New Zealanders’ trust in key institutions declines–25 September 2024 –Data from the 2023 General Social Survey (GSS) found that trust held by New Zealanders in institutions like the health system, education system, parliament, media, police, and courts has declined since 2021, according to wellbeing statistics released by Stats NZ today.
People in Aotearoa New Zealand remained satisfied with their lives as a whole in 2023, with an overall satisfaction rating of 7.6 out of 10, which is similar to the 7.7 rating in 2021.
“As a result of recent global events such as COVID-19, our society has faced a number of challenges. Institutional trust, trust in other people, sense of belonging, and a sense of safety are all important measures of people feeling part of society,” wellbeing and housing statistics manager Sarah Drake said.
Some key measures of trust and social wellbeing have declined since 2021. These areas included trust in institutions, trust in most people in New Zealand, sense of belonging to New Zealand, and a sense of safety.
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Work on the once-in-a-generation New Dubbo Bridge continues to progress with one third of the concrete deck, which will eventually support traffic crossing, now in place.
The Australian and NSW governments are investing $263.2 million to deliver this region-shaping piece of infrastructure on the Newell Highway in Dubbo.
The Australian Government has committed $210.6 million towards the project, with the NSW Government committing the remaining $52.6 million.
The decking along the 660-metre bridge structure is being built in sections, with each section involving the pouring of about 105 cubic metres of concrete to provide a deck slab of up to 25 centimetres in depth.
The deck pours will be carried out progressively while the rest of the bridge takes shape, with the final deck pour expected in mid-2025.
Once the concrete deck is completed, the final step in building the bridge surface will be to add an eight-centimetre thick layer of asphalt.
Pile driving was recently completed along the entire length of the new structure which crosses the Macquarie River and a section of the floodplain east of the river.
Construction is also underway for the network of roads that will link the bridge to the Dubbo road network, including road widening work at the intersections of Whylandra and Thompson streets and River and Bourke streets.
The New Dubbo Bridge project is due to be completed in late 2026, weather permitting.
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
“It is exciting to see the new bridge rapidly taking shape and I’m proud to see the Australian and NSW governments’ investments delivering for regional communities.
“New infrastructure like this is critical for the growth of regional communities and it will set Dubbo and western NSW up for the future.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison:
“This bridge will provide vital flood resilience and unlock more housing in Dubbo – providing essential infrastructure for an estimated 5,500 homes.
“The Minns Labor Government is proud to be partnering with the Albanese Labor Government to deliver this project, supporting nearly 1,500 direct and indirect jobs in western NSW.
“On my recent visit to see the bridge I saw how transformative this bridge will be to Dubbo and I thank the workers who have given so much to this project and I thank the people of Dubbo for their patience.”
Quotes attributable to Senator for NSW Deborah O’Neill:
“Once completed, the New Dubbo Bridge will transform the way western NSW residents, tourists and freight operators travel through Dubbo.
“The Bridge will reduce travel times in the city centre and improve access across the Macquarie River, particularly during flood events.”
Quotes attributable to Labor’s spokesperson for the state seat of Dubbo Stephen Lawrence MLC:
“The Minns and Albanese governments are delivering transformative regional road infrastructure for Dubbo.
“It’s been wonderful to see the progress of the new Dubbo Bridge construction.
“I’m pleased to see more than half of all people working on this project are from my local area, including many local apprentices and aspiring tradies through innovative employment programs.
“Many Dubbo businesses are benefiting from the economic activity being generated.”
Research vessel Deep Sea No. 1 arrives at Tsim Sha Tsui Ocean Terminal in Hong Kong, south China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] China’s research vessel Deep Sea No. 1, carrying manned submersible Jiaolong, received a warm welcome Tuesday in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the first time they visited the city. The vessel is on a home-bound voyage after completing a scientific mission in the Western Pacific Ocean. During their two-day stay in Hong Kong, scientists on board will give lectures to Hong Kong students and hold a number of international seminars to share the results of this scientific expedition. Warner Cheuk, deputy chief secretary for administration of the HKSAR government, said that the visits ahead of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China fully demonstrated the central government’s care and support for Hong Kong’s marine scientific research development and ecological conservation. It is hoped that this event will inspire more young people in Hong Kong to engage in deep-sea research and make planet Earth a better place to live in, he said. Wu Changbin, director of China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association, congratulated the successful completion of the Western Pacific international voyage scientific expedition, saying that this voyage not only enhanced China’s scientific understanding of deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystems but also contributed important scientific data to global marine scientific research. The scientific expedition team of Chinese and foreign scientists set sail on Aug. 10 from Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, and made a total of 18 dives in the Western Pacific. It was the first time that foreign scientists have carried out deep-sea scientific research on Jiaolong.
China is on the way to establishing a complete service system that will remarkably improve the lives of hundreds of millions of senior citizens in the country, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. China will build an elderly-friendly society by improving its social security system, elderly care services and health supports, Minister of Civil Affairs Lu Zhiyuan has said, noting that an elderly care services system with distinctive Chinese features is expected to become well-developed and smoothly functional by 2035. There were 297 million people aged 60 or above in China at the end of 2023, accounting for 21.1 percent of the country’s total population. The country is taking a proactive approach to population aging, acknowledging it as a reality China must face squarely on its path to modernization. While challenges exist, this demographic shift also presents opportunities, Lu said at a press conference on high-quality development held in Beijing on Monday. Elderly care in China has transitioned from a security net providing basic livelihood support to a system of quality services that integrates both medical and health care, Lu said. Elderly care services have also diversified from a government-centric model to including both government and market participation, as well as more social stakeholders, the minister said. In a nod to the habits and preference for aging at home among most of its senior citizens, the country will develop a services supply structure characterized by coordination and interconnection between homes, communities and institutions, Lu said. Among measures to shore up at-home elderly care, the central government has allocated 300 million yuan (42.5 million U.S. dollars) in guiding funds to support the development of catering services for the elderly in 2024, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Tang Chengpei said at the Monday press conference. Elderly individuals facing the challenges of advanced age, disabilities, empty nests or living alone are the focus of this endeavor, Tang said. He noted that simultaneously, the country is expanding its catering services network continuously to deliver convenient meal services to the doorsteps of more senior citizens. Catering programs have been rolled out in many regions to help elderly people access local meal services, with community canteens being a common form of these services.
This photo taken with a mobile phone shows people watching a sand table model of a real estate project in east China’s Shanghai, May 28, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s central bank, top securities regulator and financial regulator on Tuesday announced at a press conference a raft of monetary stimulus, property market support and capital market strengthening measures to boost the country’s high-quality economic development.
Monetary stimulus
Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, said China would cut the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by 0.5 percentage points in the near future, providing about 1 trillion yuan (about 141.82 billion U.S. dollars) in long-term liquidity to the financial market.
Depending on the liquidity situation in the market, RRR may be further lowered by 0.25 to 0.5 percentage points within the year, Pan said.
He said that the central bank will reduce the interest rate of seven-day reverse repurchases from 1.7 percent to 1.5 percent.
The reduction was aimed at guiding the loan prime rate and deposit rate to move downward and maintaining stability in the net interest margin of commercial banks, said Pan.
Pan said the central bank would keep monetary policy accommodative, strengthen monetary policy regulation, make monetary policy regulation more precise, and create a sound monetary and financial environment for stable economic growth and high-quality development.
China targets economic growth of around 5 percent in 2024.
The country’s economy maintained stable expansion in the first half of the year despite rising challenges from home and abroad.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5 percent year on year in the period to 61.68 trillion yuan. In the second quarter, China’s GDP expanded 4.7 percent year on year.
Mortgage rate cuts
Pan added that China will lower mortgage rates on existing home loans to a level similar to those of newly issued housing loans.
The average reduction in mortgage rates for existing home loans is expected to be around 0.5 percentage points, he said.
“The new policy, which is conducive to further reducing borrowers’ mortgage interest expenses, is expected to benefit 50 million households, or a population of 150 million,” said Pan.
This move is expected to reduce the total interest expenses for households by approximately 150 billion yuan per year on average, which will help boost consumption and investment, he added.
The minimum down payment ratio for both first and second homes will be unified, with the nationwide minimum down payment ratio for second homes to be reduced from 25 percent to 15 percent, Pan said.
On May 17, China announced the establishment of a 300-billion-yuan re-lending facility that supports local state-owned enterprises to buy commercial homes for affordable housing.
Pan said the central bank will increase its funding proportion in the affordable housing re-lending policy from the original 60 percent to 100 percent.
“This adjustment will help accelerate the reduction of inventory in the commercial housing market,” Pan said.
China’s large and medium-sized cities saw month-on-month declines in both new and second-hand home prices in August, NBS data showed.
Financial market support
Moreover, the central bank will create new monetary policy tools to support the stable development of the stock market, said Pan.
The central bank will establish a swap program for securities, funds and insurance companies to obtain liquidity from the central bank through asset collateralization. The program will significantly enhance companies’ ability to acquire funds and increase their stock holdings, Pan said.
The central bank will also create a special re-lending facility to guide banks to provide loans to listed companies and their major shareholders for buybacks and increasing shareholdings, he said.
Experts consider the release of the new batch of policies a positive signal of strengthening policy coordination and efforts to achieve the annual economic growth target.
The central bank’s policies, which exceed market expectations, will boost market confidence, stimulate the vitality of business entities, stabilize credit levels, and enhance the sustainability of financial support for the real economy, said Wen Bin, chief economist at China Minsheng Bank.
To better channel funds into the capital market, China will issue a guideline that seeks to improve the entry supporting system of various types of medium and long-term funds into the capital market, according to Wu Qing, head of the China Securities Regulatory Commission.
The commission will also release six measures to promote mergers and acquisitions, and work with various parties to facilitate the circulation of private equity and venture capital funds in the process of fundraising, investment, management and withdrawal, Wu said.
More efforts will be made to protect the legitimate rights and interests of small and medium-sized investors, and firm actions will be taken to crack down on illegal activities such as financial fraud and market manipulation, according to Wu.
Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, said China plans to increase the tier-1 capital of six major commercial banks.
The capital will be injected in an orderly manner, with coordinated advancement, phased implementation and tailored policies, said Li.
Tier-1 capital refers to the core capital held in a bank’s reserves, including common stock and disclosed reserves.
China’s major stock indices surged following the release of the policies and measures, with the Shanghai Composite Index and the Shenzhen Component Index both closing with an increase of more than 4 percent.
L-R Waikato ED staff enjoying a visit from Amethyst – Kneeling – Tanya Suthers, Amethyst, Back – Rushi Jeyakumar, Lillian Pan, Lynne Kemp, Rhi Buckley and Collene Pacis
According to registered nurse Lynne Kemp, these are just some of the qualities needed for being a successful therapy dog. Lynne is talking about Amethyst, her 17-month-old Border Collie, who visits Waikato Hospital’s emergency department (ED) once a week.
Amethyst and Lynne are registered with Canine Friends Pet Therapy, a New Zealand-wide network of owners who bring their dogs to visit people in hospitals and residential care facilities.
“I started working with Canine Friends about four years ago, with Sapphire, my six-year-old long-haired Weimaraner,” says Lynne. “I love doing things with my dogs, and I loved the idea of being able to bring my dog to work. When I heard the ED was considering a canine therapy programme, I jumped at the chance to be involved.”
At Waikato Hospital, therapy dogs already visit the Critical Care Unit, Paediatric wards and others, but Emergency Medicine Consultant Dr Lillian Pan could see the positive impact they would have in the ED.
“The benefits of pet therapy are well established,” says Lillian. “But there are only a handful of studies done in emergency departments.
“A 2022 Canadian study demonstrated a significant reduction in pain, anxiety and depression after a 10-minute therapy dog visit, and an American study from 2019 noted that patients who interacted with therapy dogs needed less opioid pain medication during their ED stay.
“We wanted to gauge how people would feel if we brought dogs into our ED. We surveyed a total of 126 staff, patients and whānau and the response was overwhelmingly positive, with 93% in favour.
“The comments ranged from ‘People would love this, especially the kids’ and ‘When people see dogs in an unusual setting, it makes them focus less on their pain or trauma’, to ‘Just pure unconditional love – what’s not to love?’” says Lillian.
“It’s often a scary experience coming into the ED, with lots of people and plenty of activity going on,” adds Lynne. “Interacting with a dog is a great distraction, and it seems to have a calming effect on patients and whānau.”
That initial proposal was put forward over a year ago and, since July, Lynne and Amethyst have been visiting Waikato ED once a week to spend time with paediatric and short-stay patients. A staff volunteer acts as a ‘doggie chaperone’ and pre-screens patients for suitability, while care is taken for infection control and hygiene.
Just last week, they had a special encounter with a 10-year-old girl.
“I entered the room and Amethyst went over to her. Her whole face lit up with the biggest smile,” says Lynne. “Her mum said that was the first time she had seen her smile since their arrival the day before.
“It was so heartwarming to see, and reinforced the reason for my visits,” she says.
The visits are not just for patients, either. Both Lynne and Lillian are quick to emphasise how beneficial canine therapy is for the ED’s kaimahi.
“Amethyst’s visits brighten everyone’s day. It’s good for staff, especially when it’s busy and they have upsetting cases to deal with,” says Lynne.
So, what makes a paw-fect therapy dog?
L-R Lyn Kemp and Amethyst spent some time with patient Jan who thought Amethsyt was just lovely
“My dog Frankie, an eight-year-old Bichon Frise, is ideally suited to being a therapy dog and regularly visits a local nursing home. He’s calm, loves everyone and is happiest when he’s the centre of attention – especially if there are treats involved,” says Lillian.
“When I first visited a rest home with Sapphire, it didn’t go so well. There was a cat that Sapphire spent all her time trying to find! So being calm and not easily distracted is important,” explains Lynne.
Lillian agrees: “Dougal, my other dog, is a little scamp and would cause chaos if he ever went on a visit!” she laughs.
There has been tremendous support from staff to get the project off the ground. The Critical Care Team shared information about their therapy dog mahi, and Lillian had two ED trainees, Rushi Jeyakumar and Julie Taylor, to support the ED programme with her. ED leadership staff Liz Courtney and Simon Ainsworth were instrumental in pushing the project ahead.
Lillian says the benefits of pet therapy in emergency departments is a topic that needs further exploration within the medical community. “Implementing this programme gives Waikato Hospital ED a unique opportunity to contribute to further research in the area,” she says.
“I love coming in with Amethyst. Even though we are only there for an hour, seeing the happiness she brings is lovely,” adds Lynne.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Sept. 24 — China is on the way to establishing a complete service system that will remarkably improve the lives of hundreds of millions of senior citizens in the country, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
China will build an elderly-friendly society by improving its social security system, elderly care services and health support, Minister of Civil Affairs Lu Zhiyuan has said, noting that an elderly care services system with distinctive Chinese features is expected to become well-developed and smoothly functional by 2035.
There were 297 million people aged 60 or above in China at the end of 2023, accounting for 21.1 percent of the country’s total population. The country is taking a proactive approach to population aging, acknowledging it as a reality China must face squarely on its path to modernization.
While challenges exist, this demographic shift also presents opportunities, Lu said at a press conference on high-quality development held in Beijing on Monday.
Elderly care in China has transitioned from a security net providing basic livelihood support to a system of quality services that integrates both medical and healthcare, Lu said.
Elderly care services have also diversified from a government-centric model to including both government and market participation, as well as more social stakeholders, the minister said.
In a nod to the habits and preference for aging at home among most of its senior citizens, the country will develop a services supply structure characterized by coordination and interconnection between homes, communities and institutions, Lu said.
Among measures to shore up at-home elderly care, the central government has allocated 300 million yuan (42.5 million U.S. dollars) in guiding funds to support the development of catering services for the elderly in 2024, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Tang Chengpei said at the Monday press conference.
Elderly individuals facing the challenges of advanced age, disabilities, empty nests or living alone are the focus of this endeavor, Tang said.
He noted that simultaneously, the country is expanding its catering services network continuously to deliver convenient meal services to the doorsteps of more senior citizens.
Catering programs have been rolled out in many regions to help elderly people access local meal services, with community canteens being a common form of these services.
Today U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) held a press conference with House lawmakers and victims of nuclear contamination across America – including those from the St. Louis and St. Charles, Mo., areas – to push the House to pass their Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) in an effort to provide justice and compensation for those who have been harmed by the federal government’s decades of negligence.
“The wait has been too long, and it has been too cruel, and there is no need to wait any longer,” said Senator Hawley. “The Senate is proof that we can pass this bill. We passed it with nearly 70 votes, and we have the votes in the House. We have the votes. We’ve counted them, we have them. We have a majority; we could pass it on suspension. This could pass in the House. We need the House to put this bill on the floor.”
Watch the full press conference by clicking here or on the image above.
Background
Senator Hawley has been the leading voice in the fight to secure just compensation for radiation victims in Missouri—and across the nation.
In March, the Senate passed—for the second time—Senator Hawley’s legislation to reauthorize and expand RECA by a strong bipartisan vote of 69-30.
Days before that vote, he sent a letter to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers General Scott Spellmon and Colonel Andy Pannier, blasting the Corps for its deliberate concealment of cleanup efforts in the St. Louis area after new disturbing reports detail more radioactive contamination in residents’ homes.
Senator Hawley brought Dawn Chapman—co-founder of the grassroots advocacy group “Just Moms” in St. Louis and longtime advocate for victims of nuclear contamination in the region—as his guest to the 2024 State of the Union address.
In February, Senator Hawley sent a letter to his Republican colleagues in the Senate, urging them to reauthorize RECA.
Following its first Senate passage in July of 2023, Senator Hawley’s RECA reauthorization was later stripped from that year’s NDAA by congressional leadership.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Sept. 24 — In a village in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, a center whose name translates as “happy mutual aid” offers two meals a day to over 20 senior citizens.
Each day, the elderly villagers of Wenhua Village gather in the center to enjoy their meals and chat. Some also bring vegetables they have grown or help in the kitchen, which largely relies on social donations for its operations.
Li Huizhi, a retiree who pioneered the institution two years ago, said the place not only helps feed the elderly customers, but also helps them feel less lonely. “Many of the elderly live alone because their children have left home in search of better job opportunities,” Li added.
With 120 million people in rural areas aged 60 or above, China has been exploring diverse and targeted solutions to care for seniors scattered across vast rural areas. They generally have lower incomes than their urban peers and are less willing to live in commercial institutions for daily care.
In June this year, the Chinese government issued a national-level guideline specifically on promoting rural elderly care. The document called for joint participation from the government, villages, non-profit organizations, companies and financial institutions to support the cause.
Data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs shows that China currently has around 16,000 rural elderly care nursing homes that collectively provide over 1.68 million beds. The rural areas are also home to around 145,000 mutual-aid elderly care facilities.
Lu Jiehua, deputy director of the Peking University Center for Healthy Aging and Development, expects China to find the most suitable models of elderly care in the coming years based on grassroots experiences, which include pooling together villagers for mutual aid and integrating medical and elderly care services.
Li Yuqing, 54, is a member of the mutual aid team in a village in the mountainous Miyun District, Beijing. She often visits the homes of her more senior neighbors and checks on their state of health.
“Our team members carry medical kits containing common drugs and tools to test the blood pressure and blood sugar levels of the seniors,” Li said.
They are part of the local government’s effort to employ public-spirited villagers in their 40s and 50s to help elderly neighbors living alone. Each of the younger villagers is designated 10 neighbors nearby to help with cleaning, shopping and accessing medical services.
Zhang Hao, an official with the civil affairs bureau of Miyun, said this model of villagers helping their elderly neighbors suits areas like Miyun because the villages are far away from each other and the elderly are not willing to live in commercial nursing homes.
Apart from mobilizing rural residents, local governments are also pinning hopes on eligible businesses providing door-to-door services to rural seniors.
Lang Zhizun, who runs an elderly care service company in Beijing, said they provide door-to-door services for rural elderly people four times a month, and the local civil affairs bureau pays for it. “We talk to the seniors first and offer help according to their requests,” he said.
Experts believe more input is needed from both the government and social organizations to increase elderly care services and facilities in rural areas, and to optimize the whole system.
In the June document, China set the targets for the further improvement of its rural elderly care service network by 2025. The overall coverage rate of elderly care service centers at the township level will be no less than 60 percent, it noted.
Lu Zhiyuan, minister of civil affairs, has pledged greater efforts to shore up the weaknesses in rural elderly care and ensure the accessibility of basic elderly care services to all senior individuals.
Since 2016, China has also piloted and expanded its trials for long-term care insurance that provides recipients with caregiving guarantees and fiscal subsidies. The initiative prioritized the group of disabled or partially disabled elderly people. China also provides assistance to the low-income rural population with special difficulties, including the elderly.
“I hope more public financial resources can be directed to rural areas to genuinely improve the sense of security and happiness for the elderly there,” said Lu Jiehua.
Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
Senator McConnell advocated for this funding in the annual government funding bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the Maysville Community and Technical College will receive $1,004,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The federal grant will be used to build out a welding training facility on its Montgomery County campus in Mount Sterling, Kentucky.
Senator McConnell, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, contacted the EDA in support of Maysville Community and Technical College’s competitive federal grant application and advocated for EDA funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill.
“Today’s federal grant announcement is welcome news. I hear constantly about the challenges Kentucky employers face finding workers to fill open jobs across the Commonwealth. Maysville Community and Technical College’s new facility will go a long way in training Kentuckians with the hands-on skills they need to get to work in their communities,” said Senator McConnell. “I was proud to bring home today’s federal grant, and I’m thrilled to see these funds invest in the future of Kentucky’s workforce.”
“I am proud of the EDA’s investment in the Maysville Community and Technical College’s Mount Sterling/Montgomery County campus, and I appreciate Senator McConnell’s support in helping us secure this federal funding. This critical project not only enhances our facilities but also strengthens our capacity to meet the growing demands of the welding industry,” said Dr. Laura McCullough, President and Chief Executive Officer of Maysville Community and Technical College. “By fostering workforce development and empowering our students with high-demand skills, we are laying the foundation for new business growth, attracting private investment, and driving long-term economic vitality in the region. Together, we are building a stronger future for our community.”
WATCH: Padilla warns immunity decision contradicts fundamental democratic principles and basic accountabilityWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC), joined a hearing titled “‘When the President Does It, that Means It’s Not Illegal’: The Supreme Court’s Unprecedented Immunity Decision,” to question witnesses on the Supreme Court’s dangerous ruling in Trump v. United States that now grants former presidents — including Donald Trump — criminal immunity for a wide range of activities taken while in office.
Padilla sharply rebuked the decision, underscoring the Supreme Court’s upending of centuries of history and tradition that presidents can be held accountable for crimes committed while in office. He criticized the Court for inventing a new form of presidential criminal immunity and for declining to designate a single action that Donald Trump took in the lead-up to the January 6th riot at the Capitol as “unofficial.”
Padilla asked Professor Mary B. McCord, Executive Director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law School, about dangerous potential scenarios that could exploit this immunity ruling, including a president ordering the Department of Justice to stop investigating their family for criminal conduct or directing the military to attack a political rival.
Key Excerpts:
PADILLA: Let’s be clear, the court’s decision to effectively let Trump off the hook has already caused devastating harm for our country, especially to voters and election workers. Trump has essentially been given a pass for weaponizing the Department of Justice to bully states into drumming up false election fraud charges for his attempts to pressure Vice President Pence into helping him steal the election and for inciting a violent mob to storm the Capitol on January 6.
[…]
PADILLA: I want to ask a few simple yes or no questions about hypothetical, but not farfetched scenarios. If a future President were to order the Department of Justice to cease investigating their spouse, their child, or themselves for alleged criminal conduct, would that be an official act?
PROFESSOR MCCORD: It would appear that under the court’s ruling, yes, that would be immune. Actually, even more than official act as core constitutional powers.
PADILLA: Because the president directs the executive branch. Scenario number two: if a future President were to direct the Armed Services to attack the home of a political rival, would that be an official act?
MCCORD: I think that is one of the questions the court leaves open for us, if…
PADILLA: The fact that it’s not a clear ‘no’ is the problem because the President is the Commander in Chief. Look, Mr. Chair, I can go on and on with example after example that should alarm us and the American people. But I will conclude by just acknowledging this: It’s particularly auspicious that this committee is meeting today to examine this wildly consequential and wildly unprecedented decision, 235 years to the day since the Supreme Court was established by an act of Congress. So in closing, I’ll just echo Justice Sotomayor’s powerful words. Every president in our history has governed with the understanding shared by the American people that they could be held accountable for crimes committed while in office. And with that no longer the case, I share her fear for our democracy, and I stand firmly with the spirit of her dissent.
Video footage of Senator Padilla’s full remarks is available here.
The Supreme Court issued a misguided 6-3 decision in July that “the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.”
The ramifications of the Supreme Court’s decision have already harmed voters and election workers. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s election integrity unit recently led targeted raids of several Latino voting rights organizers, officials, and candidates on the basis of unfounded allegations of widespread voter fraud. In Florida, law enforcement has targeted individuals who signed a petition for a constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights. Across the country, there has been a surge in abusive public records requests aimed at election offices.
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s unprecedented decision, Senator Padilla criticized the ruling and traveled with President Biden to Austin, Texas as the President announced three proposed reforms to restore trust in, and accountability for, our judiciary, including a constitutional amendment making clear that no President is above the law or immune from criminal prosecution. Padilla also joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and 32 of his Democratic Senate colleagues in introducing the No Kings Act, which would reaffirm that Presidents and Vice Presidents do not have immunity for actions that violate federal criminal law and clarify that Congress, not the Supreme Court, determines to whom federal criminal laws may be applied.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL)
WASHINGTON – Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) is leading an initiative to demand much-needed answers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regarding its implementation of Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting, following the recent detrimental decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which discontinued the State of Florida’s 404 permitting authority.
The Donalds initiative has received the support of the entirety of the Florida House Republican Delegation including Representatives Michael Waltz (R-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), María Salazar (R-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), and Matt Gaetz (R-FL).
Read the full text of the letter HERE or below:
Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon Chief of Engineers and Commanding General U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 441 G Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20314-1000
Dear Lieutenant General Spellmon:
We write today as Members of Congress from the Florida Delegation seeking answers relating to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permitting process. On February 15, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia revoked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) designation of the State of Florida—which has been in place for the last three years—to process CWA 404 permits for the purpose of “[regulating] the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands.” As a result of the court’s decision, USACE regained stewardship of Section 404 permitting in Florida, and has assumed new and pending applications from Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)—however, USACE appears unprepared and untransparent regarding the approval or denial of these applications. We have concerns that the recent court’s decision has negatively impacted the economies of Florida and its industries, and provides no greater protection of wildlife or the environment. Therefore, we request a staff-level briefing to understand how USACE is processing Section 404 permit applications after the February 15th, 2024 court decision.
USACE’s assumption of the Florida 404 program immediately created intense regulatory delays among industries and other applicants trapped in the bureaucratic backlog.4 The delays in issuances of permits not only cost tens of millions of dollars in the near term, but also impacts other infrastructure downstream such as commercial spaces, housing, charter schools, and roadways. Thus, USACE’s reluctance to readily approve or deny 404 permit application burdens the growth of the Sunshine State and the prosperity of its people because projects are located in most Florida counties.
Since assuming the 404 permitting program in 2020, FDEP trained approximately 300 additional staff and certified wetland evaluators to formally review 404 applications. While USACE contends they have the appropriate resources to handle the change of permitting under the 404 program, we are unsure about this contention. USACE expressed they are “ready to accept permit applications,” however, it is the impression of our offices that the USACE uses their own, distinct 404 permitting process compared to the process utilized by FDEP. The February 15th, 2024 court order requires a USACE-specific application, meaning the whole application process restarts from scratch. We question how USACE will be able to restart and lessen the backlog of “well over 1,000 applications” including those applications previously situated on the state’s desk.
The fiscal year 2024 budget provided for 132 full time staff positions, however, as of April 2024 USACE totaled 126 staff members. This is a modest increase from the fiscal year 2020 USACE budget which provided for approximately 103 staff positions. Thus, we seek to understand how 132 staff positions could process the same workload in which FDEP hired an additional 300 trained and certified staff members to complete.
Additionally, FDEP’s 404 program had Florida-specifications for applicants “at least as stringent as federal permitting.” We question how USACE is more equipped than FDEP to process 404 applications, since FDEP provided an additional layer of expertise by requiring the state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission’s approval on 404 requests—a feature not required by the USACE or the EPA.
The Chief Regulator of the USACE Jacksonville District also noted the additional workload will require the assistance from the South Atlantic Division and the USACE’s headquarters. This would require staff with no knowledge of Florida to issue or deny permits that solely implicate Florida and its resources. In fact, the EPA previously stated that “state and tribal regulators are generally more familiar with local aquatic resources, issues, and needs . . . An efficient state ran program can help reduce delays and save money for applicants.”
FDEP provided a transparent process by which to obtain information and permit applications via the Oculus portal. This portal, no longer used due to the assumption of duties by USACE, provided real-time and readily available information to potential applicants. As an additional layer of transparency, Florida’s sunshine laws allowed for stakeholders to gather all information necessary for applications. Thus, we request information on how USACE will keep the 404-process transparent and easily accessible to applicants and industry participants that seek permits.
Finally, we request the formal definition used by USACE in determining Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and its relationship to state 404 permitting moving forward. Due to USACE assuming authority over state 404 permitting, applicants must now ask whether their projects will impact the WOTUS as modified by Sackett v. EPA. Previously, under Florida’s permitting authority, applicants were able to select the state’s wetland designation. Florida’s wetland line in the 404 program is more expansive than the current WOTUS interpretation. Because of the lack of current guidance on how Sackett modifies WOTUS, these determinations are being made on a case-by-case basis until clarity is provided by USACE and, ultimately, the EPA. Florida still provides other state wetlands permits under state waters, however, now there is additional confusion for applicants who affect assumable WOTUS. We require further understanding of USACE’s interpretation and implementation of WOTUS as applied to state 404 permits, and how lack of clarity impacts applicants.
Considering the above concerns, we ask that USACE provide information on its efforts to timely issue permits, provide transparency, and address the challenges created by the D.C. District Court order from February 2024.
To assist the undersigned Members of Congress’ concerns on this matter, please make arrangements to schedule a staff level briefing no later than October 4th, 2024. This briefing should include information about any ongoing audits or preparations of USACE in handling current or future section 404 permitting in Florida, as assumed by USACE. To schedule the briefing, please contact the office of Congressman Byron Donalds at 202-225-2536.
Sincerely,
Byron Donalds (R-FL) Member of Congress Michael Waltz (R-FL) Member of Congress Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) Member of Congress Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) Member of Congress Vern Buchanan (R-FL) Member of Congress Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) Member of Congress Scott Franklin (R-FL) Member of Congress Daniel Webster (R-FL) Member of Congress Aaron Bean (R-FL) Member of Congress Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) Member of Congress Brian Mast (R-FL) Member of Congress María Salazar (R-FL) Member of Congress Greg Steube (R-FL) Member of Congress Kat Cammack (R-FL) Member of Congress John Rutherford (R-FL) Member of Congress Cory Mills (R-FL) Member of Congress Bill Posey (R-FL) Member of Congress Laurel Lee (R-FL) Member of Congress Neal Dunn (R-FL) Member of Congress Matt Gaetz (R-FL) Member of Congress
Released by: Attorney General, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
The NSW Government has passed new laws to better protect victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, including tougher penalties for breaching an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) in certain circumstances.
The new offences target conduct that may indicate a high risk of harm to the protected person, including:
An intentional breach offence directed at serious or harmful breaches of ADVOs due to the offender’s intention to cause harm or fear to the protected person. This offence will carry a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment.
A persistent breach offence directed at repeated breaches of ADVOs over a short period of time, reflecting a clear disregard for the conditions of the ADVO. This offence will carry a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
These new aggravated offences will complement the existing offence for any breach of an ADVO, which has a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment.
A new civil protection order scheme targets serious domestic and family violence offenders.
The Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Order (SDAPO) provides law enforcement with a tool to monitor and supervise very high-risk offenders, with the aim to keep relatives and former, current or potential future intimate partners safe from violence.
The scheme allows the court to impose any conditions it considers appropriate to prevent the perpetrator engaging in domestic abuse.
Orders may include a requirement to report to a police station at an appointed time or to notify police when commencing an intimate partner relationship, and a restriction on the use of social media and dating apps.
Breaching an SDAPO carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
Other legislative reforms passed include:
Changes to the definition of stalking to expressly include the monitoring and tracking of a person’s activities, communications or movements through the use of technology, such as using GPS trackers or monitoring the victim’s online accounts.
Allowing police to issue a provisional AVO electronically where the parties consent, instead of requiring police officers to take individuals to a police station to print out a physical copy of the order.
An amendment to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act 1995 to allow a sole parent with an appropriate court order to change their child’s name.
These new domestic violence laws further enhance protections for victim-survivors after the criminalisation of coercive control and stronger bail laws came into effect in July.
They also complement measures announced in the 2024-25 NSW Budget, including an investment of $245.6 million to improve support for domestic and family violence victim-survivors and expand programs that reduce the rate of violence against women and children.
$45 million of this package has been set aside to improve bail laws and justice system responses to domestic violence.
Attorney General Michael Daley said:
“The NSW Government is committed to a whole-of-government approach to preventing and eliminating domestic violence in our state.
“These new laws will strengthen the justice system to better protect victim-survivors and support their safety.
“We will continue to consult legal and sector stakeholders as we seek to improve laws and justice system responses to domestic violence.”
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
“Too many lives have been lost to domestic and family violence, and these new laws are a vital step to improve the safety and security of victim-survivors.
“The new laws complement other services we are delivering across the state, including homelessness and crisis support, early intervention and primary prevention programs, and activities to build and strengthen the sector.
“We want to ensure that any person fleeing domestic and family violence has a safe pathway to healing and recovery.”
Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads
Work on the once-in-a-generation New Dubbo Bridge continues to progress with one third of the concrete deck, which will eventually support traffic crossing, now in place.
The Australian and NSW governments are investing $263.2 million to deliver this region-shaping piece of infrastructure on the Newell Highway in Dubbo.
The Australian Government has committed $210.6 million towards the project, with the NSW Government committing the remaining $52.6 million.
The decking along the 660-metre bridge structure is being built in sections, with each section involving the pouring of about 105 cubic metres of concrete to provide a deck slab of up to 25 centimetres in depth.
The deck pours will be carried out progressively while the rest of the bridge takes shape, with the final deck pour expected in mid-2025.
Once the concrete deck is completed, the final step in building the bridge surface will be to add an eight-centimetre thick layer of asphalt.
Pile driving was recently completed along the entire length of the new structure which crosses the Macquarie River and a section of the floodplain east of the river.
Construction is also underway for the network of roads that will link the bridge to the Dubbo road network, including road widening work at the intersections of Whylandra and Thompson streets and River and Bourke streets.
The New Dubbo Bridge project is due to be completed in late 2026, weather permitting.
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
“It is exciting to see the new bridge rapidly taking shape and I’m proud to see the Australian and NSW governments’ investments delivering for regional communities.
“New infrastructure like this is critical for the growth of regional communities and it will set Dubbo and western NSW up for the future.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison:
“This bridge will provide vital flood resilience and unlock more housing in Dubbo – providing essential infrastructure for an estimated 5,500 homes.
“The Minns Labor Government is proud to be partnering with the Albanese Labor Government to deliver this project, supporting nearly 1,500 direct and indirect jobs in western NSW.
“On my recent visit to see the bridge I saw how transformative this bridge will be to Dubbo and I thank the workers who have given so much to this project and I thank the people of Dubbo for their patience.”
Quotes attributable to Senator for NSW Deborah O’Neill:
“Once completed, the New Dubbo Bridge will transform the way western NSW residents, tourists and freight operators travel through Dubbo.
“The Bridge will reduce travel times in the city centre and improve access across the Macquarie River, particularly during flood events.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Dubbo Stephen Lawrence MLC:
“The Minns and Albanese governments are delivering transformative regional road infrastructure for Dubbo. It’s been wonderful to see the progress of the new Dubbo Bridge construction.
“I’m pleased to see more than half of all people working on this project are from my local area, including many local apprentices and aspiring tradies through innovative employment programs. Many Dubbo businesses are benefiting from the economic activity being generated.”
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (25 September 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised its economic growth forecast for developing Asia and the Pacific this year, amid solid domestic demand and continued strength in exports. ADB has also lowered its forecast for regional inflation.
The region is forecast to grow by 5.0% this year, compared with a projection of 4.9% in April, according to Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2024, released today. The forecast for next year is maintained at 4.9%. Inflation in developing Asia and the Pacific is expected to ease further to 2.8% in 2024, compared with a previous forecast of 3.2%.
The improved economic outlook reflects stronger-than-expected expansions in East Asia, Caucasus and Central Asia, and the Pacific. Rising global demand for semiconductors, driven in part by the artificial intelligence boom, is boosting exports, while easing global food prices and the lagged effects of monetary policy tightening have brought inflation down to near pre-pandemic levels.
“Strong economic fundamentals will continue to underpin expansion this year and next,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park. “Financial conditions are expected to improve as inflation moderates further and the US eases its monetary policy, and this will support the positive outlook for the region.”
Risks to the outlook include a worsening of trade tensions between the United States (US) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC); further deterioration in the PRC property market; worsening geopolitical tensions; and the effects of climate change and adverse weather on commodity prices and food and energy security.
The growth forecast for the PRC, the largest economy in developing Asia and the Pacific, remains at 4.8% this year and 4.5% next year. Lingering weakness in the PRC’s property sector has negatively affected household spending during 2024. This has been partially offset by higher investment, underpinned by stimulatory monetary and fiscal policies, and higher exports.
India’s economy—the region’s second largest—is forecast to grow 7.0% in 2024, unchanged from April, amid strong domestic demand including an increase in government spending.
The growth forecast for the Caucasus and Central Asia has been raised to 4.7% this year, compared with a 4.3% projection in April, thanks to improved domestic demand bolstered by remittances in some economies. The growth forecast for the Pacific is revised upward to 3.4%, from 3.3% in April, driven by the increase in tourist arrivals. The forecast for Southeast Asia has been lowered by 0.1 percentage points to 4.5%, due to a decline in public investments and slower-than-expected export recovery.
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 68 members—49 from the region.
Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
Photo courtesy of the National Religious Broadcasters association.
On September 19, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) spoke to the National Religious Broadcasters association on the importance of faith-based messaging.
“The most important thing the government can do is protect the institutions that are the fiber of the nation: the family, the community, and the faith…. Your mission is to bring Christians news and information in a manner that’s consistent with their values and hopefully inspires them to live up to those values…. Our job is to ensure that your right in this country to do that remains unencumbered..” – Senator Rubio
See a lightly edited transcript below.
You’re going to hear a lot from people about politics and issues today, and I’m more than happy to talk about that. Who am I to warn you against being hyper-political? It’s what I do for a living. And when I was a state legislator, we used to beg people to be interested in politics. But now, it’s the only thing people want to talk about. There’s no space in our life into which politics hasn’t intruded.
The laws we pass are important. People have legitimate concerns about where the country is headed. There are laws that are making it harder for people of faith to participate in the public square. But I try to remind people around me and in my life, many of whom have become consumed by politics, of a couple things. The first thing I try to remind them of is that we cannot make politics and government our god.
Sometimes I hear people of the Christian faith say, “My God, things are so terrible!” But of all the faiths on this planet, the one that knows how the movie ends is ours. And it ends in tribulation. It ends in difficulties. That’s what was promised. Of course, in every generation, Christians are like: “I know it’s all going to happen, and I can’t wait for Jesus to come back, but not now! Not while I’m here! I just want to skip to the end!” But we have to hold true to what is ultimate.
Governments rise and fall. Nations come and go. But for 2,000 years, the one constant in the lives of people of the Christian faith has been our belief that we’re going to live in a new heaven and a new earth, and that it’s going to be as it was originally intended to be before man’s fall. That doesn’t mean we don’t pay attention to the issues of our time. It doesn’t ask us to be hermits. It doesn’t ask us to isolate ourselves. It certainly calls for us to actively live out our faith. But I also don’t think we can let that lead us into anxiety.
In that, I’m reminded of the early Church. The reason why early Christianity spread is not because they conquered with an army. It isn’t because they had more money or more power. In fact, they had none. It’s because the Romans kept doing horrible things to these people, and yet they would go to their deaths singing songs, full of joy, and being kind to their oppressors. Eventually, a bunch of pagans said, “I want the joy those people have.”
They said: “We’ve tried everything. We’ve worshiped all these gods. We’ve forgotten all the gods we worshiped. We’ve sacrificed. We’ve done this, we’ve done that. I want the happiness that these Christians have. What is this secret that they have that the rest of us can’t seem to achieve, despite everything we’ve tried?” It was the power of that example, more than anything else, that allowed the Spirit to work in the world.
The second thing I try to remind people of is that America is not a government. Oftentimes, when people discuss the state of America, they’re actually discussing the state of our politics or the sake of our government. And what we forget is that America is not a government. America is a nation. And what is a nation? At its most basic level, a nation is made up of this: families living in communities.
The most important house in this country is not the White House. It is your house. It’s the first school. It’s the first government. And it’s where we acquire values. Do you realize that everything that tastes good and feels good is bad for you? Why don’t leafy greens taste like ice cream? Why is the stuff that’s good for you, you have to put stuff on it to make it palatable? I think the same is true when it comes to human nature.
Despite all the advancements and our fancy technology, human nature is the same today as it was 5,000 years ago, which is why when we read the Old Testament, those stories seem like they could’ve been written yesterday. We may dress differently, we may use different devices, we may advance scientifically, we may travel to the stars, but human nature is unchanged. That is why history repeats itself. And human nature needs to be controlled. Left to our own nature, left to do whatever we want, we would not live in a good world.
Where do you learn what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong, both collectively and individually? Something has to inform you that murder is evil, because murder is legal in the animal kingdom. It happens there all the time. But humanity has decided that murder is wrong, enslaving someone is wrong, physically abusing someone is wrong, denying the right to speak freely is wrong, denying the right to worship freely is wrong. Where do these ideas come from? They don’t come from human advancements, because human nature hasn’t changed. They come from a system of values.
In this, particularly because I am a Christian, I believe our faith system is an extraordinary asset to the country. You don’t have to convert. You have the right to believe anything you want. But from a practical point of view, why would we ever want to constrain or oppress a system of belief that says: “Treat others the way you want to be treated. Love your enemy. Forgive them. Take care of the widow and the hungry.”
The concept of the widow today is lost on people. If you were a widow 2,000 years ago, you were in big trouble. There was no welfare system. There were no food stamps. There were none of these programs out there. You were on your own, by yourself, with no one to help you, unless you had children to take care of you.
To me, Christianity is a system that teaches you not just to help the widow, but to have compassion for the less fortunate, to serve those in need selflessly, not selfishly. Why do we not want that to infuse our culture and society? Even if, ultimately, you don’t believe in the inspirations for those things, why would you not want something like that to be protected and vibrant under our laws? I think any country would be stronger with that.
And it explains a lot of our history. To this day, Americans feed more people, clothe more people, house more people all over the world than almost all the other countries of the world combined. If there’s a landslide somewhere today, if there’s a flood, an earthquake, or a volcanic eruption, I guarantee you that some faith-based organization in America will be one of the first to respond. And then you add to that foreign aid. (Although that has become controversial lately, and we have to address our own needs as well.)
Why is that? Because there are other wealthy countries that have no tradition of giving whatsoever. To me, the answer is our faith system. When you have instilled in the values of your country to help the less fortunate, it doesn’t mean to help the less fortunate only in your county, your city, your state, or your country. It means we see someone suffering somewhere, and we feel compelled to do something about it. And I’m not talking about just rich people. I’m talking about people that give $50 a month.
Where does that come from? That comes from a system of values grounded in a faith system. It is a national imperative for our country. Not to mention the importance of family and the importance of parenting. Children are not a burden. We should never be a nation that feels that a human life is a burden instead of a blessing. When people talk about things that way, we have to think about what a reflection it is on our society and culture.
What I’m saying is, we can pass a lot of laws, and we can elect great people, but many of the problems we are confronting as a nation go well beyond the government. Government can tell you what’s legal. It cannot tell you what’s right or wrong. Government can punish and reward. It cannot teach people to do good instead of bad, or to care for one another, or to live in community. That’s why I believe the most important thing that the government can do is to rebuild our families so they can live in dignity.
There are things the government can do to help. I think it’s hard to have strong families and strong communities without dignified work. There are great things that the free enterprise system has created, more things than all the other economic systems man has tried. But we have to prioritize dignified work. Man was meant to work. Work is actually a form of worship. In fact, it’s one of the first commandments that mankind received. No matter what the job is, whether you’re a senator or anything else, your work is a way of worshiping your Creator.
But the most important thing the government can do is protect the institutions that are the fiber of the nation: the family, the community, and the faith, which instill values that make us stronger as a result. In many ways, that is the mission that you’re called to. Your mission is to bring Christians news and information in a manner that’s consistent with their values and hopefully inspires them to live up to those values. From a government perspective, our job is to ensure that your right in this country to do that remains unencumbered.
Our own founding documents say our rights come not from the government, but from our Creator. Our country was founded on the belief that our rights are not what I decide they are because the people of Florida elected me, but what God has given us. My job is to protect those rights, not to decide what they are, or to decide which ones apply and which ones do not.
The role of religious broadcasting has a very important mission. It has a spiritual component to it, but it actually has a very strong civil component to it. I think it calls people to live out their faith. At a time when so much of the news and information that people are consuming is actually speaking to the worst of humanity, bringing out the worst in them, the ability to bring out the best in them is really a critical national treasure, one that we have to protect.
I don’t know how to operationalize this in terms of the laws. Oftentimes, good outcomes depend on the law we don’t pass, or something we keep from happening, which would impinge on your ability to fulfill what I think is a critical mission for our country. That mission is to ensure that we have strong families, strong communities, and children raised with the values that allow them to be productive, but also to be good citizens, and to always work for the common good.
A new study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution lifts the veil on what happens when octopuses and fish hunt together. As it turns out, this cross-species relationship is more complex than anyone expected.
Animals of the same species often cooperate – work together to reach some kind of goal. But it’s relatively rare to find cooperation between individuals from different species.
A classic example you’ll be familiar with is the close relationship between dogs and humans, whether in the context of herding sheep or hunting. In these situations, the dog and the human work together to achieve a goal.
That’s mammals. But underwater species also sometimes cooperate. A nice example is the joint hunting behaviour of moray eels and grouper. The grouper approaches the moray and signals that it wishes to hunt. The eel responds in kind, and off they go.
During these hunting forays, the grouper uses signals to indicate where prey may be hidden in the coral matrix. It’s a synergy made in heaven: the eel can scare the prey fish from hiding places among the coral, while the grouper patrols over the top. There is literally no place for prey to hide.
For the eels and grouper, the chances of catching their dinner are greatly improved when hunting together compared to hunting on their own.
Who’s in charge here?
While researchers have described these behaviours before, one question remains unanswered. Who, exactly, is in charge of these cross-species interactions?
Who decides what they are going to do, where and when? Are the different players “democratic”, in that they come to some form of compromise, or does one species take the lead and the other simply follows (that is, they are “despotic”)?
In an international collaboration, biologist Eduardo Sampaio and colleagues have investigated cross-species interactions between the usually solitary day octopus (Octopus cyanea) and several fish species, such as goatfish and groupers.
A day octopus hunting with a blacktip grouper and a gold-saddle goatfish. Eduardo Sampaio and Simon Gingins
The fish and the octopus share a common goal – to increase their hunting efficiency. The traditional view of octopus-fish hunting groups assumed that the octopus is the producer, and the fish simply follow along and opportunistically pick up the scraps.
With its long, flexible arms, the octopus explores all the nooks and crannies of the hunting ground, flushing out prey the fish can then take advantage of. In this scenario, the octopus would be solely in charge of decisions and the fish just follow (that is, it’s an exploitative, despotic relationship).
However, when researchers took a closer look, it appeared perhaps this relationship is not as simplistic as previously believed. But without fine-scale analysis providing hard evidence, it is difficult to work out the precise details of how this cooperation works.
A day octopus hunting with a blue goatfish, while a blacktip grouper waits. Eduardo Sampaio and Simon Gingins
What did the new study find?
Using sophisticated behavioural analyses of 3D videos captured from 120 hours of diving, Sampaio and team found that each partner in the interaction plays a specific role. There was, in fact, no true leader – they are democratic.
The fish were responsible for exploring the environment and deciding where to move, while the octopus would decide if and when to move. Interestingly, controlled experiments showed the octopuses were guided by social information provided by the fishes.
When partnered with blue goatfish, the octopus foraging tactics where more focused and efficient. When partnered with blacktip groupers, they were less so. So, the nature of the hunting relationship varied depending on who’s involved.
The researchers concluded that, overall, success rates for capturing prey were higher for the octopus when foraging with fishy partners.
The details revealed by this study suggest this relationship is far more sophisticated than other cross-species hunting associations examined to date.
Despite the huge evolutionary gap between these animals (the equivalent of about 550 million years), both fish and octopus show clear signs of social competence and advanced cognition.
Culum Brown 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.
Change processes proposed today may see a net reduction of 321 roles across the organisation’s urban planning and design; commercial; construction and innovation; and investment management office teams.
Kāinga Ora Chief Executive Matt Crockett says the proposed changes are aimed at ensuring Kāinga Ora can deliver on the Government’s housing delivery expectations in the most efficient way possible in the coming years.
“Kāinga Ora has scaled up over the last five years to deliver a successful and extensive build programme,” he says.
“We are now moving into a different phase where our focus is on creating a steadier state of social housing builds, alongside work to upgrade and replace thousands of homes in our portfolio.
“We need to make sure we have the right level of resourcing to match our delivery programme while maintaining focus on achieving our targets.”
The proposed changes would support an accelerated move to new construction methods, enabling state houses to be built more quickly and efficiently through the Kāinga Ora Housing Delivery System. Kāinga Ora will also continue to work with private developers to deliver homes.
“Today’s announcement starts a period of consultation where potentially impacted teams have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposal,” says Mr. Crockett.
“These proposed changes will be unsettling for our people. We are committed to supporting them through the process as best we can, and to considering all feedback they provide.
“At this stage we plan to confirm final decisions in mid-November.”
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate O’Reilly, Director International (Programs & Engagement) | Lecturer School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University
The first recommendation is to establish a comprehensive evidence base to better understand the experiences of under-served groups, including LGBTQIA+ people and women with disability.
Gaps in knowledge of menopause can be significant barriers to diagnosis and treatment. More than 85% of people with distressing menopause symptoms do not receive appropriate care. These barriers can be compounded for people, women and those presumed female at birth who have a disability and/or are LGBTQIA+.
Here’s what we know so far about how people from diverse groups experience menopause and the health-care gaps they face.
Remind me, what is menopause?
Generally menopause is experienced across three phases.
Perimenopause (meaning around menopause) starts when hormones, particularly oestrogen, fluctuate.
Menopauseoccurs when a person has their final menstrual period. These stop because the person’s ovaries no longer release eggs. This definition reflects the different ways menopause can occur (natural menopause, premature ovarian insufficiency, surgery or cancer treatment).
Post-menopause is the stage after menopause marking the end of the reproductive stage.
We experience it differently
Everyone’s experience of menopause is different. People living with disability can experience unique symptoms and challenges.
Autistic people, for example, may describe the experience of menopause as turbulent or catastrophic. Symptoms for this group include intensified sensory stimuli and increased difficulty with:
executive functioning (planning, concentrating and multitasking)
recognising or regulating emotions and internal body cues
[O]ur society doesn’t talk about, address, understand women our age (menopausal onset) in general very well. And so when you have the added dimension of autism […] there’s no resource […] to tell me how to handle that. And there’s no room in society for it either […] we don’t talk about menopause, let alone autistic menopause.
For some trans and gender diverse people, menopause can be positive and affirming. For others, the distress can be profound. As one research participant explained:
Personally I was fine (gender-identity-wise) with experiencing periods and pregnancy/childbirth, but I have found menopause much more conceptually difficult. I think in large part because the social narrative is so much about ‘menopausal women’ and also often denigratory or shame-laden.
Barriers to menopause diagnosis and care
LGBTQIA+ people and people with a disability can face assumptions about their gender, sexuality or anatomy which interfere with the care they require.
When people have had prior negative experiences of health care, and have experienced stigmatisation and pathologising of their disability, intersex variations, diverse gender or their sexuality, they may delay accessing care for menopause. Such a delay can result in poorer physical and mental health outcomes.
People with disability can experience earlier menopause with more profound symptoms. And as Women with Disabilities Australia highlighted, when there are pre-existing health concerns, impairments, or other support needs, as is the case with disability, menopause symptom management can be particularly complex.
Women living with a disability in Australia are far less likely to access health care due to stigma and lack of specialist care. They are not always screened for or routinely asked about their reproductive or menopausal health experiences.
Lack of clinician education and provider bias can result in a tendency to either ignore menopausal symptoms or attribute them to mental health concerns. This can lead to misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment or a complete denial of care for cisgender women and people who live with disability, and LGBTQIA+ folk.
The absence of inclusive, accurate language in health promotion information that does not recognise the diversity of experiences of menopause for people who identify as LGBTQIA+ or live with disability can make them more vulnerable to misinformation and contribute to increased health-care disparities.
What can we do about it?
Policy responses to reducing health-care disparities must be led by those with lived experience, and focus on:
Inclusive and accurate language
Language around menopause should reflect the diverse populations who experience it. Terms such as women and those presumed female at birth can be used to acknowledge trans and gender diverse folk, however all identities should be listed where possible.
Education
Undergraduate and postgraduate university and clinical education on menopause and perimenopause is lacking and should include the lived experience of menopause among diverse groups. This may reduce provider bias and prevent assumptions that could result in missed care and poor health outcomes.
At the individual level, content on menopause should be included in sexual health education programs in schools. This education should reflect the diverse experiences of menopause and use age-appropriate language.
Affirming and specific care
Welcoming clinical environments for LGBTQIA+ people who may have had prior negative experiences can ease past concerns. Peer-led credentialed online support networks can provide alternative and complementary safe spaces to seek care.
For people living with disability specific information for support workers and family carers can help facilitate ongoing affirming care.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
China’s top financial regulators, in a move that went beyond market expectations, unveiled a potent combination of monetary easing measures on Tuesday, aimed at anchoring market confidence and underpinning economic recovery amid domestic and global headwinds, analysts said.
The forceful one-two punch, including cutting the reserve requirement ratio, key policy interest rates and existing mortgage loan interest rates, will foster a more enabling climate for the world’s second-largest economy to hit this year’s growth target, they added.
“Recent macroeconomic data pointing to a tepid recovery in domestic consumption and weak inflationary pressures have created space for policymakers to ramp up efforts to bolster the economy,” said Ming Ming, chief economist at CITIC Securities.
“The gradual release of the policy package will help shore up market sentiment, unleash pent-up consumer demand, and drive a pickup in prices, putting the economy on a more favorable growth trajectory,” he added.
Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People’s Bank of China, the nation’s central bank, said at a news conference on Tuesday that the reserve requirement ratio — the amount of cash that banks are required to have on hand — will be reduced by 0.5 percentage point in the near term, which will free up about 1 trillion yuan ($142.2 billion) for new lending.
This marks the second time that the central bank has lowered the RRR this year, after implementing a 0.5 percentage point reduction in February, indicating that Chinese policymakers are proactively tapping into the policy space provided by the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut last week, experts said.
Following the latest reduction, the average reserve ratio for the banking sector will drop to around 6.6 percent. This level still leaves considerable flexibility to further lower the RRR if needed, when compared with other major global economies, Pan said.
China’s central bank will not shy away from further RRR cuts of 0.25 to 0.5 percentage point this year, depending on the prevailing market liquidity conditions, Pan added.
The central bank also announced a reduction in its seven-day reverse repo rate — the short-term policy benchmark of interest rates — by 0.2 percentage point from the current 1.7 percent to 1.5 percent.
This move is expected to drive down the medium-term lending facility rate by around 0.3 percentage point, with the loan prime rates also projected to follow suit, declining by 0.2 to 0.25 percentage point, Pan added.
A new set of policies aimed at further stabilizing the real estate market was also unveiled at the news conference, including a 0.5 percentage point reduction in average existing mortgage rates and lowering the minimum down payment ratio from the current 25 percent to 15 percent on second homes, among others.
Guan Tao, global chief economist at BOCI China, said that Tuesday’s policy package was more proactive and comprehensive than expectations and indicated policymakers’ intention to deliver timely policy support, helping strengthen society’s confidence in achieving the economic growth target of about 5 percent for the year.
Guan said fiscal policy should synergize with accommodative monetary measures. Measures such as expanding this year’s government deficit to boost fiscal spending and optimizing the fiscal spending structure to improve people’s livelihoods are worth consideration, especially in light of households’ reluctance to consume and invest due to debt burdens.
China’s stock and foreign exchange markets reacted positively to the policy release, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index jumping 4.15 percent to Tuesday’s close at 2,863.13 points, the biggest rise in about four years.
Wang Qing, chief macroeconomic analyst at Golden Credit Rating International, said the policies will provide much-needed support to homeowners by alleviating their debt burden and boosting consumer spending.
Wang said the higher level of existing mortgage interest rates compared with new mortgages has triggered a notable wave of early loan repayments, posing a drag on household consumption.
According to a central bank report released in July, the average monthly early repayment volume reached 387 billion yuan from September to December last year, which translates to an annualized early mortgage repayment of around 4.6 trillion yuan.
While the mortgage rate cuts, on the other side, will have a tangible impact on bank earnings, the authorities are likely to take a balanced approach, such as orderly adjustments to deposit rates to ensure the banking sector’s resilience, Wang said.
Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2024 shows a house damaged in a rocket attack from Lebanon, in Rosh Pinna, northern Israel. [Photo/JINI via Xinhua]
Israel’s army said on Tuesday night that Hezbollah had fired around 300 rockets and other projectiles into Israel amid the second day of Israel’s heaviest attacks on Lebanon since 2006.
An explosive drone fell in Atlit, a coastal town south of Haifa, northern Israel, marking the first time Hezbollah’s rocket fire has reached this region, said the Israel Defense Forces, adding that two additional drones were launched toward the area but were intercepted. The drones caused no casualties, according to Israel’s rescue services.
Most of the rockets were intercepted by Israel’s aerial defense systems, the army said.
Hezbollah confirmed the attack in a statement, saying its fighters launched “an aerial operation with a squadron of assault drones against the headquarters of Israel’s special naval task unit Shayetet 13 in the Atlit base, targeting the positions of its officers and soldiers and striking the targets precisely.”
In other cases, rockets or parts of interceptor missiles that fell to the ground sparked fires in the Mount Meron area of Upper Galilee. In Rosh Pina, a town in Upper Galilee, a residential home was hit and extensively damaged.
Hospitals in the affected areas reported treating about 23 people, but later statements from Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency health service indicated that those treated were suffering from panic, not physical injuries.
At nightfall, Israel launched a new wave of attacks in Lebanon. The Air Force “conducted a number of extensive strikes on dozens of terrorist targets belonging to Hezbollah in the Beqaa region and several other areas in southern Lebanon,” the military said.
During the day, Israeli warplanes continued the massive strikes, which, according to the military, dismantled “dozens” of infrastructures where weapons were stored and numerous launchers aimed at Israeli territory were located.
Also on Tuesday night, unnamed Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes carried out ten raids on towns in the Tyre area deep in southern Lebanon and raided Hezbollah sites in the Jezzine area, also in the south of Lebanon.
Amid the sharp escalation, the Israeli military conducted Tuesday an exercise simulating fighting inside Lebanon, according to the Israeli Defense Ministry. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remarked that “the series of blows on Hezbollah’s command chain, operatives, and weapons were tough.” According to Gallant, Israel has destroyed “tens of thousands” of rockets, missiles, and launchers since Monday.
Answering questions in a press briefing on Monday night, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari neither confirmed nor denied whether Israel plans a ground operation in Lebanon.
Israel began its most extensive bombardment of Lebanon since 2006 on Monday, resulting in more than 550 deaths, including civilians, and over 1,800 injuries across the country. The flare-up has raised concerns about the potential for a full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with fears that other nations could also become involved.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Donghu residential community in Kashgar explores new models of service management
Updated: September 25, 2024 09:29Xinhua
Workers prepare lunch at a canteen for the elderly at the Donghu residential community in Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. In recent years, the Donghu residential community in Kashgar has been actively exploring new models of service management for groups such as the elderly and young children. The community’s citizen center is equipped with spaces including the traditional Chinese culture academy, dance studio, music studio, painting and calligraphy studio, and psychological counseling room. The badminton court, table tennis court, and children’s playground on the community square provide residents with more recreational options. The community also regularly organizes a variety of cultural and sports activities, providing support for the elderly and education for the young. [Photo/Xinhua]A child has fun at the citizen center of the Donghu residential community in Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Residents play traditional instruments at a music studio of the Donghu residential community in Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Children play table tennis at the Donghu residential community in Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Residents rehearse their performance for the upcoming National Day celebrations at the citizen center of the Donghu residential community in Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Residents do morning exercises on a square of the Donghu residential community in Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A child has fun at a playground of the Donghu residential community in Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Children have fun at a playground of the Donghu residential community in Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Residents play table tennis at the Donghu residential community in Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A child has fun at a playground of the Donghu residential community in Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
E China’s Shandong supports Xinjiang through ‘pairing assistance’ programs
Updated: September 25, 2024 09:41Xinhua
A worker works at a watermelon cultivation base, one of the “pairing assistance” programs of east China’s Shandong province, in Shule County of Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 21, 2024. In recent years, Shandong province has fully leveraged its industrial advantages in its “pairing assistance” programs on supporting Xinjiang, with the priority of promoting employment through development and actively cultivating distinctive and high-quality industries. In Kashgar region, efforts have been made to support the development of specialty agricultural industries. With the support of research institutes such as Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, more than 20 agricultural task forces have been established in Kashgar to conduct research projects, provide technical guidance and services. Over 110 agricultural technologies related to planting, breeding, and cultivation management have been promoted, contributing to the continuous expansion, optimization, and strengthening of the local agricultural industry. [Photo/Xinhua]A worker shows roses planted at an agricultural industrial park, one of the “pairing assistance” programs of east China’s Shandong province, in Yengisar County of Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A worker smells roses planted at an agricultural industrial park, one of the “pairing assistance” programs of east China’s Shandong province, in Yengisar County of Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A worker shows newly harvested gingers at an agricultural industrial park, one of the “pairing assistance” programs of east China’s Shandong province, in Yengisar County of Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A worker works at a watermelon cultivation base, one of the “pairing assistance” programs of east China’s Shandong province, in Shule County of Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A worker picks a watermelon at a watermelon cultivation base, one of the “pairing assistance” programs of east China’s Shandong province, in Shule County of Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on Sept. 21, 2024 shows the greenhouses of a watermelon cultivation base, one of the “pairing assistance” programs of east China’s Shandong province, in Shule County of Kashgar, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
The 35th Guan Gong Cultural Tourism Festival kicked off on Monday in Guan Gong’s hometown of Yuncheng city, Shanxi province, attracting over 1,000 domestic and international devotees.
The three-day event aims to pass on the culture of Guan Gong and promote national spirit.
In Chinese folklore, Guan Yu, a general from the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), also known as Guan Gong or Guan Di, stands as a revered figure and a superhero in the eyes of the Chinese people.
Around 30,000 Guan Gong temples are spread across approximately 168 countries and regions worldwide.
“Yuncheng will take the festival as a new starting point to promote the integrated development of culture and tourism,” Wang Ligang, the city’s deputy Party secretary, said at the opening ceremony. “We will continue to optimize cultural services and the supply mechanism of cultural products, aiming to develop the cultural tourism industry into a strategic pillar industry and a source of happiness for residents.”
After the opening ceremony, devotees paid tribute at the Guan Gong Temple in Haizhou township, which has a history of over 1,400 years.
“I have been influenced by the culture of Guan Gong since I was young, and I come to worship the ancestral temple at least twice a year,” said Wu Dongdong, a devotee from Quanzhou city, Fujian province. “The qualities of loyalty and integrity displayed by Guan Gong have had a major impact on my life.”
A Guan Gong culture-themed symposium was held on Monday afternoon.
“Guan Gong embodies various excellent moral qualities,” said Wang Juan, a professor from the Chinese Department of Peking University. “The devotees, domestic and abroad, who advocate Guan Gong’s beliefs provide possibilities for dialogue, exchange and integration among various social strata.”
Fu Wenyuan, director of the Haizhou Guandi Temple Cultural Relics Protection Institute said: “We will collaborate with relevant departments to accelerate the application for the declaration of Guan Sheng Cultural Sites as World Intangible Cultural Heritage.”
“Furthermore, we are striving to develop Yuncheng into a research center for Guan Gong culture, a pilgrimage site for the spirit of Guan Gong and a cultural tourism destination for the loyalty and righteousness of Guan Gong,” said Fu.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Langworthy announced that New York State’s Major Disaster Declaration was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the extreme weather during August 8-10 in Allegany, Steuben, Broome, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Ontario, St. Lawrence, and Yates Counties.
“Seeing the damage up close in some of the hardest hit areas, it became clear how essential federal assistance was for these communities to recover, and I was proud to be a vocal advocate for the Southern Tier throughout this process,” said Congressman Langworthy. “With homes, businesses, and key infrastructure severely impacted, this Major Disaster Declaration will allow people to rebuild their lives. Now that this assistance is in place, we can focus on helping our neighbors get back on their feet after such a devastating storm.”
Immediately following the flooding, Congressman Langworthy toured the Steuben County areas that were hardest hit, including Canisteo, Jasper-Troupsburg High School, Greenwood, Woodhull, and the Jasper sewage plant.
Congressman Langworthy also penned a letter to President Joe Biden urging the swift approval of New York State’s Major Disaster Declaration request following the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Debby in August 2024. Congressman Langworthy’s letter comes after New York State completed damage assessments and submitted its request.
In his letter, Congressman Langworthy highlighted the severe damage to major roadways, including state Route 417 and county Route 36, that have left residents cut off and businesses unable to operate. The Congressman also emphasized the need for additional Individual Assistance to ensure that residents can rebuild their homes.
Let me start with thanking all of you for gathering here today. As a native of Hiroshima, the city that was devastated by atomic bombing, I am delighted to launch today the Friends of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) with the representatives of the participating countries. This launch is literally to wrap up my efforts to advance nuclear disarmament diplomacy that I have been working on since my time as Minister for Foreign Affairs and since becoming Prime Minister.
Next year, we will mark 80 years since we witnessed the first nuclear test in human history and the subsequent devastation caused by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In my hometown of Hiroshima, the “Flame of Peace,” which symbolizes the resolve and hope of the Hibakusha–atomic bombing survivors–for a world without nuclear weapons, continues to burn without being extinguished for a moment until the day when all such weapons have disappeared from the earth.
About 60 years ago, at the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. President Kennedy stated that humanity lived under a nuclear sword of Damocles, hanging by the slenderest of threads, and appealed for the abolition of those weapons. Later, in 1993, at the same UN General Assembly, President Clinton stated that his country was working with Russia and others to take that sword down, to lock it away in a secure vault where we hope and pray it will remain forever.
And now, the era we call “the post-Cold War” has already passed, and we are facing the most severe and complex international security environment since the end of the World War II, where the international community is becoming increasingly divided and confrontational. This nuclear sword, hanging by the slenderest of threads over the heads of every human being, is swinging wildly again.
We are on the brink of a possible reversal of the downward trend in the number of nuclear weapons since the Cold War. The rapid buildup of nuclear capabilities by some countries in an untransparent manner could ignite an arms race that would draw other countries in.
UN Secretary-General Guterres, pointed out the deadlock of some existing disarmament institutions and the need to revitalize them in his “New Agenda for Peace.” I too am concerned that if this stalemate continues, the world will become even more divided.
The NPT regime, the cornerstone of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, is a common asset of humanity that is too precious to lose. We, the political leaders, must now take the lead to maintain confidence in this regime.
With this in mind, I myself as the Prime Minister of Japan, attended the NPT Review Conference in 2022 and announced the “Hiroshima Action Plan.” Following that, I worked on the G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision for Nuclear Disarmament issued last May that called on all countries to refocus political attention on the FMCT.
The FMCT is a framework for maintaining the trend of a global decline in the number of nuclear weapons by limiting the quantitative increase in nuclear weapons. Thirty years have passed since President Clinton proposed the concept, and experts have continued discussion over technical aspects of the FMCT.
Now is the time for strong political will to begin negotiations that materialize those experts’ discussions. I am convinced that creating momentum for an early start of FMCT negotiations will lead to the maintenance and strengthening of the NPT regime in the run -up to the 2026 NPT Review Conference.
About 80 years ago, the Hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki experienced firsthand the horror of nuclear weapons, which robbed people of their “human dignity.” These people are already advanced in years. Along with their wish for a world without nuclear weapons, we need to promote the understanding of the realities of the atomic bombings to the world and to future generations.
Next year, which will mark 80th year since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan will work on conveying the realities of the atomic bombings, focusing on three areas: sending Hibakushas and the youth overseas, promoting visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and strengthening communication with the world. On that basis, we, the political leaders of the world, must recognize that we have the responsibility to one day lock the nuclear sword of Damocles away in a secure vault where we hope and pray it will remain forever.
As a native of Hiroshima, the city that was devasted by atomic bombing, and as a responsible politician of Japan, the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during war, I pledge to continue to support realistic steps toward a world without nuclear weapons. And above all, I would like to advance efforts toward nuclear disarmament so that the day will finally come when the “Flame of Peace” be extinguished after the resolve and hope of the Hibakusha fulfilled.
Japan will promote this FMCT Friends initiative in cooperation with the founding members of the group, who are gathered here. Let’s work harder together.
Thank you for your attention.
[Closing Remarks]
I thank all the high-level representatives of the FMCT Friends founding members for attending the launch meeting today. I am very encouraged to hear directly from you all about your country’s enthusiasm to expand support for the start of FMCT negotiations.
My staff always warns me to keep my remarks short, but when it comes to nuclear disarmament, I can’t help but be greedy to say more.
Looking ahead to next year, the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and toward the 2026 NPT Review Conference, we need to demonstrate through our actions that the NPT regime is the cornerstone of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Now that the international security environment is becoming increasingly severe, we must advance nuclear disarmament under this NPT regime.
The FMCT Friends are, let’s say, three C’s in this regard—a “core” of the dialogues between the relevant countries, a “communicator” between countries with different interests, and a “catalyst” to accelerate dialogues—toward the start of the stalled FMCT negotiations.
As a citizen of Hiroshima, the city that was devasted by atomic bombing, I have a strong desire for nuclear abolition. At the same time, as a responsible politician from Japan, the only country to have suffered atomic bombings in war, I am fully aware that Japan has a mission to advance realistic and practical efforts toward a world without nuclear weapons.
The NPT regime is the only universal framework for a world without nuclear weapons, with broad participation from both nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states. Under this regime, it is now more than ever that we must advance realistic efforts, step by step. Among these, I am convinced that a FMCT is truly indispensable.
To all founding members of the FMCT Friends, let us continue to work together toward our common goal so that we can absolutely commence the FMCT negotiations.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that President Biden has approved her request for a Major Disaster Declaration to provide federal assistance to communities impacted by Tropical Storm Debby on August 8-10. This declaration allows for federal financial assistance to support public infrastructure reconstruction efforts in Allegany, Broome, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Ontario, Steuben, St. Lawrence and Yates counties.
“The effects of Tropical Storm Debby caused extreme damage across parts of New York last month, and I’m thankful President Biden has approved my request for a Major Disaster Declaration,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration will continue to work with FEMA to ensure those affected receive the critical funding they need to begin the recovery and rebuilding process.”
A Major Disaster Declaration secures financial assistance from the federal government, primarily through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, and provides funding to local governments and eligible non-profits for debris removal, protective measures, and repairs to buildings and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water and wastewater treatment facilities, critical infrastructure sites, schools, parks and other facilities.
As part of the declaration, New York was also granted access to FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs. Following a Presidential disaster declaration, FEMA provides funding for states to administer grant programs supporting local hazard mitigation planning and long-term hazard mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and to improve property damaged by natural disasters. Local governments and certain non-profits that perform government-like functions are eligible to apply for these grants. All counties in the State will have the ability to apply for this funding. More information will become available in the coming months.
In advance of the storm, Governor Hochul directed State agencies to ready emergency response assets and stay in real-time communication with local governments to monitor weather impacts and respond to requests for assistance. After the storms, Governor Kathy Hochul announced grants of up to $50,000 to be available to eligible homeowners in Allegany, Delaware, Franklin, Steuben and St. Lawrence Counties to address health and safety-related repairs not covered by insurance or other disaster relief programs.
Representative Nick Langworthy said, “Seeing the damage up close in some of the hardest hit areas, it became clear how essential federal assistance was for these communities to recover, and I was proud to be a vocal advocate for the Southern Tier throughout this process. With homes, businesses, and key infrastructure severely impacted, this Major Disaster Declaration will allow people to rebuild their lives. Now that this assistance is in place, we can focus on helping our neighbors get back on their feet after such a devastating storm.”
Good afternoon. I am Liz Sherwood-Randall, President Biden’s Homeland Security Advisor.
In closing, on behalf of the Biden-Harris Administration, I want to thank each of you for joining us here today. In particular, I want to express our gratitude to each of the Heads of State and Government and your cabinet members who accepted President Biden’s invitation to participate and make an enduring commitment to this vital endeavor.
This is the first ever gathering on this scale of leaders from every continent across the planet who are dedicated to the fight against fentanyl and synthetic drugs. And that reflects how seriously we take the threat that it is creating in our respective homelands.
As you may know, I have devoted much of my life to countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. I view fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. The lessons from that enduring challenge are directly relevant to the fight against illicit fentanyl and synthetic drugs today.
This is a global problem that requires a global solution. None of us can meet it effectively alone. We need to weave a strong and resilient web of committed countries, and we need to work in close collaboration with partners in international organizations and the private sector. That is the only way we can meet the moment. And the moment is now. We are in a fight to save lives.
So I especially want to thank each of the Coalition Members whose leaders have agreed to mobilize new initiatives to:
Disrupt the supply chain for fentanyl and other illicit goods
Detect emerging drug trends; and
Prevent and treat those affected by this crisis, through increased public health interventions and distribution of life-saving medications.
Because of the new initiatives, we will be doing even more than we have already done to map and disrupt transit routes, establish early warning systems to detect new drug trends before they reach crisis levels, and prevent deaths by expanding treatment, training more health care workers, and distributing life-saving medications.
I urge each of you to participate in these accelerated efforts. And I also encourage each of you to sign on to the Member Pledge that we shared with you. This pledge to take additional steps in each of our countries reinforces our collective commitment to turn words into concrete actions. Together we can make a real difference in our communities by disrupting drug traffickers and protecting our people from harm.
On behalf of President Biden, thank you again for joining us here in New York today, and I look forward to our ongoing work together.
The Government must immediately help evacuate New Zealanders and Lebanese whanau caught up in the current conflict unfolding across south Lebanon.
“The crisis in Lebanon is deepening by the day. We must act and evacuate our Lebanese whanau out of harm’s way,” says the Green Party Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Teanau Tuiono.
“Aotearoa is home to a strong Lebanese community. We owe it to them to offer their families caught up in the unfolding crisis a lifeline with evacuation and a humanitarian visa pathway.
“Yesterday, almost 500 people were killed in south Lebanon where last week civilians were killed and maimed by indiscriminate terror attacks through tech devices. Hundreds of thousands of people in this region have been harmed by bombing that is destroying homes and targeting civilian populations.
“The Government has told New Zealanders to leave Lebanon, the least it could do is help before things escalate to a point where we are unable to assist.
“Israel’s actions in Lebanon and Gaza must be met with consequences. Israel is actively fanning the flames of war. Our Government must issue Israel with sanctions.
“This Government has been incredibly slow to respond to the crisis in Gaza, it cannot afford to make the same mistake twice and allow the window for evacuations to close.
“It’s unacceptable to simply look on while innocent civilians lose their lives in this escalating conflict. Aotearoa must play its part in the international community in promoting peace and protecting human rights,” says Teanau Tuiono.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Maher, Lecturer in Politics, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney
Negotiations over reforms to the Reserve Bank of Australia this week took an unprecedented turn when the Greens demanded the government use its reserve powers to immediately cut interest rates.
Labor had initially hoped to pass the reforms with the support of the Coalition. However, after a year of negotiations, they decided against it. Labor’s attempts to salvage the reforms by negotiating with the Greens now seem doomed to failure.
The Greens’ proposal that the government immediately cut interest rates might sound attractive, especially to the millions of mortgage holders struggling to service loans amid a cost-of-living crisis.
Yet government taking direct control of setting interest rates would run contrary to both long-standing historical trends and international financial norms, including the independence of the central bank.
Where did this independence come from?
The idea of central bank independence has a long history.
The classical political economist David Riccardo warned as early as 1824 that:
government could not be safely entrusted with the power of issuing paper money; that it would most certainly abuse it.
Even the authoritarian French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte claimed in creating the Banque de France that:
I want the bank to be more in the hands of the government but not too much.
However, for most of the 20th century, the commonsense view was that monetary policy was an important tool for government management of the economy. According to the Keynesian worldview of the time, it would be absurd for governments to give up such an important economic lever as control over interest rates.
Even Napoleon Bonaparte thought some degree of separation between the central bank and the government was a good idea. Shutterstock
The prevailing wisdom began to change following the stagflation crisis of the 1970s. Stagflation is the term for high inflation at the same time as high unemployment.
Neoclassical economists such as Milton Friedman argued that only repeated and long-term increases to interest rates could end the stagflation crisis.
However, Friedman suggested governments could not be trusted to maintain high interest rates because they would also cause unemployment. Accordingly, an independent central bank was needed. It would be insulated from partisan political control and could do what was necessary to stabilise the economy.
What about in Australia?
In Australia, central bank independence emerged slowly and informally.
The Reserve Bank of Australia was separated from the Commonwealth Bank and started independent operations in 1960. It set up its headquarters in Sydney to increase its autonomy from politicians in Canberra.
The RBA gained de facto independence from the government following financial deregulation under the Hawke government in the early 1980s. Subsequent declarations from federal treasurers Peter Costello and Wayne Swan affirmed the government’s recognition of RBA independence.
The government still maintains the power to overrule the RBA on interest rates, but this “emergency power” has never been exercised.
Why independence matters
Though central bank independence is generally associated with lower inflation, the historical performance of independent central banks is not without blemish.
For example, unemployment rates in Australia were historically lower prior to RBA independence. This reflects the willingness of the RBA to use higher unemployment as an inflation-busting mechanism.
Independent central banks were also partly responsible for the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2007. Many commentators have suggested the then US Federal Reserve Governor Alan Greenspan’s decision to hold interest rates at artificial lows was responsible for the US sub-prime housing bubble. That eventually unravelled into a global recession.
However, the Greens’ attempt to use an interest rate cut as a negotiating chip ironically reinforces the importance of central bank independence. Were governments to take direct control of setting interest rates, we might expect monetary policy to be influenced by short-term electoral concerns, rather than the long-term health of the economy.
Creating a precedent that interest rates could be cut to suit the government of the day would also have long-term inflationary effects.
Further, it would likely continue to drive up house prices. This would exacerbate the housing crisis.
In contrast, the initial reforms proposed by Labor look to strike a balance. They recognise the competing political interests involved in the development of monetary policy while avoiding partisan interference in the day-to-day running of the RBA.
Though the Coalition has raised concerns about Labor using the reforms to stack the RBA board, both the governor and board are already appointed by the government of the day, acting on the advice of the RBA.
Finding a workable compromise that improves the bank while preserving political independence should be possible.
If the alternative is the complete abrogation of central bank independence, the Coalition would do well to return to the negotiating table.
Henry Maher 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.
