Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer announced today nearly $30 million in grant funding through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) that will be awarded to law enforcement agencies, states, community-based organizations, national civil rights organizations, and other stakeholders to fight the rise in hate and bias crimes and incidents. These awards will help communities improve the investigation and prosecution of hate and bias crimes, solve hate crime cold cases, serve victims of these offenses, and support related research.
“These grants are vital in helping to ensure law enforcement and community members get the support they need as they continue to strive to keep all communities safe,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “Everyone in this country deserves not only to feel safe but to be safe in their communities, and we’re excited about the new grant funding investments made.”
The funding was announced at the inaugural hate crimes grantee conference organized by OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The grants are part of the Justice Department’s wide-ranging efforts to improve community safety, serve victims of crime, support America’s youth, advance science, and promote equal justice. OJP is the largest grantmaking component of the Department and houses its criminal and juvenile justice-related science and statistical units.
“Freedom from intolerance and from the fear of violence is foundational to community safety and fundamental to the concept of equal justice,” said OJP Acting Assistant Attorney General Brent J. Cohen. “I’m very pleased that OJP is making these important resources available to our community partners and proud of the work we’re engaged in, together, to end hate and bias crimes and incidents in our country.”
The funding announced today includes:
$12 million in grants under BJA’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Program to help local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices investigate and prosecute hate and bias crimes, as well as collaborate with community partners on outreach and education to targeted communities.
More than $7.6 million in awards from BJA to 11 different community-based organizations and civil rights organizations for projects around the country dedicated to developing and implementing comprehensive hate crimes prevention and response strategies.
$1 million for the Orleans Parish, Louisiana, District Attorney’s Office under BJA’s Emmett Till Cold Case Investigation and Prosecution Program to provide resources in cold case homicide cases involving civil rights violations that occurred before 1980.
$2.7 million for RTI International and its subrecipients, the Eradicate Hate Global Summit and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, to launch BJA’s new Coordinated Hate Crimes Resource Center.
$1.125 million for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office through the Office for Victims of Crime’s Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act State-Run Hate Crime Reporting Hotlines program.
$2.5 million through Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act funding for the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ research and analysis project on National Incident-Based Reporting System data and hate crime reporting patterns.
$2.5 million in funding from the National Institute of Justice for three research projects on responding to hate crimes with specialized law enforcement units, including LGTBQI+ liaison units to respond to hate crimes against transgender individuals, and addressing the needs of survivors of hate crimes and their communities.
In addition to these new grant awards, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Mizer announced OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying Prevention Curriculum to provide resources to address hate crimes, bias incidents and identity-based bullying among youth. The curriculum is designed for middle and high school-aged youth and the teachers, counselors and others who work with them. He also announced the Community Oriented Policing Services (the COPS Office) is launching a new training on investigating hate crimes, which builds on the training the COPS Office released in 2022 on recognizing and reporting hate crimes.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Overall Wage and Payroll Statistics
According to the figures released today (September 26) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the average wage rate for all the selected industry sections surveyed, as measured by the wage index, increased by 3.7% in nominal terms in June 2024 over a year earlier.
About 63% of the companies reported increase in average wage rates in June 2024 compared with a year ago. A total of 32% of the companies recorded decrease in average wage rates over the same period. The remaining 5% reported virtually no change in average wage rates.
After discounting the changes in consumer prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index (A), the overall average wage rate for all the selected industry sections surveyed increased by 1.9% in real terms in June 2024 over a year earlier.
As for payroll, the index of payroll per person engaged for all the industry sections surveyed increased by 3.5% in nominal terms in the second quarter of 2024 over a year earlier.
After discounting the changes in consumer prices as measured by the Composite Consumer Price Index, the average payroll per person engaged increased by 2.2% in real terms in the second quarter of 2024 compared with a year earlier.
The wage rate includes basic wages and other regular and guaranteed allowances and bonuses. Payroll includes elements covered by wage rate as well as other irregular payments to workers such as discretionary bonuses and overtime allowances. The payroll statistics therefore tend to show relatively larger quarter-to-quarter changes, affected by the number of hours actually worked and the timing of payment of bonuses and back-pay.
Sectoral Changes
For the nominal wage indices, year-on-year increases were recorded in all selected industry sections in June 2024, ranging from 3.1% to 4.5%.
For the real wage indices, year-on-year increases were also recorded in all selected industry sections in June 2024, ranging from 1.3% to 2.7%.
The year-on-year changes in the nominal and real wage indices for the selected industry sections from June 2023 to June 2024 are shown in Table 1.
As for the nominal indices of payroll per person engaged, year-on-year increases were recorded in all selected industry sections in the second quarter of 2024, ranging from 1.6% to 8.6%.
For the real payroll indices, year-on-year increases were also recorded in all selected industry sections in the second quarter of 2024, ranging from 0.4% to 7.3%.
The year-on-year changes in the nominal and real indices of payroll per person engaged for selected industry sections from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024 are shown in Table 2. The quarterly changes in the seasonally adjusted nominal and real indices of payroll per person engaged in the same period are shown in Table 3.
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that wages and labour earnings continued to record decent increases in the second quarter of 2024 over a year earlier.
The average wage rate for all selected industries rose further by 3.7% in nominal terms in June 2024. After discounting for inflation, the average wage rate increased by 1.9% in real terms.
Payroll per person engaged, which includes basic wage, discretionary bonuses and other irregular payments, increased further by 3.5% in nominal terms in the second quarter of 2024. After discounting for inflation, payroll per person engaged increased by 2.2% in real terms. All selected industries saw increases in payroll per person engaged in both nominal and real terms.
Looking ahead, the tight overall labour market should provide support to growth in wages and labour earnings in the near term, though the pace of growth may vary across sectors in tandem with their business performance.
Other Information
Both wage indices and payroll indices are compiled quarterly based on the results of the Labour Earnings Survey (LES) conducted by C&SD. Wage index only covers employees up to the supervisory level (i.e. not including managerial and professional employees), whereas payroll index covers employees at all levels and proprietors actively engaged in the work of the establishment.
Apart from the differences in employee coverage, wage statistics are conceptually different from the payroll statistics. Firstly, wage rate for an employee refers to the sum earned for his normal hours of work. It covers basic wages and other regular and guaranteed allowances and bonuses, but excludes earnings from overtime work and discretionary bonuses, which are however included in payroll per person engaged. Secondly, the payroll index of an industry is an indicator of the simple average payroll received per person engaged in the industry. Its movement is therefore affected by changes in wage rates, number of hours of work and occupational composition in the industry. In contrast, the wage index of an industry is devised to reflect the pure changes in wage rate, with the occupational composition between two successive statistical periods being kept unchanged. In other words, the wage index reflects the change in the price of labour. Because of these conceptual and enumeration differences between payroll and wage statistics, the movements in payroll indices and in wage indices do not necessarily match closely with each other.
It should also be noted that different consumer price indices are used for compiling the real indices of wage and payroll to take into account the differences in their respective occupation coverage. Specifically, the Composite Consumer Price Index, being an indicator of overall consumer prices, is taken as the price deflator for payroll of workers at all levels of the occupational hierarchy. The Consumer Price Index (A), being an indicator of consumer prices for the relatively low expenditure group, is taken as the price deflator for wages in respect of employees engaged in occupations up to the supervisory level.
Detailed breakdowns of the payroll and wage statistics are published in the “Quarterly Report of Wage and Payroll Statistics, June 2024”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050009&scode=210).
For enquiries on wage and payroll statistics, please contact the Wages and Labour Costs Statistics Section (1) of C&SD (Tel: 2887 5550 or email: wage@censtatd.gov.hk).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
External Merchandise Trade Statistics for August 2024 External Merchandise Trade Statistics for August 2024 *****************************************************
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (September 26) the external merchandise trade statistics for August 2024. In August 2024, the values of Hong Kong’s total exports and imports of goods both recorded year-on-year increases, at 6.4% and 7.9% respectively. In August 2024, the value of total exports of goods increased by 6.4% over a year earlier to $381.3 billion, after a year-on-year increase by 13.1% in July 2024. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 7.9% over a year earlier to $414.4 billion in August 2024, after a year-on-year increase by 9.9% in July 2024. A visible trade deficit of $33.1 billion, equivalent to 8.0% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in August 2024. For the first eight months of 2024 as a whole, the value of total exports of goods increased by 11.5% over the same period in 2023. Concurrently, the value of imports of goods increased by 8.0%. A visible trade deficit of $216.0 billion, equivalent to 6.8% of the value of imports of goods, was recorded in the first eight months of 2024. Comparing the three-month period ending August 2024 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the value of total exports of goods increased by 0.3%. Meanwhile, the value of imports of goods increased by 3.8%. Analysis by country/territory Comparing August 2024 with August 2023, total exports to Asia as a whole grew by 9.9%. In this region, increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular Vietnam (+27.0%), Malaysia (+23.7%), Thailand (+15.3%), the Philippines (+14.5%) and the mainland of China (the Mainland) (+12.9%). On the other hand, decreases were recorded in the values of total exports to India (-20.5%) and Singapore (-14.5%). Apart from destinations in Asia, decreases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations in other regions, in particular Switzerland (-62.0%) and the United Kingdom (-46.2%). Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports from some major suppliers, in particular Singapore (+26.8%), Vietnam (+26.2%), Korea (+19.6%), Malaysia (+17.4%) and the Mainland (+9.7%). On the other hand, decreases were recorded in the values of imports from the Philippines (-10.0%) and the USA (-5.1%). For the first eight months of 2024 as a whole, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of total exports to some major destinations, in particular Thailand (+28.3%), Vietnam (+23.8%), the Mainland (+18.9%), the USA (+15.2%) and the United Arab Emirates (+4.8%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of total exports to India (-10.3%). Over the same period of comparison, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of imports from some major suppliers, in particular Vietnam (+48.0%), Korea (+46.0%), Singapore (+20.7%), the Mainland (+9.6%) and Malaysia (+4.8%). On the other hand, a decrease was recorded in the value of imports from the Philippines (-13.8%). Analysis by major commodity Comparing August 2024 with August 2023, increases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $14.4 billion or +43.5%) and “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $13.0 billion or +7.5%). Over the same period of comparison, increases were registered in the values of imports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $19.7 billion or +79.6%) and “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $17.0 billion or +10.0%). For the first eight months of 2024 as a whole, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of total exports of some principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $149.1 billion or +11.9%) and “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $82.3 billion or +32.6%). Over the same period of comparison, year-on-year increases were registered in the values of imports of most principal commodity divisions, in particular “electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof” (by $122.7 billion or +9.6%) and “office machines and automatic data processing machines” (by $70.5 billion or +35.1%). Commentary A Government spokesman said that the value of merchandise exports grew solidly in August 2024 over a year earlier. Exports to the Mainland, the United States and the European Union registered increases of varying degree, while those to other major Asian markets saw mixed performance. Looking ahead, while geopolitical tensions and trade conflicts will present risks, Hong Kong’s exports performance should remain positive if external demand continues to hold up. The Government will monitor the situation closely. Further information Table 1 presents the analysis of external merchandise trade statistics for August 2024. Table 2 presents the original monthly trade statistics from January 2021 to August 2024, and Table 3 gives the seasonally adjusted series for the same period. The values of total exports of goods to 10 main destinations for August 2024 are shown in Table 4, whereas the values of imports of goods from 10 main suppliers are given in Table 5. Tables 6 and 7 show the values of total exports and imports of 10 principal commodity divisions for August 2024. All the merchandise trade statistics described here are measured at current prices and no account has been taken of changes in prices between the periods of comparison. A separate analysis of the volume and price movements of external merchandise trade for August 2024 will be released in mid-October 2024. The August 2024 issue of “Hong Kong External Merchandise Trade” contains detailed analysis on the performance of Hong Kong’s external merchandise trade in August 2024 and will be available in early October 2024. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020005&scode=230). Enquiries on merchandise trade statistics may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4691).
Ends/Thursday, September 26, 2024Issued at HKT 16:30
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Since the beginning of the year, the capital’s exporters, with the support of the city, have visited 11 international exhibitions in friendly countries. Among them are Gulfood in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Tibo in Belarus, Gitex Africa in Morocco and Vietnam Expo in Vietnam. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.
The costs of renting and building the negotiation area, delivering exhibits and organizing business meetings were covered by the Moscow Export Center (MEC).
“Since January, more than 180 Moscow brands have presented their products at the Made in Moscow stand. Another 122 companies have joined foreign business missions in nine countries,” said Natalia Sergunina.
Delegations from Indonesia, Mexico, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt came to the capital on a return visit.
“As a result of participation in exhibitions and business missions, city entrepreneurs found new partners in 24 friendly countries. Among them are the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, Thailand, India and Uruguay. The total amount of contracts exceeded 1.5 billion rubles. Foreign buyers were interested in Moscow digital solutions, technology and equipment, food products and cartoons,” noted Natalia Sergunina.
Successful experience of participants
Thus, the adventure series about the magical girl Yesenia found a response from the foreign audience. Commercial director of the animation bureau Marina Povkh said that the story is universal and understandable to children from any corner of the world, but without the support of the city, it would have been more difficult for the company to reach the international level.
“If we went to exhibitions ourselves, we would have a small, unremarkable stand. But the Moscow Export Center pavilion provides us with scale, because we become part of the Made in Moscow brand,” said Marina Povkh.
The authors signed one of the contracts for the delivery of the series during the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival.
“The story about the sorceress is now being broadcast on children’s channels in Latin America, and will soon be shown in Thailand. The city does not forget about our successes, talks about them, and we are becoming more recognizable in the domestic market. Our bureau will continue to use the capital’s tools to develop its business, we are sure that this will bring new results,” the commercial director concluded.
Another active participant in the MEC programs is a manufacturer of innovative simulators for students of medical universities. The hybrid dental simulator allows practicing manipulations on a jaw model. Unique software monitors the accuracy of work due to electromagnetic tracking technology.
“With the support of the city, we attend leading industry events, it is completely free. After the exhibition in Alma-Ata, our simulators appeared in medical universities of Kazakhstan and the UAE,” shared the company’s founder Zalim Balkizov.
The capital will organize other trips before the end of the year.
Extensive toolkit
The Moscow Export Center was created seven years ago with the aim of creating a single window of support for businessmen engaged in foreign economic activity. Since the beginning of the year, over two thousand entrepreneurs have used its services. In addition to participation in exhibitions and business missions, educational programs have been developed for the business community of the capital, grants, expert support, and placement of products on the largest marketplaces and retail chains are available.
Before entering new markets, entrepreneurs should familiarize themselves with the rules of conduct at the international level. Legislation, culture, and mentality are unique in each country. Key aspects of working in specific markets can be learned during training at the Moscow School of Exporters.
Lectures, master classes and conferences tell about which goods are in demand in a particular region, how to find a common language with potential partners, what are the features of customs clearance and logistics. Each event focuses on a particular topic: opportunities in the Persian Gulf market, certification in Mexico or export of IT solutions to Malaysia. The current schedule is published on the MEC website.
Another convenient format for acquiring knowledge is accelerators. For example, within the framework of the program “Exporters 2.0” students analyze the competitive environment, develop a strategy, create a portrait of a future buyer and adapt the product to their needs. The course takes four months.
The “Accelerator for High-Tech Companies and Technology Export” lasts three months. During this time, participants go from choosing a foreign market to increasing turnover. More than 85 percent of the cost of training in accelerators is subsidized by the city.
Export cashback
Cooperation with foreign partners and the first experience in a new country require not only comprehensive preparation, but also financial investments. High-tech and manufacturing industries can cover part of the costs by receiving an export grant. The maximum amount is 10 million rubles per year (or 50 percent of the amount of taxes paid to the city budget).
The capital’s manufacturer of laser equipment for various industries, including surgical operations and microprocessing of materials (diamonds, sapphires and silicon), has had several applications approved in recent years for a total of more than 10 million rubles.
“The funds were used to develop technologies and production. Entering the foreign market is not easy, especially given the current situation in the world. But the grants motivate us not to slow down,” said the company’s deputy director Matvey Konyashchenko.
The enterprise cooperates with partners from the Eurasian Economic Union and China. This year, the size of grants for new and active exporters has been doubled — from 10 to 20 percent of the contract amount. Applications for them are open until October 31.
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.
between the stations “Zvenigorodskaya”and “Shelepikha” with a length of 553 meters. “Sofia” will go 349 meters, and another 204 meters will have to be covered by mountainous means,” the Mayor of Moscow noted.
Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel@mos_sobyanin
The section under construction will be connected to the Shelepikha – Delovoy Tsentr section, which was previously part of Big Circle Line of the Metro.
There are currently three tunnel boring machines operating on the Rublevo-Arkhangelskaya line. Two other machines are digging tunnels between the Narodnoye Opolchenie and “Boulevard of General Karbyshev.”
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.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
The capital’s metro has begun preparations for the winter season. This was announced by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.
“On behalf of Sergei Sobyanin, we ensure comfortable travel for passengers on public transport. The Moscow Metro prepares the infrastructure for the change of seasons twice a year – summer and winter. We start work in advance so that when the weather changes, the temperature at stations and in trains remains comfortable,” said Maxim Liksutov.
Every autumn, about six thousand second vestibule doors are returned to the metro. By the end of October, they will be installed at all stations. In addition, air-heat curtains are being tested: they are located at the entrances and exits and provide air heating.
When cold weather sets in, tunnel ventilation and air conditioning in trains are switched to winter mode. In addition, many metro stations have stairs with heating systems that prevent ice from forming.
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.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
The capital will put up for auction a property with a free designation in the Troparevo-Nikulino district. Anyone can take part in the auction.
“In the fall, investors will be able to take part in an auction to purchase a space of almost 590 square meters. The property is located on the first floor of building 127 on Vernadsky Avenue, which is a 15-minute walk from the Yugo-Zapadnaya station of the Sokolnicheskaya metro line. Any type of activity can be carried out there: opening a pick-up point, a store, a catering outlet. Due to its large area, it is suitable for implementing several business ideas at once,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the Moscow Department of City Property
The premises are equipped with offices, which will allow the future owner to organize a shopping and office center or rent out the available space, for example, for travel agency offices, hairdressers and other types of services that are in demand among the population.
In addition, you can open a business providing household services. Next to the residential building, on the ground floor of which there is a commercial space, there is a hotel.
The non-residential facility has three separate entrances, two of which face the intersection of Leninsky and Vernadsky Avenues. This arrangement will allow separating the flows of customers, workers and residents of the apartment building.
All information about the premises put up for auction is presented on the Moscow investment portal. You can learn more about the property being sold by the capital, study the lot documentation and the rules for conducting auctions in the section “Property from the city”.
Development of electronic services for business corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Digital Economy”. You can find out more about this and other national projects being implemented in Moscow Here.
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.
On 23 September 2024, Perth and Kinross Council detected unauthorised access to a limited number of emails. This incident involved one user’s email account and access to emails containing invoicing data from some of our service providers.
The breach was identified and secured promptly, but eight emails were accessed. Some of these emails had attachments which may also have been accessed which contained bank account numbers and sort codes of some businesses, individual suppliers and commercial waste customers.
Rest assured, this incident does not affect recipients of other Council services, such as welfare payments or payments made for Council Tax and housing rent.
We will directly contact affected individuals to inform them as soon as possible. In the meantime, we urge everyone to be cautious of any unusual emails claiming to be from Perth and Kinross Council. Always verify that emails come from @pkc.gov.uk addresses and be wary of unexpected changes or requests and treat links and attachments with caution. If something seems off, please speak to your usual Council contact using a different communication method than the one given on the email you are concerned about.
We take the protection of personal and company information very seriously and are very sorry for the inconvenience and concern that this incident has caused.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Within the framework of 22 integrated territorial development projects (ITD) located within the boundaries of the capital’s transport framework, 25 sports facilities will be built. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.
“Implementation of integrated development projects for areas near the stations of the Big Circle Line, Moscow Central Circle and Moscow Central Diameters will create new places for sports in 22 districts of the capital. It is planned to build 25 sports complexes on sites with a total area of 406.6 hectares. Their area will exceed 138 thousand square meters. Among the sports facilities are physical education and health complexes, including swimming pools, as well as a rock climbing center and a complex for team sports,” said Vladimir Efimov.
The locations for the placement of sports facilities and their parameters will be determined based on the results of the approval of territorial planning projects.
“According to the KRT project, a sports complex with an area of at least four thousand square meters is planned to be built on Novaya Ipatovka Street in Koptevo. Based on the results of the approval of the territory planning project, the construction dates of the facility and its exact parameters will be established. In the north of the capital, it is planned to build a built-in and attached sports and recreation complex with a swimming pool with an area of more than three thousand square meters. It will become part of a new residential quarter in the Begovoy District,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of City Property
More than 80 percent of KRT projects involve the construction of real estate near major transport facilities, told earlier Sergei Sobyanin.
According to the program of integrated development of territories in the capital, multifunctional city quarters are being created, where roads, comfortable housing and all necessary infrastructure are being designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 236 KRT projects with a total area of more than 3.1 thousand hectares are at various stages of implementation in Moscow. Their development is carried out on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin.
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.
Businesses illegally occupying government premises in Mthatha have been given 14 days to apply for legal leases from the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, should they wish to continue with their businesses on the current premises.
This was revealed when Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala, together with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Siphokazi Lusithi, issued eviction orders to a number of businesses in the Mthatha CBD as part of Operation Bring Back (OBB), which aims to reclaim hijacked and illegally occupied government properties.
“Our aim is not to shut down legally operating businesses, but we want these businesses that are paying rent to criminals, who have stolen government properties, to start paying the rent to the rightful owners of these properties,” the Deputy Minister said on Wednesday.
Zikalala and Lusithi visited mixed business premises housing offices, driving school, salons, tombstones and a hardware store, where they addressed business owners and workers who voiced their fears of losing their businesses.
In the Eastern Cape, there are 82 properties that are currently going through legal channels, including 57 eviction orders.
Of these, 21 have been evaluated and are recommended for execution, with a target of completing 36 evictions by the end of the 2024/2025 financial year.
All eviction actions will strictly adhere to legal standards and respect tenant rights. The two DPWI leaders allayed the fears of the concerned businesses, promising that should they follow the correct legal routes, their businesses would not be out in the cold.
“As the province, we are undertaking the Operation Bring Back, which aims at bringing back government properties that are illegally occupied. The illegal occupation of government properties both commercial and residential undermines the state’s capacity to generate revenue and maintain our properties, but even more tragically, it victimizes small business owners who are unaware they are being taken advantage of by these bogus landlords.
“In response, we have entered into negotiations with these small businesses to regularize their leases, ensuring that they are protected, and that government assets are not exploited for personal gain,” the MEC said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
This data provides information about the number and types of applications that HM Land Registry completed in August 2024.
NicoElNino/Shutterstock.com
This data provides information about the number and types of applications that HM Land Registry completed in August 2024.
Please note this data shows what HM Land Registry has been able to process during the time period covered and is not necessarily a reflection of market activity.
In August:
HM Land Registry completed more than 1,876,210 applications to change or query the Land Register
the South East topped the table of regional applications with 425,070
HM Land Registry completed 1,876,215 applications in August compared with 2,092,554 in July and 1,795,490 last August 2023, of which:
285,515 were applications for register updates compared with 318,267 in July
1,073,999 were applications for an official copy of a register compared with 1,190,880 in July
197,468 were search and hold queries (official searches) compared with 214,947 in July
78,219 were transactions for value compared with 93,549 in July
18,417 were postal applications from non-account holders compared with 19,357 in July
Wanneroo Aquamotion’s dedicated swim teachers have been recognised with a top gong at the SWIM Australia Awards 2024.
Held last weekend, the Awards celebrate excellence in aquatic education, with trophies presented to Australia’s top coaches, teachers, trainers and swim schools.
Wanneroo Aquamotion’s Swim School took home Best Swim School in the Innovation/Team/Staff Development category.
The team was recognised for their ongoing professional development through expert-led workshops, training opportunities, custom e-learning content, specialist instructor training and team building initiatives.
SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia is the peak industry body for swim coaches, teachers and swim schools, representing over 50,000 members and more than 600 swim school members.
Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Francis in Luxembourg and Belgium (26 to 29 September 2024) – Departure from Rome and Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, 26.09.2024
Departure from Rome
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Departure from Rome
This morning, Pope Francis began his 46th international Apostolic Journey, this time to Luxembourg and Belgium.
Shortly after 7.00, a group of around ten homeless people, men and women, who shelter at night beneath the colonnade in Saint Peter’s Square or in the streets around it, accompanied by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of His Holiness, greeted Pope Francis at Santa Marta before his departure.
The Holy Father then transferred by car to Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome-Fiumicino, from where he departed at 8.29 on board an ITA Airways A321 bound for Luxembourg.
The aircraft carrying the Holy Father is expected to land at Luxembourg-Findel International Airport at 10.00.
Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
At the moment of leaving Italian territory, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, the Honorable Sergio Mattarella:
HIS EXCELLENCYHON. SERGIO MATTARELLAPRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLICQUIRINAL PALACE 00187 ROME
AS I AM ABOUT TO EMBARK ON AN APOSTOLIC JOURNEY IN LUXEMBOURG AND BELGIUM, MOVED BY THE KEEN DESIRE TO MEET BROTHERS IN FAITH AND THE INHABITANTS OF THOSE DEAR NATIONS BEARING A MESSAGE OF PEACE AND HOPE, I AM PLEASED TO ADDRESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MY RESPECTFUL GREETING, WHICH I ACCOMPANY WITH FERVENT PRAYERS FOR THE GOOD AND PROSPERITY OF THE ENTIRE ITALIAN PEOPLE.
FRANCISCUS
China has built the world’s largest social security network, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on Tuesday. Vice Minister Li Zhong told a press conference that the number of people covered by basic old-age insurance, unemployment insurance, and work-related injury insurance had reached 1.07 billion, 245 million, and 301 million, respectively. China’s social security system has been optimized since the 18th Communist Party of China National Congress held in 2012, with the basic old-age insurance for enterprise employees being coordinated nationwide and that for urban and rural residents being implemented uniformly. A multi-tiered social security system has been established, Li said. According to Li, 98 percent of China’s population possess social security cards, showcasing the improved social security services. Li also noted that the ministry would further optimize the coordination of basic old-age insurance for enterprise employees and promote the private pension system nationwide while continuing to expand social insurance coverage. In the meantime, Li said, efforts will be made to improve the fund safety supervision system and strengthen risk control, adding that the national unified social insurance public service platform will be optimized. The vice minister said that social security-related laws and regulations will also be improved and revised in a timely manner as required.
Source: Republic of France in English The Republic of France has issued the following statement:
President,
Secretary-General,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Ukraine has now been exercising its right to self-defence for two and half years with a bravery that can only fill us with admiration and compel us to act. That right that our Charter clearly grants it. The right to defend its freedom, its territory, its independence and its existence.
I, too, would like to welcome the presence of President Zelenskyy, who is with us here today and who embodies this combat being fought by the Ukrainian people. This combat is also our combat.
How can we not be outraged by this brutal, illegal, unjustifiable war of aggression that Russia is waging on Ukraine, by this massive and continual violation of the most fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations? By Russia’s obstinacy and refusal to pay heed while we are more than 140 countries condemning it, in our unequivocal votes, at the United Nations General Assembly?
How can we not be outraged by the systematic and deliberate pounding of civilian targets, by the cold and methodical destruction of energy infrastructure plunging Ukrainians into the cold and darkness? How can we not be outraged by these repeated atrocities and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law? How can we not condemn rape being used a weapon of war? Nothing and nobody are being spared in Ukraine. This must end, the suffering must end.
How can we not be outraged by the tragic fate of Ukraine’s children? By the young patients undergoing cancer treatment near the ruins of Kyiv’s Children’s Hospital. By the young Ukrainians whose mental health is failing.
By the orphaned girls and boys. By the children and babies who have been killed in Russia’s strikes. By the thousands and perhaps tens of thousands of children taken from their families and undergoing “re-education” in Russia and Belarus, which is an unspeakably cruel way to be treated. What has happened to them? What will they become?
France will continue to stand with those who are fighting for Ukrainian children’s return to Ukraine and supports the initiatives under way.
There can be no impunity for the crimes being committed. The International Criminal Court has already issued six arrest warrants against Russian officials. Russia must be held accountable for its actions.
No one should be complicit in these crimes against humanity. Let it not be said that supporting Ukraine is the same as supporting Russia: Russia is flouting all the rules and attacking its democratic and peaceful neighbour, while Ukraine is exercising its right to self-defence that laws and moral standards justify. No one should support Russia! France therefore urges all States to refrain from providing Russia with weapons, dual-use goods and components that could fuel its war of aggression, the first being North Korea and Iran. We condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia, which has recently been confirmed. It constitutes significant escalation and directly threatens European security.
We are especially concerned about Russia’s continuation of its aggressive and dangerous moves on the European continent, which are increasingly bold. The territorial integrity of several European countries has been repeatedly violated this year and Russia is continuing its efforts to destabilize democracies such as Moldova and Armenia – two democratic States whose only error according to Moscow is to have chosen freedom.
But, ladies and gentlemen, Russia’s war of aggression affects us all, beyond the European continent where it is happening, it is something that concerns the whole world. It is a war against food and energy insecurity. So many States and peoples are impacted by its consequences. And it is not Russia today, but France and its partners, who are enabling Ukrainian grain to be sent to the civilian population in Gaza.
Lastly, Russia’s war of aggression is a war against the international order.
To accept Russia’s fait accompli would be to accept the idea that “might is right”. It would leave the door open to other border changes. It would mean abandoning the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. It would mean abandoning the possibility of establishing collective security. There is no collective security without the United Nations and there is no United Nations without compliance with the Charter, which serves as its foundation. It is our raison d’être, here at the United Nations, that is being attacked.
For all these reasons, Russia is counting on our fatigue and disengagement, and it is wrong. France will continue to support Ukraine, at every level and over the long term. We will activate all European instruments and ensure Ukraine has a path to the European Union and NATO.
A path other than that of aggression and devastation is possible.
A path to just peace, which should be based solely on international law, with respect for its territorial integrity. It cannot take the form of the surrender of those being attacked. Because there are definitely those who are attacking and those who are being attacked. France will continue to provide its support to President Zelenskyy’s peace plan. Ukraine must be free to choose its alliances and its path.
President,
If Russia chooses to stop being a source of insecurity and instability, another future can be envisaged.
The annual growth rate of the broad monetary aggregate M3 increased to 2.9% in August 2024 from 2.3% in July, averaging 2.5% in the three months up to August. The components of M3 showed the following developments. The annual growth rate of the narrower aggregate M1, which comprises currency in circulation and overnight deposits, was -2.1% in August, compared with -3.1% in July. The annual growth rate of short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) decreased to 10.6% in August from 11.4% in July. The annual growth rate of marketable instruments (M3-M2) increased to 22.0% in August from 21.4% in July.
Looking at the components’ contributions to the annual growth rate of M3, the narrower aggregate M1 contributed -1.4 percentage points (up from -2.1 percentage points in July), short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) contributed 3.0 percentage points (down from 3.2 percentage points) and marketable instruments (M3-M2) contributed 1.3 percentage points (up from 1.2 percentage points).
Among the holding sectors of deposits in M3, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by households increased to 2.3% in August from 2.1% in July, while the annual growth rate of deposits placed by non-financial corporations stood at 1.8% in August, compared with 1.7% in July. Finally, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by investment funds other than money market funds increased to 11.7% in August from 6.3% in July.
Counterparts of the broad monetary aggregate M3
The annual growth rate of M3 in August 2024, as a reflection of changes in the items on the monetary financial institution (MFI) consolidated balance sheet other than M3 (counterparts of M3), can be broken down as follows: net external assets contributed 4.0 percentage points (up from 3.8 percentage points in July), claims on the private sector contributed 1.2 percentage points (up from 0.9 percentage points), claims on general government contributed -0.4 percentage points (as in the previous month), longer-term liabilities contributed -1.8 percentage points (up from -1.9 percentage points), and the remaining counterparts of M3 contributed 0.0 percentage points (up from -0.1 percentage points).
Chart 2
Contribution of the M3 counterparts to the annual growth rate of M3
The annual growth rate of total claims on euro area residents increased to 0.6% in August 2024 from 0.3% in the previous month. The annual growth rate of claims on general government stood at -1.1% in August, unchanged from the previous month, while the annual growth rate of claims on the private sector increased to 1.2% in August from 0.9% in July.
Data in this press release are adjusted for seasonal and end-of-month calendar effects, unless stated otherwise.
“Private sector” refers to euro area non-MFIs excluding general government.
Hyperlinks lead to data that may change with subsequent releases as a result of revisions. Figures shown in annex tables are a snapshot of the data as at the time of the current release.
Beijing on Wednesday unveiled 20 new routes for science and technology museum tours, aiming to enhance educational experiences for students and the public. The initiative, launched at the 2024 “City of Science and Technology Museums” ceremony, includes eight “textbook” routes, six popular venue routes and six thematic routes. The “textbook” routes align with school curricula, allowing students to experience science concepts in their textbooks firsthand. For example, sixth-graders can examine the ancient star map of the Longfu Temple caisson ceiling at the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, which is depicted in their science textbooks. Meanwhile, first-year high school students can visit the solar telescope at the Huairou Solar Observing Station, as mentioned in their geography textbooks. The six popular venue routes released at the event integrate similar museums in Beijing, providing more options for museum tours. For example, when tickets to the National Museum of Natural History are in short supply, people can visit the Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Sciences to appreciate diverse plants instead. In addition, the six thematic routes focus on current scientific trends and popular topics, providing insights into cutting-edge developments.
The 2024 OpenAtom Open Source Eco-conference opened in Beijing on Sept. 25, focusing on empowering industries through open-source technology and collaborative future building. The conference explored how open-source ecosystems can drive innovations in fields such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing across various sectors. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong highlighted open source’s crucial role in China’s development strategy. He noted the national software development strategy and the 14th Five-Year Plan have set key guidelines for promoting open-source development. Calling for enhancing infrastructure, Jin emphasized the need to bolster national organizations and integrate open source into enterprise strategies. He also called for improved governance and international cooperation. Beijing Mayor Yin Yong noted that the city has fostered open-source software development, attracting over half of the nation’s commercial startups in this sector. He outlined plans to enhance Beijing’s open source sector by focusing on “platforms, projects, talents, and cooperation.” He said the city aims to create an attractive environment for developers, capital and technology. Initiatives will include consolidating open-source infrastructure, promoting international collaboration, and encouraging partnerships among universities and research institutions. At the opening ceremony, officials launched the second OpenAtom Competition and recognized state-owned enterprises contributing to the open-source ecosystem. A signing ceremony for interconnection and cooperation among open-source platforms was held, and the OpenAtom Model License was released. The OpenAtom Foundation is a non-profit organization in China dedicated to promoting the development and application of open-source technology.
In the past months, the planet has experienced the hottest months of June and August, boreal summer and day on record, with a global average temperature of 17.16°C on 22 July. While many have been getting on with their lives as best as they can, there are many more who are feeling the heat, as levels of climate anxiety continue to rise. At risk are people experiencing climate impacts in the Global South, but also professionals in the Earth sciences documenting and modelling them.
So, how can we channel our alarm in a way that doesn’t paralyse us, but propel us into action? To answer this question, The Conversation Europe spoke to one of the world’s most public-facing climate scientists, the Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Diána Ürge-Vorsatz.
Could you start off by describing your work? According to you, what have been the highlights of your career as a climate scientist?
So I mostly work in the area of energy efficiency. I have done a lot of modelling, including to demonstrate how higher efficiency buildings could reduce carbon emissions. Among others, I have alerted the world of what we call the carbon lock-in risks of inefficient building retrofits — when fossil fuel-intensive systems perpetuate, delay, or prevent the transition to low-carbon alternatives.
I’ve always tried to concentrate on solutions which not only allow us to solve environmental issues, but also to increase human well-being and meet other societal goals. That’s because I come from a country [Hungary] where I see that while the environment and climate change are important, they typically play second fiddle to other priorities. Hence, I believe we have to solve these things in a way that makes it worthwhile.
Diána Ürge-Vorsatz, 2024. Fourni par l’auteur
My work therefore prompted lawmakers to revise the EU’s legislation to boost building energy efficiency – the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive – in 2010. On the first day the Fidesz government was reelected that year, I showed them how many jobs could be created through high efficiency building retrofits. Based on our research, they committed that the entire building stock would be refurbished to slash energy consumption by 60 %, which would have been really very ambitious, the first such commitment in the world. Unfortunately, a few months later, they changed their direction and they rather went into other energy policy priorities.
That’s one of my concerns, yes, because it’s amongst the tipping points that would exert its impact the earliest.
If we look at other Earth system tipping points, most of them require a century, several centuries, if not several millennia until they exert a full impact. If AMOC collapses, it would exert its full impact within two to three decades, potentially. These are very strong impacts predicted clearly, on Europe as well as other regions. More and more papers have shown evidence that its collapse could already be underway. That’s definitely been alarming.
When you started on this career path, would you describe yourself as prey to eco-anxiety? And if not, was there a turning point when it appeared?
No, when I started I don’t think we had any knowledge that would have amounted to any existential threat, and it was still not so tangible that so many things could go wrong.
I was studying for my PhD at UCLA, at UC Berkeley from 1992-96. In the LA Times, there was a two page advertisement calling for artists to design artwork that would scare anyone away, which they could put above the Yucca Mountain deep high-level based nuclear repository so that even if people didn’t speak English or they didn’t understand our script anymore, they could still understand that there was something really dangerous under that.
At that point, I remember thinking: “Oh my God, if you just can’t dig or walk wherever you want anymore, that’s just wrong. We cannot do that to future generations.”
Then there’s the never-ending news cycle, making it hard to pinpoint specific moments that alarm you. One that comes to mind has been the discovery over time that forever chemicals – Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – are everywhere, even in the most remote parts of the earth and rain is no longer of drinking water quality even in Antarctica. This isn’t going to go away — precisely because PFAS are what we call forever chemicals. We will never be able to vacuum clean the planet from PFAS. Likewise with microplastics. When you start looking ahead with your eyes open, it can be really scary.
And how do you experience the intimate knowledge of that alarming data on the one hand, and the public’s, and above all the elites’, climate inaction on the other?
Well, I wouldn’t quite call it “climate inaction”. It’s easy to dwell on the idea that the glass is half empty. But in fact, the glass is half full. Lots has been done since the 2015 Paris Agreement, which was itself a miracle.
You were there when the deal was struck, weren’t you? Could you tell us what it was like?
Well, it was truly euphoric, because before that, if a scientist dared mentioning [the threshold of] 1.5°C [of warming above pre-industrial levels], you were a tree-hugger and an advocate, not a scientist. You did not get funding.
And suddenly that became a political reality, or at least a political goal. I think that was really amazing for me because that time we didn’t have science clearly backing that you actually could achieve 1.5°C. So in the run-up to the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) asked the IPCC to produce a report on 1.5°C. I remember talking about it with colleagues at the time, who told me: “That’s crazy, this train is gone, let’s not do it”.
Then the months went by and and those voices faded. By the time we got to the plenary meeting in January there was not a single voice saying “We shouldn’t do this report”. Scientists changed course and put so much effort in on trying to say “Okay can this be done well? Let’s actually see”. Then they ran their models to figure out that actually not only can it be done — but there are so many ways we can get there. Yes, I know that it’s now increasingly unlikely that we still will meet it, but it still created a lot of momentum.
One fact that we don’t emphasize enough: we have prevented the world from warming by five to six degrees by the end of the century, and we are now at worst saying perhaps four degrees, but more likely 2.5°C to 3.5°C.
How do you communicate with your children about the climate crisis? For example, are there things that you choose not to tell them in order to protect them?
I don’t hide anything from them. We quite frequently talk about the gravity of the situation because I cannot help bearing on them in the evening all the negative experiences and facts I learned during the day and I just have to unload these for them at dinners and so on.
One of my daughters did experience quite severe environmental anxiety for almost two years when she was about nine years old. She had come with me to a TV shooting and they allowed her into the studio. And before my interview, they just played this intense clip about storms and fires – typical climate impacts. But after that, she was really very afraid for a long time.
How did that fear translate itself?
She couldn’t sleep very well. She was constantly afraid physically. She would tell me: “My god, is this going to burn around us? Are we going to have floods?”
And it’s that a nine year old cannot, of course, fully comprehend yet how these risks will unfold in the future. I think she was put in this state of fear and anxiety. So that’s why it was also hard to manage because it wasn’t anything concrete or anything that she could verbally express or phrase nicely.
And I couldn’t say, “Look darling, it’s not going to happen.”
And how did she manage to surface from that state of paralysis?
After a while, I think she understood that it wasn’t yet threatening her life. But all of my children are still concerned and many of them want to contribute to fighting climate change in some way.
For example, my eldest daughter was studying medicine, but after her second year, she spent the entire summer in tears. She was deeply passionate about climate action and believed there were only two paths forward. Either she could still save the planet by becoming an architect to design zero-energy buildings, or, if it was too late, she should focus on mitigating the damage by remaining in medicine. After two months of struggling with this dilemma, she abandoned her dream of architecture and decided to continue with medical school. It was heartbreaking for me to see how little hope they had of solving the climate crisis.
What would your advice be for parents whose children are suffering from eco-anxiety?
I think the best way is to turn anxiety into action — to explain to them that they have and we still have agency. Even though we are small, we have a very important impact. We can vote. We can choose a profession where we can change the world. We can be role models and we can influence our peers through social media and many other ways.
So if we tell them the five scenarios that the IPCC presents (investor, consumer, citizen, role model, professional) in the 6th Assessment Report as individual roles we can play to curb climate change, it’s not only through whether we choose to take a plastic bag or not. The future isn’t something that happens to us, but in our hands. We are all part of systems where each of us can influence more than we think.
If your children were to start striking for the climate, would you support them?
Yes, I think protests are one of the very important ways how we can have an impact. Besides, children often don’t have any other tools. And that’s why they also feel anxiety because they don’t yet have influence. They don’t have any money to spend, or any voting rights yet. They don’t yet have a profession through which they can influence the world. They feel powerless.
And often children’s only power is to protest. If we give them other means to where they can influence the processes, that’d be even better.
Diána Ürge-Vorsatz ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.
In the past months, the planet has experienced the hottest months of June and August, boreal summer and day on record, with a global average temperature of 17.16°C on 22 July. While many have been getting on with their lives as best as they can, there are many more who are feeling the heat, as levels of climate anxiety continue to rise. At risk are people experiencing climate impacts in the Global South, but also professionals in the Earth sciences documenting and modelling them.
So, how can we channel our alarm in a way that doesn’t paralyse us, but propel us into action? To answer this question, The Conversation Europe spoke to one of the world’s most public-facing climate scientists, the Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Diána Ürge-Vorsatz.
Could you start off by describing your work? According to you, what have been the highlights of your career as a climate scientist?
So I mostly work in the area of energy efficiency. I have done a lot of modelling, including to demonstrate how higher efficiency buildings could reduce carbon emissions. Among others, I have alerted the world of what we call the carbon lock-in risks of inefficient building retrofits — when fossil fuel-intensive systems perpetuate, delay, or prevent the transition to low-carbon alternatives.
I’ve always tried to concentrate on solutions which not only allow us to solve environmental issues, but also to increase human well-being and meet other societal goals. That’s because I come from a country [Hungary] where I see that while the environment and climate change are important, they typically play second fiddle to other priorities. Hence, I believe we have to solve these things in a way that makes it worthwhile.
Diána Ürge-Vorsatz, 2024. Fourni par l’auteur
My work therefore prompted lawmakers to revise the EU’s legislation to boost building energy efficiency – the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive – in 2010. On the first day the Fidesz government was reelected that year, I showed them how many jobs could be created through high efficiency building retrofits. Based on our research, they committed that the entire building stock would be refurbished to slash energy consumption by 60 %, which would have been really very ambitious, the first such commitment in the world. Unfortunately, a few months later, they changed their direction and they rather went into other energy policy priorities.
That’s one of my concerns, yes, because it’s amongst the tipping points that would exert its impact the earliest.
If we look at other Earth system tipping points, most of them require a century, several centuries, if not several millennia until they exert a full impact. If AMOC collapses, it would exert its full impact within two to three decades, potentially. These are very strong impacts predicted clearly, on Europe as well as other regions. More and more papers have shown evidence that its collapse could already be underway. That’s definitely been alarming.
When you started on this career path, would you describe yourself as prey to eco-anxiety? And if not, was there a turning point when it appeared?
No, when I started I don’t think we had any knowledge that would have amounted to any existential threat, and it was still not so tangible that so many things could go wrong.
I was studying for my PhD at UCLA, at UC Berkeley from 1992-96. In the LA Times, there was a two page advertisement calling for artists to design artwork that would scare anyone away, which they could put above the Yucca Mountain deep high-level based nuclear repository so that even if people didn’t speak English or they didn’t understand our script anymore, they could still understand that there was something really dangerous under that.
At that point, I remember thinking: “Oh my God, if you just can’t dig or walk wherever you want anymore, that’s just wrong. We cannot do that to future generations.”
Then there’s the never-ending news cycle, making it hard to pinpoint specific moments that alarm you. One that comes to mind has been the discovery over time that forever chemicals – Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – are everywhere, even in the most remote parts of the earth and rain is no longer of drinking water quality even in Antarctica. This isn’t going to go away — precisely because PFAS are what we call forever chemicals. We will never be able to vacuum clean the planet from PFAS. Likewise with microplastics. When you start looking ahead with your eyes open, it can be really scary.
And how do you experience the intimate knowledge of that alarming data on the one hand, and the public’s, and above all the elites’, climate inaction on the other?
Well, I wouldn’t quite call it “climate inaction”. It’s easy to dwell on the idea that the glass is half empty. But in fact, the glass is half full. Lots has been done since the 2015 Paris Agreement, which was itself a miracle.
You were there when the deal was struck, weren’t you? Could you tell us what it was like?
Well, it was truly euphoric, because before that, if a scientist dared mentioning [the threshold of] 1.5°C [of warming above pre-industrial levels], you were a tree-hugger and an advocate, not a scientist. You did not get funding.
And suddenly that became a political reality, or at least a political goal. I think that was really amazing for me because that time we didn’t have science clearly backing that you actually could achieve 1.5°C. So in the run-up to the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) asked the IPCC to produce a report on 1.5°C. I remember talking about it with colleagues at the time, who told me: “That’s crazy, this train is gone, let’s not do it”.
Then the months went by and and those voices faded. By the time we got to the plenary meeting in January there was not a single voice saying “We shouldn’t do this report”. Scientists changed course and put so much effort in on trying to say “Okay can this be done well? Let’s actually see”. Then they ran their models to figure out that actually not only can it be done — but there are so many ways we can get there. Yes, I know that it’s now increasingly unlikely that we still will meet it, but it still created a lot of momentum.
One fact that we don’t emphasize enough: we have prevented the world from warming by five to six degrees by the end of the century, and we are now at worst saying perhaps four degrees, but more likely 2.5°C to 3.5°C.
How do you communicate with your children about the climate crisis? For example, are there things that you choose not to tell them in order to protect them?
I don’t hide anything from them. We quite frequently talk about the gravity of the situation because I cannot help bearing on them in the evening all the negative experiences and facts I learned during the day and I just have to unload these for them at dinners and so on.
One of my daughters did experience quite severe environmental anxiety for almost two years when she was about nine years old. She had come with me to a TV shooting and they allowed her into the studio. And before my interview, they just played this intense clip about storms and fires – typical climate impacts. But after that, she was really very afraid for a long time.
How did that fear translate itself?
She couldn’t sleep very well. She was constantly afraid physically. She would tell me: “My god, is this going to burn around us? Are we going to have floods?”
And it’s that a nine year old cannot, of course, fully comprehend yet how these risks will unfold in the future. I think she was put in this state of fear and anxiety. So that’s why it was also hard to manage because it wasn’t anything concrete or anything that she could verbally express or phrase nicely.
And I couldn’t say, “Look darling, it’s not going to happen.”
And how did she manage to surface from that state of paralysis?
After a while, I think she understood that it wasn’t yet threatening her life. But all of my children are still concerned and many of them want to contribute to fighting climate change in some way.
For example, my eldest daughter was studying medicine, but after her second year, she spent the entire summer in tears. She was deeply passionate about climate action and believed there were only two paths forward. Either she could still save the planet by becoming an architect to design zero-energy buildings, or, if it was too late, she should focus on mitigating the damage by remaining in medicine. After two months of struggling with this dilemma, she abandoned her dream of architecture and decided to continue with medical school. It was heartbreaking for me to see how little hope they had of solving the climate crisis.
What would your advice be for parents whose children are suffering from eco-anxiety?
I think the best way is to turn anxiety into action — to explain to them that they have and we still have agency. Even though we are small, we have a very important impact. We can vote. We can choose a profession where we can change the world. We can be role models and we can influence our peers through social media and many other ways.
So if we tell them the five scenarios that the IPCC presents (investor, consumer, citizen, role model, professional) in the 6th Assessment Report as individual roles we can play to curb climate change, it’s not only through whether we choose to take a plastic bag or not. The future isn’t something that happens to us, but in our hands. We are all part of systems where each of us can influence more than we think.
If your children were to start striking for the climate, would you support them?
Yes, I think protests are one of the very important ways how we can have an impact. Besides, children often don’t have any other tools. And that’s why they also feel anxiety because they don’t yet have influence. They don’t have any money to spend, or any voting rights yet. They don’t yet have a profession through which they can influence the world. They feel powerless.
And often children’s only power is to protest. If we give them other means to where they can influence the processes, that’d be even better.
Diána Ürge-Vorsatz ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.
The South African government has received the remains of 49 liberation fighters who died in exile in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The remains were received at the Waterkloof Airforce Base on an emotional Wednesday evening (25 September 2024) for families of the fallen freedom fighters.
Speaking to SAnews, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, said the handover of the remains was a moment of sombre reflection on the sacrifices it took for South Africa to gain its freedom.
“The message is of gratitude to…families who have daughters, sons, fathers and mothers who gave the ultimate price for our freedom. We are able to be here because they gave the final sacrifice.
“It is also for us as a people, to remember where we came from because this didn’t come easy. There are people who died, and we should not be casual about how we use that power because it is a power that came from people who gave their lives,” Motshekga said.
The Minister added that the repatriation of struggle heroes will continue as there are more struggle heroes who died outside of the country.
“The plan is to now do mass repatriations and that’s what has been in the plans for the past two years. But because it takes time, we’ll see if we can do it in gaps of two years. This has been a good lesson in terms of mass repatriations and when we move to other countries…we will have learnt the lessons on how to deal with most of the issues,” she said.
Families remember their heroes
The remains of freedom fighter Basil February – who died in Zimbabwe – arrived with the cohort. Speaking to SAnews, his brother Terry said the return of his remains marks the beginning of healing for the family.
“My mother died 11 years ago and…I would like my mother to have been here. I would have liked for this occasion to have happened 12 or 15 years ago, so that she could have been here. My mother died when she was 92 years old. She asked me to make her a promise that I will bring Basil’s remains home and I said I will. Today is such a historic day for our family.
“It does not yet bring closure. It will take a little while. This whole process has…opened some old, deep wounds and it will take a while for those wounds to heal.
“But I can feel that the process has already started. That closure is starting to kick in. I feel a relief and I feel a genuine excitedness because Basil is finally coming home,” February said.
Onica Mahlangu – whose brother Bennet Sibanyoni died in Zambia nearly 40 years ago – described to SAnews, the peacefulness that her brother’s remains brings as the brutal Apartheid security forces took everything that belonged to him – leaving them with nothing to remember him by.
“I have mixed emotions. I feel like this is the first time I have been informed of his death. That’s how much it still hurts. Unfortunately, my mother died with a broken heart…crying for her son. She pleaded with us not to stop searching for his remains. I feel happy that government has not forgotten us and has helped us.
“The repatriation will bring peace to our spirits…our family was tortured. We didn’t even have a photo of him because the Apartheid government took everything that belonged to him and left us with nothing that we could look at and remember him by,” Mahlangu said.
Makabelo Msiza remarked to SAnews that without government, they would not have been able to bring her brother home.
“I am filled with joy because we finally have my sibling back. I know where I will bury him and even when I miss him, I will now know where to go to visit him at his gravesite. I will bury him near my parents’ graves.
“President [Cyril] Ramaphosa has done such a big thing for us. I have been on this road [of trying to get the remains] since Mandela was alive. I have knocked on many doors with no help but today, because of President Cyril Ramaphosa, everything has now been resolved and we can bury our loved ones in peace,” Msiza said.
President Ramaphosa is expected to lead a repatriation and restitution ceremony for the remains at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Tshwane on Friday.
In a statement on Monday, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said that following the arrival of the remains, government will host the official homecoming ceremony to mark the return of these liberation fighters to the country of their birth.
“Thereafter, reburial ceremonies will be held in the provinces of their origin, ensuring they are laid to rest with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said the GCIS.
The Exile Repatriation Programme is guided by the National Policy of Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains and Heritage Objects of 2021. This policy was adopted as part of South Africa’s broader commitment to ensuring that former liberation fighters who died in exile are returned home and buried with dignity.
The repatriation process is being conducted in close collaboration with regional governments, historical experts, and local communities to guarantee a respectful and well-coordinated return.
Atos récompensé pour la cinquième année consécutive par une médaille ‘EcoVadis Platine’ pour son engagement en matière de développement durable
Paris (France), le 26 octobre 2024 – Atos annonce aujourd’hui avoir reçu une nouvelle fois, pour la cinquième année consécutive, la médaille ’Platine’ d’EcoVadis pour sa performance en matière de Responsabilité Sociale de l’Entreprise (RSE), avec 80 points sur 100.
Atos confirme ainsi sa position aux côtés des 1% des entreprises les plus performantes évaluées par EcoVadis dans son secteur (programmation informatique, conseil et activités connexes).
L’évaluation d’EcoVadis porte sur quatre catégories : Environnement, Travail et Droits de l’homme, Éthique, Achats durables. Atos a obtenu d’excellents résultats dans chacune d’entre elles, en particulier dans la catégorie Environnement.
Après avoir reçu pendant huit années consécutives la médaille d’or EcoVadis, Atos s’est vu décerner, depuis 2020, une médaille de platine, en reconnaissance de son engagement durable. Cette médaille, associée à un excellent score dans la catégorie Environnement, confirme le rôle d’Atos en tant que leader mondial de la décarbonation numérique et reflète son engagement à atteindre des objectifs climatiques ambitieux.
Le leadership d’Atos pour les sujets climatiques et son programme environnemental ont été récompensés année après année par des organisations et des classements internationaux, telles que l’indice DJSI et le Carbon Disclosure Project.
Atos est un leader international de la transformation digitale avec environ 92 000 collaborateurs et un chiffre d’affaires annuel d’environ 10 milliards d’euros. Numéro un européen du cloud, de la cybersécurité et des supercalculateurs, le Groupe fournit des solutions intégrées pour tous les secteurs, dans 69 pays. Pionnier des services et produits de décarbonation, Atos s’engage à fournir des solutions numériques sécurisées et décarbonées à ses clients. Atos est une SE (Société Européenne) cotée sur Euronext Paris.
La raison d’être d’Atos est de contribuer à façonner l’espace informationnel. Avec ses compétences et ses services, le Groupe supporte le développement de la connaissance, de l’éducation et de la recherche dans une approche pluriculturelle et contribue au développement de l’excellence scientifique et technologique. Partout dans le monde, Atos permet à ses clients et à ses collaborateurs, et plus généralement au plus grand nombre, de vivre, travailler et progresser durablement et en toute confiance dans l’espace informationnel.
Headline: Threat landscape for industrial automation systems, Q2 2024
Statistics across all threats
In the second quarter of 2024, the percentage of ICS computers on which malicious objects were blocked decreased by 0.9 pp from the previous quarter to 23.5%.
The percentage has decreased by 3.3 pp compared to the second quarter of 2023, when the indicator reached its highest level since records began in 2022.
Percentage of ICS computers on which malicious objects were blocked, by quarter, 2022-2024
Regions ranking
In most regions, the percentage of ICS computers that blocked malicious objects decreased compared to the first quarter of 2024. The indicator increased only in East Asia (by 1.0 pp), Western Europe (by 0.8 pp), Australia and New Zealand (by 0.7 pp) and the USA and Canada (by 0.2 pp).
Regions ranked by percentage of ICS computers where malicious objects were blocked, Q2 2024
Industries ranking
The building automation sector continues to lead the surveyed industries in terms of the percentage of ICS computers on which malicious objects were blocked. In general, this indicator continues to decrease across all industries for the second quarter in a row.
Percentage of ICS computers on which the activity of malicious objects of various categories was prevented
Diversity of detected malware
In the second quarter of 2024, Kaspersky’s protection solutions blocked malware from 11,349 different malware families of various categories on industrial automation systems.
Percentage of ICS computers on which the activity of malicious objects of various categories was prevented
Compared to the previous quarter, the most noticeable proportional increase in the second quarter of 2024 was in the percentage of ICS computers on which ransomware was blocked – a 1.2-fold increase.
Malicious object categories in numbers
Malicious objects used for initial infection
This category includes dangerous web resources, malicious scripts and malicious documents.
Denylisted internet resources – 6.63% (-0.21 pp compared to the first quarter of 2024);
Malicious scripts and phishing pages (JS and HTML) – 5.69% (-0.15 pp);
Malicious objects used to initially infect computers deliver next-stage malware – spyware, ransomware, and miners – to victims’ computers. As a rule, the higher the percentage of ICS computers on which the initial infection malware is blocked, the higher the percentage for next-stage malware.
Spyware (spy Trojans, backdoors and keyloggers) – 4.08% (+0.18 pp);
Ransomware – 0.18% (+0.03 pp);
Miners (in the form of executable files for Windows) – 0.89% (-0.03 pp).
Self-propagating malware
These are worms and viruses. Worms and virus-infected files were originally used for initial infection, but as botnet functionality evolved, they took on next-stage characteristics.
To spread across ICS networks, viruses and worms rely on removable media, network folders, infected files including backups, and network attacks on outdated software.
Worms – 1.48% (-0.03 pp);
Viruses – 1.54% (-0.02 pp).
AutoCAD malware
This category of malware is typically a low-level threat, coming last in the malware category rankings in terms of the percentage of ICS computers on which it was blocked.
AutoCAD malware – 0.42% (+0.01 pp).
Main threat sources
The internet, email clients and removable storage devices remain the primary sources of threats to computers in an organization’s technology infrastructure. (Note that the sources of blocked threats cannot be reliably identified in all cases.)
Percentage of ICS computers on which malicious objects from various sources were blocked
CHEYENNE, Wyo., Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — US-based fintech startup Adeah LLC has announced the development of its Asset Timing Analyst (ATA) software project, which uses a mathematical modeling cycle to predict the swing days of assets in financial markets and giving pricing for entries and profit targeting. This model, grounded in mathematical inferences, minimizes market risks and enables high-yield trading opportunities.
Supported by GlobalTrader.Club, which has built a strong presence in the trader community since 2005, Adeah, a fintech startup focused on mathematical success in financial markets, invites angel investors interested in early-stage investments in fintech companies to revolutionize fund management and short term or day trading in financial markets.
Know What Will Happen Before It Happens. Timing is critical in financial markets
Swing days are the days when asset price fluctuations, such as those of stocks, commodities, and currency pairs, become more pronounced or take a turn. When traders time the days and the hours correctly, they can capitalize on buying or selling opportunities while also reducing risk tremendously.
Adeah LLC Founder and CEO Marty Meydan stated, “In financial markets, where timing is crucial for performance, ATA enables traders to identify the right time and ATAM indicator provides the right pricing, reducing risks while capitalizing on opportunities at just the right moment,” and emphasized that ATA conducts dynamic calculations based on market movements, measured in hours, days, weeks, and months. Knowing the days and the hours to trade before markets even open with clear pricing, allows to plan much better in a 24 hour global market, without getting stuck to the screen.
As a unique financial markets technology company and a market education company, Adeah brings a new dimension to the process of predicting market movements through mechanisms based on mathematical models. Data from ATA software’s performance in the first half of 2024 shows success rates of 80.95% in gold, 74.55% in the S&P 500, and 66% in the EUR/USD pair.
Consistently demonstrated the predictability of market swings and major day movements up to weeks in advance!
“Trading and investing in financial markets have always been portrayed as unpredictable and filled with uncertainties,” said Marty Meydan, adding, “However, the model we developed at Adeah has shown that market swings and major day movements can often be calculated with a high probability of success.”
In addition to its software development, fintech startup Adeah offers educational programs that teach traders how to invest in financial markets with timing calculations and the intricacies of technical analysis. The “101 Day Trader Career Program” includes live market analysis following the education.
According to Marty Meydan, the technical analysis strategy based on accurate swing timing calculations provides traders with a mathematical, model-driven approach that increase their chances of success and profitability across any financial asset they chose to trade.
Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development
The Australian Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen Norfolk Island connectivity, with the community now benefitting from faster, more efficient satellite internet.
Thanks to a $7.35 million investment from the Government, Norfolk Telecom’s satellite internet service is now delivering network speeds that are four times faster.
This is supporting Norfolk Island Central School students to access online study services, with increased bandwidth available for individual use inside and outside of school hours.
Faster connectivity is also supporting more reliable access to medical support from the mainland – including telehealth appointments.
The upgraded satellite service was delivered in partnership with Norfolk Island Regional Council’s Norfolk Telecom and Telstra.
The use of satellites to transmit data between networks in remote locations is vital to helping close the digital divide – increasing access to reliable and more resilient connectivity.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Territories, Kristy McBain MP:
“We’re committed to boosting the resilience of communication networks in our external territories, which is why we invested $7.35 million towards this faster and more reliable satellite internet service on Norfolk Island.
“We need fast and reliable connectivity to run our businesses, to access education and health services, and to keep in touch with family and friends – which is why this upgraded satellite service will make a huge impact on Norfolk Island.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Bean, David Smith MP:
“Improving Norfolk Island’s connectivity is something that the local community have long called for, which is why we worked with Norfolk Telecom, Council and Telstra to deliver this significant upgrade.
“Better internet capability will improve learning at Norfolk Island Central School, boost the services at Norfolk Island Health and Residential Aged Care Service, and also unlock new opportunities for on-island businesses.
“I’ll continue working with the community to advocate for the projects they want to get off the ground.”
Quotes attributable to Norfolk Island Regional Council Administrator, Mike Colreavy:
“We are continuing to improve and ensure the quality of Norfolk’s telecommunications services through targeted projects, like this satellite backhaul upgrade.
“We provided these upgrades centrally through Norfolk Telecom, in partnership with Telstra and the Australian Government, so that community can have confidence that we are working to deliver local solutions to local challenges, through partners they can trust.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss has welcomed the appointment of the NSW Treaty Commissioners announced today.
“These appointments are a milestone in the beginning of the truth and treaty process in NSW,” Commissioner Kiss said.
“I congratulate the NSW Government in taking this crucial step and working with the community towards self-determination and healing.”
Appointed for two-year terms, the Treaty Commissioners are former senator Aden Ridgeway, academic Todd Fernando and Koori Mail newspaper editor Naomi Moran.
The Commissioners will work with Australia’s largest Aboriginal population to hear whether they want a treaty process, and if they do, what form it would take.
Treaty discussions in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT have highlighted the need to improve service delivery and to close the gap.
“However, treaty and truth-telling is also about reframing and repairing relationships. It has the potential to set a solid foundation for the future, based on recognition and respect,” Commissioner Kiss said.
Commissioner Kiss also welcomed today’s release of the recommendations provided by the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) to progress the development of a NSW Independent Aboriginal-led Government Accountability Mechanism.
“These recommendations have been informed by Aboriginal people in NSW, and demonstrate the involvement of our people in decisions that affect us. I look forward to seeing further progress in other jurisdictions,” Commissioner Kiss said.
The Australian Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen Norfolk Island connectivity, with the community now benefitting from faster, more efficient satellite internet.
Thanks to a $7.35 million investment from the Government, Norfolk Telecom’s satellite internet service is now delivering network speeds that are four times faster.
This is supporting Norfolk Island Central School students to access online study services, with increased bandwidth available for individual use inside and outside of school hours.
Faster connectivity is also supporting more reliable access to medical support from the mainland – including telehealth appointments.
The upgraded satellite service was delivered in partnership with Norfolk Island Regional Council’s Norfolk Telecom and Telstra.
The use of satellites to transmit data between networks in remote locations is vital to helping close the digital divide – increasing access to reliable and more resilient connectivity.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Territories, Kristy McBain MP:
“We’re committed to boosting the resilience of communication networks in our external territories, which is why we invested $7.35 million towards this faster and more reliable satellite internet service on Norfolk Island.
“We need fast and reliable connectivity to run our businesses, to access education and health services, and to keep in touch with family and friends – which is why this upgraded satellite service will make a huge impact on Norfolk Island.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Bean, David Smith MP:
“Improving Norfolk Island’s connectivity is something that the local community have long called for, which is why we worked with Norfolk Telecom, Council and Telstra to deliver this significant upgrade.
“Better internet capability will improve learning at Norfolk Island Central School, boost the services at Norfolk Island Health and Residential Aged Care Service, and also unlock new opportunities for on-island businesses.
“I’ll continue working with the community to advocate for the projects they want to get off the ground.”
Quotes attributable to Norfolk Island Regional Council Administrator, Mike Colreavy:
“We are continuing to improve and ensure the quality of Norfolk’s telecommunications services through targeted projects, like this satellite backhaul upgrade.
“We provided these upgrades centrally through Norfolk Telecom, in partnership with Telstra and the Australian Government, so that community can have confidence that we are working to deliver local solutions to local challenges, through partners they can trust.”
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
The Prime Minister met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at UNGA this afternoon.
The Prime Minister met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at UNGA this afternoon.
President Abbas opened by condemning the Hamas attacks of October 7th. He also highlighted the civilian death toll in Gaza since then, with 41k killed and 100k injured, plus 70% of infrastructure devastated. The Prime Minister agreed that the loss of civilian life had been intolerable.
The President and Prime Minister also condemned the increase in settler violence and settlement activity there has been on the West Bank.
The President and Prime Minister agreed that we need an immediate ceasefire, the release of the hostages and a surge in humanitarian aid getting in.
They also discussed what needed to come next in terms of supporting and reforming the Palestinian Authority and working towards a political horizon which was the only long term solution to this crisis: a viable Palestinian state along a safe and secure Israel.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) today (September 26) jointly published the conclusions paper on a further consultation on enhancements to the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives reporting regime in Hong Kong.
To keep up with international developments, the HKMA and the SFC launched the further consultation in March 2024 on mandating the use of Unique Transaction Identifier and Unique Product Identifier and the reporting of Critical Data Elements (Notes 1, 2 and 3). This is in line with the Group of Twenty’s commitment to reform OTC derivatives markets, and will facilitate the analysis of OTC derivatives transactions by regulators.
In general, respondents supported the proposal and recognised the benefits brought by the international standardisation and harmonisation of data elements reported to different OTC derivatives reporting regimes globally. After considering the feedback received, the HKMA and the SFC have fine-tuned certain proposals to facilitate a smooth implementation.
The conclusions paper also sets out the concluded list of data elements subject to mandatory reporting and confirms the implementation of the proposals in September 2025.
Respondents’ feedback and the conclusions paper can be downloaded from the websites of the HKMA or the SFC.
Note 1: Unique Transaction Identifier is a unique identifier assigned to identify each reported OTC derivatives transaction with the structure and format as set out in the Technical Guidance on Harmonisation of the Unique Transaction Identifier issued by the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) in February 2017.
Note 2: Unique Product Identifier is a unique identifier to denote a specific OTC derivatives product with the structure and format as set out in the Technical Guidance on Harmonisation of the Unique Product Identifier issued by the CPMI and IOSCO in September 2017.
Note 3: Critical Data Elements are a standard set of OTC derivatives transaction data elements (other than Unique Transaction Identifier and Unique Product Identifier), formats and allowable values published by the CPMI and IOSCO in April 2018 and by the Regulatory Oversight Committee of the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation in September 2021 and September 2023.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SCS tours Government Career Fair at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (with photos) SCS tours Government Career Fair at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (with photos) **********************************************************************************
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, attended the Government Career Fair at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today (September 26) and reminded those interested in applying for four civil service graduate posts to submit their applications through the online application system on the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) website by next Friday (October 4). Mrs Yeung toured the career fair with the Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) of PolyU, Professor Ben Young. It is the first time for the career fair to take place at PolyU, with the participation of officers from various departments and civil service grades to introduce the entry requirements of respective grades and share their personal work experience, as well as to encourage students to join the civil service. “Thirty government bureaux and departments took part in the career fair today, covering over 50 civil service grades. Apart from the general grades, there are also professional grades and the disciplined services. In view of the characteristics of the courses offered by PolyU, we have arranged officers from the relevant departments to introduce their grades to students. For instance, today’s career fair highlights civil service job opportunities relating to surveying and maritime fields, so that PolyU students who are currently enrolled in the relevant courses can gain a better understanding of the grades concerned. We hope that students will join the Government after graduation and put their knowledge and skills in the relevant professional fields to good use,” Mrs Yeung said. The CSB is organising Government Career Fairs at 10 local universities from mid-September to early October. In addition to PolyU, Government Career Fairs were held at City University of Hong Kong, the Education University of Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University and Hong Kong Baptist University. The remaining two career fairs will take place at the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Mrs Yeung encouraged those who are aspiring to serve the community to join the civil service to unleash their potential, pursue their dreams and contribute to Hong Kong. She pointed out that since July 2022 all candidates for civil service jobs must attain a pass result in the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST) in order to be considered for appointment. By the end of 2023, the number of applicants for the BLNST had reached nearly 140 000. The Government has strengthened its recruitment efforts in recent years and a number of grades have recorded a noticeable increase in the number of applicants. In particular, the number of candidates applying for Administrative Officer (AO), Executive Officer II (EOII) and other grades under the joint recruitment exercise in 2023-24 had surged by nearly 40 per cent, showing that a career in the Government is quite attractive to job seekers. The Government has launched a joint recruitment exercise for the appointment of four civil service grades, namely AO, EOII, Assistant Trade Officer II and Transport Officer II. Students graduating in the years of 2025 or 2026 may also apply this year. The deadline for submitting applications is 11.59pm on October 4. Candidates interested in applying for posts under the joint recruitment exercise must attain the requisite results in the relevant paper(s) of the Common Recruitment Examination and the BLNST. For details, please refer to the CSB website.
Ends/Thursday, September 26, 2024Issued at HKT 16:15
