Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Xi encourages industrial workers to contribute to full revitalization of northeast China
BEIJING, Sept. 29 — Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, recently sent a reply letter to representatives of industrial workers from China First Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (CFHI), expressing warm encouragement and earnest expectations for them.
Xi said he visited CFHI twice and was deeply impressed by the persistent pursuit of technological innovation and product quality by the workers there. In recent years, CFHI workers have focused on tackling core technological challenges in major equipment manufacturing and made many new breakthroughs, demonstrating patriotism and creativity of Chinese industrial workers in the new era.
Xi stressed that manufacturing is the foundation of a country and the basis of a strong nation, expressing his hope that on the new journey in the new era, the workers will adhere to the original aspiration of serving the country with skills, promote the spirit of model workers, the value of work and the spirit of workmanship, diligently hone skills, improve competence, and continue to contribute wisdom and strength to building a country that is strong in manufacturing and to promoting the full revitalization of northeast China. Centrally administered enterprises should boost reform and innovation, enhance their core functions and competitiveness, and strive to become stronger, better and bigger. They should contribute more to the endeavor to build a great country and realize national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.
CFHI is a leading equipment manufacturer headquartered in the city of Qiqihar, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi has inspected CFHI’s manufacturing bases twice and made instructions on its reform and innovation as well as operation and management. Representatives of the company’s industrial workers awarded the title of role model wrote a letter to Xi recently, highlighting their efforts to strengthen technological research and development following Xi’s instructions, and expressing their determination to contribute to the full revitalization of northeast China and the cause of building China into a great country.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Sept. 29 — A chronicle detailing major events of the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the New-Democratic Revolution period (1921-1949) has been published and is now available nationwide.
The 29-volume work was released ahead of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on Oct. 1.
The chronicle covers key activities across fields such as politics, military affairs, economy, culture, society, foreign relations, and party-building, documenting the CPC’s journey from its founding in 1921 to the establishment of the PRC in 1949.
Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
Rubio, Scott Support Florida’s Request for Major Disaster Declaration
Sep 28, 2024 | Press Releases
Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage along Florida’s Gulf Coast after making landfall as a Category 4 storm. It is crucial that the areas impacted have the necessary resources to begin recovery.
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging his immediate approval of the State of Florida’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration.
“Unfortunately, Helene’s effects will continue to impact the state for some time, and the full extent of damage will not be known for several days as response and recovery efforts get underway. However, approving this declaration request will allow Floridians to be better prepared for the recovery phase. As such, we urge you to approve the State of Florida’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in its entirety.”
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Mr. President:
We write in support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration due to Hurricane Helene, which caused catastrophic damage to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast as it made landfall along Florida’s Big Bend coastline as a Category 4 hurricane on Thursday evening. Hurricane Helene’s devastating wind speeds, extreme storm surge, and heavy rainfall severely impacted substantial portions of the state, with significant flooding, massive power outages, and widespread damage that will take a strong partnership to recover and rebuild.
Unfortunately, Helene’s effects will continue to impact the state for some time, and the full extent of damage will not be known for several days as response and recovery efforts get underway. However, approving this declaration request will allow Floridians to be better prepared for the recovery phase. As such, we urge you to approve the State of Florida’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in its entirety.
Floridians are incredibly resilient, and with the cooperation from all levels of government, we will rebuild stronger than ever. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.
Headline: Huawei Launches Breakthrough Alpha Series Next-Generation Antenna Solution
[Athens, Greece, September 29, 2024] At the Global Antenna Technology & Industry Forum 2024, Huawei launched its brand-new Alpha series antenna. This marks a major breakthrough, as this series embodies the essential capabilities base station antennas will need in the mobile AI era: high efficiency, digitalization, and easy deployment.
Mobile AI is driving the emergence of diverse service scenarios at an unprecedented speed, consequently raising the standards for network performance. In particular, it is spurring demand for greater downlink and uplink bandwidth and lower latency. In the meantime, the growing size and complexity of mobile networks underscores the urgency of more efficient network O&M. Huawei’s Alpha series is the first-ever antenna to simultaneously provide high efficiency, digital capabilities, and easy deployment, helping operators build eco-friendly, high-performance autonomous networks.
High efficiency: By applying Signal Direct Injection Feeding (SDIF) technology across all frequency bands, for all antennas in the series, the innovative architecture minimizes signal loss and maximizes RF efficiency to its theoretical limit. Additionally, Meta Lens technology is applied across all bands to reduce emission dissipation, enabling operators to enhance network coverage and user experience simultaneously.
All-scenario digitalization: All antennas in this series feature the next-gen antenna information sensor unit (AISU) with upgraded algorithms, suitable for a wide range of deployment scenarios. The ability to efficiently and remotely detect site engineering parameters with high precision enhances the data foundation for operators’ network management. With full-dimensional beam adjustment, the projection of beams can be dynamically reoriented and patterns reconfigured to enable real-time network optimization.
Easy deployment: The innovative Dragon Wings architecture represents a breakthrough in antenna design. Together, the bionic design of the internal load-bearing structure and the innovative GFRPP Pro radome material reduce the antenna’s weight to just 25 kg, enhancing its portability. Additionally, the innovative padlock bracket support and new plug-and-play feeder connector significantly simplify and shorten the installation process. Thanks to the Dragon Wings architecture, antenna deployment time is halved, greatly improving deployment efficiency and reducing overall network construction costs.
Andy Sun delivers a keynote speech
Andy Sun, President of Huawei’s Antenna Business Unit, emphasized the crucial role of antennas in supporting diverse services in networks. He noted that, “Antennas must evolve towards high efficiency, digital capabilities, and ease of deployment, to support operators achieving higher levels of network autonomy and realize new business value in the mobile AI era.”
The Springboks brought joy to the nation after beating Argentina 48-7 and winning the Castle Lager Rugby Championship for the first time in five years.
The world cup winning side beat the Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga on Saturday evening. The match saw the Boks lead 27-7 at half time.
“The win was never in doubt after the Springboks – celebrating a new Test record for Eben Etzebeth (128 caps) – had a sublime start that had the sold-out crowd of 43 578 in raptures and hardly gave them time to either sit down or catch a breath in a spellbinding first 15 minutes,” said the SA Rugby in match report.
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie described Etzebeth as a warrior.
“On behalf of South Africa, I would like to acknowledge a warrior of SA, a man that donned the green and gold shirt 128 times doing duty for his country. You have done so much for us and the sport of rugby. You are truly a role model with the most magnificent teammates and coaches,” the Minister said in a post on X.
The Springboks scored a total seven tries in their victory on Saturday.
“A crowd of 43 578 celebrated as the Springboks scored seven tries to claim the southern hemisphere crown for the first time since 2019 – scoring more tries in a match in the competition since scoring nine in beating the same opponents at the FNB Stadium 73-13 in 2013,” said SA Rugby.
Proteas
Meanwhile, the Proteas Men are set to face Ireland in their T20i clash today.
“The Proteas are ready to bring the heat in the final T20i against Ireland! With the series on the line, they’re focused on sealing the deal,” Cricket South Africa said in a post on X ahead of Sunday’s match. The match will get underway at 5:30 pm.
Cricket SA called on the nation to “get behind the Proteas as they aim to dominate and finish strong.” –SAnews.gov.za
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Madhav Joshi, Research Professor & Associate Director, Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame
It has been nearly two years since the African Union brokered a peace deal that put an end to the war between the Ethiopian state and the Tigray regional government. The signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in November 2022 brought an end to a deadly two-year conflict.
the establishment of an AU-led monitoring and verification mission.
But a great deal still remains to be done if the peace is going to last. We havestudied 42 comprehensive and 236 partial peace agreements in the last three decades. Based on this experience, we argue that urgent issues remain to be addressed in the Ethiopian agreement. If left unattended, they raise the risk of a return to war.
Empirical research suggests that a higher overall implementation rate of civil war peace agreements leads to sustainable peace. It is the only proven pathway for resolving remaining conflicts in a country. Doing what was agreed is necessary for post-war recovery.
In Ethiopia, the disarmament and demobilisation of Tigrayan combatants needs urgent attention. So do the protection of civilians and returnees in disputed territories in western and northern Tigray, and the restoration of basic infrastructure in the region. The state also needs to ensure the smooth delivery of humanitarian aid, the withdrawal of foreign troops from Tigray and the representation of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in the federal government.
The gaps
A substantial reason for the lack of progress in building sustainable peace is that the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement has holes in it.
Firstly, only the immediate cessation of hostilities, and the demobilisation and disarmament of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front combatants, were set out clearly. Other principles – such as civilian protections, delivery of humanitarian aid and ensuring accountability for the conflict – were left to “good faith implementation”.
The peace agreement and its implementation process in Tigray lack safeguard mechanisms. These are procedures involving the power-sharing government, dispute resolution and robust mechanisms to verify the implementation of the agreement. However, only the verification mechanism is in place among these three pillars, and it’s very weak. Safeguard mechanisms create ownership, inclusion and accountability. They amplify the urgency of implementing peace deals.
Secondly, the underlying causes of conflict and grievances haven’t been dealt with as agreed. These include the withdrawal of foreign troops from Tigray, the reconstruction of conflict-affected communities and the Tigrayan government’s representation in the federal government. Addressing these grievances might create the mutual trust that is necessary to revive the stalled process of building peace.
Thirdly, while the overt conflict with Tigrayan forces has subsided, the political dialogue between the regional and national governments hasn’t happened. This dialogue is key to addressing ambiguities in the peace deal. The agreement’s success depends on actions at the federal level – such as the reparation of internally displaced persons. Yet, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front isn’t represented at this level.
Fourth, conflict-displaced Tigrayans are slowly returning to their communities. But insecurity remains acute because it’s not clear if all Tigrayan combatants are demobilised and all troops from Eritrea withdrawn. The monitoring mechanism in place is weak and cannot independently verify what’s been achieved.
Fifth, the Ethiopian government’s transitional justice policy is unclear. It doesn’t provide guidance on who to prosecute as there are still ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia. The policy also avoids international scrutiny. It lacks critical aspects to prevent the recurrence of atrocities by adhering to international standards.
Political factors
The lack of progress in building lasting peace can also be put down to a lack of political will on the part of both parties.
The federal government lacks resources for reconstruction. For example, there has been little rebuilding of basic infrastructure. The cost of recovery from the war in Tigray is estimated to be over US$44 billion.
For its part, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front is in the throes of a growing rift between its chairman, Debretsion Gebremichael, and the deputy chairman and head of the interim government in Tigray, Getachew Reda. This has diverted attention to managing intra-party rivalries rather than pressuring the federal government to take necessary actions.
Ethiopia is facing a watershed moment. The peace agreement can be carried out faster if the Tigray People’s Liberation Front maintains its cohesiveness. When broken into factions, it cannot hold the Abiy Ahmed regime accountable.
Research shows that rebel movements such as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front often form factions after signing peace deals because of disagreements on the compromises made to reach a deal. A slow implementation process can further divide a rebel movement as it cannot cater to its supporters, or justify the war and unaddressed humanitarian and human rights abuses.
Factions weaken the party, create instabilities and hurt the peace building process.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s unity is crucial for the success of the deal and its aspiration to return to political power in Tigray.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
[Athens, Greece, September 29, 2024] At the Global Antenna Technology & Industry Forum 2024, Huawei launched its brand-new Alpha series antenna. This marks a major breakthrough, as this series embodies the essential capabilities base station antennas will need in the mobile AI era: high efficiency, digitalization, and easy deployment.
Mobile AI is driving the emergence of diverse service scenarios at an unprecedented speed, consequently raising the standards for network performance. In particular, it is spurring demand for greater downlink and uplink bandwidth and lower latency. In the meantime, the growing size and complexity of mobile networks underscores the urgency of more efficient network O&M. Huawei’s Alpha series is the first-ever antenna to simultaneously provide high efficiency, digital capabilities, and easy deployment, helping operators build eco-friendly, high-performance autonomous networks.
High efficiency: By applying Signal Direct Injection Feeding (SDIF) technology across all frequency bands, for all antennas in the series, the innovative architecture minimizes signal loss and maximizes RF efficiency to its theoretical limit. Additionally, Meta Lens technology is applied across all bands to reduce emission dissipation, enabling operators to enhance network coverage and user experience simultaneously.
All-scenario digitalization: All antennas in this series feature the next-gen antenna information sensor unit (AISU) with upgraded algorithms, suitable for a wide range of deployment scenarios. The ability to efficiently and remotely detect site engineering parameters with high precision enhances the data foundation for operators’ network management. With full-dimensional beam adjustment, the projection of beams can be dynamically reoriented and patterns reconfigured to enable real-time network optimization.
Easy deployment: The innovative Dragon Wings architecture represents a breakthrough in antenna design. Together, the bionic design of the internal load-bearing structure and the innovative GFRPP Pro radome material reduce the antenna’s weight to just 25 kg, enhancing its portability. Additionally, the innovative padlock bracket support and new plug-and-play feeder connector significantly simplify and shorten the installation process. Thanks to the Dragon Wings architecture, antenna deployment time is halved, greatly improving deployment efficiency and reducing overall network construction costs.
Andy Sun delivers a keynote speech
Andy Sun, President of Huawei’s Antenna Business Unit, emphasized the crucial role of antennas in supporting diverse services in networks. He noted that, “Antennas must evolve towards high efficiency, digital capabilities, and ease of deployment, to support operators achieving higher levels of network autonomy and realize new business value in the mobile AI era.”
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Madhav Joshi, Research Professor & Associate Director, Peace Accords Matrix (PAM), Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame
It has been nearly two years since the African Union brokered a peace deal that put an end to the war between the Ethiopian state and the Tigray regional government. The signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in November 2022 brought an end to a deadly two-year conflict.
the establishment of an AU-led monitoring and verification mission.
But a great deal still remains to be done if the peace is going to last. We havestudied 42 comprehensive and 236 partial peace agreements in the last three decades. Based on this experience, we argue that urgent issues remain to be addressed in the Ethiopian agreement. If left unattended, they raise the risk of a return to war.
Empirical research suggests that a higher overall implementation rate of civil war peace agreements leads to sustainable peace. It is the only proven pathway for resolving remaining conflicts in a country. Doing what was agreed is necessary for post-war recovery.
In Ethiopia, the disarmament and demobilisation of Tigrayan combatants needs urgent attention. So do the protection of civilians and returnees in disputed territories in western and northern Tigray, and the restoration of basic infrastructure in the region. The state also needs to ensure the smooth delivery of humanitarian aid, the withdrawal of foreign troops from Tigray and the representation of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in the federal government.
The gaps
A substantial reason for the lack of progress in building sustainable peace is that the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement has holes in it.
Firstly, only the immediate cessation of hostilities, and the demobilisation and disarmament of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front combatants, were set out clearly. Other principles – such as civilian protections, delivery of humanitarian aid and ensuring accountability for the conflict – were left to “good faith implementation”.
The peace agreement and its implementation process in Tigray lack safeguard mechanisms. These are procedures involving the power-sharing government, dispute resolution and robust mechanisms to verify the implementation of the agreement. However, only the verification mechanism is in place among these three pillars, and it’s very weak. Safeguard mechanisms create ownership, inclusion and accountability. They amplify the urgency of implementing peace deals.
Secondly, the underlying causes of conflict and grievances haven’t been dealt with as agreed. These include the withdrawal of foreign troops from Tigray, the reconstruction of conflict-affected communities and the Tigrayan government’s representation in the federal government. Addressing these grievances might create the mutual trust that is necessary to revive the stalled process of building peace.
Thirdly, while the overt conflict with Tigrayan forces has subsided, the political dialogue between the regional and national governments hasn’t happened. This dialogue is key to addressing ambiguities in the peace deal. The agreement’s success depends on actions at the federal level – such as the reparation of internally displaced persons. Yet, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front isn’t represented at this level.
Fourth, conflict-displaced Tigrayans are slowly returning to their communities. But insecurity remains acute because it’s not clear if all Tigrayan combatants are demobilised and all troops from Eritrea withdrawn. The monitoring mechanism in place is weak and cannot independently verify what’s been achieved.
Fifth, the Ethiopian government’s transitional justice policy is unclear. It doesn’t provide guidance on who to prosecute as there are still ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia. The policy also avoids international scrutiny. It lacks critical aspects to prevent the recurrence of atrocities by adhering to international standards.
Political factors
The lack of progress in building lasting peace can also be put down to a lack of political will on the part of both parties.
The federal government lacks resources for reconstruction. For example, there has been little rebuilding of basic infrastructure. The cost of recovery from the war in Tigray is estimated to be over US$44 billion.
For its part, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front is in the throes of a growing rift between its chairman, Debretsion Gebremichael, and the deputy chairman and head of the interim government in Tigray, Getachew Reda. This has diverted attention to managing intra-party rivalries rather than pressuring the federal government to take necessary actions.
Ethiopia is facing a watershed moment. The peace agreement can be carried out faster if the Tigray People’s Liberation Front maintains its cohesiveness. When broken into factions, it cannot hold the Abiy Ahmed regime accountable.
Research shows that rebel movements such as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front often form factions after signing peace deals because of disagreements on the compromises made to reach a deal. A slow implementation process can further divide a rebel movement as it cannot cater to its supporters, or justify the war and unaddressed humanitarian and human rights abuses.
Factions weaken the party, create instabilities and hurt the peace building process.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front’s unity is crucial for the success of the deal and its aspiration to return to political power in Tigray.
We all admire wise people, don’t we? Whether it’s a thoughtful teacher, a compassionate doctor, or an elder in the community, we recognise wisdom when we see it. But have you ever thought about how people in different cultures perceive wisdom? Does someone in Morocco view a wise person in the same way as someone in Ecuador? Our recent study explored how people across cultures think of wisdom.
This large-scale project required a joint effort of 34 researchers across fields of philosophy, psychology, anthropology, social science and psychometrics – and from all over the world, connected in a research consortium called The Geography of Philosophy.
What we found was somewhat surprising. Wisdom may appear to be shaped by cultural differences, but the core aspects of what makes someone wise are largely the same across cultures. From urban college students in Japan to villagers in South Africa, participants associated wisdom with two key characteristics: reflective orientation and socio-emotional awareness. We explain what that means below.
Contrary to widespread stereotypes, people recognise wisdom in a similar way across east and west, south and north. Despite the divisions of the world, we see wisdom in the same individuals and associate it with similar traits. Are we indeed more alike than we are different, when it comes to how we perceive wisdom? And what characterises wise people?
These are the characteristics of wise people
There are two key characteristics. Reflective orientation is about people who think before acting, carefully consider different perspectives, and use logic and past experiences to guide their decisions. They’re the type of person who keeps their cool in difficult situations, taking time to weigh all the options before making a move.
The second is socio-emotional awareness. Wise people are good at understanding and caring about the thoughts and feelings of others. They pay attention to emotions and consider different views on the situation. Such an individual might be skilled at mediating conflicts by understanding each party’s point of view, or be adept at providing emotional support during difficult times.
Together, these two dimensions combine to form the global image of wisdom. The study suggests that the wisest people are those who balance both, showing strong abilities in reasoning while also being emotionally and socially aware.
A highly reflective person who is suppressing their own emotions but doesn’t notice the social context of the problem wouldn’t be called wise. Likewise, someone who is entirely driven by emotion and the social environment but fails to make logical connections wouldn’t be called wise either. Real wisdom, according to our study, is about finding a balance between thoughtful reasoning, social understanding, and emotional awareness.
Cultures do differ, but not as much as you might think
To uncover these dimensions, we employed a method sometimes called experimental philosophy. Participants across 16 different cultures in 12 countries on five continents compared a set of targets to each other. For example, one of the questions asked participants to compare whether a doctor or a religious person was more likely to think logically when making a hard life decision with no right or wrong answers. Our participants also rated themselves. Then we asked how wise each of these persons were.
When we started this project, we expected to find big differences between cultures. Previous research suggested that people in “the west” use and value analytical thinking, which tends to dismiss social and emotional parts of the situation. In contrast, individuals in “the east” emphasise holistic thinking, that is, all-encompassing views of complex situations.
But that’s not what we found. While there were some small differences – people in South Africa, for example, placed more importance on nature and divinity when thinking about socio-emotional awareness – the overall picture was strikingly similar. Across the globe, people rated individuals who were both reflective and socially and emotionally aware as the wisest. For instance, they named a doctor and a 75-year-old person as the wisest, and at the same time the highest on both dimensions.
What was particularly fascinating was that people tended to rate themselves differently from how they rated others. Most people saw themselves as less reflective but more socially and emotionally aware than the “wise” figures they were asked to rate. In other words, people were ready to admit a moderate level of their own intellectual capabilities, but they were quite confident in their ability to understand and care for others.
Why this matters
This research defies stereotypes of a cold analytical ideal of “the west” and a social-minded and emotionally driven image of “the east” and “the south”. The idea that wisdom is purely intellectual, or conversely, purely social or divine, is too simplistic. It also highlights that wisdom manifests in a balance of traits traditionally attributed to different cultures.
In a time when global cooperation is more important than ever, recognising our shared appreciation for certain qualities can help bridge cultural divides.
The study opens up new avenues for research. Could these dimensions of wisdom help us understand how to solve global problems? Are people more likely to trust leaders who show both reflective thinking and socio-emotional awareness? And how do these qualities affect the way we handle personal relationships, difficult decisions, or conflicts?
One thing is clear: wisdom is something we all value, no matter where we come from. By understanding it better, we can not only become wiser ourselves but also learn to appreciate wisdom in others, wherever they may be.
Veli Mitova receives funding from the John Templeton Foundation and the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences.
Maksim Rudnev 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.
South Africa has a massive infrastructure problem. Roads, electricity supply and water management are just three areas in which there is mounting evidence of collapse and decay. This is true for big cities like Johannesburg as well as small towns and rural areas.
This is a problem because infrastructure like this has huge economic benefits. Having water and electricity enables firms to run smoothly. Local roads improve mobility and access to markets.
A study by South Africa’s Financial and Fiscal Commission in 2018 showed that infrastructure spending had a statistically significant positive impact on local employment and economic growth.
Responsibility for maintaining these essential services lies with South Africa’s 257 municipalities. Funding comes from two pots: central government allocation; and revenue raised locally through the delivery of services.
The national government has increased its financial transfers to municipalities for infrastructure investment by more than 3.5 times in local currency over the past 14 years. In that period municipalities have received almost R600 billion (US$45,5 billion) from national government.
Why do local governments have little to show for it?
We have been researching South Africa’s public finances and intergovernmental fiscal relations issues for many years. In a recent paper we evaluated how municipalities have managed the delivery of infrastructure.
We found that:
municipalities have failed to effectively use increased infrastructure allocations
municipalities have not chosen the right infrastructure projects
projects have not been implemented cost effectively
projects have not been completed on time and within budget
infrastructure was not being operated efficiently
existing infrastructure was not being maintained.
The failures
We identified the following failures.
People resources: Most of South Africa’s 257 municipalities lack the required capacity for managing infrastructure. Only a few have fully resourced project management units. In addition, there are cumbersome and costly infrastructure planning processes and legislative requirements. For instance, municipalities must conduct a feasibility study and appoint a steering committee for each project. The resources required for this are overwhelming for many and the process simply shifts the limited resources away from the actual infrastructure work.
These problems have persisted despite many years of reforms and increased technical and financial support.
Poor allocation of funds: Most allocations by national government for infrastructure have been in the form of conditional grants. These stipulate conditions for what type of infrastructure the money can be spent on.
However, this hasn’t stopped the grants being allocated to prolonged or abandoned projects. The result is that many municipalities have been using recurring budget allocations to rectify poor workmanship and abandoned projects.
Political interference: Where infrastructure has been built it is not well maintained. This is partly because politicians tend to prefer new infrastructure which comes with opportunities for ribbon cutting ceremonies. But some of this infrastructure doesn’t match the needs of communities, and becomes a white elephant.
Bureaucracy: Municipalities share responsibility with national and provincial governments for some local infrastructure investments. But joint planning and budgeting is lacking. So water and electricity reticulation networks are often installed without sufficient bulk supply from the relevant providers.
Service delays then lead to community protest and infrastructure vandalism.
The role of national government departments also creates problems. They are the custodians of conditional infrastructure grant funding. In this role they often interfere and dictate priorities for municipalities while attaching stringent conditions to funding.
Lack of ownership: Frustrated by the ongoing inability to spend infrastructure funds, national government is increasingly carrying out projects on behalf of municipalities, often using indirect grants. The result is that municipalities have no sense of ownership of the infrastructure and are not keen to maintain it. Some of the landfill sites and sport facilities constructed by the national departments of environmental affairs and sports have been neglected.
We also found that municipalities are battling to keep up with growing populations, rising input costs and the vandalisation of infrastructure.
Our findings are confirmed by reports of the auditor-general which highlight weak municipal infrastructure delivery management.
The 2021–2022 auditor-general’s report found that the average delay in completing infrastructure projects ranged from 17 to 26 months.
It also found that all 257 municipalities had spent only R18 billion (US$1.2 billion) on infrastructure maintenance. This represents 4% of the total value (R450 billion or US$30.6 billion) of municipal assets. This low spend increases the risk of infrastructure breakdown and reduces service level standards.
It also rapidly increases the pace and cost of infrastructure upgrading and replacement.
The solutions
The failure to deliver infrastructure has itself affected the financial stability of municipalities. This is because they can generate their own revenue from selling water and electricity to residents. A collapse of these services means this income is lost.
But debates on municipal infrastructure in South Africa have largely focused on funding shortfalls. This ignores weaknesses or a lack of municipal capacity to manage infrastructure projects. Giving municipalities money for infrastructure does not guarantee quality and long-lasting infrastructure.
Municipalities need to:
focus on the full life cycle management of infrastructure instead of just rolling out new projects
plan for relevant infrastructure that responds to local circumstances
maintain old and new infrastructure
refurbish infrastructure that is nearing the end of its useful life.
None of this can be achieved without competent and prescient local government leadership.
Eddie Rakabe is affiliated with Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflections.
Ramos Emmanuel Mabugu 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.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Celebration events to mark 75th National Day Celebration events to mark 75th National Day ********************************************
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and senior government officials will attend a flag-raising ceremony and a National Day reception on October 1 (Tuesday) to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The flag-raising ceremony will be held at Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai at 8am. Community leaders and members of uniformed groups will attend the ceremony. No public viewing area will be set up. The Police Band will perform at the ceremony and a choir from Belilios Public School and Queen’s College will sing the national anthem under the lead of two singers, Chen Yong and Phoebe Tam, followed by a fly-past and a sea parade by the disciplined services. The National Day reception, led by the Chief Executive, will be held at the Grand Hall on Level 3 of the HKCEC after the flag-raising ceremony. Motorists are reminded that the Police will implement special traffic arrangements at Golden Bauhinia Square and the nearby area during the celebration events.
Ends/Sunday, September 29, 2024Issued at HKT 16:00
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Maksim Rudnev, Research Associate, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo
We all admire wise people, don’t we? Whether it’s a thoughtful teacher, a compassionate doctor, or an elder in the community, we recognise wisdom when we see it. But have you ever thought about how people in different cultures perceive wisdom? Does someone in Morocco view a wise person in the same way as someone in Ecuador? Our recent study explored how people across cultures think of wisdom.
This large-scale project required a joint effort of 34 researchers across fields of philosophy, psychology, anthropology, social science and psychometrics – and from all over the world, connected in a research consortium called The Geography of Philosophy.
What we found was somewhat surprising. Wisdom may appear to be shaped by cultural differences, but the core aspects of what makes someone wise are largely the same across cultures. From urban college students in Japan to villagers in South Africa, participants associated wisdom with two key characteristics: reflective orientation and socio-emotional awareness. We explain what that means below.
Contrary to widespread stereotypes, people recognise wisdom in a similar way across east and west, south and north. Despite the divisions of the world, we see wisdom in the same individuals and associate it with similar traits. Are we indeed more alike than we are different, when it comes to how we perceive wisdom? And what characterises wise people?
These are the characteristics of wise people
There are two key characteristics. Reflective orientation is about people who think before acting, carefully consider different perspectives, and use logic and past experiences to guide their decisions. They’re the type of person who keeps their cool in difficult situations, taking time to weigh all the options before making a move.
The second is socio-emotional awareness. Wise people are good at understanding and caring about the thoughts and feelings of others. They pay attention to emotions and consider different views on the situation. Such an individual might be skilled at mediating conflicts by understanding each party’s point of view, or be adept at providing emotional support during difficult times.
Together, these two dimensions combine to form the global image of wisdom. The study suggests that the wisest people are those who balance both, showing strong abilities in reasoning while also being emotionally and socially aware.
A highly reflective person who is suppressing their own emotions but doesn’t notice the social context of the problem wouldn’t be called wise. Likewise, someone who is entirely driven by emotion and the social environment but fails to make logical connections wouldn’t be called wise either. Real wisdom, according to our study, is about finding a balance between thoughtful reasoning, social understanding, and emotional awareness.
Cultures do differ, but not as much as you might think
To uncover these dimensions, we employed a method sometimes called experimental philosophy. Participants across 16 different cultures in 12 countries on five continents compared a set of targets to each other. For example, one of the questions asked participants to compare whether a doctor or a religious person was more likely to think logically when making a hard life decision with no right or wrong answers. Our participants also rated themselves. Then we asked how wise each of these persons were.
When we started this project, we expected to find big differences between cultures. Previous research suggested that people in “the west” use and value analytical thinking, which tends to dismiss social and emotional parts of the situation. In contrast, individuals in “the east” emphasise holistic thinking, that is, all-encompassing views of complex situations.
But that’s not what we found. While there were some small differences – people in South Africa, for example, placed more importance on nature and divinity when thinking about socio-emotional awareness – the overall picture was strikingly similar. Across the globe, people rated individuals who were both reflective and socially and emotionally aware as the wisest. For instance, they named a doctor and a 75-year-old person as the wisest, and at the same time the highest on both dimensions.
What was particularly fascinating was that people tended to rate themselves differently from how they rated others. Most people saw themselves as less reflective but more socially and emotionally aware than the “wise” figures they were asked to rate. In other words, people were ready to admit a moderate level of their own intellectual capabilities, but they were quite confident in their ability to understand and care for others.
Why this matters
This research defies stereotypes of a cold analytical ideal of “the west” and a social-minded and emotionally driven image of “the east” and “the south”. The idea that wisdom is purely intellectual, or conversely, purely social or divine, is too simplistic. It also highlights that wisdom manifests in a balance of traits traditionally attributed to different cultures.
In a time when global cooperation is more important than ever, recognising our shared appreciation for certain qualities can help bridge cultural divides.
The study opens up new avenues for research. Could these dimensions of wisdom help us understand how to solve global problems? Are people more likely to trust leaders who show both reflective thinking and socio-emotional awareness? And how do these qualities affect the way we handle personal relationships, difficult decisions, or conflicts?
One thing is clear: wisdom is something we all value, no matter where we come from. By understanding it better, we can not only become wiser ourselves but also learn to appreciate wisdom in others, wherever they may be.
South Africa has a massive infrastructure problem. Roads, electricity supply and water management are just three areas in which there is mounting evidence of collapse and decay. This is true for big cities like Johannesburg as well as small towns and rural areas.
This is a problem because infrastructure like this has huge economic benefits. Having water and electricity enables firms to run smoothly. Local roads improve mobility and access to markets.
A study by South Africa’s Financial and Fiscal Commission in 2018 showed that infrastructure spending had a statistically significant positive impact on local employment and economic growth.
Responsibility for maintaining these essential services lies with South Africa’s 257 municipalities. Funding comes from two pots: central government allocation; and revenue raised locally through the delivery of services.
The national government has increased its financial transfers to municipalities for infrastructure investment by more than 3.5 times in local currency over the past 14 years. In that period municipalities have received almost R600 billion (US$45,5 billion) from national government.
Why do local governments have little to show for it?
We have been researching South Africa’s public finances and intergovernmental fiscal relations issues for many years. In a recent paper we evaluated how municipalities have managed the delivery of infrastructure.
We found that:
municipalities have failed to effectively use increased infrastructure allocations
municipalities have not chosen the right infrastructure projects
projects have not been implemented cost effectively
projects have not been completed on time and within budget
infrastructure was not being operated efficiently
existing infrastructure was not being maintained.
The failures
We identified the following failures.
People resources: Most of South Africa’s 257 municipalities lack the required capacity for managing infrastructure. Only a few have fully resourced project management units. In addition, there are cumbersome and costly infrastructure planning processes and legislative requirements. For instance, municipalities must conduct a feasibility study and appoint a steering committee for each project. The resources required for this are overwhelming for many and the process simply shifts the limited resources away from the actual infrastructure work.
These problems have persisted despite many years of reforms and increased technical and financial support.
Poor allocation of funds: Most allocations by national government for infrastructure have been in the form of conditional grants. These stipulate conditions for what type of infrastructure the money can be spent on.
However, this hasn’t stopped the grants being allocated to prolonged or abandoned projects. The result is that many municipalities have been using recurring budget allocations to rectify poor workmanship and abandoned projects.
Political interference: Where infrastructure has been built it is not well maintained. This is partly because politicians tend to prefer new infrastructure which comes with opportunities for ribbon cutting ceremonies. But some of this infrastructure doesn’t match the needs of communities, and becomes a white elephant.
Bureaucracy: Municipalities share responsibility with national and provincial governments for some local infrastructure investments. But joint planning and budgeting is lacking. So water and electricity reticulation networks are often installed without sufficient bulk supply from the relevant providers.
Service delays then lead to community protest and infrastructure vandalism.
The role of national government departments also creates problems. They are the custodians of conditional infrastructure grant funding. In this role they often interfere and dictate priorities for municipalities while attaching stringent conditions to funding.
Lack of ownership: Frustrated by the ongoing inability to spend infrastructure funds, national government is increasingly carrying out projects on behalf of municipalities, often using indirect grants. The result is that municipalities have no sense of ownership of the infrastructure and are not keen to maintain it. Some of the landfill sites and sport facilities constructed by the national departments of environmental affairs and sports have been neglected.
We also found that municipalities are battling to keep up with growing populations, rising input costs and the vandalisation of infrastructure.
Our findings are confirmed by reports of the auditor-general which highlight weak municipal infrastructure delivery management.
The 2021–2022 auditor-general’s report found that the average delay in completing infrastructure projects ranged from 17 to 26 months.
It also found that all 257 municipalities had spent only R18 billion (US$1.2 billion) on infrastructure maintenance. This represents 4% of the total value (R450 billion or US$30.6 billion) of municipal assets. This low spend increases the risk of infrastructure breakdown and reduces service level standards.
It also rapidly increases the pace and cost of infrastructure upgrading and replacement.
The solutions
The failure to deliver infrastructure has itself affected the financial stability of municipalities. This is because they can generate their own revenue from selling water and electricity to residents. A collapse of these services means this income is lost.
But debates on municipal infrastructure in South Africa have largely focused on funding shortfalls. This ignores weaknesses or a lack of municipal capacity to manage infrastructure projects. Giving municipalities money for infrastructure does not guarantee quality and long-lasting infrastructure.
Municipalities need to:
focus on the full life cycle management of infrastructure instead of just rolling out new projects
plan for relevant infrastructure that responds to local circumstances
maintain old and new infrastructure
refurbish infrastructure that is nearing the end of its useful life.
None of this can be achieved without competent and prescient local government leadership.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
SHANGHAI, Sept. 29 — Global incubators and start-up entrepreneurs have praised the opportunities bred by the vast Chinese market and incubation soil for technology start-ups at the World Top-Performing Incubator Conference 2024.
The conference, held in Shanghai Municipality from Sept. 26 to 28, attracted nearly 300 innovation projects in cutting-edge fields such biomedicine, integrated circuits and artificial intelligence. It saw the attendance of top incubators from more than 10 countries, including China, the United States, Canada and the Netherlands.
Sejun Oh, CEO of Huespine, a digital healthcare rehabilitation platform, brought their AI-based nursing equipment to China. He hopes to establish contact with Chinese hospitals, enterprises and consumers and is optimistic about the Chinese market.
Jorg Kop, managing director of UtrechtInc, a university-linked start-up incubator, said he hopes to further their cooperation network in China and help European start-ups enter the Chinese market.
Kop said China is crucial to the development of the world economy and Shanghai has economic vitality as well as fantastic ideas. He added that the Lin-gang special area of Pudong district in the municipality can be a convenient entrance for its start-ups to enter the Chinese market.
According to Zhai Jinguo, deputy director of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai will continue to establish an innovative incubation ecosystem, cultivate new quality productivity forces, and provide support and guarantee for scientific and technological innovation projects and teams in Shanghai.
China has more than 700,000 incubated enterprises and teams. The revenues of incubated enterprises have exceeded 1 trillion yuan (about 143 billion U.S. dollars).
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China holds ceremony awarding highest state honors
Updated: September 29, 2024 15:17Xinhua
Guard of honor escorting the national medals and honorary titles enter the venue of the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. China held a high-profile ceremony on Sunday morning to award the highest state honors ahead of the 75th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. [Photo/Xinhua]Guard of honor enter the venue of the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Guard of honor escort the national medals and honorary titles during the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Guard of honor escorting the national medals and honorary titles enter the venue of the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Guard of honor enter the venue of the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Guard of honor escorting the national medals and honorary titles enter the venue of the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Guard of honor escort the national medals and honorary titles during the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Guard of honor escorting the national medals and honorary titles enter the venue of the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Guard of honor escorting the national medals and honorary titles enter the venue of the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Members of the Chinese Young Pioneers present flowers to the recipients of national medals and national honorary titles at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Members of the Chinese Young Pioneers salute to the recipients of national medals and national honorary titles at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, speaks during the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, salutes during the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, salutes during the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, speaks during the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, speaks during the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Dilma Rousseff, a recipient of the Friendship Medal, speaks during the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Dilma Rousseff, a recipient of the Friendship Medal, speaks during the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Dilma Rousseff, a recipient of the Friendship Medal, speaks during the presentation ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Members of the Chinese Young Pioneers enter the venue of the presentation ceremony to present flowers to the recipients of national medals and honorary titles at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Zhao Zhongxian, a recipient of the title of People’s Scientist, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Lu Shengmei, a recipient of the title of People’s Health Worker, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Zhao Zhongxian, a recipient of the title of People’s Scientist, is about to head for the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Zhang Jinfan, a recipient of the title of People’s Educator, is about to head for the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]The motorcade carrying recipients of national medals and national honorary titles is about to head for the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]The motorcade carrying recipients of national medals and national honorary titles heads for the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Dilma Rousseff, a recipient of the Friendship Medal, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Tian Hua, a recipient of the title of People’s Artist, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, is about to head for the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Zhang Xielin, a recipient of the title of Outstanding Contributor to Sports, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, is about to head for the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Zhang Jinfan, a recipient of the title of People’s Educator, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Lu Shengmei, a recipient of the title of People’s Health Worker, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Bayika Kalidibek, a recipient of the title of People’s Guard, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Xu Zhenchao, a recipient of the title of People’s Craftsman, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Zhang Jinfan, a recipient of the title of People’s Educator, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Zhang Zhuoyuan, a recipient of the title of Outstanding Contributor to Economic Research, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivers a speech at the general debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 28, 2024.[Photo/Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivered a speech at the general debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday.
Wang warned against any expansion of the Ukraine crisis. “The top priority is to commit to no expansion of the crisis, no escalation of the tension and no provocation by any party,” he said, urging efforts to push for the de-escalation of the situation at an early date.
He said China is committed to playing a constructive role, as well as engaging in shuttle mediation and promoting peace talks regarding the crisis.
On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Wang said there must not be any delay in reaching a comprehensive ceasefire in the Middle East, and the fundamental way out lies in the two-state solution.
China always supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights and supports Palestine’s full UN membership, he said.
China’s railway network is expected to handle 175 million passenger trips during the upcoming 10-day National Day holiday travel rush, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. said Sunday. The peak is expected on Tuesday, with over 21 million trips projected, according to the company. The railway travel rush from Sunday to Oct. 8 is expected to see a mix of tourists, family visits and student travels, the company said. In response to the surge in passenger demand, measures will be taken to boost transportation capacity, enhance services, and ensure safe, orderly and enjoyable trips, it said.
Announcement on Open Market Operations No.195 [2024]
(Open Market Operations Office, September 29, 2024)
In order to keep liquidity adequate at a reasonable level in the banking system at quarter-end, the People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB182 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on September 29, 2024.
A view of the opening ceremony for the “Beautiful Crafts Workshop Blossoming in Paris” exhibition, featuring cultural and creative works by women with disabilities, in Paris, France, Sept. 3, 2024. [Xinhua]
An exhibition featuring cultural and creative works by women with disabilities opened in Paris on Sept. 3, coinciding with the atmosphere surrounding the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
The “Beautiful Crafts Workshop Blossoming in Paris” exhibition, displaying nearly 300 handcrafted items, aims to foster cultural exchange and showcase the talents of people with disabilities. Items on display include silk dolls, cloth tigers, fish skin paintings, wooden combs, wood carvings and ceramics.
Zhang Haidi, president of Rehabilitation International (RI) and former chairperson of China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF), expressed hope that the exhibition would gain global recognition and help improve the lives of women with disabilities.
During the opening ceremony, UNESCO’s assistant director-general for culture, Ernesto Ottone, noted that the exhibition embodies the concept of an inclusive society and sustainable development. He added that the exhibition’s timing, coinciding with the Paralympics, highlights the common features of accessibility, inclusion, and diversity shared by sports and culture.
The exhibited works originate from over 30 “Beautiful Crafts Workshops” across Chinese provinces, including Guangdong, Shandong, and Hebei. Launched in 2022 as a joint effort by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation and the All-China Women’s Federation, the initiative supports handicraft businesses and organizations that enable women with disabilities to work from home or nearby locations. To date, the program has provided employment for more than 10,000 women with disabilities nationwide.
Tang Zhanxin, a representative of the “Beautiful Crafts Workshop,” shared her personal experience with the initiative, highlighting how it has enabled many women with disabilities in China to access stable employment and improve their livelihoods.
China plans to establish 100 additional “Beautiful Crafts Workshops” over the next three years, aiming to provide employment opportunities for 10,000 more women with disabilities.
This photo taken on Sept. 27, 2024 shows a scene at the 2024 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Both Chinese and European electric vehicle (EV) makers and experts are calling for global cooperation and opposing trade protectionism at the ongoing 2024 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC).
With the deep development of advanced technologies, collaborative research and global industrial chain cooperation have become more important to the automotive industry, Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), said Saturday on the congress.
“However, in 2024, we observe a rise in protectionist sentiments globally. An example is the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into EVs imported from China,” Mueller said.
“For EU, imposing anti-subsidy tariffs is not yet an answer to the challenges facing the European automotive industry. Rather, it could easily escalate into a new trade conflict, sparking a spiral of protectionism,” Mueller said.
She believed that for any country and region, any market, any industry, what’s needed is simply an active industrial strategy, adding that Europe in particular must ensure that the conditions for business are improved.
She noted that the German automotive industry stands firm on the principles of free and fair trade. “We at the VDA will continue to advocate for open markets, globalization, international trade and investment and, above all, cooperation and continued dialogue,” she added.
Gan Jiayue, CEO of Geely Auto Group, also called on the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry to strengthen its collaboration to achieve mutual benefits.
Some countries and regions are trying to restrict the application of China’s NEVs by imposing additional tariffs and setting technical standards, Gan said on Saturday’s congress, adding that if imposing additional tariffs, the EU will not only hamper China’s economic development but also harm its own interests.
The automobile industry is an industry of global cooperation, and Geely always adheres to free trade and fair competition, Gan said.
Jochen Goller, member of the board of management of BMW AG, also addressed the conference, sharing insights on low-carbon transition and global cooperation, and expressing optimism about China’s NEV market.
“BMW Group strongly believes technology openness is the only sustainable path towards a carbon-neutral future, as we need to cater to the diverse needs of customers worldwide, and to advance individual mobility towards a green future,” Goller said in his speech.
BMW firmly believes that cooperation fosters prosperity and growth, he said, adding that to continue the unique automotive success story, key challenges have to be tackled and resolved jointly.
Themed with “Low Carbon Evolution and Global Cooperation,” the 2024 WNEVC is taking place in Haikou, capital of south China’s Hainan Province, running from Sept. 27 to 29.
Amid rising global turbulence, unilateralism and protectionism, China and South Korea, as close neighbors and key partners, should collaborate to manage risks and strengthen bilateral ties, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in New York on Saturday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.
Wang noted that since the beginning of this year, exchanges and cooperation between China and South Korea have become more active in various fields, and the bilateral relationship has shown a positive trend of improvement, demonstrating that the efforts of both sides are in the right direction with promising results.
He stressed that as long as both countries remain committed to the principles of their diplomatic ties, continue their focus on friendship, and pursue mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, China-South Korea relations will continue to develop healthily and sustainably.
Noting that the close economic ties and intertwined interests between China and South Korea are market-driven and align with their common interests, Wang said China is willing to support South Korea in successfully hosting next year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and advancing regional economic integration.
Emphasizing that the deployment of U.S. intermediate-range missiles in the region undermines regional peace and stability and is not in the interest of regional countries, Wang said that preventing war or chaos on the Korean Peninsula is in the common interest of all parties and that China will continue to contribute constructively to long-term peace and stability in the region.
For his part, Cho expressed congratulations on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, adding that South Korea-China relations show a good trend of resuming exchanges.
Cho expressed hope that both sides will maintain this positive momentum, strengthen high-level exchanges, and promote the stable development of bilateral relations.
South Korea is willing to enhance economic and trade cooperation with China and jointly promote regional economic integration, said Cho.
Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea expects to maintain strategic communication with China, Cho said.
There is no “gray zone” or “room for ambiguity” when it comes to the People’s Republic of China representing the whole of China at the UN, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79).
Delivering a speech during the General Debate of UNGA 79, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told world leaders in the audience that Taiwan being “an inalienable part of China’s territory” is both “the history and the reality.”
Both the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation stated in explicit terms that all the territories Japan had stolen from the Chinese, such as Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, shall be restored to China, and this constitutes an important part of the post-war international order, Wang said.
“Right here in this august hall 53 years ago, the 26th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority, deciding to restore all the rights of the People’s Republic of China at the UN, to recognize the representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the UN, and to expel forthwith the representatives of the Taiwan region from the UN and all the organizations related to it,” he said, adding that “once and for all, the resolution resolved the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN.”
The resolution, Wang continued, made clear that there is no such thing as “two Chinas,” or “one China, one Taiwan.”
“On this matter of principle, there is no gray zone or room for ambiguity,” Wang said.
“The complete reunification of China will be achieved. Taiwan will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland. This is the overwhelming trend of history that no one and no force can stop,” said Wang.
Renowned director Chen Kaige’s war epic sequel “The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death,” the second installment of his ambitious trilogy about the Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) army during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53), is set for nationwide release on Sept. 30.
Cast and crew of “The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death” pose for a group photo at the film’s premiere in Beijing, Sept. 27, 2024. [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]
Chen said during an earlier interview that the trilogy, which contains over 200 key characters and was shot over a period of 13 months, is the biggest film project of his career. Boasting an all-star cast, the latest installment pays more attention to the fate of individuals in the war, providing a multi-faceted view of the war’s brutality and the sacrifices made by the CPV soldiers.
At the film’s premiere in Beijing on Sept. 27, members of the cast and crew, including Zhu Yilong, Xin Baiqing, Zhang Zifeng, Zhu Yawen, Chen Feiyu and Wang Yanhui, shared their insights with the audience about their understandings and unforgettable experiences related to the film.
The film is centered on the battle in Cheorwon, where 25,000 CPV soldiers fought nearly 50,000 UNC forces for 12 days and nights. The battle, one of the fiercest during the Fifth Campaign of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, won precious time for the strategic transfer of the CPV army and shattered the enemies’ plot to destroy the CPV army’s rear base and eliminate their main force.
A poster of “The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death” at the film’s premiere in Beijing, Sept. 27, 2024. [Photo by Wang Qian/China.org.cn]
Leading actor Zhu Yilong, who portrays Li Xiang, a commissar in the 63rd Unit of the 188th Division of the CPV army, said at the premiere, “This is the first time I have seen such a large crowd in a scene. One scene involved almost 1,500 people.” He recalled that the film’s high number of explosions demanded meticulous planning and countless rehearsals to achieve the perfect long shot.
Actress Zhang Zifeng, stars as Li Xiao, an English translator and younger sister of Li Xiang. She said that Li Xiao also went to the battlefield later where she experienced several brushes with death, and so began to understand why her father and brother wanted to fight in the battle. “As a translator, Li Xiao represented not only herself but also her motherland, which made her more courageous and stronger than ever,” Zhang said.
Actor Zhu Yawen plays military equipment expert Wu Benzheng, who returns to China to serve his country in its hour of need. At the premiere, Zhu spoke about his frustration and shock upon learning about the arduous close combat faced by the CPV soldiers due to their outdated weapons and equipment. “I felt like I’d been transported back in time when I watched the playback — It was like I was watching a documentary,” he said.
Chinese table tennis legend Ding Ning (front row, second left) and Paris Olympic table tennis champion Fan Zhendong (front row, second right) pose for a group photo with the cast and crew of “The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death” at the film’s premiere in Beijing, Sept. 27, 2024. [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]
Paris Olympic table tennis champion Fan Zhendong also appeared at the premiere to show his support for the film. He said, “Although I’m just a layman when it comes to films, I can tell that the entire cast delivers outstanding performances, and each role is very impressive.” He mentioned that, as a former serviceman himself, the military rules significantly contributed to his personal growth. Watching the film also brought back memories of the vows he made during his service.
During the premiere, Zhu Yilong interacted with the audience and reflected on a past interview with director Chen Kaige. When asked why he felt compelled to make this film, Chen explained that he feared the CPV soldiers might be forgotten. “I believe this is also why we, as actors, chose to be part of this film,” Zhu said. “These soldiers will not be forgotten here. They will always be there on the screen, and we will always remember them.”
Today we removed an article titled “Should we ditch big exam halls? Our research shows how high ceilings are associated with a lower score”, because the original research has been found to contain errors and has been retracted by the academic journal that published it.
The Conversation’s article, published on July 3, 2024, was based on a study published online by The Journal of Environmental Psychology on June 26, 2024. It looked at the impact of ceiling heights on the exam performance of Australian students, and found that even after accounting for other factors such as age or past exam experience, higher ceiling heights were statistically correlated with poorer exam results.
After the study was published, a query from a reader of the journal article led the authors to review their calculations.
The authors discovered some honest errors in their work, leading them to conclude that the relationship between ceiling heights and exam score was “more nuanced” than presented in the paper.
The revised research manuscript was reviewed by the same anonymous peer-reviewers who looked at the original research. One reviewer did not feel comfortable assessing the statistical corrections, one advised against publishing the corrected manuscript, and a third recommended revisions.
On this basis, the Journal of Environmental Psychology rejected the amended version. The journal’s response can be found here.
The authors, lead by Isabella Bower, apologise for the error, and are working to resubmit their updated research to another journal.
The Conversation has decided that, in light of the current status of the research, the most appropriate option is to retract our coverage of the study. We are committed to providing accurate and reliable information, and to acknowledging errors in an open and transparent way when they occur.
BEIRUT – The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched an emergency operation to provide food assistance for up to one million people affected by the recent escalation of the conflict in Lebanon. The agency is distributing ready-to-eat food rations, bread, hot meals and food parcels to families in shelters across the country.
A further acceleration of the conflict this weekend underscored the need for an immediate humanitarian response. This comes after thousands of people had already been displaced, compounding the fragility of a population burdened by accumulated crises.
WFP, which has been on the ground providing assistance since the first day of the crisis, has to-date reached more than 66,000 people in shelters across the country. WFP has been working with donors and partners for several months to stockpile food supplies in strategic areas across the country and was able to significantly expand its assistance thanks to comprehensive preparations.
“In just a few days WFP assistance has reached thousands of newly displaced people,” said Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Country Director in Lebanon. “Today, I listened to stories of families forced to flee their homes, leaving everything behind in search of safety. As the crisis deepens, we are preparing to assist up to one million people through a mix of cash and food support. However, we urgently need additional resources to sustain and scale up our response.”
To continue these critical operations, WFP urgently requires USD 105 million until the end of the year and calls on the international community to mobilize resources and support the humanitarian response.
Kitchens and hot meal operations have been set up in north and central Lebanon to prepare light meals for those seeking safety in shelters. These facilities will boost WFP’s ability to provide hot meals in response to the growing number of displaced people.
Partners from the food security sector have also contributed by providing hot meals to nearly 14,000 displaced people in collective shelters, demonstrating a coordinated effort to address urgent humanitarian needs.
“Lebanon is at a breaking point and cannot endure another war,” said Corinne Fleischer, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. “A further escalation would be highly detrimental to the people of this region, who have gone through so much already. Additionally, it would massively stretch the humanitarian community’s collective operational and financial capacities. WFP is on the ground, but we urgently need funds. More urgently, the people in the region need peace.”
WFP is monitoring the situation and, with currently available resources, can scale up to reach up to one million people affected by the recent escalation for one month.
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
Robots perform dance at a booth during the third Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
The third Global Digital Trade Expo, currently unfolding in Hangzhou, capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province, is offering a glimpse into avant-garde technologies that are unlocking the country’s burgeoning potential in foreign trade.
Over the span of five days, the exhibition is featuring 446 new products and technologies, ranging from robots performing remarkable tasks like opening bottles and sorting waste to AI-driven digital humans engaging in debate competitions.
“I was impressed most by medical AI displayed at the exhibition, such as robotic surgical arms and screening clinics,” said Kgaladi Melia Thema, a consultant for innovation and technology of Small Enterprise Development Agency, South Africa.
“Nurses can use chronic disease management screening products for patients, which can be applied both at home and in clinics. This reduces costs and enables remote patient monitoring, offering great potential,” she added.
Digital technologies such as big data, cloud computing and blockchain are taking center stage at the expo, underscoring how China is harnessing these innovations to propel its foreign trade.
At the booth of iFLYTEK Co., Ltd., a front-runner in China’s AI and speech technology industry, several African visitors were immersed in real-time conversations with staff through a state-of-the-art multilingual AI-powered translation screen. Despite the bustling environment, the screen, equipped with advanced voice recognition technologies, accurately captured and responded to human voices.
“Overseas business is poised to become a significant growth engine for us in the coming years. Our aspiration is for it to constitute one-third of our business segments in the future,” said Liu Qingfeng, chairman of iFLYTEK.
Chinese cultural exports are also stealing the show at the exhibition. In the digital entertainment zone, innovative exhibits such as an AI-powered representation of Su Dongpo, a celebrated poet from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), a virtual museum of traditional Chinese music, as well as a 3D display of the four bronze animal heads from the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan), are offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into the richness of Chinese culture.
“The fusion of digital technology with the splendor of traditional Chinese culture has not only expanded our export opportunities, but also invigorated the growth of China’s culture industry,” said Wu Shuang, a staff member of Zhejiang Kayou Animation Co., Ltd., a domestic card game creator.
Visitors are also being treated to futuristic transportation solutions, including autonomous boat taxis and the electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) vehicles, all being showcased for the first time at this year’s expo.
“China is rightly regarded as a global leader in digital technologies and innovations,” said Zhaslan Madiyev, minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, adding that China’s advancement in digital trade is not only creating new avenues for cooperation, but also enhancing global trade infrastructure, fostering sustainable development worldwide.
“Chinese technologies and innovations are enhancing supply chains, making them faster and more efficient, while also improving access to goods and services,” Madiyev noted.
According to the Global Digital Trade Development Report 2024 released during the event, global digital trade soared to around 7.13 trillion U.S. dollars (about 1.02 trillion yuan) in 2023, up from 6.02 trillion U.S. dollars in 2021, marking an average annual growth rate of 8.8 percent.
The report also highlighted that the import and export scale of China’s cross-border e-commerce reached 2.37 trillion yuan last year, up 15.3 percent year on year.
Mercado Libre, a leading Latin American e-commerce platform, witnessed a 70-percent increase in online Chinese sellers and a 75-percent surge in their sales on its platform in 2023.
The company has opened its cross-border e-commerce services to Chinese sellers in Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Colombia, according to its representative at the expo, who also emphasized the escalating significance of the Chinese market.
As China’s sole national-level event focusing on the theme of digital trade, the expo has drawn over 1,500 enterprises, including more than 300 international companies, and over 30,000 purchasers this year.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Sept. 29 — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday said great times call for heroes and foster heroes.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a ceremony conferring the country’s highest state honors ahead of the 75th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
A galaxy of heroes emerging generation after generation will ensure the lasting prosperity of the Party and the people’s cause, Xi said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Sept. 29 — President Xi Jinping said on Sunday the Chinese people will never forget international friends who have made prominent contributions to China’s development and the friendship between Chinese and foreign peoples.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a ceremony awarding the country’s highest state honors ahead of the 75th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
Xi lauded Dilma Rousseff, recipient of the Friendship Medal, as an outstanding representative of China’s old friends and good friends who have shared the same aspirations and stood together with the Chinese people over the past 75 years.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The motorcade carrying recipients of national medals and national honorary titles is accompanied by motorcycle escorts on the way to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. China will hold a high-profile ceremony on Sunday morning to award the highest state honors ahead of the 75th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. [Photo/Xinhua]
BEIJING, Sept. 29 — China will hold a high-profile ceremony on Sunday morning to award the highest state honors ahead of the 75th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
Escorted by a motorcade, the recipients of national medals and national honorary titles are en route to the Great Hall of the People, where the ceremony will be held.
The motorcade carrying recipients of national medals and national honorary titles is accompanied by motorcycle escorts on the way to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]The motorcade carrying recipients of national medals and national honorary titles is accompanied by motorcycle escorts on the way to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on Sept. 29, 2024 shows the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on Sept. 29, 2024 shows the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on Sept. 29, 2024 shows the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]The motorcade carrying recipients of national medals and national honorary titles is accompanied by motorcycle escorts on the way to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]The motorcade carrying recipients of national medals and national honorary titles is accompanied by motorcycle escorts on the way to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Members of the Chinese Young Pioneers prepare to welcome recipients of national medals and national honorary titles at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Members of the Chinese Young Pioneers prepare to welcome recipients of national medals and national honorary titles at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, heads for the Great Hall of the People aboard a motorcade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, heads for the Great Hall of the People aboard a motorcade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, heads for the Great Hall of the People aboard a motorcade in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, is prepared to leaves Jingxi Hotel for the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Huang Zongde, a recipient of the Medal of the Republic, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Dilma Rousseff, a recipient of the Friendship Medal, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Xu Zhenchao, a recipient of the title of People’s Craftsman, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Zhang Zhuoyuan, a recipient of the title of Outstanding Contributor to Economic Research, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Zhao Zhongxian, a recipient of the title of People’s Scientist, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Zhang Xielin, a recipient of the title of Outstanding Contributor to Sports, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Zhang Jinfan, a recipient of the title of People’s Educator, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Lu Shengmei, a recipient of the title of People’s Health Worker, arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Recipients of national honorary titles aboard a motorcade arrive at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Recipients of national honorary titles aboard a motorcade are about to arrive at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Sept. 29 — China’s central bank conducted 182 billion yuan (about 25.96 billion U.S. dollars) of seven-day reverse repos at an interest rate of 1.5 percent Sunday.
The move aims to keep liquidity in the banking system reasonable and ample at the end of the quarter, the central bank said.
A reverse repo is a process in which the central bank purchases securities from commercial banks through bidding, with an agreement to sell them back in the future.