, these women would have no real career prospects. They were even banned from playing musical instruments deemed unseemly, including the violin and cello.
Composing and playing music was largely taken up by the nuns in monasteries. As Mozart’s Sister highlights, even though this was a time of enlightenment, this “enlightenment” was reserved for men – and white men at that. It definitely didn’t flow on to women.
Maria Anna was forced to stay home while Wolfgang continued pursuing music uninterrupted – and the rest is history.
Maria Anna’s musical talents weren’t encouraged the way her younger brother’s were. Shannon Ruddock
The film ponders what it must have been like for her to be left at home, away from her brother (who was once her constant companion) and unable to play as she used to. Her life is poignantly illustrated through her diary entries, which are mainly filled with references to the weather, as though nothing else was happening for her.
Maria Anna eventually married, but continued to practice music each day. Upon her husband’s death – now a woman of means and a baroness in her 50s – she returned to solo concert performances.
A documentary on two levels
Mozart’s Sister is a documentary that functions on many levels.
On one level, it’s a biopic that portrays Maria Anna’s story through recreations of her childhood in Austria, with a voiceover narration and interviews highlighting her relationship with her brother. Much is shot on location in Austria and framed through the perspective of present-day museum curators and experts.
On another level, the film is a broader statement on the underrepresentation of female composers. I thought the director did an excellent job in portraying this duality through the juxtaposition of Maria Anna’s with the young British composer Alma Deustger. Deustger displayed many of the characteristics we could imagine Maria Anna having.
Like Maria Anna, Deustger is a brilliant modern-day composer with a deep appreciation for for composing and conducting. But unlike Maria, she has been able to pursue her passion and turn it into a career. I was particularly struck by the film’s closing, in which Deustger discusses writing her waltz based on the police sirens of New York.
Mozart’s Sister follows in a recent literary trend of discussions of appropriation – and of the overlooking of talented women in history who have been overshadowed by their more famous male counterparts. Anna Funder’s Wifedom and Hernan Diaz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book Trust are two other examples of this.
It is an interesting and provocative film that will appeal to classical music lovers, as well as those interested more broadly in the issue of female underrepresentation in the arts.
Mozart’s Sister is in cinemas from today.
Diane Charleson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Samsung Electronics today reported financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024.
The Company posted KRW 79.1 trillion in consolidated revenue, an increase of 7% from the previous quarter, on the back of the launch effects of new smartphone models and increased sales of high-end memory products. Operating profit declined to KRW 9.18 trillion, largely due to one-off costs, including the provision of incentives in the Device Solutions (DS) Division.
The strength of the Korean won against the U.S. dollar resulted in a negative impact on company-wide operating profit of about KRW 0.5 trillion compared to the previous quarter.
In the fourth quarter, while memory demand for mobile and PC may encounter softness, growth in AI will keep demand at robust levels. Against this backdrop, the Company will concentrate on driving sales of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and high-density products. The Foundry Business aims to increase order volumes by enhancing advanced process technologies. Samsung Display Corporation (SDC) expects the demand of flagship products from major customers to continue, while maintaining a quite conservative outlook on its performance. The Device eXperience (DX) Division will continue to focus on premium products, but sales are expected to decline slightly compared to the previous quarter.
For 2025, the Company will remain focused on enhancing competitiveness in advanced technologies and strengthening leadership in premium products and AI capabilities amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties. The DS Division will address demand for differentiated products based on advanced technologies and high value-added products such as HBM and server SSDs. In addition, the Company plans to leverage the mass production on the 2 nanometer (nm) Gate-All-Around (GAA) process to win new clients. SDC will aim to maintain leadership in the high-end product category and broaden its product portfolio. The DX Division will continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences through enhanced AI features and product connectivity.
With over 500 million diverse products being delivered to consumers globally every year, the Company is tailoring its AI technology in each product to help lead the market. By leveraging the SmartThings platform with 360 million users and capabilities in product intelligence, spatial intelligence, and personalization, the Company plans to firmly establish itself in the home of the future, where AI will be widespread. In the AI era for the home, the Company will focus on the security of its products, convenience in device connectivity, intelligent technology to save energy and time, and the health and well-being of users and their families.
Memory Achieves Revenue Growth in Q3
The DS Division posted KRW 29.27 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 3.86 trillion in operating profit in the third quarter.
For the Memory Business, demand for AI and conventional servers was strong, as major datacenter and technology companies continued to invest. But mobile demand was relatively soft due to inventory adjustments by some customers, and the supply-demand situation was impacted somewhat by the increasing supply of legacy products in the China market.
The Company focused on actively responding to the demand for AI and server products while depleting aging inventories of legacy products to further improve the inventory level and mix. Therefore, compared to the previous quarter, the Company achieved significant revenue growth in HBM, DDR5 and Server SSD.
However, performance decreased due to a reduced reversal of inventory valuation loss compared to the previous quarter, one-off expenses such as the provision of incentives, and currency effects due to a weak dollar.
For the fourth quarter, the demand trends experienced in the previous quarter are expected to continue. The Company plans to accelerate the conversion of cutting-edge nodes in legacy lines and aims to strengthen its business fundamentals by completing the normalization of the inventory level and mix by the end of the year.
For DRAM, the Company plans to expand sales in line with the increase in HBM capacity, accelerate the transition to 1b nanometer1 for server DDR5 and actively expand the sales portion of high-density modules based on 32Gb DDR5. For NAND, the Company will expand sales of 8th generation (V8) based PCIe Gen5 and plans to mass-produce the 64TB product for the quad-level cell (QLC) market, which has high growth potential.
Looking ahead to 2025, datacenter and enterprise investments are likely to remain strong in association with AI, and build demand for conventional servers, in addition to AI servers, is expected to be steadily strong.
For DRAM, the Company plans to expand the sales of HBM3E and the portion of high-end products such as DDR5 modules with 128GB density or higher for servers and LPDDR5X for mobile, PC, servers, and so on. For NAND, the Company will proactively respond to the high-density trend based on QLC products — including 64TB and 128TB SSDs — and solidify leadership in the PCIe Gen5 market by accelerating the tech migration from V6 to V8.
The System LSI Business posted modest sales growth, but earnings declined due to increased one-off costs. System-on-chip (SoC) shipments increased as flagship products were adopted for new models by a major customer. Sales of image sensors were affected by H1’s inventory accumulation, resulting in some adjustments, while display driver IC (DDI) sales expanded with new model launches by key customers.
In the fourth quarter, supply of the Exynos 2400 will continue to expand with higher customer adoption, but weak demand for image sensors is expected to continue. For DDIs, the System LSI Business is focusing on growth areas, such as the expansion of IT-oriented OLED products.
Looking ahead to 2025, the momentum of on-device AI is expected to remain strong, and the Company will focus on capturing opportunities in areas such as SoCs and cameras. The System LSI Business plans to concentrate on supplying SoCs for flagship products of a major customer while preparing for next-generation 2nm products. Image sensors will aim to maximize new product supply through HDR, low-power and zoom features, while DDIs will seek to develop low-power products using advanced processes.
The Foundry Business saw its overall earnings decline compared to the previous quarter due to the impact of one-off costs. Still, the Foundry Business successfully met its order targets — particularly in sub-5nm technologies — and released the 2nm GAA process design kit (PDK), enabling customers to proceed with their product designs.
While mobile and PC demand may remain weak in the fourth quarter, high performance computing (HPC) and AI-related demand will continue to be robust. The Foundry Business will strive to acquire customers by improving the process maturity of its 2nm GAA technology, and it will continue to develop competitive technology and design infrastructure to expand additional business opportunities.
For 2025, the overall foundry market is expected to show double-digit growth, driven by HPC and AI applications in advanced technology nodes. The Foundry Business aims to expand revenue through ongoing yield improvements in advanced technology while securing major customers through successful 2nm mass production. In addition, integrating advanced process nodes and packaging solutions to further develop the HBM buffer die is expected to help acquire new customers in the AI and HPC sectors.
Mobile Display Records Solid Results; Will Maintain Leadership in the High-End Market
SDC posted KRW 8.0 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 1.51 trillion in operating profit for the third quarter.
For the mobile display business, SDC achieved sequential improvements in both sales and profits thanks to the flagship product launches of major customers. For the large display business, SDC reported a slight weakening in operating profit, but sales volume improved from the previous quarter, driven by the stable demand of TV and monitor products.
In the fourth quarter, SDC expects continued demand for flagship products from major customers, and sales growth of IT and automotive products. However, SDC’s performance outlook is quite conservative compared to the previous quarter, due to headwinds from rising competition among panel makers.
For the large display business, SDC will keep striving to expand sales by meeting the fourth quarter demand of major customers through improved production efficiency, and it aims to respond to the demand for new products in 2025 with timely supply.
In 2025, SDC will continue to maintain its leadership in the foldable and high-end smartphone markets, based on innovative OLED technologies optimized for AI devices and accelerate the expansion of IT and automotive products to further diversify its business portfolio.
For the large display business, SDC will continue to leverage the performance advantage of QD-OLED panels to strengthen its position in the premium TV market. And for monitors, SDC will broaden its lineup by adding high-resolution products and diverse refresh rate options, aiming not only to solidify its competitive edge in the gaming monitor market but also to actively enter the B2C monitor market.
MX Business To Achieve Double-Digit Annual Sales Growth in Flagships
The MX and Networks businesses posted KRW 30.52 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 2.82 trillion in operating profit for the third quarter.
Overall market demand for smartphones grew modestly as the residual effects of global inflation slowed the recovery in consumer spending.
The MX Business recorded sequential growth in both revenue and operating profit, bolstered by the launch of new smartphone, tablet and wearable products. Sales increased — with a focus on flagship models — and profitability neared double digits, despite rising material costs as product specifications improved to boost competitiveness.
In the fourth quarter, seasonal factors are expected to lead to sequential growth in the smartphone market. At the same time, competition in the mass market segment is expected to increase as a result of rising demand, particularly in emerging markets.
The MX Business will continue to maintain solid sales of its AI smartphones, such as foldables and the S24 series, with various sales promotions in anticipation of the holiday season, aiming for annual flagship sales growth of double digits. In addition, the MX Business will expand sales linked to year-end seasonality for tablets and wearables, especially on new premium products with significantly enhanced performance, to contribute to the MX Business’ sales and profits.
In 2025, the macroeconomic environment is expected to stabilize to a degree as a result of interest rate cuts, leading to slight growth in the smartphone market. The mass market segment is expected to grow, along with demand for ecosystem products, and the smartwatch and true wireless stereo (TWS) markets will expand with broader applications of AI capabilities.
The MX Business will drive sales growth and improve profitability with a focus on flagship products, including smartphones, foldables, tablets and wearables, based on further advancements of Galaxy AI.
Visual Display To Focus on Premium Models and Service Expansion
The Visual Display and Digital Appliances businesses posted KRW 14.14 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 0.53 trillion in operating profit in the third quarter.
The Visual Display Business saw improved profitability both from the previous quarter and a year earlier by prioritizing sales of strategic products such as Neo QLEDs, OLEDs, and big TVs. Additionally, service business sales increased.
In the fourth quarter, overall demand in the TV market is expected to recover due to year-end peak seasonality amid intensifying competition. The Visual Display Business plans to capture peak season demand by enhancing sales programs through strategic collaborations with major retail partners, and will focus on expanding sales and securing profitability by emphasizing the competitiveness of TVs in terms of security, design, and content.
In 2025, the overall TV market is expected to post modest growth, with strategic products like QLEDs, OLEDs, and big TVs continuing to gain market share. To solidify its leading position globally, the Visual Display Business will continue to differentiate AI functionalities and innovate its products centering on premium and Lifestyle screens.
By utilizing AI, the Company aims to enhance core TV features such as picture and sound quality, while also improving the overall user experience within the SmartThings ecosystem. The Company plans to drive sales of premium products centered on Neo QLED, OLED and super big TVs, and it will maintain leadership in the Lifestyle screen category by leveraging well-established competitive advantages.
Furthermore, by capitalizing on the extensive installed base that has been established through hardware leadership, the Visual Display Business will continue to expand the service platform business through advertisement and media such as Samsung TV Plus.
1 Refers to Samsung’s fifth-generation 10nm class DRAM
BEIJING, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (31 October 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $50 million loan (in yuan equivalent) with Canvest Environmental Protection Group Company Limited (Canvest) to promote efficient municipal solid waste management and waste-to-energy (WTE) in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
ADB’s funding will help Canvest develop, construct, and operate a WTE plant at Huizhou City in Guangdong province, and to expand municipal solid waste management services in Quyang County in Hebei province. Canvest provides a range of services across the municipal solid waste value chain including cleaning, segregation, collection, transportation, sorting, recycling, and energy generation.
“Segregating and recycling solid waste has been a challenge in the PRC, so cities have turned to the private sector for an efficient and integrated approach to waste management,” said ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury. “However, private sector participation in waste management is still nascent in the PRC. This project can demonstrate the viability of sector while contributing to low-carbon development.”
The PRC is one of the world’s largest sources of municipal solid waste, with a total volume of 244 million tons in 2022 which is expected to reach 332.4 million tons a year by 2025. The project’s WTE plant is expected to treat at least 300,000 tons of municipal solid waste a year, generating at least 93 gigawatt-hours of energy annually. This will help reduce at least 346,700 tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions. The project will also support the annual collection of at least 147,825 tons of waste by 2026.
“Canvest helps cities to better manage their solid waste problem in a more cost-effective and sustainable way. We value ADB’s support in enhancing the environmental, social, and gender impacts of our operations,” said Canvest Chair Lee Wing Yee Loretta. “We are pleased to collaborate with ADB to share with the wider waste management community the benefits of integrated waste management solutions and the lessons learned.”
Established in 2003, Canvest is a leading provider of waste management services in the PRC. As of June 2024, the company operated 33 WTE projects, with a total treatment capacity of 43,690 tons per day. Additional projects with a daily capacity of 10,850 tons are under development. Canvest also has 22 municipal solid waste management projects.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
Source: Australia Government Ministerial Statements
CATHERINE KING: Hi, I’m Catherine King. I’m the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, and one of the great parts of my job is being able to invest in local communities. Today we’re announcing here in Cowes that the Albanese Labor Government is committing $8 million to upgrade the esplanade, to do the work that’s needed to ensure that this is a much more pedestrian-friendly area for the beautiful people that come to Phillip Island each year, who live on the island, and call this home. This investment alongside over $21 million worth of funding that we’re announcing as part of the regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, another project in Hamilton, a project in Mansfield, and a project in Cobram, are really important projects for local communities. What they enable and the reason we’ve been looking to invest alongside council in these projects is to create precincts that come to life. Where the infrastructure may be a bit tired, it’s not working, we’re really trying to make sure we’re bringing people back into the centres and regions, that we’re providing that opportunity for new businesses to flourish, but also really for places to be used because we know how important that is to local communities.
So, really delighted to be here today to announce the latest round of regional Precincts and Partnerships funding and the $8 million to give to the Cowes community. I might hand over to the CEO – obviously the council is in caretaker at the moment – to say a few words and then I’ll be happy to take some questions.
GREG BOX: Thank you, Minister. So, we’re really pleased to have you here and really pleased to have the Federal Government provide this funding. Ultimately, it’ll bring the money to 9.6 million from council’s contribution. This is an iconic part of Victoria. It’s an iconic street. And really, that investment is going to bring that right up as, the Minister said, and transform it into the sort of place that we want this to be. We’ve had an enormous amount of investment over the last ten years. The master planning for this was done out in 2015, and that master planning has culminated in nearly $300 million worth of investment around this site and around this place. So it’s incredible work and council’s really proud of it, but we’re actually really excited and looking forward to transforming this space right now.
CATHERINE KING: Great. Happy to take some questions.
QUESTION: So traffic will be going one way in Cowes?
CATHERINE KING: Yeah. Well I think if you’ve ever come down here at summer- it’s a little while since I’ve been down here on holidays. I used to come down here a lot as a kid. But it’s pretty busy and it’s really very congested and hard to get through. But it also makes it dangerous when you’ve got families with little kids who are trying to get access to the shops, trying to get their kids ice creams, or just come and do your shopping. It does make it really difficult over summer. And of course, anyone who’s been down here knows that it banks up, so that means you’ve just got a decent traffic flow. You really make sure you’re slowing cars down, you’re pedestrianising access. That makes it safer, but it also makes it a much better place for people. People want to come here, they want to actually come and shop, and that’s really good for the retailers as well.
QUESTION: Will there be any impacts to car parking?
CATHERINE KING: Again, that’s really a matter for council. They’re delivering the project. The Federal Government is delivering the funding and partnership, so I’ll hand over to the CEO to make [indistinct].
GREG BOX: Yeah, we’ll work through the detailed design of it. We’re not really talking about net losses and gains at the moment. There’s a whole lot of detail still to be done on that. But as the Minister said, really, what we’re trying to do is prioritise people in the space. We already experience an enormous amount of people in this space, and letting them be able to interact both with business and community is incredibly important. Providing shade, there’ll be curve extensions. This part of the world will be one of those places that you really do want to walk and sit and contemplate. It’s the only north facing beach in Victoria. It really is an iconic spot and we’re experiencing that today with the sun on us. It’s really a magnificent spot to actually stop and engage in local culture.
QUESTION: And so it will be one way up until Chapel Street, is that right?
GREG BOX: Yes. Just until- just up until chapel. And it’ll be one way coming down this way, and then it’ll go one way both ways around. So again, as the Minister said, that will slow down traffic and will enable people to feel like the space is something that they can inhabit more safely.
QUESTION: And Minister, speaking about the other areas across the state receiving funding, were they announced- are you announcing them today or have they already been…
CATHERINE KING: We’re announcing all of the Victorian regional Precincts and Partnerships Projects today. So, the work in Hamilton, Mansfield and Cobram. And over $21 million across the state of Victoria. What we’re really looking for are- these are place-based funding. It’s to really look at how do you improve the places where regional communities live, how do you get partnerships between council, Federal Government, commercial retailers, not-for-profit organisations to really make those places where people want to come and live.
QUESTION: Is there anything that stands out about [indistinct]? One-way traffic or anything.
CATHERINE KING: So, yeah, really to me, what I’ve been looking for and I’ve got a panel of people who are really involved in urban planning and changing places. And so they do the assessments for me, and that comes to me. But what I’ve been looking for is have we got areas that are underutilised, have older buildings in them that really have been- have had huge uses throughout their life but are not really being used; spaces that are not being activated. So really, that’s what I’ve been looking for. What changes a place and makes a place more liveable for people in our communities. And that’s really what this program is about.
QUESTION: And why have these towns been specifically selected?
CATHERINE KING: Again, because of the excellence of their projects. If you look at the projects here in Cowes, this is about changing places. It’s about changing the way that people who live in this community interact with the built environment and use it more effectively, and that’s really what these projects are about.
