Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police are responding to a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Broadlands Road and White Road, Broadlands, Taupo.
The crash was reported around 1pm.
The road is blocked and motorists are advised to take an alternate route.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Government
The launch of new community advocacy group VisAble signals an important development in community advocacy to achieve more focus on the needs and rights of disabled people in the family violence and sexual violence system.
Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, and Disabilities Issues Minister, Louise Upston, hosted the launch in Parliament today.
“I want all disabled people to achieve their aspiration to live a good, full life. Being respected, included, and welcomed into communities and wider society, free from harm, violence and abuse,” Karen Chhour says.
“My goal is to ‘break the cycle’ of abuse and harm. This requires effective responses from people in the system, and all people being respected.
“Disabled people are among the groups of people disproportionately impacted by family violence and sexual violence, and it is often harder for them to seek help and be heard.
“It will take all of us, especially groups like VisAble, to enable effective responses from the system, as well as building a culture of care and respect for children, young people, adults at risk and families to prevent, respond and heal from violence.
“Our 25-year strategy – called Te Aorerekura – is supported across the Parliament to ensure the provision of safe, integrated, and early help for people impacted by violence, alongside prevention and healing to improve the overall system response.”
The second Te Aorerekura Action Plan will be released by the end of this year.
“An Action Plan on its own will not solve all the problems in the family violence and sexual violence system, but it will bring a stronger focus to the way government agencies are working together at the regional level and in partnership with communities to improve outcomes for people impacted by violence.
“Disabled people are key to the implementation of the next Action Plan. Groups like VisAble will help bring the goals of Te Aorerekura to life, alongside government agencies.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Northern Territory Police are calling for information after two suspicious hit and runs this morning.
Around 6am, police received a report that a small silver hatchback had struck a motorcyclist on McMinn Street, Darwin City, before fleeing the scene.
The 30-year-old male rider suffered serious grazing to his leg and was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment.
A short time later, police received report that a small silver hatchback had struck another rider on Iliffe Street, Woolner.
In this instance, the occupants of the vehicle allegedly attempted to rob the fallen rider before being confronted and fleeing the scene.
The 43-year-old male rider suffered minor grazing and was also conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital.
Police deployed to the area but the vehicle is yet to be located.
Detectives from Serious Crime are currently investigating and police believe the hit and runs were intentional.
Police urge anyone who witnessed the incidents, or who has dash cam or CCTV footage, to contact police and quote reference number P24293700.
Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata
Headline: Amata’s Statement in Celebration of White Sunday
Pago Pago – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amatareleased the following statement for White Sunday:
“I always deeply enjoy the sight of our children on White Sunday, especially viewing this beautiful tradition as a mother and grandmother. On this day, each year, we celebrate the children of our islands, knowing they are a gift to us from the Lord. This is among our most special days, as it is both celebratory and promotes a serious message of responsibility in raising up the next generation.
“We are a people of strong faith, and we rejoice in our youth as they serve the Lord, follow our way, and stay on right paths. We know God will lead them by still waters throughout their lives. This White Sunday, we are reminded of the importance of our Christian commitment, as we trust in God’s eternal blessings on our families and children. Have a wonderful White Sunday!”
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them… Psalm 127:3-4
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata
Headline: Amata Hails $24.4 Million in 2025 EPA Investment from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is hailing Wednesday’s announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a total of $24.4 million in fiscal year 2025 investment in American Samoa from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law(BIL), which Amata backed publicly throughout the bill’s debate and passage in 2021. The official name of the BIL is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Congresswoman Amata with our Veterans in Honolulu
“I supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, and since then I’ve been repeatedly pleased to see it result directly in numerous funding projects for American Samoa over these several years,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “These funds, already appropriated to EPA by Congress, make lasting improvements for our safe and healthy drinking water for years to come.”
“Thank you to EPA Administrator Regan for the attention to American Samoa’s appropriate share in these funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act,” continued Congresswoman Amata. “Thank you to the EPA Pacific Southwest Region (Region 9) in working with American Samoa Government and our American Samoa EPA on planning for much-needed water projects. Congratulations to ASEPA Director Fa’amao Asalele, and special appreciation to all who work on these efforts.”
The $24.4 million includes $17,219,000, announced Wednesday, and $7,181,000 notified recently on October 8, both from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. American Samoa’s total under the two notifications is the most of any of the four insular areas, totaling slightly more than Guam and several million more than CNMI and USVI.
Wednesday’s notification of over $17.2 million includes two areas of funding: Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF) of $2,204,000, which emphasizes lead removal, andClean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) of $15,015,000. Within that $15 million from CWSRF, the further breakdown is $13,820,000 in general allotment, and $1,195,000 in emerging contaminants program.
These 2025 EPA funds are part of a five-year planned investment in water infrastructure upgrades, and the nationwide total of these two October notices is $6.2 billion in BIL water quality and safety projects.
In EPA announcements following passage of the BIL, the EPA hailed the congressional investment as a historic impact in the nation’s healthy water supply and water infrastructure, and Administrator Regan noted the funds support job creation, construction, and emphasized projects for underserved communities. The SRF programs are designed to generate significant and sustainable water quality and public health benefits across the country.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said, “Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity. When our water infrastructure fails, it threatens people’s health, peace of mind, and the environment. With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in water, EPA is working with states and local partners to upgrade infrastructure and address local challenges—from lead in drinking water, to PFAS, to water main breaks, to sewer overflows and climate resilience. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs while ensuring that all people can rely on clean and safe water.”
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Source: New South Wales Government 2
Headline: Building resilience against flooding in Tenterfield
Residents and motorists will soon see activity around the Molesworth Street Bridge in Tenterfield, as early work to improve flood resilience commences.
Tenterfield Shire Council received just over $9.9 million in funding from to build a new concrete bridge over Tenterfield Creek and relocate adjacent infrastructure.
Funding will be provided by the Albanese and Minns Governments’ Regional Roads Transport Recovery Package, through the joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Geotechnical work to help inform the design of the bridge redevelopment started in July, with construction scheduled to start mid-2025.
The project will also include the relocation of a sewer line that runs adjacent to the bridge, which was damaged in early 2022 when severe weather events affected northern NSW.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister:
“The current bridge is vulnerable to natural disasters, leading to regular disruptions to the local community.
“It’s why we’re building this bridge to a better standard, helping the community stay connected in the event of any future disasters.
“We want to work with state and local government to make sure communities like Tenterfield are better prepared for natural disasters.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Planning Paul Scully:
“The funding for this improvement to the bridge will allow councils and other road authorities to ‘build back better’ so infrastructure is more resilient.
“Revitalising the bridge will allow the community, State Government agencies, Tenterfield Shire Council, and industry to withstand and respond to bushfires, severe weather and flooding events effectively.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison:
“I was delighted to visit Tenterfield recently to thank Janelle Saffin and Tenterfield council for their advocacy efforts to ensure this vital bridge is rebuilt.
“This project is a great example of all three levels of government working together to keep communities better connected during future natural disasters.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin:
“This bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure for the residents of Tenterfield.
“In a major flood it goes under water, isolating the town’s important medical services, including the 18-bed acute hospital with a 24-hour emergency department.
“There is also no helipad, which reinforces the need for access to the hospital to be maintained.
“In times of natural disaster, access to medical services can be a matter of life and death, so the community benefits of this project are obvious.”
Quotes attributable to Tenterfield Mayor Bronwyn Petrie:
“Tenterfield Shire Council is grateful for the full funding of the replacement and betterment of the timber Molesworth Street Bridge and adjacent sewer line by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package totaling $9,988,775.80.
“Council is pleased to announce we have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Transport for NSW to deliver the bridge component of the project, fostering collaborative relationships and enhancing Council’s in-house skills, leveraging the professional and comprehensive expertise of Transport in design and construction.
“Following geotechnical, planning and design work, construction work on the bridge will commence with detours via Duncan, High and Scott streets.”
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Allen, Senior Lecturer, Griffith University
There’s been an increased political and media focus recently on so-called youth crime waves, particularly in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
This has unfortunately led to crackdowns from governments and police. Young people in Alice Springs have been subject to curfews.
Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli (who’s ahead in the polls ahead of this weekend’s election) has suggested young people found guilty of some crimes should be sentenced as adults.
But punitive youth crime policies violate children’s human rights and are an expensive way of making the community less safe. It’s much better to stop youth crime before it starts by supporting children’s positive development in early childhood.
In a new evaluation published today, we found a preschool program reduced the amount of young people before the courts by more than 50%. When the right family support was provided too, the chances of the children committing crimes were even lower.
Early community-based crime prevention strategies have been greatly neglected in Australia. This is despite international evidence and the recommendations of a widely circulated 1999 Commonwealth government report.
Scientific evidence has been accumulating for more than 50 years that shows the root causes of serious youth crime can be addressed in early childhood through prevention initiatives. The most famous example is the Perry Preschool Project, implemented in a disadvantaged area of Michigan in the early 1960s.
In Australia, the Pathways to Prevention Project operated in a disadvantaged, multicultural region of Brisbane from 2002 to 2011.
It was a collaboration between Griffith University, the Queensland Department of Education, and national community agency Mission Australia.
The project aimed to improve child and youth outcomes by partnering with local preschools, schools, families and community organisations.
In 2002 and 2003, 214 four-year-old children attending two local preschools received an enhanced program focused on communication skills. This is called an “enriched preschool program”.
It was integrated into the standard curriculum and delivered by specialist teachers working with the children’s classroom teachers and their parents.
Evidence at the time showed communication skills were directly linked to success at school. They were also linked to to success in life through improved behaviour and enhanced social skills.
The communication program brought children together in small groups with similar levels of language competence. The groups were balanced in terms of gender and cultural background. They completed carefully curated activities including games, bookmaking and reading.
These provided children with the opportunity to extend and practice oral language skills in ways that were personally meaningful. These activities were led by the specialist teachers who had postgraduate qualifications in communication and oral language development.
The specialist teachers engaged parents and children in joint activities, and actively supported reading and language activities at home. By year one, children who received the communication curriculum had better language proficiency, social skills, classroom behaviour and academic achievement than children in the other preschools.
The children’s families could also access practical support from community workers from their own cultural background. This included parenting education, advocacy with government agencies and counselling. This continued until 2011.
Earlier evaluations showed the enhanced curriculum helped improve children’s readiness for school, among a range of other benefits. Now we’ve evaluated the success of the program over the long term.
Using anonymised data-linkage procedures, we followed up the students who received the enhanced curriculum back in 2002 to see what’s happened since.
Children who received the enhanced curriculum had improved classroom behaviour throughout primary school. They were also 56% less likely to be involved in serious youth crime by age 17.
Read more:
Is Australia in the grips of a youth crime crisis? This is what the data says
Remarkably, our evaluation found none of the children whose families also received support in the preschool years went on to offend.
The full Pathways Program was implemented widely in the community over a ten-year period, so we thought it might have had an impact more broadly.
We looked at the rate of youth offending in the region in the years 2008–16, when members of the 2002–03 preschool cohort were between 10 and 17 years old. It was 20% lower in this region than in other Queensland regions at the same low socioeconomic level.
Programs like this work by levelling the playing field and improving the lives of children early in their developmental pathways. Developmental pathways are events and experiences that follow on from each other, or cascade, across the course of life.
For instance, a difficult transition to school increases the likelihood of poor engagement and academic problems. These are well-known risk factors for antisocial behaviour.
The long-term impact of Pathways to Prevention on youth offending means it could be a model for similar programs across Australia.
This is especially the case given our nation’s chronic under-investment in community-based developmental crime prevention. We need more programs in disadvantaged communities that are open to everyone and don’t stigmatise people.
Overwhelmingly, efforts across the country are devoted to early intervention with children identified as “at risk” in some way (such as showing disruptive behaviour), or to the treatment of young people who become enmeshed in the youth justice system.
In Queensland, there is an over-reliance on youth detention, which is often very harmful for children and of no preventative value.
Using Pathways as a model for other communities doesn’t necessarily mean exactly replicating what we did (though this is also important). Any early prevention initiative will have the best chance of success if it includes evidence-based strategies that improve children’s life chances.
These can be implemented cost-effectively through existing systems including preschools, schools and primary care. Ideally, they should operate through local partnerships involved at all stages of planning, data collection, implementation and evaluation.
Jacqueline Allen received funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australian Institute of Criminology Research Grants.
Kate Freiberg holds an unpaid position at RealWell and received funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australian Institute of Criminology Research Grants.
Emeritus Professor Ross Homel received funding from the Australian Research Council, Australian Institute of Criminology Research Grants, the Queensland Government and the John Barnes Foundation. He is affiliated with the Justice Reform Initiative as a Queensland Patron and provides honorary research support to RealWell Pty Ltd.
– ref. We tried a different preschool curriculum to prevent youth crime. Checking in 20 years later, it worked – https://theconversation.com/we-tried-a-different-preschool-curriculum-to-prevent-youth-crime-checking-in-20-years-later-it-worked-235888
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, both D-VA, announced $15,733,481 in federal funding for the City of Richmond to repair, replace, and modernize natural gas pipes. The funding is part of the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program, which was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that the senators helped pass.
“Upgrading our natural gas pipes will lower energy costs for families, reduce methane pollution, and reduce the risk of dangerous leaks,” said the senators. “We’re glad to have helped pass the legislation that made this investment possible and will continue working to improve energy infrastructure across the Commonwealth.”
While serving as Mayor of Richmond, Kaine helped oversee Richmond’s gas utility, which is one of the largest municipal gas utilities in the United States.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has brought over $8.4 billion in investments to Virginia, including resources to repair roads and bridges, expand broadband access, and improve airports, ports, and waterways.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’ nomination of Judge Serena Murillo and Judge Benjamin Cheeks to fill vacancies on the U.S. District Courts for the Central District and Southern District of California, respectively.
“Judge Murillo and Judge Cheeks hold a wealth of litigation experience, with longstanding commitments to justice and deep roots in the Southern California legal community,” said Senator Padilla. “The daughter of a Mexican-American farm worker and a schoolteacher, Judge Murillo has demonstrated a tireless work ethic and developed extensive criminal and civil judicial experience with the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Judge Cheeks has earned immense respect from his colleagues in the Southern District and has fought to protect vulnerable immigrants against fraud. I applaud President Biden for his continued commitment to nominating highly qualified, diverse judges to serve California.”
“Californians deserve a federal bench that reflects the diversity of the Golden State,” said Senator Butler. “I applaud the President’s nomination of Judge Serena Murillo and Judge Ben Cheeks to the United States District Courts for the Central District and Southern District of California, respectively. These two incredibly qualified candidates bring a breadth of both judicial and lived experienced to the federal bench, and I look forward to supporting their paths to confirmation.”
Senator Padilla is committed to rebuilding a federal judiciary that better reflects and is receptive to the America it serves. Within weeks of being sworn into the Senate, one of Padilla’s first initiatives was to establish a Judicial Evaluation Commission that is majority attorneys of color and women to evaluate candidates for federal judicial vacancies in California. Earlier this year, Padilla highlighted the importance of federal judicial diversity of race, gender, as well as legal and professional experience during an event hosted by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Senator Padilla has worked closely with the Biden-Harris Administration to recommend and support the nominations of highly qualified, outstanding judges to the federal courts.
Judge Serena Murillo: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Central District of California
Judge Serena Murillo has been a judge on the Los Angeles Superior Court since 2015. She also served by appointment of the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court as an Associate Justice pro tem on the California Court of Appeal from 2018 to 2019. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Murillo served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office from 1997 to 2014. Earlier in her career, she worked as an associate attorney at McNicholas & McNicholas in Los Angeles in 1997 and as a law clerk at Shernoff, Bidart, and Echeverria in Claremont, California in 1996. Judge Murillo received her J.D. from Loyola Law School in 1996 and her B.A. from the University of California, San Diego in 1993.
Judge Benjamin Cheeks: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California since July 2024. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Cheeks was a criminal defense lawyer in private practice at the Law Offices of Benjamin J. Cheeks, A.P.C. in San Diego from 2013 to 2024. From 2010 to 2013, Judge Cheeks served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. Earlier in his career, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office from 2003 to 2010. Judge Cheeks received his J.D. from the American University, Washington College of Law in 2003 and his B.A. from the University of Miami, Florida in 2000.
Source: New Zealand Government
The Education Minister is travelling to Australia today to attend the 23rd edition of public policy conference, Consilium.
“New Zealand and Australia share common challenges and aspirations for education. New South Wales has recently introduced a new curriculum that is explicit, sequenced and knowledge based while Victoria is requiring structured approaches to teaching reading from 2025,” Erica Stanford says.
“I look forward to hearing more about their experiences and ideas, as well as sharing our Government’s plan to lift achievement and close the equity gap in New Zealand.”
Minister Stanford will speak to ‘Can Education in Australia be reformed?’ where she will share her plan to deliver a world-leading education system.
While in Australia she will meet with Rt Hon Nick Gibb, former UK Schools Minister, Hon Sarah Henderson, Senator for Victoria and federal Shadow Minister for Education, and other education policy experts and officials.
Minister Stanford will travel to Australia on 24 October and returns to New Zealand on 27 October.
Source: Ministers for Social Services
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
SUBJECTS: Melbourne Water flood rezoning in Kensington Banks; future of the NDIS
TOM ELLIOTT, HOST: So, a couple of years ago there were those terrible floods in mainly, well, it was all up and down the Maribyrnong River, but particularly in Kensington. There was a group of, or there was a bit of land that had previously been considered flood prone and then it wasn’t, so people built houses on it. And then during the floods, hundreds of houses got badly flooded. And these people now face a future where if they want to sell their house, well, it’s going to be very difficult because it’s now a declared flood zone. If they say no, it will stay, but we need to insure our house against future floods, well, that would be hideously expensive because we’ve already had a flood. It’s not dissimilar to suddenly having, you know, having a fire, a bushfire, and your house is suddenly declared to be in a bushfire zone when it wasn’t previously in a bushfire zone. Our next guest is a Member for Maribyrnong. He’s also the Minister for the NDIS in the Federal government, Bill Shorten, good morning.
BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Good morning, Tom.
ELLIOTT: So, I got this right. We’ve got a group of your constituents who are in flood damaged homes and see no way out.
SHORTEN: Yeah, listen in June of this year, Melbourne Water had been doing some modelling about increased flood risk. And the great irony is sometimes in the west and the northwest of Melbourne, we feel we get things last compared to the Southeast, whether or not that’s true, it’s sometimes how we feel. But Melbourne Water very kindly decided to evaluate the flood risk in the Maribyrnong and before other parts of Melbourne and residents in Kensington, and Freshwater on the other side of the Maribyrnong, who bought in good faith land and houses, put their investment, their single most important investment, discovered on about 17 June, sometimes just through the media reporting, not even, you know, advance notice, that the rules had changed all of a sudden that their houses were in flood risk areas.
I want to be very clear. We should look after all Australians who are in, you know, bushfires or flood risk areas. But these residents did the due diligence and Kensington Banks did not have the flood rating that it’s now got. Now, the flood ratings, we’ve got to deal with truth. If because of climate change or other reasons, there’s an increased flood rating, that’s a development, the science is the science. But what’s happened since June is that Melbourne Water, in my opinion, has been singularly deficient in the way in which they communicate with the residents whose lives they’ve changed. They’ve got people have got to think about what does it mean for their safety, but I think more practically their house values, the cost of insurance. And I held a public meeting Tuesday night, the local state member for Melbourne was there, Ellen Sandell, Daniel Mulino, who covers some of the federal turf on the other side of the river. We got the head of the Insurance Council of Australia there, we’ve got the Coordinator General, the National Emergency Management Authority. Melbourne Water had said they were coming, but then they thought it was all too political, so they didn’t turn up on the panel. You can’t keep people in the dark, Tom. You’ve got to tell them the truth.
ELLIOTT: So, okay, so there’s a short and a long-term issue I’m seeing here. So, on one hand you hold a public meeting to try and talk reasonably and responsibly about this changing of the flood rating and Melbourne Water, which has the power to do things about it, doesn’t show up. So, that’s one issue. The second issue, long term, is there something that Melbourne Water could do to try and offset the flood risk? Because, I mean, I look at Flemington and the VRC. I mean, several years ago they built a giant wall, which meant that they’re sort of, they seem to be immune from floods now. Could something like that be done?
SHORTEN: Yes. The short answer, yes. I was able to get the Water Minister, Harriet Shing, on the phone when I realised Melbourne Water had just pulled the plug at short notice. She made them turn up, but at least they turned up and sat up the back and took some notes. So, there was some poor old Melbourne Water staff there, but they were let down by their leadership. So, the short-term issue is when you give the community a major development, major news, which is like your house values are tanked at the moment until we get mitigation strategies in place, you don’t get to be the only people who call the shots. The community have a say, they have a voice.
And the point about this is the people, they’re not sort of, this is not some radical issue. This is your own home. A statutory authority said, hello, your own home, the value of it, we’re going to make a decision based on science and it affects your home value. But what’s happened is Melbourne Water think that they’re the only experts on consultation, so they’ve got their processes. I’m not saying they haven’t done anything. They put out a leaflet telling people how to floodproof their kitchens. You know, like, that’s not a strategy.
To go to the long-term question, you’re asking. I’ve been the Insurance Minister in Australia. I’ve seen what we’re able to do at Roma and where you build levies, mitigate, I’ve seen what’s happened in Launceston with a Tamar, when you build levies, it works. But Melbourne Water’s sort of got their own secret squirrel process on what they’re going to do and their options, and they’re keeping residents in the dark. I don’t think they’re adequately talking to the Federal Government or council and I’m just calling out an arrogant statutory body who thinks that somehow, they’re above talking to people on any other terms other than the rules they set.
ELLIOTT: So, is it possible that Melbourne Water behind the scenes, will agree to build some sort of a wall or a levee? Or are they just saying, no, no, no, the river, we have to let the river do what the river wants to do or what?
SHORTEN: No, I think they’ve put out a tender, not that anyone else has seen the terms of reference, to look at mitigation options. The thing is, it’s now been four months. Melbourne Water’s moving to the beat of their own drum, to the beat of their own clock. That’s not satisfactory. The residents, the people who are affected, have been kept in limbo and stressed for four months. When the local elected representatives call a meeting, which the statutory body, Melbourne Water, says they’re coming to, then they pull out at the last minute because they think it’s political, when you – statutory bodies are not above dealing with the rest of us. So, I’m filthy at the way Melbourne Water’s handled the consultation so far. Their leadership need to get their head out of their bottom and start talking to people not just in the way they want to, but in the way that people need to be involved in.
ELLIOTT: Well, I’ll tell you what, we will get in touch with Melbourne Water and just see if we can perhaps expedite that process a bit. Tell me, I mean, your constituents are affected. It must be, you know, like a man’s house is his castle and all that sort of thing. But to not know the future of hundreds of properties, like, are we going to be permanently flood prone or is a wall going to be built? Or if we sell, do we take a massive loss? I mean, that must be making life very difficult for some people.
SHORTEN: It is very stressful for people. I actually think the Kensington Banks residents have been remarkably reasonable. I mean, they’re toey, toeier than a Roman sandal. I get that. But they’ve been more reasonable than I think maybe you or I would be in the same circumstances. Melbourne Water just has to change their approach. They can’t – you know, no more control freak behaviour. They’ve got to set up an advisory board, all levels of government, you know, down there, you know, there’s public transport, railway bridges, there’s industry that are affected. You’ve got to get those; you’ve got to get the community there. There’s got to be full transparency on the modelling. What are the terms of reference? I mean, floods are not new in Australia.
ELLIOTT: No.
SHORTEN: In Lismore where unfortunately they get a lot of floods, they’ve got this Northern Rivers living laboratory where they have a shop front and the citizens can come in and say, oh, this is what we think is a good idea. They can see what ideas are being done. Melbourne Water, I think, needs to up its, bring its A game to stakeholder consultation in a way which it doesn’t say it controls everything. That’s for the whole Maribyrnong catchment area.
ELLIOTT: Well, we’ll get in touch with them and see if we can get them on the program and I’ll put your concerns to them. Now, look, you’re retiring in a few months. Are you going to have the NDIS all sorted out before you vacate the office?
SHORTEN: The NDIS is like painting the harbour bridge. When you get to one end of it, you start again. But do I think that we’re getting on top of some of the rorts? Yes, I’m changing jobs, not retiring. The thing about it is, when I came in at the beginning of the three years, I knew the scheme was changing lives for the better, but there was a complete naivety about how to administer the scheme. What we’ve done in the last two and a half years is we’ve upped the tempo on catching crooks. We’ve now got 500 investigations, we’ve got 55, 56 people in the courts or heading to court. We’ve got people in jail now. We’ve now said what you can spend money on after talking to people, what you can’t spend money on. We’re now sorting out the assessment process. We’ve now got the legal ability to make sure the assessment process is consistent, transparent and equitable. I love the scheme, I’m very proud of it. The rest of the world looks at it. The idea of giving a personal budget to people with profound and severe disabilities and their families is life changing. But we need to register most of the service providers, they weren’t registered. We need a much better back office in the way we – you can’t just put in an invoice with no ABN and no explanation and expect to get paid. All of these matters we’ve now either stopped or got the legal authority to start stamping out. So, I do think the NDIS is on a more sustainable trajectory. So, it’s there for future generations and it’s serving the original purpose of the scheme.
ELLIOTT: Look, good luck with that and good luck with your future career as I think it’s Vice Chancellor of Canberra University, Bill Shorten there. He’s still the NDIS Minister and the Member for Maribyrnong and, well, very passionate about the shortcomings of Melbourne Water
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2
FEMA Recognizes Emergency Management Institute’s 70 Years of Training
jessica.geraci
Mon, 05/24/2021 – 14:22
Release Date
May 24, 2021
This year, FEMA commends the Emergency Management Institute on their 70 years of training those who serve our nation.
The Civil Defense Staff College opened April 1, 1951 with the intention of teaching civil defense courses during the Cold War. Concerns about a potential attack led the college to relocate the campus from Olney, Maryland to St. Joseph’s campus in Battle Creek, Michigan.
When FEMA was created in 1979, the Civil Defense Staff College joined with several other federal agencies focused on disaster response, including the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency. In the same year, the Civil Defense Staff College closed and merged its programs and students with the National Emergency Training Center.
President Jimmy Carter dedicated the former Mount Saint Mary’s University, in Emmitsburg, Maryland, as the FEMA National Emergency Training Center. The training center was later changed to the Emergency Management Institute, a broader name that included the National Fire Academy and reflected the nation’s readiness posture. The Emergency Management Institute moved from Battle Creek, Michigan to Emmitsburg, Maryland a year later, and in 1981, the Institute held its first class.
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew highlighted the need to address the training implications for emergency managers at all levels of government when it devastated portions of South Florida, Louisiana, and the Caribbean. After careful consideration, it became apparent that the Institute could no longer serve as both a training and an educational institution.
To address this, FEMA develop a plan to transition the institute’s educational mission to colleges and universities to foster a higher level of commitment to emergency management. A year later, FEMA launched the Emergency Management Higher Education Project. The name of was changed in 2008 to Emergency Management Higher Education Program.
At that time, only three higher education institutions offered emergency management programs. This repositioning encouraged and supported the teaching of emergency management in colleges and universities across the country to help ensure that the next generation of emergency managers come to the job with a degree in emergency management.
In 2017, the Higher Education Program was reassigned from the Emergency Management Institute to the National Training and Education Division at FEMA headquarters to raise its profile and expand the reach of the program. The move also helped build closer relationships with FEMA’s training and education programs.
There are currently more than 721 emergency management programs throughout the United States and offered across the globe. Of the almost 8,000 graduates who earned an emergency management degree in 2020, nearly half of those graduates move on to public sector emergency management positions. The remaining graduates chose jobs as part-time faculty.
Emergency managers are integral to FEMA’s efforts to protect the nation and help families and communities feel cared for and more resilient when a disaster strikes.
Having the tools, resources and space available to train emergency management professionals is critical. The ability of the Emergency Management Institute and the Higher Education Project to provide these is vital to the country’s future.
The Emergency Management Institute will host its 70th anniversary celebration on its website in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned for upcoming notices and events.
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Source: US Marshals Service
Spokane, WA – Brandon Frackenpohl, 34, was arrested without incident an hour outside of Klamath Falls, Oregon, by the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force and Klamath County Sheriff deputies.
Frackenpohl allegedly raped and molested an eight-year-old child in Airway Heights, Washington on 6/30/2024.
Frackenpohl fled the state of Washington shortly after the incident. On 9/18/2024, an arrest warrant was issued for Frackenpohl by the Spokane County Superior Court.
Frackenpohl is charged with one count of Rape of a Child in the First Degree and one count of Child Molestation in the First Degree. He will be booked into the county jail and is awaiting extradition back to Washington State. Airway Heights Police detectives worked tirelessly and around the clock with the U.S. Marshals to apprehend Frackenpohl.
Craig Thayer, United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Washington commented, “Our children are our most precious resource, and we all share the greatest responsibility to insure their physical and emotional safety and wellbeing. The U. S. Marshals Service will relentlessly pursue those accused of crimes of sexual abuse against children, in concert with our law enforcement partner agencies, to bring those accused to answer these charges in a court of law. The U. S. Marshals led Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force (PNVOTF) commends the investigative work of the Airway Heights Police Department and their cooperative efforts that have resulted in the arrest of this suspect.”
Anyone with information on wanted fugitives is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, submit a USMS Web Tip.
Source: US Marshals Service
Philadelphia, PA — Members of the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force arrested Raphael Ezeamaka,18, at an apartment complex in the 400 block of Ramunno Drive in Middletown, Delaware. Ezeamaka was wanted by the Philadelphia Police Department for three counts of Attempt to commit Criminal Homicide in relation to a shooting that took place October 8th on a SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) bus in the 700 block of S. 57th Street. After exiting the route G bus, Ezeamaka turned and fired multiple rounds into the bus, striking 3 women. On April 10th, a warrant was issued for Ezeamaka’s arrest and the fugitive warrant was delegated to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
On October 23rd, investigators from the Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Philadelphia developed information Ezeamaka was presently in an apartment in Middletown, Delaware. Marshals from the Philadelphia and Wilmington offices proceeded to the apartment and upon knocking and announcing, Ezeamaka attempted to flee from the second-floor rear balcony. Ezeamaka was then approached by investigators and apprehended in a rear bedroom without incident. Ezeamaka is being held at the Howard Young Correctional Institution where he awaits extradition to Philadelphia.
“The arrest of Ezeamaka should assure the citizens of Philadelphia that violent crime fugitives will be aggressively pursued no matter where they flee” said Robert Clark, Supervisory Deputy Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force is a team of law enforcement officers led by U.S. Marshals in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent crime fugitives. Membership agencies include the Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania State Parole Officers, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Attorney General Agents, Immigration Customs Enforcement, Chester Police Department, Bucks County Sheriff’s Office, and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) cosponsored the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act, legislation that will ensure the long-term solvency of Medicare and Social Security by reversing inequities in the tax system so that high earners contribute a fairer share.
“Medicare and Social Security are benefits that New Mexicans have earned over a lifetime of hard work. I’m proud to support this legislation to protect these bedrock programs for New Mexicans by making the ultrawealthy pay their fair share,” said Heinrich.
Nearly 40% of seniors rely on Social Security for the majority of their incomes – benefits they have earned that let them retire with dignity. Medicare protects its over 60 million beneficiaries, one in five of whom have less than $15,000 in savings, from potentially catastrophic health care costs.
Despite their bedrock importance, these programs are both at risk of not being able to fully pay out benefits within the next 15 years. Without new revenue, the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Old Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund are expected to become insolvent in 2028 and 2033, respectively.
The Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act will increase funding for the Social Security and Medicare trust funds by extending the payroll tax on wages, self-employment income, and investment income to taxpayers making over $400,000. The legislation also applies a payroll tax on the pass-through business income, like hedge funds and private equity firms, of taxpayers earning more than $400,000, which will eliminate the classification of earned income as distributed business profits that is currently a major loophole. By applying these two provisions, we can extend Social Security solvency indefinitely and extend Medicare solvency by an estimated 20 years.
The Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act is led by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). Alongside Heinrich, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn). The bill is led in the House by U.S. Representative Brendan F. Boyle (D-Pa.).
The bill is endorsed by the Alliance for Retired Americans; American Federation of Government Employees; American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; American Federation of Teachers; Americans for Tax Fairness; Center for Medicare Advocacy; Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget; Communications Workers of America; Doctors for America; Families USA; Groundwork Collaborative; International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; Main Street Alliance; Mary’s Center; National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare; National Council on Aging; National Education Association; NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice; People’s Action; Public Citizen; Revolving Door Project; Social Security Works; and the Teamsters.
A one-page summary is here.
The text of the bill is here.
Background
Heinrich fought hard to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, historic legislation that lowers health care and prescription drug costs for working families.
This year, the Inflation Reduction Act began capping out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at an estimated $3,300, providing substantial relief for individuals facing high medication expenses. This new Medicare drug cap comes in tandem with several other major healthcare provisions Heinrich helped secure, including free vaccines for seniors and a $35 insulin cap for those on Medicare.
Last year, the White House announced 48 Medicare Part B drugs that raised their prices faster than inflation, and some drug companies raised prices of certain medications faster than inflation for every quarter in 2023. The IRA provisions Heinrich helped deliver will now require these companies to pay rebates back to Medicare, saving seniors who take these drugs between $1 and $2,786 per dose, depending on their medication.
The IRA also reduced the cost of marketplace health insurance premiums by an average of hundreds of dollars per person, for roughly 40,000 New Mexicans.
A longer list of provisions Heinrich helped to secure in the Inflation Reduction Act can be found here.
Heinrich introduced the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act, legislation that builds on a provision that was included in the Inflation Reduction Act to empower Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices for the first time. Specifically, the bill would allow prescription drugs and biologics to be eligible for negotiation five years after approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — increasing the overall amount by which Medicare can lower prices through negotiation. Additionally, the SMART Prices Act would lower Medicare Part B drug prices through negotiation two years earlier than under current law, and increase the overall number of drugs that the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) can negotiate starting in 2026.
Additionally, Heinrich is a cosponsor of the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act, legislation that bans deceptive unfair pricing schemes, prohibits arbitrary clawbacks of payments made to pharmacies, and requires Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) how much money they make through spread pricing and pharmacy fees.
Heinrich also cosponsored the COLAs Don’t Count Act, legislation to exempt annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) from impacting the benefits of those who utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food assistance. This would help ensure participants of SNAP are not losing benefits due to the added costs of inflation and allow families to keep food on the table.
Heinrich recently secured committee passage of his Fiscal Year 2025 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, legislation that delivers critical new resources to fully fund WIC and ensure all eligible women, infants, and children can get the nutrition they need. It also protects vital nutrition assistance programs for families across the country.
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken holds a joint press availability with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, on October 24, 2024.
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Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.
The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.
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Source: China State Council Information Office 2
International experts have praised China’s efforts to preserve and promote traditional Tibetan medicine.
Over 200 global experts and scholars from home and abroad recently gathered in Lhasa, the capital of southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, for an academic conference on “The Four Treatises of Tibetan Medicine,” discussing the development and modern applications of these important medical texts.
Written between the 8th and 12th Centuries, “The Four Treatises of Tibetan Medicine” is the most influential foundational work on traditional Tibetan medicine. It shows fully the development and evolution of traditional Tibetan medicine, and has played an essential role in the dissemination and development of traditional Tibetan medicine in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, as well as the trans-Himalayan and Mongolian regions.
It not only represents the highest level of medical care in Xizang in ancient times, but also reflects the study of humanities, history, tradition, literature, art and craft in Xizang during an earlier period. The work was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2023.
John Vincent Bellezza, a senior research fellow at the University of Virginia, hailed the Chinese government’s dedication to preserving the “The Four Treatises.”
“They are doing a tremendous job in collecting thousands of ancient medical texts,” he said. “Tibetan medicine is an ancient tradition that has been helping Tibetans and other people for many centuries. Now, in the 21st century, we have the opportunity to bring these traditions forward and try to improve and better understand the tradition to serve the people in the Himalaya and the plateau regions.”
He also emphasized the importance of such a large-scale conference, saying, “This is crucial for the development of Tibetan medicine.”
Ram Adhar Yadav, executive director of Nepal’s National Ayurveda Research and Training Center, said the conference opened the door for academics, researchers and doctors to discuss how to research and treat diseases by using Tibetan medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, as well as Ayurveda, a traditional system of Indian medicine.
Amit Man Joshi, another researcher from the Nepali center, said the conference was a learning experience for him. “Before coming here, I didn’t know much about the history of Tibetan medicine. This conference has broadened my knowledge so that I can go back to my country and share about Tibetan medicine.”
The Chinese government has made significant strides in protecting and promoting Tibetan medicine in recent years.
In 2019, China invested 1 billion yuan (about 140.36 million U.S. dollars) in the construction of a new campus for the University of Tibetan Medicine, which has trained over 7,000 medicine professionals.
As of early 2022, Xizang hosted 49 public institutions of Tibetan medicine. The coverage rate of Tibetan medicine services in township health centers reached 94.4 percent, while that in village health clinics reached 42.4 percent.
Over the years, more than 300 ancient documents on Tibetan medicine have been collated and published, while more than 600 volumes of rare ancient books have been collected.
“The conference not only served to promote Tibetan medicine internationally, but also aimed to learn from and draw upon the development models of other traditional medical systems to further advance Tibetan medicine,” said Tsering, director of the Hospital of Traditional Tibetan Medicine.
Last week, the hospital launched the country’s first digital resource center for Tibetan medicine and astrology in Lhasa.
The center features 10 databases, including Tibetan medicine materials and the literature on Tibetan medicine and astrology. It also houses high-resolution scanned copies of rare Tibetan medical and astrology texts dating back to the 8th Century.
Joshi praised the establishment of the center, saying, “It’s a great initiative. Creating a comprehensive database ensures that Tibetan medicine will be preserved for future generations.”
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Tang Ping-keung said on Wednesday that from July to mid-October 2024, about 20,000 non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents were issued mainland travel permits.
The number of visitor arrivals/departures made using the document amounted to a total of 53,000, Tang said at the HKSAR’s Legislative Council.
Since July 10, non-Chinese permanent residents of the HKSAR and Macao Special Administrative Region have been eligible to apply for special travel permits to enter the mainland.
Tang said that based on the HKSAR government’s understanding, people from different sectors greatly welcomed the new measure, considering that it could substantially shorten the clearance time and fully satisfy their needs for visiting the mainland for business, academic and cultural exchanges, and traveling purposes.
Some of them also said that the measure had facilitated their greater participation in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Tang said.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday told a group of foreign scientists that China will steadfastly advocate and practice open, fair, just and non-discriminatory international cooperation in the field of science and technology.
Ding made the remarks when he met with French Nobel Prize for Physics winner Serge Haroche, U.S. plant molecular geneticist Susan Wessler, International Science Council CEO Salvatore Aricò and nine other foreign scientists attending the 2024 World Science and Technology Development Forum in Beijing.
Deepened international exchange and cooperation, and the promotion of sustainable development through sci-tech innovation are urgently needed to address important global issues, and to meet the expectations of the global sci-tech community and people in all countries, said Ding, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
“The more complex the international environment is, the more open China will be,” he said.
China will actively promote joint research on major sci-tech issues, foster an open, innovative ecosystem, and promote the sharing of sci-tech achievements to bring improved benefits to humanity, he noted.
The foreign scientists voiced their firm support for openness and cooperation, expressing their willingness to deepen exchange with China, produce more innovative results through partnership, and work together to promote global sustainable development.
Source: China State Council Information Office
China’s industrial sector logged stable growth in the first three quarters of 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Wednesday.
The country’s equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing industries are growing rapidly. Industries such as electronics, nonferrous metals, chemicals and automobiles accounted for nearly half of the industrial production growth seen in the first three quarters, the ministry said.
During the period, the value-added output of the automobile industry increased 7.9 percent year on year, ministry data shows.
Following a boost to the country’s consumer goods trade-in program, the consumption of electronic and digital products registered a significant increase. From January to September, the value-added output of companies in China’s electronic information manufacturing sector with a main annual business revenue of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.81 million U.S. dollars) grew 12.8 percent year on year.
Mobile phone shipments in the domestic market reached 220 million units, up 9.9 percent from the same period last year, the data shows.
The country also continued to optimize its industrial structure. Production and sales of new energy vehicles increased 31.7 percent and 32.5 percent respectively, and China took on more than 70 percent of the world’s green shipbuilding orders.
In the first eight months, the operating income margin of China’s “little giant” firms with a main annual business revenue of at least 20 million yuan was 7.5 percent — higher than the average level of industrial firms, the ministry said.
“Little giant” firms are the novel elites of small and medium-sized enterprises that are engaged in manufacturing, specialize in a niche market and hold cutting-edge technologies.
The data also shows that there were more than 4.09 million 5G base stations in China at the end of September.
Source: China State Council Information Office
China’s coal-rich province of Shanxi saw its raw coal output reach nearly 933.66 million tonnes in the first nine months of 2024, according to local authorities.
The coal output in Shanxi, the country’s largest coal-producing region, accounted for about 26.9 percent of China’s total during the January-September period, said the provincial statistics bureau.
In September, the province produced over 118 million tonnes of raw coal, setting a new monthly record for this year.
Over the years, Shanxi has continued to upgrade its coal industry. In 2023, the province established 118 intelligent coal mines and introduced smart technology to 1,491 mining faces.
As of now, over 50 percent of Shanxi’s coal production capacity is achieved via intelligent mining. Moreover, 30 pilot and demonstration coal mines using green mining practices have been established across the province.
In 2023, the province produced over 1.37 billion tonnes of coal, and it has set a production target of about 1.3 billion tonnes for this year.
Source: China State Council Information Office
China has established a complete new energy industry chain which is internationally competitive and provides more than 80 percent of global photovoltaic components and 70 percent of the world’s wind power equipment, an energy official said Wednesday.
Over the past decade, China has been key in lowering the average cost per kilowatt-hour of global wind and photovoltaic power generation projects, which have seen decreases of more than 60 percent and 80 percent, respectively, Zhang Jianhua, head of the National Energy Administration, said at a meeting in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province.
China’s wind and photovoltaic products have reached over 200 countries and regions worldwide — not only enriching global supply but also making outstanding contributions to green energy transition and the stability of the global energy market, Zhang added.
By the end of 2023, China’s installed capacity of wind and photovoltaic power had increased tenfold compared to a decade earlier, while the proportion of clean energy consumption in total energy consumption had risen from 15.5 percent to 26.4 percent.
Energy ministers from Belt and Road countries, ambassadors to China, and leaders of major domestic energy enterprises and financial institutions attended the meeting, engaging in discussions on topics such as energy transition and energy security, new energy storage, and advanced nuclear power technologies.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Apple CEO Tim Cook on Wednesday pledged to increase investment in China during his Beijing visit, which analysts believe highlights the importance of the Chinese market to the American tech giant.
In his second trip to the Chinese mainland this year, Cook met with China’s Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong on Wednesday, discussing topics including Apple’s development in China, online data security management and cloud services.
Cook said Apple is keen to seize the opportunities presented by China’s opening up and will continue to increase its investment in the country, thus contributing to the high-quality development of the industrial and supply chains.
On Tuesday, Cook met with Yang Jie, chairman of telecom giant China Mobile. The two sides exchanged views on further advancing cooperation in 5G applications, music and VR videos, building on existing cooperative programs in areas such as digital content, according to a China Mobile statement.
Cook also met with Chinese college students at a “science and technology backyard” in Beijing’s Shunyi District to learn how they are using Apple devices to help farmers adopt more efficient and sustainable practices.
In August 2023, the China Foundation for Rural Development set up a project to help “science and technology backyards” with social support. Apple was the first company to support the project.
Li Huimin, a student at China Agricultural University, and her research team have been developing an iOS app to provide extreme weather alerts, pest identification and pest warnings to raise fruit yields.
The app has been approved for testing and will be available after further improvements.
“The projects I just saw are amazing, and the students I met today are really motivated to make a positive impact for rural communities. I loved seeing how they’re using technology to help farmers increase production,” Cook said.
Chinese developers have thrived on the App Store. In 2022, roughly as in previous years, China accounted for 51 percent of the billings and sales facilitated by the App Store ecosystem, according to a study by Analysis Group.
During his Beijing trip, Cook also visited an Apple retail store in downtown Beijing, and met with developers at Chinese gaming company Gala Sports.
In his visit to Shanghai in March, Cook reiterated the company’s long-term commitment to the Chinese market when he opened Apple’s biggest retail store on the Chinese mainland.
“There’s no supply chain in the world that’s more critical to us than China,” Cook said, noting that Apple will strengthen its long-term cooperation with its Chinese supply chain partners and work closely with them on green and smart manufacturing to achieve win-win results.
His visit reflects Apple’s emphasis on the Chinese market and the company’s market strategy of combining local characteristics with global thinking, said Wu Shu, founding partner of Beijing-based Potential Capital.
“This may be regarded as Apple’s enhanced emphasis on the Chinese market, reflecting the strong magnetism of the Chinese market,” Wu said.
Apple’s new iPhone 16 lineup is off to a strong start on the Chinese market, with sales up 20 percent in the first three weeks after launch compared with the iPhone 15 series in 2023, data from market research firm Counterpoint Research showed.
As China’s “Double 11” online shopping event approaches, electronic items, along with other products, are expected to experience a surge in sales.
With the introduction of a host of incremental policies, China’s economy continues to show resilience and remains an attractive destination for foreign investment, Wu said. China’s opening-up policy and large market provide important opportunities for enterprises from all over the world, including the United States, he added.
Source: China State Council Information Office
This photo shows a view of the Kazan Kremlin in Kazan, Russia, Oct 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Greater collaboration and stronger coordination among BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as well as other new members — will greatly enhance their economic growth and fortify the multilateral trading system, according to market watchers and business leaders.
Established in 2006 as BRIC (South Africa was added in 2011), the group has become a key platform for countries of the Global South to get united and strengthen themselves through cooperation in fields such as security, economy, finance and agriculture.
The BRICS mechanism expanded with new members in January this year, marking the further internationalization and diversification of the cooperation mechanism, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Analysts said that by capitalizing on their shared strengths, these influential emerging economies have the potential to lead a more dynamic global economic recovery. Through expanded trade, investment and technological innovation, BRICS countries can fuel growth not only domestically but also on a global scale.
Following its expansion earlier this year, BRICS is becoming increasingly attractive to developing nations, as the platform promotes cooperation in areas such as international production capacity, trade in goods and services, and cross-border investment, said Jiang Shixue, vice-president of the Beijing-based China Society of Emerging Economies.
Sharing similar views, Rasigan Maharajh, chief director of the Institute for Economic Research on Innovation at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa, said BRICS supports these countries in enhancing their industrial capabilities, developing digital economies and fostering innovation.
Highlighting that BRICS countries have vast markets and diverse economies, providing opportunities for increased trade between member nations, Xu Xiujun, a senior research fellow at the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that by reducing trade barriers and promoting intra-BRICS trade deals, more members could access new markets and boost exports of goods and services in the coming years.
China’s foreign trade with the other BRICS countries reached 4.62 trillion yuan ($652.47 billion) in the first three quarters of 2024, an increase of 5.1 percent year-on-year, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.
China exports mainly construction machinery, trains, building materials, manufacturing equipment, electronics, textiles, garments and household appliances to other BRICS markets.
Chinese-made passenger vehicles and solar cells have also become popular in countries like Brazil, South Africa, the UAE and Egypt in recent years, according to customs statistics.
In addition to metal, crude oil, natural gas and grains, other BRICS countries’ shipments to China include passenger aircraft, timber, agricultural products, steel, cotton, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC’s department of statistics and analysis, noted that goods trade among BRICS countries makes up only about 10 percent of their total foreign trade, indicating significant growth potential.
“As cooperation within the BRICS family deepens and extends into new areas, both bilateral and multilateral economic and trade exchanges are expected to see significant positive progress,” he said.
The emphasis on trading, investing in each other’s markets and collaborating on technological innovations, industrial transformation and the digital economy has become a driving force for growth within the BRICS countries, said Egyptian Ambassador to China Assem Hanafi.
Echoing that sentiment, Chen Jianwei, a researcher at the Beijing-based University of International Business and Economics’ Academy of China Open Economy Studies, said that by collectively leveraging the power of the digital era, BRICS nations can successfully navigate the complexities of modern manufacturing transformation.
Chen said that these initiatives will not only enhance the bloc’s internal trade volume but also strengthen their trade relationships with the rest of the world.
Encouraged by these factors, Dong Wei, vice-chairman and CEO of COFCO International, a subsidiary of Beijing-based COFCO Corp, said the group will deploy more resources in BRICS countries like Brazil and South Africa to purchase agricultural products, carry out technology transfers and invest in agriculture and transportation-related infrastructure facilities in the years ahead.
COFCO International, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, currently conducts agricultural trade with more than 10 African countries and is one of the largest integrated grain traders in South Africa. “We will expand our agricultural product operations in other BRICS countries,” said Dong.
Source: Auckland Council
Epic views, great camping options at affordable prices, and taking in the outdoors in all its glory – sound like a dream? Make it your reality at any one of Auckland’s 28 regional parks, boasting over 30 campgrounds between them! That’s right, an outdoor adventure is calling, and it’s here in Auckland’s backyard!
The beauty of camping in Auckland is the accessibility – you don’t have to travel too far. Plus, with fees starting at $17 per night for adults and $6.50 for children at our main campgrounds, Auckland camping is an affordable way to holiday at some of our region’s most scenic locations.
Whether you’re a freedom camper, a glamper or a total camping newbie – we’ve got you covered. Your next Auckland-based outdoor adventure awaits – so get booking now!
It’s easy as, all you have to do is choose your preferred spot from the list of regional parks on Auckland Council’s website. Are you looking for a coastal, farm or forest experience? Each campsite listing contains photos of the park, and you can click through to specific photos and information about the different types of camping available.
To make it even simpler, the camping booking site includes a calendar showing availability so you can instantly see dates to choose from. You’ll also find a handy park brochure with a map, information about tracks, interesting features in the area, and important alerts. For most campgrounds you can drive right up to your selected camping area, so you don’t have to lug your gear long distances. However, be aware some campgrounds take a bit more effort to reach, such as the Mita Bay campground at Mahurangi Regional Park (West), which is accessible by foot, and the campground at Waitawa Regional Park, which can only be accessed by sea kayak. Remember to check the access prior to booking to understand the location of the campground.
All our regional parks are precious taonga, each with their own unique features, but over the summer some are busier than others and get booked out quickly. Fortunately, regional park campsites can be booked up to six months in advance, so it’s a good idea to set a reminder on your phone and book your spot as soon as you can so you don’t miss out!
The booking calendar for each campground also shows how many spaces are available, which is handy if you’re planning on camping with a larger group (note there are some group size limits over the summer). And you can book up to seven glorious nights. If your plans change, no worries! You can make unlimited amendments to your booking, or cancel (with a full refund), up to two days before the date of your arrival.
When you book your stay at a regional park campground, you’ll be emailed instructions including a combination code to get through the gate into the campground. Make sure you note it down on your phone or on a piece of paper before you leave in case mobile reception is patchy at your destination.
The main access gates for regional parks are locked overnight (daylight saving hours are generally 6am-9pm, and 6am-7pm for the rest of the year), so if you’re arriving in the evening, be sure to take note of the closing hours so you don’t end up carting your gear to the campground by foot. When staying, remember if you need to pop out for supplies, the access code will not open the main park gate.
If you’re up for a truly outdoors camping experience, many of Auckland’s regional parks supply only the bare basics – including the classic kiwi long drop! Be sure to read up on the facilities available at specific campgrounds, so you can choose the camping style that best suits your needs.
All campgrounds have drinkable water available (although sometimes you will need to boil it first), but many of the campsites at regional parks don’t have flushable toilets or shower blocks. These rugged campgrounds are a lot more spacious and less populated than commercial campgrounds, offering a truly remote outdoors experience. If that’s a step too far though for you or your fellow camping newbies, Shakespear Regional Park has flushable toilets and two cold showers onsite.
If camping in comfort is more your thing, many of the vehicle-based campgrounds allow campervan and caravans as well but check the rules before booking. Or bypass the regional park entirely and stay in a fully furnished glamping tent at either Ōrewa Beach Holiday Park, Whangateau Holiday Park or Martins Bay Holiday Park.
Make sure you read up on prime leisure activities at your location. For example, if you’re heading to a great surf beach like Omaha Beach, the kids will want boogie boards for catching waves and riding down the campground’s famous hill, and you’ll all want beach shoes for rock pooling.
While it is possible to fish at some regional parks, it’s strictly prohibited at parks that are also marine reserves. Some parks have access to extensive walking and mountain-bike tracks, golf and disc golf courses and did we mention the birdlife? Also, don’t forget your book from Auckland Libraries for some relaxing reading in the sun.
When you arrive at your site, be sure to follow the rules. Stay off sign-posted wahi tapu areas (sites which are sacred to Māori), and steer clear of restricted conservation areas where birds may be nesting.
Remember that lighting open fires is prohibited across all public areas in the Auckland region, and that noise must be kept to a minimum in regional parks after 9pm.
Also please dispose of all your rubbish correctly in the designated bins if available or take your rubbish home with you.
So, what are you waiting for? Your adventure awaits!
Source: Australia Scam Watch
Background
Criminals are emailing people and falsely claiming they have hacked into their computers or webcams and have access to compromising images and videos of them. These criminals are threatening people by saying they will release the images and videos unless they’re paid. They include personal details such as birth dates and addresses in the emails to intimidate people into sending them money.
These personal details are most likely from previous public data breaches. Anyone receiving this scam email should know that there is no evidence that the criminals sending these emails really do have access to people’s webcam or computer.
There have been hundreds of reports recently of people who have been targeted this way.
How to spot the scam
You receive an unexpected contact from someone claiming to have compromising sexual information about you.
The scammer threatens you and tells you to pay money or the information will be released.
You are pressured to act quickly to avoid embarrassment and reputational damage
How the scam works
Scammers send you an email falsely claiming that your computer or webcam has been hacked and that compromising sexual images or videos of you have been recorded.
The scammers threaten to release these compromising images or videos if they aren’t paid cryptocurrency to a specified address.
The emails include your birth date, full name and, in some cases, mobile number and home address. This makes them seem more real.
What you should know
If you receive emails like this, don’t respond and don’t pay any money.
There is no evidence that the scammers who send these emails have access to your webcam or computer.
The personal details contained in the emails have most likely come from previous public data breaches.
Find out more
This scam is a type of threat and extortion scam.
In these kinds of scams, criminals threaten you so you will pay them money. Speak up and report before handing over money to someone who threatens you
Stay protected
STOP – Don’t give money or personal information to anyone if unsure. Delete the email.
CHECK – Contact a computer specialist if you have concerns about the security of your device.
PROTECT – If a scammer has taken your money or personal details, contact your bank or card provider immediately to report the scam. Ask them to stop any transactions. Information on how to avoid scams after a data breach is available on the Scamwatch website. Report scams to Scamwatch.
If you’ve been affected
There is no shame in getting emails like this. It can happen to anybody.
If you’ve had personal information stolen or need help to recover from a scam, contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160.
If you’re feeling distressed and need to talk about it, reach out to Lifeline or Beyond Blue.
When you report your scam, the people who read your report understand how you are feeling. You are not alone. Contacting support services can help you understand what happened but also tells authorities about scam activities so they can work on making it harder for scams to succeed.
If you’re worried about your safety or someone else’s, call the police or go to your nearest police station.
Help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch.
Source: Ministers for Social Services
The Minister for NDIS and Government Services and local Member for Maribyrnong Bill Shorten called on Melbourne Water to take immediate action to address widespread community concerns following the reclassification of Kensington Banks as a high-risk flood zone.
The reclassification affects approximately 900 homes and over 2,000 residents in the area.
About 200 impacted residents attended a community forum at Kensington Town Hall on Tuesday night, and were outraged senior Melbourne Water representatives had not turned up.
“Melbourne Water was reluctant to join the meeting because they thought this was political. Of course it’s political,” Minister Shorten said.
“Why Melbourne Water think it’s beneath them to want to send someone senior smacks to me of arrogance and I’m filthy about it. And it’s just not the way I expect people to behave, especially when they’re the ones who sprung a surprise on us.”
The community is concerned homes will become uninsurable in coming years, despite property owners buying into the area in good faith and on the best advice of the existing flood modelling.
Minister Shorten reassured the meeting they had his support and was working hard with his political colleagues to put pressure on Melbourne Water.
“No one here has done anything wrong at all. You haven’t taken any risks. You went in, eyes open. It’s just the facts have changed in front of you. Now, that’s a problem. But that’s not on you.”
Federal Member for Fraser Daniel Mulino and State Member for Melbourne Ellen Sandell joined representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Insurance Council of Australia to hear from concerned residents regarding the lack of transparency with Melbourne Water’s tender process for mitigation planning, and the lack of consistent communication as to what steps can be taken by residents to address their individual changes in circumstance.
Minister Shorten said if it wasn’t for the Victoria Water Minister Harriet Shing, intervening, Melbourne Water representatives would not have attended at the last minute to take notes at the meeting.
“Senior Melbourne Water representatives, who had the least distance to travel, couldn’t’ turn up and give an accounting of their actions to a public meeting. It’s really disgraceful,” Minister Shorten said.
“Getting Melbourne Water to be transparent shouldn’t be a game of hide and seek where they hide what they’re doing and the residents have to seek out that information.”
“Melbourne Water do themselves no favours. If they’re actually working furiously behind the scenes, then they need to tell us and also the study options need to be transparent. The underpinning, whoever is going to do it, I just want it done. But you need to be able to deconstruct it and see if they’ve considered all the innovations, all the options, and it needs to be very bottom up. People have got to see what’s going on within the Insurance Council engagement as well. But I think it’s reasonable to say, what’s the timeline? Where’s the advisory board?” Minister Shorten told the meeting.
Initial community consultation began in April of this year, with Melbourne Water indicating that they are currently completing detailed assessments of long-term, sustainable mitigation options. However, Melbourne Water’s failure to provide a clear timeline for the tendering of contracts to develop these strategies has caused growing anxiety among affected community members.
“I do want Melbourne Water to feel more urgency. If there’s a statutory body in this country who will only meet on their terms, then they’re kidding themselves,” Minister Shorten concluded.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
“As communities across the Southeast continue to recover and rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the SBA remains focused on its mission to provide support to small businesses to help stabilize local economies, even in the face of diminished disaster funding,” said Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “If your business has sustained physical damage, or you’ve lost inventory, equipment or revenues, the SBA will help you navigate the resources available and work with you at our recovery centers or with our customer service specialists, in person and online, so you can fully submit your disaster loan application and be ready to receive financial relief as soon as funds are replenished.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, today announced the opening of three Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to meet the needs of businesses and individuals who were affected by the Park and Borel fires that occurred July 24-Aug. 26. The centers will be located in the Butte County Office, North Valley Plaza in Chico, Isabella Senior Center in Lake Isabella and in the Tehama County Transportation Commission in Red Bluff beginning Thursday, Oct. 24.
“When disasters strike, our Disaster Loan Outreach Centers are key to helping business owners and residents get back on their feet,” Sánchez said. “At these centers, people can connect directly with our specialists to apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to rebuild and move forward in their recovery journey.”
“SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the following centers to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their electronic loan application,” Sánchez continued. The centers will be open on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary.
BUTTE COUNTY
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Butte County Office
North Valley Plaza
765 E. Ave., Ste. 200
Chico, CA 96926
Opens 12 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24
Mondays – Fridays, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Closed on Monday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day
KERN COUNTY
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Isabella Senior Center
6401 Lake Isabella Blvd.
Lake Isabella, CA 93240
Opens 12 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24
Mondays – Fridays, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Closed on Monday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day
TEHAMA COUNTY
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Tehama County Transportation Commission
1509 Schwab St.
Red Bluff, CA 96080
Opens at 12 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24
Mondays – Fridays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed on Monday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
“SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” Sánchez added. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”
SBA disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.
Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.
On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to apply for property damage is Dec. 20, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is July 21, 2025.
###
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Open in Polk County
Asheville Disaster Recovery Center Moving; Temporary Centers Available to Help
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville will be closing 7 p.m., Oct. 24 to allow the school to open and students to resume learning. A new fixed site in Buncombe County will be announced soon.In addition to a fixed site, Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (M-DRCs) are opening with the first on Oct. 24 to provide in-person support. M-DRCs can be found at the following locations and operational hours:Swannanoa Fire Rescue – Bee Tree Fire Sub Station510 Bee Tree Rd. Swannanoa, NC 28778Open: Oct. 24 – 27, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Buncombe County Sports Park (Parking Lot)58 Apac Dr. Asheville, NC 28806Open: Oct. 28 – 31, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. A Disaster Recovery Center is a one-stop shop where survivors can meet face-to-face with FEMA representatives, apply for FEMA assistance, receive referrals to local assistance in their area, apply with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans and much more. Centers are already open across areas affected by Helene. To find those center locations go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a zip code to 43362. You can visit any open center. No appointment is needed. It is not necessary to go to a center to apply for FEMA assistance. The fastest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via the FEMA app. You may also call 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
krystin.ventura
Wed, 10/23/2024 – 23:06
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
Investigation Will Help Ensure That No Veteran – In Buffalo Or Anywhere Else In The Country – Fails To Receive Desperately Needed Treatment Again
Following their call for accountability after egregious failures at the Buffalo VA left veterans waiting weeks or months to receive care, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Representative Tim Kennedy, and Representative Nick Langworthy today announced a nationwide evaluation of the VA’s community care consult practices to root out systemic issues within the VA’s health care network.
At Schumer, Gillibrand, Kennedy, and Langworthy’s request, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will be conducting a comprehensive review of the VA’s community care consult practices. The investigation will include a review of the VA’s practices around scheduling patient treatment, particularly for high-risk and complex conditions. It will also review practices around handling concerns raised by patients and health care providers in the case of delayed treatment.
“No veteran, in Western NY or anywhere in America, should experience failures like those that occurred at the Buffalo VA. We must make sure this unacceptable failure to provide the care our veterans need never happens again. This new independent investigation by the Government Accountability Office will conduct a top-to-bottom review of the VA’s nationwide practices,” said Senator Schumer. “We must put better infrastructure and oversight practices in place to protect veterans in Western NY and across the country. We will be watching the VA like a hawk to ensure changes are made and VA centers across the country deliver on their promise to our vets to provide them the top-notch care they have earned and deserve.”
“What happened at the Buffalo VA was unacceptable. Nothing should ever get in the way of veterans receiving desperately needed care,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am glad that the Government Accountability Office is investigating the VA at my urging and I look forward to seeing the results of their investigation. I will continue to monitor this situation closely and fight to ensure that no veteran slips through the cracks.”
“I am pleased that the Government Accountability Office is moving forward with reviewing VA community care practices to ensure our heroes receive the quality and timely medical services they deserve,” said Congressman Kennedy. “I will continue to do everything in my power to uphold our duty of care and get the Buffalo VA back on track.”
“We must keep our nation’s promise to our veterans that when they get home, they get the care they earned and deserve — the failures that caused critical delays in care at the Buffalo VA are absolutely unacceptable,” said Congressman Langworthy. “This new investigation led by the Government Accountability Office will help us identify the problems that allowed this to happen and ensure it never happens again. I’ll be actively involved to make sure we hold the VA accountable and deliver real results for our veterans.”
According to a report from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, critically ill patients at the Buffalo VA had their treatments postponed for months or even canceled entirely, despite concerns raised by patients and health care providers. In one case, a patient waited nine weeks for radiation therapy for a new cancer malignancy, despite efforts by the chief of oncology to get the community care team to schedule treatment. In another, a veteran died waiting for palliative radiation therapy that would have eased severe pain from stage 4 cancer. Following the shocking revelations of the report the lawmakers requested an independent investigation by the GAO into the VA community care practices that led to these failures to ensure better care for veterans both in Western NY and across the country.
Specifically, the GAO review will include:
Oversight of medical centers’ adherence to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) requirements for processing consults for conditions considered high-risk or complex;
Whether consults are appropriately prioritized and consistently processed within VHA’s timeliness requirements;
Reviewing how medical facilities, VISN leaders, and the VHA Office of Integrated Veteran Care respond to concerns regarding delays in consult scheduling from providers, staff, patients, and their families and how this is built into VHA’s quality and risk management programs;
Best practices to prevent and address leadership deficiencies within the community care scheduling process, including the prioritization of patient safety.
The full text of Senator Schumer, Gillibrand, Kennedy, and Langworthy’s original letter requesting this investigation by the Government Accountability Office is available below:
Dear Mr. Dodaro:
On Friday, September 27th, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) released its findings following its inspection of the VA Western New York Health System in Buffalo, New York. The report – Leaders Failed to Address Community Care Consult Delays Despite Staff’s Advocacy Efforts at VA Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo – found a shocking pattern of apathy and incompetence on the part of Department facility and community care leaders in addressing the needs of patients with complex and high-risk conditions.
As the report indicates, these delays caused or led to an increased risk of harm to the patients. One veteran passed away while waiting months to receive palliative care that would have helped manage cancer pain in their final months. Another patient waited nine weeks to schedule radiation therapy for a new cancer malignancy, despite efforts by the chief of oncology to get the community care team to schedule treatment. Another veteran in their twenties continued to suffer from seizures for another 10 months as they waited for a consult to be scheduled, the delay partially caused by a referral being canceled by the community care medical director. These are only some of the cases highlighted by an OIG report that identified incompetence and bureaucratic red tape that failed the veterans in Buffalo again and again.
The failure by the leadership at the Buffalo VA Medical Center must never occur again, and veterans across the United States must be reassured that they can receive timely and high-quality health care across the VA health care system. Therefore, I request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a review of Veterans Integrated Services Networks’ (VISN) community care consult practices. The review should include, but not be limited to:
Oversight of medical centers’ adherence to Veterans Health Administration (VHA) requirements for processing consults for conditions considered high-risk or complex;
Whether consults are appropriately prioritized and consistently processed within VHA’s timeliness requirements;
Reviewing how medical facility, VISN leaders, and the VHA Office of Integrated Veteran Care respond to concerns regarding delays in consult scheduling from providers, staff, patients, and their families and how this is built into VHA’s quality and risk management programs;
Best practices to prevent and address leadership deficiencies within the community care scheduling process, including the prioritization of patient safety;
I request a briefing on the preliminary findings with final results to be submitted on a date and in form mutually agreed upon. Please include recommendations, as appropriate, for agency or congressional action in your evaluation.
