Source: Reserve Bank of India
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2024-2025/1330 |
Category: KB
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MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the 13-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction held on October 18, 2024
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MIL-OSI Russia: Financial experts tell how to best fight fraudsters
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –
Faculty of Economics, Novosibirsk State University held a “Financial Literacy Day,” during which five representatives of banks and consulting companies shared their experience in combating fraudsters.
This topic is relevant for students not only because today the victims of telephone scammers are very different people. The faculty trains future economists, so it is important that they are also prepared in the field of fraud prevention, since the price of a mistake by a bank employee, broker or expert of a consulting agency can be very high.
— I think the event was a success, the lectures were very diverse and informative. I judge by the fact that I myself heard a lot of new things. I think we will continue to hold such events in the future, — noted Deputy Dean of the NSU Faculty of Economics Naimdzhon Ibragimov.
— The Faculty of Economics, including student clubs, often organize thematic meetings for students. The issue of financial literacy and the topic of fraud are relevant now. Despite the fact that the problem of fraud is not new, the number of deceived people remains significant. And this can be due to different factors, of which I would highlight two: the first is that modern technologies are used not only by honest people, the second is that there are features of the psychology of perception of information that fraudsters know and use. These issues need to be discussed. This can be useful for young people, — said Svetlana Bekareva, head of the Department of Finance and Credit of the Faculty of Economics of NSU.
In their speeches, the experts touched on various aspects of the financial security problem. Sberbank representatives shared advice on how to protect yourself from fraudsters and told in more detail about the principles on which Sber’s ecosystem is built (which has long included not only the banking infrastructure itself).
Yulia Krasnova, head of the Novosibirsk branch of the large audit company DRT, described the methods used by fraudsters to increase the attractiveness of their reporting for investors.
The head of the Siberian regional center Kept Leonid Kozlenko, using specific examples, revealed the mechanisms for combating fraud that modern businesses use.
— I really liked the concept of this event, so we gladly responded to the invitation. We generally really like communicating with students, so our company has many different joint projects with the NSU Faculty of Economics. Their subject matter is much broader than financial security issues, they relate to both training and smooth introduction to the profession of future graduates, — Leonid Kozlenko emphasized.
The speech by the director of the SFM company, PhD in economics Andrey Bekarev was devoted to the psychology of fraud. Using examples from the documentary, she showed how one can manipulate a person’s opinion quite strongly, and this influence remains unnoticed by him. And as a result, he perceives other people’s assessments, views as his own and makes decisions on their basis that are beneficial to the manipulator.
— Modern propaganda and marketing technologies influence us much more than we are used to thinking. And this is often used for nefarious purposes, like the same scammers we have been talking about all day today. I would like to draw attention to this with my lecture. I hope this will help you maintain independent thinking and reduce the risks of becoming a victim of someone else’s manipulation, — Andrey Bekarev addressed his listeners.
Financial Literacy Day attracted the interest of students from various fields of study. Some of the students have been participating in the events of the Faculty of Economics for several years now, and began to get involved in the topic of finances back in school.
— Last year I attended the Financier’s Day, which was held by the Financial Club and the Faculty of Economics. I was not yet a student of the Faculty of Economics at that time and I really liked the interesting and useful lectures and, of course, the competitions. Today’s event is smaller in scale than the Financier’s Day, but the idea is about the same. I was the host of the game part in the question-and-answer format. It is interesting that people from different fields took part in them, for example, historians and journalists, — shared Mikhail Muravyov, a first-year student of the Faculty of Economics, the Jurisprudence field.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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MIL-OSI USA: One Day Longer, One Day Stronger
Source: US GOIAM Union
Amazing turnout at yesterday’s strike rally at IAM District 751 in Seattle! The energy was electric, and our unity was stronger than ever as we packed the hall, standing shoulder to shoulder, fighting for what we deserve. This strike is about every one of us – our future, our families, and our fight for a contract we have earned. There is no Boeing without the IAM!
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MIL-OSI New Zealand: Legislation – No Meaningful Change Leaves Fast Track Approvals Bill Stinking
Source: Communities Against the Fast TrackCommunities Against the Fast Track are disappointed and frustrated with the report of the Select Committee on the Fast Track Approvals Bill, released this afternoon. (ref. https://kasm.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40fd433e2f2344060946f0bb8&id=18db05f6af&e=26e06db549 )
“The report makes it clear that, at least to the Committee’s ‘majority’, it’s more important to push through developments fast, than to get it right for Aotearoa and future generations,” says Augusta Macassey-Pickard, spokesperson for the group (see membership list below).
“This isn’t about speed, it’s a clear demonstration that the government simply wants to avoid any environmental regulation or community oversight.The Committee has ignored the thousands of submissions against this bill, along with its minority members.”
The group noted that of all consents notified at the moment, 93% or them are successful, making a mockery of the Government’s rationale that there is a desperate need for this extreme reform. And they question the determination to remove any avenue for public input.
“Intentionally excluding community voices, including those of tangata whenua, is actively ensuring that significant knowledge and understanding will be missed. The lack of adequate scrutiny by anyone but the applicant, the Ministers and their expert panels creates a risk that even the few projects that, at face value, could be beneficial, are likely to be sub-par as they have not been properly interrogated.”
CAFT members are also deeply concerned at the apparent comfort of the (majority) Select Committee with the lack of information they were provided around the implications for Aotearoa in the international trade space.
“The casual attitude taken to our trade situation is reflective of what this bill demonstrates – this Government’s apparent disrespect for our country, for our communities.”
“Considering that, and the zombie projects, the retention of aspects like overrides for prohibited activities and Council plans, and the sheer number of proposals on the list that are not relevant to our infrastructure, but, as with seabed mining, and coal and gold mining, are harmful to our environment, it is absolutely clear; the Fast Track Bill is about what’s good for the pockets and bottom lines of a few.
It is abundantly clear this is not about what’s good for Aotearoa.This bill stinks.”
Macassey-Pickard also says the group has serious concerns and doubts over the ability of the system to cope – 149 significant proposals at a time when the EPA has, like many other Government Departments, been significantly scaled back.
“It’s a lot of work to service even one application: appointing the panel, coordinating hearings, notifications, transcripts, decisions and setting up monitoring programmes if a consent is granted. How can the EPA do anything to protect the public interest with this deluge, especially in light of its recent cuts? How can this be anything other than a rubber-stamping exercise?” asked Macassey-Pickard.
Who is CAFT Communities Against the Fasttrack
We collectively represent thousands of volunteers who are actively out in communities around the country giving their time and energy, expertise and experience to help create the kind of communities we want to live in, sustainable, inclusive and forward thinking
CAFT members:
Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki, 350 Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Climate Justice Taranaki, Environment and Conservation Organisations of NZ (ECO), 350 Aotearoa, Taranaki Energy Watch, Extinction Rebellion Tāmaki Makaurau, All Aboard, Save the Basin Campaign, and individual grassroots community organisers from around the motu.
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 3rd light public housing tender opens
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Housing Bureau today invited tenders for the third operation and management contract of Light Public Housing (LPH), involving a project at Tsing Fuk Lane in Tuen Mun.
The project will provide about 1,900 units, with intake tentatively scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2025.
As with the previous two contracts, the scope of operation and management services for this contract mainly cover occupant management, property management, daily maintenance, as well as the provision of social services, and the management and operation of ancillary facilities.
To encourage participation of different stakeholders in the community, the bureau welcomes tenders from all capable and experienced service providers, including non-government organisations and those with a valid property management company licence, or a collaboration between them.
The bureau will carry out a technical assessment based on factors including the organisations’ management capability, relevant experience and past service performance, as well as the proposed modes of operation and management, social service support to be provided, feasibility of an exit plan and use of innovation and information technology as stated in their proposals.
This is to ensure that the LPH facilities and services can meet the needs of the residents and the local community.
The tender price will then be evaluated to form a consolidated assessment to decide on the most suitable organisation for operating LPH.
The bureau pointed out that LPH could fill the short-term gap of public housing supply and improve the living conditions and quality of life of people living in inadequate housing as soon as practicable, adding that construction of a number of projects has already commenced.
Interested organisations may download the tender documents (tender reference HB2024/OPR-LPH-TFL) via the relevant tender notice on the bureau’s website from the e-Tendering System. They may also contact the bureau’s dedicated team on LPH to obtain the tender documents.
Tenders must be submitted by noon on December 6, either electronically via the e-Tendering System or by deposit in the Government Secretariat Tender Box situated at the lobby of the Public Entrance on Ground Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar.
Late tenders will not be accepted.
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MIL-OSI: Sampo plc’s share buybacks 17 October 2024
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Sampo plc, stock exchange release, 18 October 2024 at 8:30 am EEST
Sampo plc’s share buybacks 17 October 2024
On 17 October 2024, Sampo plc (business code 0142213-3, LEI 743700UF3RL386WIDA22) has acquired its own A shares (ISIN code FI4000552500) as follows:
Sampo plc’s share buybacks Aggregated daily volume (in number of shares) Daily weighted average price of the purchased shares* Market (MIC Code) 4,168 41.68 AQEU 36,033 41.69 CEUX 412 41.69 TQEX 49,202 41.68 XHEL TOTAL 89,815 41.69 *rounded to two decimals
On 17 June 2024, Sampo announced a share buyback programme of up to a maximum of EUR 400 million in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR) and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052. On 16 September 2024, the Board of Directors of Sampo plc resolved to increase the share buyback programme to EUR 475 million. The programme, which started on 18 June 2024, is based on the authorisation granted by Sampo’s Annual General Meeting on 25 April 2024.
After the disclosed transactions, the company owns in total 8,862,408 Sampo A shares representing 1.61 per cent of the total number of shares in Sampo plc, taking the issuance of shares on 16 September 2024 into account.
Details of each transaction are included as an appendix of this announcement.
On behalf of Sampo plc,
Morgan StanleyFor further information, please contact:
Sami Taipalus
Head of Investor Relations
tel. +358 10 516 0030Distribution:
Nasdaq Helsinki
Nasdaq Stockholm
Nasdaq Copenhagen
London Stock Exchange
The principal media
FIN-FSA
DEN-FSA
http://www.sampo.comAttachment
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MIL-OSI Australia: CFA crews save local Yarram sawmill
Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority
Eight CFA crews were called to a fire at a local Yarram sawmill on Yarram-Morwell Road at around 6.30pm on Monday 14 October.
On arrival crews were confronted with a difficult fire within the elevated hopper (sloped) structure, which quickly spread to adjoining bins containing several tonnes of woodchips.
Quick and effective action from the on-site staff and the CFA crews limited the spread as they undertook a controlled release of the bins supported by onsite heavy machinery, while crews protected the adjoining facilities and significant timber stock.
Incident Commander Ian Bounds said the fire was brought under control within two hours with minimal dollar loss or damage to the infrastructure and time down for the sawmill.
“Another half hour of fire development and the job would have escalated to a significant incident requiring fire crews through the night and potentially specialist aerial units to combat the fire,” said Ian.
“The fire was attended by four tankers and three operational support units from Yarram, Alberton, Jack River, Won Wron, Devon North and Port Albert.”
AKD Yarram Site Manager Glen Davis expressed his appreciation to CFA crews who battled the fire.
“AKD would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the CFA for their quick response and exceptional professionalism in swiftly bringing the situation under control,” Glen said.
“The CFA’s efforts were crucial, and we deeply appreciate the support provided to our Yarram facility.”
Submitted by CFA media -
MIL-OSI: Changes to the Management Board of Inbank
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
The Supervisory Board of AS Inbank confirmed the appointment of Ivar Kurvits as a new member of the Management Board returning from a sabbatical, who assumed his role on October 17, 2024.
Ivar Kurvits returns to his position as Chief of Staff at Inbank and resumes his responsibilities as a board member after a six-month sabbatical. Ivar Kurvits, who has long-term experience in legal and management, has been a member of the Inbank management board since 2020. Prior to joining Inbank, he held senior positions at Eesti Energia and the law firm Sorainen.
The eight-member Management Board of AS Inbank also includes Chairman of the Board Priit Põldoja, CFO Marko Varik, Head of Baltic Business Margus Kastein, Head of CEE Business Maciej Pieczkowski, Head of Growth and Business Development Piret Paulus, Chief Product and Technology Officer Erik Kaju, and Head of Risk Control Evelin Lindvers.
Inbank is a financial technology company with an EU banking license that connects merchants, consumers and financial institutions on its next generation embedded finance platform. Partnering with 6,100 merchants, Inbank has 895,000+ active contracts and collects deposits across 7 markets in Europe. Inbank bonds are listed on the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange.
Additional information:
Merit Arva
Inbank AS
Head of Brand and Communications
merit.arva@inbank.ee
+372 553 3550 -
MIL-Evening Report: How extreme weather and costs of housing and insurance trap some households in a vicious cycle
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jens O. Zinn, T.R. Ashworth Associate Professor in Sociology, The University of Melbourne
Climate change is increasing the risk of extreme weather events for Australian households. Floods and bushfires are becoming more likely and severe. As a result, household insurance costs are soaring – tripling in some cases. High-risk areas might even become uninsurable.
The national housing crisis is pushing low-income households in particular to seek affordable housing in areas at risk of flooding. There they can become trapped in a vicious cycle. Unable to pay soaring insurance premiums in these areas, they also can’t afford housing elsewhere.
The regulation of housing in Australia traditionally relies on well-informed buyers being responsible for managing the risks. But our new study found home buyers are often not aware of the long-term risks.
Only after they’ve bought the home do they start thinking about these risks. When faced with unexpected high insurance costs, many opt to take the risk of being underinsured or even uninsured. This leaves them highly vulnerable.
The National Strategy for Disaster Resilience promotes a shared-responsibility concept. However, we found the main responsibility still lies with households. And they are not equipped to cope with the increasing complexity, impacts and costs of extreme weather events.
What’s wrong with the current approach?
The uncertain knowledge about future extreme weather events is challenging the traditional prioritising of individual responsibility. It’s becoming even harder for households to make informed decisions based on past experiences.
Government efforts to regulate increasing flooding events might not be effective when households do not want to relocate or cannot afford housing elsewhere.
Governments are also under pressure to jump in to compensate households for the costs of extreme weather damage.
Our research found a number of issues prevent efficient regulation:
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stakeholders such as the insurance industry and home lenders face legal hurdles to sharing data and giving financial advice for housing in high-risk areas
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well-intended measures such as buybacks and planned relocations can fail when they do not relate to people’s experiences and life situation, such as limited financial resources and deep connections to a place and community
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households’ motivation to insure themselves might decrease if they can expect government to provide compensation as a de facto last insurer.
Who is responsible for what?
In Australia, responsibility for managing extreme weather events is roughly divided among three main stakeholders: the three levels of government, businesses and households.
Within the three levels of government, states and territories bear the main responsibility for managing extreme weather events. They do so through disaster risk management plans and policies, hazard prevention and land-use planning.
Yet housing is still built in flood-prone regions. It happens where commercial interests conflict with regional planning, and governments are under pressure to deliver housing for growing populations.
After extreme weather hits, house and contents insurance cover is key for a household to recover. But insurance costs are based on the risk of events such as flooding. As these risks rise, premiums may also increase and become unaffordable. The Climate Council estimates one out of 25 properties will even become uninsurable by 2030.
When housing is built in at-risk areas, under the current system home buyers are largely responsible for informing themselves about the risks of floods, bushfires and other natural disasters. Our research suggests many are struggling to estimate what insurance is likely to cost them.
To prepare for these costs before they invest in a home, they must assess their own risk, know the value of their house and contents and calculate the costs of rebuilding after a disaster. They must also take into account increasing costs for builders and materials after an extreme weather event.
Climate change is making these already complex calculations even more difficult.
Our study is based on interviews with 26 insurance, legal, financial, policy and urban planning experts. Despite the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience’s concept of shared responsibility, we found most of the burden still falls on households.
Yet households often lack the knowledge to assess the risks. The data and information are either unavailable, or hard to access and understand.
These difficulties, coupled with the complex language of insurance contracts, contribute to high numbers of underinsured and uninsured households.
The Australian government responded in 2022 by setting up a cyclone reinsurance pool. Its aim is to keep premiums for households and businesses affordable.
There are also government buyback programs or relocation plans to move people out of high-risk regions. As noted above, though, these don’t always suit households when offered away from their communities or full costs aren’t adequately covered.
Governments must take on more responsibility
According to the experts we interviewed, households are no longer able to carry the main responsibilities for managing the risks of climate change. Government must take on more responsibility.
At the local level, councils need to better educate their staff on climate change risks. They should ban housing development in at-risk areas.
Better information and data sharing among stakeholders such as insurers and governments will also be crucial. Such data and information also need to be made more accessible and easier for households to understand.
In a climate change world, increasing extreme weather events result in new complexities. Households are not able to assess these new risks and complexities to make well-informed decisions.
Australia needs stronger sharing of responsibilities between different stakeholders such as insurers, governments and households. This includes changes to laws on information and data sharing between insurers, governments and households, bans on building in high-risk areas, and better advice about the costs of buying in high-risk regions.
Jens Zinn received funding from the Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg/Institute for Advanced Study, Delmenhorst/Germany (10/2023-05/2024).
Julia Plass has received funding for the data collection in the study mentioned in the article from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
– ref. How extreme weather and costs of housing and insurance trap some households in a vicious cycle – https://theconversation.com/how-extreme-weather-and-costs-of-housing-and-insurance-trap-some-households-in-a-vicious-cycle-241572
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MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Shorten doorstop interview at Northcott Dapto Disability Hub
Source: Ministers for Social Services
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
SUBJECTS: Northcott Dapto Disability Hub; NDIS reform; Housing; Interest rates; University of Canberra
BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: It’s great to be at Northcott today in Wollongong. The opening of the new multi-use hub is fantastic news for thousands of people with disability. In particular, the hundreds of clients that Northcott looks after every day.
JOURNALIST: You mentioned in your speech downstairs that it’s a village of hope, and if you can expand on that, and that sort of means?
SHORTEN: Buildings reflect a society’s values. If we build a brand new shopping centre, it reflects the value that Australians value shopping. But when a community or a group like Northcott build a marvellous, purpose-built building so that people with disabilities can have more fulfilling lives, I think it reflects very positive values. So this is not just a set of walls and windows, some fabulous rooms and a roof. This is a village of hope where people with disability cannot be invisible, where they can help – have dreams, have hopes, make plans and have social interaction. So the values of this building are based on the finest moral foundations of a fair go for people with disability.
JOURNALIST: Reflecting I guess on your time as the Minister in charge of the NDIS, you’re obviously outgoing at the moment, there were recommendations about how to improve the service that were handed down last year. As you leave your position, what do you think? Do you think those – , yeah, what state do you think you leave the service in?
SHORTEN: You’re right. I’m very outgoing. I love the NDIS, I bleed it, I was fortunate enough to be able to help create it more than 15 years ago. Coming back into Government, I realised that whilst it was changing lives for the better, hundreds of thousands of lives, it was off track. Money was getting spent on the wrong things. There were a minority of service providers who were seeking to enrich themselves rather than look after the people they meant to. Australians are very generous. They, I think, don’t mind spending some taxes on Medicare and on looking after people with profound and severe disability. Participants deserve fulfilling lives. So therefore, what we’ve spent the last nearly three years is get it back on track. Now I want to take it above politics. I want to make it politician proof. Now we’ve got the legal authority to outline what you can spend your money on and what you can’t. Who you can spend your money with, with registered providers. We can now make sure that we’ve got a process for clear eligibility, which we’re working on. And I think also most importantly – so who can be in it, what we can spend the money on and who with. We’re clearing that up. We’re clamping down on the fraud and the cheats and the crooks. They’re not welcome anymore. But also what we’re doing is writing a new chapter of inclusion by building supports outside the NDIS. For people who don’t need the full orchestra of the NDIS, but have special needs, and so that the NDIS is not the only lifeboat in the ocean of services for people with disability.
JOURNALIST: Just on the changes that have been made, I spoke to a provider earlier this morning saying – who’s here in the Illawarra – saying that a lot of clients are I don’t feel like they have enough information about what can and can’t access now, and that’s actually worsening their mental health as well. Are there plans to kind of improve communications in that sense?
SHORTEN: Good providers should be telling their people what’s going on. I mean, a provider can simply access a website. It’s all there. I get any changes can bring anxiety. If you’re a person with a disability or a family who has fought hard to get a personal budget, when you hear the words change, that’s not what you hear, you hear, am I going to lose something? I don’t want to go backwards. All we’re doing is providing clarity. It’s very easy to access on the NDIA or the National Disability Insurance website. Our providers, they’re meant to be professional. They’re paid to provide services. So I can understand participants taking longer to work out what’s in and what’s out. But a provider should be acquainting themselves with the road rules. You’re not allowed to drive a truck without knowing basic road rules, and providers should do the same.
JOURNALIST: You talk about eligibility requirements. We have a local in Kiama who’s the name of Bobby English, who’s been campaigning for years to have her partner, who’s over 65 and developed a disability, have him be included in the Scheme. I guess as you’re leaving the position, do you regret not having this issue resolved? And will this be a priority for your successor, I guess?
SHORTEN: For the person who needs the support, I hope they’re getting support. But for the proposition that the NDIS, to the NDIS should look after people of all ages of disabilities, that would sink the Scheme. The Parliament made it very clear in 2013, when it was legislated, that the NDIS is for people up to 65 and aged care would look after people over 65. When I started campaigning for the NDIS, aged care was in much better shape than disability. What’s happened in the intervening 15 years, 16 years since I first raised it, is aged care had fallen backwards and for all of the problems with the NDIS, it was more generous. I think the answer to the issue of older Australians who acquire a disability after 65 is better support in the aged care system, which is what it’s designed for. And the Labor Government has been making pretty significant reforms in aged care to improve the support which would be available.
JOURNALIST: This is your, most likely your last visit to the Illawarra region is it?
SHORTEN: I don’t know, nice to say, but you know you have –
JOURNALIST: Well I was going to ask –
SHORTEN: I’m going to do more farewell trips than Johnny Farnham, but I’ll be coming back, to the South Coast anyway. I’m actually moving from Melbourne to Canberra, so actually I’ll be closer to the Illawarra than I’ve ever been.
JOURNALIST: Yes, but last in a ministerial – as an announcement, with an announcement sort of thing?
SHORTEN: Yeah.
JOURNALIST: in terms of this region in particular, obviously you’re a Federal Minister, but in this area, what do you hope the legacy of your role will be?
SHORTEN: I’ve been very fortunate to visit the Illawarra in different roles over my working life as a steel union rep with the Australian Workers Union. I’ve been at the north gate BHP. I’ve seen when things have gone bad. So I know this is a an industrial town. People work hard for their money here. Then I had the chance to work in disability here, and I realised it had a very strong culture of support for people with disability in the area, which I think reflects well on the values of the community here. I got to campaign here as Leader of the Opposition for six years. So I’ve seen how this area is reinventing itself and diversifying. And indeed, you know, to the south of the Illawarra has become a very crowded part of Australia. So I’ve seen this community reinvent itself. It works hard and it cares for the people within it. But what I’m pleased is that there’s 5,600 people in the Wollongong region receiving personal budgets of support because of a severe and profound disability, which but for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, they’d be stranded. Families will have kids on non-standard developmental journeys, little precious babies who are two and three. But for the NDIS, they wouldn’t get the sort of support they’re getting now. There’s ageing carers in their 80s who will be drying the dishes at 10:00pm tonight overlooking the, you know, the back window from the kitchen sink. They’ll have that anxiety, who’s gonna look after their adult child when they no longer can? We’re not fully there at fulfilling that promise. But for people in this region, we’re a lot closer to fulfilling a promise that even when you can’t look after the person you love because they have a profound and severe disability, there’ll be someone there.
JOURNALIST: Bill. Negative gearing is back in the spotlight today, with analysis showing more than 750,000 renters could become homeowners under your policy that you introduced in 2019. Is it time for the Federal Government to consider changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions?
SHORTEN: Well, unfortunately, Mr. Morrison won the election, so I didn’t quite introduce my policies but thank you for the compliment. Listen, the Government said that we’re going to focus on supply, that negative gearing is not on the agenda. I think that’s fine. We did take a series of policies to 2019. They were narrowly rejected. I think the Government’s got it right where we’re going to focus on supply. I’d encourage the Liberals and the Greens political party to get out of the way. They’re not – we want to build more houses. They’re delaying that. I mean, I have to say of Mr Dutton’s Opposition. They won’t lead, they won’t follow, and they won’t get out of the way. That’s a problem for renters.
JOURNALIST: Should the Prime Minister have bought an expensive home so close to the election in the middle of a housing crisis?
SHORTEN: Oh, it’s so up to him. It’s his business. Good luck to him and Jodie. Again, what I see is people are focusing on one house. I wish the Opposition and the Greens would focus as hard on the tens of thousands of houses that we want to support, and they are just on the Prime Minister’s house.
JOURNALIST: You did used to call Turnbull, at the time, Mr. Harbourside mansion back in the day, saying he was out of touch. Should Albanese have waited until after the election to buy his own?
SHORTEN: I think the difference between Malcolm Turnbull and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is chalk and cheese. Mr. Albanese has worked very hard. He comes from or he came from a tough background. I just wish the very best for him and Jodie in their future. But the other thing is I’ve got no doubt that Prime Minister Albanese will lead us to the next election and successfully.
JOURNALIST: But just in terms of cost of living, do you think the Reserve Bank should hold off on cutting interest rates?
SHORTEN: That’s a decision for the Reserve Bank. But I do know that 3 million mortgagees are doing it tough. I do know that the economy in large part is doing it tough. You know, it’s great that Labor’s been able to create a million jobs, and that shows you the focus of the Government. But people are doing it hard. It’ll be up to the Reserve Bank when they cut rates, but that can’t come too soon as far as I’m concerned.
JOURNALIST: Can I ask one more just for our Canberra colleagues? Your new position that you’ll be taking up, will you be launching a review into the governance of UC?
SHORTEN: Uh, I’ll wait until I get there. What I said about my new job is that until I finish my current job, I won’t be talking about my new job. But the day I start there, then I’m open for – the shop is open for interviews. Thanks.
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MIL-OSI Economics: RBI to conduct 3-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction under LAF on October 18, 2024
Source: Reserve Bank of India
On a review of the current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a second Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction on October 18, 2024, Friday, as under:
Sl. No. Notified Amount
(₹ crore)Tenor
(day)Window Timing Date of Reversal 1 1,25,000 3 12:00 Noon to 12:30 PM October 21, 2024
(Monday)2. The operational guidelines for the auction as given in the Reserve Bank’s Press Release 2019-2020/1947 dated February 13, 2020 will remain the same.
(Puneet Pancholy)
Chief General ManagerPress Release: 2024-2025/1331
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MIL-Evening Report: 1 in 5 Australians admit they don’t wash their hands every time they use the toilet
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine Carson, Senior Research Fellow, School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia
Do you wash your hands every time you use the toilet? How about before you handle food? Be honest.
Australia’s Food Safety Information Council has released its latest report card on the country’s hand washing habits. It found 19% of Australians don’t wash their hands every time they use the toilet. Close to half (42%) admit they don’t always wash hands before handling food.
So who’s doing well when it comes to hand hygiene, who’s not – and why does it matter?
What did the report find?
The new report surveyed hand washing practices of 1,229 people. Results were consistent with what we’ve learned from similar surveys.
Once again, women do better than men at washing their hands after using the toilet, although only slightly (80% of men say they do every time, versus 83% of women). Just 55% of men wash their hands before touching food, compared to 62% of women.
Age also seemed to make a difference. Under 34 years old, 69% of people washed their hands every time they used the toilet. Over age 65, that jumped to 86%.
Although some of these differences aren’t completely unexpected – such as the gap between men’s and women’s hand washing habits – the reasons remain unclear.
People over 65 were much more likely than younger people to wash their hands after using the toilet.
Mélissa Jeanty/UnsplashWhy don’t people wash their hands?
Public health messaging often focuses on how to wash hands well. But there’s less research that follows up on how widely people actually adopt these practices. And to understand why – if they are skipping the soap and water – those messages might not be getting through effectively.
One study that looked at this question in India asked school children about barriers to hand washing. The vast majority (91%) had low “illness threat perception”. In other words, they simply didn’t perceive a risk of getting sick form not washing their hands after going to the toilet.
Interestingly, the inability to see germs with their own eyes was one of the biggest barriers, cited by 46% of the children. But 72% said they would wash their hands if their friends did.
It’s tempting to speculate these reasons may also apply to other age groups, but we simply haven’t done enough research to know. People’s reasons for hand washing, or not, likely vary across their lifetime and with their circumstances.
What are the risks?
Urine and faeces contain millions of germs, especially faeces, which has more than 100 billion germs per gram.
When you use the toilet and touch surfaces in the bathroom, you will pick up germs. People who skip the hand washing step on the way out take those germs with them when they leave, depositing them on each surface they touch afterwards.
You may not get sick yourself, but you’re increasing the spread of bacteria. This can increase the risk of infection and illness for other people, including those with compromised immune systems such as older people and those undergoing common forms of treatment for cancer.
Hand washing before cooking and eating is also important. The risk here goes both ways. If you have disease-causing germs on your hands (maybe because you didn’t wash them after the toilet) you may transfer them to the food where they can multiply and even produce toxins. People who eat the food may then get sick, often involving vomiting and diarrhoea.
Washing hands before eating and preparing food can stop germs spreading from the food to hands, and vice versa.
CDC/UnsplashIn the other direction, some foods naturally carry germs before cooking – such as salmonella and campylobacter bacteria in raw poultry. If you don’t wash your hands after handling these foods you may transfer them to other surfaces and risk spreading infection.
How should I wash my hands?
Follow these three simple tips for hand washing correctly:
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wet your hands and rub them together well to build up a good lather with soap for at least 20 seconds and don’t forget to wash between your fingers and under your nails. You might have to use a nail brush
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rinse well under running water to remove the bugs from your hands
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dry your hands thoroughly on a clean towel for at least 20 seconds. Touching surfaces with moist hands encourages bugs to spread from the surface to your hands.
What about hand sanitiser?
If no running water is available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. These rapidly inactivate a wide range of germs, rendering them non-infectious. Hand sanitisers are effective against a wide range of bacteria and viruses that can cause many common gastrointesintal and respiratory infections.
However if your hands are soiled with organic matter – such as blood, faeces, meat, sand or soil – they won’t be effective. In that case you should clean your hands with soap and water.
The bottom line
Hand washing is a bit like wearing a seat belt — you do that every time you get in a car, not just on the days you “plan” to be involved in an accident. The bottom line is hand washing is a simple, quick intervention that benefits you and those around you — but only if you do it.
Christine Carson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. 1 in 5 Australians admit they don’t wash their hands every time they use the toilet – https://theconversation.com/1-in-5-australians-admit-they-dont-wash-their-hands-every-time-they-use-the-toilet-241481
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MIL-OSI: Azerion publication date of Q3 2024 results set for 19 November 2024
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Amsterdam, 18 October 2024 – Azerion, one of Europe’s largest digital advertising and entertainment media platforms, announces the adjustment of its upcoming Q3 interim unaudited financial reporting date to 19 November 2024, ten days earlier than the previously scheduled 28 November 2024. Over the past year, integration and consolidation efforts have helped Azerion mature as a publicly listed company, resulting in improved reporting efficiencies. These enhancements support Azerion’s growth and commitment to timely reporting while enabling it to capture opportunities faster and expand its market share.
Future reporting dates:
Q3 2024 Q4 and FY 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 19 November 2024 27 February 2025 28 May 2025 28 August 2025 18 November 2025 About Azerion
Founded in 2014, Azerion (EURONEXT: AZRN) is one of Europe’s largest digital advertising and entertainment media platforms. Azerion brings global scaled audiences to advertisers in an easy and cost-effective way, delivered through our proprietary technology, in a safe, engaging, and high quality environment, utilizing our strategic portfolio of owned and operated content with entertainment and other digital publishing partners.Having its roots in Europe and with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Azerion has commercial teams based in over 22 cities around the world to closely support our clients and partners to find and execute creative ways to make a real impact through advertising.
For more information visit: http://www.azerion.com
Contact
Investor Relations: ir@azerion.com
Media: press@azerion.com -
MIL-OSI: Awilco Drilling Plc: New Sponsored Norwegian Depository Receipts (SNDRs) issued
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Reference is made to the stock exchange notices from Awilco Drilling PLC (“Awilco Drilling” or the “Company”) on 1 October and 10 October regarding the issuing of 10,136,819 new Sponsored Norwegian Depository Receipts (SNDRs) based on the exercising of 10,136,819 warrants at a subscription price of NOK 1 per SNDR (the “Private Placement”) and the corresponding issuance of new shares.
On 17 October 2024, the 10,136,819 new shares were legally and validly issued. Following the issuance of the new shares, Awilco Drilling has a share capital of GBP 495,099.08 divided into 24,754,954 shares, each with a nominal value of GBP 0.02.
Furthermore, Equro Issuer Services AS, Awilco Drilling’s issuer account operator with Euronext Securities Oslo (the “VPS”) has today issued new 10,136,819 SNDRs, each corresponding to one underlying share in Awilco Drilling. The SNDRs will be delivered to subscribers in the Private Placement on or about 18 October on a delivery-versus-payment basis.
Aberdeen, 18 October 2024
For further information please contact:
Eric Jacobs, CEO of Awilco Drilling; Tel: +47 95 29 22 71
Cathrine Haavind, Investor Relations of Awilco Drilling; Tel: +47 93 42 84 64, ch@awilcodrilling.comThis information is published in accordance with the requirements of the Continuing Obligations.
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MIL-OSI Translation: Council of Ministers meeting on 18 October 2024
MIL OSI Translation. Timor-Leste Portuguese to English –
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
……………………………………………. ……………………………………………. …………………….
Press release
Council of Ministers meeting on 18 October 2024
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister for Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, and by the Executive Director of the Mission Unit to Combat ‘Stunting’, Joel Maria Pereira, for the first amendment to Decree-Law No. 91/2022, of December 22, relating to the Mission Unit to Combat ‘Stunting’.
Decree-Law No. 91/2022 created the Mission Unit to Combat Stunting with the mission of preparing and implementing the National Plan to Combat Stunting and promoting the coordination of government bodies in combating child malnutrition. However, although the National Plan to Combat Stunting has been completed, the planned measures have not yet been fully implemented.
To ensure the continuity of this work, the Government intends to extend the mandate of the Mission Unit until December 31, 2030, allowing the full implementation of the plan and the fight against the high rate of stunting in Timor-Leste. This amendment also aims to adjust the new ministerial framework resulting from the organic structure of the IX Constitutional Government, whereby the Mission Unit for Combating Stunting will be under the supervision of the Vice-Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs. This draft Decree-Law also aims to ensure effective and efficient coordination between the various government departments and public administration bodies in the execution of the responsibilities related to nutritional security assigned in the Plan.
At the previous meeting of the Council of Ministers, the National Multisectoral Annual Plan to Combat Stunting was also approved for the period 2024 to 2030, with the aim of reducing the rate of stunting and improving nutritional health in Timor-Leste.
*****
The Council of Ministers endorsed the agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on measures to enhance resilience and livelihoods in the rural sector, presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino. This agreement aims to increase the resilience of approximately 46,000 people in rural areas of the Manatuto Municipality.
The main aim of this project is to improve access to water, promote the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and strengthen the institutional and organizational capacities of rural communities. The initiative, aligned with the priorities of the IX Constitutional Government, includes investments in water infrastructure, the formation of agricultural groups and the development of more diversified and climate-resilient livelihoods. It is also expected that this rural development model to be implemented in Manatuto will be replicated in other municipalities, thus promoting the sustainable development of Timor-Leste.
*****
Finally, the Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law establishing the Community Revitalization Program, also presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino.
The program aims to promote the economic and social development of rural communities by supporting productive activities in the agriculture, fisheries, livestock, forestry and horticulture sectors, as well as infrastructure and equipment of collective interest. Aligned with the principles of sustainability, social inclusion and community participation, the program provides for the granting of subsidies for community projects, to strengthen local capacities and promote the resilience of communities throughout the country. END
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS to visit Peru and US
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
FS to visit Peru and US
FS to visit Peru and US
***********************The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, will depart for Peru this evening (October 18) to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Finance Ministers’ Meeting and other related events to be held in Lima, after which he will visit New York, the United States, from October 22 to 24. In addition to attending the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting during his visit to Lima, Peru, Mr Chan will have bilateral meetings with officials of other economies to exchange views on issues of mutual concern. He will also attend a luncheon hosted by the APEC Business Advisory Council and meet with members of business communities from various regions. With a theme of “Sustainable + Digital + Resilient = APEC”, this year’s Finance Ministers’ Meeting will explore topics including global economic and financial outlook, fostering green and sustainable development, providing financial support to tackle climate change, as well as digitalisation of finance and financial inclusion. During his visit to New York, Mr Chan will attend the Global Regulatory Forum organised by Bloomberg and deliver a keynote speech. He will also join a number of breakfast meetings and luncheons to meet and exchange views with members of the political, business and financial communities in the United States, and promote Hong Kong’s advantages and opportunities. Mr Chan will also visit local enterprises. Mr Chan will leave New York on October 24 local time and arrive in Hong Kong in the early evening of October 25. During his absence, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, will be the Acting Financial Secretary.
Ends/Friday, October 18, 2024Issued at HKT 14:00NNNN
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MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Serious concerns ignored in Govt’s fast track bill
Source: New Zealand Labour Party
National’s fast track bill enables the most radical and unbalanced consenting regime in living memory.
As the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Rt Hon Simon Upton said in his submission to select committee ‘the Bill lacks many of the environmental safeguards its predecessor legislation contained. Even the much-maligned National Development Act 1979 had more checks and balances.’
“Despite masquerading under the same name as Labour’s fast-track consenting legislation, it is fundamentally different. Its objective is to override environmental protections,” Labour’s acting environment spokesperson David Parker said.
“Labour’s fast-track process worked. Under it almost 100 projects were approved without undue delay or excessive cost. Many significant housing subdivisions, wind farms, solar farms, retirement villages and infrastructure projects were approved. This process worked and did not override the Resource Management, Conservation, Wildlife and Heritage Protection Acts.
“In contrast this bill excludes any reference to the environment or sustainable management in its purpose, and now enables environmental protections in the Resource Management, Conservation, Wildlife and Heritage Protection Acts to be overridden.
“The Bill is obviously not aimed at approving the sorts of projects that were already being approved. It is aimed at pushing through environmentally contentious projects, some of which have been previously declined or are midway through other processes.
“Examples include mining 50 million tonnes of iron sands off Taranaki for export (not New Zealand processing), coal mines, and a contentious proposal to burn large quantities of plastic.
“Climate polluting emissions will increase.
“The list of projects to be considered – which was released after submissions closed – includes many projects where locals adversely affected should have the opportunity to make submissions. They won’t be able to.
“It was reported this morning that even a National Party MP disagrees with a project on that list and would lie on train tracks to stop it, making a complete mockery of their consultation process.
“The Parliamentary Commissioner’s serious concerns have been ignored. So have the submitters who overwhelmingly opposed this overreach.
“There are many other problems with this legislation described in Labour’s part of the Committee report back, which has been tabled in the House this afternoon.
“The tens of thousands of New Zealanders who marched in the streets to protest against this radical override of New Zealand’s environmental laws have been ignored. The legislation is more extreme than it was when it went to the select committee,” David Parker said.
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MIL-OSI New Zealand: Second murder charge in relation to Whangamarino death
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
To be attributed to Detective Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke:
Police have arrested a second man in relation to the death of a man found critically injured on Hampton Downs Road, Whangamarino earlier this week.
A 42-year-old man was arrested in Auckland today and is due to appear in Counties Manukau District Court tomorrow charged with murder.
Police continue to make enquiries and cannot rule out further arrests and charges.
Police would still like to hear from anyone who was travelling on Hampton Downs Road between 10pm on Sunday 13 October and 1am on 14 October, particularly if you have dashcam footage.
If you can help, please update us online now or call 105.
Please use the reference number 241014/2225.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
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MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of His Majesty’s High Commissioner to Cyprus: Michael Tatham
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Mr Michael Tatham CMG has been appointed His Majesty’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus in succession to Mr Irfan Siddiq OBE
Mr Michael Tatham CMG has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus in succession to Mr Irfan Siddiq OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Tatham will take up his appointment during November 2024.
Curriculum vitae
Full name: Michael Harry Tatham
2023 to 2024 FCDO, Delivery Director European Political Community Summit 2018 to 2022 Washington DC, Deputy Head of Mission (Chargé d’Affaires, 2019-20) 2015 to 2017 FCO, Director Eastern Europe and Central Asia 2011 to 2015 UK Mission to the United Nations, New York, Political Counsellor 2008 to 2011 Sarajevo, Her Majesty’s Ambassador 2006 to 2008 FCO, Head of Western Balkans Department 2002 to 2005 Prague, Deputy Head of Mission 1999 to 2002 10 Downing Street, Private Secretary (Foreign Affairs) to the Prime Minister 1997 to 1999 Sofia, Deputy Head of Mission 1995 to 1996 FCO, Private Secretary to Minister for Europe 1995 FCO, Head of East Mediterranean Section, Southern European Department 1993 to 1995 FCO, European Union Department (Internal) 1989 to 1993 Prague, Third later Second Secretary (Political/Press) 1987 to 1988 FCO, Namibia Desk Officer, Southern African Department 1987 Joined FCO Updates to this page
Published 18 October 2024 -
MIL-OSI China: Xi stresses importance of sci-tech in advancing Chinese modernization
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has emphasized that science and technology should be at the forefront in advancing Chinese modernization.
Xi made the remarks during his visit to the Hefei Binhu Science City in east China’s Anhui Province on Thursday afternoon. -
MIL-OSI China: Xi makes instruction on establishment of resource-recycling company
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the importance of building a national platform for recycling and reusing resources in a recent instruction on the establishment of a company specialized in resources recycling.
Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.ChinaNews App Download -
MIL-OSI China: Xi stresses promoting traditional Chinese virtues
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has stressed the importance of carrying forward traditional Chinese virtues to foster a more harmonious society.
Xi made the remarks during his visit to the Liuchi Alley, a historical cultural site in Tongcheng City, east China’s Anhui Province, on Thursday afternoon. -
MIL-OSI: China Medical System：First Ruxolitinib Cream’s Prescriptions for Vitiligo Issued in the Greater Bay Area
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
SHENZHEN, CHINA, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — China Medical System Holdings Limited (the “Group” or “CMS”) is pleased to announce that on 18 October, the first batch of prescriptions of ruxolitinib phosphate cream (the “ruxolitinib cream” or the “Product”) for qualified vitiligo patients were issued in the Greater Bay Area, at Zhongshan Chen Xinghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital, and Dongguan Songshan Lake Tungwah Hospital. The Product’s new drug application (NDA) was approved by the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF) of Macau on 11 April 2024, and subsequently the Product was approved by the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration on August 19 through the “Hong Kong and Macau Medicine and Equipment Connect” policy, which officially introduced ruxolitinib cream for the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo with facial involvement in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age, providing a novel treatment option for patients with relevant indication into designated medical institutions in the Mainland of Greater Bay Area.
In addition, on 24 September, the NDA for vitiligo indication of ruxolitinib cream has been accepted by the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA). In accordance with the relevant regulations of the drug real-world data application pilot program in the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone (the “Pilot Zone”), CMS has conducted a real-world study on ruxolitinib cream in China. The results have shown positive efficacy, which is consistent with the key outcomes of global pivotal clinical studies. All secondary efficacy endpoints showed a trend of benefit consistent with the primary efficacy endpoint, and the treatment effect for vitiligo continued to improve with longer treatment duration. Meanwhile, through the safety monitoring data of the Pilot Zone, no new safety events have been identified. Adverse events mostly had severity levels of grade 1 or 2. No adverse event (AE) leading to discontinuation or withdrawal, and no serious adverse event (SAE) related to the study drug occurred.
If the Product is successfully approved for marketing in Mainland China, it will be the first prescription drug approved by NMPA for repigmentation in vitiligo, bringing this novel treatment hopes for Chinese vitiligo patients.
Furthermore, on 12 August 2023, the Product was approved by Hainan Medical Products Administration for Urgent Clinical Import, and officially became available to applicable patients in the Pilot Zone on August 18, for the topical treatment of non-segmental vitiligo in adults and adolescents aged 12 and above with facial involvement. Benefiting from the Early and Pilot Implementation Policy granted by the state to Hainan Free Trade Port and the Pilot Zone, patients with vitiligo in China can apply for the Product in Boao Super Hospital first and receive treatment from the expert team. As of 30 June 2024, more than 3,200 patients have been treated with ruxolitinib cream in Boao Super Hospital.
CMS has always been patient-oriented and innovation-driven based on clinical needs, continuously striving to improve drug accessibility. Benefited from the “Hong Kong and Macau Medicine and Equipment Connect” policy, ruxolitinib cream was approved for use in the Greater Bay Area and completed its first batch of prescriptions, shortening the time difference for Chinese vitiligo patients to use innovative drug and benefiting more domestic patients. Looking forward to the future, the Group will continuously strive to meet the unmet needs of Chinese patients, continuously explore novel drugs with international quality, and efficiently promote products’ clinical development and commercialization, so as to bring more quality pharmaceutical products through differentiated innovation-breakthrough, to safeguard the health and life-quality of patients.
About ruxolitinib cream
Ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura), a novel cream formulation of Incyte’s selective JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib, is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for the topical treatment of nonsegmental vitiligo in patients 12 years of age and older. As of now, it is the first and only treatment for repigmentation approved for use in the United States[1]. Ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) is also approved in the U.S. for the topical short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in non-immunocompromised patients 12 years of age and older whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies, or when those therapies are not advisable[2]. In Europe, ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) is approved for the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo with facial involvement in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age[3].On 2 December 2022, the Group through a subsidiary of the Company, a dermatology medical aesthetic company (“CMS Skinhealth”) entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Incyte for topical formulations of ruxolitinib for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory dermatology diseases. In accordance with the License Agreement, the Group through CMS Skinhealth received an exclusive license to develop, register and commercialize the Product in Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region, Taiwan Region and eleven Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam) (the “Territory”) and a non-exclusive license to manufacture the Product in the Territory. The License Agreement commenced on its effective date and has a royalty term of ten years from the date of the commercial sale of the Product in the Territory (the “Royalty Term”). Upon the expiration of the Royalty Term, the License Agreement may be renewed for a period of ten years thereafter (the “Initial Extended Royalty Term”) as per certain conditions defined in the License Agreement. Upon the expiration of the Initial Extended Royalty Term, the License Agreement may be extended for a period otherwise agreed by both sides as per certain conditions defined in the License Agreement.
Incyte has worldwide rights for the development and commercialization of the Product, marketed in the United States and Europe as Opzelura®. Opzelura and the Opzelura logo are registered trademarks of Incyte.
About vitiligo
Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by depigmentation of the skin, which results from the loss of pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. It is estimated that there are approximately 14 million vitiligo patients in China[4]. Non-segmental vitiligo patients account for approximately 85% of them. Topical corticosteroids (TCS) and calcineurin inhibitors (CI) are used off-label for non-segmental vitiligo, however, these therapies have clinical deficiencies with long-term adverse reactions of long-term treatment or limited efficacy[5、6].
About CMS
CMS is a platform company linking pharmaceutical innovation and commercialization with strong product lifecycle management capability, dedicated to providing competitive products and services to meet unmet medical needs.CMS focuses on the global first-in-class (FIC) and best-in-class (BIC) innovative products, and efficiently promotes the clinical research, development and commercialization of innovative products, enabling the continuous transformation of scientific research into clinical practices to benefit patients.
CMS deeply engages in several specialty therapeutic fields, and has developed proven commercialization capabilities, extensive networks and expert resources, resulting in leading academic and market positions for its major marketed products. CMS continues to promote the in-depth development of its advantageous specialty fields and expand business boundaries. While strengthening the competitiveness of the cardio-cerebrovascular/gastroenterology business, CMS independently operates its dermatology and medical aesthetics business, and ophthalmology business, aiming to gain leading positions in specialty therapeutic fields, whilst enhancing the scale and efficiency. At the same time, CMS has expanded its business territory to the Southeast Asian market, striving to become a “bridgehead” for global pharmaceutical companies to enter the Southeast Asian market, further escorting the sustainable and healthy development of the Group.
Reference：
- Drug approval information can be found on the FDA official website, as follows: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-approves-topical-treatment-addressing-repigmentation-vitiligo-patients-aged-12-and-older
- Drug approval information can be found on the Incyte official website, as follows: https://investor.incyte.com/news-releases/news-release-details/incyte-announces-us-fda-approval-opzeluratm-ruxolitinib-cream
- Drug approval information can be found on the EMA official website, as follows: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/opzelura
- Ezzedine K, Eleftheriadou V, Whitton M, van Geel N. Vitiligo. Lancet. 2015;386(9988):74-84. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60763-7
- Consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of vitiligo (2021 version)
- Kubelis-López DE, Zapata-Salazar NA, Said-Fernández SL, Sánchez-Domínguez CN, Salinas-Santander MA, Martínez-Rodríguez HG, Vázquez-Martínez OT, Wollina U, Lotti T, Ocampo-Candiani J. Updates and new medical treatments for vitiligo (Review). Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):797. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10229. Epub 2021 May 25. PMID: 34093753; PMCID: PMC8170669.
CMS Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements
This press release is not intended to promote any products to you and is not for advertising purposes. This press release does not recommend any drugs, medical devices and/or indications. If you want to know more about the diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases, please follow the opinions or guidance of your doctor or other medical and health professionals. Any treatment-related decisions made by healthcare professionals should be based on the patient’s specific circumstances and in accordance with the drug package insert.This press release which has been prepared by CMS does not constitute any offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and shall not form the basis for or be relied on in connection with any contract or binding commitment whatsoever. This press release has been prepared by CMS based on information and data which it considers reliable, but CMS makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, whatsoever, and no reliance shall be placed on, the truth, accuracy, completeness, fairness and reasonableness of the contents of this press release. Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain statements regarding the Group’s market opportunity and business prospects that are individually and collectively forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Any forward-looking statements and projections made by third parties included in this press release are not adopted by the Group and the Company is not responsible for such third-party statements and projections.
Media Contact
Brand: China Medical System Holdings Ltd.
Contact: CMS Investor Relations
Email: ir@cms.net.cn
Website: https://web.cms.net.cn/en/home/
Source: China Medical System Holdings Ltd.
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MIL-OSI China: China saw 30% increase in border crossings in Q3
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Border inspection agencies across China recorded 160 million entries and exits during the third quarter of this year, representing a year-on-year increase of 30.1 percent, according to the National Immigration Administration.
A total of 8.186 million inbound trips were made by foreigners, up 48.8 percent from the same period last year. Of these trips, 4.885 million were made visa-free, a year-on-year increase of 78.6 percent, data from the administration showed.
In July, China issued new visa-free entry and transit policies, granting 144-hour visa-free entry to foreigners visiting the southern island province of Hainan via tour groups registered in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.
Additionally, the country’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been expanded to three more entry ports in central China’s Henan Province and southwest China’s Yunnan Province. -
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry meat and products from Hokkaido Prefecture in Japan suspended
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 18) that in view of a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza in Hokkaido Prefecture in Japan, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.
A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 1170 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 150.45 million poultry eggs from Japan in the first six months of this year.
“The CFS has contacted the Japanese authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.
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MIL-OSI: Planisware brought together European clients for its annual user conference in Paris: Exchange24 EMEA
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Planisware brought together European clients for its annual user conference in Paris:
Exchange24 EMEAParis, France, October 18, 2024 – Planisware, a leading B2B provider of SaaS in the rapidly growing Project Economy market has hosted over the last two days in Paris its annual client conference: Exchange24 EMEA. Together with its North American edition held in Philadelphia in April 2024, the Parisian edition is a highly anticipated event that has been held continuously for over 20 years, providing a platform for Planisware to showcase its latest innovations while enabling fruitful exchanges within the large Planisware’s clients community and with PPM1 and SPM2 professionals from diverse industries.
Loïc Sautour, CEO of Planisware, commented: “Exchange24 EMEA has been a powerful testament to the strength of our community. Bringing together the brightest minds in project and portfolio management, we explored our latest innovations and the future of our platform. The event was filled with inspiring insights, real-world success stories, and hands-on experiences that will continue to drive success for our clients. This gathering wasn’t just about showcasing what’s new, but also about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible together with our incredible partners and clients through fruitful exchanges within the large Planisware’s clients community.”
Following Planisware’s successful IPO in April 2024, the conference took on a heightened significance, attracting not only PPM experts but also stakeholders interested in Planisware’s growth trajectory. Exchange24 served as a strategic opportunity to showcase how cutting-edge solutions help clients navigate their complete portfolio of projects and to better align it with their strategic goals.
During these sessions, Planisware introduced its latest innovations, focusing on four key areas:
- User Interface & Experience: New chart design, generalization of tiled dashboards, and more generally many improvements across the board based on customer feedback and usage analysis.
- Artificial Intelligence: Introduction of Planisware Co-Pilot, Planisware Trusted GenAI, and fuzzy search capabilities.
- Capabilities: Several new or enhanced features including sensitivity analysis, task automation, and task date inspector.
- Collaboration: Improvements to the mobile app, enhance shared screen options, and more native integration.
AI-Powered innovation in PPM has been one of the focal points of Exchange24. A much-anticipated roundtable discussion delved into how AI-driven tools, integrated into Planisware’s solutions, are improving decision-making, forecasting, and automation across project portfolios.
Clients such as Total Energies, Teva, Schwarz Group, Saint-Gobain, Enedis, Stora Enso, or UCB were prominently featured throughout the conference. They shared their success stories in personalized customer sessions, bringing forward how Planisware’s PPM solutions have transformed their approach, optimized project delivery, better driving business outcomes. These sessions provided practical insights into overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities in today’s volatile market.
About Planisware
Planisware is a leading business-to-business (“B2B”) provider of Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) in the rapidly growing Project Economy. Planisware’s mission is to provide solutions that help organizations transform how they strategize, plan and deliver their projects, project portfolios, programs and products.
With more than 700 employees across 14 offices, Planisware operates at significant scale serving around 600 organizational clients in a wide range of verticals and functions across more than 30 countries worldwide. Planisware’s clients include large international companies, medium-sized businesses and public sector entities.
Planisware is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (Compartment A, ISIN code FR001400PFU4, ticker symbol “PLNW”). For more information, visit: https://planisware.com/
Connect with Planisware on: LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).
Contact
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE discusses Policy Address on-air
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Chief Executive John Lee appeared on a radio phone-in programme this morning to take questions from the public about the 2024 Policy Address.
In an hour-long session, Mr Lee answered questions on topics ranging from the economy to innovation and technology (I&T), land and housing, and more.
Addressing its overall economic situation and future development path, the Chief Executive said that Hong Kong has gone through many changes over time and remains an attractive city. He stressed that the Government is optimistic about the economy and expects overall growth of between 2.5% and 3.5% this year.
“That means the macro-economy is positive but the micro-economy, particularly for some sectors, they may have to think of new ways of doing things, so as to make themselves attractive,” he added.
A major of focus in the Policy Address was backing for the I&T sector, with Mr Lee vowing to develop new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions as Hong Kong strives to develop as an international I&T centre.
Responding to a question on the topic on-air, he said: “I think I&T has to be the way forward. I think the whole world really has gone in that direction. And I think if we want to remain competitive, and also to remain prosperous, we need to work hard in this area.
“What we are doing now in regard to I&T (is on) many fronts. First of all we need talents because good people, I think, are the key.
“We want to set up more laboratories, so that there will be more possible products to be transformable. And then, we want more money to be put into research. The Government alone cannot be the only source (of money) because we are still only investing about 1.07% of the whole GDP (gross domestic product) of Hong Kong.”
During the programme, Mr Lee also responded to questions on Hong Kong’s housing situation,
He iterated that the Policy Address introduced various measures to assist home buyers, including an adjustment of the maximum loan-to-value ratio for all properties to 70%.
Despite the challenges presented by the limited supply of land, the Chief Executive said that ensuring people’s housing needs are met is the responsibility of the Government.
The Policy Address also included plans to enact legislation to tackle the issue of subdivided units.
Asked about the Government’s approach, Mr Lee said: “It is such a big problem and all the different factors that affect the present occupants are so diverse. So, I will be doing it in a very orderly manner, progressively. And people will be given sufficient notice to know what will happen.
“First of all, we need legislation so people know the standards that will be set for what (will) then become the only available, lawful Basic Housing Units (BHUs) in Hong Kong.
“The market will develop because there is a demand. Once it is regulated, then those who provide these units will know the rules of the game.”
He added that once the new standards have been enforced, the market will set the optimal level of rents for BHUs.
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MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fast-Track, off the rails: Submitters show strong opposition to Bill
Source: Green Party
Despite resounding public opposition, the fast-track legislation is being pushed through Parliament with provisions that could have real consequences for people and planet.
“More than 90 per cent of submitters opposed this Bill. People know that the fast track will derail our environment,” says the Green Party Spokesperson for the Environment Lan Pham.
“Our well-being is intertwined with the environment. By looking after nature, we look after ourselves. We need to move on from the archaic, exploitative and extractive approach that has already seen us lose so much.
“We came to the table with a range of amendments to entrench environmental protections and ensure the voices of New Zealanders were considered, but every single one was rejected.
“Among the amendments dismissed outright were those that would have upheld environmental protections, introduced Te Tiriti considerations, given the public an opportunity to be consulted and protected the rights of current consent holders. This is the bare minimum.
“Huge public outcry has been blatantly ignored, and overwhelming opposition has been swept aside.
“This rushed process has silenced communities and is quite clearly ignoring evidence.
“The Green Party will continue to fight for the environment and a liveable future for all. Decisions about our land, waters and resources must be made transparently, and with the voices of our communities and health of our environment front of mind.
“Instead of fast-tracking short-term financial gains, we believe in a process that prioritises the long-term wellbeing: of our people, our waters and our land,” says Lan Pham.
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: More measures to support SMEs
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Monetary Authority (HKMA), together with the banking sector, introduced multiple measures today to further support, through financing as well as banking products and services, the continuous development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The HKMA said around 20,000 SMEs have benefitted from the nine measures that it launched with the Banking Sector SME Lending Co-ordination Mechanism in March this year, involving an aggregate credit limit of over $44 billion.
Taking into account the commercial sector’s views, the HKMA and the banking sector will roll out five measures to assist SMEs’ continuous development, upgrade and transformation, as well as enhancing their competitiveness and productivity to cope with various operational challenges.
Firstly, the HKMA has lowered the countercyclical capital buffer ratio from 1% to 0.5%, and will allow banks to early adopt the preferential treatments for SME exposures under the Basel III capital framework.
Such policies will release bank capital, enabling banks to make use of the additional capital to facilitate SMEs’ financing needs.
Secondly, the 16 banks that are active in SME lending have set aside a total of over $370 billion in dedicated funds for SMEs in their loan portfolio. The funds will allow SME customers to access necessary financing to cope with the evolving business environment.
The banks will regularly review and consider scaling up the size of their dedicated funds in response to SMEs’ needs and development.
Thirdly, the HKMA said banks will launch more credit products and services to meet the needs, such as the combination of digital transformation and green transformation, of SMEs. Examples include pre-approved credit limits, unsecured loans, cross-border loans, and loans with flexible repayment periods.
On partial principal repayment options, the HKMA noted that when an orderly exit from the banking sector’s Pre-approved Principal Payment Holiday Scheme started in July 2023, the mechanism introduced enhanced measures to assist corporates’ gradual return to normal repayment.
As some customers’ partial principal repayment arrangements will expire in early 2025, banks will be accommodative and consider offering more flexible repayment arrangements to these customers.
Subject to prudent risk-management principles, such arrangements may include extending the duration of partial principal repayment, offering more options on the proportion and duration of partial principal repayment, or even offering principal moratorium.
Additionally, banks will allocate adequate resources to process applications and work closely with HKMC Insurance to implement as soon as possible the principal moratorium and other enhanced measures under the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme.
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MIL-OSI: Nokia Altiplano accelerates autonomous networks by introducing AI for broadband operations
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Press Release
Nokia Altiplano accelerates autonomous networks by introducing AI for broadband operations- Nokia enhances Altiplano Access Controller with AIOps to drive better network decisions.
- AI-powered applications and smart analytics improve network operations and resource utilization.
18 October 2024 – Nokia today announced the integration of AI-driven operations (AIOps) into its Altiplano Access Controller, an automation platform for broadband networks. The new AIOps uses artificial intelligence (AI) from applications in Nokia’s Altiplano Marketplace to analyze network data and drive automation. By combining AI and smart analytics, AIOps allows operators to detect network anomalies faster, anticipate service-affecting issues before they occur, and improve network utilization.
Through the use of big data analytics, digital twins, and trained AI-agents, Nokia helps operators increase efficiency and drive higher levels of automation in network and service operations. By extending the Altiplano core platform with AI applications available in Nokia’s Altiplano Application Marketplace, operators can:
- Detect network anomalies: Identifying anomalies with high accuracy before they impact services is essential to maintaining network reliability and customer satisfaction.
- Improve network utilization: AI and digital twins help optimize network resources to enhance capacity planning and customer experiences.
- Provide human assistance: AI assists human operators by simplifying incident management, speeding up problem resolution and, improving inventory accuracy.
Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller is the most widely deployed network automation platform on the market, used by over 160 broadband operators globally. Ranked as the #1 network automation platform for fixed network automation by Global Data, Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller powers the largest and most advanced SDN networks in the world – including those serving over 1 million live subscribers.
Geert Heyninck, Vice President of Broadband Networks for Nokia Fixed Networks, said: “With AI and advanced network analytics, operators can gain deeper insights and make smarter decisions to ensure smooth operations. By detecting issues faster and optimizing resources, we’re moving closer to fully autonomous networks. This shift empowers operators to enhance customer experiences while letting AI handle complex network management.”
Resources
Website: Fixed access network automation | Nokia
Website: Nokia Altiplano Access ControllerAbout Nokia
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.
With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.
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