Source: China State Council Information Office
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, on Friday hosted a welcome banquet in China’s northeastern city of Harbin for international dignitaries who are here to attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 (Commencement) Notice was published in the Government Gazette today.
The new “no case to answer” appeal mechanism under the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 will come into operation on April 14.
The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2023 was passed by the Legislative Council on July 12, 2023.
The amendment ordinance provides for a “no case to answer” appeal mechanism, which allows the prosecution to appeal against rulings of no case to answer made by the Court of First Instance of the High Court in criminal trials with a jury. The new appeal mechanism has since awaited enactment of the Criminal Procedure (Appeal against Ruling of No Case to Answer) Rules before it commences.
The rules, which set out the procedural matters for the new appeal mechanism to facilitate its smooth operation in practice, were made by the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance on November 14, 2024. The rules were approved by LegCo on January 8, 2025.
With a view to bringing the new appeal mechanism into operation as soon as practicable, the Secretary for Justice, under the amendment ordinance, has appointed April 14, 2025, as the day on which the relevant provisions come into operation. The rules will come into operation on the same day.
The Department of Justice explained that the new “no case to answer” appeal mechanism addresses the lacuna in the criminal appeal system due to the prosecution’s inability to appeal against erroneous rulings of no case to answer made by judges of the Court of First Instance in jury trials and prevents possible miscarriage of justice.
The commencement notice will be tabled at LegCo on February 12 for negative vetting.
Source: Tasmania Police
Two men charged after drugs and firearms seizure
Friday, 7 February 2025 – 5:14 pm.
Two men have been charged with drug and firearm offences following a search at their property in Southern Tasmania today.During the search at an address in Kellevie, officers from Southern Drugs & Firearms, Southern Traffic, Southeast CIB, Sorell, Nubeena and Dunalley Police seized two pistols, one being a replica and over 190 cannabis plants.The cannabis plants had a potential street value of $200,000.A 53 year old man was charged and will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court at a later day, while a 31 year old man was charged and detained to appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court tomorrow morning. He will also be issued with a police family violence order,Detective Acting Inspector Richard Penney stated, “This is another example of police proactively seeking out those in our community who continue to flout our laws. Tasmania Police remains committed to ensuring those who deal in illicit drugs and firearms are brought to justice.”Anyone with information about illegal drug and firearm activity is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has charged a man with child abuse in a remote Northern Territory community.
It is alleged the 19-year-old man sexually assaulted a young relative on Tuesday 4 February 2025.
Detectives from the Child Abuse Taskforce, Criminal Investigation Branch and general duties arrested the man on Wednesday 5 February 2025.
He has now been charged with Sexual intercourse with a child under 10, and remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on 10 February 2025.
In respect of victims privacy, no further information will be provided.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
| Press release | Danske Bank Bernstorffsgade 40 DK-1577 København V Tel. + 45 45 14 14 00 7 February 2025 |
Progress in customer activity as well as core banking activities continued,
and credit quality remained strong
Record-high net profit of DKK 23.6 billion, improving return on equity to 13.4%
Dividend of DKK 9.35 per share for the second half of 2024 as well as an extraordinary dividend of DKK 5.35 per share, in total DKK 14.7 per share
The Board of Directors has decided to initiate a new share buy-back programme of DKK 5 billion
Danske Bank has announced its financial results for 2024.
Carsten Egeriis, Chief Executive Officer, comments on the financial results:
“For Danske Bank, 2024 was a year in which we consistently delivered positive results from quarter to quarter, driven by increased customer activity, continually strong credit quality and a sustained, dedicated effort from the entire organisation. Consequently, we maintained our positive commercial momentum, resulting in a solid financial performance.
One year into the execution of our Forward ’28 strategy, we have made substantial progress within our technology transformation and customer engagement, and we can see that our investments in enhancing the customer experience have resulted in increasingly positive customer satisfaction scores.
Our continued focus on cost discipline and on maintaining strong credit quality resulted in two upward adjustments of our financial guidance in 2024. On the basis of our strong financial results and solid capital position, the total distribution in 2024 amounts to 100% of net profit, thus honouring the commitment we have made to our shareholders.
With our advanced customer offerings, deep expertise and solid financial position, Danske Bank is strongly positioned to create value for customers, shareholders and society. In a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, rapid technological shifts and increasing sustainability challenges, we will continue to focus on opportunities and solutions for households and businesses alike.”
The annual report is available at www.danskebank.com. Highlights are shown below:
2024 vs 2023
Total income of DKK 56.4 billion (up 8%)
Operating expenses of DKK 25.7 billion (up 1%)
Loan impairments of DKK -543 million (2023: DKK 262 million)
Net profit of DKK 23.6 billion (up 11%)
Return on shareholders’ equity of 13.4% (2023: 12.7%)
Strong capital position, with a CET1 capital ratio of 17.8% (2023: 18.8%). The ratio reflects strong capital generation and the full deduction of the announced 40% additional capital distribution.
Solid progress towards Forward ’28 ambitions and 2026 targets
2024 was the first full year of our Forward ’28 strategy, and we are well-positioned for future growth as we maintain our trajectory towards strengthening our position as a leading bank in the Nordic region and make significant investments in our customer offerings.
For personal and private banking customers, with Forward ’28, a sharpened focus in each of our markets has allowed us to further strengthen our relations with existing customers and attract new ones. For business and institutional customers, we want to be a leading bank in the markets in which we operate. Our approach focuses on meeting evolving market demands while fostering high long-term customer and employee satisfaction.
Significant progress with our technology transformation paved the way for a better customer experience and improved efficiency. In 2024, we made substantial progress in terms of using digitalisation, data, AI and technology to improve customer engagement while reducing costs and operational risks. We developed a new version of our District online banking platform that is tailored to small businesses and is expected to launch in Denmark in the first half of 2025. We also launched a new welcoming app that makes it both easier and faster to become a personal customer with us.
Across the bank, we have made GenAI a strategic priority, and our GenAI-powered solutions offer key opportunities to unlock productivity gains. During 2024, we launched DanskeGPT, which has been adopted by almost 16,000 users across the organisation, corresponding to 74% of all employees. We have also deployed GenAI-powered tools for our software developers, and these tools are driving solid productivity improvements.
In 2024, Danica developed its new commercial strategy, Forward ’28 – Danica, which aims to make Danica the preferred pension company in Denmark by 2028. The strategy, which took effect on 1 January 2025, focuses on the importance of making customer interactions with Danica easy and convenient through digital solutions and on offering comprehensive healthcare offerings, attractive returns and quality advice. These elements are expected to be key growth drivers over the next few years. The strategy aligns with the strategic direction set in Danske Bank’s Forward ’28 strategy, underscoring the significant potential in synchronising services between the bank and the pension business.
As the success of our strategy relies on solid execution, we have a significant focus on our employees, supported by investments in development activities, leadership and the workplace. Employee satisfaction and engagement scores continued to improve from already high levels and are now above the industry benchmark.
Sustainability is a key focus area in Forward ’28, and our ambition is to be a leading Nordic bank in terms of supporting the sustainability transition of customers, businesses and the Nordic societies that we are a part of. Our efforts are reinforced by new ESG advisory services, comprehensive staff training, recruitment of specialists and strategic partnerships, all aimed at supporting our customers’ sustainability transition. In line with European regulation, for the 2024 annual report, Danske Bank has prepared a sustainability statement in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).
Better-than-expected macroeconomic conditions
Macroeconomic conditions developed more favourably than expected in the markets in which we operate. Especially in Denmark, the inflation and growth outlook improved during the year, and this development is forecast to continue as central banks continue their easing trajectories, leading to lower rates for both households and businesses. Although the growth outlook has improved broadly speaking in the Nordic region, the uncertainty related to Europe’s long-term growth prospects and ability to innovate persists.
In times of uncertainty for both Danske Bank and our customers, our well-capitalised balance sheet has enabled us to be a strong financial partner for our customers, and we have continued to support them with risk management expertise and expert advice.
Strong financial performance
An improved commercial momentum in our business, supported by better-than-expected macroeconomic conditions and strong credit quality have enabled us to strengthen profitability and generate record-high net profit. The return on equity thus increased from 12.7% to 13.4%, highlighting our positive trajectory and progress towards our 2026 targets.
In 2024, total income grew 8%, driven by a sustained uplift in core banking income. Despite central bank rate cuts and lower deposit margins as well as overall muted credit demand, net interest income showed the expected strong development, with increasing net interest income throughout the year. Net fee income continued the positive traction throughout the year, reflecting our overall strong development and ability to do more business with existing customers and to attract new customers. We saw a higher level of fee income from cash management products, and customer activity generally remained high. Furthermore, we saw an increase in investment fees generated by strategic investments in our private banking offerings as well as a strong development in fees from asset management.
Net trading income remained stable, and net income from insurance business benefited from stable financial markets, with the health and accident business continuing to be challenged, however.
Operating expenses developed according to plan and were at the same level as in 2023. The minor year-on-year increase was caused mainly by higher investments in our technology transformation made under our Forward ’28 strategy and staff costs that were impacted by wage inflation. Costs related to financial crime prevention and legacy remediation decreased in line with our plan for a normalisation of costs, and together with prudent cost management, this led to an improvement in the cost/income ratio to 46% from 49%.
Loan impairment charges amounted to a net reversal of DKK 543 million, reflecting strong credit quality and modest impairments against single-name exposures coupled with a review of post-model adjustments. We continue to apply significant post-model adjustments as well as a scenario-based macroeconomic model to cater for potential tail risks that are not evident in our portfolio. Overall, the macroeconomic environment improved during 2024 and was characterised by lower inflation, lower interest rates and an enhanced growth momentum.
Overall, we ended the year with the same positive momentum that we saw in the first nine months of 2024. This resulted in record-high net profit of DKK 23.6 billion, up 11% from 2023.
“The first year of execution of our Forward ’28 strategy, 2024 was an important year for Danske Bank’s financial performance: With income growth driven by our growing core income as well as our continued efforts to support customers and drive the commercial momentum, net profit represents a record-high result,” says Stephan Engels, Chief Financial Officer.
We continue to create value to the benefit of our customers, our shareholders and society: Our tax expense amounted to DKK 7.6 billion, and given our strong capital position, and in line with the Forward ’28 strategy, the financial year 2024 enables us to make a significant payout to our shareholders.
Delivering on capital distribution
Given our strong balance sheet, and as planned in the Forward ’28 strategy, the financial year 2024 yields a significant payout to our shareholders. We paid a dividend of DKK 7.50 per share in connection with the interim report for the first half of 2024, and we propose a dividend of DKK 9.35 per share for the second half of 2024 as well as an extraordinary dividend of DKK 5.35 per share. Furthermore, on 6 December 2024, we announced a special dividend of DKK 6.50 per share following the successful transfer of the personal customer business in Norway. In total, our distribution for 2024 amounts to DKK 28.70 per share.
It remains crucial for us to create value for all our stakeholders, including our shareholders, customers, employees and the societies we are part of, and as a bank we need to attract capital from shareholders to lend and do business. Besides large institutional investors, our capital distribution benefits most major pension funds in Denmark as well as private individuals in Denmark, who have invested part of their savings in Danske Bank shares. In total, we have more than a quarter of a million investors, of which more than half are private individuals in Denmark.
Danske Bank’s dividend policy for 2025 remains unchanged, targeting a dividend payout of 40-60% of net profit in the form of annual dividend payments.
Share buy-back
The share buy-back programme launched in February 2024 of DKK 5.5 billion was completed in January 2025.
On the basis of the financial results for 2024, the Board of Directors has decided to initiate a new share buy-back programme of DKK 5 billion, taking the total payout ratio to 100% of net profits when including the dividend for 2024 but excluding the special dividend related to the transfer of the personal customer business in Norway. The programme, which has been approved by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority, will start on 10 February 2025.
Outlook for 2025
We expect net profit for 2025 to be in the range of DKK 21-23 billion.
The outlook is subject to uncertainty and depends on economic conditions.
Download the Annual Report as zip here.
Danske Bank
Contact: Helga Heyn, Head of Media Relations, tel. +45 45 14 14 00
More information about Danske Bank’s financial results is available at www.danskebank.com/reports.
Attachments
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
In the underwriting auction conducted on February 07, 2025, for Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) of the undernoted Government securities, the Reserve Bank of India has set the cut-off rates for underwriting commission payable to Primary Dealers as given below:
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2024-2025/2098 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: GlobalData
Robust corporate governance a strategic imperative for business resilience and growth, says GlobalData
Posted in Strategic Intelligence
Effective corporate governance is essential for sustainable business growth. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, companies must strengthen governance frameworks, including risk management and anti-corruption measures, to ensure compliance and long-term resilience. Weak governance can undermine trust, while a well-structured approach enhances competitiveness, drives value creation, and positions businesses for sustained success, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s latest Strategic Intelligence report, “ESG – Governance Factors,” reveals that poor governance practices are at the root of many corporate scandals. In 2024, the US regulators criticized Boeing’s board for failing to hold management accountable for a deterioration of controls around safety standards. The company’s challenges predate the COVID-19 pandemic and labor strikes, with the 737 MAX crashes exposing serious lapses in production quality, oversight, and regulatory compliance.
Pinky Hiranandani, Senior Strategic Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Governance failures have led to the demise of several companies. In 2024, Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for defrauding investors. The collapse of FTX underscores the critical importance of robust corporate governance and highlights the need for investors to prioritize governance risks in their due diligence processes.”
Indian edtech startup Byju’s saw its valuation collapse from $22 billion in 2022 to just $1 billion in 2024. Aggressive acquisitions, coinciding with a post-pandemic slowdown in edtech demand, exacerbated its challenges. Governance concerns, including a lack of transparency in management, further eroded investor confidence, underscoring the critical role of sound governance in sustaining business stability.
Hiranandani concludes: “Companies with poor corporate structure and risk management, weak internal controls, and unethical practices can quickly become the target of consumer and shareholder ire, which can jeopardize their future viability. As regulatory expectations rise, businesses must view governance not as a compliance burden but as a strategic advantage that fosters innovation, enhances reputation, and drives sustainable growth.”
Source: GlobalData
APAC VC funding: Deals volume falls across most of funding sizes in 2024, reveals GlobalData
Posted in Business Fundamentals
A total of 3,724 venture capital (VC) funding deals with disclosed funding value were announced in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region during 2024. This represents a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 6.9% compared to the previous year, with a fall in deals volume in most of the VC funding size ranges, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Be it low-value deals* or high-value deals**, the decline in deals volume was witnessed across most of the funding size ranges in the region during the year. In fact, there was a double-digit decline in high-value VC deals volume. Meanwhile, VC deals valued over $500 million saw some marginal improvement in volume.”
An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that the number of high-value VC deals declined by 24.1% from 112 in 2023 to 85 deals in 2024, whereas the volume of low-value VC deals fell by 2% from 2,604 in 2023 to 2,553 in 2024. Meanwhile, mid-size VC funding deals (valued >$10 million and ≤$100 million) volume declined by 15.3% from 1,282 deals in 2023 to 1,086 deals in 2024.
Low-value deals continued to dominate and account for the largest chunk of deals volume in 2024. These deals accounted for a 68.5% share of the total number of VC deals with disclosed funding value announced in the APAC region last year.
High-value VC deals accounted for a 2.3% share of the total number of VC deals with disclosed funding value announced in the region, while the share of mid-size VC funding deals stood at 29.2%.
*Investment value less than or equal to $10 million
**Investment value more than $100 million
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
PARCS Radar in Cavalier Central to the Mission
***Click here to download audio.***
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Missile defense plays a key role in deterring and defeating adversary ballistic missiles and other threats against the United States, its allies, and American military forces overseas. In January, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) to build an Iron Dome for America, similar to Israel’s Iron Dome. The EO directs the implementation of a “next-generation missile defense shield for the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks.”
U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Airland Subcommittee and co-chair of the Defense Modernization Caucus, joined U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a fellow SASC member, in introducing the Increasing Response Options and Deterrence of Missile Engagements (IRON DOME) Act today. The legislation will improve the missile defense capabilities of the United States.
Among other provisions, the bill requires the acceleration of the modernization and digitization of the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS), located at North Dakota’s Cavalier Space Force Station. PARCS is a single-faced, multi-function, UHF-Band, phased-array radar system which tracks over half of all earth-orbiting objects. The modernization of PARCS improves detection of intercontinental and sea-launched missile threats, as well as improve space domain awareness capabilities.
“Now more than ever, we have to ensure the United States is properly equipped to address the pressing threats that are posed by our very capable adversaries,” said Cramer. “Protecting the homeland is obviously our first Constitutional duty. The IRON DOME Act forces modernization of our missile defense systems from Alaska to North Dakota to Maine to Florida to California and back up to Alaska. This will ensure that we’re never caught off guard from a modern missile attack on our homeland.”
“For decades, American missile defense strategy has focused on protecting our country from ballistic missile threats posed by rogue nations or accidental launches from a peer nation,” said Sullivan. “We’ve made significant progress in recent years to strengthen this capability, notably through the implementation of my bipartisan 2017 Advancing America’s Missile Defense Act. But the proliferation of new hypersonic and cruise missile threats from our adversaries demands that we change this paradigm. Senator Cramer and I are introducing legislation to build a homeland missile defense system that can protect our country from the intensifying threats and growing arsenals of China and Russia. The IRON DOME Act dovetails with and reinforces President Trump’s historic ‘Iron Dome for America’ EO and builds upon a number of the recommendations from the 2022 Missile Defense Review. Specifically, our legislation invests billions of dollars to develop new capabilities, like space-based sensors and new intercept technologies, significantly expand and modernize existing infrastructure, like the ground-based missile interceptor fields at Alaska’s Fort Greely and North Dakota’s PARCS radar system, and integrate all aspects of U.S. missile defense, including Aegis. I urge my colleagues to join us in this initiative to meet the evolving missile threats on the horizon and deliver greater security for all Americans.”
Click here for bill text.
Source: Peoples Bank of China
Announcement on Open Market Operations No.23 [2025]
(Open Market Operations Office, February 7, 2025)
In order to keep liquidity adequate in the banking system, the People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB183.7 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on February 7, 2025.
Details of the Reverse Repo Operations
|
Maturity |
Volume |
Rate |
|
7 days |
RMB183.7 billion |
1.50% |
Date of last update Nov. 29 2018
2025年02月07日
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
The Albanese Government has appointed Ms Georgina Somerset AM as Deputy Chairperson of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Board for a period of six months.
Ms Somerset has served on the Board as a non-executive Director since 2017 and brings considerable experience to the role, including across the not-for-profit and regional development sectors.
Her appointment as Deputy Chair for a six-month term will provide stability and certainty to the Board, as the ABC continues to deliver on its Charter to provide services and programs that inform and entertain Australians.
Ms Somerset’s appointment fills the vacant Deputy Chair position created by the resignation of non‑executive Director and Deputy Chair Mr Peter Tonagh in December 2024.
Mr Tonagh served on the ABC Board as a non-executive Director from May 2021, and was appointed Deputy Chair in November of that year.
The Government thanks Mr Tonagh for his service throughout his time on the Board and wishes him well for his future endeavours.
The independent Nomination panel for ABC Board appointments will conduct a merit-based selection process to fill the non-executive Director vacancy on the Board, in line with requirements under the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983.
Following this process, the Government will select a non-executive Director from the ABC Board to perform the Deputy Chair role in the longer term.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
“The Board performs a crucial role in guiding the ABC, including maintaining its independence and integrity, and ensuring the accuracy and impartiality of news.
“Ms Somerset has been an asset to the Board during her term and will continue to make a strong contribution in the role of Deputy Chair for the next six months.
“On behalf of the Government, I wish Mr Tonagh the best for his next chapter, and thank him for his service to public broadcasting.”
Source: Ministers for Social Services
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
Topics: NDIS; NDIS fraud; Investment in Saver Plus.
JACQUI FELGATE, HOST: I do want to touch base now, though, on the NDIS, because I think it’s a really important issue and it’s one that a lot of victims in this case and a lot of people with disabilities and special needs that needed help under the last system didn’t get it. It’s now in the hands of Amanda Rishworth, who’s the new Minister for the NDIS following the retirement of Labor MP Bill Shorten. So, for the first time on 3AW, she joins me now. Minister, really appreciate your time.
AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Great to be with you.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, what it means in practical terms is that if someone has a permanent and significant disability, what they can do is go to see a planner at the NDIS and they will make an assessment and give you funding to buy in a whole range of individualised supports. So, that might be therapy supports like physiotherapy, it might be personal care or nursing. It might be equipment like a wheelchair. Previously to the NDIS, people just used to get allocated a wheelchair or told to go to a certain place and that’s where they could get their physiotherapy. When the NDIS came in, you got funding in which the person with the disability could go and then find a provider and spend the money they were allocated to get that service. So, it provided a lot more control for people with disability. It has changed so many people’s lives, but it’s very individualistic, so it is what you need as an individual. And so it is quite complex at times and can be difficult to navigate, but it really has changed so many people’s lives because it’s provided an individualised support for people that need it.
JACQUI FELGATE: So, when you say complex, we do know the system has been fraught with problems to the point of alleged fraud as well. Last year, when we spoke to a lot of, particularly parents of young children, they felt like their funding had been reduced or cut unnecessarily. Are you going through all of those cases on an individual basis and can you reassure people that those who really need it are going to get the funding?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Firstly, I would say that as Minister, the NDIS review process happens independently for me. But I can say and give your listeners reassurance, there haven’t been any changes around the rules in which young children are assessed. What there has been a change to is a list of what’s in and can be funded by the NDIS and what’s out of that list. And that was about making sure that the NDIS funds were actually used appropriately. There are a lot of things that were on that list that, you know, salt therapy was one of these things. There’s no evidence for that. But when it comes to children, there have been no changes around access and what can be funded under the scheme. There’s an individualised assessment to that and that’s really important. But there haven’t been any changes to what can be funded.
JACQUI FELGATE: And what about the rorts and the fraud? How can you guarantee that that won’t happen in the future?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Look, some of the cases, particularly service providers that have been acting appallingly, was really shocking. So, we have, as under the previous Minister, set up what was called the Fraud Fusion Task Force, which actually brought together intel from a range of agencies, the AFP, the NDIA and a whole range of structures to deal with fraud. And so that continues do its work to make sure it’s identifying dodgy actors in this and hold them to account. And we have a number of ongoing investigations and referrals for prosecution. But some of the other work that’s been really important to make sure that this money gets used wisely is making sure people understand what can be funded and what can’t be, particularly service providers. They need to understand and give the right advice. So, the other element I’m really keen on is driving up quality. So, this isn’t just bad actors in the scheme, this is actually making sure that every participant, when they spend their NDIS money, get a high quality service, that there’s appropriate safeguards and protections in place as well.
JACQUI FELGATE: So, how do you think it got to that point, though, where we heard the most ridiculous examples and we heard the most desperate examples of people who really needed help but couldn’t get it? And then the rorts, like how did it allow over all these years, how did that get to that point, Minister?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, people just weren’t paying attention. I mean, ultimately you heard stories the…
JACQUI FELGATE: The former Minister wasn’t paying attention?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: The former government wasn’t paying attention. I mean, when Minister Shorten came into this portfolio, he identified very quickly that there had been no checks and balances, that there hadn’t been proper oversight over this scheme. It had been left just to meander and there hadn’t been the appropriate protections put in place. So, Minister Shorten himself identified this very quickly and has stood up a whole range of oversight mechanisms to look at this. So, it really was the previous government…
JACQUI FELGATE: You can’t always blame the previous government, though, you have been in power for nearly four years.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, you know about the challenges because we’ve identified them. You know about these cases that have happened over the last two years because they haven’t got away with it. I mean, that’s ultimately why, you know about these circumstances, why we’ve seen some of the articles in the paper, is because we have now got the oversight mechanisms to identify them and take them to court. So, we do need to maintain vigilance on this. It is critically important, but it’s also important that people don’t get dodgy service and there is quality services out there as well.
JACQUI FELGATE: Okay, so what’s the Saver Plus program and how’s that going to make a difference?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: The Saver Plus program is separate from the NDIS. This is a really important program where people that may be wanting to get a bit more financial capability to have matched savings with the ANZ Bank. We have just funded this program. It’s been going for 21 years. We’ve now extended their funding for another five years. It’s funded through the Brotherhood of St Laurence and really does support people become financially resilient and support them for really good saving habits. So, it’s a really good program. And I’m really pleased that today we’ve announced extra funding for that.
JACQUI FELGATE: Amanda Rishworth is the Minister for Social Services and the NDIS. Really appreciate your time, Minister.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Thank you.
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Tunnelling has begun this week at the Te Ara o Te Ata – Mt Messenger Bypass project in North Taranaki.
Following an early morning blessing from mana whenua and iwi partner Ngāti Tama, the first cut was made by a 110-tonne road header machine that will excavate the project’s 235-metre tunnel.
Road headers have boom-mounted telescopic cutting heads, making them ideal for diverse geological conditions. A shovel plate at the front of the road header collects the excavated rock and soil, which is then conveyed via a belt to dump trucks at the back of the machine.
The 235-metre tunnel will be an important part of the Bypass project, contributing to a much more resilient stretch of State Highway 3.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Project Manager Caleb Perry says having the road header onsite is really exciting for the project.
“We’ll start to see some progress with the road header excavating up to 3 metres every day.
“The tunnel will be cut in two stages, with the upper portion (top heading) first, followed by the bottom section (bench). At regular intervals, excavation will be paused and ‘shotcrete’ – a sprayed-on concrete – will be applied to the crown and walls to line and support the structure.
“The design and construction of the tunnel are similar to the Northern Gateway Tunnel in Auckland and the tunnel will be large enough to accommodate loads up to and including house removals – this isn’t something that can currently be accommodated on the steep, narrow winding stretch of SH3.”
At this stage, the excavation is expected to be completed later this year.
“The Mt Messenger Bypass will make this stretch of SH3 much more resilient, and safer for all motorists, providing a secure connection through North Taranaki, especially for freight.
“The finished tunnel will incorporate cultural elements acknowledging Ngāti Tama tūpuna, the traditional guardians of the northern gateway to Taranaki.”
The Mt Messenger project has named this road header ‘Hinetūparimaunga’ – the atua of mountains and cliffs.
A design on the side of the roadheader depicts Hinetūparimaunga with outstretched limbs supporting the roof, walls and floor of the underground space. A yellow background represents the light that will flood into the tunnel upon its completion.
Images: The roadheader and initial progress
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Major Sports Events Committee announced today that it has awarded “M” Mark status to the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2025, due to take place this Sunday, and to the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show, scheduled to be held on February 14 and 16.
Major Sports Events Committee Chairman Wilfred Ng said these events will stimulate the local economy and enhance Hong Kong’s international image, thereby strengthening the city’s status as an events capital.
“The Hong Kong Marathon is the largest annual long-distance running event in Hong Kong. It has been well-received by the public over the years, attracting up to 74,000 participants this year, including internationally renowned elite runners.”
For the Longines Hong Kong International Horse Show, a 5-star international jumping competition recognised by the Federation Equestrian Internationale, Mr Ng added: “It will be held in Hong Kong for the first time and will feature a world-class horse show, entertainment and a performance.”
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
A project that will transform Sebastopol and become a vital part of community life has reached a major construction milestone.
The concrete slab of the Sebastopol Community Hub is about to be poured, as significant progress continues to be made towards the community-shaping project.
It is expected the structural steel framing will be complete in autumn as the designs start to become reality.
The community hub will provide a vital facility for Sebastopol and surrounding suburbs and has extensive financial support from all three tiers of government.
The collaborative project is jointly funded by the City of Ballarat (up to $5 million), the Federal Government ($4.5 million) via the Investing in Our Communities program and the State Government ($4.5 million) via the Building Blocks Capacity program.
The Sebastopol Community Hub will include:
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves joined Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison for an inspection of the early stages of the works on Friday.
Significant progress has been made since the previous site tour in June 2024, with the project on track for completion in early 2026.
Cr Hargreaves said it was an exciting stage for the project at the corner of Vickers and Beverin streets.
“We are extremely proud to have both Federal and State support for this project and to see it starting to come to life is incredible,” she said.
“This is going to be a transformational project for the Sebastopol area that will provide an enormous boost to community life for a wide range of people.”
Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King said the facility would provide a boost for a range of generations.
“It’s so exciting to see this important project taking shape,” she said.
“The new Sebastopol Community Hub will be a place of learning and social connection for both kinder kids and senior citizens.
“It will be a special, multi-generational facility and that will serve our community for generations to come.”
Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said the facility would benefit the entire community.
“By investing $4.5 million into the Sebastopol Community Hub through our Building Blocks Capacity program, we are not only creating new kindergarten rooms and places – but contributing funds for a much-needed purpose built space for the whole community,” she said.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
RBI/2024-25/109 February 07, 2025 All Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) participants Madam/Sir, Liquidity Adjustment Facility – Change in rates As announced in the Monetary Policy Statement dated February 07, 2025, it has been decided by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to reduce the policy repo rate under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) by 25 basis points from 6.50 per cent to 6.25 per cent with immediate effect. 2. Consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate and marginal standing facility (MSF) rate stand adjusted to 6.00 per cent and 6.50 per cent respectively, with immediate effect. 3. All other terms and conditions of the extant LAF Scheme will remain unchanged. Yours sincerely, (G. Seshsayee) |
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
“Americans are being hung out to dry by Donald Trump and by Russ Vought, whose Project 2025 was clearly the inspiration for this dangerous funding freeze. This man is unfit to serve at the head of the agency that oversees our federal budget,” Cortez Masto said on the Senate floor before Mr. Vought’s confirmation vote.
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto voted against the confirmation of Russ Vought to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). She also spoke on the Senate floor before the vote to discuss her opposition to Mr. Vought and the Trump Administration’s executive actions that are hurting Nevada families.
“Russ Vought authored Trump’s Project 2025 playbook, advocated slashing Medicaid, and doubled downs on false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. President Trump hasn’t even been in office for a month, and his OMB has already caused mass disruptions with its chaotic federal funding freeze. The last thing Nevadans need is a partisan OMB director who will act as a rubber stamp for Trump’s job-killing agenda and partisan power grab. I do not support Vought’s confirmation.”
Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers
PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: To discuss this and more, let’s bring in one of our regulars, Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly, who’s also been promoted in the latest reshuffle. Welcome.
MINISTER ANNE ALY: Thank you so much, Patricia. Great to be with you.
KARVELAS: We’re going to start there because that’s the big talking point around the world. A bit of clarification from Marco Rubio. Does that sound like a better plan that the US would redevelop Gaza?
ALY: Well, look, I want to start by first of all, Patricia, if I may, acknowledging the significant pain and distress that this caused to Palestinians across the world, particularly as they’re preparing to return to their homeland. You know, certainly I think there is, there needs to be a concerted effort across the world to rebuild Gaza. And in fact, when I was at the conference in Jordan last year, that was on the table already, the countries that were represented there were talking about psychosocial recovery and rebuilding Gaza – what happens in rebuilding Gaza. So, I think, you know, it will take significant effort from right around the world for rebuilding Gaza. But in terms of, you know, the position that this government has around a two-state solution, inherent in that two-state solution is a self-determination for Palestinian people and the right of return.
KARVELAS: So, that means that you would never accept Gazans being pushed off or Palestinians being pushed off that land in Gaza.
ALY: I think the response that we’ve had from across the world to President Trump’s statement yesterday makes it very clear that it is widely accepted that Palestinians have a right of return to their homeland.
KARVELAS: But you mentioned, which I thought was really interesting. You often say interesting things, Minister —
ALY: I do, do I?
KARVELAS: You do, that you want to acknowledge the hurt and the concern because there was.
ALY: There was right, it was, yeah.
KARVELAS: Just talk to me about that concern.
ALY: So, I think, you know, like just even talking to Palestinians in the community and to the community more broadly here in Australia, there was a real sense of shock and a real sense of, yeah, real concern that, you know, this could mean that there would basically an eradication of a Palestinian state when we’ve long held the principle of a two-state solution with a right of return and self-determination for Palestinian people. And I think, you know, if I were a Palestinian person preparing to return to my homeland, one of the things that we want to make sure of in Australia and you know, this government has done that consistently in the votes that we’ve done in the UN and the actions that we’ve taken is to ensure that this current ceasefire is sustainable and long-lasting and that there is an enduring peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.
KARVELAS: So, given how strong your comments have been about the Palestinians right to return, there has been a criticism that the Prime Minister could have used stronger words. Other foreign leaders who are also allies of the United States have used stronger words. Do you understand that frustration?
ALY: Look, I listened to the Prime Minister yesterday and I think he was quite correct in reiterating that we have a long-standing position that we’re not changing, which is a two-state solution. And I think, you know, anybody could listen to that and recognise what the Prime Minister is saying is that we believe in the right and we support the right of Palestine and Palestinians and Gazans to exist in their homeland.
KARVELAS: And now you’re kind of, you know, being pretty empathetic about how people heard that and their ongoing concerns. Is it important that the government makes that clear? Because I saw all those concerns too.
ALY: Yeah. And I think, I think, you know, we have made it clear, I think —
KARVELAS: I feel like you’re making it clearer.
ALY: Well, I think the actions that we’ve taken that the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, has taken, the votes that we’ve had in the United Nations, have sent a very clear message that we stand for human rights and that we stand for justice and that we stand for a two-state solution and an everlasting peace.
KARVELAS: I just want to move to some other issues because there are lots of issues in our country.
ALY: So many.
KARVELAS: There are. The Australian Federal Police has just spoken in a committee hearing. They have not given any detail as to, basically there’s no answers on when they briefed the Prime Minister on this caravan attack. Shouldn’t the Prime Minister just say it, or the Opposition says, call an inquiry?
ALY: Well, I think what we need to do here is take the lead from the law enforcement agencies because in an investigation, it’s the law enforcement agencies that take the lead. And we have to, we absolutely have to respect the integrity of the law enforcement agencies and support them to do their work. As you know, Patricia, I’ve got a husband in law enforcement. I know exactly what he can and can’t tell me. Most of the time he can’t tell me anything. Like we do not talk about the investigations that he is undertaking in any capacity. So, when the law enforcement agencies say that we did not want this information out there because it is an ongoing investigation and could compromise the investigation, we need to respect that.
KARVELAS: But telling the Prime Minister is a different thing.
ALY: Well, I think, you know, I don’t think it’s here nor there. I’ve not had a single person say to me, hey, I want to know when the Prime Minister found out. So, I think it’s a little bit of a Canberra bubble —
KARVELAS: Oh, a Canberra story.
ALY: Yeah.
KARVELAS: Ok. I don’t want to just labour on that because there are other things Labor did break with your policy, which is a national platform to oppose mandatory sentencing. Former Labor Senator Kim Carr has criticised the party and said, this is profoundly disappointing. What’s your response to that?
ALY: Okay, so I’ve got a bit of a different response, Patricia, because I know the impact of hate crimes personally and as a member of a community that has been the target of hate crimes. That to me, hate crimes are some of the most heinous crimes. When you target an individual or a group because of who they are, because of their identity, whether it’s religious, racial, gender, sexual, whatever, to me, that’s one of the most heinous and cowardly crimes that you can commit. So, I want to see, I want to see us get tough on hate crimes. I support being tough on hate crimes and I think what we’ve seen recently, the escalation in the kinds of hate crimes that we’ve seen, warrants this kind of action by the Government.
KARVELAS: So, you want. Instead of – because I know some people in the party are concerned, you want the mandatory sentences.
ALY: I want to see us to be tough on hate crimes. And you know, I’ve been there. I know, I know the impact that it has. So, I want us to get tough on hate crimes and I know that right now Jewish Australians are the victims of a lot of hate crimes as well. And I want —
KARVELAS: The Law Council says it’s bad policy.
ALY: Well, people will have their different opinions. I will also say, though, that, you know, we know laws don’t change behaviour. The prevention of hate crimes and vilification in all its forms is a responsibility for every single person. It’s about societal change as well.
KARVELAS: Okay, let’s get to some of your issues before we say goodbye. Child care is obviously one of the areas that you focus on. The government has decided to put this bill, which would mean three days of care without activity testing, where you get the rebate, essentially, through the Parliament. Do you expect it to pass in the next fortnight?
ALY: I do. I hope it will pass [the House]. I know that there is widespread support for this from the sector. It is a recommendation of the PC Review. And you know what? It’s just good policy. It’s good policy that when you have people in a partnership, one works full time, one might work two days a week in casual, and they’re not eligible for subsidised care. It has locked out children from early childhood education and care and locked out families from being able to access the childcare subsidy. It’s good policy. It has good support, and I do, and I look forward to seeing it pass.
KARVELAS: But it doesn’t have to pass. It doesn’t even start till next year. So, is it a wedge to try and get the Coalition to actively vote against it?
ALY: Well, I don’t know what the Coalition’s position is —
KARVELAS: They think that you should have to be earning or, you know, working or studying to get the activity test.
ALY: Well, the thing is, you can be working or studying to get the activity test but still might not meet the activity test. And the other thing is the activity test, when it was introduced in 2018 by the Liberals, it was supposed to be to increase workforce participation. It did none of that. Instead, it locked out some of the most vulnerable children from early childhood education and care. We’re fixing that. We’re making sure that every child has access to opportunity because there should be no barriers to opportunity.
KARVELAS: Anne Aly, always a pleasure to speak to you. Thanks for joining us.
ALY: You too. Thanks so much, Patricia.
Source: New South Wales Premiere
NSW Ambulance has today welcomed 91 paramedics in training who were officially inducted into the service in a ceremony held at the State Operations Centre in Sydney, providing a further boost to frontline health services across the state.
This marks the first induction ceremony of the year, with this cohort part of a Post Employment Tertiary Pathway (PETP) course. The paramedics in training are employed by NSW Ambulance while they complete a degree in paramedicine at university.
They have just completed a comprehensive 12-week induction program at the NSW Ambulance Education Centre and begin their on-road training as paramedic students from tomorrow.
The PETP course is facilitated over four years and provides an alternate pathway for people with no prior medical experience to become a paramedic with NSW Ambulance. Once these paramedics in training have completed their degree qualification, they can apply to be registered paramedics.
Natalie Saridakis, formerly an emergency medical call-taker with NSW Ambulance, is one of 19 paramedic students who have joined this class after working in NSW Ambulance Control Centres.
Brad Carr also starts his career as a paramedic student today, following in the footsteps of his paramedic father Dominic, who works as an educator for NSW Ambulance.
Starting tomorrow, the paramedics in training will initially be posted across metropolitan and regional locations in NSW for the on-road training component of their course and will return to the NSW Ambulance Education Centre and their university regularly for additional training over the four-year course.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
“I’m thrilled to welcome 91 new paramedic students into the NSW Ambulance service, boosting frontline health services and playing a critical role in the health and wellbeing of the community.
“By aspiring to join the paramedic ranks, these paramedics in training will become part of a legacy of service and dedication. The work they do not only changes lives but will uphold the values and standards of a profession that is deeply respected and admired.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan:
“These paramedic students join an incredible team that is united by a shared commitment to provide emergency medical care and comfort to members of our community when it matters most.
“Paramedics are not only healthcare providers but also trusted and respected individuals in our community.”
Quotes attributable to Natalie Saridakis:
“For many years I was a carer for my mum, having frequent contact with the local paramedics.
“I was always impressed by their compassion and kindness that it really inspired me to join NSW Ambulance.
“I started out as an emergency medical call-taker which was a great start, but right now I am so excited to begin this new chapter.”
Quotes attributable to Brad Carr:
“I am proud to continue a family legacy in becoming a paramedic.
“My father has had a lengthy career, and I am looking forward to forging my own path.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn)
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) led a group of 34 Senators calling on Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Dorothy Fink to end the unprecedented freeze on all external communications and funding.
This freeze has disrupted clinical trials, prevented the National Institutes of Health and other agencies from engaging with patient groups and scientific advisory committees, and delayed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the nation’s premier publication for disseminating public health updates, for the first time in over 60 years. The political interference in public health agencies is unprecedented, unacceptable, and a threat to public health.
“We write to express our deep concern over the Administration’s recent decision to freeze external communications and suspend federal health funding at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),” wrote the Senators. “The abrupt order has already disrupted patient care, public health oversight, halted medical research funding, and obstructed critical regulatory processes.”
“This political interference in public health agencies is unprecedented and unacceptable. … The American people depend on HHS agencies to provide accurate, real-time information about disease outbreaks, medical research, and regulatory decisions. We urge you to immediately reverse this harmful decision,” the Senators continued.
Klobuchar and Sanders were joined by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-MI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Acting Secretary Fink:
We write to express our deep concern over the Administration’s recent decision to freeze external communications and suspend federal health funding at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The abrupt order has already disrupted patient care, public health oversight, halted medical research funding, and obstructed critical regulatory processes.
On January 22, all 13 HHS operating divisions – including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were told to immediately “pause” all external communications and grant disbursements until at least February 1, with no clear plan for restoration. This directive prohibits agencies from issuing public health advisories, publishing scientific reports, updating websites, announcing regulatory decisions, or conducting outreach to patient groups – unless such activity is explicitly approved by politically appointed leadership.
With the Administration’s own deadline having passed, it remains unclear when these restrictions will be lifted. While limited exceptions exist for critical health, safety, or national security concerns, the freeze has already severely impeded essential public health and biomedical research functions.
The CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the nation’s premier publication for disseminating public health updates, was abruptly delayed for the first time in over 60 years, limiting reporting on the H5N1 bird flu outbreak and other emerging infectious disease threats. The MMWR often includes clinical recommendations for doctors, such as guidance on how to treat diseases that are currently circulating in the United States – and delaying the MMWR means that doctors may not have all the latest information they need to keep their patients healthy.
At the NIH, new clinical trials have been delayed and external peer-review grant processes have faced disruptions. NIH study sections – which legally must review grant applications before funding can be disbursed – were initially canceled, creating uncertainty about when federal research funds will be awarded. Despite efforts by the Administration to provide clarity, it remains unclear whether the full peer-review process has resumed and how long grant funding decisions will continue to be delayed. This uncertainty has placed billions in federal research funds in limbo, directly threatening ongoing medical studies and academic research programs.
The freeze has also blocked NIH from engaging with patient groups on ways to recruit participants into ongoing clinical trials. This means that patients with rare diseases, cancer, and other serious conditions who rely on clinical trials for treatments may be prevented from enrolling, directly jeopardizing their access to life-saving care.
This political interference in public health agencies is unprecedented and unacceptable. While it is not unusual for a new administration to conduct brief reviews of existing programs, no past transition has implemented a blanket freeze of this magnitude.
Accordingly, we request an immediate and detailed response to the following questions by Monday, February 10:
The American people depend on HHS agencies to provide accurate, real-time information about disease outbreaks, medical research, and regulatory decisions. We urge you to immediately reverse this harmful decision.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this request. We look forward to your response and to working with the Department to protect public health and ensure Americans can get the care they need.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yee-Fui Ng, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Monash University
The highly pertinent case of a little-known independent candidate in the Victorian seat of Wannon has exposed a gaping hole in Australia’s electoral laws, which allow for misleading political advertisements in the lead-up to an election campaign. It’s all entirely legal and is already being exploited to try to shape the outcome of the coming federal election.
Conservative activist group Advance Australia has widely distributed digitally altered flyers attacking independent Alex Dyson, who is challenging senior frontbencher Dan Tehan.
It’s part of a campaign to damage Dyson’s electoral prospects after he helped slash the Liberal Party’s margin in the seat at the last election to less than 4%.
The material depicts Dyson ripping open his shirt in a “Superman” pose, to reveal a t-shirt bearing the official Greens party logo.
Dyson is not a Greens candidate. So why are the ads permissible? And what does it tell us about the urgent need for truth in political advertising laws to prohibit material that lies to voters?
Section 329 of the Electoral Act prohibits the publication of material likely to mislead or deceive an elector in casting their vote.
But in a narrow interpretation by the Electoral Commission, the ban only applies after an election has been called by the prime minister.
That means the Wannon ad, and maybe countless others like them from across the political spectrum, could be distributed for months without repercussion.
Advance Australia has form when it comes to misleading material.
At the 2022 election, it displayed placards that falsely depicted independents David Pocock and Zali Steggall as Greens candidates.
In that case, the Electoral Commission ruled that because the corflutes were deployed during the campaign proper, they breached the electoral laws.
It is absurd and dangerous to democracy to have a law that only bans ads that mislead voters in casting their vote during the official election period, and allows them to proliferate unchecked at other times.
It should not be permissible to lie to voters just because of a technicality. In an era of permanent campaigning, voters can be influenced by political messages received well before a campaign officially starts.
Furthermore, there is little justification for allowing political parties to mislead while banning corporations from engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct. If consumers and shareholders are protected from fraudulent and dishonest claims, why not electors, who have the solemn task of deciding who runs the country?
There are available remedies to the problem, starting with reforming the Electoral Act. It should be clearly specified that the provision on misleading electors applies to any material calculated to affect the result of an election, regardless of when it is distributed.
Broader truth in political advertising provisions should also be introduced. This would cover a wider range of factually misleading ads beyond the existing narrow ambit of misleading a voter in the casting of their vote.
If the Electoral Commission determines the material is false or misleading to a material extent, it would order a withdrawal and a retraction.
Importantly, the laws would be confined to false or misleading statements of fact. Parties and other political players would still be free to express their opinions. Freedom of speech would not be impeded.
The Albanese government has taken tentative steps to fix the problem. Truth in advertising laws introduced to parliament last year would have forced Advance Australia to retract and correct its dishonest flyers in Wannon.
However, the bill was pulled due to a lack of support.
Any doubters on the opposition benches should look to the experience in South Australia and the ACT, which have both enacted truth in advertising laws.
My research has shown these laws operate effectively in both jurisdictions.
Spreading political lies has the potential to cause harm on multiple fronts.
The first is the damage to the candidate or political party in terms of their reputation and electoral prospects.
The second danger is to the integrity of the electoral process if lies cause people to switch their votes to such an extent that it changes election outcomes.
The spread of disinformation has become prevalent in an era of “fake news” and “alternative facts”, exacerbated by the rise of social media.
In 2024, the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report ranked misinformation and disinformation as the most severe risk facing the world over the next two years.
False information can alter elections, affect voting participation, silence minorities, and polarise the electorate. It is time to reform our electoral laws to mitigate the significant dangers to our democratic system.
Yee-Fui Ng received funding from the Susan McKinnon Foundation on a project regarding the operation and effectiveness of truth in political advertising laws.
– ref. Misleading and false election ads are legal in Australia. We need national truth in political advertising laws – https://theconversation.com/misleading-and-false-election-ads-are-legal-in-australia-we-need-national-truth-in-political-advertising-laws-249279
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amani Kasherwa, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland
In late January, a rebel group that has long caused mayhem in the sprawling African nation of Democratic Republic of Congo took control of Goma, a major city of about 2 million people on the border with Rwanda in the country’s east.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in one of the deadliest weeks in the history of this mineral-rich country. The dead include 100 female prisoners who were reportedly raped by male inmates at a prison and then burned alive.
As someone born and raised in the region, I’ve witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of this protracted war on communities. I’ve been in contact with residents in Goma, who have described unprecedented chaos – looting, criminality and a breakdown of essential services. One resident said:
I’m feeling unsafe in my own house. Last night live bullets penetrated my kitchen, and thank God none of us were there at the time.
More violence may lay ahead. The M23 rebel group, backed by neighbouring Rwanda, is marching south towards Bukavu, another major city, the provincial capital of South Kivu.
Though unlikely, it has vowed to topple the government of President Felix Tshisekedi in the capital, Kinshasa, some 2,600 kilometres away.
Tshisekedi has ruled out entering into dialogue with the rebel group, saying his government would not be “humiliated or crushed”.
Founded in 2012, M23 claims to protect the Tutsi ethnic minority group in Congo from discrimination, but it has recently begun pursuing broader political and economic ambitions. It is believed to have about 6,500 fighters, supported by another 4,000 troops from Rwanda.
Last year, the group was restructured to include other Rwanda-backed militias and politicians in the region. Together, they formed the River Congo Alliance, led by Corneille Nangaa, the former head of Congo’s electoral body. It now appears the group has “longer-term objectives in holding and potentially expanding their territorial control”, one analyst says.
A military court has issued an arrest warrant for Nangaa this week, alleging he is behind massacres in eastern Congo.
Congo has one of the richest reserves of critical minerals in the world, including cobalt, copper, coltan, uranium and gold. M23’s advances have given it control over many lucrative mines and supply lines to Rwanda.
In May 2024, M23 seized the mine in Rubaya, one of the world’s largest coltan reserves, which generates more than US$800,000 (A$1.2 million) in revenue a month.
As of this week, M23 has also gained control over mining sites in North and South Kivu regions, where children and young people are forced to work in life-threatening conditions. Others have been recruited as child soldiers.
The current situation echoes the tumult caused in 2012 when M23 briefly seized Goma. Back then, the international community reacted more diligently, suspending around US$200 million (A$318 million) in aid to Rwanda. US President Barack Obama personally called Rwandan President Paul Kagame, urging him to stop supporting the rebel group.
In contrast, the current offensive has been met with a less coordinated international response.
The resurgence of M23 has been largely attributed to the failure of regional peace talks, notably the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes.
Rwanda has leveraged the legacy of the 1994 genocide to secure a continuous flow of Western aid, enabling its involvement in proxy wars in the Congo with little to no repercussions.
Its involvement in supporting M23 is well documented, with evidence from reports by UN expert groups showing the group is receiving weapons, troops and logistical aid from the country.
Uganda is also believed to be supporting the rebels, while Burundi is backing the Congolese government.
This has many worried the current fighting could spiral into a regional conflict.
The ongoing crisis in Congo has been catastrophic for the local population, with more than 6.9 million people internally displaced and 1.1 million people fleeing to neighbouring countries.
The crisis has disproportionately affected women and children. It has caused shortages of water, electricity and food supplies and the collapse of medical care, particularly for newborns and critically ill patients. There are also concerns about a new Ebola outbreak in the region.
Rebel bombings, some launched from Rwanda, have targeted refugee camps, schools and hospitals. According to the UN and human rights groups, M23 is responsible for a massacre in the village of Kishishe, resulting in scores of killings and mass rapes.
The international community has long ignored this region, providing only a bare minimum of aid to help the millions in need.
An immediate ceasefire and massive influx of humanitarian aid are urgently needed. But a lasting peace will remain elusive if the main actors don’t address the root causes of the conflict and work towards sustainable, structural solutions that go beyond military interventions.
In the past, Amani Kasherwa received funding from the Open Society Foundation for his academic research on the role of youth organisations in the peacebuilding process in the African Great Lakes Region (including DR Congo and Burundi).
– ref. Rebels are continuing their march in eastern Congo – what is their long-term goal? – https://theconversation.com/rebels-are-continuing-their-march-in-eastern-congo-what-is-their-long-term-goal-248672
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, today spoke with United States Trade Representative (USTR) nominee Jamieson Greer about the need to move away from China on trade and unlock new export markets for long term stability.
During the hearing, Grassley emphasized the importance of reducing or eliminating Brazil’s tariff on American ethanol. Grassley also questioned Greer about USTR’s cooperation with the Department of Commerce on trade matters.
Video and excerpts of his questions follow.
[embedded content]
VIDEO
Brazilian Tariffs on American Ethanol:
“Brazil is a leading competitor with the United States on agriculture. One example is that Brazil has displaced the United States as the world leader in soybean production.
“Another issue with Brazil that I brought up to your predecessor, Ms. Tai, is the drastically unfair advantage Brazil has on ethanol. U.S. exporters face an 18% tariff on ethanol going to Brazil. However, Brazilian ethanol enjoys nearly duty-free access to the U.S. market.
“I hope you will address this trade imbalance with Brazil that Ambassador Tai wasn’t successful in doing: taking action to reduce or eliminate this harmful tariff on American ethanol.”
The Role of USTR and the Department of Commerce:
“Now that you and Mr. Lutnick have been nominees for several weeks, I’d like to know exactly how much authority do you have on trade matters relative to Mr. Lutnick and other cabinet members?”
Moving Away from China and Unlocking New Markets:
“I’d like to make a statement and see if you agree:
“While I think it is important to hold China to its obligations under the Phase 1 Agreement, I also fear it may keep us reliant on the Chinese markets. So, we need to be looking around the world at other markets.
“We need to balance our short-term profitability with long term stability.
“I have for a long time voiced my own concerns about unfair trade practices by China, and I hope that you and President Trump are successful in holding China accountable on issues including fentanyl, intellectual property theft and government subsidization of industries.
“That said, I believe we must pursue freer trade with other countries to create new markets so that we can move away from China without losing even more global market share of our commodities to Brazil and other countries.
“The free trade agreements that were negotiated under George W. Bush have resulted in large trade surpluses in key industries like agriculture and manufacturing. I think we need more free trade, and I know that President Trump is more interested in bilateral agreements than multi-state agreements.
“I think if we look away from Brazil and South Korea and Japan and China and [the European Union] as being problem countries for us on trade issues. But there’s so many other countries where, if we have these agreements — and I use George W. Bush as an example and his negotiator Allen Johnson — about 13 countries, probably six or seven different agreements with countries you don’t even think much about being significant in world trade, we’ve increased tremendously with these free trade agreements, our surpluses with those countries in trade.”
Source: US State of California
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov
OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement ahead of a hearing on the state’s motion for a preliminary injunction in its challenge to President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.
“Within hours of taking office, President Trump showed his blatant disregard for the limits of his authority under the law,” said Attorney General Bonta. “With his astonishing executive order to end birthright citizenship, the President is attempting to override the Fourteenth Amendment and unilaterally amend the U.S. Constitution. We’re in court to make the case for a preliminary injunction to prevent this order from taking effect while litigation proceeds. As the People’s Attorney, I am committed to ensuring the full rights of American-born children are upheld and respected.”
Background
In January 2025, Attorney General Bonta co-led a coalition of 18 state attorneys general and the City and County of San Francisco in filing a lawsuit seeking to block the Trump Administration’s unprecedented executive order, arguing that it violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution; violates Section 1401 of the Immigration and Nationality Act; and upends more than 125 years of Supreme Court precedent.
President Trump’s executive order, titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” attempts to declare that birthright citizenship does not extend to any child born in the United States whose mother is unlawfully present or lawfully present on a temporary basis and whose father is neither a U.S. citizen nor a lawful permanent resident. On this basis, all federal agencies were directed to treat these children as ineligible for any privilege, right, or benefit that is reserved by law to individuals that are U.S. citizens.
If allowed to stand, the executive order would strip tens of thousands of children born each year, including an estimated 24,500 in California, of their ability to fully and fairly be a part of American society as rightful citizens, with all its benefits and privileges. These children would lose their most basic rights and be forced to live under the threat of deportation. They would also lose their right to work, vote, serve on juries, and run for certain offices.
This executive order would also result in cuts to federal funding, directly harming California and other states who rely on such funding to provide essential services to the most vulnerable children living within their borders. This includes services like basic healthcare access for low-income children, foster care services for neglected and abused kids, and early interventions for infants, toddlers, and students with disabilities. In addition, states would be required — on little notice and at considerable expense — to immediately begin modifying their operation and administration of these benefits programs to account for this change by February 19, when the order goes into effect.
The states’ motion for a preliminary injunction will be heard at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET tomorrow, Friday, February 7, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. A link to the states’ reply in support of their motion for a preliminary injunction can be found here.
# # #
Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture
07 February 2025
Approved arrangements operators who will be required to view and/or update details of their Approved Arrangement via the Approved Arrangement Management Product (AAMP).
All clients required to use the Biosecurity Import Conditions System (BICON) during this planned maintenance period.
All clients required to use the Export / Next Export Documentation (EXDOC/NEXDOC) systems during this planned maintenance period.
…
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
For best viewing experience, please enable browser JavaScript support.
Feb 7, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook
Updated: Fri Feb 7 00:48:25 UTC 2025 (Print Version | | )
Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table
Forecast Discussion
SPC AC 070048
Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0648 PM CST Thu Feb 06 2025
Valid 070100Z – 071200Z
…THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN PARTS OF
EASTERN TN AND FAR SOUTHEAST KY/SOUTHWEST VA…
…SUMMARY…
Isolated severe thunderstorms may persist through about Midnight EST
in vicinity of eastern Tennessee and far southeast
Kentucky/southwest Virginia.
…Eastern TN and far southeast KY/southwest VA…
Messy and occasionally transient supercell structures are ongoing
across parts of far southeast KY into eastern TN, amid a favorable
deep-layer wind profile and moderate 0-1 km shear. Some increase in
low-level wind speeds during the next couple hours should compensate
for the rather veered flow and surface temperatures falling through
the low to mid 60s. This could support a corridor of strong gusts
and marginally severe hail, along with a brief tornado into late
evening. See MCD 72 for further short-term information. Additional
development farther to the southwest in Middle TN has thus far
struggled to be maintained, but may yet form through about 03Z as
the surface cold front moves east towards the southern Appalachians.
..Grams.. 02/07/2025
CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT
.html”>Latest Day 2 Outlook/Today’s Outlooks/Forecast Products/Home
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Current Mesoscale DiscussionsUpdated: Fri Feb 7 04:30:03 UTC 2025 No Mesoscale Discussions are currently in effect.
Notice: The responsibility for Heavy Rain Mesoscale Discussions has been transferred to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) on April 9, 2013. Click here for the Service Change Notice.
Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Current Convective Watches (View What is a Watch? clip)Updated: Fri Feb 7 04:30:06 UTC 2025 No watches are currently valid
Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
HARTFORD—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), on Thursday joined their colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth calling for an investigation into whether landlords may be using property management software company RealPage’s services to price gouge military families.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) provides servicemembers with a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to cover the costs of owning or renting privately managed housing, an allowance that is adjusted periodically by region to keep up with housing costs. In 2023, DoD spent $24 billion on housing allowances for servicemembers.
There are long-held concerns that landlords are raising rents to pocket these BAH increases, rather than raising rents because of market conditions. One recent study even found that it was “common for landlords to base their rent on the BAH for a particular rank,” so servicemembers see no difference in their yearly income.
Services provided by RealPage may enable landlords to raise rents even more aggressively, to the detriment of military families, by allowing landlords to exchange proprietary information about lease terms and rents and to set prices using non-public information.
DOJ and state attorneys generals have already alleged that RealPage contributed to excessive rental costs in several places where DoD raised housing allowances, including Houston, San Diego, Spokane, and Wilmington. Florida has also opened an investigation into whether RealPage is violating antitrust laws; notably, military housing rents increased across Florida during 2022 and 2023 including in Miami, West Palm Beach, Volusia County, and Fort Myers Beach.
In addition to hurting military families, unsustainable housing prices have negative implications for recruitment and retention for our military. Increasing housing costs are forcing families to delay moves and choose housing in unsafe neighborhoods or with low-quality conditions. Unlike civilian families, military families “do not have the opportunity to stabilize their housing costs due to frequent relocation.”
A recent Government Accountability Office report on military housing confirmed the negative impacts of high housing prices, including servicemembers taking on debt or commuting long distances for quality housing.
“The Department of Defense has a responsibility to protect military families from predatory private housing companies and ensure that taxpayer dollars meant for military families are not being pocketed by unscrupulous landlords,” the senators wrote.
The senators requested that DoD provide information on whether algorithms like RealPage’s are artificially driving up housing prices for military families by February 13, 2025.
U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also signed the letter.
Full text of the letter is available HERE and below.
Dear Secretary Hegseth:
In the wake of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, joined by ten states across the country,1 we write with significant concern about whether companies and landlords using RealPage may be price gouging military families.
The Department of Defense (DoD) provides service members a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) to cover the costs of owning or renting privately managed housing.2 But families continue to report that BAH rates are not keeping up with rising housing costs.3
In fiscal year 2023, DoD spent $24 billion on BAH.4 There are long-held concerns, however, that landlords are raising rents to pocket these BAH increases, rather than raising rents because of market conditions.5 One recent study found that it was “common for landlords to base their rent on the BAH for a particular rank.”6 These findings raise significant concerns that landlords are profiteering by taking taxpayer money that is intended to support military families.
Services provided by RealPage may enable landlords to raise rents even more aggressively to the detriment of military families. RealPage’s services YieldStar and AIRM help landlords exchange proprietary information about lease terms and rents in order to maximize revenue.7
In August 2024, the Justice Department and attorneys general in eight states filed an antitrust lawsuit alleging that RealPage engaged in an “unlawful scheme to decrease competition among landlords in apartment pricing and to monopolize the market for commercial revenue management software that landlords use to price apartments.”8 Last month, two more state attorneys general joined the suit, and the Justice Department expanded the lawsuit to six of the nation’s largest landlords.9 RealPage’s tactics allegedly included exerting significant pressure on landlords to accept their recommendations to increase prices, including an “auto accept” feature which automatically adjusted rents for property managers.10 If a landlord or property manager rejected a recommendation, a “pricing advisor” from RealPage allegedly reached out and pushed them to take the recommendation.11 In 2022, a vice president of RealPage credited their software for increasing apartment rents by over 14.5%.12
In 2022, DoD increased the BAH for 28 military housing areas where rental housing costs increased by an average of more than 20 percent.13 The lawsuit of DOJ and state attorneys general alleges that RealPage contributed to excessive rental costs in several of these places, including San Diego,14 Wilmington,15 and Houston.16 Similarly, in 2021, DoD selected Spokane, Washington as one of the five military housing areas to receive a temporary 20 percent BAH hike;17 the antitrust suit alleges that RealPage contributed to drastic increases in rent prices in this area, where Fairchild Air Force Base and Joint Base Lewis McChord are located.18 Florida has also opened an investigation into whether RealPage is violating antitrust laws; notably, military housing rents increased across Florida during 2022 and 2023 including in Miami, West Palm Beach, Volusia County, and Fort Myers Beach.19
In addition to harming military families, unsustainable housing prices have negative implications for recruitment and retention for the U.S. Armed Forces. Increasing housing costs have forced some families to delay permanent change of station moves and choose housing in unsafe neighborhoods or in unsatisfactory conditions. A recent military family lifestyle survey found that “housing costs remain the top contributing factor to financial stress for active-duty famil[ies]” and that “higher out-of-pocket housing costs may influence military families’ likelihood to recommend military service.”20 A majority of those who live in civilian housing “continue to pay well over
$200 per month in housing costs out of pocket”21 on top of their BAH. These predatory housing practices are especially detrimental to military families because “unlike civilian peers, military families do not have the opportunity to stabilize their housing costs due to frequent relocation.”22
A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on military housing confirmed the negative impacts of high housing prices on military families, finding that “some service members reported having to take on debt or commute long distances to afford quality housing.”23 GAO determined that existing DoD guidance is “insufficient to address military population effects on local housing market.”24 “GAO’s statistical analyses found that counties with higher military populations were associated with having higher median rents and rent-to-income ratios.”25 Local government officials also acknowledged the largely insufficient housing supply and issues with affordability.26 In its report, GAO recommended that DoD develop a comprehensive list of critical housing areas, regularly update said list, obtain and use feedback on the financial and quality-of- life effects of limited supply or unaffordable housing on service members, develop a plan for DoD to respond to and address those effects, and clearly define the roles and responsibilities of installation commanders and military housing offices in addressing housing needs.27
The Department of Defense has a responsibility to protect military families from predatory private housing companies and ensure that taxpayer dollars meant for military families are not being pocketed by unscrupulous landlords. We seek information that DoD may have on whether algorithms such as those used by RealPage are artificially driving up housing prices for military families, as well as members of the community who do not receive BAH.28 We are also interested in DoD’s broader strategy to ensure landlords are not using RealPage’s services to price gouge military families. Therefore, we ask that you provide answers to the following questions by February 17, 2025.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy
February 06, 2025
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Thursday joined U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and 15 of their Senate colleagues in reintroducing the No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act, legislation that would reverse the Trump tax law’s breaks for offshoring jobs and profits. The announcement comes as President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico remain under negotiation, while Republicans push to expand those offshoring incentives in their reconciliation bill.
The No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act would level the playing field for American companies by requiring multinational corporations to pay the same tax rate on profits earned abroad as they do in the United States. The Trump tax law created a special tax rate for offshore profits that is half the domestic rate. Since the law’s passage, studies have found that multinationals have increased foreign, rather than domestic investment. Extending the Trump tax law would mean maintaining this half-off rate, which is otherwise scheduled to slightly increase.
If passed, the senators’ legislation would boost U.S. economic competitiveness by encouraging domestic investment, leveling the playing field for domestic companies, and bringing the U.S. into compliance with the global minimum tax agreement. The Joint Committee on Taxation found that large U.S. multinationals paid an average tax rate of just 7.8 percent the year after the Trump law passed, lower than their foreign competitors. They would still pay less than their competitors with a higher rate on foreign profits. Moreover, with over 140 countries moving to implement the global tax agreement, U.S. and foreign multinationals alike will be subject to the new minimum tax whether the U.S. complies or not. Failure to join, however, will mean the revenue fills foreign coffers instead of the U.S. Treasury.
U.S. Senators Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) also cosponsored the legislation.
The No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act would repeal offshoring incentives by:
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
###