The China Securities Index Co., Ltd. (CSI) officially launched a new stock index, CSI A500, on Monday.
The index tracks 500 securities with large market values to reflect the overall stock performance of the listed companies most representative of China’s various industries, according to the company.
With a sample selection including leading companies in emerging industries such as information technology and biomedicine, the index is expected to help channel funds toward the cultivation of new quality productive forces.
Screening criteria, including connectivity and ESG (environmental, social and governance), have been included when compiling the index to facilitate medium- and long-term domestic and foreign capital allocation to A-share assets, according to the company.
The first batch of 10 exchange-traded funds tracking the index were launched on Sept. 10.
Tsechok Dorje (1st L) and Tsering Drolma (2nd R) pose for a photo at a care center in Ngari Prefecture, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, Sept. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Seeing Tsechok Dorje’s scar on the right side of his face, Tsering Drolma couldn’t help but feel heartbroken, with tears welling up in her eyes. Several days ago, the eighth grader accidentally fell onto a heater and injured his face at school. When a teacher called Tsering Drolma about the accident, she was so panicked that she immediately asked her husband to drive her to the hospital to check on Tsechok Dorje’s condition. “I dared not be present while he was receiving treatment,” said Tsering Drolma, 36. “Luckily, his eyes are fine. Otherwise, I would feel guilty for the rest of my life.” Tsering Drolma is not Tsechok Dorje’s biological mother, but a Tibetan worker at a care center in Ngari Prefecture, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. She serves as a custodian-like “mother” of 12 orphans, including Tsechok Dorje. Sheltering 81 children and 54 elderly people without any family members or living with disabilities, the care center combines the functions of an orphanage and a nursing home, with workers serving like family members and creating an atmosphere like a big family. Tsering Drolma still remembers when Tsechok Dorje first arrived there two years ago. “Back then, he was still immersed in the sorrow of losing his loved ones. He would often sit alone in the corner without uttering a word,” Tsering Drolma recalled. To help him embrace the new environment, the workers in the care center often took him out to play, made his favorite meals for him and helped him study. These acts of affection and care have gradually transformed him, turning his quiet and reserved persona into a sociable and outgoing one. In addition to helping his “mother” take care of the younger children, Tsechok Dorje also shares what happened in school as well as his observations during a museum visit with his “siblings.” Over the two years, his academic performance has also significantly improved. To better take care of the children, Tsering Drolma often attends various training sessions, including caring for the orphaned and children living with disabilities, performing first aid and preparing nutritious meals. “Our only wish is for these children to grow up healthy and happy,” she said. The care center was established in 2015 under the support of central and regional governments and the donation of an insurance company, with a total spending of more than 58 million yuan (about 8.2 million U.S. dollars). The center has facilities including a massage therapy room, a dining hall and a laundry room. It also gives allowance to elderly people and children every month. Compared with the traditional charity institutions that separate children and elderly people, the two-in-one care center offers space as well as an atmosphere for social interactions like a big family, said Jampel, the legal representative of the center, adding that they also organize galas during festivals such as the Tibetan New Year. After a cup of buttered tea in the morning, Tseten, 83, likes to go to the sunlight hall during the weekends, with children surrounding him to hear his stories about his misery in the past when he was a serf. “I used to be whipped hard by the master for losing a yak. I had no time to wait for my wounds to heal and had to stand on my feet the next day to herd cattle,” said Tseten, who has been living in the center since 2016. Tseten was in a wheelchair due to his bad knees when he first arrived there. Now, with years of meticulous care and treatment from doctors from a Tibetan medicinal hospital and nurse assistants in the care center, he is able to walk without a cane. Lhadro, a nursing assistant, is responsible for caring for Tseten and five other elderly people. In addition to bringing buttered tea, doing the laundry and changing sheets regularly for them, she conducts massage therapies and applies Tibetan medicine for external use on them based on doctors’ prescriptions. “Seeing the elderly gradually regain their health, I have a great sense of achievement,” said Lhadro. In recent years, a total of 80 nursing homes for elderly people with extreme financial difficulties have been built in Xizang. By the end of 2022, more than 5,800 elderly people in extreme financial difficulty had been cared for at nursing homes with government support, according to government figures. A soccer player at school, Tsechok Dorje likes wearing his training vest even at “home” and dreams of becoming a professional soccer player when he grows up. On a wall in his room, where four children live in bunk beds, is a poster of the Brazilian soccer player Neymar. “I hope I can play soccer as well as Neymar someday,” Tsechok Dorje said.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Monday said that it has received the consultation request that the European Union (EU) issued through the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding China’s anti-subsidy investigation into imports of EU dairy products.
In a statement, the MOC said China regrets that the EU has challenged the case through the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, but the country will handle the challenge in accordance with relevant WTO rules.
“As a member of the WTO, China has always used trade remedy measures with caution and restraint to safeguard fair and free trade,” the statement said.
It noted that China launched its anti-subsidy investigation into EU dairy products in accordance with Chinese laws and in response to an application from the domestic industry, and that the Chinese government has a responsibility to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its domestic industries.
Last month, China launched the anti-subsidy investigation into certain dairy products imported from the EU. It will look into products such as fresh cheese, curd and blue cheese. It will also examine any damage brought to related Chinese industries from Jan. 1, 2020, to March 31, 2024, according to the commerce ministry.
The United States remains the top destination for Chinese students studying abroad despite concerns among students and parents over visas and public security, said an official with the US embassy in Beijing.
Meanwhile, Chinese students who plan to study in US universities and their parents expressed concerns about unfair treatment that US border authorities imposed on Chinese students in some cases.
Karen Gustafson, the embassy’s minister counselor for consular affairs, told China Daily on Sunday that the embassy issued 105,000 visas to students from China last year. “We are currently hosting 290,000 Chinese students in the US,” she said.
A report released by the US Department of State showed that in the first half of 2023, a total of 44,762 students from the Chinese mainland were granted F-1 visas to study in the US, a year-on-year increase of 44 percent.
As of the end of July, the embassy had issued more than 80,000 student visas to Chinese nationals, Gustafson said, noting the continuing increase in visas issued to Chinese students.
According to the 2023 Open Doors report released in November, Chinese students accounted for approximately 29 percent of the 1.05 million foreign students in the US during the 2022-23 academic year, down from 33 percent in the previous academic year.
Gustafson said that despite a decreasing trend, Chinese students remain the largest group of foreign students in the US, and are expected to “stay at the top and grow”.
“We really wholeheartedly welcome Chinese students to come to the US, and we are always hoping to encourage more students to come,” she said, adding that the embassy is making efforts to maximize student numbers and return to the peak before the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Sunday, hundreds of Chinese students and parents participated in an education fair in Beijing, seeking information on the prospects of studying abroad. Around 100 US universities attended the fair.
A fair visitor, surnamed Wang, said she hopes to address her concerns over her daughter’s further education in the US by seeking advice from the universities and the organizer.
Wang said that her daughter, a student of biological sciences in Wuhan, Hubei province, is preparing to pursue postgraduate studies in the US.
Given recent cases of Chinese students, particularly those majoring in science and engineering at US universities, having their visas refused on arrival, receiving unfair treatment by border enforcement and even facing deportation, Wang said she is worried and hopes to get more information from the authorities.
In recent years, dozens of Chinese students have reported that they suffered from unwarranted harassment, interrogation and repatriation because of their political or scientific research background.
Many have posted on social media platforms their “terrifying” experiences of being taken by border officials to a “small dark room” at US airports, raising public concerns.
“What I care about most is the safety of my child and whether she can smoothly graduate from a US university,” Wang said, adding that she had heard that Chinese students applying for certain subjects face higher risks of visa rejection.
Gustafson called such cases isolated incidents, and said the majority of Chinese students are continuing their studies in the US.
While the US embassy is in charge of issuing visas, entry into the country is handled by the Department of Homeland Security, she said.
“What I can say is the vast majority of Chinese students going to the USend up studying in the US, and we really welcome them to continue to do so,” she added.
Significant harm
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in April that enforcing deportation orders against Chinese students has caused significant harm to the individuals concerned and disrupted cultural and academic exchanges between China and the US.
“Recent cases demonstrate that US law enforcement officers are engaging in deportation for the sake of deportation, exhibiting political, discriminatory and selective enforcement,” she said at a news conference.
Zhu Chenge, an assistant researcher of US diplomacy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the excessive scrutiny of Chinese students by US authorities may seem to affect only a small group, but it is in reality demolishing one of the pillars of the complex interactions between China and the US.
“Normal academic exchanges between two technological powerhouses are disrupted. It is certainly not a positive sign if students and scholars are more concerned about their personal safety than academic matters,” Zhu said.
Wang Jialing, a 10th grader in the international class at RCF Experimental School in Beijing, has started to prepare his US university application.
Aiming to enroll into the University of Southern California as a finance major, he inquired about application procedures and career prospects at the education fair. He said he wants to choose a college among the top 50 in the US in a relatively safe state, and plans to return to China after obtaining a bachelor’s degree.
Philemon Yang, president of the General Assembly of the United Nations, speaks at the Summit of the Future at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
The two-day Summit of the Future concluded in the United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday evening, as a major part of the ongoing 79th UN Genernal Assembly (UNGA) with a clamor for multilateralism in the future governance of global affairs.
The summit featured the adoption of the Pact for the Future and its annexes — the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.
It is “a commitment to a new start in multilateralism,” said a UN release. “The centerpiece of the Summit of the Future is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the multilateral system and steer humanity on a new course to meet existing commitments and solve long-term challenges.”
“We stand at a crossroads of global transformation, facing unprecedented challenges that demand urgent, collective action,” UNGA President Philemon Yang said at the opening segment on Sunday. “From conflict and climate change to the digital divide, from inequalities to threats against human rights, together, we all face profound challenges. Yet, alongside these challenges, there is hope.”
“I called for this summit to consider deep reforms to make global institutions more legitimate, fair and effective, based on the values of the UN Charter,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the summit. “Our multilateral tools and institutions are unable to respond effectively to today’s political, economic, environmental and technological challenges. And tomorrow’s will be even more difficult and even more dangerous.”
Speaking on behalf of the least developed countries (LDCs) group, Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli said that millions of their children are hungry every day, highlighting the inequality evident around the globe.
“Nothing could be more unjust and ethnical than to be ignorant to the fact that millions of people in LDCs live in extreme poverty while a small minority in some corners of the world accumulate billions in wealth,” he said.
Olaf Scholz, chancellor of Germany, urged those present to take steps towards a more peaceful, fairer world, saying that while “the road ahead is rocky,” history will judge member states for their commitment to the plan at hand.
The pact can serve as a compass towards cooperation instead of conflict, showing determination to restore international justice and expelling all the talk of polarization, he added.
The Pact for the Future, covering a broad range of themes including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance, was adopted unanimously on Sunday. Over 130 heads of state and government attended the summit prepared over a period of over 1.5 years and made remarks about the documents it hammered out as its main outcome.
This photo shows the smoke from Israeli airstrikes in Khiam, Lebanon, on Sept. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
The death toll from the largest Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon since the onset of the Israel-Palestine conflict has risen to 492, with injuries reported at 1,645, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Monday night.
The death toll from the Israeli airstrikes included 35 children and 58 women, with many victims still unidentified, according to Lebanese health officials.
Israel’s sweeping airstrikes across Lebanon have raised the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah to a new peak. This latest surge in hostilities comes on the heels of last week’s explosions targeting pagers and walkie-talkies throughout Lebanon, which left dozens dead and a nation on edge.
The rapid succession of events has catapulted the long-simmering tensions to unprecedented levels, raising fears of a broader regional conflagration.
Herzi Halevi, Israel’s military chief, announced on Monday evening that the country was preparing for “the next phases” of its military operation, as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted approximately 1,100 sites in southern and eastern Lebanon.
“This morning, the IDF launched a proactive offensive operation,” Halevi said during a situational assessment at the IDF Headquarters Underground Operations Center in Tel Aviv.
“We are targeting combat infrastructure that Hezbollah has been building for the past 20 years,” Halevi noted, adding, “We are striking targets and preparing for the next phases.”
Also on Monday, Israeli airstrikes in Beirut targeted Ali Karki, a senior Hezbollah commander, who was called by Israeli media the “last deputy” of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah later said he was “in full health and has moved to a safe place.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was acting to change the “security balance” in the north. He also issued a stark warning to Nasrallah during a security assessment meeting on Monday, stating that “everyone is in the crosshairs.”
The strikes have caused widespread destruction and displacement in Lebanon, with residents fleeing from cities such as Tyre, Nabatieh, and Iqlim al-Tuffah towards Beirut and Mount Lebanon.
Syrian media reported a significant movement of people fleeing from Lebanon into Syria at the Syrian-Lebanese border. Jordan’s Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission announced that it has suspended flights of Jordanian airlines to Beirut until further notice, citing increasing regional tensions and the need to ensure safety and security in civil aviation.
In response to the Israeli attacks, Hezbollah fired over 180 rockets toward northern Israel throughout Monday, the Israeli military reported. Israel’s aerial defense systems intercepted some projectiles, while others fell within Israeli territory, causing fires. The Magen David Adom rescue service reported that five people were injured by shrapnel.
Hezbollah said in a statement that it had bombed several Israeli military targets, including the reserve headquarters of the Israeli army’s northern corps and Rafael’s military-industrial complexes north of Haifa, “with dozens of missiles.”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urged the public to remain calm in anticipation of potential escalated attacks by Hezbollah in the coming days. “These are days in which the Israeli public will have to show composure,” he noted in a video statement.
The Israeli Defense Ministry also announced a “special” security situation across the entire country on Monday night, amid concerns that Hezbollah might broaden the range of its retaliatory attacks.
The attacks have prompted condemnations from both regional and international communities.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the Israeli attacks, describing them as “a war of extermination” during a cabinet meeting. He called on the United Nations and the international community to “stand up and deter aggression.”
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the Israeli attacks, describing them as a “flagrant violation of international law” and a threat to regional stability driven by the “far-right goals of the Israeli government.”
Egypt on Monday condemned Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, warning that its military escalation will only aggravate the crisis.
In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry urged international powers and the UN Security Council to intervene to stop Israel’s escalation in the region.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani warned of the serious consequences of Israel’s “bids to expand the conflict in the entire West Asia region,” while the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the attacks “mark a new phase in Israel’s efforts to drag the entire region into chaos.”
The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Monday issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s ongoing military actions in Lebanon. It said the Israeli actions “would not be possible without the protection and complicity provided by the United States, which shields Israel from accountability under international law.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “grave alarm” over the escalating tensions in the region and voiced serious concern for the safety of civilians, including UN personnel. He urged immediate de-escalation and a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announced in a presidential decree the formation of a new government on Monday, the Syrian state news agency SANA reported on Monday.
The reshuffle included key ministries, namely the ministries of information, foreign affairs, economy, finance, industry, health, and electricity.
Bassam al-Sabbagh, former deputy foreign minister, replaced Faisal Mekdad to be the foreign minister. In another decree, Mekdad was appointed as vice president, tasked with implementing foreign and media policy under the president’s directives.
Ziad Ghossoun, former director general of the Al-Wahda Printing and Publishing Organization, one of the largest print media publishers in Syria, was named the new information minister.
The new government formation follows a decree issued by al-Assad on Saturday, in which he named former Communications Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali as the new prime minister and tasked him with forming the government after July’s parliamentary elections.
Jalali, 55, has been under the European Union’s sanctions since October 2014.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)
WASHINGTON, DC — On Monday, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement:
“Today, I voted against H.R. 8958.
I have long supported the mission of NASA and its many contributions to the State of Texas, and to the country as a whole. However, the bill authorizes tens of billions of dollars in unpaid-for spending and was brought under suspension of the rules, meaning debate was limited and no amendments were considered.
That amounts to an unconscionable end run around the legislative process for an important authorization of a major federal agency. The American people deserve far more from us.
Moving forward, Congress must work to responsibly fund NASA and ensure proper oversight is conducted over what this government is doing with the American people’s money.”
The Government’s introduction of its interventions in the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act threatens to throw relations between Māori and Crown into deeper disharmony.
“This legislation is not fit for Parliament and represents an outright assault on the rights of iwi and hapū, disregarding the founding agreement Aotearoa was built upon,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Steve Abel.
“Te Tiriti is foundational, governments are temporary and do not have the right to disregard or trample on the binding contract between Māori and Crown on which our nation is built. Iwi and hapū rights to their customary waters are part of tino rangatiratanga, and are core to the sovereignty tangata whenua never ceded.
“The Government’s Takutai Moana re-write legislation robs Māori of customary rights to the marine and coastal area without moral justification or evidential basis. It is a regression to raupatu.
“The disingenuous narrative of ‘restoring parliamentary intent’ that the Government is using to justify this attack on Te Tiriti is a complete misrepresentation of our history that overrides Māori rights in favour of corporations who want to exploit our oceans for private profit.
“The Waitangi Tribunal was damning in its evaluation of this legislation, stating that it was a clear breach of tino rangatiratanga, antithetical to good government, and sidelined Māori rights and interests in te takutai moana without providing evidence for its claim that the public’s rights and interests require further protection.
“Time and time again, Christopher Luxon has talked about the importance of Te Tiriti, praising it as our past, present and future. But these words are hollow in the context of his assaults on the taonga guaranteed to iwi in our founding agreement.
“The Green Party will stand alongside Te iwi Māori in opposing the Government’s confiscation of their customary rights to the marine and coastal environment,” says Steve Abel.
This piece is the final of a three part series on Australia’s defamation laws. You can read the other pieces here and here.
Defamation laws exist to strike a balance between press freedom and the protection of people’s reputations from wrongful harm. In Australia, this balance has always been loaded against press freedom.
This is due partly to the way the defamation laws have been framed and partly by the way the courts have interpreted them.
Courts examine matters of journalism in the same way they examine matters of law: forensically, with strict rules and high standards of evidence and proof.
While we rightly expect ethical and honest reporting from our media, even the best can prove insufficient under the piercing gaze of defamation law. And in a time when media companies are more cash-strapped than ever, this has a chilling effect on the stories that get told and press freedom more broadly.
Ethics vs the law
Until 2006, each Australian jurisdiction had its own defamation laws. This created a nightmare of complexity for publishers, especially of newspapers and broadcasts that crossed state boundaries, which meant all the main media organisations.
They had to take into account the risks posed by litigation in the jurisdiction least favourable to press freedom.
For many decades, that was New South Wales. It was one of the states where truth alone was not a sufficient defence; there also had to be a public interest in the material. In some other jurisdictions this was called public benefit.
This was a major burden on press freedom and it was removed by the introduction of uniform defamation laws in 2006.
Since then, it has been enough for publishers to prove the substantial truth of the meanings conveyed in an article in order for the defence of truth to succeed.
It may sound straightforward, but proving substantial truth requires producing admissible evidence strong enough to satisfy the civil standard of proof: on the balance of probabilities. That usually means having documents and witnesses who are willing to be identified.
If, as is often the case, the article has drawn on evidence from a confidential source, the publisher is unable to put that source in the witness box because to do so would breach the media’s fundamental ethical obligation to protect the identity of confidential sources.
So unless the source is prepared in advance to be identified should the matter come to court, a story relying significantly on that person’s testimony may not see the light of day unless some other defence is available.
In 2021, those defences were expanded, although quite how significant that expansion turns out to be remains to be seen.
What appears on paper to be the most significant change was the introduction of a general public interest defence. This says that if publication of a story is in the public interest, and the publisher has a reasonable belief that it is, then publication can be defended on that ground.
There has been only one major test of that new defence, and it went against the media.
That case showed “reasonable belief” depended on the journalism being sound. In this case, the court found that the defendant, which was the ABC, had relied on shaky testimony that had not been sufficiently verified and had not given the subject of the story a fair opportunity to respond.
At odds with practicalities
This brings us to the question of how the courts interpret the law.
One of the big disappointments in this respect has been the way the courts have interpreted what, at the time, was hoped to be a significant addition to Australia’s threadbare free-speech jurisprudence.
In a case brought against the ABC by a late prime minister of New Zealand, David Lange, the High Court established the principle that freedom of speech on matters of government and politics trumped a person’s case for protection for their reputation.
If a person wanted to sue for defamation, they had to do so in a way that did not burden freedom of speech on matters of government and politics.
However, the High Court attached a test of reasonableness to this freedom. In several ways, it’s similar to the “reasonable belief” test in the new public interest defence.
Unfortunately, successive courts have applied the Lange reasonableness test in ways that are so strict they require journalists to meet standards demanding more powers of investigation than they possess or to exceed the usual journalistic standards of verification. Journalists can’t subpoena documents or compel people to speak to them.
The result is that this defence has become more or less a dead letter for journalistic purposes.
Is a story worth the cost?
Those accused of defamation can also defend it by saying it was comment or honest opinion. The first requirement of this defence is that the material be a comment and not a statement of fact.
But courts have interpreted this in different ways.
This uncertainty was illustrated by a famous case that became known as “Leo the Lobster”. A restaurant and restaurateur in Sydney successfully sued the Sydney Morning Herald over a review of a lobster dinner written by one Leo Schofield.
Schofield, who was a colourful writer, said the lobster had been overcooked:
the carbonized claws contained only a kind of white powder which might have been albino walrus.
Despite the amusing language, the court interpreted that as a literal factual description, not a statement of opinion.
Courts have a limited sense of humour, which makes satirical writing a chancy business, since the sharper the satire, the closer it is to literal truth.
Cartoons, which are satirical by definition, have more leeway but are not immune to defamation suits.
Then there’s the costs of defamation, particularly for media outlets. They’ve become exorbitant.
It has been estimated that the costs involved in the case brought by Ben Roberts-Smith against The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times amounted to about $25 million. The newspapers won, although the matter has gone to appeal.
But even if the verdict is upheld, experience shows it is unlikely they will recoup anything like their full costs.
At a time when all major news media organisations are under acute financial pressure because of the inroads the internet has made on their revenue, there is a strong temptation not to risk publishing material the public has a right to know because of the financial impact an action for defamation would have.
Denis Muller does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Photo: A flooded school yard in Chiang Rai province, Thailand. (Khem Krairit / Save the Children)
BANGKOK/HANOI, 24 September 2024 – Floods in Thailand and Vietnam have damaged about 945* schools across both countries, leaving children out of classes as recovery efforts get underway following the worst storm Asia has seen this year, Save the Children said.
In the north of Thailand, floods tore through homes and schools leaving 140 schools damaged, while in Vietnam at least 805[1] schools have been damaged since early September after Typhoon Yagi battered the country.
Asia is the world’s most disaster-hit region from weather, climate and water-related hazards.[2] Across the world, a staggering 774 million children – or one third of the world’s child population – are living with the dual impacts of poverty and high climate risk.[3]
In Thailand, this means learning has been disrupted for more than 30,500 children[4] for an indefinite period.
The floods have also increased the risk of waterborne diseases. Globally, increases in disease related to climate change are projected to have deadly implications for children, including vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. [5]
Classroom floors, chairs, tables and learning materials in schools across Thailand’s northernmost Chiang Rai province remain covered in mud and many schools are in need of new learning equipment.
Children’s psychosocial well-being has also been acutely affected by the loss of their belongings, damage to their schools, their play areas and environments familiar to them.
Patchara*, a 15-year-old student from Chiang Rai province, said she was able to save only some belongings when the floods hit and water levels reached her waist level.
Her family is temporarily staying with relatives. Patchara said she’s worried about waterborne diseases as she travels to school. This is her first severe flood experience.
Many flood-affected areas in Thailand and Vietnam are also still inaccessible due to flooded roads and the danger of landslides, severely hampering rescue and relief operations.
Guillaume Rachou, Save the Children Thailand Executive Director, said:
“Children in Chiang Rai can’t go back to school anytime soon. Others have had to stay at home to help their families rebuild their lives. The recovery effort will take months so it’s important that these children’s lives are as normal and that they can return to their classrooms as soon as, and as safely, as possible and feel supported during the transition.”
Save the Children will provide essential support to children in five districts of Chiang Rai province, including booklets on flood recovery hygiene and on infant feeding.
The children’s charity will also provide 1,500 students with back-to-school kits including learning kits and school uniforms. In collaboration with global apparel retailer UNIQLO, the initiative will also see the distribution of 2,600 items of children’s clothing, which includes 1,600 new pieces of children’s innerwear and T-shirts, along with 1,000 pieces of adult clothing sourced from the brand’s customer take-back program known as “RE.UNIQLO.”
Save the Children is also working with community volunteers, teachers and Thailand’s Department of Mental Health to provide psychological first aid training and training in how to spot children who are at risk of dropping out of school. The children’s organisation will set up a mobile psychological first aid team to support school staff and students at 20 schools where community outreach activities will include theater and arts.
In Vietnam, Save the Children has been in discussions with government agencies to release a flood response plan to help affected children return to school safely and continue their learning.
Save the Children has worked in Thailand since 1979 to support children most impacted by discrimination and inequality running programmes on education, child protection, livelihood, and child rights governance.
Save the Children started working in Vietnam in 1990 and now operates in 22 provinces in partnership with government agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector and academic institutions.
The next federal election will be conducted on new electoral division boundaries in Western Australia after a notice was published today in the Commonwealth Government Notices Gazette.
While final names and boundaries for House of Representatives seats in Western Australia were announced on 5 September, today’s gazettal is the step that formally sets them in place. Today’s gazettal also provides people with further details about the boundaries.
More detailed division maps and the final redistribution report will be available after the Minister has tabled material in both houses of Parliament.
Editor’s notes:
People on the electoral roll who are affected by the redistribution will now be moved into their new federal electoral division in readiness for the election. No action is necessary.
While the new electoral divisions will be in place from Tuesday 24 September 2024, they will only apply from the next full federal election onwards. Any federal by-election conducted before that point must be conducted on existing divisions to avoid overlap in, or missing, representation.
Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes Increased By Nearly 63 Percent, Reaching Highest Level In Decades
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK), and Representatives Kathy Manning (NC-06) and Chris Smith (NJ-04), co-chairs of the Senate and House Bipartisan Task Forces for Combating Antisemitism, respectively, released the following statement in response to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) 2023 Hate Crime Statistics Report. The FBI data shows anti-Jewish hate crimes increased in 2023 by nearly 63 percent from 2022, which is the highest number recorded in almost three decades.
“We are deeply alarmed by the dramatic increase in hate crimes targeting Jewish Americans over the past year, as noted in the FBI’s 2023 Hate Crimes Statistics Report,” said the members. “With antisemitism skyrocketing across the United States following Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, a whole-of-government approach is needed to protect Jewish communities from violence and hate.”
Anti-Jewish hate crimes rose from 1,122 to 1,832 incidents from 2022 to 2023. According to the FBI, a total of 16,009 law enforcement agencies, which represent 95.2 percent of the agencies enrolled in the hate crime data collection program, participated in hate crimes reporting for 2023.
They continued: “As the co-chairs of the House and Senate Bipartisan Task Forces for Combating Antisemitism, we remain steadfast in our commitment to root out the scourge of antisemitism. We’ll continue working across party lines to ensure the federal government keeps Jewish Americans safe from discrimination.”
Jewish Americans make up around two percent of the U.S. population, yet antisemitic hate crimes accounted for 15.4 percent of all hate crimes reported by the FBI. Anti-Jewish incidents comprised a little over two-thirds of all religion-based hate crimes.
As co-chair of the Senate Bipartisan Taskforce for Countering Antisemitism, Senator Rosen has been leading the fight against rising antisemitism. Senator Rosen, along with the co-chairs of the Senate and House Bipartisan Task Forces, introduced a bipartisan bill to take historic action to counter antisemitism in the United States by establishing a first-ever National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism. In May, Senators Rosen and Lankford sent a bipartisan letter urging the Department of Education to designate a senior official to oversee efforts to combat antisemitism on college campuses. They also called on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to hold a full hearing on rising antisemitism on college campuses.
Swimmers in Queensland’s fastest-growing city are a step closer to having a second Olympic-sized pool to enjoy, with works now underway on the $23.1 million Beenleigh Aquatic Centre upgrade.
The 50-metre, eight-lane swimming pool, is expected to open in mid-2025 and replaces the current thirty-three-yard pool which opened in 1964.
As well as being a beacon for local swimming enthusiasts, the new Olympic-sized pool will enable Logan to support more training, competitions and community sporting events.
Representatives from the Australian and Queensland governments and the Logan City Council met in Beenleigh today to celebrate the milestone.
The upgrades also include an expanded children’s water play area, shaded seating areas, modern changeroom facilities, a kiosk, and accessible and family friendly amenities.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the Beenleigh Aquatic Centre will feature solar panelling to generate clean energy, enable storm water harvesting and use of recycled materials.
The project is funded through the $285.8 million SEQ Liveability Fund, one of 29 commitments being delivered under the SEQ City Deal, with the Logan City Council investing $13.4 million alongside contributions from the Australian and Queensland governments of $4.85 million each.
The project will create an estimated 89 direct jobs and 78 indirect jobs for the local community.
The indoor pool remains open to the public while works are completed and existing programs will continue uninterrupted.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Cities Jenny McAllister:
“The Logan community is right to be excited by works starting on these facilities.
“As the temperature ramps up in summer, this will be a welcome retreat for families on weekends and school holidays.
“It’s a very real possibility that some of our future Olympians will start honing their craft right here at the future Beenleigh Aquatic Centre.
“That’s why investing in community sporting infrastructure like this is so important to the Australian Government.”
Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace:
“The new Beenleigh Aquatic Centre is a great example of a project that will help create a more liveable, sustainable and healthy community.
“That is what the Liveability Fund is all about – projects that leave a lasting and positive legacy in the community.
“The Beenleigh Aquatic Centre will support the region’s booming population and complement the work being done to deliver a successful Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.’’
Quotes attributable to State Member for Macalister Melissa McMahon:
“With less than 8 years until Brisbane 2032, we’re seeing the city’s newest Olympic sized swimming pool being build right here in Beenleigh.
“A new Olympic pool may see our future swimming heroes develop their skills locally and deliver the goods in 2032.
“And there is something for everyone with this upgrade with new areas for children and more family friendly amenities.
“This is great news for Beenleigh and Logan City.”
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Logan City Jon Raven:
“It will be a modern venue to take our young and fast-growing city into the future as we head towards the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Council is proud to deliver community infrastructure that turns our suburbs into connected neighbourhoods especially as our population grows.
“Last week we announced the nine court Logan Indoor Sports Centre for Logan Central, so we are well and truly starting our warm-up run for sporting success as the Olympics get closer.”
Quotes attributable to Logan City Councillor Karen Murphy:
“The old pool was more than 60 years old, so it is wonderful to see work begin full steam on this upgrade, which will complete stage two of the Dauth Park Masterplan endorsed by Council in 2018.
“I can’t wait to see locals splashing around and swimming laps here in Beenleigh.”
The Green Party vows to reinstate the oil and gas ban and revoke permits when it returns to government following the coalition’s introduction of legislation to reopen offshore oil and gas exploration this afternoon.
“A Green Government will reinstate the oil and gas ban and revoke any permits granted under the current regime and their obsession with pouring oil, coal and gas on the climate crisis fire,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson for Climate Change, Chlöe Swarbrick.
“We can have an economy that supports people and the planet, instead of exploiting both. It’s simply a matter of political willpower.
“Overturning the oil and gas ban risks exacerbating energy insecurity and driving exorbitant power prices. The Government must know this. And yet they persist with their lobbyist’s wish list.
“Luxon’s Government has weaponised the energy crisis to argue for more fossil fuels, conveniently neglecting that it’s the very reliance on those fossil fuels which is behind the energy crisis.
“Climate delay is the new denial.
“We can reduce emissions, lower power bills, and improve the resilience of our energy system. All we need is mainstream political willpower. New Zealanders deserve better than the Government’s attempts to pull the wool over their eyes,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.
A pair of giant pandas gifted by the central government to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China will arrive in the city on Thursday, John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR announced on Tuesday. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.ChinaNews App Download
SAFE is renewing its urgent call for a ban on greyhound racing after the first race-related death of the 2024/25 season. Rocket Queen suffered a catastrophic compound fracture to her right leg during a race at Addington Raceway, Christchurch, on 20 September 2024.
Rocket Queen was one of four greyhounds involved in a collision during the race, with three other dogs sustaining injuries, including a suspected fracture.
SAFE Campaign Manager Emma Brodie says this tragic incident is not an isolated event, but part of an ongoing pattern of cruelty in the greyhound racing industry.
“Rocket Queen’s death is not an anomaly; this is a predictable outcome in an industry that consistently fails to protect the dogs in its care,” says Brodie.
“It’s both infuriating and heartbreaking that, despite years of warnings and public outcry, greyhounds continue to suffer and die in the name of entertainment.”
This latest death adds to the growing toll of greyhound fatalities. Last season saw nearly double the number of deaths compared to the previous season. Thirteen greyhounds died in the 2023/24 season from race-related injuries, compared to seven in 2022/23.
Earlier this year, Addington Raceway was temporarily closed for two months for remedial work following a spate of animal welfare concerns, including the deaths of three dogs in just one month.
“No amount of track repairs or superficial ‘safety measures’ can change the reality that greyhound racing amounts to a death sentence for these dogs,” says Brodie.
“This industry exists solely to fuel gambling profits, and it has no place in modern Aotearoa.”
SAFE is calling on the Government to intervene immediately and ban greyhound racing in New Zealand.
“This is more than just a welfare failure; it’s a moral failure. Greyhound racing does not reflect the values of New Zealanders, and the continuation of this industry is a stain on our national conscience.”
“It’s time for the Government to show true leadership and bring an end to this cruel and outdated industry before more lives are needlessly lost.”
SAFE is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation.
We’re creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.
Notes:
In May 2024, leading animal organisations Dogwatch, HUHA, SAFE and SPCAannounced a commitment to assistwith the rehoming of greyhounds should a ban be enacted.
A2022 pollcommissioned by SPCA found that 74% of New Zealanders would vote to ban greyhound racing in a referendum.
Israel has begun the wholesale slaughter of Lebanese civilians in a war model based on the genocide in Gaza and PSNA is calling on the government to condemn the killing.
Over the past few daysat least 492 people, including 35 children, have been killed and 1,645 wounded in Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
This is the latest of Israel’s highly-inflammatory actions to provoke a wider Middle East War which include:
“Israel is an out-of-control rogue state which is pushing hard for an all-out war with Iran” says PSNA National Chair John Minto. “Our government must condemn the killings and demand accountability for Israel’s reckless provocations”
“Christopher Luxon claims the government wants all parties to refrain from actions that would escalate Israel’s war on Gaza into a wider Middle East war. Israel is actively fanning the flames of war and Mr Luxon must call this out on behalf of Aotearoa New Zealand”
“The problem in the Middle East has always been Israel’s colonisation of Palestine over 76 years, driving Palestinians off their land before stealing the land”
In the meantime Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is driving for a wider war to avoid the collapse of his far-right government and his looming trial on bribery and corruption charges.”
Greenpeace activists have occupied the Wellington offices of the mining lobby group Straterra to protest plans to Fast Track its client Trans-Tasman Resources’ seabed mining in the South Taranaki Bight.
Three activists have locked themselves inside the building, and two more have climbed onto an awning at the front of the building to deploy a large ‘No Seabed Mining’ banner.
Greenpeace says this action is “a demonstration of the resistance promised” in a recently publishedopen letterto all companies considering using theFast Track Approvals process. More than 7,500 people have signed on to the letter so far.
A second company seeking consent for seabed mining in the areahas just confirmedthey are voluntarily withdrawing, citing regulatory uncertainty as one of the reasons, along with the emergence of an offshore wind energy generation proposal that would be incompatible with the seabed mining industry.
Greenpeace says that’s evidence that the pressure is working.
Australian mining company TTR is vying to mine 50 million tons of iron sands in the South Taranaki Bight every year for 30 years. The company has made no secret of the fact it will use the much-maligned Fast Track Bill to get a green light after years of opposition by Taranaki hapū, environmentalists, the fishing industry and marine mammal experts.
Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Juressa Lee says, “We’re taking this action to highlight the danger that Trans-Tasman Resources may slip through the Fast Track process, despite years of community opposition and rejection by the courts.
“We’re also highlighting the role played by the mining industry lobbyist Straterra, which has the ear of this government and is pushing this extractive, polluting project.
“Straterra is a malignant force in New Zealand politics, operating in the shadows and backrooms to exert a pernicious influence over Government policies. Straterra’s stated objectives would shock all New Zealanders who value the natural world and a healthy democracy.
“Today, we will drag Straterra’s dirty business into the sunlight and expose their malevolent intentions for all to see.
“TTR has tried and failed for more than a decade to get approval to mine the seabed because it was never able to show that it wouldn’t cause substantial harm to the environment. If seabed mining is fast tracked, it will be in contempt of all expert advice and the wishes of local iwi, environmental groups, Taranaki communities and the 60,000 New Zealanders who havesigned the petitioncalling for it to be banned.”
Lee says it’s clear that even the coalition’s own supporters are against the Fast Track too.
Recent Horizon Research pollingshows that 55% of NZ First supporters do not support the Fast Track Bill, an increase from 36% of respondents in May 2024.
“The Luxon coalition government needs to stop listening to Stratera and start listening to their constituency, and the broader public that are saying they do not want seabed mining, and they do not want seabed mining fast tracked.”
The Parliament Bill has passed its first reading this afternoon, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says.
“Today Parliament has taken an important step towards modernising the legislation that supports its operations.
“The Parliament Bill will consolidate and modernise the four Acts comprising Parliament’s statutory framework: the Clerk of the House of Representatives Act 1988, the Parliamentary Service Act 2000, the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013, and the Parliamentary Privilege Act 2014.
Other important changes in the Bill include:
Updating the functions of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to clarify when the functions and duties of the Speaker are carried out by the Deputy;
Modernising the statutory functions of the Clerk of the House;
Providing Parliamentary Security Officers with statutory powers similar to those of court security officers, and
Transferring to the Electoral Commission the role of determining whether a petition carries the required number of signatures to trigger a referendum.
“I am pleased to see this Bill receive unanimous support from across the House. When dealing with matters regarding how Parliament is run, we want to ensure a bipartisan, constructive approach. I thank Members for their contributions to this Bill and to the first reading debate today.
“As part of the cross-party collaborative approach to this Bill, it has been agreed that a special select committee will be created with representatives from every parliamentary party to consider it. The Government intends to nominate former Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe, to chair this committee.
“The Bill has now been referred to the special select committee for six months and I hope to pass it into law in 2025.”
This week briefings to councillors in Wellington, Porirua and Lower Hutt will outline the challenges they face as they consider a joint water services delivery plan in response to the Government’s Local Water Done Well policy. Greater Wellington Regional councillors were briefed last week.
The briefing sessions focus on the changes to legislation, scale of the challenge, implications around funding and pricing and are to prepare councillors for significant decisions ahead.
Nine councils in the Wellington region and Horowhenua District are working together to consider a joint water services delivery plan which must be developed by September 2025. The councils collectively represent more than 500,000 people.
Work is being led by the region’s Advisory Oversight Group (AOG) made up of elected members and Iwi/ Māori representatives.
Dame Kerry Prendergast, Independent Chair of the region’s Advisory Oversight Group says all councils are committed to the process and working at pace to ensure the right approach to water management is reached.
“We are committed to an enduring solution, as a sustainable and long-term approach is required to address the challenges our water networks face – now and into the future,” Dame Kerry said.
“Our region has a significant backlog of investment needed in three waters infrastructure,” Dame Kerry said.
“Currently over 20 percent of the region’s water assets are worn out and needing replacement, which presents significant risk of major services failures. If we don’t fix the network, we will keep on seeing major pipe failures like at Day’s Bay and Kent Terrace or ongoing challenges like at the Seaview wastewater treatment plant.
“Significant investment in water is going to be needed over the next 20 years. We know that this will be really challenging and we will have to work closely with contractors and suppliers to grow the workforce, explore new delivery models and find new and lower cost solutions.
“Our preliminary analysis of the water network and the level of investment needed highlights that there are no quick fixes – this will take sustained effort,” Dame Kerry said.
“We know what people pay for water will need to rise and we are looking at a range of options and scenarios to keep this affordable.
“This is why it’s imperative that councils work together, despite each facing different issues. Some councils have challenges now, some have challenges to come in the future. This is a long game, and working together, at scale, gives us the best chance to work our way out of the current water infrastructure situation.”
New funding arrangements announced by the Government on 8 August for water organisations through the Local Government Funding Agency mean that if councils set up a new delivery organisation these will have access to additional debt funding.
There are some real positives to this change, Dame Kerry said. “The investment will enable growth and new home building; it will create a lot of jobs in the region. Over the next 20 years, about 44 percent of the network could be replaced, building significant resilience for future earthquakes. The investment will also address the region’s critical water shortage challenges through meters, increased water storage, and fixing leaks.”
Local Water Done Well is the Government’s plan for water reform and requires councils to develop water service delivery plans by September 2025. It is being implemented in three stages, each with its own piece of legislation. The second stage is underway, with the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act passed into law on 2 September.
The report outlining the regional option for water service delivery will be finalised and released in October, for each council to then consider and make decisions. These decisions will shape the next steps for the region.
After five Greenpeace activistsoccupied the Wellington offices of mining lobby group Straterrato protest seabed mining by its client Trans Tasman Resources today, two more have scaled a tower near Parliament and deployed a 22-meter banner that reads No Seabed Mining.
Greenpeace says today’s action is “a demonstration of the resistance promised” in a recently publishedopen letterto all companies considering using theFast Track Approvals process.
Spokesperson Juressa Lee says that while today’s focus has been on Trans Tasman Resources and their plan to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight, it should also be a warning to any company considering using the Fast Track approvals process that they will face resistance.
Earlier in the day, three Greenpeace activists gained entry to the Straterra HQ and locked it from the inside to prevent entry. They then proceeded totweet images from a Straterra documentoutlining its intention to influence Government policy and clear the way for mining on the seabed and on conservation land.
Meanwhile, two more activists climbed onto the awning outside the Straterra offices and firefighters and erected a large banner reading No Seabed Mining.
All five activists at the Straterra building were eventually arrested by police.
Australian mining company TTR is vying to mine 50 million tons of iron sands in the South Taranaki Bight every year for 30 years. The company has made no secret of the fact it will use the much-maligned Fast Track Bill to get a green light after years of opposition by Taranaki hapū, environmentalists, the fishing industry and marine mammal experts.
Greenpeace Aotearoa spokesperson Juressa Lee said, “We’re taking this action to highlight the danger that Trans-Tasman Resources may slip through the Fast Track process, despite years of community opposition and rejection by the courts.
“We’re also highlighting the role played by the mining industry lobbyist Straterra, which has the ear of this government and is pushing this extractive, polluting project.
“Straterra is a malignant force in New Zealand politics, operating in the shadows and backrooms to exert a pernicious influence over Government policies. Straterra’s stated objectives would shock all New Zealanders who value the natural world and a healthy democracy.
“Today, we have dragged Straterra’s dirty business into the sunlight and expose their malevolent intentions for all to see.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andre Carson (7th District of INDIANA)
Today Representatives Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) recognized the unique contributions of medical research to improve the lives of patients, families, and communities nationwide by introducing a resolution in the House of Representatives declaring Sept. 16-20 as Medical Research Week.
Medical research, much of which is conducted at academic medical centers nationwide, has led to breakthrough discoveries that improve the health and well-being of patients and communities while also promoting global competitiveness in science, boosting job creation, preparing the next generation of scientists, and strengthening economic growth.
Through the support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), medical research serves a vital and unique role in the U.S. research enterprise. This work leads to cutting-edge preventative strategies and improved and emerging treatments and cures for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, sickle cell anemia, obesity, the mental health and opioid epidemics, and emerging threats like yet unknown infectious diseases.
“Investing in the NIH today pays a lifetime of dividends in saving lives, promoting better health, and improving the quality of life for all Americans,” said AAMC President and CEO David J. Skorton, MD. “The nation’s medical schools, academic health systems, and teaching hospitals conduct approximately 60% of all NIH extramural research and are proud to pioneer many critical advances that bring the promise of better health to patients, families, and communities nationwide.”
“Now, more than ever, it’s important to ensure strong funding growth for NIH so that today’s discoveries can culminate in major breakthroughs in medical research,” said AAMC Chief Scientific Officer Elena Fuentes-Afflick, MD, MPH.
As noted in the resolution, NIH funding ripples far beyond its headquarters into every state, drives demand for medical supplies and research equipment, and boosts local and regional economies to benefit manufacturers and suppliers across the country and into many U.S. territories, generating nearly $93 billion in new economic activity and supports approximately 412,000 jobs across the U.S in FY 2023 alone.
“Medical research has shaped breakthroughs in science that change lives,” said Rep. André Carson. “The cure for diseases like cancer and diabetes could be possible in our lifetimes, as long as we continue to invest in this important work. I am proud to have led bipartisan efforts over several years to fully fund the National Institutes of Health, expand pancreatic cancer research at the U.S. Department of Defense, and fully fund veteran medical and prosthetic research. We also need to collect more data on how minorities are disproportionately impacted by certain health issues and widen clinical trials to include those left out. I am proud to introduce this resolution highlighting Medical Research Week and will continue to work across the aisle on lifesaving legislation.”
“Innovation in health care starts with the groundbreaking medical research that leads to life-changing treatments and cures,” said Rep. Joyce Beatty. “As we celebrate Medical Research Week, we honor the scientists and institutions whose work not only saves lives but also drives our economy and keeps our nation at the forefront of global health innovation. As a stroke survivor, I’ve experienced firsthand the critical importance of these advancements. That’s why I continue to advocate for billions in federal funding to the NIH to reduce the incidence of heart disease, stroke, and other threats to the health and vitality of all Americans. The future of medicine depends on what we invest in today, and I’ll keep fighting for that funding.”
“Medical Research Week is an opportunity to celebrate the innovations and efforts of so many scientists who have created the treatments, cures, and diagnostics that tackle terrible conditions like cancer, Alzheimer’s, kidney failure, and the opioid epidemic. This inspirational work and the strong federal investments that power it make the United States the global driver of medical research and development,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene. “Medical Research Week is also an opportunity to recommit ourselves to building on this progress by not only defending but expanding funding for our government’s lead health research agency – the National Institutes of Health – so we can continue to develop the cures of tomorrow.”
“Medical research is the foundation of progress: saving lives, driving economic growth, and ensuring our leadership on the world stage. By celebrating Medical Research Week, we are not merely recognizing past breakthroughs but committing to a future where innovation propels our communities forward. I am dedicated to fighting for the vital funding that fuels progress and gives researchers the tools to discover groundbreaking cures and tackle the most devastating diseases. Together, through continued innovation, we will forge a healthier, stronger future for generations to come,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.
“It is by no accident that America leads the world in medical innovation. America’s free enterprise system alongside strong federal support of medical research has led to new cures, treatments, and hope for tomorrow that more therapies are on the horizon. I am proud that Pennsylvania institutions and companies play leading roles in developing these new technologies and am glad to join my colleagues in introducing a resolution to recognize Medical Research Week,” said Rep. Lloyd Smucker.
During Medical Research Week, the AAMC – along with its member medical schools, academic health systems, research institutions, and collaborators – are celebrating the achievements in medical research and breakthrough innovations on social media using the hashtag #StartsInAcademicMedicine to highlight the immeasurable impact of research on patients and communities.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andre Carson (7th District of INDIANA)
WASHINGTON, DC—Representative André Carson (IN-07) has introduced H.R. 9649, the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2024 with Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). This bill will end the congressionally and administratively mandated pause on funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA).
The United States has historically been one of the largest financial supporters of UNRWA, which serves nearly 6 million Palestinian refugees across the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. In March of this year, the U.S. paused UNRWA funding after the Israeli government alleged that 12 agency employees had direct involvement in Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack.
Following the UN’s investigation and proactive commitments made by UNRWA toward complete accountability and reform, all countries except the U.S. have resumed their UNRWA funding, including the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan, and Sweden. Approximately 1.9 million people – 9 in 10 Gazans – have been displaced at least once, and an estimated 43,580 are pregnant women. UNRWA has served as the primary humanitarian aid organization operating in Gaza, and without funding, hundreds of thousands of Gaza civilians are left vulnerable. It is estimated that over 1 million Gazans will not have enough food this month, and availability of basic hygiene items has dropped to 15%. In addition to a polio outbreak, Gazans are suffering from malnutrition and treatable diseases due to “systematic dismantling of healthcare”from bombardments on civilians.
“The scale of this devastating, man-made crisis in Gaza cannot be overstated,” said Congressman Carson. “Providing humanitarian aid to a starving nation – with funding Congress has appropriated year after year – should not be controversial. I urge my colleagues who care about basic human rights, the rights of pregnant women, and the wellbeing of innocent children to join our bill. UNRWA has taken appropriate and proactive steps towards accountability and transparency, conducting multiple independent reviews that continue to prove the organization is both in compliance and imperative to provide the region with lifesaving assistance. It’s past time we restore funding and save lives.”
“UNRWA has played a unique and integral role in supporting the welfare of Palestinian refugees for decades. Their on-the-ground understanding is invaluable to ensure that humanitarian aid makes it to the people who need it most — in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and critically in this moment in Gaza,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “There is no question in my mind that revoking funding for UNRWA will lead to more devastation and loss of life in Gaza. We must ensure that those acting in good faith to save civilian lives are not undermined by a lack of US funding.”
“For decades, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been a lifeline for Palestinians, providing food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, education, and livelihoods. Today, UNRWA remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza as it endures ongoing war and a dire humanitarian crisis. UNRWA and the United Nations have taken swift and decisive actions to address the concerns raised by the U.S. government when it paused funding in January and our allies have all resumed funding for UNRWA. The U.S. must follow suit and resume funding for this critical humanitarian agency,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky. “I am proud to co-lead the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act to restore funding to UNRWA and help Gazans get the humanitarian assistance they need at a time of unprecedented crisis.”
“J Street is proud to be supporting the UNRWA Emergency Restoration Act of 2024 introduced by Representatives Carson, Jayapal, and Schakowsky. We should restore funding, as all our major allies have, and stop playing politics with Palestinian welfare and Israel’s security,” said J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami. “As UNRWA’s largest donor and Israel’s key security guarantor, the United States has a special obligation to address this crisis.”
“Gaza isn’t starving. It’s being starved,” said Hassan El-Tayyab, legislative director for Middle East policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation. “Over two million Palestinian civilians are enduring a man-made humanitarian catastrophe, with famine and disease spreading due to blocked aid access. Meanwhile, the Biden administration and Congress continue to withhold all U.S. funding for the largest aid operation in Gaza—the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). UNRWA is the backbone of aid delivery in Gaza, ensuring that millions receive desperately needed assistance. Blocking U.S. funding for UNRWA’s critical work is a cruel and unjustified decision that only deepens Gaza’s humanitarian suffering. Congress and the Administration must act swiftly to correct this wrong by supporting the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act and restoring this urgently needed aid.”
“Restoring funding to UNRWA is a humanitarian imperative,” said Sharif Aly, President of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). “For over six decades, the United States has been one of the strongest supporters of UNRWA, which provides lifesaving aid and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. Those services are desperately needed in Gaza right now, and UNRWA is the only organization with the capacity and expertise necessary to provide them at scale. The United States must uphold its commitment to the human rights of the Palestinian people and pass this legislation to reinstate funding to the humanitarian agency immediately. Failing to do so would lead to further human suffering.”
“In restoring funding for food, water, shelter, and medical care for Palestine refugees, the UNRWA Restoration Act honors this most basic and inalienable truth — that the people of Palestine are human beings, just like all of us, and all lives are sacred, not just some,” said Mara Kronenfeld, Executive Director UNRWA USA.
“UNRWA is indispensable to providing Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria with the education, healthcare, and other critical services that are key to successful, productive livelihoods and citizenry, and a future of peace and prosperity, which should be in everyone’s interests. We support full restoration of funding to UNRWA,” said Sean Carroll, President and CEO of Anera.
“We express our gratitude to Representatives André Carson, Pramila Jayapal, and Jan Schakowsky for introducing the UNRWA Emergency Restoration Act of 2024,” said James Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute. “This lifesaving legislation aims to restore critical U.S. financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) by repealing previous funding restrictions and encouraging the Secretary of State to lift the temporary pause on federal funding. UNRWA plays a vital role in providing essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. The ongoing genocide in Gaza has resulted in increased displacement, starvation, and death. It is both inhumane and unconscionable to continue withholding financial support from UNRWA. We recognize that the majority of Americans are horrified by the death and destruction they witness daily in Gaza and the West Bank. UNRWA’s humanitarian aid and services often mean the difference between life and death for these vulnerable populations. Restoring U.S. funding to UNRWA is urgent, just, and the only morally responsible option. We urge lawmakers to prioritize the passage of this crucial legislation and ensure that UNRWA can continue to provide life-saving assistance to Palestinian refugees in the region.”
The UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2024 has been endorsed by the following organizations as of 9/19/24:
18 Million Rising
Action Against Hunger
Action Corps
ActionAid USA
AFSC, American Friends Service Committee
American Baptist Churches USA
American Friends of Combatants for Peace
American Friends Service Committee
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
Americans for Justice in Palestine Action
Americans for Peace Now
Anera
Avaaz
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)
Carolina Peace Center
Center for American Progress
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
Center for Constitutional Rights
Center for Gender & Refugee Studies
Center for International Policy
Center for Jewish Nonviolence
Center for Security, Race and Rights
Center for Victims of Torture
Charity&Security Network
Christian Aid
Church World Service
Climate Refugees
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
CODEPINK
CommonDefense.us
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Danish Refugee Council
DAWN
Demand Progress
Doctors Against Genocide
Emgage Action
FCNL
Foreign Policy for America
Friends of Sabeel North America
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ
Health Advocacy International
Hindus for Human Rights
Historians for Peace and Democrcy
Human Rights First
Human Rights First
Humanity & Inclusion
IfNotNow Movement
International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)
International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
International Rescue Committee
Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
J Street
Jewish Voice for Peace Action
KinderUSA
MADRE
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Middle East Children’s Alliance
Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)
Migrant Roots Media
MoveOn
MPower Change Action Fund
Muslim Advocates
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National Council of Churches
National Iranian American Council Action
National Partnership for New Americans
Nonviolent Peaceforce
Norwegian Peoples aid
Norwegian Refugee Council USA
Oxfam
Partners for Progressive Israel
Pax Christi USA
Peace Action
People’s Action
Presbyterian Church (USA), Office of Public Witness
Progressive Democrats of America
Project HOPE
Project South
Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Rebuilding Alliance
Refugee Congress
Refugees International
ReThinking Foreign Policy
RootsAction.org
Save the Children US
Save the Children US
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team
Terre des hommes – Lausanne
The Episcopal Church
The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP)
The United Church of Christ
UNRWA USA National Committee
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action (USCPR Action)
Veterans For Peace, Chapter #63 (Albuquerque)
War Child Alliance
We Are All America (WAAA)
Welcoming America
Win Without War
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, US
Working Families Party
Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation
ACCESS of WNY
Al Otro Lado (CA and Tijuana)
Atlanta Multifaith Coalition for Palestine
CAIR-Ohio
Christian Jewish Allies for a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine
Church Women United in New York State
Council on American-Islamic Relations, New York chapter (CAIR-NY)
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), and Congressman Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) to discuss the impact – which he has experienced personally – of dangerous rhetoric from the Left that has led to now multiple attempts on President Trump’s life. Leader Scalise pointed to specific quotes of Democrat leaders whose words have been used by unhinged people as calls to engage in political violence. Leader Scalise also highlighted legislation on the House floor this week that would provide the same amount of Secret Service for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris as that of a sitting president.
Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full remarks.
On House Republicans’ legislation to combat violence against women by illegal aliens:
“Before I talk about that, we have a very busy agenda on the floor this week, and Speaker [Johnson] will talk about some of that, especially the CR with SAVE Act. But today, one of the other bills we’re going to be voting on is a bill that says, if someone is here illegally and they assault a woman – we’ve seen people come here illegally and murder women. That seems like the only time where some of these woke prosecutors will actually arrest the illegal. But there’s so many other horrible things being done to women by illegals. The bill says if they assault a woman in any kind of way, it’s a deportable offense. Now, I’m curious to see how this vote is going to be. Everybody on the House floor should vote for that bill. But if any Democrat dare vote against it, they’re going to have to explain to people back home who are watching this be carried out in every community in America why they would rather stand with illegals than women in their own districts that they represent. That’s going to be today.”
On protecting Americans workers from woke policy:
“Tomorrow, we’re going to continue moving forward on our agenda, continue going after wokeness, continue to stand up for families who are struggling. And then Friday, we’re going to be bringing a few bills. One, CRA on tailpipes. Kamala Harris has always been for eliminating the combustion engine and mandating EVs. Her values haven’t changed. That’s what she’s been for her whole life. It’s crushed thousands of jobs in states like Michigan. So [Congressman] John James from Michigan, who has seen the devastation of these horrible policies coming out of the Biden-Harris administration, is bringing a bill to reverse that, to end that mandate on the tailpipe emission, which was designed to kill the combustion engine, fossil fuel cars, in exchange for mandating EVs. People don’t even want to buy the EV cars. The batteries are made in China, and yet they continue their drumbeat. So we’re going to stand up for American workers Friday in that vote.”
On strengthening the Secret Service:
“But one of the last votes we’re going to have, this is what I really want to talk about, is a bill by [Congressman] Mike Lawler that will ensure that both nominees for president, not just Donald Trump, also Kamala Harris, get the same level of Secret Service protection as the president of the United States. As has been talked about by so many already, it’s unacceptable that now we’re at two assassination attempts on President Trump. And luck cannot be a strategy by the Secret Service to have stopped these attempts. He came within inches, as we all know, on the first assassination attempt where shots actually rang out. If not for the advanced Secret Service agent seeing that muzzle just barely coming through a chainlink fence, we may have been talking about something very different right now. Luck cannot be a strategy. Clearly, I think there’s divine intervention. I know Speaker [Johnson] has said that, too. But at the same time, the Secret Service has to do better. Keep in mind, as we talk about adding this extra protection, every year since 2017, Congress has added more money to the Secret Service’s budget than they even requested in their budget.
“And so it’s not an issue of money. What they’re doing with the money we’ve had a lot of serious questions about before the first assassination attempt – trying to carry out a woke agenda, focusing on the wrong things, and forgetting their main mission, and that is to protect presidents and vice president of the United States. The Secret Service has to shift that focus and shift their priorities and provide this protection.”
On dangerous Democrat rhetoric:
“Now I’m going to be very specific because we talk about the rhetoric. When there’s an incident like this, there’s always talk that the rhetoric needs to dial down. I’m one of those who says it, too. But this isn’t generic. There is very specific rhetoric we can now point to that we know is triggering some of these people who are unhinged who take it the wrong way and want to carry out what is being sent to them by Democrats talking about this. We all know Kamala Harris, her quote, where she says, ‘Trump is a threat to our democracy and fundamental freedoms.’ She said this over and over again, not just before the first attempt. Even after the first attempt on President Trump’s life, there might have been a two or three-day pause, and then they went right back to it.
“In fact, just days before the second assassination attempt, Kamala Harris made that quote. And then the second shooter, attempted shooter, he was regurgitating the same language as Kamala. So this is no longer a dog whistle, which it’s been on the left. It’s now being received by some unhinged people as a call to action when Democrats say this. Kamala needs to stop saying that President Trump is a threat to democracy. There are unhinged people that are taking that as a call to go and try to eliminate President Trump. She needs to stop it now. Leadership starts at the top, and then you’ve got to go down.President Biden has said that as well, along with the quotes, and you’ve heard it from others. It’s important to repeat. President Biden, ‘It’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.’ The President of the United States said that, and then now, two different people have taken that as a call to action. Where is the real scrutiny coming from the press to ask them do you now denounce what you said? Because people are taking it the wrong way and are actually trying to carry it out. It’s not just rhetoric.
“We almost lost President Donald Trump. And it shouldn’t happen on either side. But you’re seeing this language from the other side get higher and higher. Got to say it again, Congressman Goldman, ‘It is destructive to our democracy, and he, President Trump, has to be eliminated.’ Does anybody need an interpretation of that? One unhinged person hearing that, and what does that mean to them? That they’re going to carry out as a call to action what they’re being called to do. Cannot happen. It cannot happen. Congresswoman Plaskett, ‘Trump needs to be shot.’ Has she been scrutinized on that quote? Are other Democrats being asked to call her out and stop doing that thing that is being taken the wrong way? I’ve seen it personally when people are called to action, one person is all it takes to take it the wrong way and then look at what could be. We don’t want this to happen again. But they, the Democrats that are saying this, starting with Kamala Harris, have to stop the language they’re saying. Talk about your policy differences, but stop all of this language about threats to democracy and Hitler comparisons, and he needs to be shot. Enough is enough.”
Callaghan Innovation will support seven trailblazing Kiwi businesses with bold ideas to succeed in global markets, while forging new pathways for like-minded Kiwi innovators.
Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Judith Collins announced the Ārohia Trailblazer grant recipients at the New Zealand Aerospace Summit today in Christchurch.
Callaghan Innovation has allocated $17.5 million in co-funding to Astrix Astronautics, Basis NZ, Emrod, Fabrum Solutions, Toku Eyes, Zincovery Process Technologies and Zenno Astronautics. The Ārohia Trailblazer
Innovation Grant supports businesses that are benefiting the Aotearoa New Zealand innovation ecosystem, and have global potential.
“Congratulations to these Kiwi innovators who have developed these impressive, and ambitious innovations with the potential for success here and in global markets.
“We look forward to following their success as they inspire and enable other, like-minded ambitious innovators,” says Callaghan Innovation Chief Product Officer, Brett Calton.
“These trailblazers represent diverse sectors, including HealthTech, CleanTech and aerospace, that are growing and have the potential to make a bigger impact globally.”
Astrix Astronautics design unique, reliable high performance power systems for small satellites using a state-of-the art inflatable deployment mechanism that delivers solar power to mega-constellations.
Basis has developed the world’s first residential Smart Panel, enabling homeowners to reduce their electricity costs, make their homes dramatically safer and lower barriers to adopting electrification technologies (EV, battery & solar).
Emrod is pioneering the transition to a wireless, global energy network. Its technology is hardware for wirelessly sending large amounts of power over long distances, safely and efficiently. Just as the internet transformed communication, wireless power will transform the world’s ability to generate and use energy.
The fundamental technologies that Fabrum has developed leverage over 20 years of composite and cryogenic discovery. The company has developed a very desirable library of patents and trade secrets, including cryocoolers, refuelling technologies, liquefiers and storage systems for hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and LNG. Fabrum operates around the globe with 80% of its product made in New Zealand and exported globally.
Toku Eyes Limited Healthtech | Auckland | tokueyes.com
Toku has developed a product that can identify individuals with elevated chronic kidney disease risk (CKD) using retinal fundus images only. Commercialisation of this AI medical device will remove the need for blood and urine test to identify high-risk CKD individuals, enabling preventative care to avoid costly debilitating kidney failure.
Zincovery Process Technologies Limited Cleantech | Christchurch | zincovery.com
Zincovery is looking to bring the first 100% recycled, low carbon and high purity zinc product to the market. This is enabled by their innovative zinc recycling technology that avoids the use of fossil fuels, reducing emissions by up to 95% and processing costs by 45%.
Zenno is building the future of agile and sustainable operations in space. They have developed a patented technology based on superconducting magnets that enables spacecraft operators to reduce their costs while also increasing their mission value.
Callaghan Innovation is New Zealand’s innovation agency. It activates innovation and helps businesses grow faster for a better New Zealand. The government agency partners with ambitious businesses of all sizes, delivering a range of innovation and research and development (R&D) services to suit each stage of their growth. Its staff – including more than 150 of New Zealand’s leading scientists and engineers – empower innovators by connecting people, opportunities and networks, and providing tailored technical solutions, skills and capability development programmes, and grants co-funding. Callaghan Innovation also enhances the operation of New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem, working closely with MBIE, NZTE, NZVIF, Crown Research Institutes, and other organisations that help increase business investment in R&D and innovation. The agency operates from five urban offices and a regional partner network in a further 12 locations across Aotearoa.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan, on a visit to Spain, has called on the Plenary of the City Council of Madrid, a local innovation and technology centre, and a Spanish innovation accelerator and venture capital fund.
Mr Chan yesterday met President of Madrid’s City Council Plenary Francisco de Borja Fanjul Fernandez-Pita to discuss strengthening co-operation between Madrid and Hong Kong.
Briefing the president on developments in Hong Kong across various sectors, Mr Chan highlighted that, with staunch support from China’s central government, the “one country, two systems” arrangement will continue to be implemented in Hong Kong over the long run.
The finance chief emphasised that Hong Kong will maintain an international, open and friendly business environment and practise the common law.
He said he hoped the two places can continue to nurture mutually beneficial co-operation in areas such as finance, innovation and technology (I&T), culture, and education.
He also invited Spanish enterprises to invest in Hong Kong and leverage its advantages to explore the vast markets of the Greater Bay Area, Mainland China more broadly, and Asia.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr Chan called on Chinese Ambassador to Spain Yao Jing. Mr Chan briefed the ambassador on Hong Kong’s latest situation, as well as its development direction and strategies.
They also discussed economic and trade co-operation between China and Spain, and the promotion of business and I&T collaboration between Hong Kong and Spain.
Mr Chan then met Director General of the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnologico y la Innovacion (CDTI) Jose Moises Martin Carretero.
The CDTI provides funding support for projects aligned with Spain’s I&T development strategy, and promotes technological co-operation between Spain and other countries and regions.
Mr Chan highlighted the progress Hong Kong has made in recent years through investing substantially in I&T, as well as the support provided by Hong Kong’s full-spectrum financial services to I&T enterprises and projects at various stages of their development.
The two men also exchanged ideas around strengthening co-operation in technology projects and matching funds with projects.
Mr Chan also led a delegation of Hong Kong technology startup on a visit to Wayra, one of Spain’s innovation accelerators and venture capital funds. Speaking to investment team leaders, he discussed ways to promote mutual co-operation.
During the visit, Mr Chan was given an introduction to Wayra’s operations and development strategies. Through its global network, Wayra helps startups connect with technology and capital worldwide, and provides guidance to help them expand their markets.
Mr Chan said he hoped his visit would facilitate better connections between the I&T ecosystems of both places and help startups leverage opportunities for collaboration.
Stephen Jones is the Assistant federal Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services. Minister, welcome to ABC Radio Darwin. These new laws, how are they going to work in terms of preventing scams? Because my understanding is you can’t force the banks to pay back anyone that’s been scammed, can you?
STEPHEN JONES:
Not quite true. Under the existing laws, we have a mandatory reimbursement scheme. If somebody has had money withdrawn from their account that wasn’t authorised and that’s done under the ePayments code. The problem we have is there’s so much grey area and the scams are becoming so incredibly sophisticated. They’ve been industrialised over the last decade; scam losses were doubling every year. They haven’t for the last year because of some corrective measures we’ve put in place. But it’s quite clear we just can’t leave the customers on their own –
STEER:
Yeah, well, that example –
JONES:
More needs to be done.
STEER:
That example I was using with Antonia there. So, the bank originally had said no because she had voluntarily handed her information over to the scammers who had provided – she’d looked up the banks themselves and they had provided her the information which she thought, as someone with English as a second language was okay enough that then she could give them the details, her banking details.
JONES:
In circumstances like that I mean, then it’s no answer to say banks never ask you to give over your passcodes. They never do that. In fact, they make it quite clear you shouldn’t give them over to anyone. But, you know, for all the reasons you’ve outlined, it’s quite clear that the existing arrangements and obligations aren’t strong enough. So, the laws that we’ll put in place look at the entire economy or the ecosystem in which these scams are operating in. So, they come to us via a phone or an SMS message, or they’re published on a social media platform, and the bank is the destination for the scammers at the end of the transaction. So, we’ve got to get all of those bodies lifting their protection again for their customers to keep their business and network safe, to prevent, to detect, disrupt, respond and report to scams. A failure to put in place the proper steps in this area will lead to fines of up to $50 million for the businesses who fail to do that. The reason we’re starting with banks, telcos and social media platforms is that’s where most of the damage is being done. But we’ll move beyond there once we get that locked down.
STEER:
Banks make, I think they made $32 billion worth of profit at the big 4 last year, but only repay between 4–7 per cent of scam victims. That doesn’t seem fair in itself. What exactly are you doing to ensure banks are helping their customers? So, you were saying, unless you do this, we will fine you $50 million for each individual scam? Am I correct that you’re –
JONES:
That’s correct, yeah, absolutely. And I want banks to be on the hook if they’ve done the wrong thing. But I don’t want telecommunications companies or social media platforms to be let off the hook as well. I’ve looked at some data up in Europe at the moment, about half the scam losses at the moment are coming from Meta platforms. That’s not a startup business. In Australia, it makes about $6 billion a year. So, that’s a large entity as well. It’s making more than most of our banks, actually. They need to be in the frame. Telcos need to be in the frame. Banks need to be in the frame if they’ve done the wrong thing. And stronger obligations, stronger obligations to protect customers must be in place. And like we’ve been discussing, fines if they, penalties in compensation if they don’t live up to those obligations.
STEER:
Six to 8 on 157, ABC Radio Darwin. Adam Steer is my name. Your guest is the federal Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Financial Services, Stephen Jones. A text coming in, Minister, why don’t we ever hear on news scammers getting caught or convicted? Is this because they’re not getting caught?
JONES:
Yeah, great question. When we put our policy together, we assumed that the vast majority of this stuff is operating outside of Australia, because it is, and largely in countries where traditional law enforcement can’t work because we don’t have the sorts of relations you need with the countries where they’re operating. In some we’ve got joint operations going in place, but often on the border of war torn countries or in areas where traditional law enforcement can’t get into. So, the traditional law enforcement approach of kicking down doors and dragging people before a court just won’t work. So, we’ve got to look at what will work with what we can do inside Australia.
STEER:
Well, let’s move to one of the other issues. I don’t know whether the 2 supermarkets, the 2 major supermarkets, are going to get painted as the villains of inflation, but the ACCC is alleging Woolies and Coles are now breaching consumer laws, rising prices by 15 per cent prior to some of their big promotional scale – sales. I mean, that’s a scam in itself. How the supermarkets going to get punished here?
JONES:
Well, strong action being taken by our regulator with the full support of the government. I have got to be careful because this matter is before the court. But if these matters are proved – and I have every reason to believe that the ACCC will have done due diligence before they took the matter before court – if these matters are proved, then it is an indictment on those businesses and they deserve the full force of the law. In instances where Australians are struggling and they’re ripping us off with bodgy sales and bodgy advertisements, jacking prices up before they drop them, that’s just not right.
STEER:
And inflationary as we wait to see whether the mortgage rates stay on hold or not for this year. I’ve got a text asking the ACCC themselves have said, good move from the federal government because they reinforced some laws which have allowed us to take this action. And as you say, it is above the courts – in front of the courts at the moment. If it’s successful and if it’s a very, very large fine which we consider it would have to be given the supermarkets are making $1000 million profit per year each. Where does that money go if they get a significant fine? What happens to that money?
JONES:
Yeah, good question. So, in this instance, the ACCC has sought unusual but not exceptional orders where a part of the fine would be diverted towards paying for meals and services to homelessness and low income people as a means of ensuring that some of that money goes towards the people who are hurt most by this sort of alleged pernicious behaviour.
STEER:
You know what? We’ll wait and see what happens. Federal Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones, thank you so much for your time this morning. Appreciate it.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
David Lammy calls for responsible global leadership in UK national statement.
Location:
United Nations, New York
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
Mr President, I stand here as a man of multiple identities.
A Londoner. A patriotic Brit. A lawyer.
Proud of my African, Guyanese, Caribbean and Indian heritage.
A committed multilateralist, who believes in the importance of the United Nations.
I agree with my great predecessor, Ernie Bevin, when he said in 1945:
“Our eyes should be fixed upon the United Nations… All nations of the world should be united to look that way.”
The purposes and principles of the UN remain as indispensable today as in Bevin’s time.
Our task is to recapture that founding spirit so that when we reach the UN’s centenary, their legacy endures.
But we cannot ignore the challenges we face. More conflicts than at any time since 1945, costing the global economy over 900 billion dollars, and creating the most refugees and displaced people on record.
Geopolitical tensions arising. Progress against the Sustainable Development Goals stalling. Trust in multilateralism faltering.
The Pact for the Future and this Summit offer a chance for Member States to show responsible global leadership, to engage with the rapid changes of our age, and go further in meeting the needs of everyone – especially the most vulnerable.
As I know all too well, countries of the Global South suffered great injustices in the past. And I have heard repeatedly how frustrated partners are by the unfairness of the global system.
We cannot ignore these frustrations. We must act.
First, as the Secretary-General has said, we need greater collective efforts to prevent and end conflict. For Britain, that means upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty, urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, and supporting an end to the fighting in Sudan.
It means robustly challenging Member States who violate the Charter, rejecting a world in which might makes right.
It means a more representative Security Council.
It means supporting the international rule of law, and applying it equally and fairly which is why Britain has proposed the outstanding Professor Dapo Akande for election as a judge at the International Court of Justice.
Second, we need urgent action on the climate and nature crisis.
With this new Government, Britain is renewing our ambitions at home, aiming to deliver clean power by 2030.
And I am determined that we also reconnect abroad, building a Global Clean Power Alliance, championing creativity and reforms to unlock international climate and nature finance, particularly from the private sector, and bolstering efforts to protect at least thirty per cent of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030.
Third, countries like Britain must modernise our approach to development.
This Government believes partnership, not paternalism, is the way to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.
Making best use of technology and innovation. Putting indigenous people and local communities, including women and girls, at the centre of decision-making on development programmes.
Driving faster reform of the global financial system to strengthen the voice of the most vulnerable and tackle unsustainable debt.
Friends, action on conflict, climate and poverty. Delivered by a reformed multilateral system. This is the path to peace and prosperity on a liveable planet.
All over the world, in every war zone, every refugee camp, the UN is there. A beacon of hope and humanity to which, as Bevin said, the gaze of all nations should turn.
This Summit must direct the world’s eyes towards that beacon once again. And Britain is proud to support it.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)
WASHINGTON, D.C.– In case you missed it, Representative Richard Hudson and Heritage Foundation Director of the Center for Health and Welfare Policy Nina Owcharenko Schaefer wrote anop-edfor the Washington Examinerslamming Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Tim Walz, and the Democrats’ government-run healthcare policies that are leaving patients and families with fewer, lower quality choices and higher costs.
In theop-ed, Rep. Richard Hudson and Nina Owcharenko Schaefer wrote, “While issues such as the border crisis, global conflicts, and persistent inflation continue to dominate headlines, healthcare remains a key concern for voters.
That’s especially important because, last month, Vice President Kamala Harris picked Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) as her running mate, solidifying the duo as the first ticket ever to feature two candidates who have fully embraced government-run, single-payer healthcare.
…
It would cost tens of trillions of taxpayer dollars and reduce medical productivity, giving patients fewer healthcare choices, worse quality care, and longer wait times while hiking taxes for everyone.
Harris and Walz have also embraced the Biden administration’s disastrous prescription drug price controls. In North Carolina, these liberal policies are actually making prescription drug costs more expensive while limiting future access to life-saving drugs for seniors.
…
Democrats once promised people that the ACA would solve our healthcare woes. But a decade later, their efforts are more focused on masking its failures than fixing what is wrong. Premiums are still rising, families have fewer choices, and the choices that are available are more limited and lower quality.
…
Instead of addressing these shortcomings, the Biden-Harris administration’s solution has been to simply slap a Band-Aid over them with more taxpayer-funded subsidies.
…
A Harris-Walz administration would take away the coverage you have today and put the government in charge of your care, giving it the power to decide what kind of care you get, where you get it, when you get it, and if you can get it at all.
…
While Harris and Walz are focused on expanding government control and eroding your freedom, conservatives in the House of Representatives are focused on making coverage more affordable, prices fully transparent, care more accessible, and overall costs more reasonable.
…
It’s time to move away from the Democrats’ failed big-government policies and toward a healthcare agenda that is patient-centered, not government-centered.”
Read the full op-ed in the Washington ExaminerHERE.