Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police are at the scene of a serious crash that has blocked State Highway 1 at Marton.
The crash involves an empty bus and a truck, and was reported about 8.50am. The road is blocked at the rail overbridge between Wings Line and Calico Line.
Diversions are in place and motorists should expect delays.
The Serious Crash Unit is attending.
Information will be released proactively when we are in a position to do so.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: South Australia Police
Major Crash officers are investigating a fatal crash at Waterloo Corner earlier this morning.
Just after 12.15am on Tuesday 15 October, emergency services were called to the intersection of Port Wakefield Highway and McEvoy Road at Waterloo Corner after reports a concrete truck and a sedan collided.
The driver of the white Lexus sedan, a 19-year-old woman from Buckland Park, sadly died at the scene.
The driver of the truck was taken to hospital where he is being treated for minor injuries. He is assisting police with their investigations.
The intersection was closed for about five hours whilst Major Crash officers examined the scene, but the road has since reopened.
The woman’s death is the 69th live lost on South Australian roads this year.
Source: South Australia Police
Police are investigating a serious crash at Lower Light earlier this morning.
Just before 2.30am on Tuesday 15 October, police and emergency services were called to the intersection of Port Wakefield Highway and Richardson Road at Lower Light after reports a truck collided with a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, a 29-year-old woman from Osborne, was taken to hospital where she is being treated for critical injuries.
The driver of the truck, a 38-year-old man from Unley Park, was uninjured and was taken to hospital for mandatory testing. The man is assisting police with their investigation.
Port Wakefield Highway is currently closed for southbound traffic from Richardson Road and diversions are in place. Motorists are asked to avoid the area.
Police are asking if anyone witnessed the collision or may have dashcam footage of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online http://www.crimestopperssa.com.au
Source: Phillips
HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) announced today that its subsidiary, Phillips 66 Limited, has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its 49 percent non-operated equity interest in Coop Mineraloel AG (“CMA”) to its Swiss joint venture partner. It will receive cash of 1.06 billion Swiss francs (approximately $1.24 billion) consisting of a 1 billion Swiss franc sales price (approximately $1.17 billion) and an assumed dividend of 60 million Swiss francs (approximately $70 million) for financial year 2024 to be paid at or prior to closing. The sales price is subject to adjustment based on the amount of the dividend.
“This transaction marks significant progress in delivering on our commitment of over $3 billion in divestitures,” said Mark Lashier, chairman and CEO of Phillips 66. “As we manage our portfolio, we will continue to evaluate monetization of assets that no longer fit our long-term strategy.”
CMA operates 324 retail sites and petrol stations across Switzerland.
Proceeds from the sale will support the strategic priorities of Phillips 66, including returns to shareholders.
The transaction is subject to approval by the Swiss Competition Commission. It is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025.
About Phillips 66
Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) is a leading integrated downstream energy provider that manufactures, transports and markets products that drive the global economy. The company’s portfolio includes Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, Marketing and Specialties, and Renewable Fuels businesses. Headquartered in Houston, Phillips 66 has employees around the globe who are committed to safely and reliably providing energy and improving lives while pursuing a lower-carbon future. For more information, visit phillips66.com or follow @Phillips66Co on LinkedIn.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the sale of Phillips 66’s 49 percent non-operated equity interest in Coop Mineraloel AG. Words such as “anticipated,” “estimated,” “expected,” “planned,” “scheduled,” “targeted,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “will,” “would,” “objective,” “goal,” “project,” “efforts,” “strategies” and similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes generally indicate forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on management’s expectations, estimates and projections as of the date they are made. These statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, and you should not unduly rely on them as they involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include: any delay in, or inability to obtain, necessary regulatory approvals, including from the Swiss Competition Commission; changes in governmental policies or laws that relate to our operations, including regulations that seek to limit or restrict refining, marketing and midstream operations or regulate profits, pricing, or taxation of our products or feedstocks, or other regulations that restrict feedstock imports or product exports; our ability to timely obtain or maintain permits necessary for projects; fluctuations in NGL, crude oil, refined petroleum, renewable fuels and natural gas prices, and refining, marketing and petrochemical margins; the effects of any widespread public health crisis and its negative impact on commercial activity and demand for refined petroleum or renewable fuels products; changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely affect programs including the renewable fuel standards program, low carbon fuel standards and tax credits for biofuels; unexpected changes in costs for constructing, modifying or operating our facilities; our ability to successfully complete, or any material delay in the completion of, any asset disposition, acquisition or conversion that we may pursue; unexpected difficulties in manufacturing, refining or transporting our products; the level and success of drilling and production volumes around our midstream assets; risks and uncertainties with respect to the actions of actual or potential competitive suppliers and transporters of refined petroleum products, renewable fuels or specialty products; lack of, or disruptions in, adequate and reliable transportation for our products; potential liability from litigation or for remedial actions, including removal and reclamation obligations under environmental regulations; failure to complete construction of capital projects on time and within budget; our ability to comply with governmental regulations or make capital expenditures to maintain compliance with laws; limited access to capital or significantly higher cost of capital related to illiquidity or uncertainty in the domestic or international financial markets, which may also impact our ability to repurchase shares and declare and pay dividends; potential disruption of our operations due to accidents, weather events, including as a result of climate change, acts of terrorism or cyberattacks; general domestic and international economic and political developments, including armed hostilities (such as the Russia-Ukraine war), expropriation of assets, and other diplomatic developments; international monetary conditions and exchange controls; changes in estimates or projections used to assess fair value of intangible assets, goodwill and property and equipment and/or strategic decisions with respect to our asset portfolio that cause impairment charges; investments required, or reduced demand for products, as a result of environmental rules and regulations; changes in tax, environmental and other laws and regulations (including alternative energy mandates); political and societal concerns about climate change that could result in changes to our business or increase expenditures, including litigation-related expenses; the operation, financing and distribution decisions of equity affiliates we do not control; and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Phillips 66’s businesses generally as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Phillips 66 is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Source: Phillips 66
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Erin Houchin (Indiana 09)
Washington, D.C. — Recently, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-9) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) introduced the Task Force to End Financial Abuse Act, a bipartisan effort to address the growing issue of coerced debt and financial exploitation. The proposed task force aims to develop a comprehensive approach to combat financial abuse, protect victims, and prevent future incidents.
Coerced debt occurs when one individual in an abusive relationship accumulates debt in their partner’s name without their knowledge or consent. This form of financial abuse can leave victims trapped with ruined credit, overwhelming debt, and limited financial options, even after escaping an abusive situation.
“Addressing coerced debt requires a coordinated effort that goes beyond just tackling financial exploitation; it touches on abuse, consumer protection, and the ability to live free from financial control,” said Congresswoman Houchin. “The Task Force to End Financial Abuse Act will provide a roadmap to better understand the scope of this problem and develop real solutions to help victims break free and rebuild their lives.”
“Far too many survivors are trapped in abusive relationships where their spouse or significant other has run up the bills on credit cards or auto loans – often without their knowledge. As a result, they face destroyed credit, substantial payment expectations, debt collection, and even, bankruptcy. Financial abuse is often the last chain that binds a survivor to their abuser. This new Interagency Task Force on Financial Abuse will bring together relevant federal agencies and external stakeholders to address this crisis head on,” said Congressman Gottheimer. “When we protect survivors from financial abuse, we don’t just restore their credit — we restore their freedom and their future.”
The Task Force to End Financial Abuse Act represents a critical step toward breaking the cycle of financial control that affects so many victims of domestic abuse. Congresswoman Houchin and Congressman Gottheimer are committed to advancing this legislation, ensuring that survivors have the support they need and preventing future financial abuse.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kaltura, Inc. (Nasdaq: KLTR), the video experience cloud, today announced it will release its third quarter financial results for the period ended September 30, 2024, before market open on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
Kaltura will host a conference call to review its third quarter 2024 financial results and discuss its financial outlook.
| Date: | Wednesday, November 6, 2024 |
| Time: | 8:00 a.m. ET |
| United States/Canada Toll Free: | 1-877-407-0789 |
| International Toll: | +1- 201-689-8562 |
A live and archived webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of Kaltura’s website at: https://investors.kaltura.com/news-and-events/events
About Kaltura
Kaltura’s mission is to power any video experience for any organization. Our Video Experience Cloud offers live, real-time, and on-demand video products for enterprises of all industries, as well as specialized industry solutions, currently for educational institutions and for media and telecom companies. Underlying our products and solutions is a broad set of Media Services that are also used by other cloud platforms and companies to power video experiences and workflows for their own products. Kaltura’s Video Experience Cloud is used by leading brands reaching millions of users, at home, at school and at work, for communication, collaboration, training, marketing, sales, customer care, teaching, learning, virtual events, and entertainment experiences. For more information, visit http://www.corp.kaltura.com.
Investor Contacts:
Kaltura, Inc.
John Doherty
Chief Financial Officer
IR@Kaltura.com
Sapphire Investor Relations, LLC
Erica Mannion and Michael Funari
IR@Kaltura.com
+1 617 542 6180
Media Contacts:
Kaltura, Inc.
Lisa Bennett
pr.team@kaltura.com
Headline Media
Raanan Loew
raanan@headline.media
+1 347 897 9276
Source: Doctors Without Borders –
UPCOMING EVENT
October 15, 2024
1:00PM-1:45PM ET
Event type: Live online
We invite you to join us for a live online event on Tuesday, October 15, from 1:00-1:45 pm ET, with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) aid workers reflecting on the catastrophic health impacts of the war in Gaza.
MSF teams were already active providing medical care in Gaza when conflict escalated following the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7. In response, the Israeli government launched a ferocious military offensive on Gaza. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, tens of thousands more have been injured, and some 1.9 million people have been displaced–often multiple times. Much of the Gaza Strip has been reduced to rubble.
MSF staff are providing urgent medical care even while facing the personal impacts of the war themselves–the deaths of loved ones, destruction of their homes, and constant dangers everywhere. Hospitals and health facilities have repeatedly come under fire or been forced to evacuate. The medical needs are exploding, including the spread of infectious diseases and the risk of starvation.
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim, emergency physician and former medical team leader in Gaza, and Dr. Amber Alayyan, pediatrician and medical program manager for MSF in Palestine, Afghanistan and Haiti. Dr. Mohammed Abu Mughaisib, MSF deputy medical coordinator in Gaza, will share testimony directly from Khan Younis, and Avril Benoît, MSF USA chief executive officer, will moderate the live discussion. Together they will bear witness to this unfolding emergency and reflect on the medical challenges ahead.
Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim is an emergency physician and was president of MSF UK from 2017-2021. Born and raised in the UK to Sudanese Iranian parents, Javid volunteered with MSF as a medical student, and later joined MSF as an aid worker for his first assignment to Iraq. Since then, he has worked for MSF in conflict zones, crises and disease outbreaks around the world. He has completed assignments in Ukraine, Haiti, Lebanon/Syria, South Sudan, Sierra Leone (for Ebola), and on the Mediterranean Sea on one of MSF’s search and rescue vessels. Most recently, he worked as an emergency medical team leader in Gaza.
Dr. Amber Alayyan is a pediatrician and international public health consultant with over 20 years of experience in health care in conflict and post-conflict zones particularly in the Middle East, as well as malnutrition and environmental health in conflict settings. She currently works as MSF’s medical program manager for Afghanistan, Palestine, and Haiti and previously managed medical programs for Peru, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq. In her current role, she manages the medical operational strategy and activities in the West Bank and Gaza. These activities include burn and trauma surgery and multi-disciplinary pre/post-operative care, pediatric inpatient care, antibiotic resistance management, primary health care, mental health, and sexual and gender-based violence. Her work with MSF over the past 13 years includes assignments in the Central African Republic, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan/Syria, Turkey/Syria, Lebanon, Croatia and Greece.
Dr. Mohammed (Abu Abed) Abu Mughaisib is the deputy medical coordinator for MSF’s operations in Palestine. He holds degrees in both medicine and mental health and has worked with MSF for nearly 23 years. Last fall, he was forced to flee his home in Gaza City, and was displaced multiple times thereafter. While his wife and children managed to cross the border into Egypt, Abu Abed continues to provide lifesaving care as a critical member of our project team in Palestine.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Selin, Associate Professor of Law, Arizona State University
Rumors and lies about government responses to natural disasters are not new. Politics, misinformation and blame-shifting have long surrounded government response efforts.
When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, for example, rumors and misinformation both originated from and were spread by government, news and individual user accounts on social media. And after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, rumors about the storm were so widespread that even CNN’s live coverage of the event was inaccurate.
Those rumors don’t usually come from former presidents. Yet in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, former President Donald Trump spread falsehoods about the federal government’s response to the disaster. Misinformation on the topic became so widespread that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA, set up a webpage to debunk the rumors spawned by Trump.
President Joe Biden responded angrily, calling the falsehoods that Trump and his followers spread “reckless, irresponsible” and “disturbing.” He also suggested Trump’s claims undermined the rescue and recovery work being done by local, state and federal authorities.
Disaster relief often becomes political because so many people are affected – and because there is a lot of media coverage surrounding hurricanes, floods and other major weather events. Additionally, relief requires a lot of money and coordination by high-profile elected officials.
The rhetoric around federal emergency management is made only more complicated because most people do not know that much about the federal law that governs disaster relief. Indeed, even state and local officials find navigating the details of the law and accompanying regulations difficult.
And finally, the law’s design and the timing of hurricane season can lead to politicization. Elected officials – politicians – are always involved in coordinating government response efforts, adding a layer of politics to disaster relief. The fact that hurricane and election seasons coincide only heightens the politics of such relief.
The Disaster Relief Act of 1974, as amended and now known as the Stafford Act, is the law that governs how the federal government responds to natural disasters and other emergencies.
But the act does not guarantee federal assistance to the communities affected by hurricanes or other natural disasters.
Instead, the governor of an affected state or the chief executive of an affected tribal government must ask the president for a disaster declaration. The request can be made before or after a storm hits but must show that the disaster is of such a severity and magnitude that the state, local or tribal governments cannot respond on their own.
Responding to such requests, Biden issued declarations covering eight states before and after Helene. He also issued a declaration for the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida in response to Milton.
After the president issues a declaration, the federal government can begin to assist state, local and tribal governments. This includes coordinating all disaster relief assistance – from evacuations to recovery – provided by federal agencies, private organizations such as the Red Cross, and state and local governments.
Federal assistance can be financial or logistical. It covers everything from help repairing roads and restoring utility services to providing assistance and services, such as temporary housing, legal services and crisis counseling, to the people who have been affected by the disaster.
The number of federal agencies and employees involved in disaster relief is astounding. For example, thousands of federal personnel from FEMA, the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation are helping respond to Helene and Milton.
Several state and local officials also play key roles after a disaster declaration. Each state’s governor or tribe’s chief executive serves as the leading official for coordination of state and federal efforts. That person also designates an officer to serve as a liaison between the federal government and the state or tribe. And in each affected community, a local elected official leads the response on the ground. This is usually a city or town’s mayor.
Implementation of the Stafford Act requires cooperative, healthy relationships between the president, federal agencies and state, local and tribal governments.
When done well, government disaster response is a prime example of what’s called “federalism” in action. Federalism involves the sharing of power between the national and state governments. The framers of the United States Constitution created this system of shared power so that the national government could solve coordination and capacity problems among the states, and the state governments could respond to the nuances of local circumstances.
In response to state government requests in the wake of Hurricane Helene, for example, Biden directed federal efforts to help those most affected. The federal government’s response has so far included working with over 450 state and local officials to ensure that those affected by the hurricane have everything from housing assistance to financial support for medical and funeral expenses.
The very things that the framers designed the federalist constitutional system to do, however, can create opportunities for political manipulation. The Stafford Act creates a system of emergency management that is highly decentralized and responsive to local needs.
But that decentralization also means that, because of their different perspectives, the officials involved in disaster response prioritize different things, which can lead to conflict.
For example, various officials involved in the response to Hurricane Helene have advocated for federal resources such as money and personnel to go toward restoring utilities, law enforcement, fire, health, communications and transportation services. How can the national government possibly choose between all of these necessary services?
Everything is made more complicated because, as studies have shown, on average, the officials in charge of making such decisions – elected officials and their appointees – have less experience in government than the career civil servants who work on a daily basis with the people affected by natural disasters.
As a result, the Stafford Act’s decision to place elected officials and their appointees in charge of emergency management could reduce the quality of government response.
Elected officials’ different political leanings add another wrinkle. Debates over disaster response often reflect larger political debates such as those over the size and role of government.
The history of the Stafford Act provides an illustrative example. Traditionally, disaster relief was the responsibility of state and local government. But a series of natural disasters, including the Alaska earthquake in 1964 and hurricanes Betsy in 1965 and Camille in 1969, were so large in scale that the federal government had to step in and help.
In the aftermath of Camille, accusations of racial discrimination in the relief process and partisan squabbling over who was to blame for the ineffectiveness of the government’s response to the disaster mounted. Media and congressional attention on government mismanagement of the relief effort created a window for the expansion of the federal government’s role in the process and ultimately led to the passage of the first version of the Stafford Act.
Fast-forward 35 years and many of the same issues – racial discrimination, government mismanagement and politicization of relief – arose in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Media and congressional attention led to legislation that amended the Stafford Act and restructured FEMA and how the federal government responds to state and tribal requests for assistance.
Trump’s lies are from the same playbook – false claims about money being diverted to migrants and that relief efforts are being used only to help areas where Democrats live.
Yet the devastation left by Helene and Milton do raise questions about local and federal coordination in preparation for and response to natural disasters and has led to calls for Congress to pass reforms to improve equity, efficiency and effectiveness in government responses to natural disasters. Whether this reform is possible in such a contentious political climate remains an open question.
Jennifer L. Selin has received funding and/or support for her research on the executive branch from the Administrative Conference of the United States. The views in this piece are those of the author and do not represent the position of the Administrative Conference or the federal government.
– ref. Why FEMA’s disaster relief gets political − especially when hurricane season and election season collide – https://theconversation.com/why-femas-disaster-relief-gets-political-especially-when-hurricane-season-and-election-season-collide-241092
Source: US State of North Carolina
Headline: Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina
Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina
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An unprecedented response to damage caused by Hurricane Helene continues in Western North Carolina. State, federal and local response workers are working around the clock to surge assistance into the region.
Law enforcement is working to ensure the safety of responders amid reports of threats and misinformation. FEMA officials remain in communities and will resume door-to-door operations to help people impacted by these storms recover as quickly as possible following reports of threats on the ground. Governor Roy Cooper has directed the Department of Public Safety to work with local law enforcement to identify specific threats and rumors and coordinate with FEMA and other partners to ensure the safety and security of all involved as this recovery effort continues.
“State, federal and local response workers, including FEMA, are working around the clock to bring assistance to western North Carolina,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “We know that significant misinformation online contributes to threats against response workers on the ground, and the safety of responders must be a priority. At my direction, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety is helping partners like FEMA to coordinate with law enforcement to ensure their safety and security as they continue their important work.”
North Carolina National Guard and Military Response
Approximately 3,500 Soldiers and Airmen are working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to people in Western North Carolina.
National Guard and military personnel are operating 11 aviation assets and more than 1,200 specialized vehicles in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through this website.
FEMA Assistance
More than $96 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western North Carolina disaster survivors and more than 160,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. Approximately 4,600 households are now housed in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance.
1,000+ FEMA staff are in the state to help with the Western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.
The Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Cooper and granted by President Biden now includes 27 North Carolina counties (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.
Help from Other States
More than 1,500 responders from 38 state and local agencies have performed 135 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.
Beware of Misinformation
North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.
Food, Water and Commodity Points of Distribution
Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout Western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.
Shelters
A total of 13 shelters are open in Western North Carolina supporting over 560 people.
Storm Damage Cleanup
If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.
Power Outages
Across Western North Carolina, approximately 19,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.
Road Closures
Travel remains dangerous, with hundreds of roads closed. Many of these roads are primary routes connecting the region.
NCDOT has posted at ncdot.gov an interstate detour map for those traveling in the region. North Carolinians can visit DriveNC.Gov for the latest roadway conditions. NCDOT currently has approximately 2,100 employees and 1,100 pieces of equipment working on approximately 6,700 damaged road sites.
Fatalities
Ninety-five storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. We expect that this number will continue to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911.
Volunteers and Donations
Due to dangerous road conditions and the need to maintain open routes for emergency operations, travel to Western North Carolina is difficult. Consider the following options for donations and volunteer opportunities:
Additional Assistance
There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.
If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.
For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.
If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.
###
Source: Asia Pacific Region 2 – Singapore
Good morning everybody. Thank you for inviting me to join you here today. It’s great to be back here at the Academia. It is my pleasure to join you for the 10th anniversary celebration of the Duke-NUS Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE).
3. CoRE was established as an academic centre at Duke-NUS Medical School with support from the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH), Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Economic Development Board (EDB) to promote regulatory capacity development and innovation in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific. Officially inaugurated in November 2014, this is the first Centre in the region that focuses on promoting regulatory excellence for healthcare regulators and industry. A panel of international regulatory experts forms the CoRE Advisory Board that oversees the governance of the Centre, many of whom are current or former chief officials of their respective regulatory agencies. Some of them in the audience today.
5. The Centre also supports MOH and HSA in building up the healthcare regulatory ecosystem, and more recently, advocating the convergence of products and services regulation to enhance healthcare systems’ efficiency. By bringing together key stakeholders and fostering collaboration among healthcare regulators, CoRE has created a platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices.
9 The challenges that I described transcend borders and they make international collaboration amongst regulators essential. Through exchanging best practices and developing partnerships for regulatory harmonisation, we can collectively have regulatory frameworks that are nimble, forward looking, and adaptable to rapid technological advancements.
Nimble and Forward-Thinking Regulatory Framework
10 MOH collaborates with agencies such as the European Partnership for Supervisory Organisations in Health Services and Social Care (EPSO) and HealthAI. We also collaborate with CoRE to strengthen training in healthcare services regulations with ASEAN countries.
11 CoRE is focused on advancing regulatory science and policy in healthcare, both domestically and regionally, through capacity building, thought leadership and fostering collaboration.
12 To grow domestic capability in healthcare regulation, CoRE has launched key educational initiatives, including the flagship Graduate Certificate programme in health products regulation covering pharmaceutical and medical technology regulations. It also supports regional capacity building through the Asian Development Bank Projects in the Greater Mekong Subregion. By identifying regulatory gaps and conducting in-country capacity-building workshops in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia, CoRE is helping to shape more effective regulatory environments.
13 CoRE also facilitates joint initiatives research projects and roundtables for collaboration between academia, industry and international partners. One example is the CoRE Standards Development Organisation, set up in partnership with Enterprise Singapore, which manages over 60 Singapore Standards and Technical References in the biomedical and healthcare domains, ensuring alignment with global standards.
CoRE’s Role in the Next Decade
14 Regulatory innovation will play a part to shape the future of biomedical science and healthcare and delivery. The diverse topics covered at this conference – ranging from AI and digital health to healthy ageing and disease prevention – highlight the complexity of the challenges that face us. Working together, we can develop regulations that are robust, forward-looking and conducive to both access and innovation.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
WEST ORANGE, N.J., Oct. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bel Fuse Inc. (“Bel,” or, “the Company”) (Nasdaq:BELFA and Nasdaq:BELFB), today announced its appointment of Uma Pingali as Global Head of Sales and Marketing, a newly created role. With over 30 years of management experience in global sales, marketing, business development within the electronic industry, Uma is uniquely positioned to lead and accelerate Bel’s sales and marketing organizations. His experience with integrating various sales teams that have joined via acquisitions will be very helpful for Bel with our history of acquisitions.
Uma started his career in India and has lived and led sales organizations there and in Singapore, China, Hong Kong and the U.S. In his most recent role as President of Global Sales at Farnell, based in Chicago, Uma managed a team of 600+ people in driving a $1.6 billion global sales organization.
Dan Bernstein, President and CEO, said, “Uma is the perfect fit for the role, given his extensive global experience in the electronics industry. He will be responsible for creating and executing strategies that drive growth beyond current trends, identifying areas for improvement, challenging existing processes, and implementing innovative solutions to optimize sales performance. We are very much looking forward to the contributions that Uma will bring to Bel in further positioning the company for long-term success.”
About Bel
Bel (www.belfuse.com) designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits. These products are primarily used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, general industrial, high-speed data transmission, military, commercial aerospace, transportation and eMobility industries. Bel’s portfolio of products also finds application in the automotive, medical, broadcasting and consumer electronics markets. Bel’s product groups include Magnetic Solutions (integrated connector modules, power transformers, power inductors and discrete components), Power Solutions and Protection (front-end, board-mount and industrial power products, module products and circuit protection), and Connectivity Solutions (expanded beam fiber optic, copper-based, RF and RJ connectors and cable assemblies). The Company operates facilities around the world.
Company Contact:
Lynn Hutkin
Vice President of Financial Reporting & Investor Relations
ir@belf.com
Investor Contact:
Three Part Advisors
Jean Marie Young, Managing Director or Steven Hooser, Partner
631-418-4339
jyoung@threepa.com; shooser@threepa.com
Source: US State of West Virginia
LANSING, WV — Gov. Jim Justice visited New River Gorge National Park & Preserve to celebrate continued growth and investment. Additionally, Gov. Justice announced that this year’s Bridge Day attendance is expected to reach record numbers.
As West Virginia’s largest single-day festival, Bridge Day attracts thousands to the New River Gorge Bridge each third Saturday in October for thrilling base-jumping, rappelling, and various festivities.
To accommodate the growing visitation numbers of Bridge Day and the New River Gorge National Park, Gov. Justice cut the ribbon on an expanded parking facility for the Endless Wall Trail. This new parking lot will enhance safety and accessibility for visitors, allowing for a smoother experience as they explore one of the park’s most popular hiking destinations.
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Police acknowledge the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority into the use of force during a Police operation in Kaeo.
In the early hours of 12 January 2023, Police attended a Kaeo property to locate a man who had warrants for his arrest.
Armed Offenders Squad members attended the address given there was information the man wanted to arrest was in possession of a firearm.
During the operation, Police staff encountered a male occupant of the address who continued to yell abuse despite being told he would be arrested for obstruction.
This male refused to comply with Police instructions and was ultimately pulled from the house, taken to the ground, and was arrested.
In its findings the IPCA found the officer used reasonable and proportionate force to pull the man out of the house and to restrain him.
An independent investigation was unable to determine what caused the man’s head injury and there was no evidence of excessive force.
The IPCA also found the Police policy on head injuries had not been followed in this instance.
Northland District Commander Superintendent Matt Srhoj says: “Alongside the Authority’s independent investigation, Police also carried out an investigation into the complaint.
“Our investigation’s findings were reviewed by the IPCA, to which they were in agreeance.”
Police acknowledge that a medical practitioner should have been called to assess Mr X’s head injury, as required in policy.
“As a result, we have worked to address this finding and implemented a process to prevent this from happening again,” Superintendent Srhoj says.
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: The White House
Over the past year, the Biden-Harris Administration has continued to take action to fight hatred and violence against Muslim and Arab communities. Members of these communities, including Palestinian Americans, have been murdered or wounded in hate-fueled attacks; shot and subjected to other assaults as they simply walked down streets; bullied at schools, including by having their religious head coverings ripped off; and denied jobs, harassed, or demoted at work merely because of their faith or ethnicity.
President Biden and Vice President Harris are leading efforts to bring about much-needed change and have repeatedly condemned such violence, discrimination, and bias. These efforts are part of a larger Administration initiative to counter hate in all its forms, to keep every community safe, to promote equal justice, and to afford all Americans a fair shot at success. For generations, Muslim and Arab Americans have contributed to the enrichment and prosperity of our nation through their public, military, and community service, in addition to many other invaluable contributions. And like all Americans, they are entitled to the promise and opportunities of our great nation.
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is highlighting some actions taken as part of its forthcoming National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Hatred Against Arabs in the United States, including important steps to address daily concerns regarding safety and discrimination, as well as issues related to travel. The Administration will continue to lead a whole-of-government and a whole-of society effort to counter hate.
Completed executive branch actions that are part of the forthcoming Strategy include:
Improving Safety and Security
Tackling Discrimination and Bias
Addressing Issues Related to Travel
###
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
DENVER, Oct. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ArrowMark Financial Corp., (NASDAQ: BANX) (“ArrowMark Financial”), today announced that BANX’s estimated and unaudited Net Asset Value (“NAV”) as of September 30, 2024, was $21.73.
This estimated NAV is not a comprehensive statement of our financial condition or results for the month ended September 30, 2024.
About ArrowMark Financial Corp.
ArrowMark Financial Corp. is an SEC registered non-diversified, closed-end fund listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “BANX.” Its investment objective is to provide shareholders with current income. BANX pursues its objective by investing primarily in regulatory capital securities of financial institutions. BANX is managed by ArrowMark Asset Management, LLC. To learn more, visit ir.arrowmarkfinancialcorp.com, or contact Destra at 877.855.3434 or by email at BANX@destracapital.com.
Disclaimer and Risk Factors:
There is no assurance that ArrowMark Financial will achieve its investment objective. ArrowMark Financial is subject to numerous risks, including investment and market risks, management risk, income and interest rate risks, banking industry risks, preferred stock risk, convertible securities risk, debt securities risk, liquidity risk, valuation risk, leverage risk, non-diversification risk, credit and counterparty risks, market at a discount from net asset value risk and market disruption risk. Shares of closed-end investment companies may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) their net asset value. Shares of ArrowMark Financial may not be appropriate for all investors. Investors should review and consider carefully ArrowMark Financial’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Annual Report, Semi-Annual Report and other regulatory filings of the Company with the SEC are accessible on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and on the BANX’s website at ir.arrowmarkfinancialcorp.com.
Contact:
BANX@destracapital.com
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
The Albanese government has announced a first step in what it says is a crackdown on excessive card surcharges and threatened a ban on surcharges for debit cards from early 2026.
In the latest of its cost-of-living measures, the government will provide $2.1 million for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission “to tackle excessive surcharges”.
The government also says it is prepared to ban debit card surcharges from January 1 2026, subject to further work by the Reserve Bank and “safeguards to ensure both small businesses and consumers can benefit from lower costs”.
The government is not considering a ban on credit card surcharges, although the ACCC scrutiny will cover both debit and credit cards.
The bank is reviewing merchant card payment costs and surcharging. Its first consultation paper will be released on Tuesday.
The government said in a statement: “the declining use of cash and the rise of electronic payments means that more Australians are getting slugged by surcharges, even when they use their own money”.
“The RBA’s review is an important step to reduce the costs small businesses face when processing payments. We want to ease costs for consumers without added costs for small businesses, or unintended consequences for the broader economy,” the statement from the prime minister, treasurer and assistant treasurer said.
Funding for the ACCC “will enable the consumer watchdog to crack down on illegal and unfair surcharging practices and increase education and compliance activities”.
The Reserve Bank required card providers such as Visa and Mastercard to remove their no‐surcharge rules in 2003 allowing retailers to directly pass on the costs of accepting card payments.
With the spread of payments by card, surcharges have become ubiquitous.
In a parliamentary hearing in August the head of the National Australia Bank Andrew Irvine complained about having to pay a 10% surcharge when he bought a cup of coffee in Sydney.
He told an inquiry it was “outrageous”, saying he didn’t like “the lack of transparency and lack of consistency”.
The ACCC regulates surcharges and can require merchants prove a surcharge is justified. It can take merchants to court to enforce the regulations governing surcharges, and has done so. But many charges are still higher than they are supposed to be.
The European Union bans surcharges.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said: “Consumers shouldn’t be punished for using cards or digital payments, and at the same time, small businesses shouldn’t have to pay hefty fees just to get paid themselves”.
The total cost to Australian consumers of surcharges is disputed – the RBA review will look at the likely cost.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Albanese government has surcharges in its sights, as it pursues the votes of consumers – https://theconversation.com/albanese-government-has-surcharges-in-its-sights-as-it-pursues-the-votes-of-consumers-241251
Source: Ministry for Primary Industries
With warmer weather on the way, Kiwis all over the motu will be heading to the beach to enjoy the sea’s bounty. But before you go gathering shellfish, New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle has some fast facts to share about toxic shellfish poisoning and how to keep yourself, your whanau and friends safe.
Toxic shellfish poisoning can cause serious illness and can even be fatal. Fortunately, we haven’t had an outbreak of toxic shellfish poisoning since 2014, when 13 people fell ill.
New Zealand Food Safety works hard to keep it that way by monitoring key recreational shellfish harvesting areas around the country for biotoxins.
New Zealand Food Safety has more than 40 monitoring sites, with water tested weekly for toxic algae and shellfish tested fortnightly for biotoxins. The commercial shellfish industry also provides their own biotoxin monitoring data from more than 30 sites, giving us even greater coverage.
If shellfish are found to contain biotoxins at unsafe levels, we issue public health warnings and post signs at affected beaches. In 2023 we issued 17 biotoxin alerts.
It’s important to know that cooking will not make toxic shellfish safe to eat, because cooking doesn’t destroy biotoxins.
If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued, phone healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately. We advise that you also contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish for testing.
Shellfish with 2 shells (bivalve shellfish) can each filter more than 200 litres of water a day. They do this to filter out microscopic algae (called phytoplankton) and other particles as a food source. If these algae are toxic, the biotoxins can build up in the shellfish, making them poisonous. Generally, the more toxic algae there are in the water, the more toxic the shellfish get.
Shellfish affected by biotoxins usually include bivalves like mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles and scallops. But pūpū (cat’s eyes) and Cook’s turban and can also have elevated levels of some biotoxins.
Generally, you can still eat pāua, crab and crayfish, but only if you remove the gut before cooking, as biotoxins accumulate in the gut. Finfish are not affected by biotoxins from algal blooms, but we advise discarding the liver before cooking.
Phytoplankton are photosynthetic microscopic algae, meaning that, just like plants, they use the sunshine to grow. And, like plants, they also need nutrients (which they get from the water) to grow.
If conditions are right, phytoplankton can multiply to high numbers and form algal blooms. Most species of phytoplankton are harmless, but some can naturally produce highly toxic chemicals we call marine biotoxins.
Algal blooms usually occur naturally when wind and water currents are favourable for their growth. Causes can include slow water circulation or unusually high water temperatures. Some blooms have happened after extreme weather events like cyclones, floods, or drought.
New Zealand Food Safety does extra monitoring during a toxic algal bloom to track its spread and see how it is affecting different kinds of shellfish.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is potentially the most serious of the 4 main types of toxic shellfish poisoning found in NZ.
PSP symptoms usually appear within 10 minutes to 3 hours of eating and may include:
If you suspect someone has PSP poisoning after eating shellfish from an area where we have issued a public health warning, seek medical attention immediately.
Check for current biotoxin warnings
Download our free NZ Fishing Rules App
Read more about toxic shellfish poisoning
For general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 00 83 33 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
Source: South Australia Police
Detectives are investigating after damage was caused to a gift shop and then deliberately set alight.
Just before 5am on Tuesday 15 October, a member of the public reported a shop on fire on Addison Road at Pennington.
MFS crews attended and extinguished the flames believed to be caused by accelerant used on a mattress at the front of the business premises.
It appears that a vehicle may have been driven into the front of the shop prior to the building being set alight, causing significant damage to the building structure.
Crime Scene officers will be attending to examine the scene this morning.
If anyone saw any suspicious activity in the area or has information that may assist are asked to contact Crime Stoppers. You can anonymously provide information to Crime Stoppers online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au or free call 1800 333 000.
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Ballance Valley Road/Gorge Road has reopened, 3 weeks after heavy flooding damaged Bremner’s Bridge.
The stormy weather, heavy and persistent rainfall caused damage to the bridge and blocked culverts and drains on other parts of Ballance Valley Road/Gorge Road in Manawatū.
The bridge structure was undamaged and remains structurally safe, however it was the approaches at either end of the bridge which suffered from washouts.
Contractors have excavated under the approaches, built them back with aggregate and installed rock walls and geo grid matting to stablise the land under the road. 600 tonnes of rock have been used in the new rock walls.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi System Manager for Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki, Liesl Dawson, says crews have worked really hard to get the road back open as quickly as possible.
“The flooding caused significant damage to the approaches to the bridge, so to get the work done this quickly is testament to the hard work put in by those onsite.
“The crews have also spent the past 3 weeks unblocking culverts and drains following the flooding, and installing 2 new sumps and additional pipework. The drainage work is crucial to making this a more resilient route for all road users.
“Ballance Valley Road is an important connection between Pahiatua Track and the old Gorge Road. We know the closure has been frustrating for people who regularly use the road as a connection between Manawatū and Tararua. We appreciate people’s support over the past 3 weeks while this work has been carried out.
“If you’re driving the road, please be mindful crews will still be in the area, and there’s likely to be stop/go traffic management and a temporary lower speed limit in place while work nearby, like damaged pavements, is finished,” says Ms Dawson.
“Please drive to the conditions.”
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
A serious crash has closed a stretch of State Highway 1, near Calico Line at Marton.
The crash happened just after 9am.
The road is likely to remain closed for several hours while the Serious Crash Unit is onsite.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is strongly urging road users to avoid the area and plan trips accordingly.
Please expect delays to travel when driving on alternative roads.
A detour is in place – please follow the directions of traffic management on site.
Keep up to date with NZTA’s Journey Planner.
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is advising road users to expect delays following a serious crash on State Highway 2 at Putorino, south of Wairoa.
A container truck has rolled near the intersection with Waikare Road this morning after 8am, and has blocked one lane.
Emergency services are en route to the scene.
At this stage, one lane is open and traffic management is on site. Please expect delays, take care and drive to the conditions.
Please also expect a short-notice closure of the road if needed this morning.
Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)
The PPTA’s vision for the secondary teaching profession is:
These industrial goals advance our vision for the profession:
| Vision Area | Industrial goals |
| A well-paid profession |
|
| A highly trained profession |
|
| Teachers and school leaders are well supported in their role |
|
| Culturally responsive and sustaining profession |
|
| Properly resourced for pastoral care, curriculum and assessment |
|
| A sufficient and sustainable secondary teacher supply |
|
| A healthy work-life balance |
|
These industrial targets for collective agreement changes by 2032 support our goals and vision:
| Vision Area | Collective agreement targets for 2032 |
| A well-paid profession |
|
| A highly trained profession |
|
| Teachers and school leaders are well supported in their role |
|
| Culturally responsive and sustaining profession |
|
| Properly resourced for pastoral care, curriculum and assessment |
|
| A sufficient and sustainable secondary teacher supply |
|
| A healthy work-life balance |
|
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police are reminding anyone planning an adventure outdoors to plan for the worst, after a busy weekend rescuing five people on Mount Taranaki.
The first call for help came about 4am on Saturday, when Police were notified of three people stuck on the mountain at an altitude of 2300 metres.
“Time was of the essence to reach them as the temperature was in the negatives with wind gusts of 40-50kmh,” Sergeant Wade Callander said.
Taranaki Rescue Helicopter assisted the Taranaki Alpine Cliff Rescue team in reaching the trio.
One person had hypothermia and all three were assisted in walking to a nearby lodge, where Taranaki Search and Rescue was waiting to transport the party down the mountain to get medical attention.
About 12pm, while that rescue was unfolding, Police were alerted to a personal locator beacon activation near the summit of the mountain.
“We established one person had taken a 250-metre-long fall, resulting in a leg injury.”
With teams from Taranaki Search and Rescue and Taranaki Alpine Cliff Rescue still involved in the first incident, teams from Whanganui/National Park Search and Rescue and the Ruapehu Alpine Cliff Rescue were called to assist with the second.
The Ruapehu Alpine Cliff Rescue team was able to extract the person, who was flown by helicopter to a nearby lodge.
The Taranaki Rescue Helicopter then transported the person to hospital for treatment for their leg injury.
“As the Taranaki Alpine Cliff Rescue team were coming down the mountain from the second incident, they came across another member of the public in distress. They were underprepared for their intended route, and the team helped them walk down the mountain,” Sergeant Callander said.
“Although we are pleased to have pleased to have provided a fast and swift response to help these five people get back home and safe, these incidents are a reminder to the public that the mountain is a dangerous place.”
Climbing on Mount Taranaki requires experience, knowledge, and properly fitted and correct equipment.
“Even the most experienced people can get caught up in situations where they need assistance.”
Any day trip has the potential to turn into an overnight situation and those wanting to go on an alpine climb need to consider if they have the right equipment to keep them safe if something happens, Sergeant Callander says.
To ensure your safety, make sure to consider the following precautions:
Distress beacons can be hired for as little as $10 from many Department of Conservation Visitor Centres and outdoor tramping and hunting stores.
If you have purchased a beacon, make sure you register it at beacons.org.nz.
For more information on outdoor safety, helpful free resources and videos, head to Know Before You Go – AdventureSmart – NZ Search & Rescue Council | AdventureSmart
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Auckland Council
Westies – we need your help to protect the amazing kuaka, or godwits, that have begun their yearly trip to our shores for summer.
With another Tāmaki Makaurau stunner on the way, keep your dogs on a lead and away from prohibited areas to protect birds in our parks and on our walking tracks, including at the local Harbourview-Orangihina Park.
This spring and summer, the animal management west team patrols will include Harbourview-Orangihina Park.
The patrol protects wildlife that resides in our coastal areas over summer by checking and reminding locals of dog walking regulations.
Off-leash dogs are the most immediate threat to kuaka and other threatened and endangered birds and other wildlife on the coast.
Checking and following the dog walking rules in your local area is an easy way to do your part in protecting kuaka and other birds.
In Harbourview-Orangihina Park, kuaka actively feed and rest in the vast tidal mudflat areas that surround the park.
Henderson-Massey Local Board Chair says that it is vital for locals to respect dog walking rules this summer.
“Dog walking bylaws exist in our parks for good reason – we have a duty to do what we can to protect all of our local species that rely on harbour ecosystems, including migrating birds like kuaka,” he says.
“In Harbourview-Orangihina Park, dogs are prohibited in the beach and foreshore areas.
“In other park areas dogs must be walked on leashes. The grass area between the carpark and Te Atatū Road is the only area where dogs are permitted off-leash.”
Kuaka are amazing birds that take a massive journey across the world.
Starting from their breeding grounds in the Northern Hemisphere, from as far north as Alaska, they take an epic non-stop flight across the enormous distance south to visit our shores over summer and avoid the harsh winter they’ve left behind.
Over our summer, they find temporary homes across Aotearoa in tidal flats, including in Te Atatū Peninsula, where they feed and bulk up to get ready for their onward journey.
In late summer, they head back north to Alaska, with a refuel stop in China’s Yellow Sea, continuing their migrations across the world.
Let’s show these little travellers our hospitality and help them to stay safe as they prepare for their onward journey, ready to return next summer.
Sign up for the Henderson-Massey Local Board e-news to get the latest news and events direct to your inbox each month, and follow them on Facebook.
Source: US State of North Carolina
Headline: Residents in Western North Carolina Can Apply for Help Buying Food Following Hurricane Helene
Residents in Western North Carolina Can Apply for Help Buying Food Following Hurricane Helene
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Residents in 25 western counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for help buying food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) which will begin on Oct. 18, 2024, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced today. D-SNAP is open to individuals and households not currently receiving Food and Nutrition Services benefits who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. NCDHHS estimates more than 150,000 people will apply for up to $120 million in D-SNAP benefits.
“We are making up to $120 million available to more than 150,000 individuals to buy food for their families — an essential step on the road to recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Helene,” said N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “We are committed to using every tool to support the recovery of our friends, families, and fellow North Carolinians in western NC — now and for the long haul.”
NCDHHS received federal approval to begin phase one of the program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture beginning on Oct. 18, 2024. People can start applying for assistance three days before the program starts during online pre-registration beginning Oct. 15 and will have seven days from the start of the program to apply. The application period will close on Oct. 24, 2024.
Eligible households will be notified within three days of completing the application and receive a one-time benefit on a special debit card (called an Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT card) to help buy food. The exact amount will depend on household size, income and disaster losses. While there are income eligibility standards, a number of considerations are taken into account. Individuals above these limits may still be eligible dependent on disaster expenses, so we encourage everyone who needs support to purchase food to begin their application by calling the DSNAP Virtual Call Center at 1-844-453-1117.
The benefits are good for up to nine months. Benefit cards will be available for pick up at the D-SNAP locations in each county or you can get the EBT card mailed to you overnight at the address you specify on your application.
To be eligible, a person must:
Residents are encouraged to apply for D-SNAP by phone, when possible, by calling the D-SNAP call center at 1-844-453-1117. The D-SNAP call center will be open at the following hours:
Residents are encouraged to apply for D-SNAP by phone on their assigned day by last name but will not be turned away if they apply any time during the application period.
Residents can also use the online ePASS Pre-Registration Tool, which will open on Tuesday, Oct. 15 and close on Thursday, Oct. 24. Once the pre-registration is completed, applicants will be issued a confirmation number and will need to call 1-844-453-1117 between Oct. 18 and Oct. 24 to complete the interview part of the application.
Residents can also apply for D-SNAP in-person at any of the following locations listed below. The D-SNAP sites listed below will be open at the following hours:
Alexander County Department of Social Services
Alexander County DSS Office
604 7th St. SW
Taylorsville, NC 28681
Alleghany County
Emerson Black Building
1375 US Hwy 21 N
Sparta, NC 28675
Ashe County Department of Social Services
Main Ashe DSS Office
150 Government Circle, Suite 1400
Jefferson, NC 28640
Avery County
Avery County Library (Basement)
150 Library Road
Newland, NC 28657
Buncombe County Department of Social Services
Main Buncombe County DSS Office
40 Coxe Ave.
Asheville, NC, 28801
Burke County Department of Social Services
Burke County DSS Office
700 E Parker Road
Morganton, NC 28655
Caldwell County
Former Walgreens Building
621 Harper Ave.
Lenoir, NC 28645
Catawba County Department of Social Services
Catawba County DSS Office
3030 11th Ave Drive
Hickory, NC 28602
Clay County Department of Social Services
Clay County DSS Office
119 Courthouse Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904
Cleveland County
Cleveland County Schools Bus Garage
300 Kemper Road
Shelby, NC 28152
Gaston County Department of Social Services
Main Gaston County DSS Office
330 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Gastonia, NC 28052
Haywood County
Haywood County DSS Office
157 Paragon Pkwy #300
Clyde, NC 28721
Henderson County
Living Waters Baptist Church
1284 Sugarloaf Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Jackson County
Jackson County DSS Office
15 Griffin St.
Sylva, NC 28779
Lincoln County Department of Social Services
Lincoln County DSS Office
1136 East Main St.
Lincolnton, NC 28092
Macon County Department of Social Services
183 Holly Springs Plaza
Franklin, NC 28734
Madison County Department of Social Services
Madison DSS Office
5707 US Hwy 25-70, Suite 1
Marshall, NC 28753
McDowell County
McDowell County YMCA Gym: Bottom Level
348 Grace Corpening Drive
Marion, North Carolina 28752
Mitchell County Department of Social Services
Mitchel County DSS Office
347 Longview Drive
Bakersville, NC 28705
Polk County Department of Social Services
231 Wolverine Trail
Mill Spring, NC 28756
Rutherford County Department of Social Services
Isothermal Community College (ICC) Foundation Performing Arts Center
286 ICC Loop Road
Spindale, NC 288160
Transylvania County Library
212 South Gaston St., “Rogow Room”
Brevard, NC 28712
Watauga County Department of Social Services
Watauga County DSS Office
132 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite C
Boone, NC 28607
Wilkes County Department of Social Services
Wilkes County DSS Office
304 College St.
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
Yancey County
Burnsville Town Center
6 South Main St.
Burnsville, NC 28714
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Residing in 28719:
Qualla Boundary
Qualla Boundary
1526 Acquoni Road
Cherokee, NC
Jackson
Jackson County DSS Office
15 Griffin St.
Sylva, NC 28779
While people in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living in 28719 are encouraged to apply in their county of residence, they can also apply in person at any of the counties approved to implement D-SNAP. NCDHHS will post information on locations and hours of the sites in each county at www.ncdhhs.gov/dsnap.
Please know there may be long wait times. County officials will do everything they can to process applications as quickly as possible.
People who may have a disability or are physically unable to go in-person appling for help can complete this form in English or Spanish and send an authorized representative in their place.
NCDHHS is working with USDA on adding two additional counties through phase two of the D-SNAP implementation at a later date. Once approved, NCDHHS will share additional information.
For information regarding Hurricane Helene and additional resources and flexibilities in place, please go to www.ncdps.gov/Helene and www.ncdhhs.gov/helene.
###
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Los habitantes de 25 condados del oeste y la Banda Oriental de Indios Cherokee afectados por el huracán Helene pueden solicitar ayuda para comprar alimentos a través del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria para Desastres (D-SNAP, por sus siglas en inglés) que comenzará el 18 de octubre de 2024, anunció hoy el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés). D-SNAP está abierto a personas y hogares que actualmente no reciben beneficios de Servicios de Alimentación y Nutrición y que se vieron afectados por el huracán Helene. El NCDHHS estima que más de 150,000 personas solicitarán hasta $120 millones de dólares en beneficios de D-SNAP.
“Haremos $120 millones de dólares disponibles a más de 150,000 individuos para comprar comida para sus familias — un paso esencial en el camino a la recuperación de la devastación del huracán Helene”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Kody H. Kinsley. “Estamos comprometidos a apoyar la salud y el bienestar de las personas afectadas en todos los rincones del oeste de Carolina del Norte, ahora y a largo plazo”.
El NCDHHS recibió la aprobación federal para comenzar la fase uno del programa del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos a partir del 18 de octubre de 2024. Las personas pueden comenzar a solicitar asistencia tres días antes del inicio del programa durante la preinscripción en línea a partir del 15 de octubre y tendrán siete días desde el inicio del programa para aplicar. El plazo de la aplicación se cerrará el 24 de octubre de 2024.
Los hogares elegibles serán notificados dentro de los tres días posteriores a completar la solicitud y recibirán un beneficio único en una tarjeta de débito especial (llamada transferencia electrónica de beneficios, o tarjeta EBT, por sus siglas en inglés) para ayudar a comprar alimentos. La cantidad exacta dependerá del tamaño del hogar, los ingresos y las pérdidas por desastres. Aunque existen requisitos de ingresos, se tomarán en cuenta varias consideraciones. Los individuos con límites de ingreso superiores podrían calificar dependiendo de sus gastos debido al desastre, así que animamos a todos los que necesiten ayuda para comprar alimentos a comenzar la aplicación por medio de llamar al centro de llamadas virtuales de D-SNAP al 1-844-453-1117.
Los beneficios son válidos hasta por nueve meses. Las tarjetas de beneficios estarán disponibles para recogerse en las ubicaciones de D-SNAP en cada condado o puede recibir la tarjeta EBT por correo durante la noche en la dirección que especifique en su aplicación.
Para ser elegible, una persona debe:
Se alienta a los habitantes a solicitar D-SNAP por teléfono, cuando sea posible, llamando al centro de llamadas de D-SNAP al 1-844-453-1117. El centro de llamadas de D-SNAP estará abierto las siguientes horas:
Se alienta a los habitantes a solicitar D-SNAP por teléfono en su día asignado según la primera letra de su apellido, pero no serán rechazados si solicitan en cualquier momento durante el período de solicitud.
Los habitantes también pueden utilizar la herramienta de preinscripción en línea ePASS, que se abrirá el martes 15 de octubre cerrará el martes 22 de octubre . Una vez que se complete la preinscripción, a los aplicantes se les emitirá un número de confirmación y deberán llamar entre el 18 y el 24 de octubre al 1-844-453-1117 para completar la entrevista que es parte de la solicitud.
Los habitantes también pueden aplicar para D-SNAP en persona en cualquiera de los siguientes lugares que se enumeran a continuación. Los sitios D-SNAP que se enumeran a continuación estarán abiertos a las siguientes horas:
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Alexander
Oficina del DSS del condado Alexander
604 7th St. SW
Taylorsville, NC 28681
Condado Alleghany
Edificio Emerson Black
1375 US Hwy 21 N
Sparta, NC 28675
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Ashe
Oficina principal del DSS de Ashe
150 Government Circle, Suite 1400
Jefferson, NC 28640
Condado Avery
Biblioteca del condado Avery (sótano)
150 Library Road
Newland, NC 28657
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Buncombe
Oficina principal del DSS del condado Buncombe
40 Coxe Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Burke
Oficina del DSS del condado Burke
700 E Parker Road
Morganton, NC 28655
Condado Caldwell
El edificio que anteriormente era un Walgreens
621 Harper Ave.
Lenoir, NC 28645
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Catawba
Oficina del DSS del condado Catawba
3030 11th Ave Drive
Hickory, NC 28602
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Clay
Oficina del DSS del condado Clay
119 Courthouse Drive
Hayesville, NC 28904
Condado Cleveland
Estacionamiento de autobuses de las escuelas del condado Cleveland
300 Kemper Road
Shelby, NC 28152
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Gaston
Oficina principal del DSS del condado Gaston
330 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Gastonia, NC 28052
Condado Haywood
Oficina del DSS del condado Haywood
157 Paragon Pkwy #300
Clyde, NC 28721
Condado Henderson
Iglesia Bautista Living Waters
1284 Sugarloaf Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Condado Jackson
Oficina del DSS del condado Jackson
15 Griffin St.
Sylva, NC 28779
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Lincoln
Oficina del DSS del condado Lincoln
1136 East Main St.
Lincolnton, NC 28092
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Macon
183 Holly Springs Plaza
Franklin, NC 28734
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Madison
Oficina del DSS de Madison
5707 US Hwy 25-70, Suite 1
Marshall, NC 28753
Condado McDowell
Gimnasio de la YMCA del condado McDowell (Planta baja)
348 Grace Corpening Drive
Marion, North Carolina 28752
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Mitchell
Oficina del DSS del condado Mitchel
347 Longview Drive
Bakersville, NC 28705
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Polk
231 Wolverine Trail
Mill Spring, NC 28756
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Rutherford
Centro de Artes Escénicas de la Fundación del Colegio Comunitario Isothermal
(ICC – Foundation Performing Arts Center)
286 ICC Loop Road
Spindale, NC 288160
Biblioteca del condado Transilvania
212 South Gaston St., “Cuarto Rogow”
Brevard, NC 28712
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Watauga
Oficina del DSS del Condado Watauga
132 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite C
Boone, NC 28607
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Wilkes
Oficina del DSS del condado Wilkes
304 College St.
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Yancey
Centro de Burnsville (Burnsville Town Center)
6 South Main Street
Burnsville, NC 28714
Banda Oriental de Indios Cherokee habitantes del código postal 28719:
Límite de Qualla
Límite de Qualla
1526 Acquoni Road
Cherokee, NC
Condado Jackson
Oficina del DSS del condado Jackson
15 Griffin St.
Sylva, NC 28779
Si bien se alienta a las personas en los condados de Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transilvania, Watauga, Wilkes y Yancey y a los miembros de la Banda Oriental de Indios Cherokee que viven en el código postal 28719 a aplicar en el condado de su domicilio, también pueden aplicar en persona en cualquiera de los condados aprobados para implementar D-SNAP. El NCDHHS publicará información sobre las ubicaciones y horarios de los sitios en cada condado en http://www.ncdhhs.gov/fns.
Tenga en cuenta que puede haber largos tiempos de espera. Los funcionarios del condado harán todo lo posible para procesar las solicitudes lo más rápido posible.
Las personas que puedan tener una discapacidad o no puedan ir físicamente a solicitar ayuda en persona pueden completar este formulario en inglés o español y enviar un representante autorizado en su lugar.
El NCDHHS está trabajando con el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés) para agregar dos condados adicionales a través de la fase dos de la implementación de D-SNAP en una fecha posterior. Una vez aprobado, NCDHHS compartirá información adicional.
Para obtener información sobre el huracán Helene y los recursos y flexibilidades adicionales existentes, visite http://www.ncdps.gov/Helene y http://www.ncdhhs.gov/helene.
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De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las regulaciones y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés), esta institución tiene prohibido discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluyendo la identidad de género y la orientación sexual), credo religioso, discapacidad, edad, creencias políticas o represalias o repercusiones por actividades anteriores en defensa de los derechos civiles.
La información del programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas además del inglés. Las personas con discapacidades que necesiten medios alternativos de comunicación para obtener información sobre el programa (braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas estadounidense, etc.) deben contactar a la agencia estatal o local en la que solicitaron los beneficios. Las personas sordas o con problemas de audición o discapacidades del habla pueden comunicarse con el USDA a través del Servicio de Retransmisión/Relé Federal al (800) 877-8339.
Para presentar una queja por discriminación, el demandante debe completar un Formulario AD-3027, Formulario de queja de discriminación de programa del USDA, que se puede obtener en línea en: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, desde cualquier oficina del USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992 o escribiendo una carta dirigida al USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre, dirección y número de teléfono del demandante, así como una descripción escrita de la supuesta acción discriminatoria con el suficiente detalle para informar al subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR, por sus siglas en inglés) sobre la naturaleza y la fecha de una supuesta violación de los derechos civiles. El formulario AD-3027 completo o la carta debe enviarse a:
Esta institución ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.
Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory
In the afterglow of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is worth remembering that athletic feats are not the only endeavors that resonate across international borders.
Shifting to clean energy means addressing some of the most difficult technical challenges the world has faced—making collaboration key. It means investing in our future leaders and providing them opportunities to encounter new ideas, develop new skills, and become globally aware scientists.
“Tackling the global threat of climate change will require a unified global effort, yet effective international collaboration remains as challenging as it is important,” said Steven Hayden, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) microscopist and postdoctoral-researcher liaison. “Diversity is a critical human strength. By exposing our postdocs—tomorrow’s leaders—to a variety of worldviews and collaborative methods, we foster the global community necessary to secure our collective future.”
At NREL, investing in postdocs and early-career researchers as global leaders starts by supporting them in attending international convenings, conferences, and summer schools. These are venues where they build professional networks, discover job opportunities, exchange ideas, and act as NREL ambassadors to the global energy research community.
This summer, NREL postdocs and early-career staff participated in multiple events around the globe, including in Italy, Indonesia, Singapore, and stateside in Golden, Colorado, just down the road from NREL’s South Table Mountain Campus. In some cases, postdocs were competitively selected to attend.
In Indonesia, RD20, an initiative among Group of 20 (G20) countries and regions to strengthen international collaborations among leading energy-research institutes, hosted its second annual summer school in summer 2024.
“This is an opportunity for graduate students, postdocs, and early-career researchers to get exposure to and even get involved with international research and development collaboration,” said NREL Associate Laboratory Director Bill Tumas, who sits on the RD20 action committee. “These events enable the next generation of our scientific workforce to gain an appreciation for the diversity of solutions and approaches for clean energy technologies.”
Four NREL postdocs and early-career researchers participated in the RD20 organization’s summer school in 2024. The next summer school will be held at NREL in 2025.
“We do world-class research, but going to the summer school made me realize that an integral piece of world-class research is interacting with the world,” said NREL postdoc Alex Hill, reflecting on his experience at the RD20 summer school. “I think that is something I want to try to take forward in my research: How can I engage community stakeholders more in the day-to-day operations of what I do?”
Postdoc Diego Soetrisno, another RD20 summer school participant, said that the opportunity reinforced the value of contextualizing one’s own fundamental research amid an ongoing global exchange of ideas.
“I did my Ph.D. doing really fundamental work, but there’s a gap between my fundamental work and context with the larger picture,” Soetrisno said. “This summer school experience has given me more understanding of the really large picture of decarbonization technology. But it is also trying to bring my work in context with other people’s work. Without that communication, my work would not be able to really influence other people.”
Below are short descriptions and lists of participants in international convenings this summer. Congrats to this year’s participants!
The Electronic Processes in Organic Materials Gordon Research Conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science by having participants present cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk, and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages.
NREL participants:
The 2024 RD20 summer school was titled “Diversity of Knowledge on Decarbonization in Just Energy Transition Mechanism,” providing an opportunity for young researchers from G20 countries to deepen their knowledge and skills in the field of decarbonization. Event themes were broad, ranging from life-cycle assessments, circular economy, and smart grids to biomass resources, energy storage, and hydrogen production and utilization.
NREL participants:
The International School for Materials for Energy and Sustainability 2024—another annual event—brought together Ph.D. students and postdocs to review and actively discuss/debate state-of-the-art and future perspectives for materials as they can be applied to energy generation and storage for a sustainable global energy infrastructure.
NREL participants:
Learn about internships and postdoctoral positions at NREL.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gertjan Verdickt, Lecturer, Business School, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
When it comes to investing and planning your financial future, are you more willing to trust a person or a computer?
This isn’t a hypothetical question any more.
Big banks and investment firms are using artificial intelligence (AI) to help make financial predictions and give advice to clients.
Morgan Stanley uses AI to mitigate the potential biases of its financial analysts when it comes to stock market predictions. And one of the world’s biggest investment banks, Goldman Sachs, recently announced it was trialling the use of AI to help write computer code, though the bank declined to say which division it was being used in. Other companies are using AI to predict which stocks might go up or down.
But do people actually trust these AI advisers with their money?
Our new research examines this question. We found it really depends on who you are and your prior knowledge of AI and how it works.
To examine the question of trust when it comes to using AI for investment, we asked 3,600 people in the United States to imagine they were getting advice about the stock market.
In these imagined scenarios, some people got advice from human experts. Others got advice from AI. And some got advice from humans working together with AI.
In general, people were less likely to follow advice if they knew AI was involved in making it. They seemed to trust the human experts more.
But the distrust of AI wasn’t universal. Some groups of people were more open to AI advice than others.
For example, women were more likely to trust AI advice than men (by 7.5%). People who knew more about AI were more willing to listen to the advice it provided (by 10.1%). And politics mattered – people who supported the Democratic Party were more open to AI advice than others (by 7.3%).
We also found people were more likely to trust simpler AI methods.
When we told our research participants the AI was using something called “ordinary least squares” (a basic mathematics technique in which a straight line is used to estimate the relationship between two variables), they were more likely to trust it than when we said it was using “deep learning” (a more complex AI method).
This might be because people tend to trust things they understand. Much like how a person might trust a simple calculator more than a complex scientific instrument they have never seen before.
As AI becomes more common in the financial world, companies will need to find ways to improve levels of trust.
This might involve teaching people more about how the AI systems work, being clear about when and how AI is being used, and finding the right balance between human experts and AI.
Furthermore, we need to tailor how AI advice is presented to different groups of people and show how well AI performs over time compared to human experts.
The future of finance might involve a lot more AI, but only if people learn to trust it. It’s a bit like learning to trust self-driving cars. The technology might be great, but if people don’t feel comfortable using it, it won’t catch on.
Our research shows that building this trust isn’t just about making better AI. It’s about understanding how people think and feel about AI. It’s about bridging the gap between what AI can do and what people believe it can do.
As we move forward, we’ll need to keep studying how people react to AI in finance. We’ll need to find ways to make AI not just a powerful tool, but a trusted advisor that people feel comfortable relying on for important financial decisions.
The world of finance is changing fast, and AI is a big part of that change. But in the end, it’s still people who decide where to put their money. Understanding how to build trust between humans and AI will be key to shaping the future of finance.
Gertjan Verdickt does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Do people trust AI on financial decisions? We found it really depends on who they are – https://theconversation.com/do-people-trust-ai-on-financial-decisions-we-found-it-really-depends-on-who-they-are-240900
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
State Highway 1 is blocked by a serious crash involving a vehicle and a truck.
At least one person has critical injuries.
The crash was reported about 11.05am, and happened south of Waiouru, between Hassett Drive and Waiaruhe Road.
The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.
Traffic management is being arranged, but motorists are advised to expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
Source: New South Wales Government 2
Headline: Ruby launches into action to build final Metro West tunnel under Sydney Harbour
Tunnel boring machine (TBM) Ruby has begun its journey to carve out the final section of tunnel for the city-shaping Sydney Metro West project.
Launching from The Bays, TBM Ruby will join TBM Jessie in constructing 2.3-kilometre twin railway tunnels that will take metro deep below the harbour, this time creating another key connection into the heart of the city for people living in Sydney’s west.
TBM Ruby is named after women’s rights activist and Australia’s first radio astronomer Ruby Payne-Scott and is the sixth and final TBM to get to work on building the 24-kilometre Metro West tunnels.
The 1,100-tonne machine will operate around the clock, seven days a week. It will slowly inch its way alongside the iconic Anzac Bridge, through the Pyrmont Station site, and under Darling Harbour, before arriving at its final destination at Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD.
TBM Jessie is hard at work on the parallel tunnel and has excavated 615 metres and installed 2,238 concrete segments to line the new tunnel walls since commencing its tunnelling journey in June.
A total of 460,000 tonnes of material will be excavated and 16,536 segments will be installed by the two TBMs to construct the tunnels between The Bays and Hunter Street.
These tunnels will form the second under-harbour railway crossing for Sydney, with the first built between the city’s north and Barangaroo for the metro M1 line, which has recorded 82 million journeys since opening on 19 August.
TBMs Ruby and Jessie are heading towards Pyrmont Crossover and Station caverns, where they will traverse the station cavern before being relaunched towards Hunter Street Station.
TBMs Ruby and Jessie are mixed shield (slurry) machines, specifically designed for the Metro West project to excavate in the highly pressurised conditions that are anticipated under Sydney Harbour.
Parts of both TBMs came from the TBMs used to construct the Sydney Metro City & Southwest tunnels.
The TBMs are expected to arrive at Hunter Street in mid-late 2025.
Sydney Metro tunnelling partners John Holland CPB Contractors Ghella Joint Venture are excavating the under-harbour tunnels and two new station caverns at Pyrmont and Hunter Street as part of the Sydney Metro West – Eastern Tunnelling Package.
Major tunnelling is progressing across the alignment, with two TBMs completing the 11-kilometre tunnels from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park, and a further two TBMs in the ground to build the nine-kilometre tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead.
Sydney Metro West will double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. It will make it easier and faster to travel around western Sydney, link new communities to rail services and support employment growth and housing supply.
For more information about the project, visit sydneymetro.info/west/project-overview.
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:
“Our sixth and final Tunnel Boring Machine is now on her way as we build the game-changing Metro West project.
“TBM Ruby will dig a highly complex section of tunnel, carving its way beside the Anzac Bridge, below two sections of the harbour and finishing in the centre of the Sydney CBD.
“Over the next 20 years, 420,000 people are expected to move into the corridor surrounding this these future Metro stations. This new line will keep our growing city moving.”
