Gabriel Estrada, 30, of Denver, Colorado, was convicted by a federal jury for attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity. The four-day trial was held before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson.
According to trial evidence, Estrada used a chat app to meet up with a 13-year-old persona for sexual intercourse. An undercover agent posed as a 13-year-old female, living in Laramie, Wyoming. Estrada messaged the 13-year-old persona asking if she would have sex with him. He went on to ask the 13-year-old persona if she had any friends that would like to join them in the sexual encounter and asked about her sexual experience. Estrada then drove the two hours from his home to Laramie after confirming the minor would engage in other sexual acts with him. Estrada arrived at the location, along with other physical evidence indicative of his intent to engage in sexual acts with the minor and an iPhone. The iPhone contained the text messages to the 13-year-old persona. Estrada testified that he made the decision to drive from his apartment in Denver to Laramie, even after the minor told him her age. Estrada said he did not believe she was actually 13.
Sentencing has been set for Jan. 13, 2025. Estrada faces 10 years to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, five years to life supervised release and a $100 special assessment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors in both cases.
This crime was investigated by the Laramie Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Derrick Van Orden (Wisconsin 3rd)
WASHINGTON, D.C.– This week, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) participated in a House Judiciary Committee field hearing in Milwaukee on the effects of the current southwest border crisis on Wisconsin residents and communities.
During the hearing, Congressman Van Orden questioned the witness panel on the Federal Correctional Institution Oxford holding 650 illegal aliens who committed felonies in the facility, which is over half of the facility’s housing capacity of 1,200. In a meeting with Oxford’s administrators a week prior to the hearing, Rep. Van Orden was informed that the cost to house a single inmate at Oxford is $42,000 per year, leading the facility to spend over $27 million per year on housing the illegal aliens alone in their custody. Federal law requires that illegal aliens who are convicted of felonies while residing in the U.S. must complete their sentence in the U.S. prison system before being deported.
To watch Rep. Van Orden’s line of questioning during the hearing, clickhereor below.
(watch)
Rep. Van Orden addressing the Oxford Federal Prison illegal alien population with Republican Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson:
Rep. Van Orden:
“The criminal illegal alien that Congressman Tiffany referred to earlier made his way across the border with Venezuelan gang tattoos. Those are not a, “Live to Ride, Ride to Live” tattoo. That’s either: You’re a member of that gang and you have that tattoo, or they will cut it off you while you’re living, so that should have been taken for what it is at the border. This person never should have been allowed in the country, made his way to Minneapolis, arrested for crimes after the Dane County Sheriff had warrants out for strangulation and some other violent crimes, and didn’t bother following up with it because both those places are Sanctuary Cities.
“Then he came to a place a half mile away from where four of my grandchildren live and brutally raped a mother and assaulted a daughter over a period of days. This could have been stopped at any point, and solely because the Biden Administration is pushing an incredibly horrible political agenda, this is going to keep happening over and over and over again.
“Senator Johnson, I found this out last week, and I want to know if you’re tracking. We went to the federal prison in Oxford in my district, and half of the prisoners are illegal aliens. Are you tracking the volume of what’s taking place? This is the second and third order effect of opening up these borders, but when half of an institution is occupied by illegal aliens, that’s something that I’m hoping we’re going to be looking at here under a Trump presidency. Are you tracking this, Sir?”
Sen. Johnson:
“I’m not, but it’s not surprising. It’s not just going to be federal prisons; it’s going to be local prisons and they’re going to be bearing the brunt of the cost of this. I think the House Committee said that the cost of dealing with this crisis is about $150 billion per year across all governmental units. That’s a massive cost imposed on us by the Biden-Harris administration, and that gang member never should have been let into this country. The vast majority of people are as sympathetic as I am with people who want to come here for opportunity but don’t qualify for asylum. There is a very tough standard. You have to be persecuted by your government or threatened with persecution. This open border is a setback in establishing a functioning legal immigration that is controlled and brings people in to improve our economy. I’m for a robust legal immigration system, and we need one. We certainly need one here in Wisconsin – certainly in your district with all the farmers. We need workers, we need laborers, and immigrant laborers do a great job. They come here, they work their tail off, but it has to be a legal system. You cannot establish that until you secure the border. So, Biden has set back establishing that legal system…”
Rep. Van Orden:
“At one point, they had 17 to 20 some thousand rotating through Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy, which I represent. We went back and looked at every single Afghan that came here that was eligible for the Special Immigrant Visa, meaning they worked with the United States government during the war. Guess how many of those were qualified for SIV – zero…
“The last thing we’re looking at is about 250,000 missing children the Biden administration has lost. The Biden administration, under the Harris Border Czar, is solely responsible for losing almost a quarter of a million children in the United States that are most likely being trafficked, knowing full well that they were releasing them into the hands of members of transnational criminal organizations and human sex traffickers.”
Anne, Lady Dodd, the wife of beloved comic Sir Ken Dodd, is set to receive one of Liverpool’s greatest accolades.
Lady Dodd will be admitted to the city’s Roll of Citizen of Honour, after a decision made by Councillors tonight (Wednesday 22 January).
Lady Dodd is one of the Trustees of the Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation, which works to support performing arts charities and organisations. In the past six years, the Foundation has made over 50 donations to more than 30 charities, many of which are based in Liverpool and Merseyside.
Some of the recipients of these donations include Liverpool Women’s Hospital Charity, Liverpool Theatre School, and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Outside of the Foundation, Lady Dodd has personally supported a number of projects in the City. Her contributions to her local community were highlighted through letters of recognition from St John the Evangelist Church and Happiness Hall in Knotty Ash, as well as Knotty Ash Primary School.
Tonight’s meeting also saw Councillors agree to award the Liverpool Law Society with the Freedom of Association for their work to provide free legal advice to those in need who may otherwise be unable to access it.
Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Richard Kemp CBE said: “Anne, Lady Dodd works tirelessly to improve the lives of others, and she is well deserving of the Citizen of Honour title.
“Lady Dodd has supported countless organisations and community projects both in Liverpool and further afield. Her compassion and generosity have made a significant difference to thousands of lives.
“Her work, both individually and through the Kenn Dodd foundation, is often done without great fanfare. It is clear that Lady Dodd does not help others for recognition, but for a genuine love for her community and her desire to support those who need it the most.”
Leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Liam Robinson said: “The Citizen of Honour accolade recognises people who make an exceptional contribution to the City and Anne, Lady Dodd is the perfect embodiment of this.
“Not only has she worked closely with community groups and organisations in her home of Knotty Ash, but her work through the Kenn Dodd Charitable Foundation has seen millions of pounds donated to an incredible number of Liverpool and Merseyside charities.
“Lady Dodd’s selfless support and dedication to those in need make her an incredible role model.”
Anne, Lady Dodd said: “When I received the letter from Liverpool City Council I was amazed, overwhelmed, undeserved, I feel, but so honoured to hear that I would receive this award.
“I love Liverpool, my adopted home for over fifty years. During the last six years, as Trustees running The Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation with Ken’s nephew, John Lewis, I have met so many incredible workers and volunteers in a variety of charitable organisations, and particularly Liverpool Hospitals, who give extra time and effort to making people’s lives better.
“My family, friends and I are so very proud to have this recognition for spending what really have been joyful times doing all the things that Ken’s legacy and his wishes have enabled me to do on his behalf since he passed away in 2018.
“I am very much looking forward to the ceremony and receiving the Citizen of Honour scroll. I am truly thrilled to bits or as Ken would say, I am completely discomknockerated!”
Access to affordable, safe housing is a basic right, but many face poor conditions, homelessness, or are priced out of neighbourhoods, deepening social inequities and division.
How can we ensure housing policies promote social justice and cohesion and prevent exclusion as well as displacement?
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The website operator appears under the name ProfitFlex247, without using a legal form. He does not provide any information about his place of business. The operator claims to be authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It links to the FCA’s homepage to a publication there about the registration of the company Flex Instant Services Ltd. The BaFin has no information about a possible connection between Flex Instant Services Ltd and the website profitflex247.com. Rather, it is assumed that the company’s identity has been stolen.
Recently, a large number of websites with almost identical content have come to light, and BaFin has also issued warnings about these. In all cases, the presentation on the websites begins with the following sentence: ‘Step Into the Trading Arena with Confidence & [name of website]’ or, more recently, ‘Enter the trading arena with confidence & [name of website]’. In addition, BaFin has evidence of a link between the ‘Step Into the Trading Arena with Confidence’ platform series and the ‘Trade Wisely’ platform series, which BaFin has also already warned about.
Anyone offering financial or investment services in Germany requires the permission of BaFin. However, some companies offer such services without the required permission. Information on whether a particular company is authorised by BaFin can be found in the company database.
The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).
Please be aware:
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
Beijing’s municipal parks and the Museum of Chinese Garden and Landscape Architecture will host 156 cultural activities during the Spring Festival, featuring festive decorations and themed events. The Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks will present 10 categories of events from Jan. 22 to Feb. 12, spanning flower exhibitions, cultural displays, intangible cultural heritage experiences, science education, artistic performances, patriotic education, winter activities, creative markets and Lantern Festival celebrations. The center has also created a snake mascot called “Lingbao” and related products for the Year of the Snake. Parks expect about 4 million visitors during the eight-day holiday, with major venues like the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven and Beihai Park increasing their activities by nearly 90% from last year, said Miao Xiangliu, director of the center’s Service Management Department. Each park is offering six to seven categories of activities ranging from sightseeing and entertainment to food and shopping. The parks feature more than 6,800 plants representing over 300 indoor flower species across nearly 3,000 square meters. The National Botanical Garden’s newly renovated greenhouse will host evening cultural activities, including plant explorations and traditional music performances. Zhongshan Park is showcasing over 20 flower varieties using “Tang Flower” techniques, including plum blossoms, azaleas, winter jasmine and flowering crabapples. Meanwhile, Yuyuantan Park is hosting a cherry blossom market featuring greenhouse-grown cherry blossoms, traditional opera, intangible cultural heritage crafts and snacks. Parks like Xiangshan, the Summer Palace, Taoranting, and Zhongshan are hosting patriotic education activities, integrating ancient architecture, historic trees and revolutionary history to transform their gardens into “living classrooms.” Famous calligraphers at Beihai, Zizhuyuan, Yuyuantan and Baiwangshan parks will create and give away Spring Festival couplets and traditional decorations, including the Chinese character “Fu” — meaning fortune and luck in English —and paper-cut designs for visitors.
The Whitten Oval precinct, home of the Western Bulldogs, has undergone an over $77.7 million redevelopment, delivering upgraded player and spectator facilities, as well as a women’s health and leadership hub.
The Australian Government ($15 million) partnered with the Victorian Government ($46.3 million), the Western Bulldogs ($14.5 million) and the Australian Football League (AFL) ($2 million) to fund the upgrades, which make up Stage 2 of the precinct’s overall redevelopment.
The redevelopment has delivered a new Women’s Health and Leadership Hub (WHLH) and a new Western Bulldogs Community Foundation Centre.
The Whitten Stand now has a 60-plus-seat theatre as well as media production facilities, a boardroom and function room, as well as indoor and outdoor training areas for community foundation and WHLH programs.
Meanwhile, the existing John Gent and Infill stands have had improvements to the main entrance and foyer areas, meeting rooms and program areas, teaching and learning spaces, and restroom amenities.
A new multi-purpose indoor venue enables large-scale community program delivery and events, and hosting grassroots to elite levels of sports training.
The funding has also provided upgraded and improved elite player and spectator facilities to support the Western Bulldogs AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW teams to achieve the vision of Whitten Oval being the premier AFLW match venue.
The project will provide an enhanced fan experience for the 60,000-plus Western Bulldogs members, as well as tens of thousands of additional fans and supporters who attend AFLW and other events at the venue.
Stage 1 of the redevelopment was completed in 2019 and delivered refurbished AFLW changerooms under the John Gent Stand and a brand-new scoreboard at the Geelong Road end.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
“The Australian Government has partnered with the Victorian Government and key investors for this upgrade at Whitten Oval, which provides the infrastructure needed to foster high-level men’s and women’s Aussie Rules training and match hosting for years to come.
“This funding has also gone a long way to providing for programs including women’s health and leadership, and benefitting players and fans alike.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Gellibrand Tim Watts:
“The Whitten Oval redevelopment is an important contribution to community and professional sports alike in Melbourne’s West, and will contribute to elevating women’s health and leadership in sport here.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Fraser Daniel Mulino:
“The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation does so much to promote the health and wellbeing of people from all backgrounds across the West and it’s terrific they have a new centre at Whitten Oval.
“The Western Bulldogs are an institution in the West, and this funding has delivered much needed infrastructure upgrades to enable the club to continue being an institution.”
After nearly 20 years as a lecture theatre, the University of Sydney’s Footbridge Theatre is reopening as a live performance venue in the university’s arts precinct.
The Footbridge is home to a long history of student theatre on campus. When it opened in 1961 as the 655-seat Union Theatre (replacing the old Union Hall) it was the first theatre to have been built in Sydney in more than 20 years.
Hopes were high for the new venture to be shared by student theatre groups and Sydney’s first professional repertory company, the Union Repertory Theatre Company (not to be confused with the Melbourne Theatre Company’s original name, the Union Theatre Repertory Company).
For decades, the Footbridge Theatre was host to both industry heavyweights and budding talent from across the arts sectors, before being converted to a lecture hall in 2006. Now, it’s back.
Bell also acted in and directed a number of shows in the following years. He returned again in the early 1990s to stage a series of productions with his fledgling Bell Shakespeare company.
Peter Carroll, Germaine Greer, Maree D’Arcy, Ron Blair and Paul Thom in Mother Courage. University of Sydney
A smidge of controversy
The university students of the 1960s had been delighted to have their “own” venue after years of makeshift spaces. They produced some adventurous – as well as some scandalous – works.
When the Dramatic Society staged its Revue of the Absurd in 1963, it included a controversial film by the then-nascent filmmakers Bruce Beresford and Albie Thoms. It Droppeth as the Gentle Rain depicted a cocktail party coming to a sticky end as shit rained down from the sky.
The film was promptly banned. This ban was reinstated the following year when Beresford and Thoms sought to show it at a gala commemorating the Dramatic Society’s 75th birthday.
Bruce Beresford and Albie Thoms’ film, It Droppeth as the Gentle Rain, was banned in 1963 – and again the following year. University of Sydney
Student revues were a popular feature of the theatre in its early years. One of these was the 1964 revue called Jump, which starred Colin Anderson, Germaine Greer, John Gaden and Paul Thom.
The revue Jump featured Paul Thom and John Gaden (left), as well as Colin Anderson and Germaine Greer (right). University of Sydney
The Union Repertory Theatre Company was short-lived, collapsing within 12 months of its launch in 1961.
Also, ironically, the Footbridge was too expensive for students to hire often. Nonetheless, it was still a launching pad for those involved in student theatre, including Henry Szeps (who later acted in the 1984–94 series Mother and Son), Jack Thompson, who played Claudius in a production of Hamlet (1969), and Neil Armfield in Much Ado About Nothing (1974).
Fellow student actor and director David Marr would later acknowledge Armfield’s genius as a director, while diplomatically adding “acting was not his strength”.
A poster designed by Martin Sharp for the 1965 revue First, No Pinky. University of Sydney
What’s in a name?
The Union Theatre was a venue for hire throughout the 1970s, with student theatre, concerts, music theatre, French language theatre and other genres sporadically staged. In 1981, it was renamed the Footbridge Theatre (after a footbridge that was constructed over Parramatta Road in 1972).
For two decades from the mid-1980s, the Gordon Frost Organisation leased the theatre to present a number of popular commercial productions.
It also rented the theatre to other companies, including Bell Shakespeare, the Sydney Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre and Sydney Festival, which programmed outstanding international works such as the Irish Druid Theatre’s 1998 production of The Leenane Trilogy.
The 1990s also saw students back onstage in annual faculty revues.
The next act begins
A squeeze on space at the university led to Footbridge’s conversion to a lecture theatre in 2006. Following extensive renovations, the now 300-seat theatre is opening once again, with Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods.
The university’s Dramatic Society first produced Into the Woods in the early 2000s (starring Virginia Gay). The Sydney University Musical Theatre Ensemble (MUSE) staged it again in 2011.
This time around the production is showcasing the talents of the inaugural cohort of music theatre students from the university’s Conservatorium of Music.
Just as it was for the “Johns” (Bell and Gaden) who, in the early 1960s, took their first steps as student actors into their future careers – and are still going strong six decades later – campus theatres remain vitally important for students finding their feet as the artists of the future.
Now, in a new decade and with a new generation of students, it’s time to go into the woods again.
Laura Ginters and Robyn Dalton co-authored a history of drama activities at the University of Sydney, The Ripples Before The New Wave 1957-1963 (2018). The authors interviewed many of the student actors mentioned here for that book.
Epic views, great camping options at affordable prices, and taking in the outdoors in all its glory – sound like a dream? Make it your reality at any one of Auckland’s 28 regional parks, boasting over 30 campgrounds between them! That’s right, an outdoor adventure is calling, and it’s here in Auckland’s backyard!
The beauty of camping in Auckland is the accessibility – you don’t have to travel too far. Plus, with fees starting at $17 per night for adults and $6.50 for children at our main campgrounds, Auckland camping is an affordable way to holiday at some of our region’s most scenic locations.
Whether you’re a freedom camper, a glamper or a total camping newbie – we’ve got you covered. Your next Auckland-based outdoor adventure awaits – so get booking now!
I’m keen – where do I start?
It’s easy as, all you have to do is choose your preferred spot from the list of regional parks on Auckland Council’s website. Are you looking for a coastal, farm or forest experience? Each campsite listing contains photos of the park, and you can click through to specific photos and information about the different types of camping available.
To make it even simpler, the camping booking site includes a calendar showing availability so you can instantly see dates to choose from. You’ll also find a handy park brochure with a map, information about tracks, interesting features in the area, and important alerts. For most campgrounds you can drive right up to your selected camping area, so you don’t have to lug your gear long distances. However, be aware some campgrounds take a bit more effort to reach, such as the Mita Bay campground at Mahurangi Regional Park (West), which is accessible by foot, and the campground at Waitawa Regional Park, which can only be accessed by sea kayak. Remember to check the access prior to booking to understand the location of the campground.
Be an early bird and book ahead
All our regional parks are precious taonga, each with their own unique features, but over the summer some are busier than others and get booked out quickly. Fortunately, regional park campsites can be booked up to six months in advance, so it’s a good idea to set a reminder on your phone and book your spot as soon as you can so you don’t miss out!
The booking calendar for each campground also shows how many spaces are available, which is handy if you’re planning on camping with a larger group (note there are some group size limits over the summer). And you can book up to seven glorious nights. If your plans change, no worries! You can make unlimited amendments to your booking, or cancel (with a full refund), up to two days before the date of your arrival.
Before you leave home
When you book your stay at a regional park campground, you’ll be emailed instructions including a combination code to get through the gate into the campground. Make sure you note it down on your phone or on a piece of paper before you leave in case mobile reception is patchy at your destination.
Make sure you note down the combination code of your campground before leaving home
The main access gates for regional parks are locked overnight (daylight saving hours are generally 6am-9pm, and 6am-7pm for the rest of the year), so if you’re arriving in the evening, be sure to take note of the closing hours so you don’t end up carting your gear to the campground by foot. When staying, remember if you need to pop out for supplies, the access code will not open the main park gate.
Choose your camping experience – from rugged to glamping
If you’re up for a truly outdoors camping experience, many of Auckland’s regional parks supply only the bare basics – including the classic kiwi long drop! Be sure to read up on the facilities available at specific campgrounds, so you can choose the camping style that best suits your needs.
All campgrounds have drinkable water available (although sometimes you will need to boil it first), but many of the campsites at regional parks don’t have flushable toilets or shower blocks. These rugged campgrounds are a lot more spacious and less populated than commercial campgrounds, offering a truly remote outdoors experience. If that’s a step too far though for you or your fellow camping newbies, Shakespear Regional Park has flushable toilets and two cold showers onsite.
If camping in comfort is more your thing, many of the vehicle-based campgrounds allow campervan and caravans as well but check the rules before booking. Or bypass the regional park entirely and stay in a fully furnished glamping tent at either Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park, Whangateau Holiday Park or Martins Bay Holiday Park.
Do your research on the park so you pack the right gear
Make sure you read up on prime leisure activities at your location. For example, if you’re heading to a great surf beach like Omaha Beach, the kids will want boogie boards for catching waves and riding down the campground’s famous hill, and you’ll all want beach shoes for rock pooling.
While it is possible to fish at some regional parks, it’s strictly prohibited at parks that are also marine reserves. Some parks have access to extensive walking and mountain-bike tracks, golf and disc golf courses and did we mention the birdlife? Also, don’t forget your book from Auckland Libraries for some relaxing reading in the sun.
Be a tidy Kiwi
When you arrive at your site, be sure to follow the rules. Stay off sign-posted wahi tapu areas (sites which are sacred to Māori), and steer clear of restricted conservation areas where birds may be nesting.
Remember that lighting open fires is prohibited across all public areas in the Auckland region, and that noise must be kept to a minimum in regional parks after 9pm.
Also please dispose of all your rubbish correctly in the designated bins if available or take your rubbish home with you.
So, what are you waiting for? Your adventure awaits!
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Proposed sewerage works for site formation and infrastructure works for public housing developments on Ma On Shan Tsuen Road authorised Proposed sewerage works for site formation and infrastructure works for public housing developments on Ma On Shan Tsuen Road authorised ******************************************************************************************
The Chief Executive in Council has authorised the proposed sewerage works for site formation and infrastructure works for public housing developments on Ma On Shan Tsuen Road. The notice was gazetted today (October 25). The sewerage works comprise the following:
construction of about 1 250 metres of gravity sewers and associated manholes; and ancillary works including temporary closure and reinstatement of carriageways, footpaths, central median/refuge islands and pedestrian crossings or parts thereof.
Details of the sewerage works were published in the Government Gazette on December 22, 2023, and December 29, 2023.
A world-class Convention and Performing Arts Centre in Busselton, Western Australia is a step closer to becoming a reality, with construction set to open in mid-2025.
Once completed, the centre, to be named ‘Saltwater’ will be a multi-purpose facility used for a variety of creative, cultural, community and business events.
Features of the venue include a 640-seat tiered theatre that can be transformed into an open space with a 1000-person standing capacity, perfect for large trade shows and conventions.
Equipped with high performance light and sound equipment, the venue is also ideal for concerts and other musical performances.
Significant progress on construction has been made to the façade and interior spaces including the foyer, the Saltwater Gallery, the auditorium and back of house areas.
Window frames have been installed and glazing is almost complete. Ceilings, internal wall frames and doors are being progressively installed.
The project has been funded by the City of Busselton with generous contributions from the Australian Government ($12.2 million), Lotterywest and Rio Tinto.
Saltwater has been named after the Wadandi (Saltwater People), the Traditional Owners of the land (Undalup) on which this new venue is located.
The project supported 377 jobs during construction and will create another 15.1 ongoing jobs.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
“Through our funding for the Saltwater Convention and Performing Arts Centre, the Australian Government is investing in new community facilities including a multi-purpose venue for large performances, conventions and business events.
“This will result in a fantastic new space for world-class entertainment, national conferences and exhibitions, breathing new life into Busselton’s cultural landscape.”
Quotes attributable to Senator for Western Australia Louise Pratt:
“Saltwater will allow an increase in the amount of live music performances and concerts held in the region, which will boost visitation during both the peak and off-peak tourism periods.
“It will bring more visitors to Busselton and will be the jewel in the crown of the Busselton Cultural Precinct.”
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Busselton Phill Cronin:
“Saltwater is nearing completion and the countdown to opening has well and truly commenced.
“Considerable progress has been made and construction is approximately 70 per cent complete.
“Looking at the construction site from Queen Street, you can see the venue is really starting to take shape now.
“Window frames have been installed and glazing is almost complete, which contributes to the sense of anticipation that the venue is rapidly moving into the final stage of construction.
“When I toured the site recently, I could see that significant progress has been made with internal fit out and finishing in key areas including the multi-functional auditorium.
“You can imagine yourself sitting in the spacious tiered-seat theatre for a show or visualise the area converted to a flat-floor space for a concert.
“The auditorium will diversify the range of events we can host in Busselton, as it will provide a large enough venue to attract some of Australia’s finest touring theatre productions and concerts to region for the first time in history.
“Not only has the City secured a diverse range of exciting shows for Saltwater’s first few years of operation, the venue has also been booked for some large national conferences during the off-peak tourism season.
“On the second floor, you can picture the conference suite set up for a range of different business events and delegates will enjoy beautiful views of the Foreshore Precinct from the alfresco balcony.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China is willing to partner with other countries in sharing the development results of the Beidou navigation satellite system, or BDS, especially in exploring its potential in regional short message communication, services and international rescue efforts, a senior official of the National Development and Reform Commission said on Thursday.
Xiang Libin, deputy minister of the NDRC, said Beidou has been recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization of the United Nations as a global standard, and that cooperation between China and the African Union as well as the League of Arab States in BDS is intensifying.
Cooperation agreements have also been signed between China and South Africa as well as Egypt in Beidou applications, he said at the Third International Summit on BDS Applications, which is being held in Zhuzhou, Hunan province from Thursday to Friday to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of BDS.
The applications of Beidou in key industries have expanded, with its coverage in transport, energy, natural resources and emergency exceeding 90 percent, he said.
Beidou has been widely installed in applications for the general public, with 98 percent of smartphones and shared bikes equipped with it.
Meanwhile, high-accuracy maps based on Beidou have covered the whole country, with daily usage exceeding hundreds of billions of times, he said.
The country will continue to support the large-scale application of Beidou, push for deep integration of Beidou with intelligent cars, smart agriculture and the low-altitude economy, and empower sectors such as delivery services, low-altitude tourism and emergency rescue, Xiang added.
Wang Jiangping, deputy minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said Beidou has developed into a world-class navigation satellite system and its high-accuracy regional short message communication service has been fully proven to have the ability to serve the whole globe.
Beidou has been widely used in communication, transport, agriculture, forestry and public security and is serving important infrastructure while also generating significant economic and social benefits, he said.
By the end of last year, the total output of the country’s satellite navigation and location services industry had exceeded 530 billion yuan ($74.5 billion), while homegrown Beidou chips and modules have exceeded 400 billion pieces and there are a total of 1.4 billion pieces of equipment using the Beidou system, he said.
The MIIT will continue to accelerate Beidou applications, push for market, industrial and international development of Beidou and enable it to better serve the whole world and bring benefits to all, he added.
Aarti Holla-Maini, director at the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, said China is a central member of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems and the Beidou navigation satellite system is expanding its applications and services to make it available to both industry and public sector users.
Space has a crucial role to play in achieving social and economic development, she said via a video link.
Modern society depends on satellites and data and the many services they provide and enable; this reliance is only going to grow in the future, she said.
As a result of new information, Police investigating the murder of Baby Ru have completed a targeted search in a semi-rural area north of Wellington.
The concentrated area along Moonshine Road, off State Highway 58, is 20 minutes by car from the Taita home where Ru lived and received the injuries that caused his death on 22 October 2023.
Items of property highly relevant to the homicide investigation were located during the search and are undergoing forensic examination.
Police are not in a position to say exactly what the new information was, but Detective Inspector Pritchard confirmed it did not come from the public.
“This was information that wasn’t available when Ru died.
“Part of that work included searching for items that have been deliberately concealed.”
Detective Inspector Pritchard said Police hope the latest development jogs people’s memory, especially those on Moonshine Road.
Police are also appealing for sightings of the vehicle that shuttled items from the crime scene.
“Our message to them is please contact us if you saw something out of place on 22 October last year.”
That car is a grey-green 1994 Nissan Sentra, registration TE6972.
Anyone who has information that may help the investigation is asked to contact Police on 105, quoting file number 231022/1708.
Child rights organisation Save the Children has welcomed the announcement of the remodelled Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches Programme, along with the extended investment to deliver to eligible Early Childhood Centres.
The new model will continue to provide free healthy school lunches to 242,000 primary and secondary students and an additional 10,000 preschoolers.
Save the Children Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey, who was part of the Expert Advisory Group for the remodelled programme in her independent capacity, says the extension into ECEs is a welcome addition to the vital programme that improves outcomes for children, as is including children’s views.
“It is heartening to see in the new programme that hot meals continue to feature and include a favourite, Butter Chicken. It is incredibly positive that though the budget for the programme is much tighter, the new suppliers under the School Lunch Collective have committed to quality, nutritious meals that children will enjoy.”
In a Save the Children survey conducted earlier this year with more than 3000 children across the country, Kiwi kids unanimously supported providing children with healthy and delicious lunches at school. In the survey, children said the programme was important to them and their friends, with some children stating that they didn’t have a lot of food at home and their lunches at school were really important to them.
Says Ms Southey: “Children are most impacted by changes to the programme so ensuring their voices were heard as part of the redesign was crucial. Continuing to consult with children on a regular basis is essential to ensure the programme works best for them.”
Save the Children has long been a supporter of food in school provision, and has seen the success of similar programmes in overseas projects.
Says Ms Southey: “These insights directly align with the findings of evaluations of the Ka Ora Ka Ako programme here in Aotearoa New Zealand that show that the programme directly improves the wellbeing of children receiving the lunches, and teachers report improved concentration and positive behaviours of their students. A number of principals have credited the programme with improved attendance levels in their schools.
“Ensuring the best for children has remained at the heart of the redesign of the new model. The Government has committed to funding this programme for the next two years, providing crucial investment toward the wellbeing of children and that supports them and their whānau in this very tough economic climate.
“We call on New Zealand governments now, and in the future, to get behind this important programme and ensure that it has long term sustainable investment that will see it become permanently embedded as part of a progressive education offering delivered by New Zealand schools.”
About Save the Children NZ:
Save the Children works in 120 countries across the world. The organisation responds to emergencies and works with children and their communities to ensure they survive, learn and are protected.
Save the Children NZ currently supports international programmes in Fiji, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Areas of work include child protection, education and literacy, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and alleviating child poverty.
The need for commercial jet boat operators to have a safety first approach to the routes they take has been highlighted in the prosecution of a driver.
Today, Patrick Perkins was sentenced in the District Court at Queenstown following a guilty plea for operating a jet boat in a manner which caused unnecessary danger or risk to other persons or property under section 65 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994.
The charge related to an incident on 30 December, 2022 when Mr Perkins’s jet boat collided with a recreational jet boat on the Clutha River during a commercial run with four passengers on-board. Mr Perkins was the sole director and driver for Go Jets Wanaka Ltd.
Recreational users of the Clutha are many and varied, from rafts of all types, tyre tubes, kayakers, bathers and recreational jet boaters. The river is close to a large population and easily accessed by all, meaning collisions like this can have devastating outcomes.
Investigation’s Manager at Maritime NZ, John Maxwell says experts views are that the Clutha is generally not a difficult river to boat.
“It is predominately a wide deep river with a fast current. It has pressure waves which are best avoided for reasons of passenger comfort and safety, however these hazards can easily be navigated around,” he says.
Like all rivers in New Zealand, skippers must keep right, if going upstream must give way to vessels coming downstream. In addition, skippers must operate vessels in a manner that is safe and will avoid collision should the risk of collision arise.
In this case, the driver of the recreational jet boat had spent most of the day parked up downstream to an island in the middle of the river fishing. A spot he regularly went to.
As the commercial jet boat with four passengers on-board approached the island, where the recreational vessel was waiting, it cut across the river to do a close pass of a rock just downstream of the island.
“Due to the line, Mr Perkins was unable to see the recreational craft at the head of the island. Despite attempting to take action to avoid collision, the commercial boat struck the recreational craft at about 65 kilometres an hour.
Fortunately the driver of the recreational jet boat survived, however, he suffered significant injuries and was in hospital for a prolonged period.
“This incident is a strong reminder to everyone driving jet boats, commercial and recreational, to understand their surroundings, to drive safe lines and to open up corners to ensure visibility. The consequences of failing to do so can be catastrophic for all involved.
“Everyone deserves to come home safe from a day out on the water,” John Maxwell says.
Sentencing notes:
Mr Perkins and convicted and sentenced for one charge under s 65(1) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994.
The total sentence of $51,727.41:
– Fine: $4,950 (starting point of $9,000 reduced by 45 per cent to allow for early guilty plea, remorse, payment of reparation and good character).
– Total reparation of $46,777.41 (which had been paid by Mr Perkins ahead of sentencing).
Bigbank’s total gross loan portfolio grew to a record 2.1 billion euros by the end of the quarter, increasing by 158 million euros (+8%) quarter on quarter and by 451 million euros (+28%) year on year. All three main product lines posted solid quarter-on-quarter growth. The corporate loan portfolio grew by 46 million euros (+7%) to 703 million euros, the housing loan portfolio by 78 million euros (+17%) to 534 million euros and the consumer loan portfolio by 36 million euros (+4%) to 837 million euros.
On the deposit side, the term deposit portfolio showed solid growth, increasing by 86 million euros to 1.25 billion euros (+7%) in the third quarter. The savings deposit portfolio decreased by 82 million euros to 1.01 billion euros during the quarter. This was mainly because our deposit customers continued to switch their short-term savings products to 3- to 9-month term deposits to lock in an attractive interest rate for the chosen period. The Group’s total deposit portfolio grew by 11 million euros (+0.5%) over the quarter and by 484 million euros (+27%) over the year to 2.27 billion euros.
Bigbank ended the first nine months of 2024 with a net profit of 27.6 million euros, compared with 29.4 million euros for the same period in 2023. In the third quarter, Bigbank earned a net profit of 11.8 million euros. Compared to the third quarter of 2023, net profit decreased by 0.6 million euros (-5%).
Group’s net interest income increased compared to the third quarter of 2023: net interest income for the third quarter of 2024 was 27.7 million euros (Q3 2023: 26.1 million euros), 1.6 million euros (+6%) higher than a year earlier. Net interest income for the first nine months of 2024 was 79.1 million euros, up 6.3 million euros (+9%) year on year.
In the third quarter, the credit quality of the loan portfolio remained stable compared to the previous quarter. However, compared with the 2023 figures, there was some deterioration in the consumer and corporate loan portfolios, but this is due to a decline in quality in the first quarter of 2024. The quality of the housing loan portfolio remains excellent.
Net loss allowances for loans and provision expenses totalled 4.2 million euros. This represents a significant decrease of 2.1 million euros compared to the previous quarter (6.3 million euros) and a decrease of 0.8 million euros compared to the third quarter of 2023 (5.0 million euros).
The Group’s income tax expense increased by 0.6 million euros to 2.4 million euros compared to the third quarter of 2023. The increase was driven by the introduction of advance income tax in Latvia at the end of 2023, which was only reflected in the figures for the fourth quarter of 2023 but will affect all quarters in 2024.
The Group’s investment property portfolio, which includes both agricultural land and commercial real estate, stood at 48.7 million euros at the end of the third quarter. During the quarter, the Group sold agricultural land of 0.3 million euros.
Income statement, in thousands of euros
Q3 2024
Q3 2023
9M 2024
9M 2023
Net interest income
27,717
26,090
79,090
72,790
Net fee and commission income
2,316
2,097
6,725
6,116
Net income (loss) on financial assets
1,023
3,965
4,101
4,976
Net other operating income
-974
-1,033
-2,800
-1,686
Total net operating income
30,082
31,119
87,116
82,196
Salaries and associated charges
-6,813
-6,072
-19,576
-17,687
Administrative expenses
-2,827
-3,845
-8,781
-11,158
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment
-2,145
-2,001
-6,297
-4,361
Total expenses
-11,785
-11,918
-34,654
-33,206
Provision income (expense)
1,223
79
-106
-882
Profit before loss allowances
19,520
19,280
52,356
48,108
Net loss allowances on loans and financial investments
-5,410
-5,023
-19,293
-13,985
Profit before income tax
14,110
14,257
33,063
34,123
Income tax expense
-2,371
-1,887
-5,503
-4,169
Profit for the period from continuing operations
11,739
12,370
27,560
29,954
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
0
61
29
-557
Profit for the period
11,739
12,431
27,589
29,397
Statement of financial position, in thousands of euros
30 Sept 2024
30 June 2024
31 Dec 2023 restated*
30 Sept 2023
Cash and cash equivalents
475,284
626,081
518,672
406,837
Debt securities at FVOCI
14,992
9,907
15,400
14,942
Loans to customers
2,059,625
1,902,001
1,662,002
1,608,720
Other assets
87,126
89,255
91,324
88,709
Total assets
2,637,027
2,627,244
2,287,398
2,119,208
Customer deposits and loans received
2,274,269
2,264,137
1,946,314
1,791,581
Subordinated notes
83,437
88,148
76,109
71,490
Other liabilities
14,585
22,113
20,182
18,909
Total liabilities
2,372,291
2,374,398
2,042,605
1,881,980
Equity
264,736
252,846
244,793
237,228
Total liabilities and equity
2,637,027
2,627,244
2,287,398
2,119,208
Commentary by Martin Länts, chairman of the management board of Bigbank AS: “The third quarter of 2024 marked the continuation of stable and strategic growth for Bigbank, highlighted by a significant milestone as our gross loan portfolio surpassed 2 billion euros for the first time, reaching 2.1 billion euros. Our bank’s strategy focuses on stable growth in the home loan and business loan product lines, and this is reflected in the results. In the third quarter, our gross portfolio grew by 158 million euros (+8%), marking the largest quarterly growth in Bigbank’s history. I would particularly highlight the home loan portfolio’s quarterly growth of 78 million euros (+17%), bringing it to a total of 534 million. In a declining interest rate environment, we are also pleased with the 6% growth in net interest income compared to Q3 2023 and the 9% year-on-year increase for the first nine months.”
Bigbank AS (www.bigbank.eu), with over 30 years of operating history, is a commercial bank owned by Estonian capital. As of 30 September 2024, the bank’s total assets amounted to 2.6 billion euros, with equity of 264,7 million euros. Operating in nine countries, the bank serves more than 150,000 active customers and employs over 500 people. The credit rating agency Moody’s has assigned Bigbank a long-term deposit rating of Ba1, as well as a baseline credit assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA of Ba2.
Växjö, Sweden, 7May2024 * * * JLT Mobile Computers, a leading supplier of rugged computers for demanding environments, publishes its interim report for the period January–September 2024 today.
Summary of key figures
Order intake 75.4 MSEK (78.9)
Net sales 93.6 MSEK (117.0)
Operating profit -1.3 MSEK (-3.0)
Profit after taxes -0.4 MSEK (-2.0)
In short
The challenging macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions in many of our target markets are limiting demand, resulting in an order intake of SEK 75 million for the period, which is 4% lower than the previous year.
Service agreements constituted a larger share of sales and gross margin during the period increased to 45% (40). Total expenses were SEK 41 million, a reduction in the cost-base by SEK 6 million compared to the previous year.
The operating result improved from SEK -3.0 million the previous year to SEK -1.3 million for the period, despite a lower turnover. The company generated a positive EBITDA of SEK 1.3 million (-0.5).
We continue to implement our strategic initiatives by:
Hiring a new Vice President of Marketing – North America with extensive industry experience.
New leadership and an expanded sales organization in JLT France.
Upgrading our JLT1214 series of rugged computers with faster processors, more memory and Windows 11 for better performance and support for the latest wireless connectivity standard.
The full interim report is attached to this press release and available for download at the company’s website, jltmobile.com. Additional financial information is available online on JLT’s investor pages.
This information is information that JLT Mobile Computers AB (pub) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out below, at 8:00 am CET on Friday, October 25, 2024.
About JLT Mobile Computers
Reliable performance, less hassle. JLT Mobile Computers is a leading supplier of rugged mobile computing devices and solutions for demanding environments. Almost 30 years of development and manufacturing experience have enabled us to set the standard in rugged computing, combining outstanding product quality with expert service, support and solutions to ensure trouble-free business operations for customers in warehousing, transportation, manufacturing, mining, ports and agriculture. JLT operates globally from offices in Sweden, France, and the US, complemented by an extensive network of sales partners in local markets. The company was founded in 1994, and the share has been listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market stock exchange since 2002 under the symbol JLT. Eminova Fondkommission AB acts as Certified Adviser. Learn more at jltmobile.com.
Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today officiated at the opening ceremony of the Bazaar Carnival in Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China at Sha Tin Park.
The Bazaar Carnival, which is being held from today until October 29, features 75 market stalls that offer specialty foods and hometown products from across the country. Citizens and tourists can also enjoy diverse cultural performances.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said the event is jointly organised by the Home Affairs Department and 28 provincial-level clansmen associations, showcasing each province’s unique food, culture and customs.
Additionally, he noted that the clansmen associations have been playing an important role in Hong Kong’s development, facilitating exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and the motherland in various areas and deepening the friendship between the people of both places.
Mr Chan said he hopes that the clansmen associations will continue to make good use of their extensive connections to promote exchanges and collaboration between Hong Kong and Mainland provinces.
He also expressed that he looks forward to the associations advancing their work with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to build Hong Kong into a place for top talent, enabling the city to play its unique role as a super connector and super value-adder, as well as creating opportunities for the country’s opening up to the world and realising high-quality development.
Increases in the second and third quarters pull the year towards zero
The growth in Danes’ housing debt has generally been slowing since 2022, when interest rates began to rise sharply. In addition to putting a natural dampener on loan demandwhen it becomes more expensive to borrow, the rising interest rates have also given many borrowers the opportunity to pay off their fixed-rate mortgages at a low rate and thereby reduce their residual debt. The repayment of their existing loans and taking on of new smaller loans have therefore overall contributed negatively to lending growth. However, rising interest rates also pull in the opposite direction, as an increase in interest rates typically means that the interest payments make up a larger part of the homeowner’s payment on their loan. This means that instalment payments become smaller. As a result, the debt is not reduced at the same rate as if interest rates were lower.
After a period of fairly stable interest rates for the majority of the first half of 2024, lending rates fell in the third quarter, which was also marked by Danmarks Nationalbank’s two interest rate cuts. Homeowners increased their housing debt by kr. 8.8 billion in the quarter. Compounded with the second quarter’s modest lending growth, this only just offsets the development in the first quarter of the year, where debt was reduced by almost kr. 11 billion. Despite the so far very limited total lending growth in 2024, there may be a prospect of the year ending in the positive. About a quarter of the banks and mortgage credit institutions that participate in Danmarks Nationalbank’s lending survey expect that the demand for loans will increase slightly in the fourth quarter.
Greater interest in F5 loans
The recent interest rate developments have also had an impact on Danes’ preferences for the length of the loan’s interest rate fixation period when they choose a new mortgage loan with a variable interest rate. In the third quarter, homeowners have increasingly taken out F5 loans, where the average interest rate incl. contributions on loans that were taken out in September was around 1.5 percentage points lower than on both short-term and fixed-rate loans. The F5 loan has thus gone from making up approximately 20 percent of all new mortgage loans with variable interest rates in the first half of the year to a total of 31 percent in the third quarter.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The election of five employee representatives to the Labour Advisory Board (LAB) for the next two-year term commencing on January 1, 2025, will be held on November 16 (Saturday) at the Mei Foo Community Hall, 1/F, Mei Foo Government Complex, 33 Mei Lai Road, Sham Shui Po. The Labour Department (LD) received 10 valid nominations of candidates from employee unions registered under the Trade Unions Ordinance during the nomination period from September 23 to October 15, 2024.
The candidates, listed in the order of receipt of nomination forms by the LD, are:
* Ms Julie Lai Chairman, Rights Association of Hawker Control Officers
* Mr Chong Yuk-shing Chairman, Hong Kong Security Guards Alliance
* Ms Lai Na President, Hong Kong Social Welfare Employees Association
* Mr Kenneth Lee Chairman, Civil Servants Union of Housing Department
* Mr Li Siu-bun Vice President, Hong Kong Clerical and Professional Employees General Union
* Ms Tam Kam-lin Vice Chairman, The Federation of Hong Kong & Kowloon Labour Unions
* Mr Lam Wai-kong President, Motor Transport Workers General Union
* Mr Frenky Koon Chairman, Hong Kong Airport Baggage Handlers Union
* Mr Yeung Wai-leung Chairman, Union of Government School Teachers
* Mr Fung Chuen-chung Chairman, Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union
A total of 867 employee unions registered as electors have appointed authorised representatives to vote in this election. The electors will soon be informed in writing of the candidate list and detailed proceedings of the election day. Authorised representatives may cast votes at the polling station at Mei Foo Community Hall, 1/F, Mei Foo Government Complex, from 9am to 5pm on the election day of November 16.
Candidates will be present on the election day to supervise the counting of votes. The Assistant Commissioner for Labour (Development) will act as the Returning Officer.
The respective lists of candidates and electors with authorised representatives appointed, as well as the election rules and procedures, are available on the homepage of the LD (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/LAB_Election2024.htm). Enquiries on matters relating to this election can be made at 2852 4024.
The LAB is a tripartite consultative body comprising representatives of employees and employers to advise the Commissioner for Labour on labour matters.
The stunning sights and sounds of Light Night Leeds transformed the city centre last night as the incredible cultural spectacle returned for its 20th edition.
A huge programme of mesmerising illuminated artworks from around the world arrived at well-known buildings and locations in Leeds for the event’s first night, with the stunning show set to continue this evening (Oct 25).
The UK’s largest light art festival, this year’s Light Night features a compelling mix of large-scale projections, live street theatre and interactive installations which wowed crowds of thousands last night.
At The Queens Hotel The BookBinder saw a fairy tale figure lead a cast of birds, beasts and boats, in an impressive projection across the iconic hotel’s façade.
A collaboration with the British Library and created by artists Illuminos, the piece is inspired by British Library’s Flickr Commons collection which includes fantastical drawings, prints and images.
At Leeds Dock, Norwegian artist Anastasia Isachsen’s stunning Monad, was projected onto the water, taking inspiration from nature and the universe and accompanied by a compelling soundscape.
Aire Park hosted the magnificent Parallels by Architecture Social Club, where multi-coloured laser beams pulsed and flickered overhead near the new Aire Park, outside The Tetley.
And at Leeds Civic Hall, the breath-taking Out of the Aire paid tribute to some of the people and events that have been part of the fascinating story of Leeds.
Dynamic, live street performances this year also included a giant Ghost Caribou, the return of the ever-popular Spark Drummers and a fire-breathing dragon.
This year marks the 20th edition of Light Night Leeds, and over the past two decades, the event has attracted more than 1.1 million visitors to the city and generates millions of pounds for the local economy.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “Light Night always promises to be a breath-taking and compelling cultural spectacle like no other, and last night certainly did not disappoint.
“Watching so many people come together in the city centre to see some of our most famous places and spaces transformed is truly amazing, and really brings home the power which culture and the arts have to unite and inspire.
“The event is also a massive credit to all the people, organisations and businesses who have shown their support and helped create an event which showcases the very best of Leeds. Tonight is set to be just as special and I hope people have a memorable evening.”
Light Night Leeds 2024 will continue this evening, October 25 from 6pm to 10pm.
Municipality Finance Plc Stock exchange release 25 October 2024 at 10:00 am (EEST)
Municipality Finance issues USD 150 million notes under its MTN programme
Municipality Finance Plc issues USD 150 million notes on 28 October 2024. The maturity date of the notes is 28 October 2027. MuniFin has a right, but no obligation, to redeem the notes early on 28 October 2025. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.06% per annum.
The notes are issued under MuniFin’s EUR 50 billion programme for the issuance of debt instruments. The offering circular, the supplemental offering circular and the final terms of the notes are available in English on the company’s website at https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/for-investors.
MuniFin has applied for the notes to be admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki. The public trading is expected to commence on 28 October 2024.
Natixis SA, Paris acts as the dealer for the issue of the notes.
MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC
Further information:
Joakim Holmström Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Sustainability tel. +358 50 444 3638
MuniFin (Municipality Finance Plc) is one of Finland’s largest credit institutions. The company is owned by Finnish municipalities, the public sector pension fund Keva and the Republic of Finland. The Group’s balance sheet totals over EUR 50 billion.
MuniFin builds a better and more sustainable future with its customers. MuniFin’s customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, corporate entities under their control, and non-profit organisations nominated by the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA). Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.
MuniFin’s customers are domestic but the company operates in a completely global business environment. The company is an active Finnish bond issuer in international capital markets and the first Finnish green and social bond issuer. The funding is exclusively guaranteed by the Municipal Guarantee Board.
The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into any such country or jurisdiction or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
There’s a degree of irony that countries attending the 2024 Brics summit this week voted to adopt the Kazan declaration (named for the capital city of the autonomous republic of Tatarstan in Russia, where the summit is being held). The declaration’s first clause emphasises that “all states should act consistently with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in their entirety”. There’s also a certain amount of chutzpah on the part of conference chair, Vladmir Putin, whose ongoing invasion of Ukraine is so egregiously in breach of that charter.
Article one stresses that the primary purpose of the UN is to “maintain international peace and security”. Article two rules that: “All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means”. If that’s not clear enough, it goes on to further insist that: “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.”
Still, its a funny old world in which the UN secretary general, António Guterres, pitches up at a summit whose host is wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on charges relating to the alleged illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. In a country whose troops are currently fighting in Ukraine in direct contravention of the UN’s charter.
To add a further layer of irony, October 24 is the 79th anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945.
Guterres called on Putin to agree a peace deal “in line with the UN Charter, international law and UN General Assembly resolutions”. The Russian leader is perhaps more likely to listen to a deal proposed by the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. He said: “We must uphold the three key principles: no expansion of the battlefields, no escalation of hostilities, and no fanning flames and strive for swift de-escalation of the situation.”
Now, more than ever, it’s vital to be informed about the important issues affecting global stability. Sign up to receive our weekly World Update newsletter. Every Thursday we’ll you expert analysis of the big stories making international headlines.
The UN chief’s idea of a just peace would call for Russia to give up its illegal occupation of Crimea and eastern Ukraine. Xi’s proposal appears to call for a deal based on the status quo – virtually the opposite, in other words.
This is pretty much all Ukraine can hope for, as far as the University of Portsmouth’s Frank Ledwidge is concerned. Ledwidge, who has written regularly for The Conversation since Putin launched his invasion in February 2024 and is well plugged into defence and intelligence networks in Nato as well as in Ukraine itself, believes that Ukraine cannot defeat Russia – at least as things stand.
Ledwidge says Ukraine’s western allies are partly to blame for the maximalist aims of the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky. Western rhetoric has not properly been matched by sufficient weapons or the permission to use them as effectively as the situation warrants. Now is the time for realism, he writes:
A starting point could be accepting that Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk are lost … Then we need to start planning seriously for a post-war Ukraine that will need the west’s suppport more than ever.
One of the key factors that Ledwidge stresses is that just one of Russia’s allies, North Korea, has supplied twice as many artillery shells this year as the whole of Europe. Now North Korean troops are apparently also about to join their Russian comrades on the battlefield. This, writes Ra Mason – a Korea specialist at the University of East Anglia – will help ease the pressure on Putin to bring forward his mobilisation plans.
Losing battle? The state of the conflict in Ukraine, October 23. Institute for the Study of War
It’s a diplomatic coup for Putin, Mason believes – it’s a “clear show of opposition towards the Washington-led global order”, which “deals a further blow to the myth that the Russian Federation is isolated, as an international pariah, in a world led by western powers.”
But a military coup de grace against Ukraine? Probably not. The jury is out on how effective North Korea’s “poorly equipped, unmotivated and undernourished” troops will be against Ukraine’s highly motivated defenders. It will also be interesting to see where and how they are deployed. If sent to the frontlines in Kursk, they’ll be helping an ally in its struggle against an incursion by Ukrainian forces. If deployed inside Ukraine, they’ll join Russia in breach of international law. Mason concludes:
If sent into new theatres of war against state-of-the-art Nato-supplied weaponry, it could effectively mean waves of ill-prepared cannon fodder being thrown into the meat grinder of Donbas’ trenches.
Incidentally, the term “meat grinder” has been much bandied about of late. It follows reports from US intellegence recently that, while Russian forces have been making rapid advances and gaining a significant amount of ground in recent weeks, they are doing so at considerable cost in terms of dead and wounded. September was a particularly bloody month, with reports of Russian losses of more than 1,000 men a day, killed or wounded.
But Russian military strategists are well versed in such pyrrhic victories, writes historian Becky Alexis-Martin, who points to equally savage losses in Russia’s defence against Napoleon and in the first and second world wars. Stalin, in particular, was able to defeat the Nazi war machine by, inter alia, throwing millions of troops at their enemies (and incurring terrible casualties). But it’s not a strategy that guarantees success. And terrible psychological effects are beginning to manifest themselves in veterans returning from Ukraine with severe and often violent post-traumatic stress disorder.
As if things weren’t bad enough for Zelensky on the battlefield, the Ukrainian president was dealt a serious blow earlier this month when the US president, Joe Biden, was forced by extreme weather events, including a hurricane hitting the state of Florida, to cancel the planned meeting of the heads of government of up to 50 of Ukraine’s western allies in Germany. The “Ramstein Group”, so-called after the German air base at which they meet, was scheduled to meet in the second week of October to consider Zelensky’s “victory plan”. Stefan Wolff, an international security expert at the University of Birmingham writes that the Ukrainian president was hoping to get some degree of commitment for a path to Nato membership for Ukraine as well as permission to use western-supplied long-range missiles against targets deep inside Russia.
Neither of these seem likely to happen in the short term, says Wolff. Like Ledwidge, Wolff thinks Ukraine is doomed to defeat unless its allies double down on their aid – and fast. And like Ledwidge, Wolff sees little indication of that happening any time soon.
When it comes to continuing US support for Ukraine’s war effort, all eyes are now firmly fixed on November 5. The outcome of the presidential election will be seriously consequential for Ukraine’s future. Both candidates have made their positions clear and there is considerable difference between the two positions.
Donald Trump has said any number of times that had he not lost that “rigged and stolen” election to Biden in 2020, Putin would never have invaded Ukraine in the first place. Still, he says, if he wins this one, he’ll bring the war to a very rapid conclusion. But it remains to be seen, given Trump’s oft-stated admiration for Putin, whether the conclusion will be palatable to Kyiv – or to Nato in general.
Trump’s opponent, Kamala Harris, said the former president’s proposals are not “proposals for peace, they’re proposals for surrender”. As vice-president during the Biden administration, she flew to Europe not long after the invasion in February 2022 to help shore up support for Kyiv. Harris has also regularly restated her intention to continue to back Ukraine against Russia. In the only debate of the campaign she said that Ukraine was not Putin’s final stop and that he has “his eyes on the rest of Europe, starting with Poland”.
Poland, incidentally, is an interesting case in point. While it is Ukraine’s firmest ally and it leadership is four-square behind Kyiv, the people are curiously divided on the country’s support for Ukraine. You can read more about that here.
One imagines that Zelensky is as transfixed as anyone else on the 2024 US presidential election campaign as it heads into its final ten days. All we can tell you is that the polls are still very, very close. Well within most pollsters’ margin for error, in fact. A poll of polls, which combines polls from different agencies, published on the website FiveThirtyEight on October 22 shows that Harris leads Trump by 48.1% to 46.3% in the national popular vote. But the accepted popular wisdom is that the complex electoral college system used in the US may well favour Trump’s candidacy.
We’ll be providing daily updates on the US presidential race and full coverage of election day on November 5 and its aftermath.
The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP Minister for Social Services
Senator the Hon Penny Wong Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator for South Australia
The Hon Clare O’Neil MP Minister for Housing Minister for Homelessness
More women in South Australia will be assisted to access crisis accommodation and recovery services, with confirmation that a New Generation Catherine House is to be built in Adelaide’s CBD.
The $32.6 million project will feature 52 social housing apartments in the eight-storey development.
It delivers on an Albanese Labor Government election commitment and is becoming a reality in partnership with Catherine House philanthropy and the Malinauskas South Australian Labor Government.
The new 24/7 crisis and longer-term accommodation service brings the well-known South Australian homelessness service under one roof at a site owned by Community Housing Provider, Housing Choices.
The project has been allocated $14.3 million from the Social Housing Accelerator. A further $8 million from the Safe Places Inclusion Round was also provided by the Albanese Labor Government.
A total of $2.5 million was provided from Catherine House philanthropy and the SA state Government supported the purchase of the $2.9 million site.
The New Generation Catherine House will provide crisis and transitional accommodation alongside longer term social housing for women without homes, many having escaped violent relationships.
More than 60 per cent of women enter Catherine House as a direct result of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV), and more than 70 per cent report that DFV was the reason behind the loss of their permanent home.
The site will offer self-contained units where women for the first time will have private bathroom, kitchen, and laundry facilities suitable for an individual or a small family. New Generation combines accommodation with well-designed and secure shared spaces.
The project will be managed by Housing Choices and Catherine House.
It will also include:
Staff sleep-over accommodation for 24/7 support
On-site Women’s Respite and Recovery Centre
Dedicated education spaces
Craft, cooking and activity areas
Meeting rooms
Large domestic kitchen for shared meals
Computer training space
Secure outdoor garden and BBQ area
Catherine House will continue to provide their holistic approach to support through individual case management, health services, counselling services, education and employment pathways, mental health Support, financial and legal assistance and personal development.
Quotes attributable to Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth
We know that if a woman has a safe place to go and take her children, she is more likely to take the steps to leave a violent relationship.
No one escaping violence should have to choose between their safety and somewhere to live.
The Albanese Government’s investment in the Safe Places Inclusion Round, through projects like the New Generation Catherine House, will improve access to appropriate emergency accommodation options for victim-survivors who may have otherwise found it difficult to access.
Quotes attributable to Foreign Minister and Senator for South Australia Penny Wong
Over decades, Catherine House has helped so many women experiencing homelessness from across our state to get back on their feet.
As a long-time supporter of Catherine House, I’m proud to be a part of the Labor Governments delivering the next generation of this vital service. This will be transformational for women and children in need, providing a space to live safely and with dignity. It will be a place where they can heal, and where they can grow.
Quotes attributable to Federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil
Women escaping violence relationship deserve a safe place to call home as it can be the difference between being stuck or being empowered to leave.
I’m proud that this collaboration between the Federal and State Labor Governments and Catherine House will allow so many women and their children to have that safe place to call home and to rebuild their lives.
The Albanese Labor Government’ Social Housing Accelerator is building hundreds of homes for the most vulnerable members of our community right across South Australia.
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Boothby Louise Miller-Frost
Catherine House is the only homelessness service for unaccompanied women in South Australia and it currently operates from a series of aging and repurposed properties that really make it difficult to provide their vital services.
These new purpose-built facilities will help women to recover and rebuild their lives in safety, and as the former CEO of Catherine House I know how life-changing this will be for so many women.
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Adelaide Steve Georganas
The Labor Government is committed to ending violence against women and children and ensuring they have a safe place to go when escaping violence.
I welcome the expansion of the crucial services provided by Catherine House to women and children experiencing family and domestic violence when they need it most.
Quotes attributable to South Australian Minister for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion
This is a critical housing project in the city to support vulnerable women and their children.
We are investing in the state’s future by building more safe, secure and well-connected housing options for South Australians.
Quotes attributable to South Australian Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Katrine Hildyard
Domestic, family and sexual violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women with this scourge causing lifelong negative impacts for women’s health, economic security and wellbeing.
The State Government’s commitments to building a New Generation Catherine House will allow this extraordinary organisation to continue supporting women at the most difficult of times in a safe environment that empowers them to traverse a new safer path in which they can thrive.
Quotes attributable to Catherine House Director Julie Duncan
For the first time since Catherine House was established in 1988, this project will deliver new purpose built accommodation, a new service hub and women’s recovery centre.
With the increased accommodation places available, we will be able to do more for South Australian women and their families.
The projected private flat supply for the next three to four years is 108,000 units, 1,000 lower than the previous estimate.
The Housing Bureau today said there were 21,000 unsold units in completed projects at the end of September.
There were also 77,000 units under construction, excluding those pre-sold by developers, and 10,000 units from disposed sites where construction may start any time.
The number of flats under construction in the third quarter was 3,900, while 3,800 units were completed during the period.
median consumer inflation perceptions over the previous 12 months and consumer inflation expectations for the next 12 months and for three years ahead all declined;
expectations for nominal income growth over the next 12 months increased, while expectations for spending growth over the next 12 months remained unchanged;
expectations for economic growth over the next 12 months were unchanged, while the expected unemployment rate in 12 months’ time increased;
expectations for growth in the price of homes over the next 12 months increased slightly, while expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead declined slightly.
Inflation
The median rate of perceived inflation over the previous 12 months declined further in September to 3.4%, from 3.9% in August. Perceptions of past inflation have thus declined by 5.0 percentage points since their peak of 8.4% in September 2023. Median expectations for inflation over the next 12 months declined to 2.4%, from 2.7% previously, and stood at their lowest level since September 2021. Median expectations for inflation three years ahead also declined in September, by 0.2 percentage points to 2.1%, their lowest level since February 2022 (when Russia invaded Ukraine). Inflation expectations at the one-year and three-year horizons remained below the perceived past inflation rate. Uncertainty about inflation expectations over the next 12 months remained unchanged, also at its lowest level since February 2022. While the broad evolution of inflation perceptions and expectations remained relatively closely aligned across income groups, expectations for lower income quintiles were slightly above those for higher income quintiles. Younger respondents (aged 18-34) continued to report lower inflation perceptions and expectations than older respondents (those aged 35-54 and 55-70), albeit to a lesser degree than previously. (Inflation results)
Income and consumption
Consumer nominal income growth expectations increased to 1.3%, from 1.2% in August. The increase in income expectations continued to be driven by the lowest two income quintiles. Perceptions of nominal spending growth over the previous 12 months remained unchanged at 5.2%. Similarly, expectations for nominal spending growth over the next 12 months remained stable at 3.2%, their lowest level since February 2022. For the first time since March 2023, there was no drop in either perceptions or expectations of nominal spending, while inflation perceptions and expectations both continued on their downward trajectory, which might indicate a positive turning point for real spending. (Income and consumption results)
Economic growth and labour market
Economic growth expectations for the next 12 months were stable in September, standing at -0.9%. Meanwhile, expectations for the unemployment rate 12 months ahead increased to 10.6%, from 10.4% in August. Consumers continued to expect the future unemployment rate to be only slightly higher than the perceived current unemployment rate (10.3%), implying a broadly stable labour market. The lowest income quintile continued to report the highest expected and perceived unemployment rate, as well as the lowest economic growth expectations. (Economic growth and labour market results)
Housing and credit access
Consumers expected the price of their home to increase by 2.8% over the next 12 months, which was slightly higher than in August (2.7%). Households in the lowest income quintile continued to expect higher growth in house prices than those in the highest income quintile (3.4% and 2.5% respectively). Expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead declined slightly to 4.7%, 0.8 percentage points lower than their peak in November 2023 and the lowest level since September 2022. As in previous months, the lowest income households expected the highest mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead (5.3%), while the highest-income households expected the lowest rates (4.2%). The net percentage of households reporting a tightening (relative to those reporting an easing) in access to credit over the previous 12 months declined, as did the net percentage of those expecting a tightening over the next 12 months. (Housing and credit access results)
The release of the CES results for October is scheduled for 29 November 2024.
For media queries, please contact: Eszter Miltényi-Torstensson, Tel: +49 171 769 5305
The CES is a monthly online survey of, currently, around 19,000 adult consumers (i.e. aged 18 or over) from 11 euro area countries: Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland. The main aggregate results of the CES are published on the ECB’s website every month. The results are used for policy analysis and complement other data sources used by the ECB.
The annual growth rate of the broad monetary aggregate M3 increased to 3.2% in September 2024 from 2.9% in August, averaging 2.8% in the three months up to September. The components of M3 showed the following developments. The annual growth rate of the narrower aggregate M1, which comprises currency in circulation and overnight deposits, was -1.2% in September, compared with ‑2.1% in August. The annual growth rate of short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) decreased to 9.7% in September from 10.4% in August. The annual growth rate of marketable instruments (M3-M2) decreased to 21.8% in September from 22.3% in August.
Looking at the components’ contributions to the annual growth rate of M3, the narrower aggregate M1 contributed -0.8 percentage points (up from -1.4 percentage points in August), short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) contributed 2.8 percentage points (down from 2.9 percentage points) and marketable instruments (M3-M2) contributed 1.3 percentage points (as in the previous month).
Among the holding sectors of deposits in M3, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by households increased to 2.8% in September from 2.3% in August, while the annual growth rate of deposits placed by non-financial corporations decreased to 1.6% in September from 1.8% in August. Finally, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by investment funds other than money market funds increased to 11.9% in September from 11.7% in August.
Counterparts of the broad monetary aggregate M3
The annual growth rate of M3 in September 2024, as a reflection of changes in the items on the monetary financial institution (MFI) consolidated balance sheet other than M3 (counterparts of M3), can be broken down as follows: net external assets contributed 3.9 percentage points (down from 4.0 percentage points in August), claims on the private sector contributed 1.1 percentage points (as in the previous month), claims on general government contributed -0.5 percentage points (down from -0.4 percentage points), longer-term liabilities contributed -1.8 percentage points (as in the previous month), and the remaining counterparts of M3 contributed 0.5 percentage points (up from 0.0 percentage points).
Chart 2
Contribution of the M3 counterparts to the annual growth rate of M3
The annual growth rate of total claims on euro area residents stood at 0.5% in September 2024, unchanged from the previous month. The annual growth rate of claims on general government stood at -1.2% in September, compared with -1.1% in August, while the annual growth rate of claims on the private sector stood at 1.2% in September, unchanged from the previous month.
The annual growth rate of adjusted loans to the private sector (i.e. adjusted for loan transfers and notional cash pooling) stood at 1.6% in September, compared with 1.5% in August. Among the borrowing sectors, the annual growth rate of adjusted loans to households stood at 0.7% in September, compared with 0.6% in August, while the annual growth rate of adjusted loans to non-financial corporations increased to 1.1% in September from 0.8% in August.
Data in this press release are adjusted for seasonal and end-of-month calendar effects, unless stated otherwise.
“Private sector” refers to euro area non-MFIs excluding general government.
Hyperlinks lead to data that may change with subsequent releases as a result of revisions. Figures shown in annex tables are a snapshot of the data as at the time of the current release.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Prime Minister spoke to the crew of HMS Tamar this evening to thank them for their service and praise their role in securing Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui earlier this month.
The Prime Minister spoke to the crew of HMS Tamar this evening to thank them for their service and praise their role in securing Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui earlier this month.
The Prime Minister heard firsthand from members of the ship about their 650-mile high-speed transit from Fiji following the mayday call on October 5. They remained at the scene for almost two weeks providing recovery and pollution control efforts.
This week, the ship has been bolstering security to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, patrolling off the coast of the island while the summit is taking place.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the crew’s dedication and commitment so far away from home.
He asked the ship’s company to pass on his sincere thanks to their families for their sacrifice at home too.
