Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Government gazettes amendment regulations to implement electronic vehicle licence initiative and tackle prolonged non-licensed vehicles Government gazettes amendment regulations to implement electronic vehicle licence initiative and tackle prolonged non-licensed vehicles ******************************************************************************************
The Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (RLV Amendment Regulation), Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2024 (RLV (No. 2) Amendment Regulation) and Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (TPR Amendment Regulation) were gazetted today (October 18). The Amendment Regulations seek to implement an electronic vehicle licence (eVL) of the Transport Department (TD) by obviating the need of vehicle owners to replace their paper-form vehicle licences on each renewal, to simplify the supporting documents required for vehicle licence (VL) applications; as well as to tighten the vehicle registration and licensing regime by introducing a penalty for taking no action on vehicles unlicensed for two years or more. A spokesman for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said, “The eVL initiative will streamline the process for vehicle licence applications and bring greater convenience to vehicle owners. The TD will issue a notice to the vehicle owners containing the new licensed period in lieu of a paper-form VL, so that the vehicle owners will not need to replace the paper-form VL with a new one on each renewal after its first issuance bearing no expiry date. The amendments to the law will also simplify the documents accompanying a VL application by repealing the requirement of presenting the Vehicle Registration Document; whereas online VL applicants will have the option not to present the scanned copy of policy of insurance or security, but providing information (such as name of the vehicle owner, identity document number of the vehicle owner, vehicle registration mark, etc) to be specified by the Commissioner for Transport. “Moreover, to address at source the issue of improper abandonment of unlicensed vehicles in a public area, amendments will be made to hold vehicle owners responsible for their vehicles on a continuous basis. The registered owners of vehicles unlicensed for two years or more must, within three months of the date of a notice to be issued by the TD, either have the vehicle relicensed, or cancel the registration of the unlicensed vehicle in accordance with the requirement, failing which will constitute an offence,” the spokesman added. The Legislative Council (LegCo) Panel on Transport and the Transport Advisory Committee were briefed on the above, and members generally supported and welcomed the proposed arrangements. The Amendment Regulations will be tabled at the LegCo on October 23 for negative vetting. Subject to scrutiny by the LegCo, the RLV Amendment Regulation and TPR Amendment Regulation will be effective from December 30 this year. To allow sufficient time for vehicle owners to take appropriate actions on their unlicensed vehicles, the RLV (No. 2) Amendment Regulation will come into operation on a date to be fixed by notice in the Gazette, tentatively in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The Albanese Government has announced that Scyne Advisory will conduct a trial of fixed voice services and consider the performance of Low Earth Orbit Satellites (LEOSats) to inform the Government’s work to improve mobile connectivity for more Australians. Scyne Advisory will independently deliver the fixed voice service trials, with work already underway to progressively set up trial sites across 50 regional and remote locations across Australia. The trials will track the reliability and quality of voice calls, and test impacts of weather conditions on services. Data from the trial will also help the Albanese Government to better understand how LEOSat services perform to support voice services across a representative range of regions across Australia, including over the northern Australia wet season. Existing NBN Co fixed wireless and satellite services will also be trialled in parallel to provide a comparison. Data collected will be independent of industry and be made publicly available next month. The Government has also today released a summary of feedback received from stakeholders through recent public consultation on modernising delivery and funding of universal telecommunications service arrangements. Overall, the public consultation process demonstrated there is support for change to universal service arrangements to better reflect evolving consumer needs and the emergence of new alternative technologies. Stakeholders suggested a more flexible and technology-neutral approach would be preferable, including to adopt modern networks and services that are best suited to each premises, and to future-proof arrangements. There was also general agreement that simpler funding arrangements would better reflect the market and enable greater efficiency and sustainability. While the Government is yet to make a decision on how to best modernise the Universal Service Obligation, feedback received from stakeholders is being taken into consideration and will be considered alongside the trial data to help inform next steps. For more information, and to view the summary paper, visit:http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/modernising-universal-telecommunications-services Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP: “The Albanese Government is committed to modernising telco services in the interest of all Australians, particularly those living in rural and regional Australia, and I look forward to data from the trials helping us to consider and deliver a more modern and effective universal service framework.” “The Government has been clear it will proceed on a consultative and transparent basis. Stakeholder views on delivery and funding issues will be carefully considered to help inform future decisions on a more modern and fit for purpose framework. “The Government’s focus is that universal service arrangements continue to deliver for consumers, can be more flexible to accommodate changes, and that we have related funding arrangements for baseline services that are efficient and sustainable.”
We took over administration of early release of super on compassionate grounds on 1 July 2018.
We only approve a release of super on compassionate grounds if you meet all conditions set out in the regulations. These conditions include that you have no other means to pay the expenses.
The 5 main grounds of eligibility are:
medical treatment or transport for you or your dependant
accommodating a disability for you or your dependant
palliative care for a terminal illness for you or your dependant
funeral expenses for your dependant
preventing foreclosure or forced sale of your home.
If you apply for compassionate release of super (CRS) for medical treatment, the law states the treatment must be necessary to:
treat a life-threatening illness or injury
alleviate acute or chronic pain
alleviate acute or chronic mental illness.
To access super early for medical treatment expenses, you must provide 2 medical reports with your application. At least one of the reports must be from a specialist treating one of the above conditions.
The reports must state that the treatment is necessary to treat or alleviate one of the conditions above, and that the treatment is not readily available in the public health system.
All data shown here is current as of 27 August 2024.
The following data tables capture information about applications we have received and approved for release per financial year. We don’t have data regarding amounts released as these payments are made by super funds.
Note: One person may submit multiple applications in one financial year. There is no limit on the number of applications a person can submit.
Table 1: Total compassionate release of super applications
Financial year
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
Applications received
53,800
60,000
45,300
56,400
75,600
90,700
Applications approved
31,100
33,700
29,500
34,400
41,800
53,100
Individuals applied
33,800
39,100
36,300
45,600
57,800
68,900
Individuals approved
26,900
30,000
27,200
32,200
39,600
50,000
Amount approved ($m)
456.6
523.2
472.4
573.1
761.7
1,040.4
In the table above, we rounded:
applications and individuals’ data to the nearest 100
amounts approved data to the nearest $100,000.
Totals may not add due to rounding.
Table 2: Medical (includes medical treatment or transport)
Financial year
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
Applications received
39,100
45,500
34,800
42,600
57,700
71,900
Applications approved
26,100
30,100
27,600
32,100
39,500
50,200
Individuals applied
25,500
30,100
28,400
35,200
44,900
55,600
Individuals approved
22,700
26,800
25,400
30,100
37,400
47,400
Amount approved ($m)
389.1
476.6
447.4
544.7
730.5
1,001.0
In the table above, we rounded:
applications and individuals’ data to the nearest 100
amounts approved data to the nearest $100,000.
Table 3: Accommodating a disability
Financial year
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
Applications received
2,300
2,300
1,500
1,700
2,200
2,300
Applications approved
1,100
1,000
700
700
800
900
Individuals applied
1,400
1,500
1,100
1,300
1,590
1,670
Individuals approved
970
890
660
670
720
810
Amount approved ($m)
21.1
15.4
11.5
11.3
12.7
12.8
In the table above, we rounded:
applications received and approved data to the nearest 100
individuals’ data to the nearest 10
amounts approved data to the nearest $100,000.
Table 4: Palliative care for a terminal illness
Financial year
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
Applications received
250
205
195
215
260
290
Applications approved
110
90
45
45
35
35
Individuals applied
175
140
160
180
210
245
Individuals approved
90
65
45
40
40
30
Amount approved ($m)
1.9
1.8
0.9
1.3
0.9
0.8
In the table above, we rounded:
applications and individuals’ data to the nearest 5
amounts approved data to the nearest $100,000.
Table 5: Preventing foreclosure or forced sale of a home
Financial year
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
Applications received
10,500
10,300
7,300
9,700
12,400
12,900
Applications approved
2,870
1,780
560
750
710
1,100
Individuals applied
6,140
6,770
5,850
7,650
9,600
9,930
Individuals approved
2,470
1,630
540
710
680
1,040
Amount approved ($m)
35.4
22
7.2
8.9
9.7
17.1
In the table above, we rounded:
applications received data to the nearest 100
applications approved and individuals’ data to the nearest 10
amounts approved data to the nearest $100,000.
Table 6: Funeral expenses for a dependant
Financial year
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
Applications received
1,700
1,600
1,500
2,200
3,100
3,300
Applications approved
920
760
600
740
760
850
Individuals applied
1,190
1,160
1,240
1,790
2,340
2,410
Individuals approved
840
710
580
720
750
820
Amount approved ($m)
9
7.5
5.3
6.9
7.9
8.7
In the table above, we rounded:
applications received data to the nearest 100
applications approved and individuals’ data to the nearest 10
amounts approved data to the nearest $100,000.
Medical treatment subcategories
The data from our application process allows us to split the medical (treatment or transport) category into the subcategories listed below. While eligible medical treatment is not limited to these categories, we cannot individually identify all treatment types at a reporting level.
Table 7: Dental treatment subcategory
Financial year
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
Applications received
7,140
10,610
8,240
11,780
20,960
31,780
Applications approved
3,850
6,000
5,960
8,380
14,020
22,530
Individuals applied
4,310
6,720
6,500
9,720
16,260
25,070
Individuals approved
3,470
5,580
5,530
8,020
13,540
21,790
Amount approved ($m)
66.4
111.7
108.2
171.3
313.4
526.4
Table 8: IVF subcategory
Financial year
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
Applications received
3,380
4,250
3,700
4,150
4,290
5,200
Applications approved
2,720
3,260
3,260
3,390
3,360
4,210
Individuals applied
2,140
2,610
2,670
3,020
3,080
3,740
Individuals approved
2,080
2,490
2,580
2,750
2,780
3,460
Amount approved ($m)
36.2
40.1
42.1
45.4
47.9
64.1
Table 9: Weight loss subcategory
Financial year
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
Applications received
17,690
18,710
14,510
15,760
17,690
17,320
Applications approved
13,790
14,570
12,970
13,960
14,770
14,370
Individuals applied
12,920
13,920
12,900
14,160
15,170
14,780
Individuals approved
12,550
13,530
12,570
13,620
14,410
14,030
Amount approved ($m)
207.5
234.2
220
233.9
248.9
250.5
Table 10: Other medical treatment subcategory
Financial year
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
Applications received
9,880
10,980
7,970
10,400
14,030
16,880
Applications approved
5,440
6,040
5,260
6,230
7,230
8,940
Individuals applied
6,050
6,900
6,360
8,340
10,460
12,280
Individuals approved
4,580
5,340
4,870
5,830
6,830
8,320
Amount approved ($m)
74
87
75.3
92.2
118.1
156.7
‘Other’ includes all other types of medical treatment recommended by a medical practitioner.
These tables exclude applications that were solely for medical transport (totals will differ to tables above).
In the tables above, we rounded:
applications and individuals’ data to the nearest 10
A Victorian woman has been sentenced to 4 years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 2 years and 4 months, after she claimed nearly $600,000 in GST refunds from 27 fraudulent business activity statements lodged, contrary to section 134.2(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
Tahra Wyntjes was sentenced for obtaining $599,349 in fraudulent GST refunds she was not entitled to and for attempting to obtain a further $259,976, which was stopped by ATO officers. A reparation order to the value of the amount obtained was granted. This debt to the Commonwealth will be actively pursued in addition to the jail time Ms Wyntjes will serve.
Ms Wyntjes registered for both an Australian Business Number and for GST in November 2021 for a residential cleaning business. Between November 2021 and March 2022, she lodged the fraudulent business activity statements (BAS), which ATO officers quickly noticed and began investigating.
After failing to respond to ATO officers following a review on her BAS lodgments and reviewing available evidence, it was concluded that Ms Wyntjes was not carrying on a genuine business and had submitted multiple false claims for GST.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Jade Hawkins welcomed the court’s decision which serves as a warning to those who deliberately try to defraud the government for their own personal gain.
‘Not only did this individual lodge fraudulent activity statements, but she also invented a fake business in order to claim GST refunds she was not entitled to.’
‘Our message remains clear. If you don’t run a business, you don’t need an ABN and you can’t claim GST refunds. This is fraud,’ Ms Hawkins said.
For those who may be tempted to take part in these criminal activities, the ATO has sophisticated risk models and technologies to detect and prevent fraud.
This is the latest result of extensive efforts under the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)–led investigation, Operation Protego, which was initiated in response to calculated GST fraud.
‘GST fraud is not a victimless crime – those who steal funds from the community that would otherwise be used for essential services will face severe consequences including jail sentences for serious offenders,’ Ms Hawkins said.
This matter was prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (CDPP) following a referral from the ATO.
As part of Operation Protego, the ATO has taken action against more than 57,000 alleged offenders, and those involved in this fraud have already been handed in the order of $300 million in penalties and interest.
As of 30 September 2024:
104 people have been arrested.
59 people have been convicted with a range of sentencing outcomes, including jail terms of up to 7 years and 6 months and with orders made to restrain real property.
The ATO has finalised 60 investigations and referred 51 briefs of evidence to Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
The ATO also supports Operation Protego investigations which are led by local law enforcement agencies rather than the SFCT.
You can confidentially report suspected tax crime or fraud to us by making a tip-off online or calling 1800 060 062.
Nokia Corporation Stock Exchange Release 18 October 2024 at 08:00 EEST
Nokia announces changes to its Group Leadership Team
Nokia has decided to divide its Corporate Affairs function into two separate functions: Geopolitics and Government Relations; and Communications.
Finland’s former Ambassador to the U.S. Mikko Hautala will join Nokia as Chief Geopolitical and Government Relations Officer, and he will become a member of the Group Leadership Team.
Louise Fisk has been promoted to Chief Communications Officer and will become a member of the Group Leadership Team.
Melissa Schoeb, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, has decided to leave the company and will step down from the Group Leadership Team.
Jenni Lukander, President of Nokia Technologies business group, has decided to leave the company and will step down from the Group Leadership Team.
Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced changes to its Group Leadership Team. Its Corporate Affairs function, which is responsible for protecting and enhancing Nokia’s reputation, will be divided into two parts: Geopolitics and Government Relations; and Communications. Former Finland ambassador to the U.S. Mikko Hautala has been appointed Chief Geopolitical and Government Relations Officer and member of the Group Leadership Team, effective November 1, 2024. Louise Fisk has been promoted to Chief Communications Officer, and member of the Group Leadership Team, effective immediately. Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Melissa Schoeb, has decided to leave the company, effective December 31, 2024, and step down from the Group Leadership Team immediately.
In addition, President of Nokia Technologies, Jenni Lukander, has decided to leave the company, effective December 31, 2024, and will step down from the Group Leadership Team immediately. Patrik Hammaren, who is currently Chief Licensing Officer, Wireless Technologies, will assume an interim role leading Nokia Technologies and will be a member of the Group Leadership Team as the search commences for Lukander’s successor.
“Jenni has been a valued member of the Group Leadership Team and played a crucial role in securing the long-term stability of our Technologies business, building a solid foundation for the future. The business group will now move into the next phase of its growth journey. I’m grateful for Jenni’s contribution to Nokia over the past 17 years and for her support during the upcoming transition. I wish her all the best for the next chapter of her career,” said Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia.
As the impact geopolitics has on Nokia’s business continues to grow, the company has taken the decision to establish the new role of Chief Geopolitical and Government Relations Officer. Mikko Hautala has been appointed to this role and will be based in Espoo, Finland, reporting to Pekka Lundmark.
Hautala is a highly respected diplomat with over two decades of government experience in prominent roles across the world. He served as Finland’s ambassador to the United States between 2020 and 2024. Prior to that, he was the Ambassador of Finland to Russia between 2016 and 2020, and has held a range of government roles, including foreign policy advisor to Finland’s former President Sauli Niinistö.
“Mikko’s vast experience, excellent networks and deep understanding of international diplomacy will be hugely valuable to Nokia as geopolitical factors and government policies increasingly shape our operating environment. I’m excited to welcome Mikko to the Nokia team and believe his unique strategic perspective will help strengthen our positioning in our key markets,” said Lundmark.
“I am extremely delighted to join Nokia’s leadership team at the moment when geopolitical and strategic considerations matter more than ever. Navigating the right path under these conditions is demanding, but offers great potential for sustainable business growth,” said Hautala.
As Nokia continues to strengthen its position and expand into new markets, the company has promoted Louise Fisk to Chief Communications Officer. She will continue to be based in London, U.K. and report to Pekka Lundmark. Fisk’s previous role at Nokia was VP, Corporate Affairs Programs & Corporate Communications. Before joining Nokia, she worked in a number of senior leadership roles, including BAE Systems Applied Intelligence and Logica.
“I’m pleased to welcome Louise to our leadership team where she will further strengthen our strategic communications and brand positioning. Louise has already proven her ability to protect and enhance Nokia’s reputation and I look forward to her further developing our strategic positioning. I would also like to thank Melissa for her contribution, not least for delivering our brand refresh in 2023 to reposition Nokia as who we are today: a B2B technology innovation leader. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors,” said Lundmark.
In the new setup, Nokia’s Sustainability team, previously part of the Corporate Affairs function, will report to Chief Legal Officer, Esa Niinimäki, with immediate effect.
About Mikko Hautala:
Born: 1972
Nationality: Finnish
Education:
Master of Social Sciences (Political history), University of Helsinki
Master of Philosophy (Slavic languages), University of Helsinki
Experience:
2020–2024 Ambassador, Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland, Washington DC 2016–2020 Ambassador, Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland, Moscow
2012–2016 Foreign Policy Adviser to the President, Office of the President of the Republic of Finland, Helsinki
2011–2012 Minister, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland, Moscow
2007–2011 Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Helsinki
2002–2007 First Secretary, Permanent Representation of Finland to the EU, Brussels
2001–2002 Attaché, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Helsinki 1999–2001 Attaché, Embassy of Finland, Kyiv
1998–1999 Visa Officer, Embassy of Finland, Kyiv
1998 Market Analyst, Kazakhstan, Oy Sinebrychoff Ab, Helsinki
1997 Trainee, Embassy of Finland, Kyiv
Additional positions:
Board Member Support for Finnish Society (SYT) foundation.
Chairman John Morton Center for North American Studies Board. University of Turku.
About Louise Fisk:
Born: 1976
Nationality: British
Education:
Advanced executive leadership development, DUKE University.
Advanced global leadership, INSEAD business school
Post graduate diploma in PR & Journalism, University of Wales, College of Cardiff
BA Hons in Communication, University of Wales, College of Cardiff
Experience:
2020-2024 Vice President, Corporate Affairs Programs & Corporate Communications, Nokia.
2015-2019 Global leadership team, Communications and Marketing Director, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence.
2012-2015 Head of Global Communications, Investor Relations and Marketing, Innovation Group.
2006-2012 Global PR Director & Deputy Communications Director, Logica.
1999-2006 Partner & Associate Director, LEWIS Communications.
Additional positions:
Trustee of the Williams Syndrome Foundation
About Nokia
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.
As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.
With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.
Inquiries:
Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications
Background There’s a rise in criminals calling, emailing or messaging people and pretending to be from their bank so that they can steal your money. The scammers ask you for personal or financial information or to transfer funds or to give them a one-time security code over the phone. They often claim to be from the bank’s fraud department and might say that there has been a compromised account or suspicious transaction. They may use technology to make it look like the call is coming from the bank’s phone number. They may send a message that looks like it comes from the same conversation thread as genuine bank messages.
How to spot the scam You may get a call, message or email from a scammer claiming to be from the bank and asking for personal and bank details. The scammer may tell you there is a problem with your account and ask you to transfer money to ‘keep it safe’. They may say it’s an urgent problem to get you to respond. Anyone calling and behaving like this is probably a criminal. What you can do:
Do not use any phone numbers in a message. Ask for a reference number and contact your bank directly through a phone number that you find and confirm yourself. Hang up if you receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank requesting you to transfer money. Don’t click on any links in an email or message on your phone, even if it looks like it comes from your bank.
How the scam works Someone calls, emails or messages you saying they’re from the bank. The phone call, email or message looks like it comes from the bank. The message may be in the same message thread as a previous legitimate banking message. They say they’re investigating a problem with your account, like a hacked account, suspicious transaction, or online banking outage. These criminals ask you for personal or financial information like account details or security codes. They will then use your account details to steal your money.
What you should know Your bank will never ask you to transfer your money to keep it safe. Your bank will never ask you over the phone for online banking passwords, one-time security codes, PINs or tokens.
Find out more This scam is a type of impersonation scam. Scammers pretend they are from your bank. They use technology to make it look like they’re calling or messaging from a legitimate phone number. They may send emails that look like they are from the bank.
Stay protected STOP – Don’t give money or personal or financial information like passwords, security codes, PINs or tokens. Don’t click on any links if you’re unsure. Say no, hang up, delete. CHECK – Verify who you are talking to. Contact your bank using your banking app or a phone number you have sourced from your banking app, bank website, statement, or card. PROTECT – Act quickly. If you have transferred funds, provided access to your account or information to a scammer, contact your bank immediately and report to Scamwatch. Tell your friends and family; it helps to share your experience so they can give you support and to help them stay safe from scams.
If you’ve been affected There is no shame in getting scammed. It can happen to anybody. If you’ve had money stolen, contact your bank or financial institution immediately. If you’ve had personal information stolen or need help to recover from a scam, contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160. If you’re feeling distressed and need to talk about it, reach out to Lifeline or Beyond Blue. If you’re worried about your safety or someone else’s, call the police immediately on 000 or go to your nearest police station. Help others by reporting scams to Scamwatch.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HEFEI, Oct. 18 — Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Thursday afternoon inspected the cities of Anqing and Hefei in east China’s Anhui Province.
Xi visited the Liuchi Alley in Tongcheng City under Anqing and the Hefei Binhu Science City.
During the visits, he learnt about the local efforts to carry forward fine traditional Chinese culture, promote cultural-ethical progress, advance institutional innovation of science and technology, and accelerate the application of scientific and technological advances.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –
Faculty of Economics, Novosibirsk State University held a “Financial Literacy Day,” during which five representatives of banks and consulting companies shared their experience in combating fraudsters.
This topic is relevant for students not only because today the victims of telephone scammers are very different people. The faculty trains future economists, so it is important that they are also prepared in the field of fraud prevention, since the price of a mistake by a bank employee, broker or expert of a consulting agency can be very high.
— I think the event was a success, the lectures were very diverse and informative. I judge by the fact that I myself heard a lot of new things. I think we will continue to hold such events in the future, — noted Deputy Dean of the NSU Faculty of Economics Naimdzhon Ibragimov.
— The Faculty of Economics, including student clubs, often organize thematic meetings for students. The issue of financial literacy and the topic of fraud are relevant now. Despite the fact that the problem of fraud is not new, the number of deceived people remains significant. And this can be due to different factors, of which I would highlight two: the first is that modern technologies are used not only by honest people, the second is that there are features of the psychology of perception of information that fraudsters know and use. These issues need to be discussed. This can be useful for young people, — said Svetlana Bekareva, head of the Department of Finance and Credit of the Faculty of Economics of NSU.
In their speeches, the experts touched on various aspects of the financial security problem. Sberbank representatives shared advice on how to protect yourself from fraudsters and told in more detail about the principles on which Sber’s ecosystem is built (which has long included not only the banking infrastructure itself).
Yulia Krasnova, head of the Novosibirsk branch of the large audit company DRT, described the methods used by fraudsters to increase the attractiveness of their reporting for investors.
The head of the Siberian regional center Kept Leonid Kozlenko, using specific examples, revealed the mechanisms for combating fraud that modern businesses use.
— I really liked the concept of this event, so we gladly responded to the invitation. We generally really like communicating with students, so our company has many different joint projects with the NSU Faculty of Economics. Their subject matter is much broader than financial security issues, they relate to both training and smooth introduction to the profession of future graduates, — Leonid Kozlenko emphasized.
The speech by the director of the SFM company, PhD in economics Andrey Bekarev was devoted to the psychology of fraud. Using examples from the documentary, she showed how one can manipulate a person’s opinion quite strongly, and this influence remains unnoticed by him. And as a result, he perceives other people’s assessments, views as his own and makes decisions on their basis that are beneficial to the manipulator.
— Modern propaganda and marketing technologies influence us much more than we are used to thinking. And this is often used for nefarious purposes, like the same scammers we have been talking about all day today. I would like to draw attention to this with my lecture. I hope this will help you maintain independent thinking and reduce the risks of becoming a victim of someone else’s manipulation, — Andrey Bekarev addressed his listeners.
Financial Literacy Day attracted the interest of students from various fields of study. Some of the students have been participating in the events of the Faculty of Economics for several years now, and began to get involved in the topic of finances back in school.
— Last year I attended the Financier’s Day, which was held by the Financial Club and the Faculty of Economics. I was not yet a student of the Faculty of Economics at that time and I really liked the interesting and useful lectures and, of course, the competitions. Today’s event is smaller in scale than the Financier’s Day, but the idea is about the same. I was the host of the game part in the question-and-answer format. It is interesting that people from different fields took part in them, for example, historians and journalists, — shared Mikhail Muravyov, a first-year student of the Faculty of Economics, the Jurisprudence field.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The Housing Bureau today invited tenders for the third operation and management contract of Light Public Housing (LPH), involving a project at Tsing Fuk Lane in Tuen Mun.
The project will provide about 1,900 units, with intake tentatively scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2025.
As with the previous two contracts, the scope of operation and management services for this contract mainly cover occupant management, property management, daily maintenance, as well as the provision of social services, and the management and operation of ancillary facilities.
To encourage participation of different stakeholders in the community, the bureau welcomes tenders from all capable and experienced service providers, including non-government organisations and those with a valid property management company licence, or a collaboration between them.
The bureau will carry out a technical assessment based on factors including the organisations’ management capability, relevant experience and past service performance, as well as the proposed modes of operation and management, social service support to be provided, feasibility of an exit plan and use of innovation and information technology as stated in their proposals.
This is to ensure that the LPH facilities and services can meet the needs of the residents and the local community.
The tender price will then be evaluated to form a consolidated assessment to decide on the most suitable organisation for operating LPH.
The bureau pointed out that LPH could fill the short-term gap of public housing supply and improve the living conditions and quality of life of people living in inadequate housing as soon as practicable, adding that construction of a number of projects has already commenced.
Interested organisations may download the tender documents (tender reference HB2024/OPR-LPH-TFL) via the relevant tender notice on the bureau’s website from the e-Tendering System. They may also contact the bureau’s dedicated team on LPH to obtain the tender documents.
Tenders must be submitted by noon on December 6, either electronically via the e-Tendering System or by deposit in the Government Secretariat Tender Box situated at the lobby of the Public Entrance on Ground Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar.
The regulation of housing in Australia traditionally relies on well-informed buyers being responsible for managing the risks. But our new study found home buyers are often not aware of the long-term risks.
Only after they’ve bought the home do they start thinking about these risks. When faced with unexpected high insurance costs, many opt to take the risk of being underinsured or even uninsured. This leaves them highly vulnerable.
The National Strategy for Disaster Resilience promotes a shared-responsibility concept. However, we found the main responsibility still lies with households. And they are not equipped to cope with the increasing complexity, impacts and costs of extreme weather events.
What’s wrong with the current approach?
The uncertain knowledge about future extreme weather events is challenging the traditional prioritising of individual responsibility. It’s becoming even harder for households to make informed decisions based on past experiences.
Government efforts to regulate increasing flooding events might not be effective when households do not want to relocate or cannot afford housing elsewhere.
Governments are also under pressure to jump in to compensate households for the costs of extreme weather damage.
Our research found a number of issues prevent efficient regulation:
stakeholders such as the insurance industry and home lenders face legal hurdles to sharing data and giving financial advice for housing in high-risk areas
well-intended measures such as buybacks and planned relocations can fail when they do not relate to people’s experiences and life situation, such as limited financial resources and deep connections to a place and community
households’ motivation to insure themselves might decrease if they can expect government to provide compensation as a de facto last insurer.
Who is responsible for what?
In Australia, responsibility for managing extreme weather events is roughly divided among three main stakeholders: the three levels of government, businesses and households.
Within the three levels of government, states and territories bear the main responsibility for managing extreme weather events. They do so through disaster risk management plans and policies, hazard prevention and land-use planning.
Yet housing is still built in flood-prone regions. It happens where commercial interests conflict with regional planning, and governments are under pressure to deliver housing for growing populations.
After extreme weather hits, house and contents insurance cover is key for a household to recover. But insurance costs are based on the risk of events such as flooding. As these risks rise, premiums may also increase and become unaffordable. The Climate Council estimates one out of 25 properties will even become uninsurable by 2030.
When housing is built in at-risk areas, under the current system home buyers are largely responsible for informing themselves about the risks of floods, bushfires and other natural disasters. Our research suggests many are struggling to estimate what insurance is likely to cost them.
To prepare for these costs before they invest in a home, they must assess their own risk, know the value of their house and contents and calculate the costs of rebuilding after a disaster. They must also take into account increasing costs for builders and materials after an extreme weather event.
Climate change is making these already complex calculations even more difficult.
Our study is based on interviews with 26 insurance, legal, financial, policy and urban planning experts. Despite the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience’s concept of shared responsibility, we found most of the burden still falls on households.
Yet households often lack the knowledge to assess the risks. The data and information are either unavailable, or hard to access and understand.
These difficulties, coupled with the complex language of insurance contracts, contribute to high numbers of underinsured and uninsured households.
The Australian government responded in 2022 by setting up a cyclone reinsurance pool. Its aim is to keep premiums for households and businesses affordable.
There are also government buyback programs or relocationplans to move people out of high-risk regions. As noted above, though, these don’t always suit households when offered away from their communities or full costs aren’t adequately covered.
Governments must take on more responsibility
According to the experts we interviewed, households are no longer able to carry the main responsibilities for managing the risks of climate change. Government must take on more responsibility.
At the local level, councils need to better educate their staff on climate change risks. They should ban housing development in at-risk areas.
Better information and data sharing among stakeholders such as insurers and governments will also be crucial. Such data and information also need to be made more accessible and easier for households to understand.
In a climate change world, increasing extreme weather events result in new complexities. Households are not able to assess these new risks and complexities to make well-informed decisions.
Australia needs stronger sharing of responsibilities between different stakeholders such as insurers, governments and households. This includes changes to laws on information and data sharing between insurers, governments and households, bans on building in high-risk areas, and better advice about the costs of buying in high-risk regions.
Jens Zinn received funding from the Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg/Institute for Advanced Study, Delmenhorst/Germany (10/2023-05/2024).
Julia Plass has received funding for the data collection in the study mentioned in the article from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
SUBJECTS: Northcott Dapto Disability Hub; NDIS reform; Housing; Interest rates; University of Canberra
BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: It’s great to be at Northcott today in Wollongong. The opening of the new multi-use hub is fantastic news for thousands of people with disability. In particular, the hundreds of clients that Northcott looks after every day.
JOURNALIST: You mentioned in your speech downstairs that it’s a village of hope, and if you can expand on that, and that sort of means?
SHORTEN: Buildings reflect a society’s values. If we build a brand new shopping centre, it reflects the value that Australians value shopping. But when a community or a group like Northcott build a marvellous, purpose-built building so that people with disabilities can have more fulfilling lives, I think it reflects very positive values. So this is not just a set of walls and windows, some fabulous rooms and a roof. This is a village of hope where people with disability cannot be invisible, where they can help – have dreams, have hopes, make plans and have social interaction. So the values of this building are based on the finest moral foundations of a fair go for people with disability.
JOURNALIST: Reflecting I guess on your time as the Minister in charge of the NDIS, you’re obviously outgoing at the moment, there were recommendations about how to improve the service that were handed down last year. As you leave your position, what do you think? Do you think those – , yeah, what state do you think you leave the service in?
SHORTEN: You’re right. I’m very outgoing. I love the NDIS, I bleed it, I was fortunate enough to be able to help create it more than 15 years ago. Coming back into Government, I realised that whilst it was changing lives for the better, hundreds of thousands of lives, it was off track. Money was getting spent on the wrong things. There were a minority of service providers who were seeking to enrich themselves rather than look after the people they meant to. Australians are very generous. They, I think, don’t mind spending some taxes on Medicare and on looking after people with profound and severe disability. Participants deserve fulfilling lives. So therefore, what we’ve spent the last nearly three years is get it back on track. Now I want to take it above politics. I want to make it politician proof. Now we’ve got the legal authority to outline what you can spend your money on and what you can’t. Who you can spend your money with, with registered providers. We can now make sure that we’ve got a process for clear eligibility, which we’re working on. And I think also most importantly – so who can be in it, what we can spend the money on and who with. We’re clearing that up. We’re clamping down on the fraud and the cheats and the crooks. They’re not welcome anymore. But also what we’re doing is writing a new chapter of inclusion by building supports outside the NDIS. For people who don’t need the full orchestra of the NDIS, but have special needs, and so that the NDIS is not the only lifeboat in the ocean of services for people with disability.
JOURNALIST: Just on the changes that have been made, I spoke to a provider earlier this morning saying – who’s here in the Illawarra – saying that a lot of clients are I don’t feel like they have enough information about what can and can’t access now, and that’s actually worsening their mental health as well. Are there plans to kind of improve communications in that sense?
SHORTEN: Good providers should be telling their people what’s going on. I mean, a provider can simply access a website. It’s all there. I get any changes can bring anxiety. If you’re a person with a disability or a family who has fought hard to get a personal budget, when you hear the words change, that’s not what you hear, you hear, am I going to lose something? I don’t want to go backwards. All we’re doing is providing clarity. It’s very easy to access on the NDIA or the National Disability Insurance website. Our providers, they’re meant to be professional. They’re paid to provide services. So I can understand participants taking longer to work out what’s in and what’s out. But a provider should be acquainting themselves with the road rules. You’re not allowed to drive a truck without knowing basic road rules, and providers should do the same.
JOURNALIST: You talk about eligibility requirements. We have a local in Kiama who’s the name of Bobby English, who’s been campaigning for years to have her partner, who’s over 65 and developed a disability, have him be included in the Scheme. I guess as you’re leaving the position, do you regret not having this issue resolved? And will this be a priority for your successor, I guess?
SHORTEN: For the person who needs the support, I hope they’re getting support. But for the proposition that the NDIS, to the NDIS should look after people of all ages of disabilities, that would sink the Scheme. The Parliament made it very clear in 2013, when it was legislated, that the NDIS is for people up to 65 and aged care would look after people over 65. When I started campaigning for the NDIS, aged care was in much better shape than disability. What’s happened in the intervening 15 years, 16 years since I first raised it, is aged care had fallen backwards and for all of the problems with the NDIS, it was more generous. I think the answer to the issue of older Australians who acquire a disability after 65 is better support in the aged care system, which is what it’s designed for. And the Labor Government has been making pretty significant reforms in aged care to improve the support which would be available.
JOURNALIST: This is your, most likely your last visit to the Illawarra region is it?
SHORTEN: I don’t know, nice to say, but you know you have –
JOURNALIST: Well I was going to ask –
SHORTEN: I’m going to do more farewell trips than Johnny Farnham, but I’ll be coming back, to the South Coast anyway. I’m actually moving from Melbourne to Canberra, so actually I’ll be closer to the Illawarra than I’ve ever been.
JOURNALIST: Yes, but last in a ministerial – as an announcement, with an announcement sort of thing?
SHORTEN: Yeah.
JOURNALIST: in terms of this region in particular, obviously you’re a Federal Minister, but in this area, what do you hope the legacy of your role will be?
SHORTEN: I’ve been very fortunate to visit the Illawarra in different roles over my working life as a steel union rep with the Australian Workers Union. I’ve been at the north gate BHP. I’ve seen when things have gone bad. So I know this is a an industrial town. People work hard for their money here. Then I had the chance to work in disability here, and I realised it had a very strong culture of support for people with disability in the area, which I think reflects well on the values of the community here. I got to campaign here as Leader of the Opposition for six years. So I’ve seen how this area is reinventing itself and diversifying. And indeed, you know, to the south of the Illawarra has become a very crowded part of Australia. So I’ve seen this community reinvent itself. It works hard and it cares for the people within it. But what I’m pleased is that there’s 5,600 people in the Wollongong region receiving personal budgets of support because of a severe and profound disability, which but for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, they’d be stranded. Families will have kids on non-standard developmental journeys, little precious babies who are two and three. But for the NDIS, they wouldn’t get the sort of support they’re getting now. There’s ageing carers in their 80s who will be drying the dishes at 10:00pm tonight overlooking the, you know, the back window from the kitchen sink. They’ll have that anxiety, who’s gonna look after their adult child when they no longer can? We’re not fully there at fulfilling that promise. But for people in this region, we’re a lot closer to fulfilling a promise that even when you can’t look after the person you love because they have a profound and severe disability, there’ll be someone there.
JOURNALIST: Bill. Negative gearing is back in the spotlight today, with analysis showing more than 750,000 renters could become homeowners under your policy that you introduced in 2019. Is it time for the Federal Government to consider changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions?
SHORTEN: Well, unfortunately, Mr. Morrison won the election, so I didn’t quite introduce my policies but thank you for the compliment. Listen, the Government said that we’re going to focus on supply, that negative gearing is not on the agenda. I think that’s fine. We did take a series of policies to 2019. They were narrowly rejected. I think the Government’s got it right where we’re going to focus on supply. I’d encourage the Liberals and the Greens political party to get out of the way. They’re not – we want to build more houses. They’re delaying that. I mean, I have to say of Mr Dutton’s Opposition. They won’t lead, they won’t follow, and they won’t get out of the way. That’s a problem for renters.
JOURNALIST: Should the Prime Minister have bought an expensive home so close to the election in the middle of a housing crisis?
SHORTEN: Oh, it’s so up to him. It’s his business. Good luck to him and Jodie. Again, what I see is people are focusing on one house. I wish the Opposition and the Greens would focus as hard on the tens of thousands of houses that we want to support, and they are just on the Prime Minister’s house.
JOURNALIST: You did used to call Turnbull, at the time, Mr. Harbourside mansion back in the day, saying he was out of touch. Should Albanese have waited until after the election to buy his own?
SHORTEN: I think the difference between Malcolm Turnbull and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is chalk and cheese. Mr. Albanese has worked very hard. He comes from or he came from a tough background. I just wish the very best for him and Jodie in their future. But the other thing is I’ve got no doubt that Prime Minister Albanese will lead us to the next election and successfully.
JOURNALIST: But just in terms of cost of living, do you think the Reserve Bank should hold off on cutting interest rates?
SHORTEN: That’s a decision for the Reserve Bank. But I do know that 3 million mortgagees are doing it tough. I do know that the economy in large part is doing it tough. You know, it’s great that Labor’s been able to create a million jobs, and that shows you the focus of the Government. But people are doing it hard. It’ll be up to the Reserve Bank when they cut rates, but that can’t come too soon as far as I’m concerned.
JOURNALIST: Can I ask one more just for our Canberra colleagues? Your new position that you’ll be taking up, will you be launching a review into the governance of UC?
SHORTEN: Uh, I’ll wait until I get there. What I said about my new job is that until I finish my current job, I won’t be talking about my new job. But the day I start there, then I’m open for – the shop is open for interviews. Thanks.
Do you wash your hands every time you use the toilet? How about before you handle food? Be honest.
Australia’s Food Safety Information Council has released its latest report card on the country’s hand washing habits. It found 19% of Australians don’t wash their hands every time they use the toilet. Close to half (42%) admit they don’t always wash hands before handling food.
So who’s doing well when it comes to hand hygiene, who’s not – and why does it matter?
What did the report find?
The new report surveyed hand washing practices of 1,229 people. Results were consistent with what we’ve learned from similar surveys.
Once again, women do better than men at washing their hands after using the toilet, although only slightly (80% of men say they do every time, versus 83% of women). Just 55% of men wash their hands before touching food, compared to 62% of women.
Age also seemed to make a difference. Under 34 years old, 69% of people washed their hands every time they used the toilet. Over age 65, that jumped to 86%.
Although some of these differences aren’t completely unexpected – such as the gap between men’s and women’s hand washing habits – the reasons remain unclear.
People over 65 were much more likely than younger people to wash their hands after using the toilet. Mélissa Jeanty/Unsplash
Why don’t people wash their hands?
Public health messaging often focuses on how to wash hands well. But there’s less research that follows up on how widely people actually adopt these practices. And to understand why – if they are skipping the soap and water – those messages might not be getting through effectively.
One study that looked at this question in India asked school children about barriers to hand washing. The vast majority (91%) had low “illness threat perception”. In other words, they simply didn’t perceive a risk of getting sick form not washing their hands after going to the toilet.
Interestingly, the inability to see germs with their own eyes was one of the biggest barriers, cited by 46% of the children. But 72% said they would wash their hands if their friends did.
It’s tempting to speculate these reasons may also apply to other age groups, but we simply haven’t done enough research to know. People’s reasons for hand washing, or not, likely vary across their lifetime and with their circumstances.
What are the risks?
Urine and faeces contain millions of germs, especially faeces, which has more than 100 billion germs per gram.
When you use the toilet and touch surfaces in the bathroom, you will pick up germs. People who skip the hand washing step on the way out take those germs with them when they leave, depositing them on each surface they touch afterwards.
You may not get sick yourself, but you’re increasing the spread of bacteria. This can increase the risk of infection and illness for other people, including those with compromised immune systems such as older people and those undergoing common forms of treatment for cancer.
Hand washing before cooking and eating is also important. The risk here goes both ways. If you have disease-causing germs on your hands (maybe because you didn’t wash them after the toilet) you may transfer them to the food where they can multiply and even produce toxins. People who eat the food may then get sick, often involving vomiting and diarrhoea.
Washing hands before eating and preparing food can stop germs spreading from the food to hands, and vice versa. CDC/Unsplash
In the other direction, some foods naturally carry germs before cooking – such as salmonella and campylobacter bacteria in raw poultry. If you don’t wash your hands after handling these foods you may transfer them to other surfaces and risk spreading infection.
How should I wash my hands?
Follow these three simple tips for hand washing correctly:
wet your hands and rub them together well to build up a good lather with soap for at least 20 seconds and don’t forget to wash between your fingers and under your nails. You might have to use a nail brush
rinse well under running water to remove the bugs from your hands
dry your hands thoroughly on a clean towel for at least 20 seconds. Touching surfaces with moist hands encourages bugs to spread from the surface to your hands.
What about hand sanitiser?
If no running water is available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. These rapidly inactivate a wide range of germs, rendering them non-infectious. Hand sanitisers are effective against a wide range of bacteria and viruses that can cause many common gastrointesintal and respiratory infections.
However if your hands are soiled with organic matter – such as blood, faeces, meat, sand or soil – they won’t be effective. In that case you should clean your hands with soap and water.
The bottom line
Hand washing is a bit like wearing a seat belt — you do that every time you get in a car, not just on the days you “plan” to be involved in an accident. The bottom line is hand washing is a simple, quick intervention that benefits you and those around you — but only if you do it.
Christine Carson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has stressed the importance of carrying forward traditional Chinese virtues to foster a more harmonious society. Xi made the remarks during his visit to the Liuchi Alley, a historical cultural site in Tongcheng City, east China’s Anhui Province, on Thursday afternoon.
SHENZHEN, CHINA, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — China Medical System Holdings Limited (the “Group” or “CMS”) is pleased to announce that on 18 October, the first batch of prescriptions of ruxolitinib phosphate cream (the “ruxolitinib cream” or the “Product”) for qualified vitiligo patients were issued in the Greater Bay Area, at Zhongshan Chen Xinghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital, and Dongguan Songshan Lake Tungwah Hospital. The Product’s new drug application (NDA) was approved by the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF) of Macau on 11 April 2024, and subsequently the Product was approved by the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration on August 19 through the “Hong Kong and Macau Medicine and Equipment Connect” policy, which officially introduced ruxolitinib cream for the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo with facial involvement in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age, providing a novel treatment option for patients with relevant indication into designated medical institutions in the Mainland of Greater Bay Area.
In addition, on 24 September, the NDA for vitiligo indication of ruxolitinib cream has been accepted by the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA). In accordance with the relevant regulations of the drug real-world data application pilot program in the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone (the “Pilot Zone”), CMS has conducted a real-world study on ruxolitinib cream in China. The results have shown positive efficacy, which is consistent with the key outcomes of global pivotal clinical studies. All secondary efficacy endpoints showed a trend of benefit consistent with the primary efficacy endpoint, and the treatment effect for vitiligo continued to improve with longer treatment duration. Meanwhile, through the safety monitoring data of the Pilot Zone, no new safety events have been identified. Adverse events mostly had severity levels of grade 1 or 2. No adverse event (AE) leading to discontinuation or withdrawal, and no serious adverse event (SAE) related to the study drug occurred.
If the Product is successfully approved for marketing in Mainland China, it will be the first prescription drug approved by NMPA for repigmentation in vitiligo, bringing this novel treatment hopes for Chinese vitiligo patients.
Furthermore, on 12 August 2023, the Product was approved by Hainan Medical Products Administration for Urgent Clinical Import, and officially became available to applicable patients in the Pilot Zone on August 18, for the topical treatment of non-segmental vitiligo in adults and adolescents aged 12 and above with facial involvement. Benefiting from the Early and Pilot Implementation Policy granted by the state to Hainan Free Trade Port and the Pilot Zone, patients with vitiligo in China can apply for the Product in Boao Super Hospital first and receive treatment from the expert team. As of 30 June 2024, more than 3,200 patients have been treated with ruxolitinib cream in Boao Super Hospital.
CMS has always been patient-oriented and innovation-driven based on clinical needs, continuously striving to improve drug accessibility. Benefited from the “Hong Kong and Macau Medicine and Equipment Connect” policy, ruxolitinib cream was approved for use in the Greater Bay Area and completed its first batch of prescriptions, shortening the time difference for Chinese vitiligo patients to use innovative drug and benefiting more domestic patients. Looking forward to the future, the Group will continuously strive to meet the unmet needs of Chinese patients, continuously explore novel drugs with international quality, and efficiently promote products’ clinical development and commercialization, so as to bring more quality pharmaceutical products through differentiated innovation-breakthrough, to safeguard the health and life-quality of patients.
About ruxolitinib cream Ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura), a novel cream formulation of Incyte’s selective JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib, is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for the topical treatment of nonsegmental vitiligo in patients 12 years of age and older. As of now, it is the first and only treatment for repigmentation approved for use in the United States[1]. Ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) is also approved in the U.S. for the topical short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD) in non-immunocompromised patients 12 years of age and older whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies, or when those therapies are not advisable[2]. In Europe, ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) is approved for the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo with facial involvement in adults and adolescents from 12 years of age[3].
On 2 December 2022, the Group through a subsidiary of the Company, a dermatology medical aesthetic company (“CMS Skinhealth”) entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Incyte for topical formulations of ruxolitinib for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory dermatology diseases. In accordance with the License Agreement, the Group through CMS Skinhealth received an exclusive license to develop, register and commercialize the Product in Mainland China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region, Taiwan Region and eleven Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam) (the “Territory”) and a non-exclusive license to manufacture the Product in the Territory. The License Agreement commenced on its effective date and has a royalty term of ten years from the date of the commercial sale of the Product in the Territory (the “Royalty Term”). Upon the expiration of the Royalty Term, the License Agreement may be renewed for a period of ten years thereafter (the “Initial Extended Royalty Term”) as per certain conditions defined in the License Agreement. Upon the expiration of the Initial Extended Royalty Term, the License Agreement may be extended for a period otherwise agreed by both sides as per certain conditions defined in the License Agreement.
Incyte has worldwide rights for the development and commercialization of the Product, marketed in the United States and Europe as Opzelura®. Opzelura and the Opzelura logo are registered trademarks of Incyte.
About vitiligo
Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by depigmentation of the skin, which results from the loss of pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. It is estimated that there are approximately 14 million vitiligo patients in China[4]. Non-segmental vitiligo patients account for approximately 85% of them. Topical corticosteroids (TCS) and calcineurin inhibitors (CI) are used off-label for non-segmental vitiligo, however, these therapies have clinical deficiencies with long-term adverse reactions of long-term treatment or limited efficacy[5、6].
About CMS CMS is a platform company linking pharmaceutical innovation and commercialization with strong product lifecycle management capability, dedicated to providing competitive products and services to meet unmet medical needs.
CMS focuses on the global first-in-class (FIC) and best-in-class (BIC) innovative products, and efficiently promotes the clinical research, development and commercialization of innovative products, enabling the continuous transformation of scientific research into clinical practices to benefit patients.
CMS deeply engages in several specialty therapeutic fields, and has developed proven commercialization capabilities, extensive networks and expert resources, resulting in leading academic and market positions for its major marketed products. CMS continues to promote the in-depth development of its advantageous specialty fields and expand business boundaries. While strengthening the competitiveness of the cardio-cerebrovascular/gastroenterology business, CMS independently operates its dermatology and medical aesthetics business, and ophthalmology business, aiming to gain leading positions in specialty therapeutic fields, whilst enhancing the scale and efficiency. At the same time, CMS has expanded its business territory to the Southeast Asian market, striving to become a “bridgehead” for global pharmaceutical companies to enter the Southeast Asian market, further escorting the sustainable and healthy development of the Group.
Ezzedine K, Eleftheriadou V, Whitton M, van Geel N. Vitiligo. Lancet. 2015;386(9988):74-84. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60763-7
Consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of vitiligo (2021 version)
Kubelis-López DE, Zapata-Salazar NA, Said-Fernández SL, Sánchez-Domínguez CN, Salinas-Santander MA, Martínez-Rodríguez HG, Vázquez-Martínez OT, Wollina U, Lotti T, Ocampo-Candiani J. Updates and new medical treatments for vitiligo (Review). Exp Ther Med. 2021 Aug;22(2):797. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10229. Epub 2021 May 25. PMID: 34093753; PMCID: PMC8170669.
CMS Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements This press release is not intended to promote any products to you and is not for advertising purposes. This press release does not recommend any drugs, medical devices and/or indications. If you want to know more about the diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases, please follow the opinions or guidance of your doctor or other medical and health professionals. Any treatment-related decisions made by healthcare professionals should be based on the patient’s specific circumstances and in accordance with the drug package insert.
This press release which has been prepared by CMS does not constitute any offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and shall not form the basis for or be relied on in connection with any contract or binding commitment whatsoever. This press release has been prepared by CMS based on information and data which it considers reliable, but CMS makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, whatsoever, and no reliance shall be placed on, the truth, accuracy, completeness, fairness and reasonableness of the contents of this press release. Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain statements regarding the Group’s market opportunity and business prospects that are individually and collectively forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Any forward-looking statements and projections made by third parties included in this press release are not adopted by the Group and the Company is not responsible for such third-party statements and projections.
Despite resounding public opposition, the fast-track legislation is being pushed through Parliament with provisions that could have real consequences for people and planet.
“More than 90 per cent of submitters opposed this Bill. People know that the fast track will derail our environment,” says the Green Party Spokesperson for the Environment Lan Pham.
“Our well-being is intertwined with the environment. By looking after nature, we look after ourselves. We need to move on from the archaic, exploitative and extractive approach that has already seen us lose so much.
“We came to the table with a range of amendments to entrench environmental protections and ensure the voices of New Zealanders were considered, but every single one was rejected.
“Among the amendments dismissed outright were those that would have upheld environmental protections, introduced Te Tiriti considerations, given the public an opportunity to be consulted and protected the rights of current consent holders. This is the bare minimum.
“Huge public outcry has been blatantly ignored, and overwhelming opposition has been swept aside.
“This rushed process has silenced communities and is quite clearly ignoring evidence.
“The Green Party will continue to fight for the environment and a liveable future for all. Decisions about our land, waters and resources must be made transparently, and with the voices of our communities and health of our environment front of mind.
“Instead of fast-tracking short-term financial gains, we believe in a process that prioritises the long-term wellbeing: of our people, our waters and our land,” says Lan Pham.
National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds said the passing of legislation in the Northern Territory that will see children as young as 10 years old jailed is a failure of all the support systems that should be helping these children.
“This is a very sad day. Instead of strengthening the education, health, family support and child protection systems, the Northern Territory government has chosen to criminalise young children with disabilities, learning problems, mental health issues, and poverty. And the Commonwealth government remains silent,” Commissioner Hollonds said.
“I have been told by some members of parliament ‘there’s no votes in children’, that is, there’s no electoral benefit in standing up for children’s rights. However, in the states and territories, there are votes to be won by sounding ‘tough on crime’, even when these approaches are not based on the evidence of what will prevent crime by children.
“Criminalising children is not ‘early intervention’ and it will not make communities safer. The evidence shows that the younger a child comes into contact with the criminal justice system, the more likely it is that they will go on to commit more serious crimes.”
The evidence shows that addressing the root causes of offending by children is what works to prevent crime by children. This means we must have support systems that meet the needs of children such as appropriate education, healthcare (addiction and mental health services), housing and family support.
Commissioner Hollonds said the laws are contrary to the NT’s obligations under the Closing the Gap National Agreement and will have a heavy impact on First Nations communities.
“Alongside many other child rights advocates I have urged the Commonwealth government to step up and show leadership on child wellbeing. Despite having ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child there is no accountability for the human rights and wellbeing of Australia’s most vulnerable children,” Commissioner Hollonds said.
“This must change. Our most vulnerable children are being let down by all levels of government.”
Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
6 hours ago
Bayle Smith, 18, is currently studying the NZ Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5).
Caring for sick animals and helping them get better prompted Bayle Smith to study vet nursing at EIT.
A life-long animal lover, Bayle, who was born in South Carolina, USA, moved back to New Zealand as a youngster and has grown up in Hawke’s Bay.
Bayle, 18, is currently studying the NZ Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5), with the aim of completing the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6), with the option of going on to finish the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing.
Bayle was in Year 12 at Napier Girls’ High last year when she decided to leave school and go straight into the Veterinary Nursing programme, because she knew that’s what she wanted to do.
While she was at school she had to do some extra assessments and credits to qualify to enrol at EIT.
“I did a few extracurricular assessments in my English class to have the right amount of credits. I had a couple of meetings with the coordinator before that and she gave me some help with working it out.”
“I love animals and I have an interest in the anaesthetic side of things and looking after the patients. I grew up watching the Irwins so my dream job is to work at a zoo with exotic animals, but the first step is doing small animals before you get to the large animals.”
“I’m on my second work experience placement at the moment where I get put in a clinic and it’s making me realise that I definitely want this career. I love to look after and monitor the sick animals and make sure that they get better.”
Bayle’s first placement was at a Vet Clinic in Hastings, while she is now experiencing things on the frontline at a clinic in Hamilton.
Her love of animals stems from her time growing up on a farm in Eskdale.
“When I was a little kid, I was always out in the paddock playing with the animals. We would bring in the orphaned lambs and baby goats to look after them. So, I’ve grown up my whole life around animals and loved looking after them.”
“I’ve also volunteered at Riding for the Disabled and SPCA, so when I decided to go into veterinary nursing, it certainly did not feel like a job. I could happily do it free and go volunteer, because that is what it is all about.”
Bayle says she is loving the programme and particularly enjoys the interaction with lecturers, who she says are keen to pass on their knowledge to students.
“I do want to go all the way to my Bachelor’s degree. Obviously, I’m just at the start of it, but I definitely know that I’m going to continue with it for sure.”
“I came into this programme knowing some things, but not a lot. But, I have learnt so much in my lectures and on my placement. This programme really sets you up well for a good career.”
Emma Martin, EIT’s Veterinary Nursing Programme Co-ordinator & Lecturer said: “As Programme Coordinator for the veterinary nursing programmes at EIT, I first met Bayle in 2023 at our temporary offices on Vautier Street. At the time, she was still in school, working through her NCEA journey. “
“We had a great conversation about her potential career options, and it was clear that Bayle was passionate about animals, providing care, and showing compassion to both pets and their owners. After discussing the academic entry criteria, Bayle returned to school with a clear goal, and we were delighted to welcome her into the veterinary nursing programme this year.”
“Since joining, Bayle has demonstrated herself to be a keen and eager learner, always striving to deepen her understanding of the many concepts we teach. She has been making the most of her learning opportunities, both in the classroom and during her work placements. We are thrilled to see her continued focus and enthusiasm as she pursues her studies and works towards entering the veterinary nursing profession.”
Stronger guarantees, AI rules and ban on unfair trading10 min read
The Federal Government has signalled its commitment to advancing major consumer law reforms with three key announcements this week that included proposals to strengthen consumer guarantees, ban unfair trading practices and introduce artificial intelligence (AI) specific protections—all of which could significantly alter the landscape for both suppliers and manufacturers.
With Government seeking feedback on these reforms, companies should stay informed and actively engage in consultation processes to ensure any changes are fit for purpose and take into consideration relevant business concerns. In addition, companies should consider how these proposals could impact their businesses and take steps to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.
In this Insight, we provide an update on the proposals so far and their potential implications for business.
Key takeaways
Treasury is seeking feedback on updates to the consumer guarantees regime, including civil prohibitions and penalties for suppliers or manufacturers that fail to provide remedies for consumer guarantees, and for manufacturers who fail to indemnify suppliers as required by the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
The Prime Minister’s office has announced plans for a ban on unfair trading practices, though details on the specific legislation are still pending. The ban is expected to include a general prohibition on unfair trading practices, along with specific prohibitions against issues like drip pricing, subscription traps and misleading online practices that create a false sense of urgency.
Treasury is seeking feedback on whether it should expand the ACL to cover AI-specific consumer law issues, including mandatory guardrails with specific requirements for AI-related consumer products and services and reforming remedies to better suit defective AI-enabled goods and services.
Moves to strengthen the consumer guarantees regime
On 16 October 2024, the Government announced plans to introduce new civil prohibitions and penalties for breaches of the consumer guarantees and supplier indemnification (CGSI) provisions of the ACL. The announcement was accompanied by a Consultation Paper seeking stakeholder feedback on how the proposed prohibitions and penalties should be designed.
This announcement builds on a consultation undertaken in 2021 on ways to improve CGSI provisions of the ACL and incorporates findings from the 2023 Australian Consumer Survey, including that consumers find it difficult to obtain remedies for consumer guarantees failures. The Consultation Paper notes that:
for low-cost goods, consumers are less likely to enforce their statutory rights when it is cheaper and easier to ‘just buy another one’ or to pay for a repair; and
for high-value goods, consumers may struggle to understand the process involved in making a complaint and/or find it prohibitively time-consuming, costly or difficult to pursue one.
The proposed reforms seek to respond to a range of concerns with the status quo, including that:
the difficulties outlined above mean costs can be transferred from a non-compliant supplier or manufacturer to a consumer and lead to poorer outcomes for consumers and the economy;
suppliers and manufacturers lack incentives to comply with the consumer guarantees; and
some suppliers may also face difficulties obtaining indemnification from manufacturers and/or face retaliatory behaviours if they seek to be indemnified.
The Government is seeking to respond to the concerns outlined above by introducing reforms that would:
prohibit suppliers from refusing to provide remedies to consumers where there has been a major failure under the consumer guarantees (remedy failure prohibition);
prohibit manufacturers from failing to indemnify suppliers;
make it unlawful for a manufacturer to retaliate against a supplier for seeking indemnification following a consumer guarantees failure; and
introduce civil penalties for contraventions of the prohibitions above, as well as an ability for regulators to issue infringement notices or pursue litigation where they have reasonable grounds to believe a contravention has occurred.
The Consultation Paper notes that the introduction of these prohibitions would enable ACL regulators to enforce the CGSI provisions in circumstances where rights are currently only enforceable by affected consumers and businesses. The Paper also acknowledges a submission made by the ACCC that, if regulators were able to take direct enforcement action, this would likely lead to greater judicial consideration of the consumer guarantees and result in greater clarity in the law.
Key issues the Government is seeking feedback on include:
whether any aspects of the consumer guarantees need to be clarified prior to the introduction of prohibitions and penalties, noting concerns have previously been raised regarding whether penalties are appropriate in circumstances where concepts such as ‘reasonable consumer’ and ‘major failure’ are difficult to apply in practice;
whether the remedy failure prohibition should apply to all goods and services or whether a value threshold should be applied and/or only be applied to new motor vehicles;
at what amount an infringement notice or maximum civil penalty should be set; and
if it is appropriate to factor in depreciation when determining an appropriate refund amount, noting that, at present, where there has been a major failure, a consumer is entitled to a replacement or full refund even where they have had the benefit of the use of a product for an extended period of time.
Treasury will engage with targeted stakeholders on the proposed design of the civil prohibitions and penalties and is seeking public feedback by Thursday 14 November 2024.
Anticipated ban on unfair trading practices takes shape
On Wednesday 16 October 2024, the Prime Minister’s office announced it will legislate a ban on unfair trading practices. The announcement is long awaited and follows the Federal Treasury’s consultation on the introduction of such a prohibition, which took place between August and November 2023 (the 2023 Consultation). The ACCC has previously recommended that an unfair trading practices prohibition be introduced into the ACL in a number of contexts, including the final report of the 2019 Digital Platforms Inquiry.
The Government’s media release states that the reforms are about ‘easing the cost of living and getting a fair go for consumers and suppliers’. It non-exhaustively identifies the following practices that the reforms will address:
subscription traps: arduous and confusing steps that make cancelling a subscription difficult;
drip pricing: practices where fees are hidden or added throughout the stages of a purchase;
deceptive or manipulative online practices: practices that aim to confuse or overwhelm consumers, omit or hide material information, or create a false sense of urgency (such as warnings that a customer only has limited time to purchase a product);
dynamic pricing: changing the price of a product during the transaction process;
accounts and information provisions: requiring consumers to set up an account and provide unnecessary information to make an online purchase; and
reporting of issues: making it difficult for a consumer to contact a business when they have a problem with a product or service.
The Government is yet to release any specific legislative drafting or design for consultation and has foreshadowed a final reform proposal in the first half of 2025.
Enhancing Australian consumer law to address AI
On 15 October 2024, Treasury released a Discussion Paper which examines whether the ACL remains fit for purpose to protect consumers from the potential harms of the use of AI. The ACL currently contains a combination of both general and specific consumer protections which are technology-neutral, and Treasury is consulting on whether any changes to the ACL targeted specifically towards AI-enabled goods and services are necessary.
Treasury has indicated that new and targeted consumer protections may be introduced:
Specific prohibitions on false and misleading representations in relation to AI and emerging technologies. Treasury raised concerns in relation to the opacity of AI systems and difficulty in predicting AI system behaviour, such as erroneous output and unwanted bias, which may increase the risk of false or misleading representations about AI-enabled goods and services, and misleading and deceptive conduct in general. In light of this, Treasury is considering whether specific prohibitions in relation to false and misleading representations, targeted towards AI-enabled goods and services, are necessary to ensure the ACL is fit for purpose in the future. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took law enforcement action in the United States against the alleged use of AI technology in a deceptive and unfair manner.
Specific consumer guarantees provisions targeted towards AI and emerging technologies. Treasury has considered views that the unique characteristics of AI may require new consumer guarantees, eg guarantees relating to cybersecurity, interoperability and the provision of software updates for a reasonable period. Treasury acknowledged that some cybersecurity risks of certain AI-enabled goods will be captured by the Government’s ongoing 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy, but it is still considering the need for bespoke consumer protections for digital products overall, such as those adopted in the United Kingdom under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (UK).
New product safety standards targeted towards AI and emerging technologies. There are currently no mandatory AI-specific safety standards for consumer goods or product-related services, and Treasury is assessing whether current safety standards (which include the current Voluntary AI Safety Standard) effectively guarantee the safe and responsible use of AI-enabled goods and services. Treasury is considering options for mandatory guardrails in this consultation. See our Insight on preparing for voluntary AI standards and mandatory legislation for more information.
Prescriptions under the unfair contract terms (UCT) regime. Treasury has noted stakeholder concerns about the possible risks to consumers arising from terms that exclude supplier and manufacturer liability in relation to AI-enabled goods and services, and is currently considering whether such terms (and similar) should be deemed as UCTs.
Treasury has flagged that there is a need for greater clarity in the ACL in relation to AI and emerging technologies, due to the technology-neutral nature of the current language of the ACL. In principle, the existing general ACL framework should be able to address AI-related concerns, but there is uncertainty over the following issues:
The definition of AI-enabled goods and services, and whether this fits within the current definitions under the ACL. Whether something is a ‘good’ or a ‘service’ affects the remedies available under consumer guarantees, particularly considering the specific liability imposed on manufacturers of goods with safety defects. AI-enabled goods and services are generally a ‘mixed supply’ of goods and services, but consumers cannot claim for both a faulty good and service arising from a single transaction. Treasury is seeking to clarify this distinction for consumers in the context of AI-enabled goods and services.
Potential limitations of principles-based consumer guarantees. The current consumer guarantees regime contains a range of principles-based provisions that include concepts such as ‘fitness for purpose’, ‘acceptable quality’ and ‘due care and skill’. Treasury has received concerns that it is unclear how these principles-based standards may apply in the context of AI-enabled goods and services. An example is the concept of ‘durability’, which is currently set out under the ACL as a factor for assessing the acceptable quality of a product.
Treasury has identified particular difficulties that consumers may face when accessing remedies related to AI and emerging technologies. It noted the following concerns regarding the applicability of a manufacturer’s liability for goods with safety defects (as under the ACL) in relation to AI-enabled goods and services:
The evidentiary burden of establishing a causal link between the safety defect and consumer loss and damage. The specific characteristics of AI systems, such as opacity, autonomous behaviour and complexity, may make it more difficult for consumers to meet this burden of proof. Treasury is considering approaches from other jurisdictions, such as that in the EU under the proposed AI Liability Directive, which includes a ‘presumption of causality’ where a number of conditions are met, shifting the onus to manufacturers to demonstrate that no causal link to consumer loss or damage exists.
Defences available to manufacturers. There is a concern that the current defences listed under the ACL available to manufacturers may not be appropriate for AI-enabled goods and services. For example, the defence that the safety defect did not exist at the time that a good was supplied reflects a traditional position that manufacturers retain little or no ongoing control over the goods that they supply, which is not always applicable to AI-enabled goods and services.
The deadline for stakeholder feedback and written submissions on Treasury’s review of AI and the ACL is Tuesday, 12 November 2024.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Order dated October 11, 2024 No. 2825-r
Document
Order dated October 11, 2024 No. 2825-r
Almost 1.8 billion rubles will be allocated for the restoration of the overpass over the railway tracks in the city of Vyazma in the Smolensk region. An order to this effect has been signed.
Thanks to funding from the Government’s reserve fund, restoration and major repairs of the overpass on 25 Oktyabrya Street will begin in Vyazma in 2024. All work is planned to be completed in 2025.
The decision will allow the relaunch of an important road facility that provided transport connectivity to the city and was part of the route between the Smolensk and Kaluga regions.
Traffic on the overpass was stopped in April 2024 due to its partial destruction.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Clean air is essential for healthy living, but according to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 99% of the global population breathes air exceeding their guideline limits of air pollution. “Air quality is a measure of how much stuff is in the air, which includes particulates and gaseous pollutants,” said Kristina Pistone, a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center. Pistone’s research covers both atmospheric and climate areas, with a focus on the effect of atmospheric particles on climate and clouds. “It’s important to understand air quality because it affects your health and how well you can live your life and go about your day,” Pistone said. We sat down with Pistone to learn more about air quality and how it can have a noticeable impact on human health and the environment.
There are six main air pollutants regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States: particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides, ozone, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, and lead. These pollutants come from from natural sources, such as the particulate matter that rises into the atmosphere from fires and desert dust, or from human activity, such as the ozone generated from sunlight reacting to vehicle emissions.
Air quality influences health and quality of life. “Just like we need to ingest water, we need to breathe air,” Pistone said. “We have come to expect clean water because we understand that we need it to live and be healthy, and we should expect the same from our air.” Poor air quality has been tied to cardiovascular and respiratory effects in humans. Short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), for example, can cause respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing, and long-term exposure increases the risk of developing respiratory diseases such as asthma or respiratory infections. Exposure to ozone can aggravate the lungs and damage the airways. Exposure to PM2.5 (particulates 2.5 micrometers or smaller) causes lung irritation and has been linked to heart and lung diseases. In addition to its impacts on human health, poor air quality can damage the environment, polluting bodies of water through acidification and eutrophication. These processes kill plants, deplete soil nutrients, and harm animals.
Air quality is similar to the weather; it can change quickly, even within a matter of hours. To measure and report on air quality, the EPA uses the United States Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI is calculated by measuring each of the six primary air pollutants on a scale from “Good” to “Hazardous,” to produce a combined AQI numeric value 0-500. “Usually when we’re talking about air quality, we’re saying that there are things in the atmosphere that we know are not good for humans to be breathing all the time,” Pistone said. “So to have good air quality, you need to be below a certain threshold of pollution.” Localities around the world use different thresholds for “good” air quality, which is often dependent on which pollutants their system measures. In the EPA’s system, an AQI value of 50 or lower is considered good, while 51-100 is considered moderate. An AQI value between 100 and 150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, and higher values are unhealthy to everyone; a health alert is issued when the AQI reaches 200. Any value over 300 is considered hazardous, and is frequently associated with particulate pollution from wildfires.
Air quality sensors are a valuable resource for capturing air quality data on a local level.In 2022, the Trace Gas GRoup (TGGR) at NASA Ames Research Center deployed Inexpensive Network Sensor Technology for Exploring Pollution, or INSTEP: a new network of low-cost air quality sensors that measures a variety of pollutants. These sensors are capturing air quality data in certain areas in California, Colorado, and Mongolia, and have proven advantageous for monitoring air quality during California’s fire season. The 2024 Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) mission integrated sensor data from aircraft, satellites, and ground-based platforms to evaluate air quality over several countries in Asia. The data captured from multiple instruments on these flights, such as the Meteorological Measurement System (MMS) from NASA Ames Atmospheric Science Branch, are used to refine air quality models to forecast and assess air quality conditions. Agency-wide, NASA has a range of Earth-observing satellites and other technology to capture and report air quality data. In 2023, NASA launched the Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) mission, which measures air quality and pollution over North America. NASA’s Land, Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for Earth Observations (LANCE) tool provides air quality forecasters with measurements compiled from a multitude of NASA instruments, within three hours of its observation.
In addition to the EPA’s website, which houses air-quality related sources, the EPA also has a platform called AirNow, which reports the local AQI across the United States and allows users to check air quality levels in their area. Pistone also recommends looking at Purple Air’s real-time map, which displays PM data taken from a crowd-sourced network of low-cost sensors and translates those measurements to estimate AQI. For those concerned about air quality, Pistone recommends checking out https://cleanaircrew.org/ for resources on indoor air quality, breathing safely with wildfire smoke, and even building your own box fan filter. To learn more about air quality research applications, see NASA’s Applied Sciences Program’s Health & Air Quality program area, which details the use of Earth observations to assess and address air quality concerns at local, regional, and national levels. Additionally, the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team (HAQAST) helps connect NASA data and tools with stakeholders to better share and understand the effects of air quality on human health. Written by Katera Lee, NASA Ames Research Center
The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Victor Liu, led a Hong Kong delegation comprising representatives from the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA), to attend the 59th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Regions, organised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in Cebu, the Philippines. The theme for this year’s Conference was “Shaping the Future of Aviation: Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive”. The five-day Conference, with over 320 participants from 44 member states, administrations and international organisations, concluded on a high note today (October 18). Discussion and information papers covering a wide range of subjects, including aviation safety, air navigation, aviation security, aviation and the environment, aviation technologies, as well as regional co-operation, were submitted by aviation authorities and industry organisations to the Conference. During the Conference, Mr Liu moderated the discussion of an agenda item on aviation safety. The discussion covered a wide range of subjects, including safety management, safety culture and promotion, and applications of various artificial intelligence and innovation technologies. The CAD submitted four papers to the Conference in response to the theme topic. Among them, the paper titled “Operationalisation of Autonomous Vehicles at the Hong Kong International Airport: A Regulatory Perspective” shared the successful experience of the application of autonomous vehicle technology to enhance safety and efficiency of airport operations in Hong Kong. The other three papers discussed the opportunities and challenges of applying artificial intelligence across various aspects of aviation, shared the CAD’s experience in utilising advanced technologies to enhance weather-related collaborative decision making in air traffic management, and shared information on the successful hosting of the Asia Pacific Region Innovation & Capacity Building Symposium 2023 under the theme “Uniting the Strength of Innovation for Building a Seamless Sky”, jointly organised by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the CAD and the HKIAA in December 2023. The papers received recognition and support from delegates. This year, the HKIAA set up an exhibition booth during the Conference to showcase its multidisciplinary training opportunities for aviation professionals. The HKIAA also submitted a paper to the Conference to share Hong Kong’s initiatives in addressing the training needs of the Asia Pacific region. During their stay in Cebu, the CAD delegation attended side meetings with representatives from different aviation authorities and industry organisations such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the International Air Transport Association. Views on matters of mutual interest were shared, and ways to strengthen co-operation were explored with the aim of facilitating aviation developments. ???The CAD will continue to maintain close co-operation with its aviation partners and continue to support the ICAO’s global aviation development initiatives.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Gabrielle Lynch, Professor of Comparative Politics, University of Warwick
The removal of Kenya’s deputy president Rigathi Gachagua is part of a long history, dating back to independence, of fallouts between the president and his deputy. The difference this time around is the process.
Historically, presidents have fired their deputies. But the adoption of a new constitution in 2010, saw the introduction of a process for impeachment – for both the president and the deputy – that’s run by the legislature. This is the first time it’s been used.
On 8 October 2024, members of Kenya’s national assembly voted to impeach Gachagua on grounds that included corruption, insubordination and ethnically divisive politics. The case moved to the senate, which also voted to impeach Gachagua on 17 October.
Gachagua has made history as Kenya’s first deputy leader to be impeached. While President William Ruto stayed silent on the matter, the process would not have proceeded without his blessing.
Amid the novelty of the impeachment process, it’s easy to forget that it is the norm for Kenyan presidents to fall out with their deputies. As a political scientist interested in Kenya’s ethnic politics and democratisation, I argue that this is because of how deputies are selected in the first place.
Deputies are initially selected largely on pragmatic grounds as people who bring something useful to a political alliance. This could be resources, a support base or a reputation for being a good technocrat or administrator.
They’re not usually people with whom the president has a strong and continuous personal relationship or someone with whom they share a clear political ideology. Neither are they usually someone who has made their way up through a political party.
This has brought about a long history of tensions and fallout between Kenya’s presidents and their deputies.
History of fallouts
Independent Kenya’s first vice president, Oginga Odinga, saw his ministerial portfolio gradually reduced by President Jomo Kenyatta. Kenyatta then replaced Odinga as vice president of the ruling Kenya African National Union (Kanu) in 1966 further undermining his powers. Soon after, Odinga joined the opposition Kenya’s People’s Union.
His successor, Joseph Murumbi, resigned within months. The official reason given was ill health, but it is widely believed that Murumbi was troubled by corruption and authoritarianism within the Kenyatta regime.
Kenya’s second president, Daniel arap Moi, elected Mwai Kibaki as his first deputy. Kibaki was dropped after a decade. He went on to form an opposition party as soon as Kenya shifted to multi-party politics in 1992.
Moi’s second vice president, Josephat Karanja, resigned after a year to avoid a vote of no confidence for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.
Moi’s third deputy, George Saitoti was sidelined to pave way for Uhuru Kenyatta’s nomination as the party flagbearer in 2002. Moi’s final deputy, Musalia Mudavadi, fell with the rest of the Kanu government in the 2002 elections.
As Kenya’s third president, Kibaki similarly oversaw a regular change of guard. His first deputy, Michael Wamalwa, died after a few months in office. His second, Moody Awori, lost his seat in the 2007 election.
Kibaki’s third deputy, Kalonzo Musyoka, joined the president during Kenya’s post-election violence of 2007-08. He left at the end of his term in 2013 to run with Raila Odinga in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 presidential elections.
Kenya’s fourth president, Uhuru Kenyatta, was the only leader to have the same deputy, William Ruto, for his full term as president – from 2013 to 2022. However, relations between Kenyatta and Ruto were hardly rosy. The two fell out after the 2017 elections as Kenyatta teamed up with long-standing opposition leader, Raila Odinga. Ruto beat Odinga, Kenyatta’s favoured candidate in the 2022 elections.
Lessons to learn
Because deputies are selected for their practical value, the person who made a good deputy at one point in time can come to be seen as a liability or threat as the political context changes.
For example, at independence, Oginga Odinga made an excellent ally for Jomo Kenyatta. He had some resources and was a proven mobiliser. He brought a support base. However, within a few years, Odinga became a problem for the president as a more radical faction within the ruling party coalesced around him.
Similarly, Ruto made an excellent ally for Uhuru Kenyatta when they both faced charges for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. The two fell out once Kenyatta had won his second and final term, and Kenyatta turned to his succession.
Gachagua was useful to Ruto in 2022. He had personal wealth, was an effective mobiliser and hailed from central Kenya where the election looked to be won or lost. However, once elected, Gachagua’s populist statements and reputation for ethnic bias became more of a liability.
Second, as contexts change, someone else can soon come to be seen as more useful as second in command.
For Jomo Kenyatta, Moi had shown his utility and loyalty during the “little general elections” of 1966, which effectively sidelined the Kenya People’s Union and Oginga Odinga.
Ruto nominated Kithure Kindiki, Kenya’s interior cabinet secretary, to replace Gachagua. He is seen as better able to negotiate with the international community, especially during a critical economic period for Kenya as it seeks new International Monetary Fund loans.
Third, being the country’s vice or deputy president comes with a lot of opportunities to network. These interactions have often led individuals to be seen as a growing threat, or as actively plotting against the president. They may also be seen as a future challenger.
History has shown that there is no ideal way of dealing with such a potential challenger, leading subsequent presidents to try different approaches.
Current context
Ruto and Gachagua have clearly fallen out. Their differences became apparent soon after the 2022 elections. However, they came into sharp relief in the face of anti-tax protests in June 2024. There were subsequent allegations that Gachagua and some of his allies had helped to finance the protests.
The question, therefore, isn’t why they have fallen out but why Gachagua is being impeached now.
Ultimately the answer to this can only be known by a few individuals. But perhaps an indication of the answer lies in the emotions the fallout has stirred: a desire to distract the public and show that the government is taking action to deal with Kenya’s ongoing economic crisis. There may also be a desire to undercut Gachagua before he can build national networks.
Ruto had the numbers in the senate to see the impeachment process through. But this is a dangerous game. Those sidelined have a habit of coming back to haunt their former allies.
At the moment, most Kenyans are supportive of the impeachment process, but many also feel that Gachagua is being unfairly targeted especially in central Kenya, where a majority oppose the process.
While a successful impeachment might see Gachagua barred from holding public office, this wouldn’t necessarily mean an end to his career as an effective political mobiliser.
The next few months – and the narratives that emerge about why Ruto and Gachagua fell out – will be critical in determining both their futures.
This article has been updated to reflect the 17 October 2024 senate decision to impeach Rigathi Gachagua.*
PAU, France, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TSplus is excited to announce that the adventure has officially begun! Teams participating in the Trophée Roses des Sables 2024 have gathered in Pau, France on October 15 and 16 for their final technical and administrative checks at the “Village Départ.” This final stage allows participants to meet, complete verifications, and make last-minute preparations before heading south on their incredible journey through the Moroccan desert.
The Starting Point: Pau, Gateway to the Pyrenees
Pau, a city rich in history and nestled at the foot of the Pyrenees, provides an ideal backdrop for the event’s launch. Over these two days, participants from across the globe are meeting to connect, share their experiences, and prepare for the journey ahead.
On October 16, the teams will set off, driving through southern Europe and crossing into Morocco, where the real challenges await. TSplus will be following every stage with excitement.
7 Stages Through the Moroccan Desert
From October 18 to 25, the rally will take the participants across seven stages, navigating a range of diverse and challenging Moroccan terrains, from rocky trails to vast desert dunes, and everything in between.
Key dates include:
October 16: Departure from Pau, France for Casablanca, Morocco
October 17: Transfer to the Boulaajoul region by bus
October 18: Technical and administrative checks at the bivouac in Errachidia, followed by vehicle handovers
October 18 – 25: Seven stages through the Moroccan desert, passing through iconic locations such as Errachidia, Merzouga, and Tiguerna
October 26: Rally concludes in Marrakech with a grand prize ceremony
Crew 21: A Personal Challenge for a Noble Cause
Among the many teams participating this year is Crew 21, comprised of Alexandra, the pilot, and Pauline, her co-pilot. Both women are driven by a personal mission to support their association, Colibris des Sables, which raises awareness for autoimmune diseases.
Reflecting on their first impressions, Alexandra shared: “It’s incredible to be here with all these amazing women. The excitement and anticipation are at their peak as we prepare for this life-changing experience.”
Pauline added: “We’ve been preparing for months, and now the moment has come. We’re ready to face the challenges of the desert, united in our cause and supported by an amazing community.”
TSplus is proud to be one of the main sponsors of Crew 21, standing 100% behind them in this incredible journey.
Follow the Rally Live with TSplus!
Stay up to date with the race as it unfolds. Follow all the live updates on the official rally platform: course-en-direct.trophee-roses-des-sables.fr and don’t miss the updates from Colibris des Sables on Instagram @Colibris_des_sables. TSplus will also regularly share updates on this official social media pages:
Friday 18th October marks World Menopause Awareness Day.
This year, the aim is to raise awareness of Hormone Replacement therapy (HRT) and to highlight where people can go to get support and discuss options.
Menopause is a natural process which is when periods stop due to lower hormone levels.
The perimenopause is when there are menopause symptoms, but periods have not stopped.
It is the beginning of a loss of oestrogen and progesterone hormones. On average, perimenopause starts at 46 years and the average age of menopause in the UK is 51.
Menopause is when someone has not had a period for 12 months. Both perimenopause and menopause can happen at a younger age. Some trans and non-binary people may also go through menopause due to changes in hormones.
The most common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause are:
Hot flushes and night sweats
Sleep disturbance (although this can be due to other things)
Fatigue
Brain fog and poor concentration
Skin changes
Mood related symptoms including depression and anxiety (these symptoms can also have other causes)
Vaginal dryness, itching, burning and pain during sex
Urinary problems (this again can be linked with other causes)
Some have minimal symptoms, but for others the symptoms can have a big impact on their life, including health, relationships and work. A national survey of 2,000 women aged 40 to 60 years found that 20 per cent of women have considered leaving work due to a lack of support in relation to their menopause symptoms.
In Liverpool, GP practices can help people with access expert support and menopausal care.
Eating well, exercising and prioritising mental wellbeing can help with symptoms.
The main medicine treatment is replacing missing hormones.
HRT is safe and effective for most and can help relieve most symptoms and GPs will always discuss the risks of taking it – although these are usually outweighed by the benefits.
There are many different types of HRT available, and a personal assessment will help determine the best type for you if you want to use HRT to manage symptoms.
Liverpool City Council’s Assistant Cabinet Member for Health, Councillor Rahima Farah, said:
“Menopause is a natural stage of life. We want everyone to feel comfortable talking about the menopause and to know that there is help and support available to manage symptoms through your GP practice.”
Consultant in Sexual & Reproductive Health at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, and former Chair of the British Menopause Society (BMS), Dr Paula Briggs, said:
Liverpool Women’s Hospital Menopause Academy has supported many GPs, nurses and healthcare professionals in Liverpool with additional training in menopause management and we also provide ongoing mentorship to improve access to the best menopause care without women having to wait for a hospital referral. We encourage you to access this support from your GP practice.”
Director of Public Health, Professor Matthew Ashton, said: It is important that we talk about menopause openly. There are good evidence-based resources available about how organisations can support people going through perimenopause and menopause, and I encourage all organisations to consider how their workplace can become menopause friendly.
Liverpool will host a major conference today (Friday, 18 October) that will explore the reasons that led to the riots following the fatal stabbings in Southport in August.
The “Hate Crime Together” conference, the first of its kind in the city region this decade, will also look at the events that led to the riots in the city which culminated in the torching of Spellow Library in Walton.
Held in the Merseyside Maritime Museum, in the Royal Albert Dock, the event will be led by Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell who will address delegates with a keynote speech emphasising the work to reject those that sow and spread hatred and division.
Emily will also be joined by speakers such as Rose Simkins, CEO of StopHateUK and Kaushik Mistry, CEO of the Anthony Walker Foundation, with the conference the final event in the region to mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week.
Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, will also set out a pledge for all major partners across the city region to deliver on three key commitments:
Raise awareness and challenge hate-based behaviour in order to advance equality, diversity, and inclusion across the Liverpool City Region.
Increase confidence to report hate crime to the police and partners.
Provide consistent and effective support for victims by promoting collaboration across all agencies.
The event brings more than 100 partners together to focus on how they can work collaboratively to tackle hate and make communities safer.
Merseyside Police and all five local authorities, as well as Victim Care Merseyside support services and other third sector services, will re-confirm the region’s commitment to reducing hate crime, sharing experience and knowledge.
In light of the recent disorder in the summer, additional hate crime awareness sessions have been planned for Black and ethnic minority groups and associations to provide extra support and reassurance.
There has also been various workshops in primary and secondary schools, colleges, job centres, councils, and LGBTQ+ and disability community groups to increase awareness of the support available.
Rose Simkins, CEO of StopHateUK, said: “During the recent riots, many became more aware of the dangers of hate, but at Stop Hate UK, we see these risks every day. That’s why we’re here to support victims and witnesses of hate crime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Thanks to funding from Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner, we’re able to continue providing this vital service to those in need. Stop Hate UK is pleased to be a part of this conference, bringing partners together to share experiences and work towards making our communities safer.”
Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Tackling hate crime is a priority for me, so I am incredibly pleased to be opening the LCR Tackling Hate Crime Together conference and pledging my continued support to preventing and reducing hate crime, improving the support for victims and making our communities safer, happier places to live.
“Sadly, the appalling scenes of violence and disorder recently here on Merseyside were clearly manipulated and motivated by racism and islamophobia. They are a stark reminder of why we must do everything possible to tackle hate in all its despicable forms, standing together to send out a message that hate is not welcome here.
“I look forward to uniting with partners at this event to share learning, experiences and best practice to further strengthen the work which is taking place across the region to tackle hate crime and make our communities safer.”
Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for Community Safety, said: “What we all witnessed across the UK in the wake of tragic of events in Southport highlighted how much work needs to be done to tackle racism in our communities.
“Ignorance fuels hatred and the way to combat that is through education – at all levels with all ages. We must stretch every sinew to ensure people know that such behaviour will never be tolerated and highlight at every opportunity why such views are just wrong.
“It’s hugely encouraging to see so many partners come together from right across the region to unite and join our collective forces with the pledge to redouble our efforts in how we tackle hate crime and to reassure all minority groups – be that race, gender, faith – that they have our full support in stamping such behaviour out.”
Detective Superintendent Joe Marston, Hate Crime Lead for Merseyside Police, said: “We are dedicated to addressing hate crime because we understand the significant impact it can have on our victims and our communities.
“It’s great to be part of this conference where, along with our partners, we can showcase the efforts being made to combat different forms of hate crime and the support options available. This event is also an important opportunity to emphasise the importance of reporting hate crime and to listen to victims sharing their experiences. This will help educate us on how to increase the confidence of others to come forward in the future.”
Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team have joined forces with the arts organisation Metal to push the boundaries of mass, cultural participation events. Metal’s Director Jenny Porter tells us more.
Picton Play is a programme of resident engagement that focuses on communities in Toxteth, Wavertree, the Smithdown Road area, Edge Hill and Kensington.
The programme organised by the arts organisation – Metal – starts by looking at what’s already in the community and then develops different ways to encourage participation.
One strand was with Josh Coates, a performance-based artist, who held a listening residency at the ASDA car park on Smithdown Road. Next, came two further residencies, one on the 86 bus route with Nicki McCubbing and one in Wavertree Botanic Park with Andrea Ku.
The residencies afforded artists the freedom to explore spaces in our neighbourhoods not usually associated with creativity and to connect with local businesses and community groups such as Arriva and the Friends of Botanic Park.
The next phase of the project will be a co-production with a community decision-making board of local residents, affectionately known as The Mystery Dreamers. The group is named after Wavertree Park, which is known locally as The Mystery as it was donated to the City by an anonymous city well-wisher.
The plan is to produce an ambitious mass-participatory artwork, which will engage local residents. It’s an experiment in cultural democracy that pushes boundaries and forges new relationships between artists, arts organisations and communities at a neighbourhood level.
The project puts the creative decisions into the hands of the residents. The outcome will celebrate the creativity of Picton’s residents in a playful way, using the theme of mysteries and mythologies that lie beneath the surface.
The outcome will be a model for inclusive and innovative mass-participatory performance practice, that will go beyond artistic expression, with the potential to shape and enhance the social fabric of this community.
For Metal, as a national organisation, Picton Play acts as a testing platform for our sites in Southend and Peterborough. We have a fantastic relationship with Liverpool City Council who give us the freedom to experiment, and the people of Liverpool are so warm and generous with their time, as well as being wonderfully creative with their ideas.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Ambassador to work with employers to help women experiencing menopause symptoms to stay in work and progress in their careers.
Leading campaigner and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup appointed as Government’s new Menopause Employment Ambassador.
Appointment comes alongside measures in the Employment Rights Bill requiring large employers to produce plans on how they will support employees through the menopause.
Journalist and women’s equality campaigner, Mariella Frostrup, has been appointed as the government’s new Menopause Employment Ambassador.
The voluntary role will see Mariella working closely with employers across the country to improve workplace support for women experiencing the menopause, raise awareness of the symptoms and champion the economic contributions of women. A key focus will be helping women going through the menopause stay in work and progress in their careers.
Almost 70% of women aged 40 to 60 in employment experiencing menopausal symptoms report this has a negative effect on them at work, and just over 50% are unable to go into work at some point due to menopause symptoms.
With decades of experience championing women’s rights and gender equality across the world, with passionate advocacy for increased awareness of the symptoms of menopause, Mariella brings a powerful and unique voice to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:
If we are going to get our country growing again, we have to make sure that everyone feels they can thrive at work. I know from personal experience how hard it can be for women going through menopause.
I’m so thrilled that Mariella will be working with us to bring her years of knowledge and experience on this issue, so we can make sure that all women experiencing menopause symptoms get the support they need at work.
I’m honoured and delighted to be appointed as the Government’s Menopause Employment Ambassador and to start working towards this government’s stated goal of creating fair and equitable workplaces for all.
The loss of one in ten women from the workplace, often at the height of their professional careers, is damaging our economy and causing unnecessary suffering due to lack of information and support during this perfectly natural and manageable phase of life.
I’m excited to get started and continue the important work done by my predecessor Helen Tomlinson to engage with businesses small and large and find solutions to what continues to be a gender specific inequity.
Baroness Merron, Minister for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health, said:
I am delighted that Mariella Frostrup has been appointed into this important role. I look forward to working with her to champion women’s health and improve menopause support, alongside the Women’s Health Ambassador for England, Professor Dame Lesley Regan.
We know there is a long way to go in improving support for women experiencing menopause, particularly in the workplace, and this government is committed to providing the care and support for all women to thrive.
Janet Lindsay, Chief Executive of Wellbeing of Women:
We are delighted that Mariella has been appointed as the new Menopause Employment Ambassador. As Wellbeing of Women’s ambassador and in her wider work, Mariella has been a tireless campaigner working to raise awareness of the need to support women going through the menopause in all areas of life.
We look forward to working with her to help all employers become more menopause friendly, especially those who often struggle to do so, such as small to medium businesses and those employing women who cannot work remotely.
This appointment comes as the government has proposed a wide-ranging set of generational reforms to boost protections for workers, including women experiencing menopause symptoms at work. The policy proposals in the Employment Rights Bill would require large employers to produce Menopause Action Plans on how they will support employees through the menopause.
Further Information
The position of Menopause Employment Ambassador has been appointed by and will work with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, reporting at regular intervals.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 18, 2024/APO Group/ —
5G emerged as a focal point at GITEX GLOBAL 2024 (www.GITEX.com), the world largest tech and startup event, with visitors getting a glimpse of the possibilities of the wireless technology with AI and its role to powering a hyperconnected future through groundbreaking innovations and insightful discussions.
The ‘Intelligent Connectivity’ event saw a combination of thought-provoking conversations and exhibitors displaying their powerful products and services that will revolutionise the world in the coming years. It comes at a time where GSMA projects a seismic shift in connectivity with 1.4 billion devices set to be linked with 5G by 2025, further fueling a USD $1.1 trillion IoT market within a USD $3.9 trillion mobile economy.
The expertly curated programme brought together some of the most influential voices from global enterprises and organisations including Khalid Murshed, Chief Technology & Information Officer at e&, Wang Hui, President, NCE Data Communication Domain at Huawei China and Thomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary General at ITU Switzerland. They were also joined by Roque Lozano, SVP, Network Infrastructure MEA at Nokia, Kazuhiro Gomi, President and CEO of NTT Research and SG Chung, Chief AI Global Officer at SK Telecom.
Away from the stage, the showcase featured a diverse range of impressive technologies from leading exhibitors, Huawei, e&, Nokia, China Telecom, Ericsson, Cisco, and Beyon among them. These industry giants presented cutting-edge solutions, highlighting next-generation 5G applications with their participation underscoring GITEX GLOBAL’s role as a key platform for exploring the future of connectivity and digital transformation.
A glimpse into a 5G-advanced powered AI future
With 5G and AI on a verge to catalyse a paradigm shift in the telecommunications landscape, Khalid Murshed Chief Technology & Information Officer of e&, one of the largest telecommunications operators in the Middle East and North Africa region, explained the transformative impact of network capabilities.
He said: “5G and 5G advanced serve as a platform for everyone to come in to innovate with applications that can drive demand for the network to be enhanced further and further.”
“We have to build a network with the capabilities and then fit in the AI applications and this is what we’re doing hand-in-hand. We’re not just building a network for the sake of technology leadership. It’s a bilateral game by all means and we are building them to enable new cases while today we have live networks and private 5G.”
Another leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei identifies several key technologies as the backbone of its solutions towards facilitating an intelligent future. 5G-Advanced (5G-A) remains vital to supporting rapid and low-latency communication – critical for building advanced applications, in addition to big, unified data, AI, and cloud computing.
AI and 5G fuelling the future of autonomous vehicles
The future of mobility and how autonomous vehicles can benefit from 5G was another highlight. Speaking in a panel, Siyuan Liu, Head of IoT Partnership & Strategy, Greater China, at China Unicom Global, said the company is accelerating its efforts into the AI and vehicle connectivity industries with 5G playing a central role.
She highlighted that 5G is vital for the growth of autonomous vehicles, reshaping society and helping make accurate decisions – all of which can enhance the efficiency of transportation and safety.
Large Language Models (LLMs) are disrupting industries all over the world and the telecommunications sector is no different. Wang Hui, President of Huawei NCE Data Communication Domain, highlighted that AI applications are being leveraged extensively in China’s autonomous vehicles and in AI health services.
Unleashing powerful innovations – superpower agent and all-electric supercar
Thousands of visitors were introduced to the most disruptive products and services powered by 5G in the most anticipated exhibition which attracted the leading tech enterprises and solution providers in telecoms, networks, and infrastructure. Attendees were not short of innovation options with game-changing partnerships and launches unveiled during the event.
e& announced a collaboration with Vodafone Business IoT to use the company’s Global SIM+ eSIM solution to provide in-vehicle connectivity and enhanced digital services for Mercedes-Benz AG drivers in the UAE. The service will be commercially available in the first half of 2025.
The company also displayed the Nissan Hyper-Force, an all-electric high-performance supercar, connected through e& UAE 5G SIM cards delivering the ultimate in-driving experience, and launched their new human-digital advisors, combining hologram technology and AI to cater to the diverse cultural nuances of Telecom customers in the UAE.
At Avaya’s stand, visitors saw how the company is creating superpower agents, powered by AI, showcasing new capabilities which can assist individuals to make scalable decisions that help businesses grow.
GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events with GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX Nigeria, all part of its portfolio. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 18, 2024/APO Group/ —
GITEX GLOBAL 2024 (www.GITEX.com), the world’s largest tech and startup event, hosted the Middle East’s largest data centre gathering on Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), showcasing the region’s commitment to becoming a global leader in the rapidly evolving data centre market.
The conference programme underscored the far-reaching implications of AI in data infrastructure, a driving force behind the rapidly expanding billion-dollar global market., while leading enterprises captivated the audience with their innovative solutions, showcasing the future of hyperscale, modular, and edge data centres.
As businesses increasingly turn to AI, the global data centre market is projected to reach USD $256 billion by the end of this year and will rise to USD $775 billion by 2034.
GITEX GLOBAL serves as a critical platform for industry leaders to engage in discussions that highlight the urgent need for enhanced and scalable data centres, essential for supporting the burgeoning AI-driven demand.
Driving Job Opportunities And Benefiting Society
On “Data Centres Universe”, conversations focused on how hyperscale, edge, and modular data centres can contribute to the growth in the presence of the sector’s biggest names. Major players, including Khazna, Legrand, Vertiv, Alibaba Cloud, AWS, DELL, Google Cloud, IBM, and Lenovo, convened to share their perspectives on the evolving trajectory of the industry, explore potential avenues for accelerated growth, and underscore the critical role of expansion in catalyzing global ambitions for AI-driven innovation.
Hassan Al Naqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centers, the MENA region’s largest hyperscale wholesale data centre provider, explained during a panel discussion that more data centres not only boost the market’s growth but also build capacity, supporting talent development, and fostering employment to meet the increasing demand.
He said: “A lot of people think that data centres are not a job creation machine. However, data centres are vital for economies and have different roles involved. If you look at all the hyperscales, their data centres are having a huge impact on the economy as people can secure jobs which are vital for the day-to-day operations.”
As the conversation shifted toward the future of data centres, industry experts emphasized the importance of sustainable practices in their development as the industry’s advancements enable the next-generation of tech solutions and services.
Marc Marazzi, Vice President ofLegrand Data Center Solutions, shared his perspective on the need for careful planning and environmental responsibility in this rapidly expanding market. He believes the industry will go from strength to strength but organisations must exercise caution in their decision-making when building data centres taking into account long-term considerations of how the world will evolve over the next decade.
He said: “It’s great to see many taking the green initiative very seriously and looking at the way they are building and cooling data centres. Today, they are bigger than ever before and being built faster but we must not lose sight of the importance of how we manufacture, what we are installing and how they are managed. Data Centres are built with 15 years in mind and we have to think what they would look like in a specific time and get it right from the beginning.”
What Next at GITEX GLOBAL 2024?
As GITEX GLOBAL comes to a close on Friday, ‘Futuristic Friday’ promises to feature groundbreaking technologies such as quantum computing, advanced robotics, and space tech, all poised to redefine the boundaries of possibility in the tech landscape.
Taking place from 14-18 October at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), GITEX GLOBAL is recognized as the world’s largest and best-rated tech event. This year presents a record-breaking 44th edition – welcoming over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, 1,200 investors alongside governments from more than 180 countries.
GITEX GLOBAL in Dubai is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events with its stellar list including GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX NIGERIA. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.