Source: US State of Nebraska
. Brandon Brinegar and Kane Michael Ramsey, both of Kearney.
The Ninth Judicial District consists of Buffalo and Hall counties. The primary place of office for the judicial vacancy is Kearney. The vacancy is due to the appointment of Judge Ryan Carson to federal court.
Source: US State of Nebraska
. Pillen Releases Executive Order Establishing Support for Federal Immigration Policy Implementation
LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen signed an executive order establishing the Support for Federal Immigration Policy Implementation for the state of Nebraska. The document outlines actions to be undertaken by state agencies to effectuate the executive orders issued Jan. 20 by President Donald J. Trump.
“This document demonstrates Nebraska’s alignment with the new federal immigration policy and provides guidance to state agencies for carrying out provisions contained in the President’s recently issued executive orders,” said Gov. Pillen.
State agencies have no later than May 31 to ensure they have met the requirements of the Governor’s executive order.
A signed copy of EO 25-01 is included with this release.
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police are responding to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 5 near Matea Road, Waipunga, Taupō District.
The crash was reported around 4pm.
Initial indications suggest at least two occupants are in a moderate to serious condition.
The road is closed while emergency services work at the scene between Matea Road and Pohoukura Road.
Motorists are advised to expect delays and take an alternate route.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Reserve Bank of India
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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Social security payments to be raised
Social security payments to be raised
*************************************
The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced today (January 27) that starting from February 1 this year, the standard payment rates under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme as well as the rates of the Old Age Allowance (OAA), Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) (including OAA and OALA under the Guangdong Scheme and the Fujian Scheme) and Disability Allowance under the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme will be raised. An SWD spokesman said, “On December 6 last year, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council gave approval for the Government to adjust the above rates upwards by 1.3 per cent with effect from February 1 this year in accordance with the established mechanism, i.e., on the basis of the year-on-year rate of change of the Social Security Assistance Index of Prices, benefiting around 1.6 million people in total.” The adjusted CSSA standard payment rates and the SSA rates of allowances are set out at Annex I. The spokesman added, “Furthermore, taking into account the movement of the Consumer Price Index (A) rent index for private housing, the Government will raise the maximum rent allowance (MRA) under the CSSA Scheme by 0.2 per cent, also with effect from February 1 this year.” The adjusted MRA under the CSSA Scheme is provided at Annex II. CSSA and SSA recipients may contact their respective social security field units or call the SWD hotline 2343 2255 for enquiries.
Ends/Monday, January 27, 2025Issued at HKT 11:00
NNNN
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​Three property owners were convicted and fined over $210,000 in total at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts earlier this month for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).
The first case involved an unauthorised structure with an area of about 28 square metres on the flat roof of a residential building at Yan Oi Tong Circuit, Tuen Mun. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO.
Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD and was fined $75,260, of which $55,260 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on January 10.
The second and the third cases involved several unauthorised structures with a total area of about 60 sq m on the yards and one of the roofs of two houses at San Tam Road, Yuen Long. As the UBWs were carried out without prior approval and consent from the BD, removal orders were served on two owners concerned under section 24(1) of the BO.
Failing to comply with the removal orders, the two owners were prosecuted by the BD and were fined upon conviction at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on January 10. One owner was fined $75,750, of which $50,750 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, while the other owner was fined $66,660, of which $44,660 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued.
A spokesman for the BD said today (January 27), “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who have failed to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, to ensure building safety.”
Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year’s imprisonment, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.
Source: Asia Development Bank
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (27 January 2025) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a financing package of up to $100 million to support Ayala Corporation’s contributions to the development of an electric mobility ecosystem in the Philippines. This funding will be used to procure and install electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) and to purchase electric vehicles for commercial distribution.
The package includes a concessional loan from the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia (CANPA). ADB’s financing, along with the concessional loan, will be used to develop a network of EVCS in the Philippines. This blended financing features an innovative pricing structure aimed at accelerating deployment of EVCS infrastructure. A portion of the ADB financing will be allocated to procure electric vehicles from leading manufacturers for distribution across the country.
“This project is a significant step towards a sustainable and low-carbon future for the Philippines,” said ADB Country Director for the Philippines Pavit Ramachandran. “By fostering the development of a robust electric mobility ecosystem, we are not only addressing critical environmental challenges such as air pollution, but also driving economic growth through the creation of green jobs, enhancing energy security, and promoting inclusive and resilient urban development.”
Electric vehicle (EV) development is still nascent in the Philippines. High initial costs, limited charging infrastructure, and evolving technologies have posed significant barriers to adoption of EVs in the country. But the Philippine government’s Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act and various tax incentives are helping create a more favorable environment for the growth of the EV sector.
The creation of an EVCS network is crucial for electric vehicles to become more popular. The EVCS to be set up with the ADB financing package will address gaps in EV charging infrastructure, thereby facilitating faster adoption of electric vehicles.
“This innovative blended financing comes at an opportune time as Ayala, through ACMobility, continues to ramp up its electric mobility investments. As we help build a comprehensive EV ecosystem for the Philippines, we wish to thank like-minded institutional partners like ADB for helping us expand our electric mobility initiatives, accelerate our contribution to the Philippines’ climate goals, and reaffirm our purpose of building businesses that enable people to thrive,” said ACMobility’s President and CEO Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala.
Established in 2024, CANPA is a trust fund managed by ADB, supported by a commitment of Can$360 million from the Government of Canada. The fund builds on the success of the two previous funds, namely the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia II (CFPS II) and its predecessor CFPS. CANPA aims to support private-sector projects in Asia and the Pacific that focus on climate and nature-based solutions, while also promoting gender equality.
Ayala Corporation is one of the Philippines’ largest and most enduring conglomerates. With a diverse portfolio that includes real estate, banking, telecommunications, and renewable energy, the company is well-positioned to lead the development of the electric mobility ecosystem in the Philippines. Key to Ayala’s growing sustainable business portfolio is its access to innovative financing options such as blended finance, which is supported by public, private and philanthropic funds.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
Source: Toyota
Headline: Rallye Monte-Carlo: Day 4
Ogier’s milestone Monte win crowns TOYOTA GAZOO Racing one-two
Sebastien Ogier has claimed a record-extending 10th victory on the legendary Rallye Monte-Carlo as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team scored a one-two finish to launch its 2025 FIA World Rally Championship campaign with a maximum points haul.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Hamas on Sunday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt and Jordan.
In a press statement, Hamas described the plan as an “aggressive scheme” aimed at displacing Palestinians and undermining their national cause.
Hamas said that the Palestinian people, who have endured “genocide and forced displacement” by the “Israeli occupation, particularly in northern Gaza, remain committed to their land and historical rights.”
“The Palestinians will not accept any plans that seek to uproot or displace them,” Hamas said.
Hamas also called on the U.S. administration to cease its support for Israeli policies that infringe on Palestinian rights.
Hamas appealed to Arab and Islamic nations, especially Egypt and Jordan, to reaffirm their opposition to the displacement of Palestinians and support their resilience by assisting in rebuilding Gaza and strengthening their presence on their land.
Source: China State Council Information Office
A top Iranian military commander said Sunday the country’s drones have been equipped with homegrown missiles that employ artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the official news agency IRNA reported.
Commander of the Navy of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Alireza Tangsiri made the remarks in an address to reporters in the southern Iranian province of Bushehr while he was elaborating on a two-day large-scale naval drill held by his forces in Iran’s southern waters.
He said the IRGC Navy equipped two homegrown combat drones Mohajer-6 and Ababil-5 with the domestically developed “Qaem and Almas” missiles incorporating AI technology.
Tangsiri added the IRGC Navy and Iran’s Defense Ministry are developing AI-empowered cruise missiles with operational ranges of over 1,000 km and the ability to hit targets at different altitudes.
According to Tangsiri, the drill starting on Friday off the coasts of Bushehr and Khuzestan provinces aimed to show “peace and friendship” to neighbors and show that Iran and regional states could ensure security and confront any threat.
Source: China State Council Information Office
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday announced 25-percent tariffs on all goods imported from Colombia after the Latin American country refused to allow the landing of two flights carrying deported immigrants.
“I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia,” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s rejection of these flights has “jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States,” Trump wrote, noting that he has directed his administration to immediately take “urgent and decisive retaliatory measures.”
Trump’s retaliatory measures include: emergency 25-percent tariffs on all goods coming from Colombia, to be raised to 50 percent in one week; a travel ban and immediate visa revocations on Colombian government officials and all allies and supporters; visa sanctions on all party members, family members and supporters of the Colombian government; enhanced customs and border protection inspections of all Colombian nationals and cargo on national security grounds; International Emergency Economic Powers Act sanctions.
Earlier Sunday, Petro posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that his government would not accept U.S. deportation flights until a protocol is established by the Trump administration to treat migrants with dignity. He also urged the United States to use civilian planes instead of military ones.
After Trump’s announcement, Petro posted on X that he had ordered his foreign trade minister to raise tariffs on U.S. imports by 25 percent.
Just a few days ago, the United States sent four deportation flights carrying immigrants to Mexico. However, according to multiple U.S. media reports, at least one flight was refused entry.
The United States also sent deportation flights to other countries, including Guatemala and Brazil. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry recently condemned the action, saying the immigrants on the deportation flights were subjected to humiliating treatment.
During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to carry out large-scale deportations of illegal immigrants once he took office. After his inauguration on Jan. 20, deportation operations began in several parts of the United States, allegedly focusing on criminals. The White House claimed that over 1,000 illegal immigrants had been arrested on Thursday and Friday, and hundreds of them were deported via military aircraft.
According to the Associated Press, Colombia accepted 475 deportation flights from the United States from 2020 to 2024. In 2024 alone, it accepted 124 deportation flights.
Source: Country Fire Service – South Australia
Issued on
27 Jan 2025 13:19
Issued for
PANORAMA near Blackwood and Eden Hills in the Mount Lofty Ranges.
Warning level
Advice – Stay Informed
Action
CFS is responding to a fire near Panorama, Blackwood and Eden Hills.
If you are in this area, stay informed and monitor local conditions. More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Attributable to Detective Peter Smallfield, Invercargill Police:
Two young people are facing Youth Court in Invercargill after a series of burglaries in a stolen car overnight.
A Mazda vehicle was stolen from a Kingswell address in the early hours of the morning by two people, who later pulled up to a jewellers in the central city around 5am.
They have got out and attempted to smash the windows with a scooter, and when they were not able to gain entry, travelled to a service station in Newfield.
Again, they were not able to gain entry.
Stopping the vehicle on a street nearby, they have had an interaction with a member of the public, in which they have pretended to have a firearm with them in order to scare them away.
They have then travelled to a dairy in Winsdor, where they have managed to smash their way in.
The pair stole items including vapes, cash, and confectionery before getting back into the vehicle and driving a short distance away.
A Police dog unit has located the vehicle and tracked the occupants who had fled on foot, taking them into custody shortly after 6am.
Two young males were due in the Invercargill Youth Court today, appearing jointly on three charges of burglary, one of theft of a motor vehicle and one of being unlawfully in a closed yard.
This behaviour is incredibly frustrating for residents and business owners in our community, and it’s pleasing to have been able to immediately hold this pair to account.
We want to extend our thanks to the members of the public who observed suspicious behaviour and reported it to Police on 111 straight away, enabling the quick apprehension of the two youths.
It is also a reminder to take every precaution possible to help avoid becoming a victim of crime.
Remember to take property security measures with your vehicles – keep them inside a secure garage if possible, remove valuables, and consider a steering wheel lock. This all helps make your vehicle less desirable for opportunistic thieves.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: Country Fire Service – South Australia
We will issue a Reduced Threat message when the threat to the community has reduced.
All bushfire incidents that have had an Advice, Watch and Act or Emergency Warning message issued will be finalised with an Advice – Reduced Threat message.
Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers
STEVE AUSTIN: Catherine King is the Federal Minister for Infrastructure in Australia. Minister, thanks for joining me this morning.
CATHERINE KING: Very good to be with you.
STEVE AUSTIN: Can you tell me this is by Infrastructure Australia? Does this mean that you as the final decision maker will bump these off the priority list yourself?
CATHERINE KING: No, so, it’s a bit of a beat up of a story this morning, and it seems to be a bit of confusion about what the role of Infrastructure Australia is versus the role of the Australian Government that, of course, funds through the budget infrastructure projects in Queensland, some nationally significant, those very, very large infrastructure projects that operate where there are big missing links in freight routes, where there are big missing links in electricity transmission or water transmission, right the way across the country. And so it is, at that higher level of project. And so it’s really refining its list there. It doesn’t represent the funding decisions or the totality of all of the projects that the government, the Federal Albanese Government, is investing in and Infrastructure Australia it’s not, never has been an actual funding body. So that’s sort of revising its list. What it’s doing at the moment is it’s consulting with states and territories. I have not seen its list. Obviously, states have been given a draft to comment on and to look through, and states can work their way with Infrastructure Australia to look at projects of that nationally significant scale, to put back on the list, if that’s what they what they want to do, or to make sure that they’re on the list, or that, as I said, that it’s separate to the budget process. And it does seem, I did think was a sort of passing strange story today.
STEVE AUSTIN: So because it’s off the Infrastructure Australia list doesn’t mean it’s off the agenda of the federal government or you as the Minister?
CATHERINE KING: Yeah, correct. And in fact, what actually they do do is where a project already has a or has a full or partial commitment infrastructure, Australia says, well, our job’s done now like that. We’ve had that major piece of work done. We’ve analysed the cost benefit in the business case that states have put to us. It’s been on the infrastructure priority list. And again, these are only for really big projects. They’re not for the suburban roads or the bridges that we’re doing or a range of those things. And then what it does is, if it’s attracted funding, it says, okay, well now we will take that off the list, and we’ll put a new priority on at that scale. And so some of the projects that you mentioned at the start of your story already have really substantial federal funding attached to them, and that’s partly why I suspect Infrastructure Australia is removing them, or has removed them from the draft list. But again, they’re working with good faith with states and territories at the moment, and if the Queensland Government wants to submit projects to do that, it needs to have done the work. It needs to have really done the work. Because, of course, this was really about making sure, with Infrastructure Australia, that the Commonwealth Government gets good independent advice which take the politics out of infrastructure investments. We make sure that we got good, proper advice in which to make investments.
STEVE AUSTIN: I spoke with the mayor of the Sunshine Coast earlier this morning, Rosanna Natoli, and she’s worried about what the list means, particularly for the Sunshine Coast, which is under huge development pressure from increased population there, particularly for things like some of the big roads, but also the rail project, the Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade. Can you state what your position is on that today, please?
CATHERINE KING: Well, of course, in terms of many again, of the projects that were referenced, there is already significant investment being made. For local councils where they want to put their views, they need to do that via state governments. They have every opportunity to do that, and we really encourage them to do that. But again, we’re investing really significantly, whether it’s Logan to Gold Coast faster rail, the Sunshine Coast rail line, direct sunshine coast, the Coomera Connector, the Bruce Highway investments. When we came to government, there was significant underfunding. There was $18 billion committed to Queensland from the previous government. We have upped that to $28 billion including the recent announcements to fix the Bruce Highway. No funding cuts at all to Queensland. In fact, substantial investments in Queensland.
STEVE AUSTIN: So does that mean that Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgraders, it will be funded for the Sunshine Coast region?
CATHERINE KING: In terms of that particular project that already has a total of $606.7 million from the Australian government committed to it. It’s a project of a funding total of a billion dollars. It is currently, as I understand, early works are being completed in pre-construction design, so the Commonwealth is already funding that project.
STEVE AUSTIN: Is there anything else you want to get on the record in relation to Queensland? Given the sort of the changes in infrastructure Australia’s priority list, you’re the final person who’ll say yay or nay?
CATHERINE KING: So I’m not the final person. So Infrastructure Australia, again, independent of the government, I don’t say what’s on the list.
STEVE AUSTIN: No, I know. I know you will have to say as to what gets built and what doesn’t get built. As the federal infrastructure minister.
CATHERINE KING: Yeah, so I will through the normal budget process. We do it every year. States write to me and they say, this is what you know, they want funding for, this is where we’ve got substantial cost pressures. The new Queensland Government has just done that recently, and we through the budget process systematically go through that. I seek advice from Infrastructure Australia as to whether something is investment ready, has the cost benefit work being done? Because what we had inherited was, frankly, a lot of press releases, a lot of press releases telling me that there was money set aside for projects – chronically underfunded, and what we’ve had to do is really make sure we’ve got a disciplined process to look at Commonwealth investments. But again, as I said, we started when we came to government, $18 billion committed to Queensland. There’s now $28, billion committed to Queensland. I think we’ll stand on our record of the substantial investments we make to improve infrastructure in Queensland.
STEVE AUSTIN: Minister thanks for your time.
CATHERINE KING: Really good to be with you.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Cai Qi on Sunday highlighted the importance of strengthening Party building to create a solid foundation for the development of various central Party and government department initiatives.
Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Working Committee of the Central Party and State Institutions, made the remarks at a conference on Party work and discipline inspection work within central Party and state institutions.
With a focus on promoting high-quality development through high-quality Party building, efforts should be made to deepen the reform of systems for Party-building within Party and state offices, and to ensure they assume their responsibilities, Cai said.
The meeting underlined the need to continuously strengthen cohesion and forge the Party’s soul with the Party’s new theories, enhance the Party’s political building, and reinforce the political and organizational functions of primary-level Party organizations.
Highlighting the importance of advancing anti-corruption work, the meeting underscored the necessity of implementing the guiding principles from the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
On behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping, a senior CPC official on Sunday extended festive greetings to all the people working in the culture and science and technology circles.
Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, visited several prominent figures in these sectors and extended greetings for the upcoming Chinese New Year.
Cai, who is also a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, paid visits to a writer, a cosmochemist and geochemist, an aero-engine expert and an economist, commending their achievements and listening to their advice.
Cai highlighted the reform plans regarding the cultural work system rolled out by the Party leadership and called for a fresh outlook and new achievements in ideological and cultural work.
He stressed the importance of innovative talent in China’s drive to achieve sci-tech self-reliance.
Cultural and technological workers should shoulder their responsibilities, foster innovation, and integrate their personal ideals and pursuits into the cause of the Party and the country, he said.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
The China Coast Guard (CCG) has strengthened its efforts to combat maritime crimes over the past year, handling a large number of smuggling and drug cases, the CCG said on Sunday.
The CCG handled a total of 601 smuggling cases and dismantled 32 criminal gangs in 2024, according to a themed interview on maritime law enforcement.
Efforts were made to take the initiative in the fight against drug crimes at sea, the CCG said, noting that five drug-related cases were solved and 3.8 tonnes of narcotics were seized in 2024.
An operation aimed at maintaining border security and immigration management was also launched in collaboration with immigration authorities last year, the CCG said.
More than 20 cases of people organizing illegal border crossings were uncovered in the operation, with over 130 criminal suspects apprehended.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Chinese police have successfully apprehended and brought back a major criminal suspect involved in a high-profile case, in which a Chinese actor was deceived and illegally detained on the Thailand-Myanmar border.
The suspect, surnamed Yan, was returned to China on Saturday thanks to the joint efforts of a task force dispatched by China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, and with assistance from Thai law enforcement, the MPS said on Sunday.
Several cases involving Chinese citizens being deceived and illegally detained on the Thailand-Myanmar border — where they were forced to participate in telecom and internet fraud — have attracted widespread attention.
Wang Xing, a Chinese actor, entered Thailand on Jan. 3 but lost contact near the Thailand-Myanmar border. Thai police tracked his movements and successfully rescued him, identifying him as a victim of human trafficking.
An MPS official stated that the police will intensify their efforts to deepen international law enforcement cooperation, launch a strong crackdown, and coordinate rescue operations to protect the personal safety and property of Chinese citizens.
Source: China State Council Information Office
This photo taken on Sept. 2, 2024 shows the skyline of the central business district (CBD) at dusk in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s foreign investment and cooperation saw steady growth in 2024, an official with the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Sunday.
The country’s non-financial outbound direct investment rose 10.5 percent year on year to $143.85 billion last year, with investments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries increasing by 12.6 percent year on year, according to the official.
Investments in leasing, business services, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail sectors drove the growth. The turnover of China’s foreign contracted projects totaled $165.97 billion in 2024, an increase of 3.1 percent year on year, the official said.
In 2024, the number of workers dispatched abroad reached 409,000, a 17.9 percent increase year on year, with a total of 594,000 Chinese workers employed overseas by the end of the year.
Non-financial investment in countries along the Belt and Road increased by 5.4 percent year on year to $33.69 billion last year, MOC data showed.
Source: China State Council Information Office
China’s financial regulatory authority has approved the launch of the second batch of pilot programs for long-term stock investments, with a scale of 52 billion yuan ($7.25 billion).
China Pacific Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Taikang Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Sunshine Life Insurance Co., Ltd., and relevant insurance asset management firms are authorized by the National Financial Regulatory Administration to participate in the pilot through contractual funds, engaging in long-term stock investments to leverage long-term capital and patient capital, thereby supporting the stable operation of the capital market.
On Wednesday, Chinese financial authorities unveiled a plan outlining measures to encourage medium- and long-term funds to move into the capital market to further stabilize stock performance.
Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, elaborated that public offering funds would increase their A-share holdings of circulating market capitalization by at least 10 percent annually over the next three years.
Efforts are being made to ensure large state-owned insurance companies allocate 30 percent of their newly added annual premium incomes to invest in A-shares starting in 2025, which is expected to inject hundreds of billions of yuan of long-term capital into the A-share market each year, he said.
The second batch of pilot programs for long-term stock market investment from insurance funds will be implemented in the first half of 2025, with a minimum scale of 100 billion yuan, gradually expanding thereafter, Wu added.
In March 2024, China Life Insurance and Xinhua Insurance jointly launched the country’s first private equity securities investment fund established by insurance companies to enter the stock market, with an investment scale of 50 billion yuan, which marks one of the first pilot projects for the long-term stock investment reform of insurance funds.
Source: China State Council Information Office
The death toll from Israeli attacks on crowds of Lebanese trying to return to their homes in southern Lebanon has risen to 22, including six women, with 124 others injured, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Sunday.
The injured included 12 women and a paramedic from the Islamic Scout Association, who was carrying out a humanitarian rescue mission, the ministry said in a statement.
A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that an Israeli force, backed by a Merkava tank and a bulldozer, advanced towards a gathering of civilians in the village of Mays al-Jabal, and “fired heavily to intimidate and disperse the residents.”
The Israeli military also blocked the main road at the entrance of the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon located in Naqoura, southern Lebanon, the source said, adding that the military fired several flares over Mays al-Jabal and the Arqoub Heights in eastern Lebanon, and launched machine-gun fire toward Mount Sadaneh, west of Shebaa, in southeastern Lebanon.
Sunday marks the end of a 60-day deadline for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territories. Under a ceasefire agreement reached in late November after months of conflict between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, the Lebanese army would take control of the areas south of the Litani River, ensuring its security and preventing any presence of weapons and militants.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli army has continued to carry out strikes in Lebanon, some of which have caused deaths and injuries in the border areas.
Source: China State Council Information Office
South Korea’s prosecution indicted arrested President Yoon Suk-yeol on an insurrection charge, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday.
Yoon was put on trial in custody as the suspected ringleader of insurrection, becoming the country’s first incumbent president to be formally arrested and indicted.
Yoon was accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who had already been indicted under detention, to declare unconstitutional, illegal martial law and dispatch armed forces into the National Assembly.
After receiving Yoon’s case from the anti-corruption agency, the prosecution requested Yoon’s extended arrest twice for supplementary investigation, but the Seoul Central District Court repeatedly rejected it to bring Yoon to trial as early as possible.
A warrant to keep Yoon in custody for up to 20 days, including the arrest period, was issued by another Seoul court on Jan. 19.
Yoon was apprehended in the presidential office on Jan. 15.
The motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Dec. 14 last year and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon’s presidential power is suspended.
Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3. It was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
Source: Peoples Bank of China
Announcement on Open Market Operations No.20 [2025]
(Open Market Operations Office, January 27, 2025)
In order to keep liquidity adequate before the Spring Festival, the People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB298 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on January 27, 2025.
Details of the Reverse Repo Operations
|
Maturity |
Volume |
Rate |
|
14 days |
RMB298 billion |
1.65% |
Date of last update Nov. 29 2018
2025年01月27日
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Emergency services are responding to a report of a crash involving two vehicles on State Highway 1 north of Marton, reported shortly after 2pm.
Indications are that there have been serious injuries.
The road is closed and diversions are in place. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Country Fire Service – South Australia
Issued on
27 Jan 2025 12:12
Issued for
MULCH FIRE AT KANMANTOO, 3km North West of Callington in the Mount Lofty Ranges.
Warning level
Advice – Avoid Smoke
Action
Smoke from a mulch fire at Kanmantoo is in the vicinity of Mine Road, Back Callinton Road, Hollamby Road and Hillview Road and may impact the township of Callington in the Murraylands and Mount Lofty Ranges districts.
Smoke can affect your health. You should stay informed and be aware of the health impacts of smoke on yourself and others.
Symptoms of exposure includes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, burning eyes, running nose, chest tightness, chest pain and dizziness or light-headedness.
If you or anyone in your care are having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention from your local GP. If your symptoms become severe, call 000.
More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.
Source: US Department of Homeland Security
Immediately after being sworn in President Trump took executive action to stop the invasion at the southern border and to empower law enforcement agents to deport criminal aliens
“In a move fulfilling one of now-President Donald Trump’s campaign promises, the Trump administration shuttered the use of CBP One, a President Joe Biden-era app meant to help process migrants seeking to apply for asylum in the U.S.” USA Today: Trump kills Biden-era CBP One app for asylum-seekers at the border
“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday issued memos to repeal limits on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents imposed by former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas…ICE agents who spoke to Fox News said they believe that rescinding the Mayorkas order is going to free them up to go after more illegal immigrants.” Fox News: Trump DHS repeals key Mayorkas memo limiting ICE agents, orders parole review
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“Federal officers swept into sanctuary cities on President Trump’s first full day in office Tuesday, nabbing more than 300 illegal migrant criminals — including an attempted murderer and a child molester — to hold them for deportation.” The New York Post: ICE arrested 308 illegal migrants — including attempted murderer and a child molester — on Trump’s first full day in office
“The Trump administration is attempting to amass a larger force of law-enforcement officials to help carry out deportations by granting agents across the federal government the same powers as an immigration officer, according to an internal memo.” The Wall Street Journal: Trump Gives Gun, Drug Agents Deportation Power
“The number of Border Patrol encounters at the southern border in the first three days of the Trump administration is 35% lower than the final three days of the Biden administration, the sources said.” Fox News: Border encounters drop sharply as Trump launches crackdown on illegal immigration
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
As thousands of children prepare to head back to school, Police are urging parents to be diligent with their privacy settings before posting photos and videos online.
The start of the school year is often memorable, and many people like to mark the occasion by sharing images of their children on social media in school uniform and in front of either their home or school.
Unfortunately, sometimes these images unintentionally share more than just a picture of a happy child – they can share personal details that might put information about you and your family in the wrong hands.
While Police understand the importance of these milestones, parents and caregivers should remain cautious about the information that images posted on social media present and who can gain access to them.
While it’s rare for NZ Police to receive reports about children being located through information shared online in photos or videos, we know from our international counterparts that it does happen.
A few simple tips can protect your and your children’s privacy on social media:
Be proactive with online safety to keep your child and their information safe as they head into a new school year.
ENDS
Where to report cases if you think your privacy has been breached?
NEW ZEALAND POLICE
NETSAFE
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Staff members to keep on constructing new tunnel during Spring Festival in Suifenhe
Source: China State Council Information Office
Alexander Lukashenko has won the presidential election of Belarus, receiving 86.82 percent of the vote, according to the preliminary results released early Monday by the country’s Central Election Commission.
Under Belarusian law, a presidential candidate who secures more than 50 percent of the vote is declared the winner.